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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 8, 2006

Registration No. 333-

 


SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM S-4

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

AFFINION GROUP, INC.

and the Guarantors identified in footnote (3) below

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware   7389   06-1637809
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation or organization)
  (Primary Standard Industrial
Classification Code Number)
  (I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number)

100 Connecticut Avenue

Norwalk, CT 06850

(203) 956-1000

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)

Todd H. Siegel, Esq.

Executive Vice President and General Counsel

Affinion Group, Inc.

100 Connecticut Avenue

Norwalk, CT 06850

(203) 956-1000

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

With copies to:

Rosa A. Testani, Esq.

Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP

590 Madison Avenue

New York, New York 10022

(212) 872-1000

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: As soon as practicable after this Registration Statement becomes effective.

If the securities being registered on this form are being offered in connection with the formation of a holding company and there is compliance with General Instruction G, check the following box.     ¨

If this form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.     ¨

If this form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.     ¨

If this form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.     ¨

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

 
Title of each class of
securities to be registered
   Amount to be
Registered
   Proposed
Maximum
Offering Price
Per Note(1)
     Proposed
Maximum
Aggregate
Offering
Pricing
    Amount of
Registration
Fee

10  1 / 8 % Senior Notes due 2013

   $304,000,000    100 %    $304,000,000 (2)   $32,528

Guarantees of 10  1 / 8 % Senior Notes due 2013

                     (3)

11  1 / 2 % Senior Subordinated Notes due 2015

   $355,500,000    100 %    $355,500,000 (2)   $38,039

Guarantees of 11  1 / 2 % Senior Subordinated Notes due 2015

                     (3)

(1) The Proposed Maximum Offering Price Per Note is based on the book value of the notes as of May 5, 2006, in the absence of a public market for them, in accordance with Rule 457(f)(2) promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
(2) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457 promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
(3) Each of the following is a guarantor of the obligations of Affinion Group, Inc. under the 10  1 / 8 % Senior Notes due 2013 and the 11½% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2015, each is a Co-Registrant, and each is incorporated in the jurisdiction and has the I.R.S. Employer Identification Number indicated: Affinion Benefits Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (06-1282786); Affinion Data Services, Inc., a Delaware corporation (22-3797237); Affinion Group, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (06-1501906); Affinion Publishing, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (06-1282776); Cardwell Agency, Inc. a Virginia corporation (54-1374514); CUC Asia Holdings, a Delaware general partnership (06-1487080); Long Term Preferred Care, Inc., a Tennessee corporation (62-1455251); Travelers Advantage Services, Inc., a Delaware corporation (20-2221128); Trilegiant Auto Services, Inc., a Wyoming corporation (06-1633722); Trilegiant Corporation, a Delaware corporation (20-0641090); Trilegiant Insurance Services, Inc., a Delaware corporation (06-1588614); Affinion Loyalty Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (06-1623335); and Trilegiant Retail Services, Inc., a Delaware corporation (06-1625615). Pursuant to Rule 457(n), no additional registration fee is payable with respect to such guarantees.

 


 


Table of Contents

The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not complete the exchange offer and issue these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer is not permitted.

 

Subject to completion, dated May 8, 2006

LOGO

Affinion Group, Inc.

Offer to Exchange

$304,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 10  1 / 8 % Senior Notes due 2013 which have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933 for $304,000,000 aggregate principal amount of outstanding 10  1 / 8 % Senior Notes due 2013.

$355,500,000 aggregate principal amount of 11  1 / 2 % Senior Subordinated Notes due 2015 which have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933 for $355,500,000 aggregate principal amount of outstanding 11  1 / 2 % Senior Subordinated Notes due 2015.

 


We hereby offer, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this prospectus and the accompanying letter of transmittal (which together constitute the “exchange offer”), to exchange up to (a) $304,000,000 aggregate principal amount of our registered 10  1 / 8 % Senior Notes due 2013, which we refer to as the exchange senior notes, for a like principal amount of our outstanding 10  1 / 8 % Senior Notes due 2013, which we refer to as the old senior notes and (b) $355,500,000 aggregate principal amount of our registered 11  1 / 2 % Senior Secured Subordinated Notes due 2015, which we refer to as our exchange senior subordinated notes, for a like principal amount of our outstanding 11  1 / 2 % Senior Secured Subordinated Notes due 2015, which we refer to as our old senior subordinated notes. We refer to the old senior notes and the old senior subordinated notes collectively as the old notes. We refer to the exchange senior notes and the exchange senior subordinated notes collectively as the exchange notes. We refer to the old notes and the exchange notes collectively as the notes. We refer to the old senior notes and the exchange senior notes collectively as the senior notes and the old senior subordinated notes and the exchange senior subordinated notes collectively as the senior subordinated notes. The terms of the exchange notes are identical to the terms of the old notes in all material respects, except for the elimination of some transfer restrictions, registration rights and additional interest provisions relating to the old notes.

We will exchange any and all old notes that are validly tendered and not validly withdrawn prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on                     , 2006, unless extended.

We have not applied, and do not intend to apply, for listing the notes on any national securities exchange or automated quotation system.

Each broker-dealer that receives exchange notes for its own account pursuant to the exchange offer must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such exchange notes. The letter of transmittal states that by so acknowledging and delivering a prospectus, a broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act. This prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, may be used by a broker-dealer in connection with resales of exchange notes received in exchange for old notes where such old notes were acquired by such broker-dealer as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities. We have agreed that, for a period of 180 days after the consummation of the exchange offer, we will make this prospectus available to any broker-dealer for use in connection with any such resale. See “Plan of Distribution.”

You should carefully consider the risk factors beginning on page 21 of this prospectus before participating in this exchange offer.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

The date of this prospectus is                     , 2006.


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

       Page

W HERE Y OU C AN F IND M ORE I NFORMATION

   ii

I NDUSTRY AND M ARKET D ATA

   ii

T RADEMARKS

   ii

C AUTIONARY S TATEMENT C ONCERNING F ORWARD -L OOKING S TATEMENTS

   iii

S UMMARY

   1

R ISK F ACTORS

   21

T HE E XCHANGE O FFER

   37

U SE OF P ROCEEDS

   47

C APITALIZATION

   48

U NAUDITED P RO F ORMA C ONDENSED C ONSOLIDATED F INANCIAL I NFORMATION

   49

S ELECTED H ISTORICAL C ONSOLIDATED AND C OMBINED F INANCIAL AND O THER D ATA

   54

M ANAGEMENT S D ISCUSSION AND A NALYSIS OF F INANCIAL C ONDITION AND R ESULTS OF O PERATIONS

   57
       Page

B USINESS

   88

M ANAGEMENT

   109

S ECURITY O WNERSHIP OF C ERTAIN B ENEFICIAL O WNERS AND M ANAGEMENT

   119

C ERTAIN R ELATIONSHIPS AND R ELATED P ARTY T RANSACTIONS

   121

D ESCRIPTION OF O THER I NDEBTEDNESS

   129

D ESCRIPTION OF THE S ENIOR N OTES

   132

D ESCRIPTION OF THE S ENIOR S UBORDINATED N OTES

   186

B OOK -E NTRY , D ELIVERY AND F ORM

   242

C ERTAIN U.S. F EDERAL I NCOME T AX C ONSIDERATIONS

   244

P LAN OF D ISTRIBUTION

   245

L EGAL M ATTERS

   246

E XPERTS

   246

G LOSSARY

   G-1

I NDEX TO C ONSOLIDATED AND C OMBINED F INANCIAL S TATEMENTS

   F-1

 


You should rely only on the information contained in this document. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with information that is different. This document may only be used where it is legal to sell these securities. The information in this document may only be accurate on the date of this document.

The information contained in this prospectus is accurate only as of the date of this prospectus, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus or of any sale of our notes. In this prospectus, unless the context otherwise requires or indicates, (i) all references to “Affinion,” the “Company,” “we,” “our” and “us” refer to Affinion Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis after giving effect to the consummation on October 17, 2005 of the acquisition (the “Acquisition”) by Affinion Group, Inc. of Affinion Group, LLC (known as Cendant Marketing Group, LLC prior to the consummation of the Acquisition) (“AGLLC”) and Affinion International Holdings Limited (known as Cendant International Holdings Limited prior to the consummation of the Acquisition) (“AIH”) and the other transactions described in this prospectus under “The Transactions,” but for periods prior to the Acquisition, refer to the historical operations of Cendant Marketing Services Division (a division of Cendant Corporation) (the “Predecessor”) that we acquired in the Acquisition, (ii) all references to “Holdings” refer to our parent company, Affinion Group Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation, (iii) all references to “pro forma” statement of operations data give effect to the Transactions, the Refinancing and the Additional Senior Notes Offering set forth under “Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Financial Information,” and all references to “pro forma” balance sheet data give effect to the Refinancing and the Additional Senior Notes Offering and (iv) all references to “fiscal year” are to the twelve months ended December 31 of the year referenced.

Until                     , 2006 (90 days after the date of this prospectus), all dealers effecting transactions in the exchange notes, whether or not participating in the exchange offer, may be required to deliver a prospectus.

 

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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We will be required to file annual and quarterly reports and other information with the SEC after the registration statement described below is declared effective by the SEC. You may read and copy any reports, statements and other information that we file with the SEC at the SEC’s public reference room in Washington, D.C. You may request copies of the documents, upon payment of a duplicating fee, by writing the Public Reference Section of the SEC. Please call 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the public reference rooms. Our filings will also be available to the public from commercial document retrieval services and at the web site maintained by the SEC at http://www.sec.gov.

We have filed a registration statement on Form S-4 to register with the SEC the exchange notes to be issued in exchange for the old notes and guarantees thereof. This prospectus is part of that registration statement. As allowed by the SEC’s rules, this prospectus does not contain all of the information you can find in the registration statement or the exhibits to the registration statement. You should note that where we summarize in the prospectus the material terms of any contract, agreement or other document filed as an exhibit to the registration statement, the summary information provided in the prospectus is less complete than the actual contract, agreement or document. You should refer to the exhibits filed to the registration statement for copies of the actual contract, agreement or document.

We have not authorized anyone to give you any information or to make any representations about us or the transactions we discuss in this prospectus other than those contained in this prospectus. If you are given any information or representations about these matters that is not discussed in this prospectus, you must not rely on that information. This prospectus is not an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy securities anywhere or to anyone where or to whom we are not permitted to offer or sell securities under applicable law.

INDUSTRY AND MARKET DATA

Industry and market data used throughout this prospectus were obtained from the Direct Marketing Association’s Statistical Fact Book 2005, U.S. Online Marketing Forecast: 2005 to 2010 by Forrester Research, Inc. (May 2, 2005), and others. While we believe that our own research and estimates are reliable and appropriate, neither we nor the initial purchasers have independently verified such data and neither we nor the initial purchasers make any representation as to the accuracy of such information. Unless otherwise indicated, all references to market share data appearing in this prospectus are as of December 31, 2005.

TRADEMARKS

We have proprietary rights to a number of trademarks used in this prospectus which are important to our business, including Affinion Group, Trilegiant, Progeny Marketing Innovations, Cims, Trilegiant Loyalty Solutions, PrivacyGuard, Hot-Line, Travelers Advantage, Shoppers Advantage, AutoVantage, CompleteHome, Buyers Advantage, HealthSaver, NHPA, Enhanced Checking, Small Business Solutions and Wellness Extras. We have omitted the “ ® ” and “™” trademark designations for such trademarks in this prospectus. Nevertheless, all rights to such trademarks named in this prospectus are reserved.

 

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CAUTIONARY STATEMENT CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus contains “forward-looking statements” that involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning our plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events, future revenues or performance, capital expenditures, financing needs and other information that is not historical information and, in particular, appear under the headings “Summary,” “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.” When used in this prospectus, the words “estimates,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “forecasts,” “plans,” “intends,” “believes,” “seeks,” “may,” “will,” “should” and variations of these words or similar expressions (or the negative versions of any such words) are intended to identify forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements, including without limitation management’s examination of historical operating trends, are based upon our current expectations and various assumptions. Our expectations, beliefs and projections are expressed in good faith, and we believe there is a reasonable basis for them. However, management’s expectations, beliefs and projections may not result or be achieved.

There are a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from the results referred to in the forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus. Important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from the results referred to in the forward-looking statements we make in this prospectus are set forth elsewhere in this prospectus, including under the heading “Risk Factors.” As stated elsewhere in this prospectus, these risks, uncertainties and other important factors include, among others:

 

    general economic and business conditions and international and geopolitical events such as any future terrorist attacks;

 

    a downturn in the credit card industry or changes in the marketing techniques of credit card issuers;

 

    marketplace consolidation among financial institution affinity partners;

 

    the effects of a decline in travel due to political instability, adverse economic conditions or otherwise, on our travel fulfillment business;

 

    termination or expiration of one or more of our agreements with our affinity partners, or reduction of the marketing of our services by one or more of our affinity partners, both of which would cause us to lose access to prospective customers and sources of revenue;

 

    changes in, or the failure or inability to comply with laws and governmental regulations, including changes in global distribution service rules, telemarketing regulations and privacy laws and regulations;

 

    the outcome of numerous legal actions that could have a negative impact on our financial condition, results of operations and reputation;

 

    increases in the cost of compliance with laws and regulations;

 

    our substantial leverage, including the inability to generate the necessary amount of cash to service our existing debt and the incurrence of substantial indebtedness in the future;

 

    dependence on our existing computer, billing, communications and other technological systems, a temporary or permanent loss or obsolescence of which could have a negative effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations;

 

    loss of members caused by obsolescence of existing services, or failure to timely introduce new services with broad customer appeal;

 

    costs of developing our own stand-alone systems and transitioning to an independent company;

 

    dependence on various third-party vendors to supply certain products and services that we market;

 

    restrictions contained in our debt agreements;

 

    ability to execute our business strategy, development plans or cost savings plans;

 

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    inability to compete effectively with other companies in our industry that have financial or other advantages, which could lead to reduced market share, a decrease in margins and a decrease in revenue;

 

    likelihood of an interruption of, or an increase in the billing rate for postal and telephone services;

 

    loss of customers in the ordinary course of business, which would cause our revenue and customer base to decline if they cannot be replaced;

 

    ability to retain our key employees;

 

    inability to protect our intellectual property rights;

 

    changes in accounting principles and/or business practices that may result in changes to the way we account for transactions and may affect comparability between periods and changes to the estimates and assumptions that we used to prepare our financial statements due to subsequent developments, such as court or similar rulings and actual experience;

 

    availability, terms, and deployment of capital; and

 

    failure to protect private data, which would cause us to expend capital and resources to protect against future security breaches.

There may be other factors that may cause our actual results to differ materially from the results referred to in the forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf apply only as of the date of this prospectus and are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements included in this prospectus. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

 

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SUMMARY

The following summary contains basic information about this offering contained elsewhere in this prospectus. It is not complete and may not contain all of the information that is important to you. You should read this entire prospectus carefully, including “Risk Factors,” the consolidated and combined financial statements and the related notes thereto, before making an investment decision.

Our Company

We are a leading affinity direct marketer of value-added membership, insurance and package enhancement programs and services to consumers, with over 30 years of experience. We offer our programs and services worldwide through approximately 4,500 affinity partners as of December 31, 2005. Our diversified base of affinity partners includes leading companies in a wide variety of industries, including financial services, retail, travel, telecommunications, utilities and Internet. We market to consumers using direct mail, online marketing, in-branch marketing, telemarketing and other marketing methods. We generate predictable revenues and cash flows because of our large base of existing customers, which accounts for the majority of our near-term cash flow, and the fact that customer retention and renewals generally follow well-established patterns. We also have a growing loyalty solutions operation which administers points-based loyalty programs. As of December 31, 2005, we had approximately 70 million members and end-customers worldwide and approximately 3,000 employees in the U.S. and 11 countries, primarily in Europe. For the year ended December 31, 2005, we had pro forma net revenues of $1.2 billion and pro forma Adjusted EBITDA (as defined on page 20) of $257.2 million.

We utilize the brand names, customer contacts and billing vehicles of our affinity partners to market a broad portfolio of 25 core programs in approximately 200 configurations. Our core programs include PrivacyGuard (a credit monitoring and identity-theft resolution service), accidental death and dismemberment insurance (“AD&D”), Hotline and Payment Card Protection (credit card registration services), Travelers Advantage (discount travel services), as well as various checking account and credit card enhancement programs. Affinity partners value our services because we strengthen their relationships with their customers, promote their brands and provide them with incremental revenue while adhering to high standards in consumer privacy and protection. We believe that we provide our affinity partners with a scale of operations and breadth of programs and services that cannot be matched by our competitors, as well as a high level of analytical marketing expertise that results in more profitable marketing campaigns. We also allow our affinity partners to choose the extent to which they are involved in the acquisition and retention of customers. The customized options offered to our affinity partners range from a wholesale arrangement, in which they are largely responsible for customer acquisition, to a retail arrangement, where we are solely responsible. In addition, we have strong relationships with third-party vendors who provide many elements of our programs and services to our members and end-customers, such as merchandise fulfillment and insurance underwriting.

We have developed a rigorous marketing approach, including powerful models and proprietary databases that analyze, by program, historical marketing performance data, customer preferences and historical usage and response rates. Our approach allows us to leverage the experience we have gained from our extensive marketing history, including more than 46,000 marketing campaigns conducted over the last decade. We design, customize and manage marketing campaigns which utilize multiple media and product offerings for each affinity partner. In addition, we use our data analytics capabilities to target minimum return thresholds tailored to each of our marketing campaigns. Based on sophisticated statistical analyses, our predictive models are designed to accurately forecast response rates, revenue generation and profitability potential of a prospective campaign. Our disciplined analytical approach allows us to target marketing opportunities with the most promising return potential and to provide our affinity partners with reports that measure individual campaign performance.

 

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LOGO

We operate our business through the following operating segments:

 

    Membership Operations (54.0% of 2005 pro forma net revenues) —Our membership operations in the U.S. are operated through Trilegiant, which designs, implements, and markets membership programs to customers of our affinity partners. We believe we are the leader in the U.S. affinity membership marketing industry with approximately 13.6 million members as of December 31, 2005. For an annual or monthly membership fee, we provide members with access to a variety of discounts and shop-at-home conveniences in such areas as retail merchandise, travel, automotive and home improvement; as well as personal protection benefits and value-added services including credit monitoring and identity-theft resolution services. Our membership programs include PrivacyGuard (a credit monitoring and identity-theft resolution service), Travelers Advantage (a discount travel service) and Shoppers Advantage (a discount shopping service), among many others. Our affinity partners, such as financial institutions, retailers and other consumer-oriented companies, offer individual membership programs to their customers as an enhancement to, or in connection with, their use of credit and/or debit cards, checking accounts, mortgage loans or other financial payment vehicles.

In general, membership services are offered under a retail arrangement in which membership fees are paid to us, and, in turn, we pay commissions on such fees to our affinity partners. Generally, we pay these commissions on both new members and their subsequent renewals. We also offer our services under a wholesale arrangement, which is a growing component of our operations, whereby our affinity partners market our programs and services and collect membership fees, and in return pay us administration and participant fees. We partner with a large number of third-party vendors to provide fulfillment of many elements of our diverse membership programs. For example, fulfillment of products purchased via our shopping-related programs is undertaken through a direct-ship network of over 200 vendors which we manage without taking ownership or physical possession of the products.

 

    Insurance and Package Operations (26.5% of 2005 pro forma net revenues) —Our insurance and package enhancement operations in the U.S. are operated through Affinion Benefits Group, Inc. (formerly known as Progeny Marketing Innovations, Inc.) (“Progeny”). We are a leading direct marketer of AD&D in the U.S. with over 31 million end-customers. We serve as an agent and third-party administrator for the marketing of AD&D and other insurance programs, and market private-label insurance programs to the customers of our affinity partners, typically financial institutions, primarily through direct mail. Our affinity partners use insurance programs to help improve customer affinity and retention by offering a base level of AD&D at no cost to their customers and to generate incremental fee income from customers who choose to increase their coverage by purchasing supplemental insurance. We use retail arrangements with our affinity partners when we market our insurance programs to their customers.

 

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We believe we are the largest distributor of checking account package enhancement programs in the U.S. with over 2,500 financial institutions and approximately 7.2 million end-customers as of December 31, 2005. We provide our affinity partners with a portfolio of over 45 benefits in such areas as travel and shopping discounts, insurance and identity-theft resolution. Our affinity partners select a customized package of these programs and services to which they frequently then add their own services (e.g., unlimited check writing privileges, personalized checks, cashiers’ or travelers’ checks without issue charges). We design and provide package enhancement programs for financial institutions in order to improve their customer retention rates and generate additional fee income. Package enhancement programs, which are typically marketed in-branch by our affinity partners’ employees, are generally offered on a wholesale basis in which we earn up-front fees for implementing the package enhancement program and monthly fees based on the number of customers participating in the program.

 

    International Operations (14.8% of 2005 pro forma net revenues) —Our international membership and package enhancement operations are operated primarily in Europe through Cims. We believe we are the largest marketer of membership programs and package enhancement programs in Europe, with approximately 2.2 million members and 16.7 million end-customers. In addition to our existing traditional international membership program offerings, we recently introduced a wider range of membership programs more comparable to those that we offer in the U.S. International membership services and package enhancement programs are offered under retail and wholesale arrangements comparable to those in the U.S.

 

    Loyalty Operations (4.7% of 2005 pro forma net revenues) —Our growing loyalty operations are operated through Affinion Loyalty Group, Inc. (“ALG”) (formerly known as Trilegiant Loyalty Solutions) (“TLS”). We believe we are a leader in online points redemption and administrative services and currently manage approximately 125 billion points for our customers with an estimated redemption value of over $1.5 billion. We typically charge clients a per-member and/or a per-activity administrative fee for our services and do not retain any points-related liabilities. We also provide benefit enhancements, such as travel insurance, accident and collision damage waiver insurance and concierge services, to credit card issuers. We currently work with approximately 100 clients on their loyalty and enhancement products, including leading financial institutions, brokerage houses, premier hotels, timeshares and other travel-related companies.

Industry Overview

Direct marketing is defined by the Direct Marketing Association (the “DMA”) as any direct communication to a consumer or business that is designed to generate a response in the form of an order. Affinity direct marketing is a subset of the larger direct marketing industry which involves direct marketing to the customers of affinity partners, such as financial institutions and retailers. In affinity direct marketing, programs, products and services are marketed either directly or indirectly, in each case using the affinity partner’s brand name, customer contacts and billing vehicles. We believe that being associated with the brand of an affinity partner provides a significant advantage over other forms of direct marketing. Affinity direct marketing provides us with access to our affinity partners’ large customer base, generally results in higher response rates as customers recognize and trust our affinity partners’ brands and provides additional credibility and validation as to the quality of the program or service we are offering. Affinity partners benefit as they are able to promote their brands while offering additional programs and services, which strengthens their relationships with their customers and generates incremental revenue for them.

The DMA estimates that overall sales in the U.S. generated by direct marketing initiatives will grow at an 8.6% compound annual growth rate from 2003 to 2007. According to the DMA, the European Union, or EU, represents approximately 20% of the global direct marketing driven sales in 2004, and the EU market is expected to grow at a faster rate than the U.S. market as new members join the EU and member countries continue to integrate across economic, social and regulatory boundaries.

 

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Industry research indicates that growth in direct marketing sales results from increasing direct marketing expenditures as well as marketers shifting their budgets from branding campaigns to direct marketing campaigns due to their increased measurability and effectiveness. Marketers with direct customer contact or with large marketing databases are expected to continue to pursue direct marketing initiatives, such as those offered by us, to increase customer penetration in an environment where attracting and retaining customers is becoming increasingly challenging. As a result, direct marketing driven sales as a percentage of total sales have been rising. Sales generated by direct mail, one of our primary marketing media, is projected by the DMA to grow at a compound annual growth rate of approximately 8.5% from 2003 through 2007 in the U.S. Online media, a growth vehicle for both the industry and our business, represents the fastest growing direct marketing medium due to the increasing use of the Internet and its significantly lower communication costs. Forrester Research, Inc. projects a compound annual growth rate of approximately 15.5% for online media from 2005 to 2008 in the U.S.

Our Competitive Strengths

Global Leader in a Growing Industry. We are a leading affinity direct marketer of value-added membership, insurance and package enhancement programs and services with approximately 70 million members and end-customers worldwide and a network of approximately 4,500 affinity partners as of December 31, 2005. Our leadership position in the growing affinity direct marketing industry is due to our more than 30-year track record, our experience from over 46,000 marketing campaigns conducted over the last decade and our core strengths in the areas of multi-media marketing, data analytics, customer service, and operations. We also believe our portfolio of programs and benefits is the broadest in the industry. As of December 31, 2005, we had 20 core membership programs, 5 core insurance programs and 45 core benefits for our package enhancement programs, all of which are offered in over 200 different configurations to satisfy a wide range of consumer trends and fulfillment needs across industries.

Proven Business Model Generates Predictable Financial Results with Significant Future Revenue Streams. Our business model includes planning new marketing initiatives based on predicted response and attrition rates, as well as other variables (such as product and servicing costs) drawn from in-depth analysis of our prior marketing campaigns. We are able to forecast the likely future range of results of our current and future marketing campaigns because the results of our marketing campaigns generally follow well-established patterns. Consequently, we are able to optimize the allocation of our marketing spend to the most profitable opportunities. Further, as our marketing campaigns generate revenues and cash flows over a number of years, our existing customer base (acquired from previous marketing campaigns for which we have already incurred the up-front marketing expense) produces highly predictable financial results as customer retention and related revenues and cash flows generally follow well-established patterns. Our revenue from our existing customer base has historically generated over 80% of the next twelve months net revenues for our membership and insurance operations.

Flexible Operating Model Focused on Free Cash Flow Generation. We believe that our operating model will generate significant free cash flow, which we define as cash provided by operating activities less capital expenditures and required debt service payments, as a result of our low capital expenditure requirements and variable cost structure. For example, 2005 pro forma capital expenditures represented less than 3% of our 2005 pro forma net revenues. Our operating model is also highly scalable, allowing us to expand our business without significant additional fixed costs. As we continue to outsource certain non-critical functions in information technology and fulfillment, as well as certain of our call center operations, we will continue to migrate to a more variable cost structure. During 2004 and 2005, we integrated our membership and insurance and package operations, resulting in approximately $9.7 million of annual ongoing cost savings. In addition, during the first half of 2006, as part of our ongoing reorganization of our international and travel agency operations, we expect to generate approximately $11.0 million of annual cost savings. As part of the Transactions, we made a 338(h)(10) election to write up the value of our assets, which will reduce our cash taxes in the future and therefore, further enhance our free cash flow generation.

 

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Strong, Long-Term Relationships with Diverse Affinity Partners. We have cultivated strong long-term relationships with our affinity partners who are in a wide variety of industries, including financial services, retail, travel, telecommunications, utilities, Internet and other media. Our affinity partners value their relationship with us because it allows them to leverage our scale of operations and high level of analytical marketing expertise to generate incremental revenue without significant investment. Our relationships include 19 of the top 20 U.S. credit card issuers, 17 of the top 20 U.S. debit card issuers, 12 of the top 20 U.S. retail card issuers, 10 of the top 15 U.S. oil card issuers, 7 of the top 10 U.S. mortgage companies and 14 of the top 20 European retail banks. As the brand names and reputations of our affinity partners are crucial to their future success, they are very selective with regard to the use of their brand names. Due to the long-term relationships that we have with many of our affinity partners, we have built a level of trust that we believe would be difficult for our competitors or new entrants to the market to replicate. As a result, many of our key distribution partners have been with us for more than ten years.

Disciplined Marketing Approach Driven by Models and Proprietary Databases. We have over 30 years of experience in creating, executing and refining marketing programs with our affinity partners. Our marketing approach employs models and proprietary databases containing preferences and response rates for our products, as well as detailed performance and profitability data. This approach allows us to leverage historical information to design, customize and manage a large number of individual marketing campaigns across multiple media and product offerings tailored to each affinity partner. Furthermore, we believe that our database of customer contacts is the largest in the affinity direct marketing industry and that it enhances our ability to maximize the return on our marketing spend.

Leading Loyalty Solutions Platform. We currently manage approximately 125 billion points with an estimated redemption value of over $1.5 billion. We believe we are well positioned in this business due to our scale, leading technical capabilities and experience in assisting companies to manage their points liabilities, which are vital to companies seeking to differentiate their programs and enhance their efficiency and profitability. These attributes, combined with the fact that it is expensive, as well as technically difficult for our customers to switch administrators once a loyalty solutions platform is operational, result in high customer retention rates. While we manage points with an estimated redemption value of over $1.5 billion, we do not retain any liability related to the redemption of points.

Committed and Experienced Management Team. Our senior management team has extensive experience in the direct marketing industry. The top 12 members of the team have an average of 8 years of experience in the direct marketing industry. This extensive industry experience is combined with a proven operational track record and strong relationships with key decision-makers at our affinity partners. Our experienced management team has led the successful integration, which began in early 2004, of our membership, insurance and package enhancement, international and loyalty solutions operations and our management remains committed to maintaining our market leadership position in the industry and continuing to increase our earnings and cash flows.

Our Business Strategy

Our strategy is to maintain and enhance our position as a leading global affinity direct marketer by providing valuable, high quality and affordable programs and services that reinforce the relationship between the customer and our affinity partners and to focus on attractive opportunities which would increase our growth and cash flows.

Focus on Increasing Profitability. The integration of our operations will enable us to further optimize the allocation of our marketing spend across all of our operations and geographic regions in order to maximize the returns on each marketing campaign and, therefore, our overall long-term profitability. In addition, we expect

 

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that an expansion of our range of hybrid or bundled programs, such as premium versions of membership programs and combinations of membership and insurance programs, will increase our profitability as these programs generate higher revenues and margins. In addition, the ongoing shift of members from annual to monthly billing programs will continue to increase revenue per customer as annualized monthly membership fees are typically higher than annual membership fees. While increasing our revenues per customer, we also expect to increase our profitability by minimizing operating costs and capitalizing on the benefits of outsourcing and a more variable cost structure.

Continue to Execute Our Online Strategy for Customer Acquisition and Fulfillment. Since late 2003, we have pursued a strategy of leveraging the Internet for customer acquisition and fulfillment in order to capitalize on the increasing penetration and usage rates of the Internet. Our ability to attract new members, either through our affinity partners or directly, is enhanced by the fact that we target the online consumer at the moment of highest affinity—the transaction or point-of-sale. In 2004, we generated 400,000 members via our online member acquisition programs. In 2005, we recorded over 1.1 million new members through similar programs. The recognized and reputable brand names of our affinity partners assist us in attracting new members. The Internet also provides us with the opportunity to market programs directly to consumers beyond the customer bases of our affinity partners through the use of keywords on search sites as some of the most searched items on the Internet generally correlate well with the broad set of programs that we offer online such as travel, shopping and auto-related programs. In addition, the Internet will continue to enable us to significantly reduce our operating costs. For example, our online membership fulfillment costs are, on average, approximately 34% less than our regular mail fulfillment costs. We also pay lower associated commission rates to our affinity partners for new members generated via the Internet than via our other marketing channels.

Expand Our Range of Affinity Partners. We believe there are substantial opportunities to increase our presence in the travel, cable, telecom and utilities industries, in both the U.S. and Europe. Companies in these industries are attractive candidates for our product offerings as they generally have strong brand names and extensive customer contacts and billing vehicles. Our highly customized marketing campaigns can assist these companies in attracting and retaining customers as well as generating incremental revenue. Our recent package enhancement agreement with a leading European utility with nearly 30 million customers and retail marketing services arrangement with a large U.S. telecom service provider illustrate our success with this strategy.

Grow Our International Retail Operations. We believe that we are well positioned to provide our affinity partners and clients with comprehensive offerings on a global basis, particularly with our membership programs. We intend to grow our international retail membership operations by leveraging our significant U.S. experience to offer membership programs comparable to existing U.S. membership programs to European customers. We believe that the market for these kinds of membership programs is underserved in Europe and, as a result, has significant growth potential. Our international operations recently initiated direct marketing campaigns for our identity-theft resolution and credit monitoring programs in the United Kingdom, or U.K., that have shown promising initial results and we have developed relationships with several leading U.K. financial institutions to market these membership programs to their customer bases. We also intend to launch other membership programs such as Buyers Advantage and Travelers Advantage in the U.K., and eventually throughout Europe.

Continue to Focus on New Program Development. We continually develop and test new programs to identify consumer trends that can be converted into revenue-enhancing opportunities. Our existing infrastructure, broad portfolio of benefits and extensive marketing experience enable us to develop new programs more efficiently. We introduced a number of new programs in 2004 and 2005, including a repair and maintenance program for home systems and appliances and a coupon and gift card program that provides members discounts at over 100,000 national and local retail merchants. We believe that the programs that we are currently testing and plan to introduce in 2006 will continue our strong track record for developing new programs that increase profitability. We will also continue to bundle existing programs, program extensions and benefits into new

 

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packages, such as security and health care packages, to create significant incremental revenue opportunities, a practice which we have been successful in implementing in the past.

Leveraging Best Practices and Cross-Selling Opportunities. Since completing the integration of our operations, which we began in 2004, we have begun implementing best practices across our operations. We also intend to capitalize on the significant opportunities to cross-sell products across business lines and geographical regions that have been created by our business integration. For example, by combining the sales force of Progeny and Trilegiant in mid-2004, we are now able to offer membership programs to domestic regional banks and credit unions, whose members and end-customers have traditionally had favorable response rates with comparatively low attrition rates. We believe that the further rationalization of our operations will also continue to generate economies of scale, including greater purchasing power with third-party vendors. For example, we expect that the reorganization of our international and travel agency operations will result in approximately $11.0 million of annual cost savings primarily from the elimination of redundant functions and positions.

The Transactions

On July 26, 2005, we, along with our parent company, Holdings, entered into a purchase agreement with Cendant. Pursuant to the purchase agreement, on October 17, 2005, we purchased from Cendant all of the equity interests of AGLLC, and all of the share capital of AIH. The aggregate purchase price paid to Cendant was approximately $1.8 billion (consisting of cash and newly issued preferred stock of Holdings and after giving effect to certain fixed adjustments), subject to further adjustments as provided in the purchase agreement. In addition, Cendant received a warrant to purchase up to 7.5% of the common stock of Holdings.

As a result of the Acquisition, Holdings owns 100% of our total capital stock. As of December 31, 2005, (i) approximately 97% of Holdings’ outstanding common stock is owned by Affinion Group Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Parent LLC”) and an affiliate of Apollo Management V, L.P. (“Apollo”), with the remaining 3% owned by the management stockholders and (ii) 100% of Holdings’ outstanding preferred stock is owned by Cendant.

In connection with the Acquisition, (i) we and Holdings entered into a $960.0 million senior secured credit facility, consisting of a $100.0 million revolving credit facility and an $860.0 million term loan B facility, with Credit Suisse First Boston LLC (“Credit Suisse”) and Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. (“DBSI”) as joint bookrunners and joint lead arrangers, Credit Suisse, Cayman Islands Branch, as administrative agent, DBSI as syndication agent, Bank of America, N.A. and BNP Paribas Securities Corp. (“BNPPSC”) as co-documentation agents, and other lenders, (ii) we and Holdings entered into a $383.6 million unsecured senior subordinated bridge loan facility with Credit Suisse, Cayman Islands Branch, as administrative agent, DBSI as syndication agent, Banc of America Bridge LLC and BNPPSC as co-documentation agents, and Credit Suisse and DBSI as joint lead arrangers and joint bookrunners, and other lenders and (iii) we entered into an indenture with Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee, and issued $270 million of our 10  1 / 8 % senior notes due 2013 (the “initial senior notes”) in a private placement offering.

Additionally, in connection with the Acquisition, affiliates of Apollo made a cash equity investment of approximately $275.0 million. In this prospectus, we refer to the borrowings under our credit facility and our senior subordinated bridge loan facility, our issuance of the initial senior notes and the equity investment, along with the application of the proceeds therefrom, collectively, the “Acquisition Financing.”

As used in this prospectus, the term “Transactions” means, collectively, the Acquisition and the Acquisition Financing.

 

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The Acquisition was financed by:

 

    the $266.4 million of gross proceeds from the issuance of $270 million principal amount of our initial senior notes;

 

    borrowings of $860.0 million under the term loan B portion of our credit facility (our $100.0 million revolving credit facility was undrawn on October 17, 2005);

 

    borrowings of $383.6 million under our senior subordinated bridge loan facility (which amount has been fully refinanced, as described below under “—The Refinancing” and “—The Additional Senior Notes Offering”);

 

    a cash equity investment of $275.0 million by affiliates of Apollo; and

 

    the issuance to Cendant of preferred shares of Holdings having a $125.0 million liquidation preference (valued on a preliminary basis at $80.4 million in our consolidated financial statements) and a warrant (valued on a preliminary basis at $16.7 million in our consolidated financial statements).

The Refinancing

As used in this prospectus, the term “Refinancing” means the April 26, 2006 offer and issuance of the $355.5 million principal amount of our old senior subordinated notes and the application of the gross proceeds from the old senior subordinated notes, together with cash on hand to repay $349.5 million of outstanding borrowings under our senior subordinated bridge loan facility, plus accrued interest, and to pay fees and expenses associated with such offering.

The Additional Senior Notes Offering

As used in this prospectus, the term “Additional Senior Notes Offering” means the May 3, 2006 offer and issuance of an additional $34.0 million principal amount of our 10  1 / 8 % senior notes due 2013 (the “additional senior notes”) and the application of the gross proceeds from the additional senior notes, together with cash on hand, to repay the remaining $34.1 million of outstanding borrowings under our senior subordinated bridge loan facility, plus accrued interest, and to pay fees and expenses associated with such offering.

 

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Corporate Structure

The chart below summarizes our simplified ownership and capital structure at December 31, 2005 on a pro forma basis after giving effect to the Refinancing and the Additional Senior Notes Offering:

LOGO


(1) Certain U.S. subsidiaries are not guarantors of the senior notes, the senior subordinated notes or our credit facility. See “Description of the Senior Notes—Guarantees” and “Description of the Senior Subordinated Notes—Guarantees.”
(2) Certain foreign subsidiaries are not wholly-owned. See Note 11 to our audited consolidated and combined financial statements included elsewhere herein.

 

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The Sponsor

Apollo, our principal equity sponsor, is an affiliate of Apollo Management, L.P. Apollo Management, L.P. was founded in 1990 and is among the most active and successful private investment firms in the United States in terms of both number of investment transactions completed and aggregate dollars invested. Since its inception, Apollo Management, L.P. and affiliates have managed in excess of $13 billion in equity capital, in a wide variety of industries, both domestically and internationally, and are currently managing their latest fund, Apollo Investment Fund VI, L.P., with total committed capital of over $10 billion. Companies owned or controlled by Apollo Management, L.P. and affiliates or in which Apollo Management L.P. and affiliates have a significant equity investment include, among others, AMC Entertainment, Inc., Educate, Inc., General Nutrition Centers, Inc., Hexion Specialty Chemicals, Inc., Metals USA, Inc., Nalco Company and UAP Holding Corp.

Corporate Information

We are a Delaware corporation formed in July 2005 and are a holding company whose assets consist of the capital stock of our direct subsidiaries. Our headquarters and principal executive offices are located at 100 Connecticut Avenue, Norwalk, Connecticut 06850 and our telephone number is (203) 956-1000.

 

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Summary of the Terms of the Exchange Offer

In connection with the Acquisition Financing, we and the guarantors of the initial senior notes entered into a registration rights agreement with the initial purchasers of the initial senior notes. Under that agreement, we agreed to use commercially reasonable efforts to file a registration statement related to the exchange of initial senior notes for exchange senior notes with the SEC on or before April 15, 2006 and to cause the registration statement to become effective under the Securities Act on or prior to the 300th day after the issue date of the initial senior notes. Because we did not file the registration statement with the SEC on or before April 15, 2006, we have incurred additional interest expense pursuant to the registration rights agreement in the aggregate amount of approximately $ 46,500. We intend to pay the additional interest on October 15, 2006, the next scheduled interest payment date.

In connection with the Refinancing, we and the guarantors of the old senior subordinated notes entered into a registration rights agreement with the initial purchasers of the old senior subordinated notes. Under that agreement, we agreed to use commercially reasonable efforts to file a registration statement related to the exchange of old senior subordinated notes for exchange senior subordinated notes with the SEC on or prior to the 180th day after the issue date of the old senior subordinated notes and to cause the registration statement to become effective under the Securities Act on or prior to the 300th day after the issue date of such old senior subordinated notes.

In connection with the Additional Senior Notes Offering, we and the guarantors of the additional senior notes entered into a registration rights agreement with the initial purchasers of the additional senior notes. Under that agreement, we agreed to use commercially reasonable efforts to file a registration statement related to the exchange of additional senior notes for exchange senior notes with the SEC on or prior to the 180th day after the issue date of the additional senior notes and to cause the registration statement to become effective under the Securities Act on or prior to the 300th day after the issue date of such additional senior notes.

The registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part was filed in compliance with the obligations under these registration rights agreements.

You are entitled to exchange in this exchange offer your old notes for exchange notes which are identical in all material respects to the old notes except that:

 

    the exchange notes have been registered under the Securities Act and will be freely tradable by persons who are not affiliated with us;

 

    the exchange notes are not entitled to registration rights which are applicable to the old notes under the registration rights agreements; and

 

    our obligation to pay additional interest on the old notes as described in the registration rights agreements does not apply to the exchange notes.

For purposes of this and other sections in this prospectus, we refer to the old notes and the exchange notes together as the “notes.”

 

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The Exchange Offer

 

Senior Notes

We are offering to exchange up to $304,000,000 aggregate principal amount of our 10  1 / 8 % Senior Notes due 2013 which have been registered under the Securities Act for up to $270,000,000 aggregate principal amount of our old senior notes which were issued on October 17, 2005 and up to $34,000,000 aggregate principal amount of our old senior notes which were issued on May 3, 2006. Old senior notes may be exchanged only in integral amounts of $1,000.

 

Senior Subordinated Notes

We are offering to exchange up to $355,500,000 aggregate principal amount of our 11  1 / 2 % Senior Subordinated Notes due 2015 which have been registered under the Securities Act for up to $355,500,000 aggregate principal amount of our old senior subordinated notes which were issued on April 26, 2006. Old senior subordinated notes may be exchanged only in integral amounts of $1,000.

 

Resales

Based on interpretations by the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) set forth in no-action letters issued to third parties, we believe that the exchange notes issued pursuant to this exchange offer in exchange for old notes may be offered for resale, resold and otherwise transferred by you (unless you are our “affiliate” within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act) without compliance with the registration provisions of the Securities Act, provided that you

 

    are acquiring the exchange notes in the ordinary course of business, and

 

    have not engaged in, do not intend to engage in, and have no arrangement or understanding with any person to participate in, a distribution of the exchange notes.

Each participating broker-dealer that receives exchange notes for its own account pursuant to this exchange offer in exchange for the old notes that were acquired as a result of market-making or other trading activity must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of the exchange notes. See “Plan of Distribution.”

Any holder of notes who

 

    is our affiliate,

 

    does not acquire the exchange notes in the ordinary course of business, or

 

    tenders in this exchange offer with the intention to participate, or for the purpose of participating, in a distribution of exchange notes

cannot rely on the position of the staff of the SEC expressed in Exxon Capital Holdings Corporation, Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated or

 

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similar no-action letters and, in the absence of an exemption, must comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act in connection with the resale of the exchange notes.

 

Expiration; Withdrawal of Tenders

This exchange offer will expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City time,             , 2006, or such later date and time to which we extend it. We do not currently intend to extend the expiration date. A tender of old notes pursuant to this exchange offer may be withdrawn at any time prior to the expiration date. Any old notes not accepted for exchange for any reason will be returned without expense to the tendering holder promptly after the expiration or termination of this exchange offer.

 

Conditions to this Exchange Offer

This exchange offer is subject to customary conditions, some of which we may waive. See “The Exchange Offer—Certain Conditions to this Exchange Offer.”

 

Procedures for Tendering Old Notes

If you wish to accept this exchange offer, you must complete, sign and date the accompanying letter of transmittal, or a copy of the letter of transmittal, according to the instructions contained in this prospectus and the letter of transmittal. You must also mail or otherwise deliver the letter of transmittal, or the copy, together with the old notes and any other required documents, to the exchange agent at the address set forth on the cover of the letter of transmittal. If you hold old notes through The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) and wish to participate in this exchange offer, you must comply with the Automated Tender Offer Program procedures of DTC, by which you will agree to be bound by the letter of transmittal.

By signing or agreeing to be bound by the letter of transmittal, you will represent to us that, among other things:

 

    any exchange notes that you will receive will be acquired in the ordinary course of your business;

 

    you have no arrangement or understanding with any person or entity to participate in the distribution of the exchange notes;

 

    if you are a broker-dealer that will receive exchange notes for your own account in exchange for old notes that were acquired as a result of market-making activities, that you will deliver a prospectus, as required by law, in connection with any resale of such exchange notes; and

 

    you are not our “affiliate” as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act.

 

Guaranteed Delivery Procedures

If you wish to tender your old notes and your old notes are not immediately available or you cannot deliver your old notes, the letter of transmittal or any other documents required by the letter of transmittal or if you cannot comply with the applicable procedures under DTC’s Automated Tender Offer Program prior to the expiration

 

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date, you must tender your old notes according to the guaranteed delivery procedures set forth in this prospectus under “The Exchange Offer—Guaranteed Delivery Procedures.”

 

Effect on Holders of Old Notes

As a result of the making of, and upon acceptance for exchange of all validly tendered old notes pursuant to the terms of, this exchange offer, we will have fulfilled a covenant contained in the registration rights agreements and, accordingly, additional interest on the old notes, if any, shall no longer accrue and we will no longer be obligated to pay additional interest as described in the registration rights agreements. If you are a holder of old notes and do not tender your old notes in this exchange offer, you will continue to hold such old notes and you will be entitled to all the rights and limitations applicable to the old notes in the indenture, except for any rights under the registration rights agreement that by their terms terminate upon the consummation of this exchange offer.

 

Consequences of Failure to Exchange

All untendered old notes will continue to be subject to the restrictions on transfer provided for in the old notes and in the indentures governing the old notes. In general, the old notes may not be offered or sold unless registered under the Securities Act, except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. Other than in connection with this exchange offer, or as otherwise required under certain limited circumstances pursuant to the terms of the registration rights agreements, we do not currently anticipate that we will register the old notes under the Securities Act.

 

Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations

The exchange of old notes for exchange notes in this exchange offer should not be a taxable event for U.S. federal income tax purposes. See “Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations.”

 

Use of Proceeds

We will not receive any cash proceeds from the issuance of the exchange notes in this exchange offer.

 

Exchange Agent

Wells Fargo Bank, National Association is the exchange agent for this exchange offer. The address and telephone number of the exchange agent are set forth in the section captioned “The Exchange Offer—Exchange Agent.”

 

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Summary of the Terms of the Exchange Notes

 

Issuer

Affinion Group, Inc.

Exchange Notes Offered:

 

Senior Notes

$304,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 10  1 / 8 % Senior Notes due 2013.

 

Senior Subordinated Notes

$355,500,000 aggregate principal amount of 11  1 / 2 % Senior Subordinated Notes due 2015.

Maturity Date:

 

Senior Notes

The senior notes mature on October 15, 2013.

 

Senior Subordinated Notes

The senior subordinated notes mature on October 15, 2015.

Interest:

 

Senior Notes

10  1 / 8 % per annum, payable semi-annually on April 15 and October 15 of each year.

 

Senior Subordinated Notes

11  1 / 2  % per annum, payable semi-annually on April 15 and October 15 of each year.

.

 

Guarantees

The exchange notes, like the old notes, will be guaranteed by all of our existing and future domestic subsidiaries that guarantee our indebtedness under our credit facility and our old notes.

Ranking:

 

Senior Notes

The exchange senior notes, like the old senior notes, will be our senior unsecured obligations and will:

 

    rank equally in right of payment to all of our existing and future senior indebtedness;

 

    rank senior in right of payment to all of our existing and future subordinated indebtedness, including our senior subordinated notes; and

 

    be effectively subordinated in right of payment to our secured indebtedness, including obligations under our credit facility, to the extent of the value of the assets securing such indebtedness, and be structurally subordinated to all obligations, including trade payables, of each of our existing and future subsidiaries that are not guarantors.

 

 

Similarly, the guarantees of the exchange senior notes, like the guarantees of the old senior notes, will be senior unsecured obligations of the guarantors and will:

 

    rank equally in right of payment to all of the applicable guarantor’s existing and future senior indebtedness;

 

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    rank senior in right of payment to all of the applicable guarantor’s existing and future subordinated indebtedness, including the guarantor’s guarantees under our senior subordinated notes; and

 

    be effectively subordinated in right of payment to all of the applicable guarantor’s existing and future secured indebtedness, including the applicable guarantor’s guarantee under our credit facility, to the extent of the value of the assets securing such indebtedness, and be structurally subordinated to all obligations, including trade payables, of any subsidiary of a guarantor if that subsidiary is not also a guarantor.

 

Senior Subordinated Notes

The exchange senior subordinated notes, like the old senior subordinated notes, will be our senior unsecured obligations and will:

 

    rank junior in right of payment to all of our existing and future senior indebtedness, including our senior notes and obligations under our credit facility;

 

    rank equally in right of payment with all of our future senior subordinated indebtedness;

 

    be effectively subordinated in right of payment to our secured indebtedness, including obligations under our credit facility, to the extent of the value of the assets securing such indebtedness, and be structurally subordinated to all obligations, including trade payables, of each of our existing and future subsidiaries that are not guarantors; and

 

    rank senior in right of payment to all of our future subordinated indebtedness.

 

 

Similarly, the guarantees of the exchange senior subordinated notes, like the guarantees of the old senior subordinated notes, will be senior unsecured obligations of the guarantors and will:

 

    rank junior in right of payment to all of the applicable guarantor’s existing and future senior indebtedness, including the guarantor’s guarantees under our senior notes;

 

    rank equally in right of payment to all of the applicable guarantor’s existing and future senior subordinated indebtedness;

 

    be effectively subordinated in right of payment to all of the applicable guarantor’s existing and future secured indebtedness, including the applicable guarantor’s guarantee under our credit facility, to the extent of the value of the assets securing such indebtedness, and be structurally subordinated to all obligations, including trade payables, of any subsidiary of a guarantor if that subsidiary is not also a guarantor; and

 

    rank senior in right of payment to all of the applicable guarantor’s existing and future subordinated indebtedness.

 

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Optional Redemption:

 

Senior Notes

We may redeem some or all of the senior notes at any time on or after October 15, 2009, at the redemption prices described in this prospectus. In addition, on or before October 15, 2008, we may redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of the senior notes with the net proceeds of certain equity offerings, provided that at least 65% of the aggregate principal amount of the senior notes initially issued remain outstanding immediately after such redemption. See “Description of the Senior Notes—Optional Redemption” and “Risk Factors.”

 

Senior Subordinated Notes

We may redeem some or all of the senior subordinated notes at any time on or after October 15, 2010 at the redemption prices described in this prospectus. In addition, on or before October 15, 2008, we may redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of the senior subordinated notes with the net proceeds of certain equity offerings, provided that at least 65% of the aggregate principal amount of the senior subordinated notes initially issued remain outstanding immediately after such redemption. See “Description of the Senior Subordinated Notes—Optional Redemption” and “Risk Factors.”

 

Change of Control

If we experience a change of control (as defined in the indentures governing the notes) and fail to meet certain conditions, we will be required to make an offer to repurchase the notes at a price equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of purchase. See “Description of the Senior Notes—Change of Control,” “Description of the Senior Subordinated Notes—Change of Control” and “Risk Factors.”

 

Restrictive Covenants

The indentures governing the exchange notes contain certain covenants that, among other things, limit our ability and the ability of our restricted subsidiaries to:

 

    borrow money or sell preferred stock;

 

    create liens;

 

    pay dividends on or redeem or repurchase stock;

 

    make certain types of investments;

 

    sell stock in our restricted subsidiaries;

 

    restrict dividends or other payments from subsidiaries;

 

    enter into transactions with affiliates;

 

    issue guarantees of debt; and

 

    sell assets or merge with other companies.

 

 

These limitations are subject to a number of exceptions and qualifications. See “Description of the Senior Notes—Certain Covenants” and “Description of the Senior Subordinated Notes—Certain Covenants.”

 

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SUMMARY HISTORICAL AND PRO FORMA CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED FINANCIAL AND OTHER DATA

The following table presents our summary historical condensed consolidated and combined financial data and summary pro forma condensed consolidated financial data. This information is only a summary and should be read in conjunction with, and is qualified by reference to, the sections entitled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” and “Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Financial Information” and the audited consolidated and combined financial statements and the notes thereto included elsewhere herein.

The consolidated balance sheet data of Affinion as of December 31, 2005, the combined balance sheet data of the Predecessor as of December 31, 2004 and the related consolidated statements of operations data and cash flows data of Affinion for the period October 17, 2005 to December 31, 2005 and the related combined statements of operations data and cash flows data of the Predecessor for the period from January 1, 2005 to October 16, 2005 and for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003 are derived from the audited consolidated and combined financial statements and the notes thereto included elsewhere herein. The combined balance sheet data as of December 31, 2002 has been derived from the unaudited combined balance sheet of the Predecessor, and the combined statements of operations data and cash flows data for the year ended December 31, 2002 have been derived from the 2002 audited combined financial statements of the Predecessor, none of which are included herein.

The summary unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated statement of operations data for the year ended December 31, 2005 gives effect, in the manner described under “Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Financial Information” and the notes thereto, to the Transactions, the Refinancing and the Additional Senior Notes Offering as if these events occurred on January 1, 2005. The unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated balance sheet data as of December 31, 2005 gives effect to the Refinancing and the Additional Senior Notes Offering in the manner described under “Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Financial Information” and the notes thereto, as if it had occurred as of December 31, 2005.

For purposes of this prospectus, we have described our segment performance measure as “Segment EBITDA.” Segment EBITDA consists of income from operations before depreciation and amortization.

The summary unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial data is for information purposes only and is not intended to represent or be indicative of the consolidated results of operations that we would have reported had the Transactions, the Refinancing and the Additional Senior Notes Offering been completed as of the dates and for the period presented, and should not be taken as representative of our consolidated results of operations or financial condition following the completion of the Transactions, the Refinancing and the Additional Senior Notes Offering.

 

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    The Predecessor     The Company  
    Years Ended December 31,     For the Period
January 1, 2005
to October 16,
2005
    For the Period
October 17, 2005
to December 31,
2005(1)
    Pro Forma for the
Transactions,
the Refinancing and
the Additional Senior
Notes Offering for
the Year Ended
December 31,
2005(1)
 
    2002     2003     2004        
    (in millions)  

Condensed Consolidated and Combined Statements of Operations Data:

           

Net revenues

  $ 1,458.4     $ 1,443.7     $ 1,530.9     $ 1,063.8     $ 134.9     $ 1,198.7  
                                               

Expenses:

           

Marketing and commissions(2)

    698.6       683.7       665.3       515.0       87.1       588.3  

Operating costs

    409.6       379.5       383.3       315.0       48.7       363.7  

General and administrative

    112.5       115.7       185.0       134.5       20.2       129.6  

Gain on sale of assets

    —         —         (23.9 )     (4.7 )     —         (4.7 )

Depreciation and amortization

    45.3       44.5       43.9       32.3       84.5       407.4  
                                               

Total expenses

    1,266.0       1,223.4       1,253.6       992.1       240.5       1,484.3  
                                               

Income/(loss) from operations

    192.4       220.3       277.3       71.7       (105.6 )     (285.6 )

Interest income

    3.2       2.0       1.7       1.9       1.3       3.2  

Interest expense

    (15.5 )     (14.1 )     (7.3 )     (0.5 )     (31.9 )     (153.1 )

Other income/(expense), net

    (14.0 )     6.7       0.1       5.9       —         5.9  
                                               

Income/(loss) before income taxes and minority interests

    166.1       214.9       271.8       79.0       (136.2 )     (429.6 )

Provision for (benefit from) income taxes

    116.6       71.3       (104.5 )     28.9       —         4.1  

Minority interests, net of tax

    —         (0.7 )     (0.1 )     —         0.1       0.1  
                                               

Income/(loss) before cumulative effect of accounting change

    49.5       144.3       376.4       50.1       (136.3 )     (433.8 )

Cumulative effect of accounting change, net of tax

    (143.7 )     —         —         —         —         —    
                                               

Net income/(loss)

  $ (94.2 )   $ 144.3     $ 376.4     $ 50.1     $ (136.3 )   $ (433.8 )
                                               

Consolidated and Combined Balance Sheet Data (at period end):

           

Cash and cash equivalents (excludes restricted cash)

  $ 86.2     $ 63.2     $ 22.5       n/a     $ 113.4     $ 97.4  

Working capital deficit

    (450.3 )     (463.9 )     (322.4 )     n/a       (92.7 )     (99.8 )

Total assets

    1,335.0       1,246.6       1,158.5       n/a       2,200.0       2,182.8  

Total debt

    140.4       131.2       31.6       n/a       1,491.0       1,493.1  

Stockholder’s/combined equity

    123.7       115.6       293.6       n/a       233.9       223.5  

Consolidated and Combined Cash Flows Data:

           

Net cash provided by (used in):

           

Operating activities

  $ 34.7     $ 167.1     $ 256.9     $ 116.9     $ 22.5       —    

Investing activities

    (40.3 )     (27.2 )     1.9       (49.9 )     (1,631.5 )     —    

Financing activities

    (10.4 )     (165.6 )     (301.5 )     (23.4 )     1,722.9       —    

Other Financial Data:

           

Segment EBITDA(3)

  $ 237.7     $ 264.8     $ 321.2       —         —       $ 121.8  

Capital expenditures

    42.5       20.8       25.8     $ 24.0     $ 9.0       33.0  

(1) The amounts shown reflect, among other things, the purchase accounting adjustments made in the Transactions. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Results of Operations—Overview of 2005 Historical Operating Results.”
(2)

As discussed in Note 2 to the consolidated and combined financial statements included elsewhere herein, the Predecessor previously deferred costs which varied with and were directly related to acquiring new insurance business on its combined balance sheets as deferred acquisition costs to the extent such costs were deemed recoverable from future cash flows. These costs were amortized as marketing expense over a 12-year period using a declining balance method generally in proportion to the related insurance revenue, which amortization was based on attrition rates associated with the approximate rate that insurance revenues collected from customers decline over time. Amortization of deferred acquisition costs commenced upon recognition of the related insurance revenue. Immediately following the Transactions, we began expensing such costs as they are incurred. The acquisition costs incurred and capitalized by the Predecessor totaled approximately $57.2 million, $62.1 million and $58.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2002, 2003 and

 

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2004, respectively, and $37.1 million for the period from January 1, 2005 to October 17, 2005. The Predecessor’s amortization expense of deferred acquisition costs was $31.0 million, $29.1 million and $43.7 million for the years ended December 31, 2002, 2003 and 2004, respectively, and $42.0 million for the period from January 1, 2005 to October 17, 2005. We incurred and expensed acquisition costs that totaled $12.6 million for the period from October 17, 2005 to December 31, 2005.

(3) Segment EBITDA consists of income from operations before depreciation and amortization. Segment EBITDA is the measure management uses to evaluate segment performance and we present Segment EBITDA to enhance your understanding of our operating performance. We use Segment EBITDA as one criterion for evaluating our performance relative to that of our peers. We believe that Segment EBITDA is an operating performance measure, and not a liquidity measure, that provides investors and analysts with a measure of operating results unaffected by differences in capital structures, capital investment cycles and ages of related assets among otherwise comparable companies. However, Segment EBITDA is not a measurement of financial performance under U.S. GAAP, and our Segment EBITDA may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies. You should not consider our Segment EBITDA as an alternative to operating or net income determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP, as an indicator of our operating performance or as an alternative to cash flows from operating activities determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP, or as an indicator of cash flows, or as a measure of liquidity. For a reconciliation of net income/(loss) to Segment EBITDA, see the table included below. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as Segment EBITDA further adjusted to exclude non-cash and unusual items and other adjustments permitted in the indenture governing the notes to test the permissibility of certain types of transactions, including debt incurrence. We believe that the inclusion of the adjustments to Segment EBITDA applied in presenting Adjusted EBITDA are appropriate to provide additional information to investors about certain non-cash items and unusual items. However, Adjusted EBITDA is not a measurement of financial performance under U.S. GAAP, and our Adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies. You should not consider our Adjusted EBITDA as an alternative to operating or net income determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP, as an indicator of our operating performance or as an alternative to cash flows from operating activities determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP, or as an indicator of cash flows, or as a measure of liquidity.

Set forth below is a reconciliation of net income/(loss) to Segment EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA.

 

     The Predecessor    

Pro
Forma(a)

Year Ended
December 31,

2005

 
     Years Ended
December 31,
   
     2002     2003     2004    
     (in millions)        

Net income/(loss)

   $ (94.2 )   $ 144.3     $ 376.4     $ (433.8 )

Interest (income)/expense, net

     12.3       12.1       5.6       149.9  

Provision for/(benefit from) income taxes

     116.6       71.3       (104.5 )     4.1  

Minority interests, net of tax

     —         (0.7 )     (0.1 )     0.1  

Other (income)/expense, net

     14.0       (6.7 )     (0.1 )     (5.9 )

Depreciation and amortization

     45.3       44.5       43.9       407.4  

Cumulative effect of accounting change, net of tax

     143.7       —         —         —    
                                

Segment EBITDA

     237.7       264.8       321.2       121.8  

Effect of the Transactions, reorganization and non-recurring revenue and gains(b)

     (51.7 )     (58.9 )     (112.7 )     62.6  

Certain legal costs(c)

     —         1.2       74.2       18.9  

Net cost savings(d)

     17.6       20.2       17.2       37.6  

Other, net(e)

     (33.6 )     (34.2 )     (33.2 )     16.3  
                                

Adjusted EBITDA

   $ 170.0     $ 193.1     $ 266.7     $ 257.2  
                                

a. Gives effect to the Transactions, the Refinancing and the Additional Senior Notes Offering as if they occurred on January 1, 2005.
b. Effect of the Transactions, prior acquisitions, reorganizations and monetizations—eliminates the effect of prior business acquisitions and reorganizations, the elimination of operating results, non-recurring revenue and gains as a result of the 2004 Events (as hereinafter defined) and the elimination of the effects of the Transactions.
c. Certain legal costs—represents (i) legal expenses and judgment from the Fortis litigation which was not retained by us in the Transactions and (ii) certain non-recurring and unusual legal expenses associated with the AG Matters (as hereinafter defined) and the 2001 Class Action (as hereinafter defined), net of any indemnification to which we are entitled under the purchase agreement. See “Business—Legal Proceedings.”
d. Net cost savings—represents: (i) the elimination of general corporate overhead allocations from Cendant and historical long-term incentive compensation charges, net of estimated incremental stand-alone costs for all periods (which costs include non-cash pro forma compensation charges), (ii) the inclusion of $12 million ($3 million per quarter for the year ended December 31, 2005) representing what were anticipated cost savings under the 2005 Reorganization (as hereinafter defined) as permitted under our credit facility and the indenture governing our senior notes (while we currently expect that our 2005 Reorganization will result in approximately $11.0 million of annual cost savings, we have identified other initiatives from which we expect to realize additional cost savings) and (iii) the elimination of certain non-recurring costs, including certain non-recurring costs associated with facilities closure and severance incurred in 2005.
e. Other, net—represents: (i) net changes in estimates related to the sales tax reserve in 2004 and of other reserves in 2005, (ii) changing the historical accounting policy for insurance program marketing costs to our policy of expensing such costs as incurred, (iii) changes in contractual arrangements between us and Cendant as if such contractual terms were in place for all periods presented, and (iv) the elimination of certain non-recurring costs.

 

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RISK FACT ORS

You should carefully consider the risks described below before participating in this exchange offer. Any of the following risks could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations. Although the risks described below are all of the risks that we believe are material, they are not the only risks relating to our business and the notes. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial may also materially and adversely affect our business operations. In such case, you may lose all or part of your investment.

Risk Factors Related to an Investment in the Notes

Our substantial indebtedness could adversely affect our ability to raise additional capital to fund our operations, limit our ability to react to changes in the economy or our industry and prevent us from making debt service payments on the notes.

We are a highly leveraged company. As of December 31, 2005, we would have had, after giving pro forma effect to the Refinancing and the Additional Senior Notes Offering, $1.5 billion principal amount of outstanding indebtedness. After giving pro forma effect to the Transactions, the Refinancing and the Additional Senior Notes Offering, our annual debt service payment obligations for the year ended December 31, 2005, would have been approximately $134.2 million, of which $72.1 million represents debt service on fixed-rate obligations. Our ability to generate sufficient cash flow from operations to make scheduled payments on our debt will depend on a range of economic, competitive and business factors, many of which are outside our control. Our business may not generate sufficient cash flow from operations to meet our debt service and other obligations, and currently anticipated cost savings and operating improvements may not be realized on schedule, or at all. If we are unable to meet our expenses, debt service obligations, and other obligations we may need to refinance all or a portion of our indebtedness on or before maturity, sell assets or raise equity. We may not be able to refinance any of our indebtedness, sell assets or raise equity on commercially reasonable terms or at all, which could cause us to default on our obligations and impair our liquidity. Our inability to generate sufficient cash flow to satisfy our debt obligations, or to refinance our obligations on commercially reasonable terms, would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Our substantial indebtedness could have important consequences for you, including the following:

 

    it may limit our ability to borrow money or sell stock for our working capital, capital expenditures, debt service requirements, strategic initiatives or other purposes, such as marketing spend;

 

    it may make it more difficult for us to satisfy our obligations with respect to the notes;

 

    a substantial portion of our cash flow from operations will be dedicated to the repayment of our indebtedness and will not be available for other purposes;

 

    it may limit our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in our operations or business;

 

    we will be more highly leveraged than some of our competitors, which may place us at a competitive disadvantage;

 

    it may make us more vulnerable to downturns in our business or the economy;

 

    it may restrict us from making strategic acquisitions, introducing new technologies or exploiting business opportunities; and

 

    it may limit, along with the financial and other restrictive covenants in our indebtedness, among other things, our ability to borrow additional funds or dispose of assets.

Furthermore, our interest expense could increase if interest rates increase because all of the debt under our credit facility is variable-rate debt. See “Description of Other Indebtedness.”

 

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Despite our substantial indebtedness, we may still be able to incur significantly more debt. This could intensify the risks described above.

The terms of the indentures governing our notes and our credit facility contain restrictions on our and our subsidiaries’ ability to incur additional indebtedness. However, these restrictions are subject to a number of important qualifications and exceptions and the indebtedness incurred in compliance with these restrictions could be substantial. Accordingly, we or our subsidiaries could incur significant additional indebtedness in the future, much of which could constitute secured or senior indebtedness. As of December 31, 2005, after giving pro forma effect to the Refinancing and the Additional Senior Notes Offering, we would have had $98.5 million available for additional borrowing under our credit facility, including the subfacility for letters of credit, all of which would be secured. In addition to the notes and our borrowings under our credit facility, the covenants under our debt agreements would allow us to borrow a significant amount of additional indebtedness. The more we become leveraged, the more we, and in turn our securityholders, become exposed to the risks described above under “—Our substantial indebtedness could adversely affect our ability to raise additional capital to fund our operations, limit our ability to react to changes in the economy or our industry and prevent us from making debt service payments on the notes.”

We may not be able to generate sufficient cash to service all of our indebtedness, including the notes, and may be forced to take other actions to satisfy our obligations under our indebtedness that may not be successful.

Our ability to pay principal and interest on the notes and to satisfy our other debt obligations will depend upon, among other things:

 

    our future financial and operating performance, which will be affected by prevailing economic conditions and financial, business, regulatory and other factors, many of which are beyond our control; and

 

    the future availability of borrowings under our credit facility, the availability of which depends on, among other things, our complying with the covenants in our credit facility.

We cannot assure you that our business will generate sufficient cash flow from operations, or that future borrowings will be available to us under our credit facility or otherwise, in an amount sufficient to fund our liquidity needs, including the payment of principal and interest on the notes. See “Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Financial Condition, Liquidity and Capital Resources—Liquidity and Capital Resources Following the Transactions.”

If our cash flows and capital resources are insufficient to service our indebtedness, we may be forced to reduce or delay capital expenditures, sell assets, seek additional capital or restructure or refinance our indebtedness, including the notes. These alternative measures may not be successful and may not permit us to meet our scheduled debt service obligations. In addition, the terms of existing or future debt agreements, including our credit facility and the indentures governing our notes, may restrict us from adopting some of these alternatives. In the absence of sufficient operating results and resources, we could face substantial liquidity problems and might be required to dispose of material assets or operations to meet our debt service and other obligations. We may not be able to consummate those dispositions for fair market value or at all. Furthermore, any proceeds that we could realize from any such dispositions may not be adequate to meet our debt service obligations then due. Furthermore, Apollo and its affiliates have no continuing obligation to provide us with debt or equity financing.

We are a holding company and all of our assets are owned by and all of our net revenues are earned by our direct and indirect subsidiaries. Our ability to repay the notes depends upon the performance of these subsidiaries and their ability to make distributions.

We are a holding company and all of our operations are conducted by our subsidiaries. Therefore, our cash flows and our ability to service indebtedness, including our ability to pay the interest on and principal of the

 

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notes when due, will be dependent upon cash dividends and distributions or other transfers from our subsidiaries. Payments to us by our subsidiaries will be contingent upon our subsidiaries’ earnings.

Our subsidiaries are separate and distinct legal entities and, except for the existing and future subsidiaries that will be subsidiary guarantors of the notes, they will have no obligation, contingent or otherwise, to pay amounts due under the notes or to make any funds available to pay those amounts, whether by dividend, distribution, loan or other payments.

Your right to receive payments on the notes is effectively junior to those lenders who have a security interest in our assets.

Our obligations under the notes and our guarantors’ obligations under their guarantees of the notes will be unsecured. As a result, the notes and the related guarantees will be effectively subordinated to all of our and the guarantors’ secured indebtedness to the extent of value of the assets securing the indebtedness. Our obligations under our credit facility and each guarantor’s obligations under their respective guarantees of our credit facility will be secured by a security interest in substantially all of our domestic tangible and intangible assets and the assets and a portion of the stock of certain of our non-U.S. subsidiaries. In the event that we or a guarantor are declared bankrupt, become insolvent or are liquidated or reorganized, our obligations under our credit facility and any other secured obligations will be entitled to be paid in full from our assets or the assets of the guarantor, as the case may be, securing such obligation before any payment may be made with respect to the notes. Holders of our senior notes would participate ratably in our remaining assets or the remaining assets of the guarantor, as the case may be, with all holders of unsecured indebtedness that are deemed to rank equally with our senior notes based upon the respective amount owed to each creditor. Holders of our senior subordinated notes will not be entitled to any payments until all of our senior indebtedness, including our senior notes, have been paid in full. In addition, if we default under our credit facility, the lenders could declare all of the funds borrowed thereunder, together with accrued interest, immediately due and payable. If we were unable to repay such indebtedness, the lenders could foreclose on the pledged assets to the exclusion of holders of the notes, even if an event of default exists under the indenture under which the notes will be issued at such time. Furthermore, if the lenders foreclose and sell the pledged equity interests in any subsidiary guarantor under the notes, then that guarantor will be released from its guarantee of the notes automatically and immediately upon such sale. In any such event, because the notes will not be secured by any of our assets or the equity interests in subsidiary guarantors, it is possible that there would be no assets remaining from which your claims could be satisfied or, if any assets remained, they might be insufficient to satisfy your claims fully. See “Description of Other Indebtedness.”

As of December 31, 2005, on a pro forma basis after giving effect to the Refinancing and the Additional Senior Notes Offering, we would have had $841.0 million of senior secured indebtedness (of which $840.0 million would have been indebtedness under our credit facility and which does not include additional borrowing availability of $98.5 million under the revolving credit facility after giving effect to the issuance of $1.5 million of letters of credit). The indentures governing the notes permit the incurrence of substantial additional indebtedness by us and our restricted subsidiaries in the future, including secured indebtedness.

Your right to receive payments on the senior subordinated notes will be junior to all of our and the guarantors’ senior indebtedness, including our and the guarantors’ obligations under our credit facility, our senior notes and other existing and future senior debt.

The senior subordinated notes will be general unsecured obligations that will be junior in right of payment to all of our existing and future senior indebtedness. The guarantees will be general unsecured obligations of the guarantors that will be junior in right of payment to all of the applicable guarantor’s existing and future senior indebtedness.

We and the guarantors may not pay principal, premium, if any, interest or other amounts on account of the senior subordinated notes or the applicable guarantees, as applicable, in the event of a payment default or certain

 

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other defaults in respect of certain of our senior indebtedness, including the indebtedness under our credit facility and our senior notes, unless the senior indebtedness has been paid in full or the default has been cured or waived. In addition, in the event of certain other defaults with respect to the senior indebtedness, we and the guarantors will not be permitted to pay any amount on account of the senior subordinated notes or the guarantees, as applicable, for a designated period of time.

Because of the subordination provisions in the senior subordinated notes and the applicable guarantees, in the event of a bankruptcy, liquidation or dissolution of us or any guarantor, our and the guarantor’s assets will not be available to pay obligations under the senior subordinated notes or the applicable guarantee until we or the guarantor has made all payments on the respective senior indebtedness. We and the guarantors may not have sufficient assets after all these payments have been made to make any payments on the senior subordinated notes or the applicable guarantee, including payments of principal or interest when due.

As of December 31, 2005, on a pro forma basis after giving effect to the Refinancing and the Additional Senior Notes Offering, we would have had $1,144.0 million of senior indebtedness. The indenture governing the senior subordinated notes permits the incurrence of substantial additional indebtedness by us and our restricted subsidiaries in the future including senior debt.

If we default on our obligations to pay our other indebtedness, we may not be able to make payments on the notes.

Any default under the agreements governing our indebtedness, including a default under our credit facility, that is not waived by the required lenders or an event of default under the indentures governing our notes that is not waived with the written consent of the holders of a majority of the principal amount outstanding of both our senior notes and our senior subordinated notes, and the remedies sought by the holders of such indebtedness could make us unable to pay principal, premium, if any, and interest on the notes and substantially decrease the market value of the notes. If we are unable to generate sufficient cash flow and are otherwise unable to obtain funds necessary to meet required payments of principal, premium, if any, and interest on our indebtedness, or if we otherwise fail to comply with the various covenants, including financial and operating covenants, in the instruments governing our indebtedness (including our credit facility), we could be in default under the terms of the agreements governing such indebtedness. In the event of such default, the holders of such indebtedness could elect to declare all the funds borrowed thereunder to be due and payable, together with accrued and unpaid interest, the lenders under our revolving credit facility could elect to terminate their commitments, cease making further loans and institute foreclosure proceedings against our assets, and we could be forced into bankruptcy or liquidation. If our operating performance declines, we may in the future need to seek to obtain waivers from the required lenders under our credit facility to avoid being in default. If we breach our covenants under our credit facility and seek a waiver, we may not be able to obtain a waiver from the required lenders. If this occurs, we would be in default under our credit facility, the lenders could exercise their rights as described above, and we could be forced into bankruptcy or liquidation. See “Description of Other Indebtedness,” “Description of the Senior Notes” and “Description of the Senior Subordinated Notes.”

The notes will be structurally subordinated to all liabilities of our non-guarantor subsidiaries.

The notes are structurally subordinated to indebtedness and other liabilities of our subsidiaries that are not guaranteeing the notes. The notes will not be guaranteed by any of our foreign subsidiaries and certain of our domestic subsidiaries. These non-guarantor subsidiaries are separate and distinct legal entities and have no obligation, contingent or otherwise, to pay any amounts due pursuant to the notes, or to make any funds available therefor, whether by dividends, loans, distributions or other payments. In the period ended December 31, 2005, subsidiaries that are not guaranteeing the notes, contributed $176.9 million and $9.9 million to our pro forma net revenues and Segment EBITDA, respectively, and as of December 31, 2005, held $182.2 million of our pro forma total assets. In the event of a bankruptcy, liquidation or reorganization of any of our non-guarantor subsidiaries, these non-guarantor subsidiaries will pay the holders of their debts, holders of preferred equity

 

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interests and their trade creditors before they will be able to distribute any of their assets to us. Any right that we or the subsidiary guarantors have to receive any assets of any of the non-guarantor subsidiaries upon the liquidation or reorganization of those subsidiaries, and the consequent rights of holders of notes to realize proceeds from the sale of any of those subsidiaries’ assets, will be effectively subordinated to the claims of those subsidiaries’ creditors, including trade creditors and holders of preferred equity interests of those subsidiaries. At December 31, 2005, the non-guarantor subsidiaries would have had approximately $81.4 million of pro forma liabilities, including trade payables.

Federal and state fraudulent transfer laws permit a court to void the notes and the guarantees, and, if that occurs, you may not receive any payments on the notes.

The issuance of the notes and the guarantees may be subject to review under federal and state fraudulent transfer and conveyance statutes. While the relevant laws may vary from state to state, under such laws a court could void the obligations under the notes or the guarantees, subordinate the notes or the guarantees to the presently existing or future indebtedness of us or such subsidiary guarantor deem the use of the proceeds from the issuance of the notes to be a fraudulent conveyance or take other actions detrimental to the holders of the notes and the guarantees of the notes if (1) the consideration was paid with the intent of hindering, delaying or defrauding present or future creditors or (2) we or any of our subsidiary guarantors, as applicable, received less than reasonably equivalent value or fair consideration in return for issuing either the notes or a guarantee at the time the indebtedness was incurred, and, in the case of (2) only, one of the following is also true:

 

    we or any of our subsidiary guarantors were or was insolvent or rendered insolvent by reason of issuing the notes or the guarantees;

 

    payment of the consideration left us or any of our subsidiary guarantors with an unreasonably small amount of capital to carry on the business; or

 

    we or any of our subsidiary guarantors intended to, or believed that we or it would, incur debts beyond our or its ability to pay as they mature.

If a court were to find that the issuance of the notes or a guarantee was a fraudulent conveyance, the court could void the payment obligations under the notes or such guarantee or further subordinate the notes or such guarantee to presently existing and future indebtedness of ours or such subsidiary guarantor, or require the holders of the notes to repay any amounts received with respect to the notes or such guarantee. In the event of a finding that a fraudulent conveyance occurred, you may not receive any repayment on the notes. Further, the voidance of the notes could result in an event of default with respect to our other debt and that of our subsidiary guarantors that could result in acceleration of such debt.

The measures of insolvency for purposes of fraudulent conveyance laws vary depending upon the law of the jurisdiction that is being applied. Generally, an entity would be considered insolvent if, at the time it incurred indebtedness:

 

    the sum of its debts, including contingent liabilities, was greater than the fair saleable value of all its assets;

 

    the present fair saleable value of its assets was less than the amount that would be required to pay its probable liability on its existing debts and liabilities, including contingent liabilities, as they become absolute and mature; or

 

    it could not pay its debts as they become due.

We cannot be certain as to the standards a court would use to determine whether or not we or the subsidiary guarantors were solvent at the relevant time, or regardless of the standard that a court uses, that the issuance of the notes and the guarantees would not be subordinated to presently existing or future indebtedness of ours or any subsidiary guarantor.

 

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If the guarantees were legally challenged, any guarantee could also be subject to the claim that, since the guarantee was incurred for our benefit, and only indirectly for the benefit of the subsidiary guarantor, the obligations of the applicable subsidiary guarantor were incurred for less than fair consideration. A court could thus void the obligations under the guarantees, subordinate them to the applicable subsidiary guarantor’s other debt or take other action detrimental to the holders of the notes.

The terms of our credit facility and the indentures governing the notes may restrict our current and future operations, particularly our ability to respond to changes in our business or to take certain actions.

Our credit facility and the indentures governing the notes contain, and any future indebtedness of ours would likely contain, a number of restrictive covenants that will impose significant operating and financial restrictions on us, including restrictions on our ability to, among other things:

 

    incur or guarantee additional debt;

 

    pay dividends and make other restricted payments;

 

    create or incur certain liens;

 

    make certain investments;

 

    engage in sales of assets and subsidiary stock;

 

    enter into transactions with affiliates; and

 

    transfer all or substantially all of our assets or enter into merger or consolidation transactions.

In addition, our credit facility requires us to maintain certain financial ratios. As a result of these covenants, we are limited in the manner in which we conduct our business and we may be unable to engage in favorable business activities or finance future operations or capital needs.

A failure to comply with the covenants contained in our credit facility could result in an event of default, which, if not cured or waived, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. In the event of any default under our credit facility, the lenders thereunder:

 

    will not be required to lend any additional amounts to us;

 

    could elect to declare all borrowings outstanding, together with accrued and unpaid interest and fees, to be due and payable; or

 

    could require us to apply all of our available cash to repay these borrowings;

any of which could result in an event of default under the notes.

If the indebtedness under our credit facility or the notes were to be accelerated, there can be no assurance that our assets would be sufficient to repay such indebtedness in full. See “Description of Other Indebtedness,” “Description of the Senior Notes” and “Description of the Senior Subordinated Notes.”

We may not be able to repurchase the notes upon a change of control.

Specific kinds of change of control events will be an event of default under the indentures governing the notes unless we make an offer to repurchase all outstanding notes at 101% of their principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest, or by exercising our right to redeem such notes, in each case within 30 days of such change of control event. We will be dependent on our subsidiaries for the funds necessary to cure the event of default caused by such change of control event. In addition, we and our subsidiaries may not have sufficient financial resources to purchase all of the notes that are tendered upon a change of control offer or to redeem the notes. The occurrence of a change of control would also constitute an event of default under our credit facility and could constitute an event of default under our other indebtedness. If indebtedness under our credit facility or

 

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under the indentures governing our notes were to be accelerated because of an event of default, there can be no assurance that we would be able to repurchase the notes that are tendered upon a change of control. In addition, if we seek to obtain waivers from the required lenders under our credit facility or from the holders of a majority of the principal amount outstanding of both our senior notes and our senior subordinated notes, we may not be able to do so. See “Description of the Senior Notes—Change of Control” and “Description of the Senior Subordinated Notes—Change of Control.”

You may be adversely affected if you fail to exchange old notes.

We will only issue exchange notes in exchange for old notes that are timely received by the exchange agent, together with all required documents, including a properly completed and signed letter of transmittal. Therefore, you should allow sufficient time to ensure timely delivery of the old notes and you should carefully follow the instructions on how to tender your old notes. Neither we nor the exchange agent are required to tell you of any defects or irregularities with respect to your tender of the old notes. If you are eligible to participate in this exchange offer and do not tender your old notes or if we do not accept your old notes because you did not tender your old notes properly, then, after we consummate this exchange offer, you will continue to hold old notes that are subject to the existing transfer restrictions and will no longer have any registration rights or be entitled to any additional interest with respect to the old notes. In addition:

 

    if you tender your old notes for the purpose of participating in a distribution of the exchange notes, you will be required to comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any resale of the exchange notes; and

 

    if you are a broker-dealer that receives exchange notes for your own account in exchange for old notes that you acquired as a result of market-making activities or any other trading activities, you will be required to acknowledge that you will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of those exchange notes.

We have agreed that, for a period of 180 days after this exchange offer is consummated, we will make this prospectus available to any broker-dealer for use in connection with any resales of the exchange notes.

After this exchange offer is consummated, if you continue to hold any old notes, you may have difficulty selling them because there will be fewer old notes outstanding.

There may be no active trading market for the notes, and if one develops, it may not be liquid.

The exchange notes will constitute new issues of securities of the same class as the old notes for which there is no established trading market. We do not intend to list the exchange notes on any national securities exchange or to seek the admission of the exchange notes for quotation through the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System. Although the initial purchasers have advised us that they intend to make a market in the old notes and the exchange notes, they are not obligated to do so and may discontinue such market making activity at any time without notice. In addition, market making activity will be subject to limits imposed by the Securities Act and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and may be limited during the exchange offer and the pendency of any shelf registration statement. Although the old notes are eligible for trading in The PORTAL SM Market, there can be no assurance as to the development or liquidity of any market for the old notes or the exchange notes, the ability of the holders of the old notes or the exchange notes to sell their old notes or exchanges notes or the price at which the holders would be able to sell their old notes or the exchange notes. The liquidity of the trading market in the exchange notes, and the market price quoted for the exchange notes, may be adversely affected by changes in the overall market for high yield securities and by changes in our financial performance or prospects or in the prospects for companies in our industry generally. As a result, you cannot be sure that an active trading market will develop for the exchange notes. In addition, if a large amount of old notes are not tendered or are tendered improperly, the limited amount

 

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of exchange notes that would be issued and outstanding after we consummate this exchange offer would reduce liquidity and could lower the market price of those exchange notes.

Future trading prices of the notes will depend on many factors, including:

 

    our operating performance and financial condition;

 

    our ability to complete the offer to exchange the notes for the exchange notes;

 

    the interest of securities dealers in making a market; and

 

    the market for similar securities.

Historically, the market for non-investment grade debt has been subject to disruptions that have caused substantial volatility in the prices of securities similar to the notes offered hereby. The market for the notes, if any, may be subject to similar disruptions. Any such disruptions may adversely affect the value of your notes.

Risks Relating to Our Business

We have limited history as a stand-alone company and may not be successful as an independent company. Further, we will need to implement financial and disclosure control procedures and corporate governance practices to comply with the requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

Prior to the closing of the Acquisition in October 2005, we had no operating history as an independent company. Prior to the Acquisition, we relied on certain operational resources of Cendant. As a result of the Acquisition, we no longer have access to the borrowing capacity, cash flow and assets of Cendant, including cash management. We were also required to enter into new operating and other agreements with Cendant, some of which are transitional and others of which will be long-term, so that we will have the resources we anticipate will be necessary to operate as an independent company. See “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions.” We may not be able to provide these services ourselves or identify third-party vendors to provide these services on equivalent or more favorable terms to us than the terms of our historical arrangements with Cendant. In addition, the scope of our agreements with Cendant and the time frames, pricing and other terms may not provide us sufficient time to effect the transition with minimal disruption to our business. If Cendant fails to supply any of these transitional services or if we experience any difficulty in replacing these services on a timely basis or on favorable terms, our business and financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected. Even if the particular risks discussed above do not materialize, we may have underestimated significantly the costs of these services.

In addition, as of December 31, 2007, we will be subject to additional reporting requirements under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and related SEC rules and we must implement financial and disclosure control procedures and corporate governance practices in order to comply. In connection with our 2005 audit, our auditors identified certain reportable conditions (as such term is defined under applicable auditing standards) that could affect our ability to ensure timely and reliable financial reports. To ensure this and our ability to certify as to, and our auditors ability to attest to, the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting, we will need to develop further our accounting and financial capabilities, including the establishment of an audit committee as well as the development of certain documentation, systems and other controls. Failure to establish the necessary controls and procedures would make it difficult to comply with SEC rules and regulations with respect to internal control over financial reporting that could lead to a loss of confidence in the reliability of our financial statements and to penalties. Further, the actual costs of implementing the necessary policies and procedures could exceed our current estimates, which could have an adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

 

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The financial information in this prospectus may not be reflective of our operating results and financial condition as a separate, stand-alone entity.

The historical combined financial information included in this prospectus is derived from the historical consolidated financial statements of Cendant. The preparation of this information is based on certain assumptions and estimates including corporate allocations of costs from Cendant. This information may not necessarily reflect what our results of operations, financial position and cash flows would have been had we been a separate, stand-alone entity during the periods presented or what our results of operations, financial position and cash flows will be in the future. The 2005 pro forma Adjusted EBITDA information contained in this prospectus is based on an anticipated cost structure and cost savings that our management believes are reasonable. See “Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Financial Information.” We cannot assure you that the anticipated cost structure or cost savings from the Acquisition will be achieved. If our savings are less than our estimates or our cost savings initiatives adversely affect our operations or cost more or take longer to implement than we project, our results will be less than we anticipate and the savings we projected in computing 2005 pro forma Adjusted EBITDA may not be fully realized.

We must replace the customers we lose in the ordinary course of business and if we fail to do so our revenue and customer base will decline.

We lose a substantial number of our customers each year in the ordinary course of business. The loss of customers may occur due to numerous factors, including:

 

    changing customer preferences;

 

    competitive price pressures;

 

    general economic conditions;

 

    customer dissatisfaction; and

 

    credit or debit card holder turnover.

Failure to obtain new customers who produce revenue at least equivalent to the revenue from the lost customers would result in a reduction in our revenue as well as a decrease in the number of our customers. Because of the large number of customers we need to replace each year, there can be no assurance that we can successfully replace them. In addition, even if we are successful in adding new customers to replace lost revenues, our profitability may still decline. See “—Our profitability depends on members and end-customers continuing their relationship with us. Increased loss of customers could impair our profitability.”

We depend on various third-party vendors to supply certain products and services that we market. The failure of these vendors to provide these products or services could result in customer dissatisfaction and harm our business and financial condition.

We depend on various third-party vendors to supply the products and services that we market. Our third-party vendors are independent contractors. As a result, the quality of service they provide is not entirely within our control. If any third-party vendor were to cease operations, or terminate, breach or not renew its contract with us, or suffer interruptions, delays or quality problems, we may not be able to substitute a comparable third-party vendor on a timely basis or on terms favorable to us. With respect to the insurance programs that we offer, we are dependent on the insurance carriers that underwrite the insurance to obtain appropriate regulatory approvals. If we are required to use an alternative insurance carrier, it may materially increase the time required to bring an insurance related product to market. As we are generally obligated to continue providing our products and services to our customers even if we lose a third-party vendor, any disruption in our product offerings could harm our reputation and result in customer dissatisfaction. Replacing existing third-party vendors with more expensive third-party vendors could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

 

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We derive a substantial amount of our revenue from the members and end-customers we obtained through only a few of our affinity partners. If one or more of our agreements with our affinity partners were to be terminated or expire without renewal, or one or more of our affinity partners were to reduce the marketing of our services, we would lose access to prospective members and end-customers and could lose sources of revenue.

Although we market our programs and services through approximately 4,500 affinity partners, we derive a substantial amount of our net revenue from the customers we obtained through only a few of these affinity partners. For the year ended December 31, 2005, we derived more than half of our net revenues from members and end-customers we obtained through 10 of our affinity partners. See “Business—Affinity Partners.”

Many of our key affinity partner relationships are governed by agreements that may be terminated without cause by our affinity partners upon notice of as few as 90 days without penalty. Some of our agreements may be terminated by our affinity partners upon notice of as few as 30 days without penalty. Moreover, under many of these agreements, our affinity partners may cease or reduce their marketing of our services without terminating or breaching our agreements. Further, in the ordinary course of business, at any given time one or more of our contracts with key affinity partners may be selected for bidding through a request for proposal process. For example, there is a request for proposal for credit monitoring and identity theft resolution products with one of our largest affinity partners in the financial services industry, which we may lose. However, we believe that if we lose this business such loss would not have a material adverse effect on our business or operating results as we can redeploy our future marketing spend to other opportunities. A loss of a key affinity partner, a cessation or reduction in their marketing of our services or a decline in their businesses could have a material adverse effect on our future revenue from existing services of which such affinity partner’s customers are consumers of ours and on our ability to further market new or existing services through such affinity partner to prospective consumers. There can be no assurance that one or more of our key or other affinity partners will not terminate their relationship with us, cease or reduce their marketing of our services or suffer a decline in their business. The termination or non-renewal of a key affinity partner relationship could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

Our typical membership operations agreements with affinity partners provide that after termination of the contract we may continue to provide our services to existing members under the same economic arrangements that existed before termination. Under certain of our insurance operations agreements, however, affinity partners may require us to cease providing services to existing customers after time periods ranging from 90 days to five years after termination of the agreement. Affinity partners under certain agreements also may require us to cease providing services to their customers under existing arrangements if the contract is terminated for material breach by us. If one or more of these affinity partners were to terminate our agreements with them, and require us to cease providing our services to customers, then we could lose significant sources of revenue.

Our profitability depends on members and end-customers continuing their relationship with us. Increased loss of customers could impair our profitability.

We generally incur losses and negative cash flow during the initial year of an individual retail member or end-customer relationship, as compared to renewal years. This is due primarily to the fact that the costs associated with obtaining and servicing a new retail member and end-customer exceed the fee paid to us for the initial year. In addition, we experience a higher percentage of cancellations during the initial period as compared to renewal periods. Members and end-customers may cancel their arrangement at any time during the membership period and we are typically obligated to pay them refund amounts. Accordingly, our profitability depends on recurring and sustained renewals and an increase in the loss of members or end-customers could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

 

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We market many of our programs and services through credit card issuers. A downturn or consolidation in the credit card industry or changes in the marketing techniques of credit card issuers could adversely affect us.

Our future success is dependent in large part on continued demand for our programs and services within our affinity partners’ industries. In particular, our programs, products and services marketed through our credit card issuer affinity partners accounted for a significant amount of our revenues in 2005. A significant downturn in the credit card industry, a trend in that industry to reduce or eliminate its use of our programs, products and services, or further consolidation in the industry leading customers to use fewer credit cards could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

We depend on credit card processors to obtain payments for us.

We depend on credit card processors to obtain payments for us. The credit card processors operate pursuant to agreements that may be terminated with limited prior notice. In the event a credit card processor ceases operations or terminates its agreement with us, there can be no assurance a replacement credit card processor could be retained on a timely basis, if at all. Any service interruptions, delays or quality problems could result in delays in collecting payments, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

The increase in the share of monthly payment programs in our program mix may adversely affect our cash flow.

We have traditionally marketed membership programs which have up-front annual membership fees. However, we recently expanded our marketing of membership programs for which membership fees are payable in monthly installments. Approximately 70% of our new member enrollments as of the year ended December 31, 2005 were in monthly payment programs. Our increased emphasis on monthly payment programs adversely affects our cash flow in the short term because the membership fee is collected over the course of the year as opposed to at the beginning of the membership term as with annual billing.

Our business is highly competitive. We may be unable to compete effectively with other companies in our industry that have financial or other advantages and increased competition could lead to reduced market share, a decrease in margins and a decrease in revenue.

We believe that the principal competitive factors in our industry include the ability to identify, develop and offer innovative membership, insurance, package enhancement and loyalty programs, products and services, the quality and breadth of membership, insurance, package enhancement and loyalty programs, products and services offered, competitive pricing and in-house marketing expertise. Our competitors offer programs, products and services similar to, or which compete directly with, those offered by us. These competitors include, among others, Aegon, N.V., Vertrue Incorporated (f/k/a Memberworks Incorporated), Intersections, Fortis and General Electric Financial Assurance. In addition, we could face competition if our current affinity partners or other companies were to develop and market their own in-house programs, products and services similar to ours. In addition, certain of our affinity partners (who may have greater financial resources and less debt than we do) have attempted, or are attempting, to market and/or provide certain products to their customers, which marketing and servicing of such products historically were provided by us.

Some of these existing and potential competitors have substantially larger customer bases and greater financial and other resources than we do. There can be no assurance that:

 

    our competitors will not increase their emphasis on programs similar to those we offer;

 

    our competitors will not provide programs comparable or superior to those we provide at lower membership fees;

 

    our competitors will not adapt more quickly than us to evolving industry trends or changing market requirements;

 

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    new competitors will not enter the market; or

 

    other businesses (including our current affinity partners) will not themselves introduce in-house programs similar to those we offer.

In order to compete effectively with all of these competitors, we must be able to provide superior programs and services at competitive prices. In addition, we must be able to adapt quickly to evolving industry trends, a changing market, and increased regulatory requirements. Our ability to grow our business may depend on our ability to develop new programs and services that generate consumer interest. Failure to do so could result in our competitors acquiring additional market share in areas of consumer interest. Any increase in competition could result in price reductions, reduced gross margin and loss of market share, any of which could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Additionally, because contracts between affinity partners and program providers are often exclusive with respect to a particular program, potential affinity partners may be prohibited for a period of time from contracting with us to promote a new program if the benefits to and services included in our program are similar to, or overlap with, the programs and services provided by an existing program of a competitor.

Our business is increasingly subject to U.S. and foreign governmental regulation, which could impede our ability to market our programs and services and reduce our profitability.

We market our programs and services through various distribution media, including direct mail, online marketing, in-branch marketing, telemarketing and other methods. These media are regulated at both federal and state levels and we believe that these media will be subject to increasing regulation, particularly in the area of consumer privacy. Such regulation may limit our ability to solicit or sign up new customers or to offer products or services to existing customers.

Our U.S. membership and insurance operations are subject to extensive regulation and oversight by the Federal Trade Commission (the “FTC”), the Federal Communications Commission (the “FCC”), state attorneys general and other state regulatory agencies, including state insurance regulators. Our programs and services involve the use of nonpublic personal information that is subject to federal consumer privacy laws, such as the federal GLB, and various state laws governing consumer privacy, such as California’s SB 1, SB 1386 and others. Additionally, telemarketing of our programs and services is subject to federal and state telemarketing regulations, including the FTC’s Telemarketing Sales Rule, the FCC’s Telephone Consumer Protection Act and implementing regulations, as well as various state telemarketing laws and regulations. Furthermore, our insurance operations are subject to various state laws and regulations governing the business of insurance, including, without limitation, laws and regulations governing the administration, underwriting, marketing, solicitation or sale of insurance programs. While we do not believe that the laws and regulations passed to date will have a material impact on our business, additional federal or state laws, including subsequent amendments to existing laws, could cause a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

The telemarketing industry has become subject to an increasing amount of federal and state regulation as well as general public scrutiny. For example, the Federal Telephone Consumer Protection Act of 1991 limits the hours during which telemarketers may call consumers and prohibits the use of automated telephone dialing equipment to call certain telephone numbers. The Federal Telemarketing and Consumer Fraud and Abuse Prevention Act of 1994 and FTC regulations prohibit deceptive, unfair or abusive practices in telemarketing sales. The FTC’s 2003 Amendment to its Telemarketing Sales Rule created a national “Do-Not-Call” Registry, which became effective October 1, 2003, and certain states have enacted separate “Do-Not-Call” Registries. Both the FTC and state attorneys general have authority to prevent telemarketing activities deemed by them to be “unfair or deceptive acts or practices.” Further, some states have enacted laws, and others are considering enacting laws, targeted directly at regulating telemarketing practices, including the creation of “Do-Not-Call” Registries, and any such laws could adversely affect or limit our operations.

 

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Likewise, in the U.K. and EU, our marketing operations are subject to regulation, including data protection legislation restricting the use and transmission of consumers’ personal information, regulation of unsolicited marketing using electronic communications and financial services regulation of insurance intermediaries.

Compliance with these federal, state and foreign regulations is generally our responsibility, and we could be subject to a variety of enforcement and/or private actions for any failure to comply with such regulations. Any changes to such regulations could materially increase our compliance costs. The risk of our noncompliance with any rules and regulations enforced by a federal or state consumer protection authority or an enforcement agency in a foreign jurisdiction may subject us or our management to fines or various forms of civil or criminal prosecution, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. Certain types of noncompliance may also result in giving our affinity partners the right to terminate certain of our contracts. Also, the media often publicizes perceived noncompliance with consumer protection regulations and violations of notions of fair dealing with consumers, and our industry is susceptible to peremptory charges by the media of regulatory noncompliance and unfair dealing.

We are subject to numerous legal actions that could have a negative impact on our financial condition, results of operations, cash flows or reputation.

We are involved in claims, legal proceedings and governmental inquiries related to employment matters, contract disputes, business practices, trademark and copyright infringement claims and other commercial matters. We and our affiliates are also parties to a number of class action lawsuits, each of which alleges that we violated certain federal and/or state consumer protection statutes. In addition, we have received inquiries from numerous state attorneys general relating to the marketing of our membership programs. See “Business—Legal Proceedings.” While we cannot predict the outcome of pending suits, claims, investigations and inquiries, the cost of responding to and defending such suits, as well as the ultimate resolution of any of these matters, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows or reputation.

We rely on our affinity partners to provide customer information to us for certain marketing purposes and to approve our marketing materials. If our affinity partners make significant changes to the materials that decrease results or if they limit the information that they provide to us, our ability to generate new customers may be adversely affected.

Certain of our marketing efforts depend in part on certain limited customer information being made available to us by our affinity partners. There can be no assurance that our affinity partners will, or will be able to, continue to provide us with the use of such customer information.

Our marketing efforts are largely dependent on obtaining approval of the solicitation materials from our affinity partners. We market our programs and services based on tested marketing materials, and any significant changes to those materials that are required by our affinity partners could cause a negative impact to our results. The material terms of each marketing campaign must be mutually agreed upon by the parties. There can be no assurance that we will obtain approvals of our marketing materials from our affinity partners, and the failure to do so could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

A significant portion of our business is conducted with financial institution affinity partners, many of which are merging with other financial institutions. Marketplace consolidation may have an adverse impact on our business if an acquiring financial institution is not an existing affinity partner or does not wish to market with us, or if consolidated clients pressure us to lower our prices.

In recent years, a number of our existing financial institution marketing partners have been acquired by or merged with other financial institutions. In the event one of our affinity partners undergoes a consolidation and the consolidated financial institution does not have an agreement with us or does not wish to continue marketing

 

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with us, we could experience an adverse impact on our revenue. In addition, the consolidation of financial institutions may result in increased leverage to pressure us to lower our prices. If consolidated affinity partners pressure us to lower our prices, we may experience an adverse impact on our revenue. Consolidation may also lead to fewer potential customers of affinity partners to whom we can sell our programs and services.

We may lose members or end-customers and significant revenue if our existing services become obsolete, or if we fail to introduce new services with broad consumer appeal or fail to do so in a timely or cost-effective manner.

Our growth depends upon developing and successfully introducing new services that generate member and end-customer interest. Our failure to introduce these services or to develop new services, or the introduction or announcement of new services by competitors, could render our existing offerings noncompetitive or obsolete. There can be no assurance that we will be successful in developing or introducing new programs and services. Our failure to develop, introduce or expand our programs and services could harm our business and prospects.

Our failure to protect private data could damage our reputation and cause us to expend capital and other resources to protect against future security breaches.

Certain of our services are based upon the collection, distribution and protection of sensitive private data. Unauthorized users might access that data, and human error or technological failures might cause the wrongful dissemination of that data. If we experience a security breach, the integrity of certain of our services may be affected and such a breach could violate certain of our affinity partner agreements. We have incurred, and may incur in the future, significant costs to protect against the threat of a security breach. We may also incur significant costs to alleviate problems that may be caused by future breaches. Any breach or perceived breach could subject us to legal claims from affinity partners or customers under laws (such as California’s SB 1386) that govern breaches of electronic data systems containing non-public personal information. There is no assurance that we would prevail in such litigation. Moreover, any public perception that we have engaged in the unauthorized release of, or have failed to adequately protect, private information could adversely affect our ability to attract and retain members and end-customers. In addition, unauthorized third parties might alter information in our databases, which would adversely affect both our ability to market our services and the credibility of our information.

Our success and growth depends to a significant degree upon intellectual property rights.

We have a significant intellectual property portfolio and have allocated considerable resources toward intellectual property maintenance, prosecution and enforcement. We may be unable to deter infringement or misappropriation of our data and other proprietary information, detect unauthorized use or take appropriate steps to enforce our intellectual property rights. Any unauthorized use of our intellectual property could make it more expensive for us to do business and consequently harm our business. Failure to protect our existing intellectual property rights may result in the loss of valuable technologies or having to pay other companies for infringing on their intellectual property rights. We rely on patent, trade secret, trademark and copyright law as well as judicial enforcement to protect such technologies. Some of our technologies are not covered by any patent or patent application. In addition, our patents could be successfully challenged, invalidated, circumvented or rendered unenforceable. Furthermore, pending patent applications may not result in an issued patent, or if patents are issued to us, such patents may not provide meaningful protection against competitors or against competitive technologies. We also license patent rights from third parties. To the extent that such third parties cannot protect and enforce the patents underlying such licenses or, to the extent such licenses are cancelled or not renewed, our competitive position and business prospects may be harmed.

We could face patent infringement claims from our competitors or others alleging that our processes or programs infringe on their proprietary technology. If we were subject to an infringement suit, we may be required to (i) incur significant costs to license the use of proprietary technology, (ii) change our processes or

 

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programs or (iii) stop using certain technologies or producing the infringing program entirely. Even if we ultimately prevail in an infringement suit, the existence of the suit could cause our customers to seek other programs that are not subject to infringement suits. Any infringement suit could result in significant legal costs and damages and impede our ability to market or provide existing programs or create new programs, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

In addition, effective patent, trademark, copyright and trade secret protection may be unavailable or limited in some foreign countries. In some countries we do not apply for patent, trademark, or copyright protection. We also rely upon unpatented proprietary expertise, continuing technological innovation and other trade secrets to develop and maintain our competitive position. While we generally enter into confidentiality agreements with our employees and third parties to protect our intellectual property, such confidentiality agreements could be breached, and may not provide meaningful protection for our trade secrets or proprietary manufacturing expertise. Adequate remedies may not be available in the event of an unauthorized use or disclosure of our trade secrets and manufacturing expertise. In addition, others may obtain knowledge of our trade secrets through independent development or other access by legal means. The failure of our patents or confidentiality agreements to protect our processes, apparatuses, technology, trade secrets and proprietary manufacturing expertise, methods and compounds could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows by jeopardizing critical intellectual property.

Our business is highly dependent on our existing computer, billing, communications and other technological systems. Any temporary or permanent loss of any of our systems could have a negative effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Our business depends upon ongoing investments in advanced computer database and telecommunications technology as well as upon our ability to protect our telecommunications and information technology systems against damage or system interruptions from natural disasters, technical failures and other events beyond our control. In order to compete effectively and to meet our affinity partners’ and members’ needs, we must maintain our systems as well as invest in improved technology. A temporary or permanent loss of any of our systems or networks could cause significant damage to our reputation and could result in a loss of revenue.

In addition, we receive credit data electronically, and this delivery method is susceptible to damage, delay or inaccuracy. A significant portion of our business involves telephonic customer service as well as mailings, both of which depend upon the data generated from our computer systems. Unanticipated problems with our telecommunications and information technology systems may result in a significant system outage or data loss, which could interrupt our operations. Our infrastructure may also be vulnerable to computer viruses, hackers or other disruptions entering our systems from the credit reporting agencies, our affinity partners and members and end-customers or other authorized or unauthorized sources. Any damage to our telecommunications and information technology systems, failure of communication links or other loss that causes interruption in, or damage to, our operations could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

If we are unable to meet the rapid changes in technology, our services and proprietary technology and systems may become obsolete.

Due to the costs and management time required to introduce new services and enhancements, we may not be able to respond in a timely manner to avoid becoming uncompetitive. To remain competitive, we must meet the challenges of the introduction by our competitors of new services using new technologies or the introduction of new industry standards and practices. Additionally, the vendors we use to support our technology may not provide the level of service we expect or may not be able to provide their product or service on commercially reasonable terms or at all.

 

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We depend in part on the postal and telephone services we utilize to market and service our programs. An interruption of, or an increase in the billing rate for, such services could adversely affect our business.

We market and service our programs by various means, including through mail and via telephone. Accordingly, our business is dependent on the postal and telephone services provided by the U.S. Post Office and various local and long distance telephone companies. Any significant interruption of such services or any limitations in their ability to provide us with increased capacity could adversely impact our business, financial condition and results of operations. In addition, the U.S. Postal Service increases rates periodically and significant increases in rates could adversely impact our business.

Our future success depends on our ability to retain our key employees.

We are dependent on the services of Nathaniel J. Lipman, our President and Chief Executive Officer, and other members of our senior management team to remain competitive in our industry. The loss of Mr. Lipman or any other member of our senior management team could have an adverse effect on us. There is a risk that we will not be able to retain or replace these key employees. All of our current executive officers are subject to employment conditions or arrangements that contain post employment non-competition provisions. However, these arrangements permit the employees to terminate their employment without notice.

We are controlled by Apollo who will be able to make important decisions about our business and capital structure; their interests may differ from your interests as a debtholder.

Approximately 97% of the common stock of Holdings is held by investment funds affiliated with Apollo. As a result, Apollo controls us and has the power to elect a majority of the members of our board of directors, appoint new management and approve any action requiring the approval of the holders of Holdings’ stock, including approving acquisitions or sales of all or substantially all of our assets. The directors elected by Apollo have the ability to control decisions affecting our capital structure, including the issuance of additional capital stock, the implementation of stock repurchase programs and the declaration of dividends. The interests of our equity holders may not in all cases be aligned with those of the holders of the notes. If we encounter financial difficulties, or we are unable to pay our debts as they mature, the interests of our equity holders might conflict with those of the holders of the notes. In that situation, for example, the holders of the notes might want us to raise additional equity from our equity holders or other investors to reduce our leverage and pay our debts, while our equity holders might not want to increase their investment in us or have their ownership diluted and instead choose to take other actions, such as selling our assets. Our equity holders may have an interest in pursuing acquisitions, divestitures, financings or other transactions that, in their judgment, could enhance their equity investments, even though such transactions might involve risks to the holders of the notes. Additionally, Apollo is in the business of investing in companies and may, from time to time, acquire and hold interests in businesses that compete directly or indirectly with us. Apollo may also pursue acquisition opportunities that may be complementary to our business and, as a result, those acquisition opportunities may not be available to us.

 

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THE EXCHANG E OFFER

Purpose and Effect of this Exchange Offer

In connection with the Acquisition Financing, we and the guarantors of the initial senior notes entered into a registration rights agreement with the initial purchasers of the initial senior notes. Under that agreement, we agreed to use commercially reasonable efforts to file a registration statement related to the exchange of initial senior notes for exchange senior notes with the SEC on or before April 15, 2006 and to cause the registration statement to become effective under the Securities Act on or prior to the 300th day after the issue date of the initial senior notes. Because we did not file the registration statement with the SEC on or before April 15, 2006, we have incurred additional interest expense pursuant to the registration rights agreement in the aggregate amount of approximately $46,500. We intend to pay the addition interest on October 15, 2006, the next scheduled interest payment date.

In connection with the Refinancing, we and the guarantors of the old senior subordinated notes entered into a registration rights agreement with the initial purchasers of the old senior subordinated notes. Under that agreement we agreed to use commercially reasonable efforts to file a registration statement related to the exchange of old senior subordinated notes for exchange senior subordinated notes with the SEC on or prior to the 180th day after the issue date of the old senior subordinated notes and to cause the registration statement to become effective under the Securities Act on or prior to the 300th day after the issue date of such old senior subordinated notes.

In connection with the Additional Senior Notes Offering, we and the guarantors of the additional senior notes entered into a registration rights agreement with the initial purchasers of the additional senior notes. Under that agreement we agreed to use commercially reasonable efforts to file a registration statement related to the exchange of additional senior notes for exchange senior notes with the SEC on or prior to the 180th day after the issue date of the additional senior notes and to cause the registration statement to become effective under the Securities Act on or prior to the 300th day after the issue date of such additional senior notes.

The registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part was filed in compliance with the obligations under these registration rights agreements. The exchange notes will have terms substantially identical to the old notes except the exchange notes will not contain terms with respect to transfer restrictions and registration rights and we will not be obligated to pay additional interest as described in the registration rights agreements.

Under the circumstances set forth below, we will use our commercially reasonable efforts to cause the SEC to declare effective a shelf registration statement with respect to the resale of the old notes and to keep the shelf registration statement effective for a period of two years or such until such time as all of the old notes (a) have been sold thereunder or (b) can be sold under Rule 144 of the Securities Act, without any limitations. These circumstances include:

 

    because of any change in current law or SEC policy, we are not permitted to effect this exchange offer;

 

    this exchange offer is not consummated within 30 business days of the 300th date after October 17, 2005 in the case of the old senior notes or within 30 business days of the 300th day after April 26, 2006 in the case of the old senior subordinated notes; or

 

    any holder of old notes who is not able to participate in this exchange offer so requests in writing on or before the 60th day after the consummation of this exchange offer.

Each holder of old notes that wishes to exchange such old notes for transferable exchange notes in this exchange offer will be required to make the following representations:

 

    that any exchange notes to be received by it will be acquired in the ordinary course of its business;

 

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    that at the time of the commencement of the registered exchange offer it had no arrangement or understanding with any person to participate in the distribution (within the meaning of Securities Act) of exchange notes in violation of the Securities Act;

 

    that it is not an “affiliate,” as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act, of ours, or if it is an affiliate of ours, that it will comply with the applicable registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act;

 

    if such holder is not a broker-dealer, that it is not engaged in, and does not intend to engage in, the distribution of exchange notes; and

 

    if such holder is a broker-dealer, that it will receive exchange notes for its own account in exchange for old notes that were acquired as a result of market-making or other trading activities and that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such exchange notes.

Resale of Exchange Notes

Based on interpretations of the SEC staff set forth in no action letters issued to unrelated third parties, we believe that exchange notes issued under this exchange offer in exchange for old notes may be offered for resale, resold and otherwise transferred by any exchange note holder without compliance with the registration and prospectus delivery provisions of the Securities Act, if:

 

    such holder is not an “affiliate” of ours within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act;

 

    such exchange notes are acquired in the ordinary course of the holder’s business; and

 

    the holder does not intend to participate in the distribution of such exchange notes.

Any holder who tenders in this exchange offer with the intention of participating in any manner in a distribution of the exchange notes:

 

    cannot rely on the position of the staff of the SEC set forth in “Exxon Capital Holdings Corporation” or similar interpretive letters; and

 

    must comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act in connection with a secondary resale transaction.

This prospectus may be used for an offer to resell, for the resale or for other retransfer of exchange notes only as specifically set forth in this prospectus. With regard to broker-dealers, only broker-dealers that acquired the old notes as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities may participate in this exchange offer. Each broker-dealer that receives exchange notes for its own account in exchange for old notes, where such old notes were acquired by such broker-dealer as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities, must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of the exchange notes. Please read the section captioned “Plan of Distribution” for more details regarding these procedures for the transfer of exchange notes.

Terms of this Exchange Offer

Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this prospectus and in the letter of transmittal, we will accept for exchange any old notes properly tendered and not withdrawn prior to the expiration date. We will issue a like principal amount of exchange notes in exchange for the principal amount of old notes surrendered under this exchange offer.

The form and terms of the exchange notes will be substantially identical to the form and terms of the old notes except the exchange notes will be registered under the Securities Act, will not bear legends restricting their transfer and we will not be obligated to pay additional interest as described in the registration rights agreements.

 

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The exchange notes will evidence the same debt as the old notes. The exchange senior notes will be issued under and entitled to the benefits of the same indenture that authorized the issuance of the old senior notes. The exchange senior subordinated notes will be issued under and entitled to the benefits of the same indenture that authorized the issuance of the old senior subordinated notes. Consequently, in each case, each series of notes will be treated as a single class of debt securities under the applicable indenture.

This exchange offer is not conditioned upon any minimum aggregate principal amount of old notes being tendered for exchange.

As of the date of this prospectus, $304.0 million aggregate principal amount of the old senior notes and $355.5 million aggregate principal amount of the old senior subordinated notes are outstanding. This prospectus and the letter of transmittal are being sent to all registered holders of old notes. There will be no fixed record date for determining registered holders of old notes entitled to participate in this exchange offer.

We intend to conduct this exchange offer in accordance with the provisions of the registration rights agreements, the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules and regulations of the SEC. Old notes that are not tendered for exchange in this exchange offer will remain outstanding and continue to accrue interest and will be entitled to the rights and benefits such holders have under the applicable indenture relating to the old notes.

We will be deemed to have accepted for exchange properly tendered old notes when we have given oral or written notice of the acceptance to the exchange agent. The exchange agent will act as agent for the tendering holders for the purposes of receiving the exchange notes from us and delivering exchange notes to such holders.

Subject to the terms of the registration rights agreements, we expressly reserve the right to amend or terminate this exchange offer, and not to accept for exchange any old notes not previously accepted for exchange, upon the occurrence of any of the conditions specified below under the caption “—Certain Conditions to this Exchange Offer.”

Holders who tender old notes in this exchange offer will not be required to pay brokerage commissions or fees, or, subject to the instructions in the letter of transmittal, transfer taxes with respect to the exchange of old notes. We will pay all charges and expenses, other than those transfer taxes described below, in connection with this exchange offer. It is important that you read the section labeled “—Fees and Expenses” below for more details regarding fees and expenses incurred in this exchange offer.

Expiration Date; Extensions; Amendments

This exchange offer will expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City time on                      , 2006, unless in our sole discretion, we extend it.

In order to extend this exchange offer, we will notify the exchange agent orally or in writing of any extension. We will notify in writing or by public announcement the registered holders of old notes of the extension no later than 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on the business day after the previously scheduled expiration date.

We reserve the right, in our sole discretion:

 

    to delay accepting for exchange any old notes;

 

    to extend this exchange offer or to terminate this exchange offer and to refuse to accept old notes not previously accepted if any of the conditions set forth below under “—Certain Conditions to this Exchange Offer” have not been satisfied, by giving oral or written notice of such deal, extension or termination to the exchange agent; or

 

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    subject to the terms of the registration rights agreement, to amend the terms of this exchange offer in any manner.

Any such delay in acceptance, extension, termination or amendment will be followed as promptly as practicable by oral or written notice or public announcement thereof to the registered holders of old notes. If we amend this exchange offer in a manner that we determine to constitute a material change, including the waiver of a material condition, we will promptly disclose such amendment in a manner reasonably calculated to inform the holders of old notes of such amendment and will extend this exchange offer to the extent required by law, if necessary. Generally we must keep this exchange offer open for at least five business days after a material change. Pursuant to Rule 14e-1(b) under the Exchange Act, if we increase or decrease the percentage of old notes being sought, we will extend this exchange offer for at least ten business days from the date that notice of such increase or decrease is first published, sent or given by us to holders of the old notes. We currently do not intend to decrease the percentage of old notes being sought.

Without limiting the manner in which we may choose to make public announcements of any delay in acceptance, extension, termination or amendment of this exchange offer, we shall have no obligation to publish, advertise, or otherwise communicate any such public announcement, other than by issuing a timely press release to a financial news service.

Certain Conditions to this Exchange Offer

Despite any other term of this exchange offer, we will not be required to accept for exchange, or exchange any exchange notes for, any old notes, and we may terminate this exchange offer as provided in this prospectus before accepting any old notes for exchange if in our reasonable judgment:

 

    the exchange notes to be received will not be tradable by the holder without restriction under the Securities Act or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and without material restrictions under the blue sky or securities laws of substantially all of the states of the United States;

 

    this exchange offer, or the making of any exchange by a holder of old notes, would violate applicable law or any applicable interpretation of the staff of the SEC; or

 

    any action or proceeding has been instituted or threatened in any court or by or before any governmental agency with respect to this exchange offer that, in our judgment, would reasonably be expected to impair our ability to proceed with this exchange offer.

In addition, we will not be obligated to accept for exchange the old notes of any holder that prior to the expiration of the exchange offer has not made:

 

    the representations described under “—Purpose and Effect of this Exchange Offer”, “—Procedures for Tendering” and “Plan of Distribution,” and

 

    such other representations as may be reasonably necessary under applicable SEC rules, regulations or interpretations to make available to us an appropriate form for registration of the exchange notes under the Securities Act.

We expressly reserve the right, at any time or at various times on or prior to the scheduled expiration date of the exchange offer, to extend the period of time during which this exchange offer is open. Consequently, we may delay acceptance of any old notes by giving oral or written notice of such extension to the registered holders of the old notes in accordance with the notice procedures described in the following paragraph. During any such extensions, all old notes previously tendered will remain subject to this exchange offer, and we may accept them for exchange unless they have been previously withdrawn. We will return any old notes that we do not accept for exchange for any reason without expense to their tendering holder promptly after the expiration or termination of this exchange offer.

 

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We expressly reserve the right to amend or terminate this exchange offer on or prior to the scheduled expiration date of the exchange offer, and to reject for exchange any old notes not previously accepted for exchange, upon the occurrence of any of the conditions of this exchange offer specified above. We will give oral or written notice or public announcement of any extension, amendment, non-acceptance or termination to the registered holders of the old notes as promptly as practicable. In the case of any extension, such notice will be issued no later than 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on the business day after the previously scheduled expiration date.

These conditions are for our sole benefit and we may, in our sole discretion, assert them regardless of the circumstances that may give rise to them or waive them in whole or in part at any time or at various times except that all conditions to this exchange offer, other than those described in the first sentence of this section, must be satisfied or waived by us prior to the expiration of this exchange offer. If we fail to exercise any of the foregoing rights, that failure in itself will not constitute a waiver of such right. Each such right will be deemed an ongoing right that we may assert at any time or at various times except that all conditions to this exchange offer, other than those described in the first sentence of this section, must be satisfied or waived by us prior to the expiration of this exchange offer.

In addition, we will not accept for exchange any old notes tendered, and will not issue exchange notes in exchange for any such old notes, if at such time any stop order will be threatened or in effect with respect to the registration statement of which this prospectus constitutes a part or the qualification of the indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939.

Procedures for Tendering

Only a holder of old notes may tender such old notes in this exchange offer. To tender in this exchange offer, a holder must:

 

    complete, sign and date the letter of transmittal, or a facsimile of the letter of transmittal; have the signature on the letter of transmittal guaranteed if the letter of transmittal so requires; and mail or deliver such letter of transmittal or facsimile to the exchange agent prior to the expiration date; or

 

    comply with DTC’s Automated Tender Offer Program procedures described below.

In addition, either:

 

    the exchange agent must receive old notes along with the letter of transmittal; or

 

    the exchange agent must receive, prior to the expiration date, a timely confirmation of book-entry transfer of such old notes into the exchange agent’s account at DTC according to the procedures for book-entry transfer described below or a properly transmitted agent’s message; or

 

    the holder must comply with the guaranteed delivery procedures described below.

To be tendered effectively, the exchange agent must receive any physical delivery of the letter of transmittal and other required documents at the address set forth below under “—Exchange Agent” prior to the expiration date.

The tender by a holder that is not withdrawn prior to the expiration date will constitute an agreement between such holder and us in accordance with the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this prospectus and in the letter of transmittal.

The method of delivery of old notes, the letter of transmittal and all other required documents to the exchange agent is at the holder’s election and risk. Rather than mail these items, we recommend that holders use an overnight or hand delivery service. In all cases, holders should allow sufficient time to assure delivery to the

 

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exchange agent before the expiration date. Holders should not send us the letter of transmittal or old notes. Holders may request their respective brokers, dealers, commercial banks, trust companies or other nominees to effect the above transactions for them.

Any beneficial owner whose old notes are registered in the name of a broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee and who wishes to tender should contact the registered holder promptly and instruct it to tender on the owners’ behalf. If such beneficial owner wishes to tender on its own behalf, it must, prior to completing and executing the letter of transmittal and delivering its old notes, either:

 

    make appropriate arrangements to register ownership of the old notes in such owner’s name; or

 

    obtain a properly completed bond power from the registered holder of old notes.

The transfer of registered ownership may take considerable time and may not be completed prior to the expiration date.

Signatures on a letter of transmittal or a notice of withdrawal described below must be guaranteed by a member firm of a registered national securities exchange or of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., a commercial bank or trust company having an office or correspondent in the United States or another “eligible institution” within the meaning of Rule 17Ad-15 under the Exchange Act, unless the old notes tendered pursuant thereto are tendered:

 

    by a registered holder who has not completed the box entitled “Special Issuance Instructions” or “Special Delivery Instructions” on the letter of transmittal; or

 

    for the account of an eligible institution.

If the letter of transmittal is signed by a person other than the registered holder of any old notes listed on the old notes, such old notes must be endorsed or accompanied by a properly completed bond power. The bond power must be signed by the registered holder as the registered holder’s name appears on the old notes and an eligible institution must guarantee the signature on the bond power.

If the letter of transmittal or any old notes or bond powers are signed by trustees, executors, administrators, guardians, attorneys-in-fact, officers of corporations or others acting in a fiduciary or representative capacity, such persons should so indicate when signing. Unless waived by us, they should also submit evidence satisfactory to us of their authority to deliver the letter of transmittal.

The exchange agent and DTC have confirmed that any financial institution that is a participant in DTC’s system may use DTC’s Automated Tender Offer program to tender. Participants in the program may, instead of physically completing and signing the letter of transmittal and delivering it to the exchange agent, transmit their acceptance of this exchange offer electronically. They may do so by causing DTC to transfer the old notes to the exchange agent in accordance with its procedures for transfer. DTC will then send an agent’s message to the exchange agent. The term “agent’s message” means a message transmitted by DTC, received by the exchange agent and forming part of the book-entry confirmation, to the effect that:

 

    DTC has received an express acknowledgment from a participant in its Automated Tender Offer Program that is tendering old notes that are the subject of such book-entry confirmation;

 

    such participant has received and agrees to be bound by the terms of the letter of transmittal (or, in the case of an agent’s message relating to guaranteed delivery, that such participant has received and agrees to be bound by the applicable notice of guaranteed delivery); and

 

    the agreement may be enforced against such participant.

We will determine in our sole discretion all questions as to the validity, form, eligibility (including time of receipt), acceptance of tendered old notes and withdrawal of tendered old notes. Our determination will be final

 

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and binding. We reserve the absolute right to reject any old notes not properly tendered or any old notes the acceptance of which would, in the opinion of our counsel, be unlawful. We also reserve the right to waive any defects, irregularities or conditions of tender as to particular old notes. Our interpretation of the terms and conditions of this exchange offer (including the instructions in the letter of transmittal) will be final and binding on all parties. Unless waived, any defects or irregularities in connection with tenders of old notes must be cured within such time as we shall determine. Although we intend to notify holders of defects or irregularities with respect to tenders of old notes, neither we, the exchange agent nor any other person will incur any liability for failure to give such notification. Tenders of old notes will not be deemed made until such defects or irregularities have been cured or waived. Any old notes received by the exchange agent that are not properly tendered and as to which the defects or irregularities have not been cured or waived will be returned to the exchange agent without cost to the tendering holder, unless otherwise provided in the letter of transmittal, promptly following the expiration date.

In all cases, we will issue exchange notes for old notes that we have accepted for exchange under this exchange offer only after the exchange agent timely receives:

 

    old notes or a timely book-entry confirmation of such old notes into the exchange agent’s account at DTC; and

 

    a properly completed and duly executed letter of transmittal and all other required documents or a properly transmitted agent’s message.

By signing the letter of transmittal, each tendering holder of old notes will represent that, among other things:

 

    any exchange notes that the holder receives will be acquired in the ordinary course of its business;

 

    the holder has no arrangement or understanding with any person or entity to participate in the distribution of the exchange notes;

 

    if the holder is not a broker-dealer, that it is not engaged in and does not intend to engage in the distribution of the exchange notes;

 

    if the holder is a broker-dealer that will receive exchange notes for its own account in exchange for old notes that were acquired as a result of market-making activities, that it will deliver a prospectus, as required by law, in connection with any resale of such exchange notes; and

 

    the holder is not an “affiliate”, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act, of us.

Book-Entry Transfer

The exchange agent will make a request to establish an account with respect to the old notes at DTC for purposes of this exchange offer promptly after the date of this prospectus; and any financial institution participating in DTC’s system may make book-entry delivery of old notes by causing DTC to transfer such old notes into the exchange agent’s account at DTC in accordance with DTC’s procedures for transfer. Holders of old notes who are unable to deliver confirmation of the book-entry tender of their old notes into the exchange agent’s account at DTC or all other documents of transmittal to the exchange agent on or prior to the expiration date must tender their old notes according to the guaranteed delivery procedures described below.

Guaranteed Delivery Procedures

Holders wishing to tender their old notes but whose old notes are not immediately available or who cannot deliver their old notes, the letter of transmittal or any other required documents to the exchange agent or comply with the applicable procedures under DTC’s Automated Tender Offer Program prior to the expiration date may tender if:

 

    the tender is made through an eligible institution;

 

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    prior to the expiration date, the exchange agent receives from such eligible institution either a properly completed and duly executed notice of guaranteed delivery by facsimile transmission, mail or hand delivery or a properly transmitted agent’s message and notice of guaranteed delivery:

 

    setting forth the name and address of the holder, the registered number(s) of such old notes and the principal amount of old notes tendered;

 

    stating that the tender is being made thereby; and

 

    guaranteeing that, within three (3) New York Stock Exchange trading days after the expiration date, the letter of transmittal or facsimile thereof together with the old notes or a book-entry confirmation, and any other documents required by the letter of transmittal will be deposited by the eligible institution with the exchange agent; and

 

    the exchange agent receives such properly completed and executed letter of transmittal or facsimile thereof, as well as all tendered old notes in proper form for transfer or a book-entry confirmation, and all other documents required by the letter of transmittal, within three (3) New York Stock Exchange trading days after the expiration date.

Upon request to the exchange agent, a notice of guaranteed delivery will be sent to holders who wish to tender their old notes according to the guaranteed delivery procedures set forth above.

Withdrawal of Tenders

Except as otherwise provided in this prospectus, holders of old notes may withdraw their tenders at any time prior to the expiration date.

For a withdrawal to be effective:

 

    the exchange agent must receive a written notice, which notice may be by telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or letter of withdrawal at one of the addresses set forth below under “—Exchange Agent,” or

 

    holders must comply with the appropriate procedures of DTC’s Automated Tender Offer Program system.

Any such notice of withdrawal must:

 

    specify the name of the person who tendered the old notes to be withdrawn;

 

    identify the old notes to be withdrawn, including the principal amount of such old notes; and

 

    where certificates for old notes have been transmitted, specify the name in which such old notes were registered, if different from that of the withdrawing holder.

If certificates for old notes have been delivered or otherwise identified to the exchange agent, then, prior to the release of such certificates, the withdrawing holder must also submit:

 

    the serial numbers of the particular certificates to be withdrawn; and

 

    a signed notice of withdrawal with signatures guaranteed by an eligible institution unless such holder is an eligible institution.

If old notes have been tendered pursuant to the procedure for book-entry transfer described above, any notice of withdrawal must specify the name and number of the account at DTC to be credited with the withdrawn old notes and otherwise comply with the procedures of such facility. We will determine all questions as to the validity, form and eligibility, including time of receipt, of such notices, and our determination shall be final and binding on all parties. We will deem any old notes so withdrawn not to have validity tendered for exchange for

 

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purposes of this exchange offer. Any old notes that have been tendered for exchange but that are not exchanged for any reason will be returned to their holder without cost to the holder (or, in the case of old notes tendered by book-entry transfer into the exchange agent’s account at DTC according to the procedures described above, such old notes will be credited to an account maintained with DTC for old notes) as soon as practicable after withdrawal, rejection of tender or termination of this exchange offer. Properly withdrawn old notes may be retendered by following one of the procedures described under “—Procedures for Tendering” above at any time on or prior to the expiration date.

Exchange Agent

Wells Fargo Bank, National Association has been appointed as exchange agent for this exchange offer. You should direct questions and requests for assistance, requests for additional copies of this prospectus or of the letter of transmittal and requests for the notice of guaranteed delivery to the exchange agent addressed as follows:

 

By registered mail or certified mail:   By regular mail or overnight courier:   By Hand:

Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.

MAC - N9303-121

Corporate Trust Operations

P.O. Box 1517

Minneapolis, MN 55480-1517

 

Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.

MAC - N9303-121

Corporate Trust Operations

Sixth & Marquette Avenue

Minneapolis, MN 55479

 

Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.

Northstar East Building -

12th floor

Corporate Trust Services

608 Second Avenue South Minneapolis, MN 55402

Facsimile (eligible institutions only): (612) 667-4927

Telephone Inquiries: (800) 344-5128

Delivery of the letter of transmittal to an address other than as set forth above or transmission via facsimile other than as set forth above does not constitute a valid delivery of such letter of transmittal.

Fees and Expenses

We will bear the expenses of soliciting tenders. The principal solicitation is being made by mail; however, we may make additional solicitations by telegraph, telephone or in person by our officers and regular employees and those of our affiliates.

We have not retained any dealer-manager in connection with this exchange offer and will not make any payments to broker-dealers or others soliciting acceptances of this exchange offer. We will, however, pay the exchange agent reasonable and customary fees for its services and reimburse it for its related reasonable out-of-pocket expenses.

Our expenses in connection with this exchange offer include:

 

    SEC registration fees;

 

    fees and expenses of the exchange agent and trustee;

 

    accounting and legal fees and printing costs; and

 

    related fees and expenses.

Transfer Taxes

We will pay all transfer taxes, if any, applicable to the exchange of old notes under this exchange offer. The tendering holder, however, will be required to pay any transfer taxes, whether imposed on the registered holder or any other person, if:

 

    certificates representing old notes for principal amounts not tendered or accepted for exchange are to be delivered to, or are to be issued in the name of, any person other than the registered holder of old notes tendered;

 

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    tendered old notes are registered in the name of any person other than the person signing the letter of transmittal; or

 

    a transfer tax is imposed for any reason other than the exchange of old notes under this exchange offer.

If satisfactory evidence of payment of such taxes is not submitted with the letter of transmittal, the amount of such transfer taxes will be billed to that tendering holder.

Holders who tender their old notes for exchange will not be required to pay any transfer taxes. However, holders who instruct us to register exchange notes in the name of, or request that old notes not tendered or not accepted in this exchange offer be returned to, a person other than the registered tendering holder will be required to pay any applicable transfer tax.

Consequences of Failure to Exchange

Holders of old notes who do not exchange their old notes for exchange notes under this exchange offer will remain subject to the restrictions on transfer of such old notes:

 

    as set forth in the legend printed on the notes as a consequence of the issuance of the old notes pursuant to the exemptions from, or in transactions not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws; and

 

    otherwise as set forth in the applicable offering circular distributed in connection with the private offering of the old senior notes and the old senior subordinated notes, as the case may be.

In general, you may not offer or sell the old notes unless they are registered under the Securities Act, or if the offer or sale is exempt from registration under the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. Except as required by the applicable registration rights agreement, we do not intend to register resales of the old notes under the Securities Act. Based on interpretations of the SEC staff, exchange notes issued pursuant to this exchange offer may be offered for resale, resold or otherwise transferred by their holders, other than any such holder that is our “affiliate” within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act, without compliance with the registration and prospectus delivery provisions of the Securities Act, provided that the holders acquired the exchange notes in the ordinary course of the holders’ business and the holders have no arrangement or understanding with respect to the distribution of the exchange notes to be acquired in this exchange offer. Any holder who tenders in this exchange offer for the purpose of participating in a distribution of the exchange notes:

 

    could not rely on the applicable interpretations of the SEC; and

 

    must comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act in connection with a secondary resale transaction.

Accounting Treatment

We will record the exchange notes in our accounting records at the same carrying value as the old notes, as reflected in our accounting records on the date of exchange. Accordingly, we will not recognize any gain or loss for accounting purposes in connection with this exchange offer. We will capitalize the expenses of this exchange offer as deferred financing costs and expense these costs over the life of the exchange notes.

Other

Participation in this exchange offer is voluntary, and you should carefully consider whether to accept. You are urged to consult your financial and tax advisors in making your own decision on what action to take.

We may in the future seek to acquire untendered old notes in the open market or privately negotiated transactions, through subsequent exchange offers or otherwise. We have no present plans to acquire any old notes that are not tendered in this exchange offer or to file a registration statement to permit resales of any untendered old notes.

 

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USE OF PROCEEDS

We will not receive any cash proceeds from the issuance of the exchange notes. In consideration for issuing the exchange notes as contemplated in this prospectus, we will receive in exchange old notes in like principal amount, which will be canceled and as such will not result in any increase in our indebtedness. The proceeds from the issuance of the old notes were used as follows:

 

    the net proceeds from the initial senior notes were used to finance a portion of the Acquisitions;

 

    the gross proceeds from the old senior subordinated notes, plus cash on hand, were used to repay $349.5 million of principal borrowings under our senior subordinated bridge loan facility, plus accrued interest and related fees and expenses; and

 

    the net proceeds from the additional senior notes were used to repay the then remaining $34.1 million of principal borrowings under our senior subordinated bridge loan facility, plus accrued interest and related fees and expenses.

 

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CA PITALIZATION

The following table sets forth our cash and cash equivalents and capitalization as of December 31, 2005 both on an historical basis and on a pro forma basis after giving effect to the Refinancing and Additional Senior Notes Offering. This table should be read in conjunction with “Use of Proceeds,” “Summary—Summary Historical and Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated and Combined Financial and Other Data,” “Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Financial Information,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and our condensed consolidated and combined financial statements, including the related notes, included elsewhere in the prospectus.

 

     As of December 31,
2005
     Actual    Pro
Forma
     (in millions)

Cash and cash equivalents, excluding restricted cash

   $ 113.4    $ 97.4
             

Long-term debt, including current portion:

     

Revolving credit facility(1)

   $ —      $ —  

Term Loan B

     840.0      840.0

Senior Subordinated Bridge Loan Facility

     383.6      —  

10  1 / 8 % Senior Notes, net

     266.4      301.6

11  1 / 2 % Senior Subordinated Notes, net

     —        350.5

Capital lease obligations

     1.0      1.0
             

Total long-term debt, including current portion

     1,491.0      1,493.1

Total stockholder’s equity

     233.9      223.5
             

Total capitalization

   $ 1,724.9    $ 1,716.6
             

 

(1) As of December 31, 2005, our borrowing availability under the revolving credit facility was $98.5 million (after giving effect to the issuance of $1.5 million of letters of credit).

 

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UNAUDITED PRO FO RMA CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL INFORMATION

The following unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2005 and the unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2005 are based on the historical 2005 consolidated and combined financial statements included elsewhere herein. The pro forma financial statements give effect to the Refinancing and the Additional Senior Notes Offering as if they had occurred on December 31, 2005 for purposes of the pro forma condensed consolidated balance sheet, and give effect to the Transactions, the Refinancing and the Additional Senior Notes Offering as if they had occurred on January 1, 2005 for purposes of the pro forma condensed consolidated statements of operations for the year ended December 31, 2005. The Predecessor was acquired by Affinion Group, Inc. on October 17, 2005.

Pro forma adjustments for the Transactions were made to reflect:

 

    changes in depreciation and amortization expenses resulting from fair value adjustments to net tangible assets and amortizable intangible assets;

 

    increase in interest expense resulting from additional indebtedness incurred in connection with the Transactions; and

 

    transaction and debt issuance costs incurred as a result of the Transactions.

Pro forma adjustments for the Refinancing and the Additional Senior Notes Offering were made to reflect the write-off of the unamortized debt issuance costs related to the senior subordinated bridge loan facility that was repaid and to reflect the terms of the note offerings.

The pro forma information presented, including allocations of purchase price, is based on preliminary estimates of the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed, available information and management assumptions and will be revised based upon final calculations and the resolution of possible purchase price adjustments pursuant to the purchase agreement related to remaining payments to be made to management as additional information becomes available. A final determination of these fair values will reflect our consideration of a final valuation prepared by the independent third-party appraisers. This final valuation will be based on the actual net tangible and intangible assets and liabilities that existed as of the closing date of the Transactions. Any final adjustment may change the allocations of purchase price, which could affect the fair value assigned to the assets and liabilities and could result in a change to the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements, including the creation of additional goodwill.

The unaudited pro forma adjustments are based upon available information and certain assumptions that we believe are reasonable. The unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated statement of operations does not include the effect of the reductions in deferred revenue and prepaid commissions recorded in purchase accounting, nor the recording of a liability in purchase accounting for the fair value of servicing existing members at the date of the Transactions for which no revenue will be recognized in the future.

The unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” and the historical consolidated financial statements of the Company and the historical combined financial statements of the Predecessor, included elsewhere herein. The unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial statements are presented for information purposes only and are not intended to represent or be indicative of the combined results of operations or financial position that we would have reported had the Transactions, the Refinancing and the Additional Senior Note Offering been completed as of the dates and for the period presented, and should not be taken as representative of our consolidated results of operations or financial condition following the completion of the Transactions, the Refinancing and the Additional Senior Notes Offering.

 

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Affinion Group, Inc.

Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet

as of December 31, 2005

(in millions)

 

     The Company  
     December 31,
2005
   

Pro Forma

Adjustments for
the Refinancing and the
Additional Senior Notes
Offering (1)

    Pro Forma
Year Ended
December 31,
2005
 

Assets

      

Current assets:

      

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 113.4     $ (16.0 )(a)(b)   $ 97.4  

Restricted cash

     28.2       —         28.2  

Investments

     0.4       —         0.4  

Receivables (net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $2.8)

     61.5       —         61.5  

Receivables from related parties

     13.7       —         13.7  

Profit-sharing receivables from insurance carriers

     62.7       —         62.7  

Prepaid commissions

     40.7       —         40.7  

Other current assets

     38.6       —         38.6  
                        

Total current assets

     359.2       (16.0 )     343.2  

Property and equipment, net

     107.7       —         107.7  

Contract rights and list fees, net

     1.8       —         1.8  

Goodwill

     366.2       —         366.2  

Other intangibles, net

     1,317.8       —         1,317.8  

Other non-current assets

     47.3       (1.2 )(a)     46.1  
                        

Total assets

   $ 2,200.0     $ (17.2 )   $ 2,182.8  
                        

Liabilities and Stockholder’s Equity

      

Current liabilities:

      

Current portion of long-term debt

   $ 20.4     $ —       $ 20.4  

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

     276.5       (8.9 )(b)     267.6  

Payables to related parties

     3.1       —         3.1  

Deferred revenue

     148.6       —         148.6  

Deferred income taxes

     2.5       —         2.5  

Income taxes payable

     0.8       —         0.8  
                        

Total current liabilities

     451.9       (8.9 )     443.0  

Long-term debt

     1,470.6       2.1 (c)     1,472.7  

Deferred income taxes

     27.8       —         27.8  

Deferred revenue

     7.6       —         7.6  

Other long-term liabilities

     8.1       —         8.1  
                        

Total liabilities

     1,966.0       (6.8 )     1,959.2  
                        

Minority interests

     0.1       —         0.1  
                        

Stockholder’s Equity:

      

Common stock and additional paid-in capital, $0.01 par value, 1,000 shares authorized, and 100 shares issued and outstanding

     372.1       —         372.1  

Deficit

     (136.3 )     (10.4 )(a)     (146.7 )

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

     (1.9 )     —         (1.9 )
                        

Total stockholder’s equity

     233.9       (10.4 )     223.5  
                        

Total liabilities and stockholder’s equity

   $ 2,200.0     $ (17.2 )   $ 2,182.8  
                        

 

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Notes To Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet

Note 1:

Reflects the following pro forma adjustment to give effect to the Refinancing and the Additional Senior Notes Offering as if they had occurred on December 31, 2005:

 

  (a) Represents the write-off of the unamortized debt issuance costs of the senior subordinated bridge loan facility of $10.4 million and the recording of the estimated debt issuance costs from the note offerings of $9.2 million to be paid with existing cash on hand and $0.9 million in proceeds from the offerings.

 

  (b) Represents payment of accrued interest on the senior subordinated bridge loan facility payable at closing.

 

  (c) Represents additional debt incurred through the note offerings.

 

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Affinion Group, Inc.

Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations

(in millions)

 

    Company
Historical
    Predecessor
Historical
         

Company

Pro Forma

         

Company

Pro Forma

 
    For the Period
October 17,
2005 to
December 31,
2005(1)
   

For the

Period
January 1,
2005 to
October 16,
2005(1)

    Pro Forma
Adjustments
for the
Transactions(2)
    Pro Forma
for the
Transactions
for the Year
Ended
December 31,
2005
    Pro Forma
Adjustments
for the
Refinancing
and the
Additional
Senior Notes
Offering (3)
    Pro Forma
for the
Transactions, the
Refinancing and
the Additional
Senior Notes
Offering for
the Year Ended
December 31,
2005
 

Net revenues

  $ 134.9     $ 1,063.8     $ —       $ 1,198.7     $ —       $ 1,198.7  
                                               

Expenses:

           

Marketing and commissions

    87.1       515.0       (13.8 )(a)     588.3       —         588.3  

Operating costs

    48.7       315.0       —         363.7       —         363.7  

General and administrative

    20.2       134.5       (25.1 )(b)     129.6       —         129.6  

Gain on sale of assets

    —         (4.7 )     —         (4.7 )     —         (4.7 )

Depreciation and amortization

    84.5       32.3       290.6 (c)     407.4       —         407.4  
                                               

Total expenses

    240.5       992.1       251.7       1,484.3       —         1,484.3  

Income/(loss) from operations

    (105.6 )     71.7       (251.7 )     (285.6 )     —         (285.6 )

Interest income

    1.3       1.9       —         3.2       —         3.2  

Interest expense

    (31.9 )     (0.5 )     (119.2 )(d)     (151.6 )     (1.5 )(a)     (153.1 )

Other income

    —         5.9       —         5.9       —         5.9  
                                               

Income/(loss) before income taxes and minority interests

    (136.2 )     79.0       (370.9 )     (428.1 )     (1.5 )     (429.6 )

Provision for/(benefit from) income taxes

    —         28.9       (24.8 )(e)     4.1       —         4.1  

Minority interests, net of tax

    0.1       —         —         0.1       —         0.1  
                                               

Net income/(loss)

  $ (136.3 )   $ 50.1     $ (346.1 )   $ (432.3 )   $ (1.5 )   $ (433.8 )
                                               

 

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Notes To Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Operations

Note 1:

Reflects the Company’s consolidated results of operations for the period from October 17, 2005 to December 31, 2005 (Company Historical) and the Predecessor’s historical combined results of operations for the period from January 1, 2005 to October 16, 2005 (Predecessor Historical).

Note 2:

Reflects the following pro forma adjustments to give effect to the Transactions for the year ended December 31, 2005:

 

  (a) Represents: (i) the elimination of $8.9 million of marketing expenses related to the amortization of the Predecessor’s insurance contract rights and list fees that is reflected as amortization expense in 2005 (see adjustment (c) below); and, (ii) the adjustment to conform the Predecessor’s accounting for deferred acquisition costs to our accounting policy of expensing such costs as incurred in the amount of $4.9 million which amount represents the net impact of the acquisition expenses incurred during 2005 being less than the Predecessor’s historical amortization expense related to such costs.

 

  (b) Primarily represents the elimination of $18.2 million of bonus payments to certain of our officers and employees in connection with the closing of the Transactions that were expensed by the Predecessor, and the elimination of the $6.7 million charge related to the accelerated vesting of Cendant restricted stock units and stock options in connection with the closing of the Transactions that were expensed by the Predecessor.

 

  (c) Represents the net increase in amortization expense of intangible assets which reflects the increase in amortization expense resulting from the new values allocated on a preliminary basis to our identifiable intangible assets using lives ranging from 3 years to 15 years, primarily on an accelerated basis.

 

  (d) Represents incremental interest expense for the additional indebtedness related to the Transactions, consisting of the senior notes in the principal amount of $270.0 million, net of discount of $3.6 million, the term loan B under our credit facility in the principal amount of $860.0 million and our senior subordinated bridge loan facility in the principal amount of $383.6 million. The interest rates under the credit facility used for pro forma purposes are generally based on the rates in effect during the period from October 17, 2005 to December 31, 2005. The adjustment assumes amortization of the discount on the senior notes based upon an effective interest rate of 10.375%. Also, the adjustment assumes amortization of debt issuance costs of approximately $42.0 million using the effective interest method over the maturity of the debt. The estimated weighted average interest rate used to compute the pro forma adjustment for interest expense is approximately 8.8%.

 

  (e) Represents the elimination of the Predecessor’s historical provision for income taxes and the inclusion of a provision for income taxes based on our tax status following the Transactions. We have provided a valuation allowance against our net federal and state deferred tax assets with the exception of deferred tax liabilities relating to goodwill amortization for federal and state income tax purposes. The pro forma tax provision for income taxes primarily includes deferred taxes for goodwill deductible on our federal and state income tax returns, current state taxes and foreign income taxes.

Note 3:

Reflects the following pro forma adjustment to give effect to the Refinancing and the Additional Senior Notes Offering for the year ended December 31, 2005:

 

  (a) Represents the difference in interest for the senior subordinated bridge loan facility versus the note offerings along with the annual amortization of debt issuance costs and the discount and premium on the note offerings.

 

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SELECTED HISTORICAL CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED FINANCIAL AND OTHER DATA

The following table presents our selected historical consolidated and combined financial data for 2002 through 2005. The following information should be read in conjunction with, and is qualified by reference to, the section entitled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” and the audited consolidated and combined financial statements and the notes thereto included elsewhere in this prospectus.

The consolidated balance sheet data of Affinion as of December 31, 2005, the combined balance sheet data of the Predecessor as of December 31, 2004 and the related consolidated statements of operations data and cash flows data of Affinion for the period October 17, 2005 to December 31, 2005 and the related combined statements of operations data and cash flows data of the Predecessor for the period from January 1, 2005 to October 16, 2005 and for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003 are derived from the consolidated and combined financial statements and the notes thereto included elsewhere herein. The combined balance sheet data as of December 31, 2002 has been derived from the unaudited combined balance sheet of the Predecessor, and the combined statement of operations data and cash flows data for the year ended December 31, 2002 have been derived from the 2002 audited combined financial statements of the Predecessor none of which are included herein.

The table below does not include selected combined statement of operations data for the year ended December 31, 2001. A combination of factors result in our inability to provide the 2001 selected combined statement of operations information without unreasonable effort and expense. These factors are: (1) the combined statement of operations for our Predecessor does not exist; (2) our Predecessor’s principal revenue recognition system was replaced in 2001; and (3) our Predecessor retroactively implemented the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s Interpretation No. 46, “Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities,” as revised (“FIN 46R”), effective as of January 1, 2002, and it would require significant effort and expense to apply FIN 46R to the 2001 combined statement of operations. We believe that the omission of the selected combined statement of operations data for 2001 would not have a material impact on a reader’s understanding of our financial results and related trends.

 

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     The Predecessor     The Company  
     Years Ended December 31,    

For the Period
January 1, 2005

to October 16,
2005

   

For the Period
October 17, 2005

to December 31,
2005

 
     2002     2003     2004      
     (in millions, except ratios)  

Consolidated and Combined Statements of Operations Data:

          

Net revenues

   $ 1,458.4     $ 1,443.7     $ 1,530.9     $ 1,063.8     $ 134.9  
                                        

Expenses:

          

Marketing and commissions(1)

     698.6       683.7       665.3       515.0       87.1  

Operating costs

     409.6       379.5       383.3       315.0       48.7  

General and administrative

     112.5       115.7       185.0       134.5       20.2  

Gain on sale of assets

     —         —         (23.9 )     (4.7 )     —    

Depreciation and amortization

     45.3       44.5       43.9       32.3       84.5  
                                        

Total expenses

     1,266.0       1,223.4       1,253.6       992.1       240.5  
                                        

Income/(loss) from operations

     192.4       220.3       277.3       71.7       (105.6 )

Interest income

     3.2       2.0       1.7       1.9       1.3  

Interest expense

     (15.5 )     (14.1 )     (7.3 )     (0.5 )     (31.9 )

Other income/(expense), net

     (14.0 )     6.7       0.1       5.9       —    
                                        

Income/(loss) before income taxes and minority interests

     166.1       214.9       271.8       79.0       (136.2 )

Provision for/(benefit from) income taxes

     116.6       71.3       (104.5 )     28.9       —    

Minority interests, net of tax

     —         (0.7 )     (0.1 )     —         0.1  
                                        

Income/(loss) before cumulative effect of accounting change

     49.5       144.3       376.4       50.1       (136.3 )

Cumulative effect of accounting change, net of tax

     (143.7 )     —         —         —         —    
                                        

Net income/(loss)

   $ (94.2 )   $ 144.3     $ 376.4     $ 50.1     $ (136.3 )
                                        

Consolidated and Combined Balance Sheet Data (at period end):

          

Cash and cash equivalents (excludes restricted cash)

   $ 86.2     $ 63.2     $ 22.5       n/a     $ 113.4  

Working capital deficit

     (450.3 )     (463.9 )     (322.4 )     n/a       (92.7 )

Total assets

     1,335.0       1,246.6       1,158.5       n/a       2,200.0  

Total debt

     140.4       131.2       31.6       n/a       1,491.0  

Stockholder’s/combined equity

     123.7       115.6       293.6       n/a       233.9  

Consolidated and Combined Cash Flows Data:

          

Net cash provided by/(used in):

          

Operating activities

   $ 34.7     $ 167.1     $ 256.9     $ 116.9     $ 22.5  

Investing activities

     (40.3 )     (27.2 )     1.9       (49.9 )     (1,631.5 )

Financing activities

     (10.4 )     (165.6 )     (301.5 )     (23.4 )     1,722.9  

Other Financial Data:

          

Capital expenditures

   $ 42.5     $ 20.8     $ 25.8     $ 24.0     $ 9.0  

Ratio of earnings to fixed charges(2)

     8.5 x     11.4 x     19.8 x     15.9 x     —    

(1)

As discussed in Note 2 to the consolidated and combined financial statements included elsewhere herein, the Predecessor previously deferred costs which varied with and were directly related to acquiring new insurance business on its combined balance sheets as deferred acquisition costs to the extent such costs were deemed recoverable from future cash flows. These costs were amortized as marketing expense over a

 

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12-year period using a declining balance method generally in proportion to the related insurance revenue, which amortization was based on attrition rates associated with the approximate rate that insurance revenues collected from customers decline over time. Amortization of deferred acquisition costs commenced upon recognition of the related insurance revenue. Immediately following the Transactions, we began expensing such costs as they are incurred. The acquisition costs incurred and capitalized by the Predecessor totaled approximately $57.2 million, $62.1 million and $58.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2002, 2003 and 2004, respectively, and $37.1 million for the period from January 1, 2005 to October 17, 2005. The Predecessor’s amortization expense of deferred acquisition costs was $31.0 million, $29.1 million and $43.7 million for the years ended December 31, 2002, 2003 and 2004, respectively, and $42.0 million for the period from January 1, 2005 to October 17, 2005. We incurred and expensed acquisition costs that totaled $12.6 million for the period from October 17, 2005 to December 31, 2005.

(2) For purposes of computing the ratio of earnings to fixed charges, earnings consist of income before income taxes and minority interests plus fixed charges. Fixed charges consist of interest expense, amortization of debt issuance costs and a portion of rental expense that management believes is representative of the interest component of rental expense. Our earnings were insufficient to cover fixed charges by $136.2 million for the period from October 17, 2005 to December 31, 2005. Additionally, on a pro forma basis after giving effect to the Transactions, the Refinancing and the Additional Senior Notes Offering, earnings would have been insufficient to cover fixed charges and there would have been a deficiency of $429.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2005.

 

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MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following discussion and analysis of our results of operations and financial condition should be read in conjunction with the consolidated and combined financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus. This discussion contains forward-looking statements and involves numerous risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, those described in the “Risk Factors” section of this prospectus. Actual results may differ materially from those contained in any forward looking statements. See “Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements.”

Introduction

Management’s discussion and analysis of results of operations and financial condition (“MD&A”) is provided as a supplement to the consolidated and combined financial statements and the related notes thereto included elsewhere herein to help provide an understanding of our financial condition, changes in financial condition and results of our operations. The MD&A is organized as follows:

 

    Overview . This section provides a general description of our business and operating segments, as well as recent developments that we believe are important in understanding our results of operations and financial condition and in anticipating future trends.

 

    Results of operations . This section provides an analysis of our results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2005 (on a pro forma basis), 2004 and 2003. This analysis is presented on both a consolidated and combined basis and on an operating segment basis. The 2005 results of operations are presented on a pro forma basis that gives effect, in the manner described under “Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Financial Information” and the notes thereto, to the Transactions, the Refinancing and the Additional Senior Notes Offering as if they occurred on January 1, 2005.

 

    Financial condition, liquidity and capital resources . This section provides an analysis of our cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2005 (on a pro forma basis which combines the Predecessor’s and the Company’s results for the period), 2004 and 2003 and our financial condition as of December 31, 2005, as well as a discussion of our liquidity and capital resources prior to and following the Transactions, the Refinancing and the Additional Senior Notes Offering.

 

    Quantitative and qualitative disclosures about market risk . This section discusses how we manage exposure to potential loss arising from adverse changes in interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates.

 

    Critical accounting policies . This section discusses certain significant accounting policies considered to be important to our financial condition and results of operations, and which require significant judgment and estimates on the part of management in their application. In addition, all of our significant accounting policies, including our critical accounting policies, are summarized in Note 2 to our consolidated and combined financial statements included elsewhere in the prospectus.

Overview

Description of Business

We are a leading affinity direct marketer of value-added membership, insurance and package enhancement programs and services to consumers, with over 30 years of experience. We offer our programs and services worldwide through approximately 4,500 affinity partners as of December 31, 2005. We utilize the brand names, customer contacts and billing vehicles of our affinity partners to market a broad portfolio of 25 core programs in approximately 200 configurations. We market to consumers using direct mail, online marketing, in-branch marketing, telemarketing and other marketing methods. Our programs provide our members and end-customers with access to a variety of discounts and shop-at-home conveniences in such areas as retail merchandise, travel, automotive and home improvement; insurance programs such as accidental death and dismemberment, hospital

 

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accident protection and hospital indemnity protection, and personal protection benefits and services such as credit monitoring and identity-theft resolution services. In addition, we have a growing loyalty solutions operation which administers points-based loyalty programs. We market our programs under the Trilegiant, Affinion Benefits Group, Cims and Trilegiant Loyalty Solutions service marks. As of December 31, 2005, we had approximately 70 million members and end-customers worldwide.

We currently operate in four operating segments:

 

    Membership Operations—designs, implements, and markets membership programs to customers of our affinity partners in North America and provides travel agency services primarily to our membership customers.

 

    Insurance and Package Operations—markets accidental death and dismemberment insurance (“AD&D”) and other insurance programs to customers of our affinity partners in North America and designs and provides package enhancement programs primarily to financial institutions in North America, who, in turn, market or provide these programs to their customers.

 

    International Operations—markets membership programs and package enhancement programs to customers of our affinity partners outside North America.

 

    Loyalty Operations—administers points-based loyalty programs and provides enhancement benefits to credit card issuers.

These operations use both retail and wholesale arrangements. In our subscription-based retail arrangements, we incur marketing expenses to acquire new customers for our membership, insurance and package enhancement programs with the objective of building highly profitable and predictable recurring future revenue streams and cash flows. In our membership and package enhancement operations, these marketing costs are expensed when the campaign is launched, while in our insurance operations these costs through the date of the Transactions were capitalized and amortized over twelve years in proportion to the revenue expected to be earned from those campaigns. For periods following the closing of the Transactions, we have changed our accounting policy so that these insurance marketing costs are expensed when the costs are incurred as the campaign is launched similar to our membership and package operations. This change will eliminate the historical differences between the actual cash marketing spend and the marketing costs expensed in a period.

Our membership programs are offered under a variety of terms and conditions. Members are usually offered incentives (e.g. free credit reports or other premiums) and one to three month risk-free trial periods to encourage them to use the benefits of membership before they are billed. We do not recognize any revenue during the trial period and expense the cost of all incentives and program benefits and servicing costs as incurred.

Customers of our membership programs typically pay their membership fees either annually or monthly. Our membership operations may have significant timing differences between the receipt of membership fees for annual members and revenue recognition. Historically, memberships were offered primarily under full money back terms whereby a member could receive a full refund upon cancellation at any time during the current membership term. These revenues are recognized upon completion of the membership term when they are no longer refundable. Depending on the length of the trial period, this revenue may not be recognized for up to 16 months after the related marketing spend is incurred and expensed. Currently, annual memberships are primarily offered under pro-rata arrangements in which the member is entitled to a prorated refund for the unused portion of their membership term. This allows us to recognize revenue ratably over the annual membership term. In late 2003, we began to expand the types of memberships that we offer to include memberships under monthly payment programs. During the year ended December 31, 2005, approximately 70% of our new member enrollments were in monthly payment programs. Revenue is recognized monthly under both annual pro rata and monthly memberships, allowing for a better matching of revenues and related servicing and benefit costs when compared to annual full money back memberships. Memberships remain under the billing terms in which they were originated. As we replace annual memberships with monthly memberships we receive less cash at the beginning of the membership term and, therefore, have lower deferred revenue resulting in temporarily higher

 

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Segment EBITDA (as discussed under “Financial Condition, Liquidity and Capital Resources—Covenant Compliance—Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures to GAAP Financial Measures” below) than cash flows from operations. We believe that once monthly memberships, as a percentage of all members within the membership base, reach a constant level, Segment EBITDA and cash flows from operations will be more closely aligned.

We utilize the brand names, customer contacts and billing vehicles (credit or debit card, checking account, mortgage or other type of billing arrangement) of our affinity partners in our marketing campaigns. We generally compensate our affinity partners either with commissions based on revenues we receive from members (which we expense in proportion to the revenue we recognize) or up-front marketing payments, commonly referred to as bounties (which we expense when incurred). The commission rates which we pay to our affinity partners differ depending on the arrangement we have with the particular affinity partner and the type of media which we utilize in the marketing campaign. For example, marketing campaigns which utilize direct mail and online programs generally have lower commission rates than other marketing media we use. As a result of recent changes in affinity partner arrangements and the use of more direct mail and online media in our new marketing campaigns, our commission rates have decreased.

In our insurance operations, we serve as an agent and third-party administrator for the marketing of AD&D and other insurance programs. Free trial periods and incentives are generally not offered with our insurance programs. Insurance program participants typically pay their insurance premiums either monthly or quarterly. Insurance revenues are recognized ratably over the insurance period and there are no significant differences between cash flows and related revenue recognition. We earn revenue in the form of commissions collected on behalf of the insurance carriers and participate in profit-sharing relationships with the carriers that underwrite the insurance policies that we market. Our estimated share of profits from these arrangements is reflected as profit-sharing receivables from insurance carriers on the accompanying consolidated and combined balance sheets and any changes in estimated profit sharing are periodically recorded as an adjustment to net revenue. Revenue from insurance programs is reported net of insurance costs in the accompanying consolidated and combined financial statements.

Our wholesale arrangements involve us providing services to our affinity partners to support programs for their customers. Our affinity partners are typically responsible for customer acquisition, retention and collection and typically pay us one-time implementation fees and ongoing monthly service fees based on the number of members enrolled in these programs. Implementation fees are recognized over the contract period while monthly service fees are recognized in the month earned. Wholesale revenues also include revenues from transactional activities associated with our programs such as the sales of additional credit reports and discount shopping and travel purchases by members. The revenues from such transactional activities are recognized in the month earned.

To increase the flexibility of our business model, we have made significant progress by transitioning our operations from a highly fixed-cost structure to a more variable structure by combining similar functions and processes, consolidating facilities and outsourcing a significant portion of our call center and other back-office processing. This added flexibility should better enable us to redeploy our marketing capital globally across our operations to maximize returns.

Factors Affecting Results of Operations and Financial Condition

Competitive Environment

As a leader in the affinity direct marketing industry, we are competing with many other organizations, including certain of our affinity partners, to obtain a share of the customers’ business. As affinity direct marketers, we derive our leads from customer contacts, which our competitors seek access to, and must generate sufficient earnings per lead for our affinity partners to compete effectively.

 

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We compete with companies of varying size, financial strength and availability of resources. Our competitors include financial institutions, insurance companies, consumer goods companies, internet companies and others as well as other direct marketers offering similar programs. Some of our competitors are larger than we are, with more resources, financial and otherwise.

We expect this competitive environment to continue in the foreseeable future.

Financial Industry Trends

Historically, financial institutions have represented a significant majority of our affinity partner base. In the past few years, a number of our existing financial institution affinity partners have been acquired by, or merged with, other financial institutions. Several recent examples include Bank of America Corporation and Fleet Boston Financial Corporation, JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Bank One Corporation, and Washington Mutual, Inc. and Providian Financial. As we generally have relationships with either the acquirer, the target or, as in most cases, both the acquirer and the target, this industry consolidation has not, to date, had a material long-term impact on either our marketing opportunities or our margins, but has created delays in new program launches while the merging institutions focus on consolidating their internal operations.

In certain circumstances, our financial affinity partners have sought to develop and market their own in-house programs, most notably programs that are analogous to our credit monitoring and identity-theft resolution services. As we have sought to maintain our market share and to continue these programs with our partners, in some circumstances we have shifted from a retail marketing arrangement to a wholesale arrangement. As a result, this trend has caused some margin compression for us, most notably in the inbound telemarketing channel, and has accelerated the shift from retail to wholesale arrangements for our credit monitoring and identity-theft resolution services.

Internationally, our package programs have been primarily offered by some of the largest financial institutions in Europe, as well as the world. As these banks attempt to increase their own net revenues and margins, we have experienced significant price reductions from what we had previously been able to charge these institutions for our programs when our agreements come up for renewal. We expect this pricing pressure on our international package offerings to continue in the near-term and that it will cause our income from operations, Segment EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA for the year ended 2006 to be lower as compared to the year ended 2005.

Regulatory Environment

We are subject to federal and state regulation as well as regulation by foreign authorities in other jurisdictions. Certain regulations that govern our operations include: federal, state and foreign marketing laws; federal, state and foreign privacy laws; and federal, state and foreign insurance and consumer protection regulations. Federal regulations are primarily enforced by the FTC and the FCC. State regulations are primarily enforced by individual state attorneys general. Foreign regulations are enforced by a number of regulatory bodies in the relevant jurisdictions. See “Business—Governmental and Regulatory Matters.”

These regulations primarily impact the means we use to market our programs, which can reduce the conversion rates of our solicitation efforts, and impact our ability to obtain updated information from our members and end-customers and, in our insurance operations, limit our ability to implement pricing changes.

We incur significant costs to ensure compliance with these regulations; however, we are party to lawsuits, including class action lawsuits, and state attorney general investigations involving our business practices which also increase our costs of doing business.

 

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Seasonality

Historically, seasonality has not had a significant impact on our business. Our revenues are more affected by the timing of marketing programs which can change from year to year depending on the opportunities available and pursued.

Business History

General . Our business started with our North American membership operations in 1973. Over a decade later we expanded our business to include North American insurance and package operations. In 1988, we acquired a loyalty solutions and enhancement programs business and in the early 1990s, we expanded our membership and package operations internationally. During these periods, the various operations within the combined financial statements operated independently and were subject to certain non-compete agreements between them which limited their access to new channels, affinity partners, products and markets.

In 2004, we terminated the non-compete agreements described above and streamlined our organizational structure to integrate these historically separately managed operations. Accordingly, our North American membership, insurance, package and loyalty operations came under common management beginning in the first quarter of 2004 and the North American management team assumed responsibility for our international operations in late 2004 and oversight of the travel agency in the first quarter of 2005.

Integration and the 2005 Reorganization. In February 2004, we began integrating the North American membership and insurance and package operations. The organizational structures of the two operations were realigned to combine departments and eliminate redundant functions. We reorganized the sales forces to be more aligned with the needs of our affinity partners and have a unified and comprehensive approach to the North American market. We also combined our marketing and procurement efforts to take advantage of the larger scale of the combined businesses. During 2004 and continuing in 2005, as part of this initial integration effort, we incurred approximately $7.4 million of severance and other restructuring costs which have resulted in approximately $9.7 million of annual ongoing cost savings.

In 2005, we developed reorganization plans for our international and North American travel agency operations based on our successful earlier integration efforts, including facility consolidation, outsourcing of our call center and other back office functions as well as eliminating redundant functions and centralizing oversight for common processes (the “2005 Reorganization”). During 2005 we incurred $8.1 million of costs as part of the 2005 Reorganization and during 2006 we expect to incur an additional $2.1 million of costs as part of the 2005 Reorganization and to generate approximately $11.0 million of annual cost savings. We intend to review opportunities for further rationalization of all of our operations.

2004 Events. During 2004, we elected to monetize certain recurring revenue streams and assets (the “2004 Events”). These transactions consisted of the following:

 

    In late 2001 and early 2002, we conducted one-time marketing programs to assist a third party in acquiring customers and in return we earned a royalty from revenues received by the third party from these customers. As this type of arrangement is not part of our core strategy, in December 2004 we sold this royalty stream back to the third party and terminated the related agreements.

 

    During 2003, to improve profitability from marketing programs in our insurance operations, we deemphasized the sale of term life insurance policies. In June 2003, we made a strategic decision to cease marketing and selling new long-term care insurance policies; however, we continued to derive commission revenue pursuant to agreements with the insurance carriers that underwrite the policies we previously marketed. On December 30, 2004, we sold 78% of our commission contract rights related to our long-term preferred care insurance operations. We realized a gain upon the sale, the majority of which was recognized in 2004, and the remainder was recognized in the first nine months of 2005 upon receipt of certain consents.

 

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    During the fourth quarter of 2004, we sold a membership revenue stream in our international operations from a contract with an affinity partner where we had previously ceased marketing new memberships for that partner.

The Transactions

On October 17, 2005, Cendant completed the sale of the Predecessor to us, pursuant to a purchase agreement dated July 26, 2005 for approximately $1.8 billion. The purchase price consisted of approximately $1.7 billion of cash, net of estimated closing adjustments, plus $125 million face value of newly issued preferred stock (fair value of $80.4 million) of Affinion Holdings and a warrant (fair value of $16.7 million) that is exercisable into 7.5% of the common equity of Affinion Holdings upon the earlier of four years or the achievement by Apollo of certain investment return hurdles and $38.1 million of transaction related costs. On October 14, 2005, the Predecessor acquired all of the outstanding shares of common stock of TRL Group, Inc. (“TRL Group”) not owned by the Predecessor for approximately $15.7 million and the credit agreement provided by Cendant to TRL Group was terminated. Pursuant to the purchase agreement, we acquired all of the outstanding capital stock and membership interests of the Predecessor, as well as substantially all of the Predecessor’s assets and liabilities. Certain assets and liabilities of the Predecessor were retained by Cendant pursuant to the purchase agreement. See “The Acquisition.”

Results of Operations

Supplemental Data

The following table provides data for selected business segments

 

     Years Ended December 31,  
     2005     2004     2003  

Membership Operations:

      

Retail

      

Average Members (000’s)

     10,786       12,832       15,745  

% Monthly Members

     28.6 %     17.4 %     7.7 %

% Annual Members

     71.4 %     82.6 %     92.3 %

Annualized Net Revenue Per Average Member

   $ 61.13     $ 52.86     $ 43.72  

Wholesale

      

Average Members(1) (000’s)

     3,843       4,179       3,871  

Insurance and Package Operations:

      

Insurance(2)

      

Average Basic Insured (000’s)

     27,406       29,585       33,009  

Average Supplemental Insured (000’s)

     5,843       6,233       6,483  

Annualized Net Revenue per Supplemental Insured

   $ 40.28     $ 40.60     $ 37.81  

Package

      

Average Members (000’s)

     7,532       8,343       9,097  

Annualized Net Revenue Per Average Member

   $ 13.73     $ 13.56     $ 12.92  

International Operations:

      

Package

      

Average Members (000’s)

     16,304       15,239       13,403  

Annualized Net Revenue Per Average Package Member

   $ 8.03     $ 10.16     $ 10.16  

Retail Membership

      

Average Members(3) (000’s)

     2,633       4,080       4,224  

Annualized Net Revenue Per Average Member(4)

   $ 20.30     $ 22.05     $ 18.96  

(1) Includes 1,593,000, 832,000 and 277,000 average members for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003, respectively, related to wholesale programs historically offered under retail arrangements.
(2) Excludes long-term preferred care programs which were monetized as part of the 2004 Events.
(3) Includes 970,000 and 1,042,000 average members for the years ended December 31, 2004, and 2003, respectively, related to the programs monetized as part of the 2004 Events.
(4) Excludes non-recurring revenue of $15.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2004 related to the programs monetized as part of the 2004 Events.

 

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In late 2002, our membership operations changed its strategic focus to overall profitability and generating higher revenue from each member rather than the size of our member base. This has resulted in lower average members offset by higher average revenues per member at lower commission rates and lower variable cost and higher contribution per member.

Wholesale members include members where we typically receive a monthly service fee to support programs offered by our partners. Certain programs historically offered as retail arrangements have switched to wholesale arrangements with lower annualized price points and no commission expense.

Basic insureds typically receive $1,000 of AD&D coverage at no cost to the consumer since the affinity partner pays the cost of this coverage. Supplemental insureds are customers who have elected to pay premiums for higher levels of coverage. Average supplemental members have decreased primarily due to reductions in new marketing spend. Average annualized net revenue per insured has increased primarily due to the introduction of higher-priced programs and higher levels of AD&D insurance coverage.

Domestic package members have declined primarily due to certain client terminations partly offset by increases in net revenue per average member due to the introduction of higher priced programs.

As further explained below, the international package business generated lower average revenue per member during year ended December 31, 2005, compared to 2004 and 2003 primarily related to the renegotiation of package contracts at lower rates. International operations launched higher price membership programs in 2005. Similar to North America, the focus has shifted to profitable revenue growth versus member growth.

2005 Pro Forma Results of Operations Giving Effect to the Transactions

The unaudited pro forma consolidated financial statements are presented for information purposes only and are not intended to represent or be indicative of the consolidated results of operations or financial position that we would have reported had the Transactions been completed as of the dates and for the period presented, and should not be taken as representative of our consolidated results of operation or financial condition for future periods. The pro forma results discussed below do not give effect to the Refinancing or the Additional Senior Notes Offering.

The unaudited pro forma results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2005 are based on the historical combined results of operations of the acquired business, the Predecessor, for the period January 1, 2005 to October 16, 2005, and our historical consolidated results of operations for the period October 17, 2005 to December 31, 2005 and give effect to the Transactions as if they had occurred on January 1, 2005. Pro forma adjustments were made to reflect:

 

    Changes in depreciation and amortization expenses resulting from fair value adjustments to tangible assets and amortizable intangible assets;

 

    Increase in interest expense resulting from additional indebtedness incurred in connection with the Transactions; and

 

    Transaction and debt issuance costs incurred as a result of the Transactions.

 

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The pro forma adjustments (see Note 2 below) do not include the effect of the reductions in deferred revenue and prepaid commissions recorded in purchase accounting, nor the recording of a liability in purchase accounting for the fair value of servicing our members existing at the date of the Transactions for which no revenue will be recognized in the future. The effect of these purchasing accounting adjustments on the Company’s historical consolidated results of operations for the period from October 17, 2005 to December 31, 2005 is discussed under “—Overview of 2005 Historical Operating Results”.

 

     Company
Historical (1)
    Predecessor
Historical (1)
          Company
Pro Forma
 
     October 17, 2005
to December 31,
2005
   

January 1, 2005
to October 16,

2005

    Pro Forma
Adjustments
for the
Transactions(2)
    Pro Forma
for the
Transactions
for the Year
Ended
December 31,
2005
 
     (in millions)  

Net revenues

   $ 134.9     $ 1,063.8       —       $ 1,198.7  
                                

Expenses:

        

Marketing and commissions

     87.1       515.0       (13.8 )(a)     588.3  

Operating costs

     48.7       315.0       —         363.7  

General and administrative

     20.2       134.5       (25.1 )(b)     129.6  

Gain on sale of assets

     —         (4.7 )     —         (4.7 )

Depreciation and amortization

     84.5       32.3       290.6 (c)     407.4  
                                

Total expenses

     240.5       992.1       251.7       1,484.3  
                                

Income/(loss) from operations

     (105.6 )     71.7       (251.7 )     (285.6 )

Interest income

     1.3       1.9             3.2  

Interest expense

     (31.9 )     (0.5 )     (119.2 )(d)     (151.6 )

Other income, net

     —         5.9       —         5.9  
                                

Income/(loss) before income taxes and minority interests

     (136.2 )     79.0       (370.9 )     (428.1 )

Provision for/(benefit from) income taxes

     —         28.9       (24.8 )(e)     4.1  

Minority interests, net of tax

     0.1       —         —         0.1  
                                

Net income/(loss)

   $ (136.3 )   $ 50.1     $ (346.1 )   $ (432.3 )
                                

Note 1:

Reflects the Company’s consolidated results of operations for the period from October 17, 2005 to December 31, 2005 (Company Historical) and the Predecessor’s historical combined results of operations for the period from January 1, 2005 to October 16, 2005 (Predecessor Historical).

Note 2:

Reflects the following pro forma adjustments to give effect to the Transactions for the year ended December 31, 2005:

 

  (a) Represents: (i) the elimination of $8.9 million of marketing expenses related to the amortization of the Predecessor’s insurance contract rights and list fees that is reflected as amortization expense in 2005 (see adjustment (c) below); and, (ii) the adjustment to conform the Predecessor’s accounting for deferred acquisition costs to our accounting policy of expensing such costs as incurred in the amount of $4.9 million which amount represents the net impact of the acquisition expenses incurred during 2005 being less than the Predecessor’s historical amortization expense related to such costs.
  (b) Primarily represents the elimination of $18.2 million of bonus payments to certain of our officers and employees in connection with the closing of the Transactions that were expensed by the Predecessor, and the elimination of the $6.7 million charge related to the accelerated vesting of Cendant restricted stock units and stock options in connection with the closing of the Transactions that were expensed by the Predecessor.

 

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  (c) Represents the net increase in amortization expense of intangible assets which reflects the increase in amortization expense resulting from the new values allocated on a preliminary basis to our identifiable intangible assets using lives ranging from 3 years to 15 years, primarily on an accelerated basis.
  (d) Represents incremental interest expense for the additional indebtedness related to the Transactions, consisting of the senior notes in the principal amount of $270.0 million, net of discount of $3.6 million, the term loan B under our credit facility in the principal amount of $860.0 million and our senior subordinated bridge loan facility in the principal amount of $383.6 million. The interest rates used for pro forma purposes are generally based on the rates in effect during the period from October 17, 2005 to December 31, 2005. The adjustment assumes amortization of the discount on the senior notes based upon an effective interest rate of 10.375%. Also, the adjustment assumes amortization of debt issuance costs of approximately $42.0 million using the effective interest method over the maturity of the debt. The estimated weighted average interest rate used to compute the pro forma adjustment for interest expense is approximately 8.8%.
  (e) Represents the elimination of the Predecessor’s historical provision for income taxes and the inclusion of a provision for income taxes based on our tax status following the Transactions. We have provided a valuation allowance against our net federal and state deferred tax assets with the exception of deferred tax liabilities relating to goodwill amortization for federal and state income tax purposes. The pro forma tax provision for income taxes primarily includes deferred taxes for goodwill deductible on our federal and state income tax returns, current state taxes and foreign income taxes.

Year Ended December 31, 2005 (on a pro forma basis) Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2004

We have presented 2005 results of operations on a pro forma basis and discussed the 2005 pro forma results of operations in relation to the 2004 historical results of operations. The following table summarizes our pro forma consolidated results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2005 and historical combined results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2004:

 

    

Company

Pro Forma

    Predecessor
Historical
    Increase/
(Decrease)
Related to the
Transactions
    Increase/
(Decrease)
Other
 
    

Pro Forma for the
Transactions for
the Year Ended
December 31,

2005

   

Year Ended
December 31,

2004

     
     (in millions)  

Net revenues

   $ 1,198.7     $ 1,530.9     $ (142.1 )   $ (190.1 )
                                

Expenses:

        

Marketing and commissions

     588.3       665.3       (48.4 )     (28.6 )

Operating costs

     363.7       383.3       (27.9 )     8.3  

General and administrative

     129.6       185.0       3.8       (59.2 )

Gain on sale of assets

     (4.7 )     (23.9 )     —         19.2  

Depreciation and amortization

     407.4       43.9       366.2       (2.7 )
                                

Total expenses

     1,484.3       1,253.6       293.7       (63.0 )
                                

Income/(loss) from operations

     (285.6 )     277.3       (435.8 )     (127.1 )

Interest income

     3.2       1.7       —         1.5  

Interest expense

     (151.6 )     (7.3 )     (150.9 )     6.6  

Other income, net

     5.9       0.1       —         5.8  
                                

Income/(loss) before income taxes and minority interests

     (428.1 )     271.8       (586.7 )     (113.2 )

Provision for (benefit from) income taxes

     4.1       (104.5 )     4.1       104.5  

Minority interests, net of tax

     0.1       (0.1 )     —         0.2  
                                

Net income/(loss)

   $ (432.3 )   $ 376.4     $ (590.8 )   $ (217.9 )
                                

 

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Overview of 2005 Historical Operating Results

The following is an overview of major changes affecting our historical operating results in 2005:

 

    Purchase accounting adjustments made in the Transactions had a significant impact on our pro forma results of operations in 2005 following the Transactions. These entries, which are non-cash in nature, reduced net revenues by $142.1 million and income from operations by $435.8 million. Because deferred revenues were reduced in purchase accounting, net revenues recognized for periods following the Transactions will be less than they otherwise would have been. Also, we recorded a liability in purchase accounting for the fair value of servicing our members existing at the date of the Transactions for which no revenue will be recognized in the future. Because the liability recorded in purchase accounting will be used to offset future servicing costs for such members, our operating costs will be lower for periods following the Transactions than they otherwise would have been. Also, because prepaid commissions were reduced in purchase accounting, marketing and commissions expense for periods following the Transactions will be less than they otherwise would have been. The effect of these purchase accounting adjustments on the Company’s historical consolidated results of operations for the period from October 17, 2005 to December 31, 2005 was to reduce net revenues by $142.1 million, marketing and commissions expense by $36.6 million, and operating costs expense by $27.9 million. Marketing and commissions expense also decreased approximately $11.8 million related to the amortization of capitalized insurance contract rights and list fees whose fair value is now included in other intangibles, net. Amortization of existing insurance contract rights and list fees as of the transaction date is reflected as amortization expense for 2005. Additionally, the Company recorded $366.2 million incremental depreciation and amortization expense which negatively affected results of operations.

 

    In the third and fourth quarters of 2004, we entered into the 2004 Events to monetize certain assets and recurring revenue streams. These 2004 Events, along with the related revenue streams, contributed approximately $98 million of non-recurring revenue and approximately $110 million of income from operations in 2004, which will not recur in the future. Additionally, there were certain other matters of a non-recurring nature impacting our 2004 results of operations further described below.

 

    International operations had lower net revenues of $87.1 million and lower income from operations of $51.1 million in existing international package enhancement and retail programs primarily as a result of contract renewal renegotiations with certain significant affinity partners. Further, a restructuring plan was put in place to reduce operating costs. This plan includes centralization of certain functions and facilities both within Europe, as well as globally, including consolidation of data centers, outsourcing of call center activities and creating centralized oversight of human resources, IT, legal and other support functions. We expect package market erosion due to contract renegotiations for our international operations will continue in the near-term and that it will cause our income from operations and Segment EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA in our international operations for 2006 to be lower as compared to 2005.

 

    During 2004, we began to integrate our historically separate operations into a single, global organization with a revised business strategy to achieve long-term growth. We began integrating our marketing spend to focus on more profitable opportunities and to maximize returns across all of our operations on a global basis. As a result, we reduced certain of our marketing spend in less profitable areas during 2004, which resulted in lower near-term net revenues and operating income contributions in 2005. During 2005 we increased our marketing spend to invest in internet channels.

 

    Travel agency operations within our membership operations experienced lower net revenues and income from operations of $13.3 million and $5.2 million, respectively, during 2005 as compared to 2004. This was caused by lower levels of travel members, a reduction in travel sale conversion rates during the initial transition period to a new outsourcing partner for our travel call center operations and changes in intercompany arrangements. In response, a restructuring plan was put in place in early 2005 to lower operating costs. This plan includes reduction of fixed costs in the areas of facility and support service, as well as cost savings from outsourcing of the agency’s call center activities.

 

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Pro Forma 2005 Compared to Historical 2004 Results

The following section provides an overview of our pro forma consolidated results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2005 compared to our historical combined results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2004.

Net Revenues. During 2005, net revenues decreased by $332.2 million, or 21.7%, to $1,198.7 million in 2005 from $1,530.9 million in 2004 of which $142.1 million of the decrease was due to a non-cash reduction in deferred revenue recorded in purchase accounting and approximately $98 million (which does not include certain other matters of a non-recurring nature described below) of the decrease was due to the monetization of certain agreements as part of the 2004 Events, that resulted in non-recurring revenues in 2004.

Membership net revenues decreased by $180.0 million, or 21.5%, to $655.9 million in 2005 from $835.9 million in 2004. The reduction in net revenues during 2005 was primarily due to a non-cash $99.9 million reduction in deferred revenues as a result of purchase accounting adjustments (see “—Overview of 2005 Historical Operating Results” and “—Operating Segment Results”), a loss of $14.8 million in royalties earned from one of the contracts discontinued as part of the 2004 Events in the third quarter of 2004 and related non-recurring revenue of $33.8 million upon contract termination and a $13.3 million decrease in travel agency revenues due to lower levels of travel members, a reduction in travel sale conversion rates during the transition period to a new outsourcing partner for our travel call center operations and changes in intercompany arrangements. An increase in wholesale net revenues of $23.7 million was offset by decreases in our retail membership net revenues of $22.0 million, primarily as a result of us selling more wholesale memberships which, unlike our retail arrangements, have no related commission expense. In addition, membership net revenues decreased as a result of a change in estimate for sales tax obligations of $18.5 million reflected as net revenues in 2004.

Insurance and package net revenues decreased by $74.4 million, or 19.0%, to $317.3 million in 2005 from $391.7 million in 2004. Insurance net revenues decreased by $64.4 million, primarily due to a $32.6 million non-cash reduction in deferred revenues as a result of purchase accounting adjustments (see “—Overview of 2005 Historical Operating Results” and “—Operating Segment Results”), a loss of $10.5 million in revenues from our the sale of 78% of our long-term care commission rights, which we sold as part of the 2004 Events, a $10.2 million increase in cost of insurance primarily as a result of higher claims experience, lower premium revenue of $6.8 million, a reduction of $2.6 million due to certain contract terminations and a one-time $2.1 million contract dispute settlement recorded during 2004 that did not recur in 2005. Package net revenues declined by $10.0 million primarily due to certain contract terminations in 2004 and 2005.

International net revenues decreased by $87.1 million, or 33.0%, to $176.9 million in 2005 from $264.0 million in 2004. The decrease in net revenues was primarily due to the loss of certain Payment Card Protection membership programs of $48.0 million of which $15.7 million represented non-recurring revenue recognized from the sale of a marketing contract which was monetized in the fourth quarter of 2004 as part of the 2004 Events and $21.0 million from revenues generated prior to the sale in 2004 which will not recur in the future, lower international package revenues, resulting from contract renewal renegotiations with certain significant affinity partners of $24.4 million, $9.1 million non-cash reduction in deferred revenues as a result of purchase accounting adjustments (see “—Overview of 2005 Historical Operating Results” and “—Operating Segment Results”) and $7.9 million related to the termination of our Japanese joint venture operations in late 2004.

Loyalty operations net revenues increased by $11.0 million, or 23.9%, to $57.1 million in 2005 from $46.1 million in 2004 primarily due to growth in new and existing loyalty programs.

Marketing and Commissions Expense . Marketing and commissions expense decreased by $77.0 million, or 11.6%, to $588.3 million in 2005 from $665.3 million in 2004.

Marketing and commissions expense in our membership operations decreased by $27.4 million primarily due to a reduction in membership commissions of $25.9 million as a result of non-cash purchase accounting

 

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adjustments to prepaid commissions (see “—Overview of 2005 Historical Operating Results”), a $14.5 million reduction from changes in affinity partner arrangements (more wholesale memberships were sold which have no related commission expense) and a higher percentage of marketing spend on Internet and direct mail marketing (which generally have lower commissions than other marketing media), offset by a $9.1 million increase in new membership marketing program spending in 2005 as compared to 2004, including a significant increase in our marketing spend in online media and a $4.6 million commission reimbursement received in 2004 as part of the 2004 Events that did not reoccur in 2005.

Marketing and commissions expense in our insurance and package operations decreased by $20.1 million primarily due to marketing expense related to the Predecessor’s amortization of contract rights and list fees that was recorded as amortization expense in 2005 (due to the inclusion of the value of such assets in purchase accounting as intangible assets as discussed further in Note 2 of our consolidated and combined financial statements included elsewhere herein) whereas $11.8 million of such costs were included in marketing and commissions expense in 2004, a reduction in commissions of $6.8 million as a result of non-cash purchase accounting adjustments to prepaid commissions (see “—Overview of 2005 Historical Operating Results”), integration savings of $3.9 million, and reduction in package marketing and product costs of $2.1 million, offset by an increase in insurance marketing spend of $5.0 million.

Marketing and commissions expense in our international operations decreased by $28.3 million primarily due to a $23.5 million reduction in commission expense as a result of a membership revenue stream sold in 2004, non-cash purchase accounting adjustments of $3.9 million to prepaid commissions (see “—Overview of 2005 Historical Operating Results”), and $1.4 million related to the termination of our Japanese joint venture in late 2004.

Operating Costs. Operating costs decreased by $19.6 million, or 5.1%, to $363.7 million in 2005 from $383.3 million in 2004. The decrease was primarily due to a $27.9 million non-cash purchase accounting adjustment in connection with the liability recorded in purchase accounting to service our members at the date of the Transactions (see “—Overview of 2005 Historical Operating Results”), a reduction in travel agency operating costs of $9.0 million, $4.8 million in savings related to our 2004 integration program and $5.2 million related to the termination of our Japanese joint venture in late 2004. These decreases in operating costs were offset by a $22.4 million increase from the introduction of higher priced and associated higher cost membership protection programs that have higher costs due to enhanced benefits (which are disproportionately incurred during the first year of membership) and $5.0 million of start up and other operating costs associated with the launch of loyalty programs.

General and Administrative Expense. General and administrative expenses decreased by $55.4 million, or 30.0%, to $129.6 million in 2005 from $185.0 million in 2004. This decrease was primarily as a result of a $73.7 million charge in 2004 related to a verdict in a contractual dispute with one of our insurance providers (as discussed in Note 14 to the consolidated and combined financial statements included elsewhere herein), absence of $8.7 million of transaction costs incurred in connection with amending our relationship with TRL Group in 2004 and $4.4 million related to the termination of our Japanese joint venture in late 2004. The decrease was partially offset by $10.3 million in expense accruals for litigation matters, $3.8 million in retention bonuses expensed subsequent to the closing of the Transactions due to the continuing employment requirements of the bonus agreements, international severance costs of $5.1 million, higher legal costs of $2.9 million related to the contractual dispute mentioned above, and the impact from the favorable resolution of certain litigation during 2004 of $3.6 million which did not recur in 2005.

Gain on Sale of Assets. During 2005, we recognized $4.7 million of a deferred gain and other items upon delivery of certain consents required from third parties in connection with the sale of 78% of our long-term care commission rights in December 2004, as part of the 2004 Events offset by the gain recorded in 2004 of $23.9 million.

 

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Depreciation and Amortization Expense. Depreciation and amortization expense increased by $363.4 million to $407.3 million in 2005 from $43.9 million in 2004, primarily due to $366.2 million in amortization expense of intangible assets resulting from the fair values allocated on a preliminary basis to our identifiable intangible assets as a result of the Transaction. The pro forma amortization expense is based on a preliminary allocation of values to intangible assets and is amortized over lives ranging from 3 years to 15 years, primarily on an accelerated basis.

Interest Expense. Interest expense increased by $144.3 million to $151.6 million in 2005 from $7.3 million in 2004, primarily due to impact of the new terms loans, senior notes and bridge loans entered into in October 2005. The effects of these costs have been presented on a pro forma basis to show the impact as if the debt was entered into on January 1, 2005.

Other Income, Net. During 2005, we recognized other income primarily due to $5.9 million of non-cash other income realized from dissolving our Japanese joint venture operations as discussed in Note 11 to our consolidated and combined financial statements included elsewhere herein.

Provision for/(benefit from) Income Taxes. The provision for/(benefit from) income taxes decreased by $108.6 million to a provision of $4.1 million in 2005 from an income tax benefit of $104.5 million in 2004. During the first quarter of 2004 we reversed a valuation allowance of $124.0 million as it became more likely than not that the deferred tax assets of TRL Group would be realized. The $124.0 million valuation allowance reversal was partially offset by a contract termination payment and other related expenses, net of income taxes, totaling approximately $11.0 million. TRL Group was included in the Predecessor’s combined financial statements but filed separate tax returns. Additionally, we reversed income tax reserves in 2004 of approximately $92.3 million. Our provision for income taxes in 2005 was also different than the benefit recorded for 2004 due to the loss we experienced in 2005 for which no tax benefit was reflected in our consolidated financial statements due to the uncertainty of its realization.

Operating Segment Results

Net revenues and Segment EBITDA by operating segment are as follows:

 

    Net Revenues     Segment EBITDA (1)  
    Pro Forma
for the
Transactions
for the Year
Ended
December 31,
2005
   

Historical

for the

Year

Ended

December 31,
2004

    Increase/
(Decrease)
Related to the
Transactions
    Other
Increase/
(Decrease)
    Pro Forma
for the
Transactions
for the Year
Ended
December 31,
2005
   

Historical

for the Year
Ended
December 31,

2004

  Increase/
(Decrease)
Related to the
Transactions
    Other
Increase/
(Decrease)
 
    (in millions)  

Membership operations

  $ 655.9     $ 835.9     $ (99.9 )   $ (80.1 )   $ 25.6     $ 176.6   $ (49.3 )   $ (101.7 )

Insurance and package operations

    317.3       391.7       (32.6 )     (41.8 )     71.2       69.8     (15.0 )     16.4  

International operations

    176.9       264.0       (9.1 )     (78.0 )     9.9       61.0     (4.6 )     (46.5 )

Loyalty operations

    57.1       46.1       (0.5 )     11.5       15.1       13.8     (0.7 )     2.0  

Eliminations

    (8.5 )     (6.8 )     —         (1.7 )     —         —       —         —    
                                                             

Total

  $ 1,198.7     $ 1,530.9     $ (142.1 )   $ (190.1 )     121.8       321.2     (69.6 )     (129.8 )
                                       

Less: Depreciation and amortization

            407.4       43.9     366.2       (2.7 )
                                     

Income/(loss) from operations

          $ (285.6 )   $ 277.3   $ (435.8 )   $ (127.1 )
                                     

(1) See “Financial Condition, Liquidity and Capital Resources—Covenant Compliance—Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures to GAAP Financial Measures” and Note 20 to the consolidated and combined financial statements included elsewhere herein for a discussion on Segment EBITDA.

 

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Membership Operations. Membership net revenues decreased by $180.0 million, or 21.5%, and Segment EBITDA decreased by $151.0 million, or 85.5%, during 2005 as compared to 2004. The decrease in membership net revenue was primarily due to the $99.9 million reduction in deferred revenues as a result of purchase accounting adjustments (see “Overview of 2005 Historical Operating Results”), a loss of $14.8 million in royalties earned from one of the contracts discontinued as part of the 2004 Events in the third quarter of 2004 and related non-recurring revenue of $33.8 million upon contract termination and an $13.3 million decrease in travel agency revenues due to lower levels of travel members, a reduction in travel sale conversion rates during the transition period to a new outsourcing partner for our travel call center operations and changes in intercompany arrangements. An increase in wholesale net revenues of $23.7 million was offset by decreases in our retail membership net revenues of $22.0 million, primarily as a result of us selling more wholesale memberships which unlike our retail arrangements have no related commission expense. In addition, membership net revenues decreased as a result of a change in the estimate for sales tax obligations of $18.5 million reflected as net revenues in 2004.

Marketing and commission costs decreased by $27.4 million primarily due to a $25.9 million purchase accounting adjustment to prepaid commissions (see “Overview of 2005 Historical Operating Results”), $14.5 million resulting from changes in affinity partner arrangements (more wholesale memberships were sold which have no related commission expense) and a higher percentage of marketing spend on Internet and direct mail marketing (which generally have lower commissions than other marketing media), offset by a $9.1 million increase in new membership marketing program spending in 2005 as compared to 2004, including a significant increase in our marketing spend in online media and a $4.6 million commission reimbursement received in 2004 as part of the 2004 Events.

Operating and general and administrative costs decreased $2.6 million primarily due to a $27.9 million purchase accounting adjustment in connection with the liability recorded in purchase accounting to service our members at the date of the Transactions (see “Overview of 2005 Historical Operating Results”), $9.3 million of lower travel agency operating costs (including a $1.8 million one-time set up fee incurred in connection with transferring this operation to us) offset by $22.4 million of costs associated with the introduction of higher priced and associated higher cost membership protection programs that have higher costs due to enhanced benefits (which are disproportionately incurred during the first year of membership), $10.3 million in litigation settlements and $3.2 million of retention bonuses. Our 2005 results benefited from the absence of $8.7 million of transaction costs incurred in connection with amending our relationship with TRL Group, Inc. (“TRL Group”) in 2004 partially offset by a $3.6 million favorable litigation settlement in 2004, neither of which recurred in 2005.

Insurance and Package Operations. Insurance and package net revenues decreased by $74.4 million, or 19.0%, and Segment EBITDA increased by $1.4 million, or 2.0%, during 2005 as compared to 2004. Insurance net revenues decreased by $64.4 million, primarily due to a $32.6 million reduction in deferred revenues as a result of purchase accounting adjustments (see “Overview of 2005 Historical Operating Results”), a loss of $10.5 million in revenues from our selling 78% of our long-term care commission rights, which we sold as part of the 2004 Events, a $10.2 million increase in cost of insurance primarily as a result of higher claims experience, lower premium revenue of $6.8 million, a reduction of $2.6 million due to certain contract terminations and a one-time $2.1 million contract dispute settlement recorded during 2004 that did not recur in 2005. Package net revenues declined by $10.0 million primarily due to certain contract terminations.

Marketing and commissions expense in our insurance and package operations decreased by $20.1 million primarily due to marketing expense related to the Predecessor’s amortization of contract rights and list fees that was recorded as amortization expense in 2005 (due to the inclusion of the value of such assets in purchase accounting as intangible assets as discussed further in Note 2 to our consolidated and combined financial statements included elsewhere herein) whereas $11.8 million of such costs were included in marketing and commissions expense in 2004, a reduction in commissions of $6.8 million as a result of purchase accounting adjustments to prepaid commissions, integration savings of $3.9 million, reduction in package marketing costs of $2.1 million offset by an increase in insurance marketing spend of $5.0 million.

 

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Operating and general and administrative costs decreased $74.9 million primarily as a result of a $73.7 million charge in 2004 related to a verdict in a contractual dispute with one of our insurance providers (as discussed in Note 14 to the consolidated and combined financial statements included elsewhere herein) and by $7.6 million in incremental savings associated with the integration of our North American membership and insurance and package operations partially offset by higher legal costs of $2.9 million related to the contractual dispute mentioned above and $2.7 increase in package product costs. In addition, during 2005 we recognized $4.7 million of a deferred gain on sale (offset by the gain of $23.9 million that was recognized in late 2004) upon receipt of certain consents required from third parties in connection with the sale of 78% of our long-term care commission rights, as part of the 2004 Events recorded in gain on sale of assets.

International Operations. International net revenues decreased by $87.1 million, or 33.0%, and Segment EBITDA decreased by $51.1 million, or 83.8%, during 2005 as compared to 2004. The decline in net revenue was primarily due to the loss of certain Payment Card Protection membership programs of $48.0 million of which $15.7 million of non-recurring revenue recognized from the sale of a marketing contract which was monetized in the fourth quarter of 2004 as part of the 2004 Events and $21.0 million from revenues generated prior to the sale in 2004 which will not recur in the future, lower international package revenues, resulting from contract renewal renegotiations with certain significant affinity partners of $24.4 million, $9.1 million reduction in deferred revenues as a result of purchase accounting adjustments (see “—Overview of 2005 Historical Operating Results”), and $7.9 million related to the termination of our Japanese joint venture operations in late 2004.

The decrease in Segment EBITDA was primarily due to the loss of $25.0 million from programs monetized as part of the 2004 Events, $20.5 million from the contract renewal renegotiations described above, $7.6 million of incremental expenses associated with the restructuring plan described above offset by $3.1 million related to the termination of our Japanese joint venture in late 2004.

Loyalty Operations. Loyalty operations net revenues increased by $11.0 million, or 23.9%, and Segment EBITDA increased by $1.3 million, or 9.4%, in 2005 as compared to the 2004. Net revenue increased primarily as a result of growth in existing loyalty programs. Segment EBITDA increased as a result of the growth of new loyalty programs partially offset by approximately $5.0 million of start up and other operating costs net of related revenues associated with the launch of loyalty programs for a new client for which the revenue will be recognized over the term of the contract and we received $1.7 million from a favorable settlement of litigation in 2004, which did not recur in 2005.

 

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Year Ended December 31, 2004 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2003

The following table summarizes our historical results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003. The financial data for the above periods have been derived from our combined financial statements included elsewhere herein.

 

     Years Ended
December 31,
   

Increase/

(Decrease)

    Percentage
Change
 
     2004     2003      
     (in millions)        

Net revenues

   $ 1,530.9     $ 1,443.7     $ 87.2     6.0 %
                          

Expenses:

        

Marketing and commissions

     665.3       683.7       (18.4 )   (2.7 )%

Operating costs

     383.3       379.5       3.8     1.0 %

General and administrative

     185.0       115.7       69.3     59.9 %

Gain on sale of assets

     (23.9 )     —         (23.9 )   NM  

Depreciation and amortization

     43.9       44.5       (0.6 )   (1.3 )%
                          

Total expenses

     1,253.6       1,223.4       30.2     2.5 %
                          

Income from operations

     277.3       220.3       57.0     25.9 %

Interest income

     1.7       2.0       (0.3 )   (15.0 )%

Interest expense

     (7.3 )     (14.1 )     6.8     (48.2 )%

Other income, net

     0.1       6.7       (6.6 )   NM  
                          

Income before income taxes and minority interests

     271.8       214.9       56.9     26.5 %

Provision for/(benefit from) income taxes

     (104.5 )     71.3       (175.8 )   NM  

Minority interests, net of tax

     (0.1 )     (0.7 )     (0.6 )   NM  
                          

Net income

   $ 376.4     $ 144.3     $ 232.1     160.8 %
                          

NM—Not meaningful

Overview of 2004 and 2003 Operating Results

The following is a summary of the major initiatives undertaken during 2004 and 2003 which affected our combined operating results:

 

    In the third and fourth quarters of 2004, we entered into the 2004 Events to monetize certain assets and recurring revenue streams, which resulted in $49.4 million of non-recurring revenue and $73.3 million of non-recurring income from operations during 2004. These assets and revenue streams contributed $83.9 million of revenue and $58.7 million of income from operations in 2003, and $49.3 million of revenue and $36.3 million of income from operations in 2004 before consideration of the non-recurring revenue and gain on sale realized upon consummation of these transactions which will not recur in the future.

 

    During 2003, to improve profitability from its marketing programs, our insurance operations deemphasized the sale of term life insurance policies and, in June 2003, we made a strategic decision to cease marketing and selling new long-term care insurance policies, a significant portion of which was sold as part of the 2004 Events discussed above.

 

    Income from operations in our insurance and package operations was negatively impacted by the recording of a $73.7 million charge related to a verdict in a contractual dispute with an insurance provider. See “Business—Legal Proceedings.”

 

   

During 2003 and 2004, our membership operations continued to pursue the strategy (which was initiated in late 2002) of focusing on enhancing profitability by increasing revenue per member and converting to a more variable cost structure. This strategy impacted the number of new members added during this

 

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period and had the effect of lowering the overall number of active members enrolled in our membership programs. However, this lower membership base was more than offset by higher revenues per member both from increasing prices for new programs offered with enhanced benefits and implementing price increases for renewals by existing members. In addition, the cost of servicing members decreased as a result of improving the variable cost structure of the membership operations through outsourcing of call center activities and reducing facility and other support costs.

 

    In 2004, we began to integrate our historically separate operations into a single global organization with a revised business strategy to achieve long-term growth (see “Business—Our Business Strategy”). In February 2004, we began integrating our domestic package and insurance operations with our membership operations in order to allow a more unified approach to the U.S. markets. As part of this effort, we began designing insurance marketing programs using our membership operations’ proprietary modeling and database capabilities and began reallocating marketing capital across our business based on overall profitability targets. We also consolidated certain support functions, outsourced call center activities and combined the purchasing functions of the two companies to negotiate better terms with vendors.

Combined Results

Net Revenues. During 2004, net revenues increased by $87.2 million, or 6.0%, to $1,530.9 million in 2004 from $1,443.7 million in 2003.

Membership net revenues increased by $36.5 million, or 4.6%, to $835.9 million in 2004 from $799.4 million in 2003. The increase in wholesale revenue of $22.1 million was partially offset by decreases in our retail membership revenue of $10.2 million, resulting primarily from switching certain of our protection programs from retail to wholesale arrangements. In addition, membership net revenues benefited from a change in an earlier estimate for sales tax obligations of $18.5 million, which, when established, was reflected as a reduction to net revenues. Membership net revenues also benefited from $33.8 million of non-recurring revenues recognized during the third quarter of 2004 in connection with the monetization of a marketing contract as part of the 2004 Events, partially offset by lower royalties of $25.6 million earned from the related one-time marketing programs. The marketing contracts that were monetized generated revenue of $40.4 million in 2003 and $14.8 million in 2004, which will not recur in the future.

Insurance and package net revenues increased by $0.3 million, or 0.1%, to $391.7 million in 2004 from $391.4 million in 2003. Insurance net revenues increased by $4.7 million during 2004 due to a $10.4 million increase in profit-sharing as a result of lower claims experience which was offset by lower premium revenue of $5.0 million. The increase in insurance net revenue was partly offset by a decrease in domestic package revenue of $4.4 million primarily due to certain contract terminations. See “—Gain on Sale of Assets” below for future impact of the 2004 Events.

International net revenues increased by $43.6 million, or 19.8%, to $264.0 million in 2004 from $220.4 million in 2003. The increase in net revenues was primarily due to increased package revenue resulting from the full year impact of certain price increases implemented in 2003 of $5.7 million and an increase in revenues of $4.9 million from our Cims South Africa joint venture, primarily due to the full year impact of its consolidation within our business. International net revenues also increased as a result of a $15.7 million non-recurring revenue recognized during the fourth quarter of 2004 in connection with the sale of a marketing contract, as part of the 2004 Events, and a favorable impact from the weakness of the U.S. dollar of $25.1 million. These improvements were partially offset by a decrease in package revenue of $5.0 million primarily due to certain contract terminations. The marketing contract which was sold as part of the 2004 Events generated revenue of $27.3 million in 2003 and $21.0 million prior to the sale in 2004 which will not recur in the future.

Loyalty net revenues increased by $9.9 million, or 27.3%, to $46.1 million in 2004 from $36.2 million in 2003 primarily due to growth in existing loyalty programs and the full year impact of new customer programs launched in 2003.

 

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Marketing and Commissions Expense. Marketing and commissions expense decreased by $18.4 million, or 2.7%, to $665.3 million in 2004 from $683.7 million in 2003, primarily due to a reduction in membership marketing and commission expense of $20.8 million. Lower commission expenses were primarily the result of more wholesale memberships sold (which have no related commission expense) and lower commission rates with a significant affinity partner. In addition, reductions in revenues in insurance and package and long-term care, which we stopped actively marketing in 2003, also contributed to the reduction in commission expense of $6.9 million. These reductions were partially offset by $8.1 million of higher international commission expense primarily due to changes in foreign exchange rates.

In October 2004, we performed our periodic review of amortization expense and attrition rates and in connection with the results of that review, we prospectively accelerated the amortization of our deferred acquisition costs to earlier periods in the life resulting in additional marketing expense totaling $5.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2004. We also wrote-off $3.9 million of deferred acquisition costs that were deemed unrecoverable in 2004.

Operating Costs. Operating costs increased by $3.8 million, or 1.0%, to $383.3 million in 2004 from $379.5 million in 2003. The increase in operating costs was primarily due to the introduction of higher priced and associated higher cost protection programs with enhanced benefits of $10.9 million, growth in loyalty programs of $3.9 million, an increase in package benefit costs of $1.3 million and an increase in costs in our international operations (primarily due to changes in foreign exchange rates) of $8.6 million. These increases were partially offset by $16.5 million in cost reductions in the travel agency resulting from the consolidation of call center operations and lower call volumes offset by the absence of an $8.0 million favorable contract termination settlement recorded in 2003. Other membership costs were lower by $9.4 million primarily associated with a lower membership base, lower severance costs of $4.1 million and benefits from prior year restructuring programs.

General and Administrative. General and administrative costs increased by $69.3 million, or 59.9%, to $185.0 million in 2004 from $115.7 million in 2003, primarily as a result of a $73.7 million charge related to a verdict in a contractual dispute with one of our insurance providers. See “Business—Legal Proceedings” for additional information.

Other general and administrative costs decreased by $4.4 million. This decrease was primarily attributable to a reduction in costs resulting from the integrations of Trilegiant’s and Progeny’s operations in 2004 and the full year benefit from the discontinuation of the marketing and sale of long-term care insurance policies in June 2003.

Gain on Sale of Assets. In June 2003, we discontinued the marketing and sale of long-term care insurance policies; however, we continued to derive commission revenue pursuant to agreements with the insurance carriers that underwrote those policies. On December 30, 2004, we sold 78% of our long-term preferred care commission revenue rights as part of the 2004 Events. Proceeds from the sale, net of related transaction costs, totaled approximately $32.5 million and resulted in a gain of approximately $28.1 million, of which $23.9 million was recorded in 2004, and approximately $4.2 million was deferred until 2005 pending delivery of certain third-party consents. The commission contract rights that were sold contributed $16.2 million of revenue and $6.8 million of income from operations in 2003 and $13.4 million of revenue and $12.1 million of income from operations in 2004 prior to their sale, which will not recur in the future.

Interest Expense. Interest expense decreased by $6.8 million, or 48.2%, to $7.3 million in 2004 from $14.1 million in 2003 primarily due to the cancellation on May 1, 2004 of $113.8 million of long-term debt owed to Cendant. Interest expense related to this debt was $3.7 million in 2003 and $11.1 million in 2004.

Other Income, Net. Other income decreased by $6.6 million to $0.1 million in 2004 from $6.7 million in 2003 primarily due to a change in unrealized gains and losses associated with a call option derivative instrument

 

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and shares of Cendant stock owned by TRL Group to back obligations under long-term incentive plans. In 2003, the TRL Group recorded an unrealized gain of $6.5 million from the increase in the fair value of the call option and stock. In 2004 the TRL Group recorded a gain of $0.5 million related to the sale of the call options and an increase in the fair value of the stock. See Note 6 to our combined financial statements included elsewhere herein.

Provision for/(Benefit from) Income Taxes. Provision for/(benefit from) income taxes decreased by $175.8 million to an income tax benefit of $104.5 million in 2004 from a provision of $71.3 million in 2003. The decrease was primarily due to the reversal of a tax valuation allowance and the favorable resolution of certain tax matters in 2004. During the first quarter of 2004 we reversed a valuation allowance of $124.0 million, as it became more likely than not that the deferred tax assets of TRL Group would be realized. The $124.0 million valuation allowance reversal was partially offset by a contract termination payment and other related expenses, net of income taxes, totaling approximately $11.0 million. The TRL Group is part of the combined financial statements but files separate tax returns. We also benefited from $92.3 million in favorable prior year audit settlements in 2004 as compared to $20.0 million in 2003.

Net Income. Due to the changes described above, net income increased by $232.1 million, or 160.8%, to $376.4 million in 2004 from $144.3 million in 2003.

 

     Years Ended December 31,  
     Net Revenues     Segment EBITDA(1)  
     2004     2003     Percentage
change
    2004    2003    Percentage
change
 
     (in millions)  

Membership operations

   $ 835.9     $ 799.4     4.6 %   $ 176.6    $ 109.6    61.1 %

Insurance and package operations

     391.7       391.4     0.1 %     69.8      118.0    (40.8 )%

International operations

     264.0       220.4     19.8 %     61.0      27.9    118.6 %

Loyalty operations

     46.1       36.2     27.3 %     13.8      9.3    48.4 %

Eliminations

     (6.8 )     (3.7 )   83.8 %     —        —      NM  
                                  

Total

   $ 1,530.9     $ 1,443.7     6.0 %   $ 321.2    $ 264.8    21.3 %
                          

Less: Depreciation and amortization

           43.9      44.5   
                      

Income from operations

         $ 277.3    $ 220.3   
                      

NM—Not meaningful

(1) See “Financial Condition, Liquidity and Capital Resources—Covenant Compliance—Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures to GAAP Financial Measures” and Note 20 to the consolidated and combined financial statements included elsewhere herein for a discussion on Segment EBITDA.

Membership Operations . Membership net revenues increased by $36.5 million, or 4.6%, and Segment EBITDA increased by $67.0 million, or 61.1%, during 2004 as compared to 2003. The increase in wholesale revenue of $22.1 million was partially offset by decreases in our retail membership revenue of $10.2 million resulting primarily from switching certain of our protection programs from retail to wholesale arrangements. In addition, membership net revenues benefited from a change in an earlier estimate for sales tax obligations of $18.5 million, which when established were reflected as a reduction to net revenues. Membership net revenues also benefited from $33.8 million of non-recurring revenues recognized during the third quarter of 2004 in connection with the monetization of a marketing contract as part of the 2004 Events, partially offset by lower royalties and Segment EBITDA of $25.6 million earned from the related one-time marketing programs. The marketing contracts that were monetized generated revenue of $40.4 million in 2003 and $14.8 million in 2004, which will not recur in the future.

A decrease in operating costs of $7.0 million was primarily due to lower travel agency operating costs of $16.5 million related to lower call volumes offset by the absence of an $8.0 million favorable contract

 

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termination recorded in 2003. In addition, other membership costs were lower by $9.4 million primarily associated with a lower membership base, lower severance costs of $4.1 million and benefits from prior year restructuring programs. These decreases were partially offset by $10.9 million of increased costs associated with the introduction of higher-priced membership protection programs that have higher costs due to enhanced benefits (which are disproportionately incurred during the first year of membership). General and administrative expenses decreased by $0.7 million, primarily due to the favorable resolution of certain litigations of $3.9 million, partially offset by $6.0 million of transaction costs incurred in connection with amending our contractual relationship with TRL Group.

Insurance and Package Operations. Insurance and package net revenues increased by $0.3 million, or 0.1%, and Segment EBITDA decreased by $48.2 million, or 40.8%. Insurance net revenues increased by $4.7 million during 2004 due to a $10.4 million increase in profit-sharing as a result of lower claims experience which was partially offset by lower premium revenue of $5.0 million and $2.8 million of lower revenues from the marketing and sale of long-term care insurance policies which we ceased in June 2003. There was also a $2.1 million favorable contract settlement in 2004. The increase in insurance net revenue was partly offset by a decrease in domestic package revenue of $4.4 million primarily due to certain contract terminations.

Marketing and commissions expenses increased primarily as a result of our periodic review of amortization expense and attrition rates. As a result of that review, we prospectively accelerated the amortization of our deferred acquisition costs to earlier periods in the life resulting in additional marketing expense totaling $5.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2004. We also wrote off $3.9 million of deferred acquisition costs that were deemed unrecoverable in 2004. These increases were offset by a $2.0 million lower use tax obligation and $3.6 million of reductions in package marketing expense.

Segment EBITDA in 2004 was impacted by a charge of $73.7 million recorded during the fourth quarter of 2004 related to a verdict in a contractual dispute with one of our insurance providers. See “Business—Legal Proceedings” for additional information. This charge was partially offset by a $23.9 million gain recognized from the sale of 78% of the commission revenue rights related to our long-term care operations in the fourth quarter of 2004. Further, 2004 Segment EBITDA benefited from $5.1 million in operating cost savings resulting from our decision to cease the marketing and sale of long-term care insurance policies in June 2003. The 78% of the commission revenue rights related to our long-term preferred care operations which we sold as part of the 2004 Events contributed $16.2 million of revenue and $6.8 million of income from operations in 2003 and $13.4 million of revenue and $12.1 million of income from operations in 2004 prior to their sale, which will not recur in the future.

International Operations. International net revenues increased by $43.6 million, or 19.8%, and Segment EBITDA increased by $33.1 million, or 118.6%. The increase in net revenues and Segment EBITDA was primarily due to the weakness of the U.S. dollar which resulted in additional revenue and Segment EBITDA of $25.1 million and $6.5 million, respectively. The remainder of the increase in net revenue was primarily due to increased package revenue resulting from the full year impact of certain price increases implemented in 2003 of $5.7 million and $15.7 million of non-recurring revenue recognized from the sale of a marketing contract as part of the 2004 Events. The marketing contract, which was sold as part of the 2004 Events, generated revenue of $27.3 million in 2003 and $21.0 million prior to the sale in 2004 which will not recur in the future. After adjusting for the impact of foreign exchange rates, operating and general and administrative expenses decreased by $9.0 million primarily as a result of the severance and lease termination costs incurred during 2003 to reduce call center and general administrative costs that resulted in lower facility and personnel costs of approximately $3.6 million in 2004. Further, revenue and Segment EBITDA increased $4.9 million and $1.8 million, respectively, from the full year consolidation of our Cims South Africa joint venture.

Loyalty Operations. Loyalty operations net revenues increased by $9.9 million, or 27.3%, and Segment EBITDA increased by $4.5 million, or 48.4%. The increases in net revenues were primarily due to growth in existing loyalty programs, the full year impact of new customer programs launched in 2003 and a litigation

 

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settlement of $1.0 million in 2004. The increases in Segment EBITDA were attributable to the increases in net revenues partly offset by an increase in operating costs required to support the growth in revenues.

Financial Condition, Liquidity and Capital Resources

Financial Condition—December 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004

 

     Company    Predecessor   

Increase/(Decrease)

Change

 
     December 31,
2005
   December 31,
2004
  
          (in millions)       

Total assets

   $ 2,200.0    $ 1,158.5    $ 1,041.5  

Total liabilities

     1,966.0      864.5      1,101.5  

Total equity

     233.9      293.6      (59.7 )

The change in our financial position was primarily due to the Transactions (see Note 4 to the consolidated and combined financial statements included elsewhere herein). The preliminary purchase accounting adjustments reflected in the Company’s records, which are subject to adjustment, primarily consist of: (1) the revaluation of certain property and equipment including internally developed software; (2) the valuation of intangibles assets consisting of affinity and member relationships, patents and technology, trademarks and tradenames, and proprietary databases and systems; (3) adjusting deferred revenues and prepaid commissions to their estimated fair values; (4) revaluation of deferred income taxes; and (5) recognizing the liability to service our members during the period in which no revenue will be received. In addition, certain assets and liabilities were retained by Cendant totaling $48.6 million and $123.3 million, respectively, via a non-cash transfer to Cendant on September 30, 2005, with an additional non-cash deferred tax asset transfer of $51.3 million on October 16, 2005.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Our primary sources of liquidity are cash on hand and cash generated through operating and financing activities. Our primary cash needs are for working capital, capital expenditures and general corporate purposes, and to service the substantial indebtedness incurred in connection with the Transactions, the Refinancing and the Additional Senior Notes Offering.

Cash Flows—Years Ended December 31, 2005 and 2004

At December 31, 2005, we had $113.4 million of cash and cash equivalents on hand, an increase of $90.9 million from $22.5 million at December 31, 2004. The following table summarizes our cash flows and compares changes in our cash and cash equivalents on hand to the same period in the prior year.

 

     Company     Predecessor     Change  
     October 17,
2005 to
December 31,
2005
    January 1,
2005 to
October 16,
2005
    Year Ended
December 31,
2004
   
     (in millions)  

Cash provided by (used in):

        

Operating activities

   $ 22.5     $ 116.9     $ 256.9     $ (117.5 )

Investing activities

     (1,631.5 )     (49.9 )     1.9       (1,683.3 )

Financing activities

     1,722.9       (23.4 )     (301.5 )     2,001.0  

Effects of exchange rate changes

     (0.5 )     (1.9 )     2.0       (4.4 )
                                

Net change in cash and cash equivalents

   $ 113.4     $ 41.7     $ (40.7 )   $ 195.8  
                                

 

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Operating Activities. The decrease in cash generated from operating activities was primarily driven by the $110 million of income from operations generated in 2004 from the 2004 Events which did not recur in 2005. Other than normal purchase and operating lease commitments, we have increased our interest payment commitments due to an increase in borrowings (see “Financing Activities” below). This interest on new borrowings will reduce cash flow from operating activities through 2014. See “—Contractual Obligations and Commitments” below.

Investing Activities. In 2005, we used $1,683.3 million more cash in investing activities as compared with 2004. In 2005, we used $1,629.0 million for the Transactions and $15.7 million to acquire the remaining TRL Group interest, as compared to the use of $21.4 million to acquire Trilegiant Loyalty Solutions, Inc. and related companies in 2004. The decrease in cash, as compared to 2004, also reflects $39.6 million of proceeds from the sale of other assets during 2004. Our restricted cash requirements were $3.7 million higher in 2005 due to the timing of premium payments made to our carriers while our restricted cash requirements were $9.5 million lower in 2004 due to certain collateral security requirements of TRL Group no longer being required. We also used $7.2 million more cash for capital expenditures during 2005 as compared with 2004.

Financing Activities. In 2005, we generated $2,001.0 million more cash in financing activities as compared with 2004. This change primarily reflects borrowings made during the fourth quarter for the Transactions (see “—Covenant Compliance” below). In addition, a principal prepayment of $20.0 million was made on the term loan in November of 2005 as compared to other principal payments of $18.8 million during 2004. Cash was provided by the sale of common stock of $275.0 million to Apollo. Also, principal payments were made under a credit agreement with Cendant totaling $30.0 million for 2005 and we received net advances from Cendant of $7.1 million during 2005 as compared to an increase in net advances to Cendant of $268.4 million during 2004, borrowings under the credit agreement with Cendant of $30.0 million in 2004, and the payment of a dividend totaling $45.3 million during 2004.

Cash Flows—Years Ended December 31, 2004 and 2003

At December 31, 2004, we had $22.5 million of cash and cash equivalents, a decrease of $40.7 million from $63.2 million at December 31, 2003. The following table summarizes our cash flows and compares changes in our cash and cash equivalents on hand to the same period in the prior year.

 

     Predecessor     Change  
     Years Ended
December 31,
   
     2004     2003    
     (in millions)  

Cash provided by (used in):

      

Operating activities

   $ 256.9     $ 167.1     $ 89.8  

Investing activities

     1.9       (27.2 )     29.1  

Financing activities

     (301.5 )     (165.6 )     (135.9 )

Effects of exchange rate changes

     2.0       2.7       (0.7 )
                        

Net change in cash and cash equivalents

   $ (40.7 )   $ (23.0 )   $ (17.7 )
                        

Operating Activities. In 2004, we generated $89.8 million more cash from operating activities compared with 2003. The increase in cash flow was primarily due to an increase in our operating income in 2004 as compared with 2003 (see “—Results of Operations”). Our working capital requirements in 2004 were relatively constant with our 2003 requirements. Our working capital requirements were impacted by a reduction in deferred revenues in 2004 of $31.3 million, which was partially offset by lower other non-current assets of $8.9 million in 2004 as compared to an increase in other non-current assets of $8.5 million in 2003 associated with a receivable that became currently due at December 31, 2004 in our international operations and an increase in income taxes payable in 2004 of $12.9 million.

 

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Investing Activities . In 2004, investing activities generated cash of $1.9 million as compared with the use of cash of $27.2 million in 2003. In 2004, investing activities provided cash of $32.5 million from the sale of 78% of the commission rights related to our long-term preferred care insurance operations. Our restricted cash requirements decreased by $9.5 million in 2004 as compared to an increase in restricted cash requirements of $6.7 million in 2003 as certain collateral security requirements of TRL Group were no longer required resulting in lower cash restrictions in 2004. In 2003, we used $6.7 million in investing activities primarily due to an increase of $16.2 million in restricted cash related to our insurance operations, as cash became restricted for premiums collected from customers that were pending remittance to our insurance carriers, partially offset by a reduction in restricted cash due to the final payment of a litigation settlement of $10.4 million. In 2004, we used $21.4 million to acquire Trilegiant Loyalty Solutions, Inc. and related companies. We also used $5.0 million more cash for capital expenditures in 2004 as compared with 2003.

Financing Activities. In 2004, we used $135.9 million more cash in financing activities as compared with 2003. This change was primarily due to an increase in net advances to Cendant of $113.5 million in 2004 as compared with 2003 and the payment of a dividend to a subsidiary of Cendant in 2004 totaling $45.3 million, partially offset by borrowings under a credit agreement with Cendant totaling $30.0 million in 2004.

Credit Facilities and Long-Term Debt

Following the completion of the Transactions, we became a highly leveraged company, having incurred substantial debt, which will significantly increase our interest expense in future periods. As of December 31, 2005, we had $1.5 billion in indebtedness. Payments required to service this indebtedness will substantially increase our liquidity requirements as compared to prior years.

As part of the Transactions, we (a) issued $270 million principal amount of initial senior notes ($266.4 million net of discount), (b) entered into senior secured credit facilities consisting of a term loan facility in the principal amount of $860 million (which amount does not reflect the $20 million principal payment that we made in the fourth quarter of 2005 and a $20 million principal payment that we made on March 17, 2006) and a revolving credit facility in an aggregate amount of up to $100 million and (c) entered into a senior subordinated bridge loan facility in the principal amount of $383.6 million. At December 31, 2005, in addition to the outstanding initial senior notes, we had $840 million outstanding under the term loan facility, $383.6 million outstanding under our senior subordinated bridge loan facility and $98.5 million available under the revolving credit facility (after giving effect to the issuance of $1.5 million letters of credit).

As part of the Refinancing, we used the proceeds of the senior subordinated notes offered thereby to repay $349.5 of outstanding borrowings under the senior subordinated bridge loan facility. As part of the Additional Senior Notes Offering, we used the proceeds of the additional senior notes offered thereby, together with cash on hand, to repay $34.1 of outstanding borrowings under the senior subordinated bridge loan facility. See “Description of Other Indebtedness.”

Any borrowings under the revolving credit facility are available to fund our working capital requirements, capital expenditures and for other general corporate purposes. Borrowings under the term loan are due and payable in quarterly installments of approximately $2.2 million per quarter beginning in the first quarter of 2006. The senior secured credit facility also generally requires us to prepay borrowings under the term loan with proceeds from asset dispositions, excess cash flow beginning in July 2006 and the net cash proceeds from certain debt issued in the future. The remaining balance of the term loan is due and payable in full in 2012. The revolving credit facility is available until 2011. The term loan provides, at our option, for interest rates of a) adjusted LIBOR plus 2.75% or b) the higher of i) Credit Suisse, Cayman Island Branch’s prime rate and ii) the Federal Funds Effective Rate plus 0.5% (“ABR”), in each case plus 1.75%. The revolving credit facility provides, at our option, for interest rates of adjusted LIBOR plus 2.75% or ABR plus 1.75% subject to downward adjustment based on our senior secured bank leverage ratio, as set forth in the agreement governing the revolving credit facility. See “Description of Other Indebtedness.”

 

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Our senior subordinated bridge loan facility was scheduled to mature on October 17, 2006. The senior subordinated bridge loan facility bore an annual interest rate of 11.0% through April, 2006, which increased to 11.5% until it was repaid in full on May 3, 2006. The senior notes mature on October 15, 2013, and the senior subordinated notes mature on October 15, 2015. Our credit facility, the senior notes and the senior subordinated notes are guaranteed by certain of our subsidiaries. Our senior notes bear interest at 10  1 / 8 % payable semi-annually in April and October of each year. See “Description of the Senior Notes.” Our senior subordinated notes bear interest at 11  1 / 2 % payable semi-annually in April and October of each year. See “Description of the Senior Subordinated Notes.”

Covenant Compliance

The indenture that governs our senior notes, the indenture that governs our senior subordinated notes and our credit facility each contain, and our senior subordinated bridge loan facility contained, prior to its repayment in full, various restrictive covenants. They prohibit us from prepaying indebtedness that is junior to such debt (subject to certain exceptions). Our credit facility requires us to maintain a specified minimum interest coverage ratio and a maximum consolidated leverage ratio. The interest coverage ratio as defined in the credit facility (adjusted EBITDA, as defined, to interest expense, as defined) must be greater than 1.45 to 1.0 at December 31, 2005. The consolidated leverage ratio as defined in the credit facility (total debt, as defined, to adjusted EBITDA, as defined) must be less than 7.5 to 1.0 at December 31, 2005. In addition, our credit facility and, prior to repayment in full, our senior subordinated bridge loan facility, among other things, restrict our ability to incur indebtedness or liens, make investments or declare or pay any dividends. The indentures governing the senior notes and the senior subordinated notes, among other things: (i) limit our ability and the ability of our subsidiaries to incur additional indebtedness, incur liens, pay dividends or make certain other restricted payments and enter into certain transactions with affiliates; (ii) place restrictions on the ability of certain of our subsidiaries to pay dividends or make certain payments to us; and (iii) place restrictions on our ability and the ability of our subsidiaries to merge or consolidate with any other person or sell, assign, transfer, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of our assets. However, all of these covenants are subject to significant exceptions. See “Description of Other Indebtedness,” “Description of the Senior Notes” and “Description of the Senior Subordinated Notes.” As of December 31, 2005, we were in compliance with these covenants.

Following the Refinancing and the Additional Senior Notes Offering, we have the ability to incur additional debt, subject to limitations imposed by our indentures governing the senior notes and the senior subordinated notes and by our credit facility. Under our indentures governing the senior notes and the senior subordinated notes, in addition to specified permitted indebtedness, we are able to incur additional indebtedness so long as on a pro forma basis our fixed charge coverage ratio (the ratio of Adjusted EBITDA to consolidated fixed charges) is at least 2.0 to 1.0. As discussed above, our cash flow allowed us to make a voluntary $20 million prepayment of the term loans under our credit facility during the fourth quarter 2005. Additionally, we made a $20 million principal prepayment on March 17, 2006. Although we have no present intentions to continue to make voluntary prepayments on the term loans under our credit facility or our other long-term debt obligations, we may elect to make prepayments if it is beneficial to do so.

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures to GAAP Financial Measures

Segment EBITDA consists of income from operations before depreciation and amortization. Segment EBITDA is the measure management uses to evaluate segment performance and we present Segment EBITDA to enhance your understanding of our operating performance. We use Segment EBITDA as one criterion for evaluating our performance relative to that of our peers. We believe that Segment EBITDA is an operating performance measure, and not a liquidity measure, that provides investors and analysts with a measure of operating results unaffected by differences in capital structures, capital investment cycles and ages of related assets among otherwise comparable companies. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as Segment EBITDA further adjusted to exclude non-cash and unusual items and other adjustments permitted in our debt agreements to test the permissibility of certain types of transactions, including debt incurrence. We believe that the inclusion of the

 

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adjustments to Segment EBITDA applied in presenting Adjusted EBITDA are appropriate to provide additional information to investors about certain non-cash items and unusual items. However, Segment EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are not measurements of financial performance under U.S. GAAP, and our Segment EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies. You should not consider our Segment EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA as alternatives to operating or net income determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP, as indicators of our operating performance or as alternatives to cash flows from operating activities determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP, or as indicators of cash flows, or as a measure of liquidity.

Set forth below is a reconciliation of 2005 pro forma consolidated net loss to Segment EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA.

 

     Pro Forma for the
Transactions(a)
 
     Year Ended
December 31,
2005
 
     (in millions)  

Net loss

   $ (432.3 )

Interest (income)/expense, net

     148.4  

Provision for/(benefit from) income taxes

     4.1  

Minority interests, net of tax

     0.1  

Other (income)/expense, net

     (5.9 )

Depreciation and amortization

     407.4  
        

Segment EBITDA

     121.8  

Effect of the Transactions, reorganizations and non-recurring revenue and gains(b)

     62.6  

Certain legal costs(c)

     18.9  

Net cost savings(d)

     37.6  

Other, net(e)

     16.3  
        

Adjusted EBITDA

   $ 257.2  
        

Interest coverage ratio(f)

     1.95  

Consolidated leverage ratio(g)

     5.36  

(a) Gives effect to the Transactions as if they occurred on January 1, 2005.
(b) Effect of the Transactions, reorganizations and non-recurring revenue and gains as a result of the 2004 Events.
(c) Certain legal costs—represents (i) legal expenses and judgment from the Fortis litigation which was not retained by us in the Transactions and (ii) certain non-recurring and unusual legal expenses associated with the AG Matters (as hereinafter defined) and the 2001 Class Action (as hereinafter defined), net of any indemnification to which we are entitled under the purchase agreement. See “Business—Legal Proceedings.”
(d) Net cost savings—represents: (i) the elimination of general corporate overhead allocations from Cendant and historical long-term incentive compensation charges, net of estimated incremental stand-alone costs, (ii) the inclusion of $12 million ($3 million per quarter for the year ended December 31, 2005) representing what were anticipated cost savings under the 2005 Reorganization as permitted under our credit facility and the indenture governing our senior notes (while we currently expect that our 2005 Reorganization will result in approximately $11.0 million of annual cost savings, we have identified other initiatives from which we expect to realize additional cost savings) and (iii) the elimination of costs associated with facilities closure and severance incurred in 2005.
(e) Other, net—represents: (i) net changes in other reserves in 2005, (ii) changing the Predecessor’s historical accounting policy for insurance program marketing costs to our policy of expensing such costs as incurred, (iii) changes in contractual arrangements between us and Cendant as if such contractual terms were in place for all periods presented, (iv) and the elimination of certain non-recurring costs.

 

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(f) The interest coverage ratio is defined in our senior secured credit facilities (adjusted EBITDA, as defined, to interest expense, as defined). See “Description of Other Indebtedness.”
(g) The consolidated leverage ratio is defined in our senior secured credit facilities (total debt, as defined, to adjusted EBITDA, as defined). See “Description of Other Indebtedness.”

Historically we relied on certain operational resources of Cendant (including tax advisory services, treasury/cash management, risk management, internal audit functions, employee benefits and business insurance). Historically we were allocated general corporate overhead from Cendant ($15.3 million in 2002, $13.2 million in 2003 and $13.7 million in 2004) which costs are reflected in the audited combined financial statements included elsewhere herein. However, we believe that these general corporate overhead allocations costs do not represent our on-going costs of doing business as a stand-alone entity following the Transactions so we have eliminated such allocations from our computation of Adjusted EBITDA (see “Summary—Summary of Historical and Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial and Other Data”). Management estimates that we would, however, have incurred incremental stand-alone costs of $2.5 million for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2004. Management has therefore reflected such estimated incremental costs in the same computation of Adjusted EBITDA. This assessment of stand-alone costs following the Transactions is based on preliminary estimates and we may incur costs in excess of those we currently anticipate. See “Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Our Business—We have no history as a stand-alone company and may not be successful as an independent company.” In addition, our employees have historically participated in certain long-term incentive programs sponsored by Cendant and the TRL Group. Compensation expense related to the Cendant and TRL Group long-term incentive programs totaled $4.8 million in 2002, $9.3 million in 2003 and $12.0 million in 2004.

Contractual Obligations and Commitments

The following table summarizes our aggregate contractual obligations, including a $20 million voluntary prepayment of the term loan on March 17, 2006, at December 31, 2005, and the estimated timing and effect that such obligations are expected to have on our liquidity and cash flow in future periods. We expect to fund the firm commitments with operating cash flow generated in the normal course of business and availability under the $100 million revolving credit portion of our credit facility.

 

     2006    2007    2008    2009    2010   

2011 and

thereafter

   Total
     (in millions)

Term loan due 2012

   $ 20.0    $ —      $ —      $ —      $ 3.0    $ 817.0    $ 840.0

Senior subordinated bridge loan facility(1)

     —        —        —        —        —        383.6      383.6

10.125% senior notes due 2013

     —        —        —        —        —        270.0      270.0

Interest payments

     146.3      140.3      140.3      140.3      140.3      363.9      1,071.4

Other purchase commitments(2)

     38.1      21.5      12.3      11.7      11.5      21.4      116.5

Operating lease commitments

     13.4      11.7      10.5      7.7      6.2      14.2      63.7

Management retention payments(3)

     4.6      —        —        —        —        —        4.6

Capital lease obligations

     0.4      0.2      0.2      0.2      —        —        1.0
                                                

Total firm commitments and outstanding debt

   $ 222.8    $ 173.7    $ 163.3    $ 159.9    $ 161.0    $ 1,870.1    $ 2,750.8
                                                

(1)

On April 26, 2006, $349.5 million of principal borrowings under the senior subordinated bridge loan facility were repaid using the proceeds from an offering of $355.5 million aggregate principal amount of 11  1 / 2 % senior subordinated notes maturing on October 15, 2015. Subsequently, on May 3, 2006, the remaining $34.1 million of principal borrowings under the senior subordinated bridge loan facility were repaid using the proceeds from an offering of $34.0 million aggregate principal amount of 10  1 / 8 % senior notes maturing on October 15, 2013. The senior notes were issued as additional notes under the indenture dated as of

 

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October 17, 2005. As a result of these refinancings, ongoing interest payments will be as follows: $136.4 million (2006), $138.6 million (2007), $138.6 million (2008), $138.6 million (2009), $138.6 million (2010) and $417.4 million (2011 and thereafter) for a total of $1,108.2 million.

(2) Represents commitments under purchase agreements for marketing and membership program support services.
(3) In the event payments are not made to management, any unpaid amounts will be treated as a purchase price adjustment and reimbursed to Cendant.

The above table does not give effect to the Refinancing and the Additional Senior Notes Offering or to contingent obligations, such as litigation claims, standard guarantees and indemnities, other guarantees associated with the 2004 Events, surety bonds and letters of credit, due to the fact that at this time we can not determine either the amount or timing of payments related to these contingent obligations. See “Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Financial Information” for a discussion of the impact of the Refinancing and the Additional Senior Notes Offering, note (1) to the table above for the effect of the Refinancing and the Additional Senior Notes Offering on interest payments and Note 14 to our consolidated and combined financial statements included elsewhere herein for a discussion of these contingent obligations.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Following is a description of our risk management policies and those of the Predecessor.

Foreign Currency Risk

The Predecessor used foreign currency forward contracts to manage exposure to changes in foreign currency exchange rates associated with its foreign currency denominated payables, receivables and forecasted earnings of foreign subsidiaries. The Predecessor primarily hedged its foreign currency exposure to the British pound and Euro. The majority of forward contracts utilized did not qualify for hedge accounting treatment under SFAS No. 133. The fluctuations in the value of these forward contracts did, however, largely offset the impact of changes in the value of the underlying risk that they were intended to economically hedge. The impact of these forward contracts was not material to the Predecessor’s results of operations or financial position. We currently do not utilize foreign currency forward contracts as the Company considers its foreign currency risk not material.

Interest Rate Swap

We entered into an interest swap as of December 14, 2005. This swap converts a notional amount of our floating rate credit facility into a fixed rate obligation. The notional amount of the swap was $300 million at December 31, 2005 and reduces in accordance with a contractual amortization schedule through December 31, 2010 when the swap terminates. The purpose of the swap was to maintain our fixed/variable ratio within policy guidelines. The interest rate swap is recorded at fair value either as an asset or liability. Changes in the fair value of the swap is not designated as a hedging instrument and therefore recognized currently in earnings in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.

 

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The following table provides information about our financial instruments that are sensitive to changes in interest rates. The table presents principal cash flows and related weighted-average interest rates by expected maturity for our long-term debt.

 

    2006     2007     2008     2009     2010     2011 and
Thereafter
   Total    Fair Value
At December 31,
2005
    ($ in millions)

Fixed rate debt

    —       —       —       —         —       $ 653.6    $ 653.6    $ 650.0

Average interest rate

    12.44 %   11.33 %   11.33 %   11.33 %     11.33 %     —        —        —  

Variable rate debt

  $ 20.0     —       —       —       $ 3.0     $ 817.0    $ 840.0    $ 840.0

Average interest rate(a)

    7.10 %   7.10 %   7.10 %   7.10 %     7.10 %     —        —        —  

Variable to fixed—

                 

Interest rate swap(b)

    —       —       —       —         —         —        —      $ 0.8

Average pay rate

    4.81 %   4.84 %   4.86 %   4.93 %     4.97 %     —        —        —  

Average receive rate

    4.75 %   4.75 %   4.74 %   4.81 %     4.85 %     —        —        —  

(a) Average interest rate is based on rates in effect at December 31, 2005.
(b) The fair value of the interest rate swap is included in liabilities at December 31, 2005.

As disclosed in Note 2 to the consolidated and combined financial statements included elsewhere herein, as a matter of policy, neither we nor our Predecessor used derivatives for trading or speculative purposes.

Credit Risk and Exposure

Financial instruments that potentially subject us and the Predecessor to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of receivables, profit-sharing receivables from insurance carriers and prepaid commissions. We manage such risk by evaluating the financial position and creditworthiness of such counterparties. As of December 31, 2005, there were no significant concentrations of credit risk. Receivables and profit share receivables from insurance carriers are from various marketing, insurance and business partners and we maintain an allowance for losses, based upon expected collectibility. Commission advances are periodically evaluated as to recovery.

Critical Accounting Policies

In presenting our consolidated and combined financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles, we are required to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported therein. We believe that the estimates, assumptions and judgments involved in the accounting policies related to revenue recognition, accounting for marketing costs, valuation of goodwill and intangible assets, and valuation of tax assets and liabilities could potentially affect our reported results and as such, we consider these to be our critical accounting policies. Several of the estimates and assumptions we are required to make relate to matters that are inherently uncertain, as they pertain to future events. However, certain events outside our control cannot be predicted and, as such, they cannot be contemplated in evaluating such estimates and assumptions. We believe that the estimates and assumptions used when preparing our consolidated and combined financial statements were the most appropriate at the time. For a summary of all of our significant accounting policies, see Note 2 to our consolidated and combined financial statements included elsewhere herein for the three years ended December 31, 2005.

Purchase Accounting

On October 17, 2005, Cendant completed the sale of the Cendant Marketing Services Division to Affinion, an affiliate of Apollo. The sale was accounted for by the purchase method of accounting, which requires judgment regarding the allocation of the purchase price based on the fair values of the assets acquired (including intangible assets) and the liabilities assumed. The fair values of the acquired assets and assumed liabilities were based primarily on estimates. The purchase accounting adjustments reflected in our records, which are subject to adjustment based on among other things the completion of the third party valuation of the tangible and intangible

 

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assets acquired, primarily consist of: (1) revaluation of certain property and equipment, including internally developed software; (2) valuing intangibles assets consisting of affinity and member relationships, patents, trademarks and tradenames, proprietary data bases and systems; (3) recognizing deferred revenues and prepaid commissions; and (4) recognizing the liability to service certain of our members during the period in which no revenue will be received. The excess of the purchase price over the estimated fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed was recognized as goodwill, which will be reviewed for impairment at least annually. As of December 31, 2005, we had recorded goodwill of approximately $366.2 million related to the Transactions described above.

Revenue Recognition

Our critical accounting policies in the area of revenue recognition pertain to our insurance profit-sharing arrangements. For our membership, package and loyalty programs, we operate in a business environment where we are paid a fee for a service performed and we do not recognize revenue until these services have been performed and such revenues are no longer subject to refund. Accordingly, revenue recognition for these programs is not particularly subjective or complex.

We recognize insurance program commission revenue based on premiums earned by the insurance carriers that underwrite the policies we market. Premiums are typically paid either monthly or quarterly and revenue is recognized ratably over the underlying policy coverage period. We engage in revenue and profit-sharing arrangements with the insurance carriers that issue the underlying insurance policies. Commission revenue from insurance programs is reported net of insurance costs in our combined financial statements. On a semi-annual or annual basis, a profit-sharing settlement is made based on an analysis of the premiums paid to the insurance carriers less claims experience incurred to date, estimated claims incurred but not reported, reinsurance costs and carrier administrative fees. We accrue monthly revenue and related profit sharing receivables from insurance carriers resulting from our expected share of this excess based on the claims experience to date, including an estimate for claims incurred but not reported. Adjustments to the estimates recorded are made upon settlement with the insurance carriers. Historically, our claims experience has not resulted in a shortfall.

The estimate of the periodic amount of claims incurred but not reported to the insurance company is based on models we have developed and maintain in consultation with the insurance carriers. The models are updated periodically for the most recent loss rates that we receive from the insurance companies and current market conditions. Any change to the estimates, based on actual experience, is reported in earnings in the period the change becomes known.

Marketing Expense

Our critical accounting policy in the area of marketing expense pertains to the insurance business within our insurance and package segment. For the periods following the closing of the Transactions, we have adopted an accounting policy whereby costs related to acquiring new insurance business are expensed as incurred. Marketing solicitation costs for our membership and package businesses are expensed as incurred consistent with our member business.

In our historical combined financial statements, marketing acquisition costs for our insurance programs were deferred to the extent such costs were deemed recoverable from future cash flows generated by us related to such acquisition costs. These costs were amortized as marketing expense over a 12-year period using a declining balance method generally in proportion to the related insurance revenue, which was based on attrition rates associated with the approximate rate that insurance revenues collected from customers decline over time. Amortization of deferred acquisition costs commenced upon recognition of the related insurance revenue. We performed periodic reviews of our amortization expense, attrition rates and the recoverability of deferred acquisition costs. Any resulting changes were treated as a change in estimate unless the balance was considered non-recoverable, in which case the unrecoverable portion was expensed.

 

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The effect of the change in accounting policy for insurance programs is that all our marketing solicitation costs are expensed as incurred post October 16, 2005.

Goodwill and Intangible Assets

In connection with SFAS No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets,” there is a requirement to assess goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment annually, or more frequently if circumstances indicate impairment may have occurred. The Company assesses goodwill for such impairment by comparing the carrying value of the reporting units to their fair values. Reporting units are comprised of the four reportable operating segments: Membership, Insurance and Package, International and Loyalty. Fair values of the reporting units are determined utilizing discounted cash flows and incorporate assumptions that we believe marketplace participants would utilize. Indefinite-lived intangible assets are tested for impairment and written down to fair value, as required by SFAS No. 142.

Subsequent to the initial assessment, the Company performs reviews annually, or more frequently if circumstances indicated impairment may have occurred, and during 2005, 2004 and 2003, no such impairment occurred. The Company’s intangible assets as of December 31, 2005 consist primarily of intangible assets with finite useful lives acquired by the Company in the Transactions and are recorded at their respective preliminary fair values in accordance with SFAS No. 141, “Business Combinations”.

Income Taxes

The provision for/(benefit from) income taxes is determined using the asset and liability method, under which deferred tax assets and liabilities are calculated based upon the temporary differences between the financial statement and income tax bases of assets and liabilities using currently enacted tax rates. Deferred tax assets are recorded net of a valuation allowance when, based on the weight of available evidence, it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the recorded deferred tax assets will not be realized in future periods. Decreases to the valuation allowance are recorded as reductions to the provision for/(benefit from) income taxes, while increases to the valuation allowance result in additional provision. The realization of deferred tax assets is primarily dependent on estimated future taxable income. As of December 31, 2005, the Company has recorded a valuation allowance for its deferred tax assets.

The Predecessor, excluding TRL Group and AIH, was included in the consolidated federal income tax return filed by Cendant. In addition, the Predecessor, excluding TRL Group and AIH, filed unitary and consolidated state income tax returns with Cendant in jurisdictions where required. The income taxes payable or receivable associated with the consolidated federal and unitary or consolidated state income tax returns mentioned above were included in advances to Cendant, net on the accompanying 2004 combined balance sheet. The provision for income taxes on the accompanying combined statements of operations was computed as if the Predecessor filed its federal and state income tax returns on a stand-alone basis. Since Cendant maintained less than an 80% ownership interest in TRL Group, TRL Group was not included in Cendant’s consolidated federal and state income tax returns and filed separate tax returns. AIH and its subsidiaries filed income tax returns in countries in which they operated. Income taxes payable/receivable reflected on the accompanying 2004 combined balance sheet are directly due to/from taxing jurisdictions and are separate from Cendant’s consolidated or unitary filings.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

In March 2005, the “FASB” issued FASB Interpretation No. 47, “Accounting for Conditional Asset Retirement Obligations” (“FIN 47”), which clarifies that conditional asset retirement obligations are within the scope of SFAS No. 143, “Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations.” FIN 47 requires the Company to recognize a liability for the fair value of conditional asset retirement obligations, if the fair value of the liability can be reasonably estimated. The Company adopted the provisions of FIN 47 as of the commencement of its operations on October 17, 2005.

 

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The Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 123R, “Share Based Payment” (“SFAS No. 123R”) as of the commencement of its operations on October 17, 2005. SFAS No. 123R eliminates the alternative to measure stock-based compensation awards using the intrinsic value approach permitted by APB Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees”, and by SFAS No. 123, “Accounting for Stock Based Compensation” (“SFAS No. 123”). For employee stock awards effective after October 17, 2005, the Company recognizes compensation expense, net of estimated forfeitures upon the issuance of the award, over the requisite service period, which is the period during which the employee is required to provide services in exchange for an award. The requisite service period is often is the vesting period. Stock compensation expense of the Company is included in general and administrative expense in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations.

On January 1, 2003, the Predecessor (in conjunction with Cendant’s adoption) adopted the fair value method of accounting for stock-based compensation provisions of SFAS No. 123. The Predecessor also adopted SFAS No. 148, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation—Transition and Disclosure,” in its entirety on January 1, 2003, which amended SFAS No. 123 to provide alternative methods of transition for a voluntary change to the fair value based method of accounting provisions. As a result, since January 1, 2003 the Predecessor expensed all employee stock awards over their respective vesting periods based upon the fair value of the award on the date of grant. Stock compensation expense of the Predecessor is included in general and administrative expense in the accompanying combined statements of operations. As the Predecessor elected to use the prospective transition method, Cendant has allocated expense to the Predecessor only for employee stock awards that were granted or modified subsequent to December 31, 2002.

 

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BUSINESS

We are a leading affinity direct marketer of value-added membership, insurance and package enhancement programs and services to consumers, with over 30 years of experience. We currently offer our programs and services worldwide through approximately 4,500 affinity partners as of December 31, 2005. Our diversified base of affinity partners includes leading companies in a wide variety of industries, including financial services, retail, travel, telecommunications, utilities and Internet. We market to consumers using direct mail, online marketing, in-branch marketing, telemarketing and other marketing methods. We generate predictable revenues and cash flows because of our large base of existing customers, which accounts for the majority of our near-term cash flow, and the fact that customer retention and renewals generally follow well-established patterns. We also have a growing loyalty solutions operation which administers points-based loyalty programs. As of December 31, 2005, we had approximately 70 million members and end-customers worldwide and approximately 3,000 employees in the U.S. and 11 countries, primarily in Europe. For the year ended December 31, 2005, we had pro forma net revenues of $1.2 billion and pro forma Adjusted EBITDA (as defined on page 20 above) of $257.2 million.

We utilize the brand names, customer contacts and billing vehicles of our affinity partners to market a broad portfolio of 25 core programs in approximately 200 configurations. Our core programs include PrivacyGuard (a credit monitoring and identity-theft resolution service), AD&D, Hotline and Payment Card Protection (credit card registration services), Travelers Advantage (discount travel services), as well as various checking account and credit card enhancement programs. Affinity partners value our services because we strengthen their relationships with their customers, promote their brands and provide them with incremental revenue while adhering to high standards in consumer privacy and protection. We believe that we provide our affinity partners with a scale of operations and breadth of programs and services that cannot be matched by our competitors, as well as a high level of analytical marketing expertise that results in more profitable marketing campaigns. We also allow our affinity partners to choose the extent to which they are involved in the acquisition and retention of customers. The customized options offered to our affinity partners range from a wholesale arrangement, in which they are largely responsible for customer acquisition, to a retail arrangement, where we are solely responsible. In addition, we have strong relationships with third-party vendors who provide many elements of our programs and services to our members and end-customers, such as merchandise fulfillment and insurance underwriting.

We have developed a rigorous marketing approach, including powerful models and proprietary databases that analyze, by program, historical marketing performance data, customer preferences and historical usage and response rates. Our approach allows us to leverage the experience we have gained from our extensive marketing history, including more than 46,000 marketing campaigns conducted over the last decade. We design, customize and manage marketing campaigns which utilize multiple media and product offerings for each affinity partner. In addition, we use our data analytics capabilities to target minimum return thresholds tailored to each of our marketing campaigns. Based on sophisticated statistical analyses, our predictive models are designed to accurately forecast response rates, revenue generation and profitability potential of a prospective campaign. Our disciplined analytical approach allows us to target marketing opportunities with the most promising return potential and to provide our affinity partners with reports that measure individual campaign performance.

 

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LOGO

We operate our business through the following operating segments:

 

    Membership Operations (54.0% of 2005 pro forma net revenues) —Our membership operations in the U.S. are operated through Trilegiant, which designs, implements, and markets membership programs to customers of our affinity partners. We believe we are the leader in the U.S. affinity membership marketing industry with approximately 13.6 million members as of December 31, 2005. For an annual or monthly membership fee, we provide members with access to a variety of discounts and shop-at-home conveniences in such areas as retail merchandise, travel, automotive and home improvement; as well as personal protection benefits and value-added services including credit monitoring and identity-theft resolution services. Our membership programs include PrivacyGuard (a credit monitoring and identity-theft resolution service), Travelers Advantage (a discount travel service) and Shoppers Advantage (a discount shopping service), among many others. Our affinity partners, such as financial institutions, retailers and other consumer-oriented companies, offer individual membership programs to their customers as an enhancement to, or in connection with, their use of credit and/or debit cards, checking accounts, mortgage loans or other financial payment vehicles.

In general, membership services are offered under a retail arrangement in which membership fees are paid to us, and, in turn, we pay commissions on such fees to our affinity partners. Generally, we pay these commissions on both new members and their subsequent renewals. We also offer our services under a wholesale arrangement, which is a growing component of our operations, whereby our affinity partners market our programs and services and collect membership fees, and in return pay us administration and participant fees. We partner with a large number of third-party vendors to provide fulfillment of many elements of our diverse membership programs. For example, fulfillment of products purchased via our shopping-related programs is undertaken through a direct-ship network of over 200 vendors which we manage without taking ownership or physical possession of the products.

 

    Insurance and Package Operations (26.5% of 2005 pro forma net revenues) —Our insurance and package enhancement operations in the U.S. are operated through Progeny. We are a leading direct marketer of AD&D in the U.S. with over 31 million end-customers. We serve as an agent and third-party administrator for the marketing of AD&D and other insurance programs, and market private-label insurance programs to the customers of our affinity partners, typically financial institutions, primarily through direct mail. Our affinity partners use insurance programs to help improve customer affinity and retention by offering a base level of AD&D at no cost to their customers and to generate incremental fee income from customers who choose to increase their coverage by purchasing supplemental insurance. We use retail arrangements with our affinity partners when we market our insurance programs to their customers.

We believe we are the largest distributor of checking account package enhancement programs in the U.S. with over 2,500 financial institutions and approximately 7.2 million end-customers as of December 31, 2005. We provide our affinity partners with a portfolio of over 45 benefits in such areas

 

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as travel and shopping discounts, insurance and identity-theft resolution. Our affinity partners select a customized package of these programs and services to which they frequently then add their own services (e.g., unlimited check writing privileges, personalized checks, cashiers’ or travelers’ checks without issue charges). We design and provide package enhancement programs for financial institutions in order to improve their customer retention rates and generate additional fee income. Package enhancement programs, which are typically marketed in-branch by our affinity partners’ employees, are generally offered on a wholesale basis in which we earn up-front fees for implementing the package enhancement program and monthly fees based on the number of customers participating in the program.

 

    International Operations (14.8% of 2005 pro forma net revenues) —Our international membership and package enhancement operations are operated primarily in Europe through Cims. We believe we are the largest marketer of membership programs and package enhancement programs in Europe, with approximately 2.2 million members and 16.7 million end-customers. In addition to our existing traditional international membership program offerings, we recently introduced a wider range of membership programs more comparable to those that we offer in the U.S. International membership services and package enhancement programs are offered under retail and wholesale arrangements comparable to those in the U.S.

 

    Loyalty Operations (4.7% of 2005 pro forma net revenues) —Our growing loyalty operations are operated through ALG (formerly known as TLS). We believe we are a leader in online points redemption and administrative services and currently manage approximately 125 billion points for our customers with an estimated redemption value of over $1.5 billion. We typically charge clients a per-member and/or a per-activity administrative fee for our services and do not retain any points-related liabilities. We also provide benefit enhancements, such as travel insurance, accident and collision damage waiver insurance and concierge services, to credit card issuers. We currently work with approximately 100 clients on their loyalty and enhancement products, including leading financial institutions, brokerage houses, premier hotels, timeshares and other travel-related companies.

Competitive Strengths

Global Leader in a Growing Industry. We are a leading affinity direct marketer of value-added membership, insurance and package enhancement programs and services with approximately 70 million members and end-customers worldwide and a network of approximately 4,500 affinity partners as of December 31, 2005. Our leadership position in the growing affinity direct marketing industry is due to our more than 30-year track record, our experience from over 46,000 marketing campaigns conducted over the last decade and our core strengths in the areas of multi-media marketing, data analytics, customer service, and operations. We also believe our portfolio of programs and benefits is the broadest in the industry. As of December 31, 2005 we had 20 core membership programs, 5 core insurance programs and 45 core benefits for our package enhancement programs, all of which are offered in over 200 different configurations to satisfy a wide range of consumer trends and fulfillment needs across industries.

Proven Business Model Generates Predictable Financial Results with Significant Future Revenue Streams. Our business model includes planning new marketing initiatives based on predicted response and attrition rates, as well as other variables (such as product and servicing costs) drawn from in-depth analysis of our prior marketing campaigns. We are able to forecast the likely future range of results of our current and future marketing campaigns because the results of our marketing campaigns generally follow well-established patterns. Consequently, we are able to optimize the allocation of our marketing spend to the most profitable opportunities. Further, as our marketing campaigns generate revenues and cash flows over a number of years, our existing customer base (acquired from previous marketing campaigns for which we have already incurred the up-front marketing expense) produces highly predictable financial results as customer retention and related revenues and cash flows generally follow well-established patterns. Our revenue from our existing customer base has historically generated over 80% of the next twelve months net revenues for our membership and insurance operations.

 

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Flexible Operating Model Focused on Free Cash Flow Generation. We believe that our operating model will generate significant free cash flow, which we define as cash provided by operating activities less capital expenditures and required debt service payments, as a result of our low capital expenditure requirements and variable cost structure. For example, 2005 capital expenditures represented less than 3% of our 2005 pro forma net revenues. Our operating model is also highly scalable, allowing us to expand our business without significant additional fixed costs. As we continue to outsource certain non-critical functions in information technology and fulfillment, as well as certain of our call center operations, we will continue to migrate to a more variable cost structure. During 2004 and 2005, we integrated our membership and insurance and package operations, resulting in approximately $9.7 million of annual ongoing cost savings. In addition, during first half of 2006, as part of our ongoing reorganization of our international and travel agency operations, we expect to generate approximately $11.0 million of annual cost savings. As part of the Transactions, we made a 338(h)(10) election to write up the value of our assets, which will reduce our cash taxes in the future and therefore, further enhance our free cash flow generation.

Strong, Long-Term Relationships with Diverse Affinity Partners. We have cultivated strong long-term relationships with our affinity partners who are in a wide variety of industries, including financial services, retail, travel, telecommunications, utilities, Internet and other media. Our affinity partners value their relationship with us because it allows them to leverage our scale of operations and high level of analytical marketing expertise to generate incremental revenue without significant investment. Our relationships include 19 of the top 20 U.S. credit card issuers, 17 of the top 20 U.S. debit card issuers, 12 of the top 20 U.S. retail card issuers, 10 of the top 15 U.S. oil card issuers, 7 of the top 10 U.S. mortgage companies and 14 of the top 20 European retail banks. As the brand names and reputations of our affinity partners are crucial to their future success, they are very selective with regard to the use of their brand names. Due to the long-term relationships that we have with many of our affinity partners, we have built a level of trust that we believe would be difficult for our competitors or new entrants to the market to replicate. As a result, many of our key distribution partners have been with us for more than ten years.

Disciplined Marketing Approach Driven by Models and Proprietary Databases. We have over 30 years of experience in creating, executing and refining marketing programs with our affinity partners. Our marketing approach employs models and proprietary databases containing preferences and response rates for our products, as well as detailed performance and profitability data. This approach allows us to leverage historical information to design, customize and manage a large number of individual marketing campaigns across multiple media and product offerings tailored to each affinity partner. Furthermore, we believe that our database of customer contacts is the largest in the affinity direct marketing industry and that it enhances our ability to maximize the return on our marketing spend.

Leading Loyalty Solutions Platform. We currently manage approximately 125 billion points with an estimated redemption value of over $1.5 billion. We believe we are well positioned in this business due to our scale, leading technical capabilities and experience in assisting companies to manage their points liabilities, which are vital to companies seeking to differentiate their programs and enhance their efficiency and profitability. These attributes, combined with the fact that it is expensive, as well as technically difficult for our customers to switch administrators once a loyalty solutions platform is operational, result in high customer retention rates. While we manage points with an estimated redemption value of over $1.5 billion, we do not retain any liability related to the redemption of points.

Committed and Experienced Management Team. Our senior management team has extensive experience in the direct marketing industry. The top 12 members of the team have an average of 8 years of experience in the direct marketing industry. This extensive industry experience is combined with a proven operational track record and strong relationships with key decision-makers at our affinity partners. Our experienced management team has led the successful integration, which began in early 2004, of our membership, insurance and package enhancement, international and loyalty solutions operations and our management remains committed to maintaining our market leadership position in the industry and continuing to increase our earnings and cash flows.

 

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Business Strategy

Our strategy is to maintain and enhance our position as a leading global affinity direct marketer by providing valuable, high quality and affordable programs and services that reinforce the relationship between the customer and our affinity partners and to focus on attractive opportunities which would increase our growth and cash flows.

Focus on Increasing Profitability. The integration of our operations will enable us to further optimize the allocation of our marketing spend across all of our operations and geographic regions in order to maximize the returns on each marketing campaign and, therefore, our overall long-term profitability. In addition, we expect that an expansion of our range of hybrid or bundled programs, such as premium versions of membership programs and combinations of membership and insurance programs, will increase our profitability as these programs generate higher revenues and margins. In addition, the ongoing shift of members from annual to monthly billing programs will continue to increase revenue per customer as annualized monthly membership fees are typically higher than annual membership fees. While increasing our revenues per customer, we also expect to increase our profitability by minimizing operating costs and capitalizing on the benefits of outsourcing and a more variable cost structure.

Continue to Execute Our Online Strategy for Customer Acquisition and Fulfillment. Since late 2003, we have pursued a strategy of leveraging the Internet for customer acquisition and fulfillment in order to capitalize on the increasing penetration and usage rates of the Internet. Our ability to attract new members, either through our affinity partners or directly, is enhanced by the fact that we target the online consumer at the moment of highest affinity—the transaction or point-of-sale. In 2004, we generated 400,000 members via our online member acquisition programs. In 2005, we recorded over 1.1 million new members through similar programs. The recognized and reputable brand names of our affinity partners assist us in attracting new members. The Internet also provides us with the opportunity to market programs directly to consumers beyond the customer bases of our affinity partners through the use of keywords on search sites as some of the most searched items on the Internet generally correlate well with the broad set of programs that we offer online such as travel, shopping and auto-related programs. In addition, the Internet will continue to enable us to significantly reduce our operating costs. For example, our online membership fulfillment costs are, on average, approximately 34% less than our regular mail fulfillment costs. We also pay lower associated commission rates to our affinity partners for new members generated via the Internet than via our other marketing channels.

Expand Our Range of Affinity Partners. We believe there are substantial opportunities to increase our presence in the travel, cable, telecom and utilities industries, in both the U.S. and Europe. Companies in these industries are attractive candidates for our product offerings as they generally have strong brand names and extensive customer contacts and billing vehicles. Our highly customized marketing campaigns can assist these companies in attracting and retaining customers as well as generating incremental revenue. Our recent package enhancement agreement with a leading European utility with nearly 30 million customers and retail marketing services arrangement with a large U.S. telecom service provider illustrate our success with this strategy.

Grow Our International Retail Operations. We believe that we are well positioned to provide our affinity partners and clients with comprehensive offerings on a global basis, particularly with our membership programs. We intend to grow our international retail membership operations by leveraging our significant U.S. experience to offer membership programs comparable to existing U.S. membership programs to European customers. We believe that the market for these kinds of membership programs is underserved in Europe and, as a result, has significant growth potential. Our international operations recently initiated direct marketing campaigns for our identity-theft resolution and credit monitoring programs in the U.K. that have shown promising initial results and we have developed relationships with several leading U.K. financial institutions to market these membership programs to their customer bases. We also intend to launch other membership programs such as Buyers Advantage and Travelers Advantage in the U.K., and eventually throughout Europe.

 

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Continue to Focus on New Program Development. We continually develop and test new programs to identify consumer trends that can be converted into revenue-enhancing opportunities. Our existing infrastructure, broad portfolio of benefits and extensive marketing experience enable us to develop new programs more efficiently. We introduced a number of new programs in 2004 and 2005, including a repair and maintenance program for home systems and appliances and a coupon and gift card program that provides members discounts at over 100,000 national and local retail merchants. We believe that the programs that we are currently testing and plan to introduce in 2006 will continue our strong track record for developing new programs that increase profitability. We will also continue to bundle existing programs, program extensions and benefits into new packages, such as security and health care packages, to create significant incremental revenue opportunities, a practice which we have been successful in implementing in the past.

Leveraging Best Practices and Cross-Selling Opportunities. Since completing the integration of our operations, which we began in 2004, we have begun implementing best practices across our operations. We also intend to capitalize on the significant opportunities to cross-sell products across business lines and geographical regions that have been created by our business integration. For example, by combining the sales force of Progeny and Trilegiant in mid-2004, we are now able to offer membership programs to domestic regional banks and credit unions, whose members and end-customers have traditionally had favorable response rates with comparatively low attrition rates. We believe that the further rationalization of our operations will also continue to generate economies of scale, including greater purchasing power with third-party vendors. For example, we expect that the reorganization of our international and travel agency operations will result in approximately $11.0 million of annual cost savings primarily from the elimination of redundant functions and positions.

Industry Overview

Direct marketing is defined by the DMA as any direct communication to a consumer or business that is designed to generate a response in the form of an order. Affinity direct marketing is a subset of the larger direct marketing industry which involves direct marketing to the customers of affinity partners, such as financial institutions and retailers. In affinity direct marketing, programs, products and services are marketed either directly or indirectly, in each case using the affinity partner’s brand name, customer contacts and billing vehicles. We believe that being associated with the brand of an affinity partner provides a significant advantage over other forms of direct marketing. Affinity direct marketing provides us with access to our affinity partners’ large customer base, generally results in higher response rates as customers recognize and trust our affinity partners’ brands and provides additional credibility and validation as to the quality of the program or service we are offering. Affinity partners benefit as they are able to promote their brands while offering additional programs and services, which strengthens their relationships with their customers and generates incremental revenue for them.

The DMA estimates that overall sales in the U.S. generated by direct marketing initiatives will grow at an 8.6% compound annual growth rate from 2003 to 2007. According to the DMA, the EU represents approximately 20% of the global direct marketing driven sales in 2004, and the EU market is expected to grow at a faster rate than the U.S. market as new members join the EU and member countries continue to integrate across economic, social and regulatory boundaries.

Industry research indicates that growth in direct marketing sales results from increasing direct marketing expenditures as well as marketers shifting their budgets from branding campaigns to direct marketing campaigns due to their increased measurability and effectiveness. Marketers with direct customer contact or with large marketing databases are expected to continue to pursue direct marketing initiatives, such as those offered by us, to increase customer penetration in an environment where attracting and retaining customers is becoming increasingly challenging. As a result, direct marketing driven sales as a percentage of total sales have been rising. Sales generated by direct mail, one of our primary marketing media, is projected by the DMA to grow at a compound annual growth rate of approximately 8.5% from 2003 through 2007 in the U.S. Online media, a growth vehicle for both the industry and our business, represents the fastest growing direct marketing medium due to the increasing use of the Internet and its significantly lower communication costs. Forrester Research, Inc. projects a compound annual growth rate of approximately 15.5% for online media from 2005 to 2008 in the U.S.

 

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Company History

We have over 30 years of operational history. Our business started with membership operations in 1973 through the formation of CUC. Between 1985 and 1986, CUC acquired the insurance and package enhancement operations of Financial Institution Services, Inc. and Madison Financial Corporation, which were formed in 1971 and 1974, respectively. In 1988, CUC acquired National Card Control, Inc., which was formed in 1981 and provided loyalty solutions and package enhancement programs. The international operations were started by CUC in the early 1990s. In 1997, CUC merged with HFS Incorporated to form Cendant. The international operations were rebranded as Cendant International Membership Services after the formation of Cendant. In 2001, the U.S. membership operations were rebranded as Trilegiant and the loyalty solutions operations were rebranded as Trilegiant Loyalty Solutions. The insurance and U.S. package enhancement operations were rebranded as Progeny in 2002. In 2004, we realigned our organizational structure and began integrating the historically separate businesses in order to have a unified approach to the marketplace.

In 2005, we, along with our parent company, Holdings, entered into a purchase agreement with Cendant pursuant to which we purchased from Cendant all of the equity interests of AGLLC and all of the share capital of AIH (the “Acquisition”). See “The Acquisition—Purchase Agreement and Ancillary Agreements to the Purchase Agreement.”

Marketing

We market our programs and services through retail and wholesale arrangements and combinations thereof. Under the retail arrangement, we market our programs to an affinity partner’s customers by using that affinity partner’s brand name, customer contacts and billing vehicles. In retail arrangements, we typically bear or share the acquisition marketing costs and the related retention cost. Under structures where we bear all or most of the acquisition marketing costs, we typically incur higher up-front marketing costs but pay lower commissions on related revenue to our affinity partners. Under structures where our affinity partners share more of the acquisition marketing costs, we typically have lower up-front acquisition marketing costs but pay higher commissions on membership and end-customer revenue to our affinity partners.

Under the wholesale arrangement, the affinity partner markets our programs and services to its customers, collects revenue each month from the customer and typically pays a monthly fee per participant. In addition, we also offer other services to our affinity partners, including enrollment, fulfillment, customer service and website development.

We utilize a variety of media to market our programs and services, including direct mail, online marketing, in-branch marketing, inbound telemarketing, outbound telemarketing and call-to-activate/voice response unit marketing. We have a full-service creative agency with expertise in utilizing all varieties of customer acquisition media with special emphasis on growing online and other higher margin media. We use a network of third-party operators for inbound and outbound telemarketing and develop all direct mail programs in-house, utilizing third parties only for limited services such as printing. In addition, we use standardized scripts and direct mail materials that are repeatedly tested and updated to ensure consistent quality and maximum effectiveness for each marketing campaign.

Direct Mail. We have developed considerable expertise in direct mail marketing, which remains our largest marketing medium in terms of new member acquisition, accounting for more than 48% of new joins in 2005. Our direct mail operations incorporate a variety of mailing types, including solo direct mail, detachable inserts, credit card inserts, statement inserts, promotion inserts, and other printed media. Additionally, we continually test variations of direct mail solicitations to drive higher customer response rates.

Online Marketing. We formed a dedicated Internet group in late 2003 to market our programs and services and expand our reach online. In 2005, we recorded over 1.1 million new members through online membership

 

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acquisition programs as compared to 400,000 new members in 2004 and 200,000 new members in 2003. We are pursuing new marketing partnerships (e.g. online retailers, travel providers, and service providers), expanding relationships with traditional affinity partners via the Internet (notably financial institutions who allow us to market to their online banking customers), and marketing directly to consumers. We use click-through advertising, search and email marketing techniques to enhance our online customer acquisitions and expect to significantly increase our use of these techniques.

In-Branch Marketing. In-branch marketing is the primary distribution medium for our package enhancement programs. In-branch marketing utilizes a variety of promotional and display materials at our affinity partners’ branches to create interest and drive program inquiries. Affinity partner representatives coordinate sales with the opening of new accounts. We also train affinity partners’ branch personnel in sales techniques for our programs.

Live Operator Inbound Telemarketing (“Transfer Plus” and “Customer Service Marketing”). Transfer Plus is a live-operator call transfer program which operates from affinity partner call centers, and has proven successful in converting customer service calls into revenue opportunities. In Transfer Plus, qualified callers of an affinity partner are invited to hear about a special offer, and those callers who express interest in that offer are transferred to us to hear more about the product. Customer Service Marketing is similar to Transfer Plus, however, the affinity partner’s call center agent continues with the sales process instead of transferring the call to our vendor. This program is easy to implement and we handle all training and promotions. It also provides a no-cost employee retention program for our affinity partners as agents earn cash/awards from us for every call transferred.

Outbound Telemarketing . We use extensive modeling to target calling efforts to likely responders. Calls are fully scripted, and our representatives market only to those who are interested in hearing about our programs. Our outbound telemarketing programs are designed to comply with the “Do-Not-Call” Registry and other privacy legislation.

Call-to-Activate/Voice Response Unit . When a consumer contacts an affinity partner’s call center to activate a credit or debit card, the automated voice response system offers our product while the customer is waiting for, or after the completion of, the activation. The consumer then has the opportunity to accept or decline the offer. This low-cost marketing program is easy to implement and the call-to-activate technique generates significant revenue streams.

We utilize financial models that are designed to target and predict returns over a five-year period for membership and a seven year period for insurance programs. These models are used to determine the minimum response rate required to attain a targeted return per newly acquired member net of attrition given an appropriate cost of capital. Our marketing systems model individual campaigns across multiple media and product offerings utilizing extensive data, customer contacts and results of over 46,000 marketing campaigns conducted over the last decade. We typically target a minimum profitability return after all costs for all marketing campaigns for our membership and insurance operations.

Programs and Services

Membership Operations. Through our Trilegiant operations, we market various private-label club memberships and services to individuals in North America, primarily through joint marketing arrangements with our affinity partners. The membership programs offer members discounts on many brand categories along with shop-at-home convenience in such areas as retail merchandise, travel, automotive and home improvement, as well as other benefits and value-added services in the growing area of credit monitoring and identity-theft resolution services, which are intended to improve the member’s sense of security and well-being.

 

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Our principal membership programs include:

 

Program

  

Description

  

Key Features

LOGO

   Access and monitoring of credit report, credit score and credit history to help prevent identity-theft   

Triple-bureau reporting

 

Credit monitoring

 

Identity-theft insurance

LOGO

   Credit card and document registration   

Cancellation / replacement of credit cards with fraud liability; sales price and return guarantee protection

 

Emergency cash advance and airline ticket replacement

LOGO

   Discount travel service program offering a low-price guarantee on booking airline, hotel and car rental reservations    5% cash back; 24/7 full service travel agency

LOGO

   Discount shopping program offering savings of 10%-50% off manufacturers’ suggested retail price on brand name consumer products   

200% low price guarantee for 60 days; automatic 2-year warranty on most items

 

3.5% cash back on online orders

LOGO

   Discount program with preferred prices on new cars and discounts on maintenance, tires and parts   

Emergency roadside assistance for up to 3 times per year

 

Up to 15% in service center network savings

LOGO

   Discount program offering savings on dining, shopping, hotels, and admission to individual and family-oriented leisure activities    Coupon book with entertainment, shopping and dining savings from over 20 national partners. Clip and save coupons from national retailers and entertainment locations. Regional dining card offering 20% discount at over 12,000 U.S. restaurants

LOGO

   Discount program offering savings on home improvement and repair   

Up to 50% discount on over 50,000 items from over 1,200 brand name manufacturers

 

60-day low price guarantee

LOGO

   Customer service that extends manufacturers’ warranties   

Automatic five-year warranty extension

 

20%–50% repair cost protection

 

New purchase price protection for 60-90 days

LOGO

   Discounts on a variety of health-related programs and services   

5%-25% discounts off fees at 260,000 physician specialists

 

5%-40% discounts on prescriptions, dental, vision, hearing and preventive care

LOGO

   Insurance coverage service for breakdowns of household systems and appliances    24-hour, 365-day coverage with repair service network of over 20,000 pre-screened service professionals

 

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In 2005, more than 44% of our membership programs’ members joined as a result of direct mail marketing. Other forms of marketing include our growing online initiatives, as well as telemarketing, customer service marketing and call-to-activate/voice response unit marketing. In general, membership programs are offered on a retail basis in which customers pay us an annual or monthly membership fee. In return, we pay our affinity partners commissions on initial and renewal memberships based on a percentage of the membership fees. We also offer our services under wholesale arrangements in which our affinity partners incur the marketing expense and risk of campaign performance and pay us a monthly fee and other fees for the administration and fulfillment of their membership programs. While it is a relatively small component of our business at present, we expect wholesale arrangements to be an increasingly larger component of our membership operations in the future.

Insurance and Package Operations. Through our Progeny operations, we market our insurance and package enhancement programs in the U.S. In our insurance operations, we serve as an agent and third-party administrator for the marketing of AD&D and other insurance programs. We offer four primary insurance programs that pertain to supplemental health or life insurance. These programs, including AD&D, represent our core insurance offerings and the majority of our annual insurance revenue.

Our principal insurance programs include:

 

Product

  

Description

  

Key Features

LOGO

   Provides coverage for accidental death or serious injury    $1,000 initial complimentary coverage; up to $300,000 in additional coverage

LOGO

   Pays cash directly to the insured if hospitalized due to a covered accident   

Up to $200 per day hospitalized

LOGO

   Pays cash to insured or beneficiary for hospitalization due to a covered accident or illness   

Choice of $50 or $100 per day hospitalized

LOGO

   Provides coverage for accidental death    Up to $1,000,000 in accidental death insurance

We market our insurance programs primarily by direct mail and otherwise by telemarketing. We typically use retail arrangements with our affinity partners when we market our insurance programs to their customers. We earn revenue in the form of commissions from premiums collected as well as from economic sharing arrangements with the insurance carriers that underwrite the policies that we market. While these economic sharing arrangements have a loss-sharing feature that would be triggered in the event that the claims made against an insurance carrier exceed the premiums collected over a specified period of time, historically, we have never had to make a payment to insurance carriers under such loss-sharing feature.

We believe we are the largest distributor of checking account package enhancement programs in the U.S. We provide our affinity partners with a portfolio of over 45 benefits in such areas as travel and shopping discounts, insurance and identity-theft resolution to create customized package offerings for their customers. For example, a financial institution can bundle retail checking enhancements such as grocery coupon books, medical emergency data cards, movie ticket discounts, telephone shopping services, car rental discounts, half price hotel directories, hotel savings, dining discounts, and other benefits, with a standard checking or deposit account and market these packages to its customers for an additional monthly fee.

 

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Product

  

Description

  

Key Features

LOGO

   Package of benefits tied to customer checking accounts in the U.S.    Broad array of features includes shopping, travel, and security benefits

LOGO

   Package of benefits focused on office management and business discounts    Business services and solutions

LOGO

   Health savings package includes discounts on prescriptions, dental & vision care and AD&D insurance    Health-oriented programs

A customer service representative at an affinity partner’s branch site or via direct mail solicitation offers package enhancement programs to checking account, deposit account and credit card customers at the time of enrollment. We typically offer package enhancement programs, such as Enhanced Checking, under wholesale arrangements where we earn an upfront fee for implementing the package enhancement program and a monthly fee based on the number of customers participating in the program. We typically offer Small Business Solutions and Wellness Extras programs on a retail basis.

International Operations. Through our Cims operations, we market our membership and package enhancement program lines internationally. We believe we are the largest marketer of membership programs and package enhancement programs in Europe. These membership services and package enhancement programs are offered under retail and wholesale arrangements comparable to those in the U.S.

Our principal international membership programs include:

 

Product

  

Description

  

Key Features

Sentinel Card Protection

   Protection for all credit and debit cards against loss or theft   

Assistance services including change of address and luggage and key retrieval

Emergency services including medical, airline ticket replacement and hotel bill payment

Sentinel Lock & Key

   Lockout and key retrieval/replacement services   

Gain access to homes, office and vehicles

24 hour locksmiths

24 hour vehicle transportation

Key retrieval services for lost / stolen keys

Privacy Guard

   Access to and monitoring of credit report, credit score and credit history to help prevent identity-theft   

Triple-bureau reporting

Credit monitoring

Identity-theft insurance

Our principal package enhancement program, Cims Rewarding Relationships, is marketed through our financial institution affinity partners and provides a package of a broad array of benefits, including shopping, travel and security, to checking account customers in Europe. We also intend to launch other membership programs such as Buyers Advantage, Travelers Advantage, PC Safety Plus and Leisure Time in the U.K., and eventually throughout Europe.

Loyalty Operations . We manage loyalty solutions operations through TLS, which is a process outsourcer for points-based loyalty programs such as the General Motors reward programs and Cendant’s Trip Rewards Program. We believe we are a leader in online points redemption as we manage approximately 125 billion points for our customers. TLS’ loyalty program is a private-label, customizable, full-service rewards solution that

 

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consists of a variety of programs that are offered on a stand-alone and/or bundled basis depending on customer requirements. We typically charge a per-member and/or a per-activity administrative fee to clients for our services and do not retain any points-related liabilities.

The following table illustrates the services provided to TLS’ clients:

 

Service

  

Description

Program Design

   Establishes parameters for earning, redeeming, fulfilling, communicating, and analyzing points

Program Management

   Provides loyalty industry research, including consumer behavior and competitive program trends across various industries

Technology Platform

   Scalable, customizable and flexible proprietary loyalty accounting and data management platform to meet partners’ needs over the life of the programs

Rewards Fulfillment

   Ownership of vendor management, inventory and fulfillment of program rewards Works directly with over 140 vendors to obtain rewards and provides loyalty partners with access to more than 20,000 available merchandise SKUs (stock keeping units)

Points Administration

   Track and maintain customer account records and customer activities upon which point awarding business rules are based

Customer Experience Management

   Provides a full-service, in-house contact center as an extension of the partner’s existing contact center

Program Communications

  

Produces HTML-based email newsletters and surveys which increase readership and are typically less expensive than direct mail campaigns for these programs

Hosts many of its partners’ loyalty websites

Performance Monitoring

   Provides internal and external access to its data warehousing environment, including a dashboard of critical program performance metrics and allows for standard and ad-hoc reporting

TLS also provides credit card enhancements, such as travel insurance and concierge services. The enhancement program line, which has been offered by us for approximately 20 years, features both convenience (such as concierge service) and protection (such as travel accident insurance) programs. The programs are sold wholesale to our partners, who then provide the programs at no cost to their customers as an added value of doing business with them. Historically, these programs have been predominantly offered within the financial services industry as credit card enhancements.

Affinity Partners

We are able to market our value-added programs and services by utilizing the brand names, customer contacts and billing vehicles of our affinity partners. Our diversified base of affinity partners includes approximately 4,500 companies in a wide variety of industries, including financial services, retail, travel, telecommunications, utilities and Internet. Select partners include JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, HSBC, Royal Bank of Scotland, Lloyds TSB, Société Générale, Swedbank, Wells Fargo, Washington Mutual, PNC, Federated Department Stores, Saks, Choice Hotels, GMAC, Countrywide, Orbitz and Columbia House.

Membership Operations . We have approximately 300 affinity partners in multiple industries. Our membership affinity partners include 16 of the top 20 U.S. credit card issuers, 8 of the top 20 U.S. debit card issuers, 8 of the top 20 U.S. retail card issuers, 10 of the top 15 U.S. oil card issuers, and 7 of the top 10 U.S. mortgage companies. Some of our largest affinity partners, such as JPMorgan Chase and Bank of America, have

 

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been marketing with us for over 10 years. Marketing to the customers of our largest U.S. affinity partner resulted in approximately 20.1% of our U.S. membership revenue in 2005. Marketing to the customers of our top 10 U.S. affinity partners resulted in a total of approximately 79.4% of our U.S. membership revenue in 2005.

Insurance and Package Operations. Our insurance affinity partners consist of approximately 4,000 financial institutions including national financial institutions, regional financial institutions and credit unions. Marketing to the customers of our top 10 affinity partners resulted in a total of approximately 37.2% of our gross insurance revenue in 2005. Our package enhancement affinity partners are comprised of over 2,500 national financial institutions, regional financial institutions and credit unions. Marketing to the customers of our top 10 U.S. affinity partners resulted in a total of approximately 28.7% of our U.S. package enhancement revenue in 2005. In addition, we have held the endorsement of the American Bankers Association regarding account enhancement programs in the U.S. for over 15 years.

International Operations. Our international affinity partners include some of Europe’s most prominent retail banks, including 14 of the top 20 European retail banks on the package side, with 4 of these banks included within the top 10 European retail banks on the membership side. Additionally, we own a 50% investment in Cims South Africa, a joint venture that offers, in South Africa, wholesale package enhancement programs similar to those offered in Europe.

Customers

As of December 31, 2005, we had approximately 70 million members and end-customers worldwide. We currently offer our programs and services to our consumers through our approximately 4,500 affinity partners. We market to consumers using direct mail, online marketing, in-branch marketing, telemarketing and other marketing methods.

Membership Operations. We have approximately 13.6 million members in the U.S. We target customers of our affinity partners who are willing to pay a fee to gain access to a multitude of discount programs or who want to improve their sense of security and well-being. Our focus is on maximizing revenue and profitability per member over a five-year period, rather than the number of active members in our programs. As a result, we continually strive to target customers that are willing to pay more for value-added products with higher margins such as consumer protection programs and services that offer peace-of-mind benefits.

Insurance and Package Operations. We have approximately 32 million insurance end-customers in the U.S. We rely on access to our affinity partners’ large customer bases to market our insurance programs. The insurance programs we market, such as AD&D, provide customers with peace of mind benefits should they suffer a serious loss or injury.

We have approximately 7.2 million end-customers through approximately 2,500 financial institutions in our U.S. package operations. Financial institutions utilize our package programs to increase customer affinity, increase response and retention rates, and generate additional fee income.

International Operations. We have approximately 16.7 million international package end-customers and approximately 2.2 million membership members in 11 countries, primarily in Europe.

Loyalty Solutions. In our TLS operations, we currently work with approximately 100 clients on their loyalty and enhancement programs. These clients include leading financial institutions, brokerage houses, premier hotels, timeshares and other travel-related companies. We provide points-based loyalty programs and benefit package enhancement programs that they in turn offer to their customers. Many of the principal TLS client agreements have a term of at least two years and typically a per member and/or a per activity administrative fee is charged to clients for our services.

 

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Third-Party Vendors

We partner with a large number of third-party vendors to provide fulfillment of many of our programs and services. Generally, our key relationships with these vendors are governed by long-term contracts. As we have a large number of vendors, we are generally not dependent on any one vendor and have alternative vendors should we need to replace an existing vendor. We believe we have very good relationships with our vendors who value their relationship with us, as we are able to provide them with access to a large customer base through our affinity partners, many of whom are leaders in their industry. In addition, because we purchase large volumes of programs and services across our various businesses, we are able to achieve significant price discounts from our vendors.

Membership Operations. We partner with a variety of third-party vendors to provide services, benefits and fulfillment for many of our membership programs. Our largest supply-side relationships in membership fulfill PrivacyGuard. Additionally, Travelers Advantage Service, Inc. (“TAS”), a full service travel agency which was transferred to us by Cendant, has been integrated into our business and is the primary supplier for our Travelers Advantage program. We believe that TAS is one of the ten largest leisure travel agencies in North America.

Insurance and Package Operations. The Hartford, Inc. (“The Hartford”) is our primary carrier for the majority of our insurance programs. The Hartford is one of our largest suppliers across all divisions. Despite the strong relationship, our contractual relationship with The Hartford is non-exclusive. Other insurance underwriters that we have a contractual relationship with include American International Group and the Chubb Group. We also have insurance policies written to certain credit unions’ clients underwritten by the Fortis Companies (“Fortis”). However, we have terminated the Fortis relationship and are in the process of converting the credit union block historically serviced by Fortis to The Hartford.

Our package enhancement programs combine both insurance and membership programs to create a unique enhancement package that our affinity partners provide to their customers. Generally, programs include AD&D insurance and travel discounts that are supplied by our membership and insurance suppliers.

International Operations. Cims partners with a variety of third-party vendors to provide services, benefits, fulfillment and delivery for some of our programs and services offered to the customers of our affinity partners. Our largest supplier across the Cims business is RCI, a subsidiary of Cendant. RCI provides full-service travel agency services to Cims in a number of our markets and for a number of affinity partner relationships. In addition, Cims also has key supplier relationships with a third party for its benefits related to sports and entertainment events. Cims also uses third-party suppliers for its print and fulfillment operations.

Loyalty Operations. TLS acts as a business process outsourcer for points-based loyalty programs and provides enhancement benefits to credit card issuers. While many of the services TLS provides are supplied in-house as a result of TLS’ proprietary technology platform and program design support, third-party suppliers are used to fulfill the benefit enhancements. These benefit enhancements are supplied by our membership and insurance suppliers.

Program Development

Program development is integral to our ability to maximize value from each of our programs. In developing our programs, we focus on maximizing margins and revenue, leveraging marketplace trends and maximizing loyalty, with a continued emphasis on the needs of the consumer. Developing new programs involves the creation of test programs and feasibility studies to evaluate their potential value if implemented, as well as bundling existing programs and benefits into new packages such as SecureAll, Wellness Extras and the Elite Excursions programs. In our membership operations, we focus on improving profitability by enhancing our portfolios of products. In our insurance operations, we are developing hybrid insurance programs that bring together insurance and membership benefits. A number of new programs were introduced in 2004 as well as in 2005, including a home warranty program and a coupon and gift card program. Programs that we are testing and

 

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intend to introduce in 2006 include “vineyard direct,” a wine club, earnings guard disability insurance, and a significantly enhanced version of PrivacyGuard. Elite excursions has tested well and is expanding across a number of affinity partners, as has enhanced AD&D and our enhanced Hospital Accident Protection.

Operations

Our operations group provides operational support for marketing campaigns across our U.S. operations and is in the process of implementing a similar structure for our international operations. It also manages our internal and outsourced contact centers, as well as certain key third-party relationships. The group is charged with improving cost performance across our operations, including increased outsourcing, while enhancing revenue and bottom-line profitability through increased customer satisfaction and retention.

Processing

The processing responsibilities of the operating group can be divided into (i) enrollments, (ii) fulfillment packages, (iii) billing, (iv) merchandise delivery, and (v) travel fulfillment.

Enrollments. Enrollment information is sent to us through a variety of different media, including mail, electronic file transfer from affinity partners, telemarketing vendors and the Internet. Average turnaround time from receipt to enrollment is 24 hours. On average, approximately 400,000 mail enrollments are processed per month at our Trumbull, Connecticut facility and 320,000 monthly electronic file transfer enrollments are sent from our telemarketing operations, which are processed in both our Trumbull, Connecticut and Franklin, Tennessee facilities. On average, approximately 300,000 enrollments are processed monthly from our Cims European sites. Of these total enrollments, most are processed electronically. On average, approximately 95,000 enrollments are processed each month through the Internet (online).

Fulfillment Packages. Fulfillment packages, which include enrollment materials and premiums (e.g., gift cards, coupons, MP3 players) sent to customers via mail and electronically, are produced in almost 8,000 combinations for membership, insurance and package enhancement programs. Fulfillment transactions are generally sent to the appropriate fulfillment vendor by 5 a.m. the next business day following receipt of the order for purchase. Physical fulfillment in North America is completed by our facility in Franklin, Tennessee or by outsourced vendors. Physical fulfillment in Europe is completed in five locations across Europe and totals around 12 million pieces per year. Approximately 95% of the pieces are completed by third-party vendors with only 5% being completed in-house by Cims employees. Increasingly, we use electronic delivery of membership materials and fulfillment packages, which drives further cost reductions.

Billing. We have the ability to accept a variety of different account types, including Visa (debit and credit), MasterCard (debit and credit), American Express, Discover, oil and retail company proprietary cards, mortgage loans and checking and savings accounts. Domestically, we process more than 150 million billing transactions each year for our membership, insurance and package programs. We use both generic and direct processing methods and work closely with a variety of payment processors and our affinity partners to maximize our ultimate collection rates.

Merchandise Delivery. We maintain a virtual inventory for our shopping programs of approximately 50,000 items, covering more than 1,000 brands sourced through a best-in-class direct-ship network of over 200 third-party vendors. We manage the process of customers purchasing these products but we outsource delivery logistics to back-end suppliers. While we manage the fulfillment process, we generally do not take ownership or physical possession of any of the products being delivered. By pooling the purchasing power of our membership programs and other programs, including TLS’ loyalty programs, we achieve significant price reductions on the products we offer, and deliver substantial value to our customers. Merchandise sales between our merchandise vendors and members of 642,723 units totaled $28.8 million in 2005, of which $2.3 million is included in our

 

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2005 pro forma net revenues. Approximately 60% of these sales were made via the Internet or electronic file, with the rest coming through the contact centers. Shoppers Advantage members account for 49%, TLS programs account for 20% and gift card transactions account for the remaining 31% of customer sales.

Travel Fulfillment. TAS, our full-service travel agency, is dedicated primarily to servicing our customers, however, it also provides travel agency services to Resort Condominiums International, LLC, Lodging.com, Neat Group, and CheapTickets.com, each of which is an affiliate of Cendant. We believe that TAS is one of the ten largest leisure travel agencies in North America.

TAS travel consultants use Cendant’s Galileo International GDS booking system, which offers 683 airlines, 24 car rental companies, 59,000 hotel properties, Amtrak, VIARail (Canada) and 13 national rail systems. This system provides us with access to online fares on the six network carriers covering 80% of available itineraries, electronic ticketing capability on 65 air carriers from 53 countries (more than any other GDS). Because TAS takes bookings primarily for its members, TAS is able to shift share from one travel vendor (airline, hotel, car rental, etc.) to another depending on which is more advantageous to us. Reservation and support services are provided by a combination of internally managed call centers, outsourcing relationships, and over ten branded websites.

Contact Call Centers

Our contact call centers provide high-quality, predominantly inbound telemarketing service and retention support. We are committed to using internally managed and outsourced contact call centers to effectively handle peak service levels while achieving a semi-variable cost structure. Currently, 17 facilities handle the volume, 10 of these are internally managed (4 in North America and 6 in Europe) and 7 are outsourced. One internally managed and one outsourced center are scheduled to close by May 15, 2006.

Our contact call centers handle approximately 27 million customer contacts per year, 14 million of which are related to membership programs and the rest spread relatively evenly across insurance, package, travel reservation, loyalty and international. The contact call centers provide a primary point of interaction with our customers, driving customer satisfaction, retention and ultimately, profits. To this end, we are focused on developing expertise to improve service levels and to set the necessary quality benchmarks to keep third-party vendors performing at high levels. At the same time, we have reduced our internally managed contact call centers and increased the use of outsourcers, producing significant cost reductions and an improved variable cost structure.

Competition

Our competitors include any company seeking direct and regular access to large groups of customers through any affinity-based direct media contact. Our programs and services compete with those marketed by financial institutions and other third parties who have affinity relationships with our competition, including large, fully integrated companies that have financial, marketing, legal, and product development resources that are greater than ours. As a whole, the direct marketing services industry is extremely fragmented, with over 5,000 providers of various services. Most of these companies are relatively small and provide a limited array of programs and services. In general, the competition for the consumer’s attention is intense, with a wide variety of players competing in different segments of the direct marketing industry. More specifically, competition within our business lines comes from companies that vary significantly in size, scope, and primary core competencies.

Membership Operations. The membership services industry is characterized by a high degree of competition. However, strong and established relationships with affinity partners can mitigate the impact of competition. Participants in this industry include other membership services companies, such as Vertrue Incorporated (formerly known as MemberWorks Incorporated) (“Vertrue”) and Intersections, as well as large retailers, travel agencies, insurance companies and financial service institutions.

 

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Insurance and Package Operations. Participants in the U.S. in the direct marketing of insurance programs include Aegon Direct Marketing Services, Coverdell (a unit of Vertrue), AIG and UnumProvident.

The U.S. package enhancement operation faces competition from both similar direct marketing companies and financial institutions that choose to provide package enhancement programs in-house. Some of the direct marketers that participate in this space include Sisk, Generations Gold, Econocheck and Strategy Corp.

International Operations. In Europe, key competitors in the package enhancement business include Card Protection Plan Ltd., St. Andrews, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Halifax Bank of Scotland, Carlson Marketing Group, Cauldwell Group, Nectar Rewards and Airmiles in the U.K., Societe de Prevoyance Bancaire in France, Europe Assistance in Italy, and Sreg and DSV Group (the savings banks’ cooperative) in Central Europe. On the membership side of the business, participants include other membership services companies, as well as large retailers, travel agencies, insurance companies and financial service institutions.

Loyalty Operations. Participants in the loyalty arena provide in-house rewards programs and utilize third-party providers. Such third-party providers design, market and manage rewards-based loyalty programs for businesses that either have no desire to manage such a program or lack the core competencies necessary to compete in the industry effectively. Key industry participants include Maritz Loyalty Marketing, Carlson Marketing Group and Enhancement Services Corporation.

Information Technology

Our information technology team, comprised of over 382 employees worldwide, operates and supports over 150 of our individual applications. Membership, package and insurance programs and services are distributed through a multiple media approach, which allows us to interface with our affinity partners’ customers in a variety of ways to enhance file penetration in a cost effective manner. Our systems are able to manage marketing campaigns across all media. Servicing and subscription requests are processed through a workflow and messaging interface with our vendors and are stored within the subscriber management platform. This framework allows us to keep a virtual inventory of programs and services, as well as store customer information for future marketing data mining. Customer servicing and billing information are fed into the financial ledger and business intelligence platform for billing and future marketing analysis.

Intellectual Property

We own or have licenses to use a large number of patents relating to a significant number of programs and processes. We also have certain material trademarks including, but not limited to Trilegiant, Progeny, Cims, Trilegiant Loyalty Solutions, PrivacyGuard, Hot-Line, Travelers Advantage, Shoppers Advantage, AutoVantage, CompleteHome, Buyers Advantage, HealthSaver, NHPA, Enhanced Checking, Small Business Solutions and Wellness Extras.

Employees

We employed approximately 3,000 people as of December 31, 2005, of which 77% were located in North America and the remaining 23% were in our international operations. As a result of ongoing integration, rightsizing and outsourcing initiatives, we have realized significant headcount reductions, with headcount decreasing from approximately 5,100 employees in 2002 to approximately 3,000 employees as of December 31, 2005. Except for four of our employees in Italy who are members of Confederazione Generale Italiana Lavoro, none of our employees are members of, or are represented by, any labor union or other collective bargaining organization. We believe relationships with our employees are generally satisfactory.

 

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Governmental and Regulatory Matters

The direct marketing industry is subject to U.S. federal and state regulation as well as regulation by foreign authorities in foreign jurisdictions. Certain regulations that govern our operations include: federal, state and foreign marketing laws; federal, state and foreign privacy laws; and federal, state and foreign insurance and consumer protection regulations. Federal regulations are primarily enforced by the FTC and the FCC. State regulations are primarily enforced by individual state attorneys general. Foreign regulations are enforced by a number of regulatory bodies in the relevant jurisdictions.

Federal and State Marketing Laws. The FTC and each of the states have enacted consumer protection statutes designed to ensure that consumers are protected from unfair and deceptive marketing practices. We review all marketing materials disseminated to the public for compliance with applicable FTC regulations and state marketing laws. In 2003, the FTC amended its Telemarketing Sales Rule to, among other things, establish a National “Do-Not-Call” Registry. As of December 2005, the “Do-Not-Call” Registry included 112 million phone numbers. To comply with the rule, prior to conducting outbound telemarketing, companies are required to match their call lists against the “Do-Not-Call” Registry to remove the names of consumers who requested not to be called. In addition, the amended Telemarketing Sales Rule requires additional disclosures and sales practices for goods and services sold over the phone. When these regulations went into effect, we began to match our call lists with the “Do Not Call Registry” and modified our telemarketing scripts so that they are designed to comply with the rule. These changes have not significantly affected our results, but may do so in the future.

Federal Privacy Laws. GLB includes provisions to protect consumers’ personal financial information held by financial institutions. GLB places restrictions on the ability of financial institutions to disclose non-public personal information about their customers to non-affiliated third parties and also prohibits financial institutions from disclosing account numbers to any non-affiliated third parties for use in telemarketing, direct mail marketing or other marketing to consumers. We have implemented privacy solutions across our businesses designed to comply with this privacy law.

State Privacy Laws. In addition to federal legislation, some states are considering or have passed laws restricting the sharing of customer information. As an example, SB 1 places restrictions on financial institutions’ ability to share the personal information of their California customers. We have established a privacy solution that is designed to comply with the requirements of SB 1.

Domestic and International Insurance Regulations . As a marketer of insurance programs, we are subject to state rules and regulations governing the business of insurance including, without limitation, laws governing the administration, underwriting, marketing, solicitation and/or sale of insurance programs. Domestically, the insurance carriers that underwrite the programs that we sell are required to file their rates for approval by state regulators. Additionally, certain state laws and regulations govern the form and content of certain disclosures that must be made in connection with the sale, advertising or offer of any insurance program to a consumer. We review all marketing materials disseminated to the public for compliance with applicable insurance regulations. We are required to maintain certain licenses and approvals in order to market insurance programs. Further, in our international operations, we are regulated by various national and international entities, including the UK Financial Services Authority (“FSA”), in the sale of insurance programs. The FSA is responsible for enforcing the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 which, among other things, implements the EU’s Insurance Mediation Directive.

Other Foreign Regulations. In the U.K., our direct marketing operations are subject to privacy and consumer protection regulations. These include (a) Data Protection regulation: imposing security obligations and restrictions on the use and transmission of consumers’ personal information data; (b) Privacy and Electronic Communications regulation: regulating unsolicited marketing activities carried out by telephone, fax and e-mail to users/subscribers to public electronic communication services; (c) Electronic Commerce regulation: imposing certain disclosures requirements in relation to commercial communications; (d) Distance Selling regulation: requiring information disclosure and “cooling off periods” in contracts for goods or services (other than financial

 

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services) supplied to a consumer where the contract is made exclusively by means of distance communication; and (e) Distance Marketing regulation: requiring information disclosure and “cooling off periods” in contracts for financial services supplied to a consumer where the contract is made exclusively by means of distance communication. In addition, various codes of advertising and direct marketing practice exist. Much of the U.K. regulation is based on EU directives, which apply to Cims’ operations elsewhere in the EU. We have established compliance procedures designed to comply with the requirements of these regulations.

We are headquartered in Norwalk, Connecticut in a 115,000 square foot facility that houses management offices as well as the marketing and sales operations for our largest customers. Our corporate data center is in Trumbull, Connecticut with disaster recovery operations provided by a backup site in Westerville, Ohio. Some applications are also housed in Centennial, Colorado, Slough, U.K., and Oslo, Norway. The table below lists all of our facilities as of December 31, 2005, all of which are leased.

 

Location

  

Function

U.S. Facilities

  

Norwalk, CT

  

Global Headquarters

Trumbull 1, CT

  

Call Center and Data/Ops Center

Trumbull 2, CT

  

Mail Operations and Data Capture

Dublin, OH

  

Software Development

Westerville, OH

  

Call Center

Richmond, VA

  

Call Center and ALG Corporate Office

Franklin 1, TN

  

Insurance & Package Sales,

Marketing & Administration

Franklin 2, TN

  

Insurance & Package Sales,

Marketing & Administration

Franklin, TN – Duke Dr.

  

Print Fulfillment Center

Nashville, TN

  

Call Center (TAS)

Centennial, CO

  

Software Development (TAS)

International Facilities

  

Antwerp, Belgium

  

Sales and Marketing

Copenhagen, Denmark

  

Sales and Marketing

Roissy (Paris), France

  

Call Center

Neuer Wall, Hamburg, Germany

  

Sales and Marketing

Johannesburg, South Africa

  

Sales and Marketing

Slough, U.K.

  

Cims International Headquarters

Amsinckstrasse, Hamburg, Germany

  

Call Center

Milan, Italy

  

Sales and Marketing

Milan, Italy

  

Call Center

Oslo, Norway

  

Call Center

Stockholm, Sweden

  

Sales

Seafire Bldg., Portsmouth, U.K.

  

Administration

Seahawk Bldg., Portsmouth, U.K.

  

Administration and Call Center

We have noncancelable operating leases covering various facilities and equipment. Our rent expense, net of sub-lease receipts, for the periods from October 17, 2005 to December 31, 2005, January 1, 2005 to October 16, 2005 and for the years ended December 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003 was $3.2 million, $14.6 million, $21.7 million and $20.1 million, respectively.

Insurance

We believe we carry sufficient insurance coverage to protect us from material losses incurred by any of our operations due to an insurance recoverable circumstance.

 

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Legal Proceedings

We are involved in claims, legal proceedings and governmental inquiries related to employment matters, contract disputes, business practices and other commercial matters. We believe that we have adequately accrued for such matters.

In April 2002, we filed and served a complaint against American Bankers Insurance Company of Florida and certain affiliates (“Fortis”) relating to Fortis’ breach of the parties’ exclusive agreement to jointly market insurance programs underwritten by Fortis. Fortis counterclaimed alleging breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, fraudulent inducement and breach of covenant of good faith and fair dealing. In May 2005, the Chancery Court of Tennessee found a total judgment in the amount of $16.5 million, including prejudgment interest, in our favor and a total judgment in the amount of $75.8 million, including prejudgment interest, in favor of Fortis. We believe that, among other things, damages in the amount of $42.6 million were improperly awarded to Fortis under the final judgment; accordingly, on December 13, 2005, we filed a notice of appeal. As a result of the verdict and final judgment entered, we recorded a charge of $73.7 million in 2004. As part of the Transactions, Cendant retained the liability and will fully indemnify us for all losses with respect to this matter.

From 2001 through early 2005, the Florida State Attorney General (“Florida AG”) investigated whether our sales practices were fully in compliance with Florida law and regulations. On March 7, 2005, we entered into a settlement agreement with the Florida AG’s office. Pursuant to this settlement, we agreed to pay $0.4 million to the Florida AG’s office to cover the state’s cost of the investigation. We also agreed, among other things, to make refunds to Florida consumers who complained to the Florida AG’s office during the course of the investigation and for a period of six months thereafter and to make certain disclosures in connection with our marketing to Florida consumers.

Beginning in November 2003, we received inquiries from numerous state attorneys general relating to the marketing of our membership programs. In July, 2005, the Attorneys General of California and Connecticut filed suit against us, and the Attorney General of Maine filed a notice of its intention to sue (collectively, the “AG Matters”), alleging that we used deceptive marketing practices in connection with the offering of our membership services. The complaints seek restitution, civil penalties and orders permanently barring us from engaging in the alleged practices. We may face similar suits from the other state attorneys general that inquired as to our membership programs. We are in settlement discussions with certain of these states’ attorneys general.

We are also a party to a number of lawsuits which were brought against us or our affiliates, each of which alleges to be a class action in nature and each of which alleges that we violated certain federal or state consumer protection statutes (certain of which are described below). We intend to vigorously defend ourselves against these lawsuits.

On August 9, 2005, a class action suit (the “August 2005 Suit”) was filed by Heather Nordberg, Julie Butler, Faye E. Taber and Patricia Douglas-Warden against Trilegiant Corporation, a/k/a TRL Group in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, San Francisco Division. The claim asserts violations of the Electronic Funds Transfer Act and various California consumer protection statutes. On October 10, 2005, the complaint was amended to add additional claims and an additional named plaintiff. The suit seeks unspecified actual damages, statutory damages, attorneys’ fees, costs and injunctive relief.

On January 28, 2005, a class action complaint (the “January 2005 Suit”) was filed by Elizabeth A. Olson, Kenneth L. Peterson, and Jeanette C. Colyear against The Bon, Inc., FACS Group, Inc., and Trilegiant Corporation in the Superior Court of Washington, Spokane County. The claim asserts violations of various consumer protection statutes. We filed a motion to compel arbitration, which was denied by the court. We appealed the court’s decision, and the case has been stayed until the appellate court has ruled on our motion to compel arbitration.

On November 12, 2002, a class action complaint (the “November 2002 Class Action”) was filed by John O. Banks and Loretta Dulaney Arnold against Sears, Roebuck & Co., Sears National Bank, Cendant Membership

 

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Services, Inc., and Allstate Insurance Company in the Circuit Court of Alabama for Greene County alleging, among other things, breach of contract, unjust enrichment, breach of duty of good faith and fair dealing and violations of the Illinois consumer fraud and deceptive practices act. The case was removed to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama but was remanded to the Circuit Court of Alabama for Greene County.

On January 24, 2002, a class action complaint (the “January 2002 Class Action”) was filed by Daniel Brown against Trilegiant Corporation and Trilegiant Corporation d/b/a Creditline, Inc. in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama Western Division (the “Alabama Court”) alleging that we violated the Credit Repair Organizations Act (“CROA”) in connection with our Creditline product. On November 18, 2005, the court preliminarily approved the terms of a class-wide settlement of this case. Pursuant to the terms of the settlement, Trilegiant has provided notice to the class members via first class mail advising them of the terms of the settlement. All class members will release their claims against Trilegiant under the settlement. All class members wanting to receive benefits under the settlement were required to return a claim form post-marked by February 16, 2006 and had the option of choosing a no-cost annual membership in one of three membership programs offered by Trilegiant. In lieu of a membership program, class members could elect to receive a cash payment. The total cash payments that Trilegiant has offered to make to the class is capped at $522,250. In addition, Trilegiant will pay plaintiffs’ attorneys’ fees. On March 13, 2006 the Alabama Court signed the final order approving the terms of the settlement. The judgment became final on April 12, 2006.

On November 15, 2001, a class action complaint (the “2001 Class Action”) was filed by Carlene N. Pederson in Madison County, Illinois against Trilegiant Corporation alleging that we violated state consumer protection statutes in connection with the sale of certain membership programs. Our motions to dismiss were denied and certification of a class of consumers has been granted; the exact size of the certified class is not known at this time.

We believe that we have adequately accrued for the above matters as appropriate, or for matters not requiring accrual, we believe that they will not have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition or cash flows based on information currently available. However, litigation is inherently unpredictable and, although we believe that our accruals are adequate and/or we have valid defenses in these matters, unfavorable resolution could occur, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

Subject to certain limitations, Cendant has agreed to indemnify us for actual losses, damages, liabilities, claims, costs and expenses and taxes incurred by us in connection with certain of the matters described above. See “The Acquisition—The Purchase Agreement—Indemnities; Covenants; Other Matters.”

 

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MANAGEMENT

Executive Officers and Directors

Set forth below is certain information concerning the individuals that are currently serving as our executive officers and/or members of our board of directors.

 

Name

   Age   

Position

Nathaniel J. Lipman

   41    President, Chief Executive Officer and Director

Maureen E. O’Connell

   44    Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Robert G. Rooney

   48    Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer

Todd H. Siegel

   35    Executive Vice President and General Counsel

Thomas J. Rusin

   37    Executive Vice President and Chief Revenue Officer

Steven E. Upshaw

   35    Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer of Cims

Marc E. Becker

   33    Chairman of the Board of Directors

Stan Parker

   30    Director

Eric L. Press

   40    Director

Eric Zinterhofer

   34    Director

Nathaniel J. Lipman has served as our President and Chief Executive Officer and a director of Affinion since October 17, 2005. He was formerly the President and CEO of Trilegiant starting in August 2002. From September 2001 until August 2002, he was Senior Executive Vice President of Business Development and Marketing. He served as Executive Vice President of Business Development for Cendant Membership Services from March 2000 to August 2001. He joined the Alliance Marketing Division of Cendant in June 1999 as Senior Vice President, Business Development and Strategic Planning. Mr. Lipman was previously Senior Executive Vice President, Corporate Development and Strategic Planning, for Planet Hollywood International, Inc., from 1996 until June 1999. Prior to his tenure at Planet Hollywood, Mr. Lipman was Senior Vice President and General Counsel of House of Blues Entertainment, Inc., Senior Corporate Counsel at The Walt Disney Company and a corporate associate at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher and Flom.

Maureen E. O’Connell has served as our Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer since January 2, 2006. She was appointed a director of Beazer Homes in May 2002 and Audit Chair in November 2002. Until October 2004, she served as President and Chief Operating Officer of Gartner, Inc. which she joined in September 2002 as Executive Vice President, Chief Financial and Administrative Officer. Prior to joining Gartner, Ms. O’Connell was the Chief Financial Officer of Barnes & Noble, Inc. since 2000. She also held similar positions at Publishers Clearing House from 1998 to 2000, BMG Direct from 1997 to 1998 and Primedia, Inc. from 1990 to 1997. Ms. O’Connell was also employed by Equitable Financial Companies from 1988 to 1990 and Cooper’s and Lybrand (now PriceWaterhouseCoopers) from 1985 to 1988. Ms. O’Connell is a Certified Public Accountant.

Robert G. Rooney has served as our Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer overseeing Affinion’s operating functions and Loyalty business since January 2, 2006. From October 17, 2005 to January 1, 2006, Mr. Rooney served as our Executive Vice President and Interim Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Rooney joined us in June 2001, as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Trilegiant. From 1999 to 2001, Mr. Rooney was Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer with Sbarro, Inc. and was responsible for finance, investor relations, information systems, tax and risk management. Prior to 1999, Mr. Rooney held senior positions with numerous companies in the financial and entertainment sectors, including three years as Chief Financial Officer of Imagine Entertainment. From 1978 to 1986, he was employed as a certified public accountant with Ernst & Young.

Todd H. Siegel has served as our Executive Vice President and General Counsel since October 17, 2005. Mr. Siegel joined us in November 1999 as a member of the Membership Division of the Legal Department of

 

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Cendant and most recently served as General Counsel of Trilegiant starting in July 2003. From 1997 to 1999, Mr. Siegel was employed as a corporate associate at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher and Flom. From 1992 until 1994, he was employed as a certified public accountant with Ernst & Young.

Thomas J. Rusin has served as our Executive Vice President and Chief Revenue Officer since October 17, 2005, responsible for overseeing all aspects of product benefits, new product development, marketing services, sales and account management and our Internet Group. Mr. Rusin joined us in December 1999 as Product Manager in the Netmarket Group overseeing Travel Marketing and was subsequently promoted to Vice President of Travel in January 2001, Senior Vice President Consumer Saving Group with responsibility for Travel, Auto and Leisure in October 2001, and then Executive Vice President of Product Management, New Product Development in December 2003. From 1990 to 1998, he owned and operated Just for Travel Inc., a business he then sold.

Steven E. Upshaw has served as our Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer for Cims since October 17, 2005. Prior to this role Mr. Upshaw held the position of Executive Vice President and Managing Director for Cims UK, Ireland. Mr. Upshaw joined us in August 1995 and has served in numerous positions, including Senior Vice President for Protection Products in North America for Trilegiant.

Marc E. Becker has served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Affinion since October 17, 2005. Mr. Becker has also been employed with Apollo Management, L.P. since 1996 and has served as an officer of certain affiliates of Apollo since 1999. Prior to that time, Mr. Becker was employed by Smith Barney Inc. within its Investment Banking division. Mr. Becker serves on several boards of directors, including National Financial Partners Corp., Quality Distribution, Inc., Metals USA Inc., United Agri Products, Inc. and UAP Holding Corp.

Stan Parker has been a director of Affinion since October 17, 2005. Mr. Parker has also been employed with Apollo Management, L.P. since 2000. From 1998 to 2000, Mr. Parker was employed by Salomon Smith Barney, Inc. Mr. Parker serves on several boards of directors, including AMC Entertainment Inc., United Agri Products, Inc. and UAP Holding Corp.

Eric L. Press has been a director of Affinion since October 17, 2005. Mr. Press is a partner of Apollo Management, L.P. He has been employed with Apollo Management, L.P. since 1998 and has served as an officer of certain affiliates of Apollo Management, L.P. From 1992 to 1998, Mr. Press was associated with the law firm of Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz specializing in mergers, acquisitions, restructurings and related financing transactions. Mr. Press serves on several boards of directors, including Metals USA, Inc. and Quality Distribution, Inc. From 1987 to 1989, Mr. Press was a consultant with The Boston Consulting Group.

Eric Zinterhofer has been a director of Affinion since October 17, 2005. Mr. Zinterhofer has also been employed with Apollo Management, L.P. since 1998. From 1994 to 1996, Mr. Zinterhofer was a member of the Corporate Finance Department at Morgan Stanley Dean Witter & Co. From 1993 to 1994, Mr. Zinterhofer was a member of the Structured Equity Group at J.P. Morgan Investment Management. Mr. Zinterhofer serves on the boards of directors of Central European Media and United Media SCA.

Director Compensation

Each of the members of our board of directors also serves as a director on the board of directors of Holdings. Our non-employee directors receive annual compensation in the amount of $45,000 payable in equal quarterly installments, plus $2,000 for each regular or special meeting of our board of directors or board committee that they attend in person, plus an additional $1,000 for each regular or special meeting of our board of directors or board committee that they attend by teleconference. Our directors are also eligible to participate in the 2005 Stock Incentive Plan. See “Management—Executive Compensation—2005 Stock Incentive Plan.”

 

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Committees of our Board of Directors

Our board of directors has a Compensation Committee and an Executive Committee. We do not currently have a separately-designated standing audit committee and, although as a private company we are not obligated to establish one, our board expects to establish a separately-designated standing audit committee in the near future. Until such a committee is established, the entire board is acting as our audit committee where audit committee action is required by law. Our board of directors has not made a determination as to whether or not we have an audit committee financial expert serving on our board of directors.

Compensation Committee

The current members of the compensation committee are Messrs. Becker and Press. The principal duties and responsibilities of the compensation committee are as follows:

 

    to review, evaluate and make recommendations to the full board of directors regarding our compensation policies and establish performance-based incentives that support our long-term goals, objectives and interests;

 

    to review and approve the compensation of our chief executive officer, the other executive officers, other officers and employees;

 

    to review and make recommendations to the board of directors with respect to our incentive compensation plans and equity-based compensation plans;

 

    to set and review the compensation of and reimbursement policies for members of the board of directors;

 

    to provide oversight concerning selection of officers, management succession planning, expense accounts, indemnification and insurance matters, and separation packages; and

 

    to prepare an annual compensation committee report, provide regular reports to the board, and take such other actions as are necessary and consistent with the governing law and our organizational documents.

Executive Committee

The current members of the executive committee are Messrs. Becker, Parker and Lipman. The principal duties and responsibilities of the executive committee are as follows:

 

    to advise and counsel the chairperson of the board of directors and the president regarding Company matters;

 

    to determine actions and responses to complaints regarding the conduct of directors, officers and committees, and make any findings or determinations as to the related cause;

 

    to oversee our legal and regulatory compliance program;

 

    to take such actions as are necessary due to their urgent or highly confidential nature, or where convening the board is impracticable, subject to certain limitations; and

 

    to regularly report to the board, review the charter and take such other actions as are necessary and consistent with the governing law and our organizational documents.

 

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SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE

Executive Compensation

The following table sets forth information concerning total compensation earned or paid to our President and Chief Executive Officers and each of our other four most highly compensated executive officers for the year ended December 31, 2005 (collectively, our “named executive officers”). Prior to October 17, 2005, we were a wholly-owned business of Cendant. The compensation for year ended December 31, 2004 reflects the compensation paid to the executives by Cendant.

 

        Annual Compensation   Long-Term Compensation

Name and Principal

Position

  Year   Salary($)   Bonus($)     Other Annual
Compensation($)
    Restricted
Stock
Award($)
  Shares
Underlying
Options/
SARs
Granted(#)
  Long-Term
Compensation
Payouts(1)($)
  All Other
Compensation

Nathaniel J. Lipman

President and Chief Executive Officer

  2005
2004
  430,288
409,616
  5,771,250
1,414,075
(2)
(3)
  28,894
14,049
(12)
(13)
  499,500(21)
  578,000
—  
  910,847
366,825
 

Robert G. Rooney

Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer

  2005
2004
  325,000
337,500
  1,830,000
1,135,000
(4)
(5)
  15,867
3,804
(14)
(15)
  —  
—  
  150,000
—  
  601,971
156,250
 

Todd H. Siegel

Executive Vice President and General Counsel

  2005
2004
  250,000
233,654
  2,518,438
507,441
(6)
(7)
  18,092
8,620
(16)
(17)
  —     124,440   359,004
91,580
 

Thomas J. Rusin

Executive Vice President and Chief Revenue Officer

  2005
2004
  256,250
230,962
  1,667,714
462,800
(8)
(9)
  11,432
5,644
(18)
(19)
  —  
—  
  80,920
—  
  444,499
183,701
 

Michael P. Rauscher

Executive Vice President, Marketing Services

  2005
2004
  262,600
270,000
  1,225,875
965,105
(10)
(11)
  14,779
—  
(20)
 
  —  
—  
  65,000
—  
  467,325
160,185
 

(1) Represents payments from three sources: (a) lapsing of restrictions on restricted stock units and the payment of certain dividends related to those units described in Note 15 (“Stock-Based Compensation”) to our financial statements included elsewhere herein and (b) cash payout of amounts under TRL Group’s long-term cash incentive program described in Note 16 (“Employee Benefit Plans”) to our financial statements included elsewhere herein.
(2) Consists of (a) a one-time bonus of $5,100,000 paid in connection with the Transactions, (b) a discretionary bonus of $211,250 and (b) an annual bonus of $460,000 paid by the Company.
(3) Consists of (a) a one-time bonus of $767,250 paid pursuant to a program entered into in January 2004, (b) an annual bonus of $280,000 paid by the Company and (c) a $630,000 cash distribution of the stock appreciation rights described in Note 15 (“Stock-Based Compensation”) to our financial statements included elsewhere herein.
(4) Consists of (a) a one-time bonus of $1,275,000 paid in connection with the Transactions, (b) a discretionary bonus of $312,500 and (b) an annual bonus of $242,500 paid by the Company.
(5) Consists of (a) a one-time bonus of $495,000 paid pursuant to a program entered into in January 2004, (b) an annual bonus of $130,000 paid by the Company and (c) a $510,000 cash distribution of the stock appreciation rights described in Note 15 (“Stock-Based Compensation”) to our financial statements included elsewhere herein.
(6) Consists of (a) a one-time bonus of $2,300,000 paid in connection with the Transactions, (b) a discretionary bonus of $97,500 and (c) an annual bonus of $120,938 paid by the Company.
(7) Consists of (a) a one-time bonus of $342,000 paid pursuant to a program entered into in January 2004, (b) an annual bonus of $73,861 paid by the Company and (c) a $112,500 cash distribution of the stock appreciation rights described in Note 15 (“Stock-Based Compensation”) to our financial statements included elsewhere herein.
(8) Consists of (a) a one-time bonus of $1,450,000 paid in connection with the Transactions, (b) a discretionary bonus of $97,500 and (c) an annual bonus of $120,214 paid by the Company.
(9) Consists of (a) a one-time bonus of $342,000 paid pursuant to a program entered into in January 2004, (b) an annual bonus of $60,800 paid by the Company and (c) a $60,000 cash distribution of the stock appreciation rights described in Note 15 (“Stock-Based Compensation”) to our financial statements included elsewhere herein.
(10) Consists of (a) a one-time bonus of $1,000,000 paid in connection with the Transactions, (b) a discretionary bonus of $125,125 and (c) an annual bonus of $100,750 paid by the Company.

 

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(11) Consists of (a) a one-time bonus of $407,025 paid pursuant to a program entered into in January 2004, (b) an annual bonus of $93,080 paid by the Company and (c) a $465,000 cash distribution of the stock appreciation rights described in Note 15 (“Stock-Based Compensation”) to our financial statements included elsewhere herein.
(12) Consists of certain perquisites provided by the Company, including (a) an automobile benefit valued at $21,900 (based on an assumed 31.45% gross up rate), (b) financial planning services valued at $2,333 and (c) the use of the Company’s jet valued at $661.
(13) Consists of certain perquisites provided by the Company, including (a) an automobile benefit valued at $12,799 (based on an assumed 31.45% gross up rate) and (b) financial planning services valued at $1,250.
(14) Consists of certain perquisites provided by the Company, including (a) an automobile benefit valued at $14,223 (based on an assumed 31.45% gross up rate) and (b) financial planning services valued at $1,644.
(15) Consists of certain perquisites provided by the Company, including (a) an automobile benefit valued at $2,845 (based on an assumed 31.45% gross up rate) and (b) financial planning services valued at $959.
(16) Consists of certain perquisites provided by the Company, including (a) an automobile benefit valued at $15,682 (based on an assumed 31.45% gross up rate), (b) financial planning services valued at $1,749 and (c) the use of the Company’s jet valued at $661.
(17) Consists of certain perquisites provided by the Company, including (a) an automobile benefit valued at $7,685 (based on an assumed 31.45% gross up rate) and (b) financial planning services valued at $935.
(18) Consists of certain perquisites provided by the Company, including (a) an automobile benefit valued at $9,683 (based on an assumed 31.45% gross up rate) and (b) financial planning services valued at $1,749.
(19) Consists of certain perquisites provided by the Company, including (a) an automobile benefit valued at $5,331 (based on an assumed 31.45% gross up rate) and (b) financial planning services valued at $313.
(20) Consists of certain perquisites provided by the Company, including an automobile benefit valued at $14,779 (based on an assumed 31.45% gross up rate).
(21) On October 17, 2005, the Company granted Mr. Lipman an aggregate of 50,000 restricted shares of common stock of the Company at a purchase price of $0.01 per share. The valuation assumes a market price of $10 per share, based on the price of the options granted on the same date, and deducts the amount paid by Mr. Lipman for the shares.

 

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OPTION/SAR GRANTS IN LAST FISCAL YEAR

 

Individual Grants

  Potential Realizable Value
At Assumed Annual Rates
Of Stock Price
Appreciation For
Option Term

Name

 

Number of Securities

Underlying
Option/SARs

Granted (#)(1)

   

% of Total

Options/SARs

Granted To

Employees In

Fiscal Year

 

Exercise or

Base Price

($/Sh)

 

Expiration

Date(2)

  5% ($)   10% ($)

Nathaniel J. Lipman

  289,000 (Tranche A)
144,500 (Tranche B)
144,500 (Tranche C)
(3)
 
 
  15.9
7.9
7.9
  $
$
$
10.00
10.00
10.00
  10/17/2015
10/17/2015
10/17/2015
  $
$
$
1,078,519
735,187
766,255
  $
$
$
2,479,707
1,782,075
1,872,503

Robert G. Rooney

  75,000 (Tranche A)
37,500 (Tranche B)
37,500 (Tranche C)
 
 
 
  4.1
2.1
2.1
  $
$
$
10.00
10.00
10.00
  10/17/2015
10/17/2015
10/17/2015
  $
$
$
279,893
190,793
198,855
  $
$
$
643,523
462,476
485,944

Todd H. Siegel

  62,220 (Tranche A)
31,110 (Tranche B)
31,110 (Tranche C)
 
 
 
  3.1
1.7
1.7
  $
$
$
10.00
10.00
10.00
  10/17/2015
10/17/2015
10/17/2015
  $
$
$
232,199
158,281
164,970
  $
$
$
533,866
383,670
403,139

Thomas J. Rusin

  40,460 (Tranche A)
20,230 (Tranche B)
20,230 (Tranche C)
 
 
 
  2.2
1.1
1.1
  $
$
$
10.00
10.00
10.00
  10/17/2015
10/17/2015
10/17/2015
  $
$
$
150,993
102,926
107,276
  $
$
$
347,159
249,491
262,150

Michael P. Rauscher

  32,500 (Tranche A)
16,250 (Tranche B)
16,250 (Tranche C)
 
 
 
  0.6
0.3
0.3
  $
$
$
10.00
10.00
10.00
  10/17/2015
10/17/2015
10/17/2015
  $
$
$
121,287
82,677
86,171
  $
$
$
278,860
200,406
210,576

(1) The options identified in this schedule are options to purchase shares of Holdings common stock. Tranche A options were granted on October 17, 2005. Twenty percent of the options will become exercisable on each of the first five anniversaries of the grant. In the event of a sale of the Company, the options will fully vest on the 18-month anniversary of the sale, or sooner if the executive’s relationship is terminated by the Company without cause, by executive for good reason or as a result of executive’s death or disability. If the executive’s relationship with the Company is terminated by the Company without cause, by the executive for good reason or as a result of his death or disability, the options will vest as if he was employed by the Company until the second anniversary of the date of such termination. Tranche B options were granted on October 17, 2005 and become fully vested on October 17, 2013. If certain internal rates of return are realized prior to October 17, 2013, the Tranche B options will immediately vest. Tranche C options were granted on October 17, 2005 and become fully vested on October 17, 2013. If certain internal rates of return are realized prior to October 17, 2013, the Tranche C options will immediately vest.
(2) Vested options will expire earlier if the executive terminates his relationship with us prior to the expiration date. Any unvested portion of the options will terminate upon the termination of the executive’s relationship with the Company.
(3) Mr. Lipman’s Tranche A shares vest as described in footnote (1) but are subject to the further requirement that upon termination by the Company without cause, by Mr. Lipman for good reason or as a result of his death or disability, the options will vest as if he was employed by the Company until the second anniversary of the date of such termination, but only to the extent Mr. Lipman complies with certain contractual restrictive covenants.

 

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AGGREGATED OPTION/SAR EXERCISES IN LAST FISCAL YEAR AND FY-YEAR END OPTION/SAR VALUES

 

Name

 

Number of Securities

Underlying Options/SARs

Exercised

  Value Realized ($)  

Number of Securities

Underlying Unexercised

Options/SARs at Fiscal

Year-End (#)

Exercisable/Unexercisable

 

Value of Unexercised
In-The-Money
Options/SARs

At Fiscal Year-End ($)
Exercisable/Unexercisable

Nathaniel J. Lipman

  289,000 (Tranche A)/0
144,500 (Tranche B)/0
144,500 (Tranche C)/0
 

  0/289,000
0/144,500
0/144,500
 

Robert G. Rooney

  75,000 (Tranche A)/0
37,500 (Tranche B)/0
37,500 (Tranche C)/0
 

  0/75,000
0/37,500
0/37,500
 

Todd H. Siegel

  62,220 (Tranche A)/0
31,110 (Tranche B)/0
31,110 (Tranche C)/0
 

  0/62,220
0/31,110
0/31,110
 

Thomas J. Rusin

  40,460 (Tranche A)/0
20,230 (Tranche B)/0
20,230 (Tranche C)/0
 

  0/40,460
0/20,230
0/20,230
 

Michael P. Rauscher

  32,500 (Tranche A)/0
16,250 (Tranche B)/0
16,250 (Tranche C)/0
 

  0/32,500
0/16,250
0/16,250
 

Employment and Severance Agreements

Nathaniel J. Lipman. On October 17, 2005, we entered into an employment agreement with Nathaniel J. Lipman pursuant to which he serves as our President and Chief Executive Officer. The initial term of the agreement is five years from the date of the agreement, subject to automatic one-year renewals unless either party provides at least 90 days’ prior written notice to the other party of its intent not to renew the agreement. Mr. Lipman’s annual base salary is $450,000, subject to annual review and increases. Mr. Lipman is also eligible for an annual target bonus of 125% of his base salary, provided that performance objectives determined each year by the Board of Directors or its Compensation Committee are met. Mr. Lipman is eligible to receive awards under the 2005 Stock Incentive Plan described below.

In the event Mr. Lipman’s employment is terminated by us without cause or Mr. Lipman terminates his employment with us for good reason (both as defined in the agreement), he will be entitled, if he signs a general release of claims, to a lump sum payment of any unpaid annual base salary through the date of termination and any bonus earned for any fiscal year ended prior to the year in which the date of termination occurs, as well as the payment in quarterly installments commencing on the date of termination of an aggregate amount equal to 200% of Mr. Lipman’s annual base salary and target bonus. The agreement also subjects Mr. Lipman to restrictive covenants regarding nondisclosure of confidential information, nonsolicitation of employees, noncompetition, nondisparagement and proprietary rights, each during and for specified periods after his employment. Upon termination of Mr. Lipman’s employment for any reason, we will have the right to elect to purchase for fair market value any shares of our common stock that he then holds, except that if the termination is for cause, we may instead elect to purchase the shares for their original cost.

Maureen E. O’Connell. On December 1, 2005, we entered into an employment agreement with Maureen E. O’Connell pursuant to which she serves as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. The initial term of the agreement is from January 2, 2006 through January 2, 2008. After the initial term, the agreement is subject to automatic one-year renewals unless either party provides at least 90 days’ prior written notice to the other party of its intent not to renew the agreement. Ms. O’Connell’s annual base salary is $400,000, subject to annual

 

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review and increases. Ms. O’Connell is eligible for an annual target bonus of 75% of her base salary, provided that performance objectives determined each year by us are met. In addition, Ms. O’Connell received a signing bonus of $400,000.

The agreement provides that in the event Ms. O’Connell’s employment is terminated by us without cause or Ms. O’Connell terminates her employment with good reason (both as defined in the agreement), she will be entitled to a lump sum payment of any unpaid annual base salary through the date of termination and any bonus earned for any fiscal year ended prior to the year in which the date of termination occurs, as well as a lump sum severance payment of 150% of base salary and target bonus. The agreement also subjects Ms. O’Connell to restrictive covenants regarding nondisclosure of confidential information, nonsolicitation of employees, noncompetition, and proprietary rights, each during and for specified periods after her employment.

Robert G. Rooney. On June 15, 2005, we entered into an employment agreement with Robert G. Rooney pursuant to which he serves as an Executive Vice President. The initial term of the agreement is from July 2005 through June 15, 2007. After the initial term, the agreement is subject to automatic one-year renewals unless either party provides at least 90 days’ prior written notice to the other party of its intent not to renew the agreement. Mr. Rooney’s annual base salary is $325,000, subject to annual review and increases. Mr. Rooney is eligible for an annual target bonus of 50% of his base salary, provided that performance objectives determined each year by us are met.

The agreement provides that in the event Mr. Rooney’s employment is terminated by us without cause or Mr. Rooney experiences a constructive discharge of employment (both as defined in the agreement), he will be entitled, if he signs a general release of claims, to a lump sum payment of any unpaid annual base salary through the date of termination and any bonus earned for any fiscal year ended prior to the year in which the date of termination occurs, as well as a lump sum severance payment of 150% of his base salary. If we elect not to renew the agreement beyond June 15, 2007, and Mr. Rooney is terminated without cause during the twelve-month period following June 15, 2007, then the lump sum severance payment will be equal to 150% of his base salary reduced by a proportionate amount for the number of days Mr. Rooney is employed by us after June 15, 2007, with no lump sum payment required on or after June 15, 2008. The agreement also subjects Mr. Rooney to restrictive covenants regarding nondisclosure of confidential information, nonsolicitation of employees, noncompetition, and proprietary rights, each during and for specified periods after his employment.

Todd H. Siegel. Mr. Siegel is a party to a severance agreement with us dated May 29, 2002. In the event we or our successor terminate Mr. Siegel’s employment without cause or Mr. Siegel experiences a constructive discharge of employment, he would be entitled to receive a lump sum payment of $175,000 (or the amount of his then-current base salary, if greater than $175,000 at the time of termination) plus any earned but unpaid salary and bonus at the time of termination. Mr. Siegel’s receipt of severance benefits is conditioned upon his signing a general release of claims in favor of us and our affiliates. The agreement also subjects Mr. Siegel to restrictive covenants regarding nondisclosure of confidential information, nonsolicitation of employees, noncompetition, and proprietary rights, each during and for specified periods after his employment.

Thomas J. Rusin . Mr. Rusin is a party to a severance agreement with us dated November 9, 2004. In the event we or our successor terminate Mr. Rosin’s employment without cause, he will be entitled to receive a lump sum payment of $225,000 (or the amount of his then-current base salary, if higher than $225,000 at the time of termination) plus any unpaid annual base salary through the date of termination and any bonus earned for any fiscal year ended prior to the year in which the date of termination occurs. Mr. Rusin’s receipt of severance benefits is conditioned upon his signing a general release of claims in favor of us and our affiliates. The agreement also subjects Mr. Rusin to restrictive covenants regarding nondisclosure of confidential information, nonsolicitation of employees, noncompetition, and proprietary rights, each during and for specified periods after his employment.

 

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Michael P. Rauscher. On September 10, 2002, we entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Rauscher. The initial term of the agreement is two years, subject to automatic one-year renewals unless either party to the agreement provides 90 days’ written notice to the other party of its intent not to renew the agreement. The agreement provides that Mr. Rauscher’s base salary is $250,000, subject to annual review and increases. Mr. Rauscher is also eligible for annual incentive compensation awards targeted at 50% of base salary.

The agreement provides that if the Mr. Rauscher is terminated without cause or constructively discharged, he will be entitled, if he signs a general release of claims, to a lump sum payment of any unpaid annual base salary through the date of termination and any bonus earned for any fiscal year ended prior to the year in which the date of termination occurs, as well as a lump sum severance payment of 100% of base salary. Mr. Rauscher is also subject to restrictive covenants regarding nondisclosure of confidential information, nonsolicitation of employees, noncompetition, and proprietary rights, each during and for specified periods after the executive’s employment.

Retention and Supplemental Bonus Letter Agreements

The named executive officers and numerous other employees of ours are parties to retention letter agreements amended through June 28, 2005. Pursuant to these agreements, the employees were entitled, upon the closing of the Acquisition, to a bonus amount that varies with each employee. The named executive officers each received their full retention bonus on October 17, 2005.

In connection with the Acquisition, management and certain other employees were entitled to use the proceeds from their retention letter agreement to purchase a specified number of shares of Holdings’ common stock. In keeping with the terms of the retention letter agreements, a specified number of any shares so purchased will be subject to forfeiture in the event that such employees resign or are terminated for cause prior to the first anniversary of the closing of the Acquisition.

The named executive officers and numerous other employees of ours are also parties to supplemental bonus letter agreements dated September 28, 2005. Pursuant to these agreements, each of these employees who were still employed by us on April 15, 2006 received a supplemental bonus amount that varied with each employee.

The total value of the amounts payable pursuant to the retention letter agreements and the supplemental bonus letter agreements is approximately $27.7 million, with the following amounts payable to the named executive officers in accordance with their terms: Mr. Lipman, $5,510,000, of which $5,100,000 was paid in 2005 and $410,000 is expected be paid in 2006; Mr. Rooney, $1,400,000, of which $1,275,000 was paid in 2005 and $125,000 is expected to be paid in 2006; Mr. Siegel, $2,400,000, $2,300,000 of which was paid in 2005 and $100,000 is expected to be paid in 2006; Mr. Rusin, $1,550,000, $1,450,000 of which was paid in 2005 and $100,000 is expected to be paid in 2006; and Mr. Rauscher, $1,100,000 of which $1,000,000 was paid in 2005 and $100,000 is expected to be paid in 2006.

2005 Stock Incentive Plan

On October 17, 2005, Holdings adopted the 2005 Stock Incentive Plan. The plan allows us to grant nonqualified non-assignable stock options and rights to purchase shares of Holdings common stock to our directors, employees, and consultants. The plan is administered by Holdings’ board of directors or its compensation committee, which has the power to grant awards under the plan, select eligible persons to receive awards under the plan, determine the specific terms and conditions of any award (including price and conditions of vesting), construe and interpret the provisions of the plan, and generally make all other determinations and take other such actions as may be necessary or advisable for the administration of the plan. Options granted under the plan are evidenced by an award agreement and must have an exercise price no less than the fair market value of a share of our stock on the date of grant. In the event of a change in control of Holdings, Holdings may, but is not obligated to, purchase then-outstanding options for a per share amount equal to the amount per share

 

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received in respect of the shares sold in the change-in-control transaction less the option price. Stock awards shall have a purchase price as determined by the compensation committee and evidenced by an award agreement accompanying the grant. The plan is unfunded and any rights to payment pursuant to an award granted under the plan shall be no greater than the right of any unsecured general creditor of Holdings. Holdings may amend or terminate the plan at any time, but no such action as it pertains to an existing award may materially impair the rights of an existing holder without the consent of the participant.

On October 17, 2005, certain of our executives received grants of options to purchase common stock of Holdings, and Mr. Lipman also received a grant of restricted shares of Holdings’ common stock. In the aggregate, these closing grants covered approximately 1.6 million shares.

The options and restricted stock are subject to time-based and performance-based vesting.

 

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SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

Holdings owns 100% of our capital stock. The following table sets forth information regarding the beneficial ownership of Holdings’ common stock as of March 20, 2006 by (i) each person known to beneficially own more than 5% of the common stock of Holdings, (ii) each of our named executive officers, (iii) each member of the Board of Directors of Holdings and (iv) all of our executive officers and members of the Board of Directors of Holdings as a group.

The amounts and percentages of common stock beneficially owned are reported on the basis of regulations of the SEC governing the determination of beneficial ownership of securities. Under the rules of the SEC, a person is deemed to be a “beneficial owner” of a security if that person has or shares “voting power,” which includes the power to vote or to direct the voting of such security, or “investment power,” which includes the power to dispose of or to direct the disposition of such security. A person is also deemed to be a beneficial owner of any securities of which that person has a right to acquire beneficial ownership within 60 days. Under these rules, more than one person may be deemed a beneficial owner of the same securities and a person may be deemed a beneficial owner of securities as to which he has no economic interest.

Cendant holds a warrant to purchase up to 7.5% of the common stock of Holdings, subject to customary anti-dilution adjustments. The warrant will be exercisable on or after the October 17, 2009 (or earlier, if Apollo achieves certain returns on its investment). On March 20, 2006, the exercise price of the warrant was $10.50, which reflects a $10 per share purchase price paid by Parent LLC for shares of Holdings’ common stock in connection with the Transactions, and a 5% quarterly increase. The exercise price will be increased by 5% on every three month anniversary of the closing, subject to certain adjustments, and will be multiplied by 2.18 if certain dividends or distributions are made on Holdings’ common stock.

In addition, Cendant holds shares of preferred stock in Holdings. The preferred stock does not entitle or permit its holder to vote on any matter required or permitted to be voted upon by holders of common stock (except as required by applicable law), entitles its holder to receive dividends of 8.5% per annum (payable, at Holdings’ option, either in cash or in kind) and ranks senior to shares of all other classes or series of stock with respect to rights upon a liquidation or sale of Holdings at a price of the then-current face amount, plus any accrued and unpaid dividends. The preferred stock is redeemable at Holdings’ option at any time, subject to the applicable terms of our debt instruments and applicable laws. The preferred stock is redeemable at Holdings’ option upon a change of control for a price equal to 101% of the then-current face amount, plus any accrued and unpaid dividends. Holdings is required to redeem the preferred stock (i) at the holder’s option upon a change of control of Holdings at a price equal to the then-current face amount, plus any accrued and unpaid dividends, (ii) in part (A) upon certain dispositions of Holdings’ equity securities held by Parent LLC, (B) if Parent LLC receives from Holdings, or its affiliates, cash or marketable securities in respect of the equity securities of Holdings it holds or (C) Holdings pays any cash dividends or makes other cash distributions on its equity securities, in each case at a price equal to the then-current face amount, plus any accrued and unpaid dividends and (iii) on the twelfth anniversary of the closing of the Transactions at a price equal to the then-current face amount, plus any accrued and unpaid dividends. The preferred stock is exchangeable, at the option of Holdings, for debt securities having economic terms no less favorable than the preferred stock.

 

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The following table excludes the preferred stock and the common stock underlying the warrant. Except as indicated by footnote, the persons named in the table below have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares of common stock shown as beneficially owned by them.

 

Name of Beneficial Owner

   Amount and Nature
of Beneficial
Ownership
  

Percentage

of Class

 

Apollo Management V, L.P.(a)

   27,500,000    97 %

Nathaniel J. Lipman(b)

   255,000    1 %

Maureen E. O’Connell(c)

   25,000    *  

Robert G. Rooney(d)

   100,000    *  

Todd Siegel(e)

   73,200    *  

Thomas Rusin(f)

   47,600    *  

Michael P. Rauscher(g)

   50,000    *  

Marc E. Becker(h)

   —      *  

Stan Parker(h)

   —      *  

Eric L. Press(h)

   —      *  

Eric Zinterhofer(h)

   —      *  

Directors and executive officers as a group (11 persons)(i)

   579,000    2 %

* Less than one percent.
(a) Consists of 27,500,000 shares of common stock owned of record by Apollo Investment Fund V, L.P. and its related co-investment partnerships (the “Apollo Funds”). The general or managing partner of each of the Apollo Funds is Apollo Advisors V, L.P. (“Apollo Advisors”), an affiliate of Apollo Management V, L.P. The address of each of the Apollo Funds, Apollo Management and Apollo Advisors is c/o Apollo Management V, L.P., Two Manhattanville Road, Purchase, New York 10577.
(b) Includes 50,000 shares of restricted stock. Does not include 578,000 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of Tranche A, Tranche B and Tranche C options that remain subject to vesting.
(c) Does not include 280,000 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of Tranche A, Tranche B and Tranche C options that remain subject to vesting.
(d) Does not include 150,000 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of Tranche A, Tranche B and Tranche C options that remain subject to vesting.
(e) Does not include 124,440 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of Tranche A, Tranche B and Tranche C options that remain subject to vesting.
(f) Does not include 80,920 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of Tranche A, Tranche B and Tranche C options that remain subject to vesting.
(g) Does not include 65,000 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of Tranche A, Tranche B and Tranche C options that remain subject to vesting.
(h) Messrs. Becker, Parker, Press and Zinterhofer are each principals and officers of certain affiliates of Apollo. Although each of Messrs. Becker, Parker, Press and Zinterhofer may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of shares beneficially owned by Apollo, each of them disclaims beneficial ownership of any such shares.
(i) Does not include 798,300 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of Tranche A, Tranche B and Tranche C options that remain subject to vesting.

 

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CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

Purchase Agreement

The Acquisition

Overview . On July 26, 2005, we, along with our parent company, Holdings, entered into a purchase agreement with Cendant. Pursuant to the purchase agreement, on October 17, 2005, we purchased from Cendant all of the equity interests of AGLLC, and all of the share capital of AIH. The aggregate purchase price paid to Cendant was approximately $1.8 billion (consisting of cash and newly issued preferred stock of Holdings and after giving effect to certain fixed adjustments), subject to further adjustments as provided in the purchase agreement. In addition, Cendant received a warrant to purchase up to 7.5% of the common stock of Holdings.

As a result of the Acquisition, Holdings owns 100% of our total capital stock. As of December 31, 2005, (i) approximately 97% of Holdings’ common stock is owned by Parent LLC and an affiliate of Apollo with the remaining 3% owned by the management stockholders and (iii) 100% of Holdings’ outstanding preferred stock is owned by Cendant.

Indemnities; Covenants; Other Matters

Indemnification . Cendant has agreed to indemnify us, Holdings and each of our affiliates, collectively, the indemnified parties, for breaches of representations, warranties and covenants made by Cendant, as well as for other specified matters, certain of which are described below. Holdings and we have agreed to indemnify Cendant for breaches of representations, warranties and covenants made by each of us, as well as for certain other specified matters. Generally, all parties’ indemnification obligations with respect to breaches of representations and warranties (except with respect to the matters described below) (i) are subject to a $100,000 occurrence threshold, (ii) are not effective until the aggregate amount of losses suffered by the indemnified party exceeds $15.0 million (and then only for the amount of losses exceeding $15.0 million) and (iii) are limited to $275.1 million of recovery. Generally, subject to certain exceptions of greater duration, the parties’ indemnification obligations with respect to representations and warranties will survive until April 15, 2007 with indemnification obligations related to covenants surviving until the applicable covenant has been fully performed.

In connection with the purchase agreement, Cendant agreed to specific indemnification obligations with respect to the matters described below.

Excluded Litigation. Cendant has agreed to fully indemnify the indemnified parties with respect to any pending or future litigation, arbitration, or other proceeding relating to the facts and circumstances of Fortis and the accounting irregularities in the former CUC International, Inc. announced on April 15, 1998.

Certain Litigation and Compliance with Law Matters. Cendant has agreed to indemnify the indemnified parties up to specified amounts for: (i) breaches of its representations and warranties with respect to legal proceedings that (x) occur after the date of the purchase agreement, (y) relate to facts and circumstances related to the business of AGLLC or AIH and (z) constitute a breach or violation of its compliance with law representations and warranties; (ii) breaches of its representations and warranties with respect to compliance with laws to the extent related to the business of AGLLC or AIH; and (iii) the 2005 Suit and the January 2002 Class Action.

Cendant, Holdings and we have agreed that losses up to $15 million incurred with respect to these matters will be borne solely by us and losses in excess of $15 million will be shared by the parties in accordance with agreed upon allocations. We have the right at all times to control litigation related to shared losses and Cendant has consultation rights with respect to such litigation.

Other Litigation . Cendant has agreed to indemnify us for specified amounts with respect to losses incurred in connection with the 2001 Class Action. Until September 30, 2006, Cendant has the right to control and settle

 

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this litigation, subject to certain consultation and other specified limitations. Following September 30, 2006, we have the right to control and settle this litigation, subject to certain consultation and other specified limitations.

Cendant has agreed to indemnify us for specified amounts with respect to losses incurred in connection with the AG Matters. We have the right to control and settle this litigation at all times, subject to certain consultation and other specified limitations.

We will retain all liability with respect to the November 2002 Class Action and will not be indemnified by Cendant for losses related thereto.

Covenant Not to Compete . Cendant has agreed, subject to certain exceptions, not to compete with us for a seven-year period after the closing of the Acquisition in the business of providing affinity-based membership programs, affinity-based insurance programs or benefit packages as enhancements to financial institution or customer accounts, in each case, on a fee or commission basis. We have agreed, subject to certain exceptions, not to compete with Cendant for a five-year period in the non-membership based, direct to consumer online travel distribution business in a manner which utilizes any content or booking or packaging engine of Cendant or its subsidiaries made available by Cendant or its subsidiaries to us and that is competitive to Cendant’s online travel businesses.

Non-Solicitation . Cendant has agreed, subject to certain exceptions, not to solicit any employee of ours, AGLLC, AIH or their respective subsidiaries for a period of three years after the closing of the Acquisition.

Ancillary Agreements

In connection with the closing of the Acquisition, the parties to the purchase agreement or their respective affiliates, as applicable, expected to entered into agreements governing certain relationships between and among such parties after the closing of the Acquisition. These agreements include a consulting agreement, a securityholder rights agreement, a registration rights agreement, a management investor rights agreement, a patent license agreement, a master transition services agreement and a series of inter-company agreements governing commercial arrangements between AGLLC, AIH, Cendant or their respective applicable subsidiaries. For a more detailed description of these agreements, see “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions—Ancillary Agreements to the Purchase Agreement.”

Ancillary Agreements to the Purchase Agreement

In addition to the purchase agreement described under “The Acquisition,” we entered into the following agreements with Apollo, management and Cendant:

Consulting Agreement

On October 17, 2005, Apollo entered into a consulting agreement with us for the provision of certain structuring and advisory services, pursuant to which we paid Apollo a fee of $20 million for services rendered in connection with the Transactions and reimbursed Apollo for certain expenses incurred in rendering those services.

The consulting agreement also allows Apollo and its affiliates to provide certain advisory services to us for a period of twelve years or until Apollo owns less than 5% of the beneficial economic interests of us, whichever is earlier. The agreement may be terminated earlier by mutual consent. We will pay Apollo an annual fee of $2.0 million for these services commencing in 2006. If we consummate a transaction involving a change of control or an initial public offering, then, in lieu of the annual consulting fee and subject to certain qualifications, Apollo may elect to receive a lump sum payment equal to the present value of all consulting fees payable through the end of the term of the consulting agreement.

 

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In addition, we will be required to pay Apollo a transaction fee if we engage in any merger, acquisition or similar transaction. We will also agree to indemnify Apollo and its affiliates and their directors, officers and representatives for potential losses relating to the services to be provided under the consulting agreement.

Parent LLC Registration Rights Agreement

On October 17, 2005, Parent LLC entered into a registration rights agreement with Holdings pursuant to which it has certain demand and piggyback registration rights with respect to Holdings’ common stock. Under this agreement, Holdings will agree to assume the fees and expenses associated with registration. The registration rights agreement also contains customary provisions with respect to registration proceedings, underwritten offerings and indemnity and contribution rights.

Securityholder Rights Agreement

On October 17, 2005, Cendant entered into a securityholder rights agreement with Holdings and Parent LLC pursuant to which it will have certain rights with respect to Holdings’ preferred and common stock, including piggyback registration rights, tag-along rights and information rights. Under the agreement, Holdings will agree to assume certain fees and expenses associated with registration. The securityholder rights agreement contains customary provisions with respect to registration proceedings, underwritten offerings and indemnity and contribution rights.

In addition, the agreement will give come-along rights and a right of first refusal to Parent LLC with respect to stock of Holdings held by Cendant. The securityholder rights agreement will also contain customary restrictions on the transfer of Holdings’ stock by Cendant, including restrictions on transfers to competitors of Holdings and its affiliates. Finally, the agreement will require Parent LLC to purchase the preferred stock of Holdings held by Cendant in the event that Holdings is unable to meet certain redemption obligations with respect to that stock.

Management Investor Rights Agreement

On October 17, 2005, Holdings entered into a Management Investor Rights Agreement with Parent LLC and certain holders of securities of Holdings, including certain members of management. The agreement governs certain aspects of Holdings’ relationship with its securityholders. The agreement, among other things:

 

    allows securityholders to join, and grant Parent LLC the right to require securityholders to join, in certain sales or transfers of shares of Holdings’ common stock to any third party prior to a qualified public offering of its common stock, following which (when aggregated with all prior such sales or transfers), Parent LLC shall have disposed of at least 10% of the number of shares of Holdings’ common stock that Parent LLC owned as of the original issue date of such shares to Parent LLC;

 

    restricts the ability of securityholders to transfer, assign, sell, gift, pledge, hypothecate, or encumber, or otherwise dispose of, Holdings’ common stock or of all or part of the voting power associated with Holdings’ common stock;

 

    allows securityholders, subject to mutual indemnification and contribution rights, to include certain securities in a registration statement filed by Holdings with respect to an offering of its common stock or preferred stock (i) in connection with the exercise of any demand rights by Parent LLC or any other securityholders possessing such rights, or (ii) in connection with which Parent LLC exercises “piggyback” registration rights;

 

    allows Holdings and Parent LLC to repurchase, subject to applicable laws, all or any portion of Holdings’ common stock held by directors, employees, and consultants of Holdings upon the termination of their employment with Holdings or its subsidiaries or their bankruptcy or insolvency; and

 

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    obligates the securityholders to abide by restrictive covenants regarding nonsolicitation (during and for three years after employment), noncompetition (during and for two years after employment), and use of confidential information and proprietary rights (in perpetuity).

The agreement will terminate upon the earliest to occur of the dissolution of Holdings, the occurrence of any event that reduces the number of securityholders to one, and the consummation of a control disposition in which there is a transfer to a person or group a number of shares of Holdings’ common stock having the power to elect a majority of its board of directors.

Cendant Patent License Agreements

We have agreed to grant to Cendant a non-exclusive license to the Netcentives patents (the portfolio of patents relating to online award redemption programs) through December 31, 2006, that includes the exclusive right to enforce the patents against third parties within the field of (1) online sales, marketing and distribution of travel services and products, and (2) servicing certain airlines. Cendant has agreed to pay us a royalty for the exclusive right, in the aggregate amount of $11.25 million, which is payable in quarterly installments of $2.25 million, on each of November 15, 2005, and February 15, May 15, August 15 and November 15, 2006. We have retained the right to grant a non-exclusive license to Maritz for the purpose of resolving the outstanding litigation with that company. We have also agreed to grant a royalty free, non-exclusive license to Cendant to certain other patents for use in Cendant’s and its affiliates’ businesses for the duration of such patents. Cendant has agreed to issue to us a royalty free, non-exclusive license to certain other patents for use in our and our subsidiaries’ business for the duration of such patents. Cendant has also agreed to issue a royalty free, non-exclusive license to certain retained patents to the extent that it was owned by Cendant and used by us within the six-month period before the effective date of the purchase agreement.

Netcentives Patent Assignment Agreement and Patent License Agreement

On October 17, 2005, TLS, a wholly-owned indirect subsidiary of AGLLC, assigned all of its rights, title and interest in and to the Netcentives patents to (subject to the Cendant Patent License Agreement) Affinion Net Patents, Inc. (“ANP”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Holdings. Following this assignment, ANP granted TLS a non-exclusive, royalty free license back to continue to use the Netcentives patents in the field of the marketing and sales of activities, products or services related to the administration of points-based or other loyalty programs for third parties (including affiliates) and activities, products or services related to the internal operation of points-based or other loyalty programs (the “Field”). The term of the license continues until the last to expire of the Netcentives patents. In consideration of this license, TLS will maintain the Netcentives patents, at its expense, on ANP’s behalf. In the event that TLS desires to enforce the Netcentives patents in the Field during the term, ANP and TLS will cooperate to initiate and defend such actions, subject to TLS’ control of the actions and payment of all of the related costs and expenses of ANP, and TLS shall be entitled to any proceeds arising from such actions. In the event that TLS desires to enforce the Netcentives patents outside the Field during the term, ANP may initiate and defend such actions, subject to TLS’ control of the actions, and the expenses and proceeds related to such actions outside of the Field shall be allocated between the parties based on the proportionate benefit of such actions to each party. Each of these intra-company transactions will be subject to the requirements of the Cendant Patent License Agreement described above.

Master Transition Services Agreement

On October 17, 2005, we entered into a master transition services agreement with Cendant Operations, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Cendant (“Cendant Operations”), and Cendant Europe Limited (“CD Europe,” collectively the “Cendant Parties”), pursuant to which the Cendant Parties provide certain services to us for different periods of time generally not exceeding two years from the closing of the Acquisition. These services will include Hyperion/financial services, treasury function services, information technology and telecommunication services, including help desk services. Some of the services are currently being provided by third-party vendors, who have agreed to continue to provide such services for the duration of the transition.

 

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In addition, with respect to the Telecom Transport Services, we have agreed to certain minimum annual revenue commitments. As part of providing the services, the Cendant Parties will make reasonable efforts to not undertake any expenditure in excess of $30,000 without our prior consent. Also, any work product that is created specifically for us during the performance of the services shall belong exclusively to us.

Intercompany Agreements

General . AGLLC, Cims and their respective subsidiaries historically have had arrangements with Cendant and/or certain of its direct and indirect subsidiaries relating to, among other things, the marketing of certain membership programs and related data management, administration of loyalty and rewards programs, operational support (including travel agency support and software licensing), shared facilities and profit-sharing arrangements related to the marketing of certain insurance programs. On October 17, 2005, these arrangements were terminated and we have subsequently entered into new agreements with Cendant and/or certain subsidiaries that require the parties to provide services similar to those provided prior to the Acquisition.

Marketing Agreements . On October 17, 2005, we entered into agreements relating to the marketing of AGLLC’s membership programs with Cendant and/or its subsidiaries, including Budget Rent A Car System, Inc., Travel Link Group, Inc., Cendant Hotel Group, Inc., Trip Network, Inc., Orbitz, LLC and Resort Condominiums International, LLC. These agreements permit us to solicit customers of these parties for our membership programs through various direct marketing methods, which may include mail, telemarketing and online solicitation methods. These agreements generally provide for a minimum amount of marketing volume or a specified quantity of customer data to be allotted to the relevant party. These agreements expire on December 31, 2010 (subject to automatic one-year renewal periods) and are generally terminable by the applicable Cendant party following December 31, 2007, upon six months’ prior written notice to us. One of the agreements is also terminable by either party upon 90 days’ prior written notice to us. They are also terminable if the parties fail to agree on certain creative materials to be used in connection therewith. The payment terms of each marketing agreement differ, but generally involve the payment by us of either a fee for each call transferred under such marketing agreement, a bounty for each user that enrolls as a member of a membership program or a percentage of net membership revenues.

Other than non-material arrangements, these agreements provide that if a Cendant-party elects to terminate an agreement or an agreement terminates as a result of the parties’ inability to agree on creative materials prior to December 31, 2010, then the applicable Cendant-party is required to pay a termination fee based on the projected marketing revenues that would have been generated from such agreement had the marketing arrangement been in effect until December 31, 2010. The termination fee will be paid as follows: the applicable Cendant-party will be required to pay twenty-four quarterly installment payments for each quarter occurring after the applicable termination date and prior to the end of calendar year 2010.

In the event that in any quarter during the term of a material marketing agreement, any Cendant-party fails to meet the minimum amount of marketing volume, fails to provide the specified amount of customer data or breaches certain material obligations under any material marketing agreement, then such Cendant-party will have to make a shortfall payment based on a calculation of the marketing revenues that would have been derived had the applicable Cendant-party met the specified threshold. Each shortfall payment will be paid as follows: for each quarter in which a shortfall event occurs, the applicable Cendant Party will be required to pay twenty-four quarterly installment payments (subject to certain adjustments).

Loyalty Agreements . On October 17, 2005, we entered into agreements with Cendant and its subsidiaries relating to Cendant’s loyalty and rewards programs to provide services to the following Cendant parties: Cendant, Travel Rewards, Inc., Resort Condominiums International, LLC, Avis Rent A Car System, Inc. and Cendant Operations, Inc. Each of the loyalty and rewards agreements expire on December 31, 2009, subject to automatic one-year renewal periods, unless a party elects not to renew the arrangement upon six months’ prior written notice. The agreement with Avis Rent A Car System, however, allows Avis to terminate upon ninety days’ prior written notice if Avis chooses to discontinue the Avis Club Red Travel Agent Loyalty Program.

 

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We generally charge the Cendant-party one or more of the following fees relating to these services: an initial fee to implement a particular loyalty program; a management/administration fee; a redemption fee related to redeemed rewards and a booking fee related to bookings by loyalty program members.

In connection with these agreements, we formed Affinion Loyalty, LLC, a special purpose, bankruptcy remote subsidiary which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of TLS. Pursuant to the loyalty agreements, TLS has provided a copy of the object code, source code and related documentation of certain of its intellectual property to Affinion Loyalty, LLC under a non-exclusive limited license. Affinion Loyalty, LLC entered into an escrow agreement relating to such intellectual property with Cendant and its affiliates in connection with the parties entering into the loyalty and reward agreements. Affinion Loyalty, LLC sublicenses such intellectual property to Cendant on a non-exclusive basis but will only provide access to such intellectual property either directly or indirectly through the escrow agent in the event that TLS (i) becomes bankrupt or insolvent, (ii) commits a material, uncured breach of a loyalty and reward agreement, or (iii) transfers or assigns its intellectual property in such a way as to prevent it from performing its obligations under any agreement relating to Cendant’s loyalty and rewards programs. Upon access to the escrowed materials, Cendant will be able to use the escrowed materials for a limited term and for only those purposes for which TLS was using it to provide the services under the loyalty and reward agreements prior to the release of the escrowed materials to Cendant.

Platform Service Agreement . On October 17, 2005, we entered into a platform service agreement with Travel Distribution Services Group, Inc. (“TDS”), under which we have the option to use the to-be-developed Orbitz travel membership club platform, if and when developed by TDS, to obtain services related to such platform for our travel membership clubs, by paying TDS a fee per itinerary. The agreement will expire on December 31, 2010 if we elect to use such platform by December 31, 2007. However, it will expire on December 31, 2007 if TDS has not developed such platform or we have not elected to use such platform by such date.

GDS Agreement. On October 17, 2005, we entered into an agreement, pursuant to which we agreed to exclusively use the GDS of Galileo, a subsidiary of Cendant, to make air, hotel or car rental bookings through the global distribution system, an on-line booking system. Pursuant to this agreement, we will pay Galileo a fee per segment and a flat fee that decreases in each year during the term of the agreement. The agreement expires on December 31, 2011, subject to automatic one-year renewal periods, unless either party elects upon six months’ prior written notice not to renew the agreement.

Other Operational Support Agreements . On October 17, 2005, we entered into an agreement whereby we have agreed to identify Avis and Budget (each a subsidiary of Cendant) as the primary preferred providers of car rental services to our customers (subject to certain exceptions). We receive commissions and royalty fees on certain qualifying rentals. The agreement expires on December 31, 2007, subject to automatic one-year renewal periods, unless either party elects upon six months’ prior written notice not to renew the agreement.

On October 17, 2005, Cims entered into an agreement pursuant to which Cims will continue to use RCI Europe as its exclusive provider of travel services for the benefit of Cims’ members in the U.K., Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Italy, Belgium, Luxembourg, Ireland and the Netherlands. Pursuant to this agreement, RCI has a right of first refusal to offer travel services in other countries where Cims’ members are located. Cims will indemnify RCI in the event its profit margin under this arrangement falls below 1.31%. The agreement expires ten years from its effective date, subject to either party’s right to terminate the agreement on or after the third anniversary of its effective date, upon one year’s prior written notice or at any time in certain other specified circumstances (either in whole or in part).

Pursuant to that certain Asset Purchase Agreement, dated January 1, 2005, entered into by Cendant Travel Inc. (“CTI”) and our subsidiary, Travel Advantages Services, Inc. (“TAS”), CTI sold and transferred substantially all of the assets and liabilities of CTI to TAS. In connection with such agreement, TDS also entered into a Transition Services Agreement with us. On October 17, 2005, we entered into an Amended and Restated

 

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Transition Services Agreement, pursuant to which we will provide certain information technology related services to TDS and CTI until December 31, 2006. These services will be provided by us at cost.

Shared Facilities Agreements . On October 17, 2005, we entered into agreements to continue cost-sharing arrangements with Cendant and/or its subsidiaries relating to office space and customer contact centers. These agreements have expiration dates and financial terms that are generally consistent with the terms of the existing related inter-company arrangements.

Profit-Sharing Agreements . On October 17, 2005, we entered into agreements to continue our profit-sharing arrangements with Fairtide Insurance Limited, a subsidiary of Cendant. Cims and certain of our subsidiaries market certain insurance programs and Fairtide provides reinsurance for the related insurance policies which are provided by a third-party insurer. Pursuant to these agreements, Fairtide will pay us 40-50% of the net profits that it receives on the net premiums under such insurance policies. These agreements expire on December 31, 2006, or earlier as the parties agree or when Fairtide’s related reinsurance agreements with the related third-party insurer expire.

Related Party Transactions Prior to the Acquisition

Corporate Related Functions —The Predecessor was allocated general corporate overhead expenses from Cendant for corporate-related functions, as well as directly attributable expenses. Cendant allocated corporate overhead based on a percentage of forecasted revenues and allocated other expenses that directly benefited the Predecessor based on actual utilization of the services. The Predecessor believed the assumptions and methodologies underlying the allocations of general corporate overhead and direct expenses from Cendant were reasonable. However, such expenses are not indicative of, nor is it practical or meaningful for management to estimate for all historical periods presented, the actual level of expenses that might have been incurred had the Predecessor been operating as an independent company. Corporate expense allocations include executive management, finance, legal, insurance, information technology, telecommunications, call centers and real estate usage. Allocated overhead expenses as well as direct charges for the corporate-related functions totaled approximately $27.2 million, $32.4 million and $28.6 million for the period from January 1 to October 16, 2005 and for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively.

Loyalty Programs —TLS administers loyalty programs for several of Cendant’s subsidiaries. The agreements provide for set-up fees, quarterly program management fees and program development fees. TLS earned loyalty revenues under these programs totaling $10.6 million, $11.6 million and $7.4 million for the period from January 1, 2005 to October 16, 2005 and for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively.

Marketing Programs —The Predecessor marketed membership programs to customers of certain Cendant subsidiaries and franchisees. The Predecessor incurred fees paid to the Cendant subsidiaries based on i) the number of telephonic and online opportunities transferred to the Predecessor and the number of successful solicitations resulting from the transfers, or ii) a percentage of the membership revenues earned by Predecessor resulting from the successful solicitations transferred. The fees paid totaled $6.2 million for the period from January 1, 2005 to October 16, 2005, $3.9 million in 2004, and $5.5 million in 2003, and are included in marketing and commissions expense on the accompanying combined statements of operations.

Travel Programs —CTI provided travel reservation services to certain Cendant subsidiaries’ customers and earned service fees totaling $0.4 million and $2.5 million for the period from January 1, 2005 to October 16, 2005 and for the year ended December 31, 2004, respectively. Service fees earned are generally based on a fee per travel item booked reduced for cancellations and are included in net revenues on the accompanying consolidated and combined statements of operations. CTI’s fulfillment and other operational support activities were provided by Cendent. Fulfillment fees charged to the Predecessor totaled $0.8 million for the period January 1, 2005 to October 16, 2005 and were included in operating costs on the accompanying combined statement of operations.

 

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The Predecessor earned fees from a Cendant subsidiary for the placement of airline, car rental and hotel reservations using the subsidiary’s travel reservation system. The fees earned are based on the number of travel related segments placed by the Predecessor. Travel segment fees earned totaled $0.0 million, $4.4 million and $4.7 million for the period from January 1, 2005 to October 16, 2005 and for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively, and are included in net revenues on the accompanying combined statements of operations.

The Predecessor earned commissions from several of Cendant’s subsidiaries for the booking of car rentals on behalf of the travelers that the Predecessor services. Commissions earned are based on a percentage of the car rental revenues earned by the Cendant subsidiaries. Commissions earned totaled $1.1 million, $2.0 million and $2.2 million for the period from January 1, 2005 to October 16, 2005 and for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively, and are included in net revenues on the accompanying combined statements of operations.

Other Services —The Predecessor provided road and tow services to a Cendant subsidiary’s customers and earned fees totaling $0.3 million, $2.9 million and $2.6 million for the period from January 1, 2005 to October 16, 2005 and for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively. The road and tow fees are included in net revenues on the accompanying consolidated and combined statements of operations. The Predecessor insured certain membership program benefits through third party insurance companies and a subsidiary of Cendant provided reinsurance for such programs. The differential between claims experience and reinsurance premiums is shared between the Predecessor and the Cendant subsidiary. Profit-sharing revenue totaled approximately $0.5 million, $0.8 million and $2.6 million for the period January 1, 2005 to October 16, 2005 and for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively, and is included in net revenues on the accompanying consolidated and combined statements of operations. The Predecessor also provides list processing services to certain Cendant subsidiaries. List processing fees totaled $0.1 million for the period from January 1, 2005 to October 16, 2005 and $0.7 million for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively, and are included in net revenues on the accompanying combined statements of operations.

 

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DE SCRIPTION OF OTHER INDEBTEDNESS

Our Credit Facility

General

In connection with the closing of the Acquisition, we and Holdings entered into a $960 million senior secured credit facility, consisting of a revolving credit facility and a term loan facility, with, Credit Suisse, Cayman Islands Branch, as administrative agent, Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. (“DBSI”), as syndication agent, Bank of America Bridge LLC and BNP Paribas Securities Corp., as co-documentation agents, and other lenders. The key terms of our credit facility are described below. Such description is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the complete text of the related credit agreement and security agreements, copies of which will be furnished to you upon request. See “Where You Can Find More Information.”

Our credit facility provides for a six-year, subject to adjustment as described below, $100 million revolving credit facility, which includes:

 

    a letter of credit subfacility; and

 

    a swingline loan subfacility.

We may use our revolving credit facility for, among other things, our and our respective subsidiaries’ working capital and other general corporate purposes, including, without limitation, effecting permitted acquisitions and investments.

Our credit facility also provides for a seven-year, subject to adjustment as described below, $860 million term loan facility. Our term loan facility financed a portion of the Acquisition.

Our credit facility permits us to obtain up to the greater of $175 million and an amount equal to EBITDA for the most recent four-quarter period then ended for which financial statements are available of additional credit facilities from lenders reasonably satisfactory to the administrative agent and us, without the consent of the existing lenders under our credit facility.

Scheduled Amortization Payments and Mandatory Prepayments

Our term loan facility provides for quarterly amortization payments totaling 1% per annum, with the balance payable upon the final maturity date. The amounts of the quarterly amortization payments are reduced by certain prepayments.

In addition, our credit facility requires us to prepay outstanding term loans, with:

 

    100% of the net cash proceeds of asset sales and dispositions in excess of and amount per transaction and in the aggregate per year, subject to customary reinvestment provisions; provided that, if our senior secured bank leverage ratio is less than or equal to 2.0:1.0, no payments will be required;

 

    50% of our excess cash flow beginning on July 1, 2006 (reducing to 25% if our senior secured bank leverage ratio is less than or equal to 2.5:1.0 and to 0% if our senior secured bank leverage ratio is less than or equal to 1.75:1.0); and

 

    100% of the net cash proceeds received from issuances of debt, subject to certain exclusions including certain debt permitted to be incurred under the senior credit facilities; provided that, if our senior secured bank leverage ratio is less than or equal to 2.0:1.0, no payments will be required.

Voluntary Prepayments and Reduction and Termination of Commitments

We may permanently reduce the revolving loan commitments under our credit facility at any time without premium or penalty, subject to the payment of customary LIBOR breakage costs, if any and provided that the

 

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commitments may not be reduced below the aggregate outstanding amount of revolving loans and letters of credit. The term loans may be prepaid without penalty or premium, except if we prepay the term loans in connection with a refinancing to reduce interest rates prior to October 17, 2006, a prepayment premium of 1.00% of the aggregate principal amount of term loans being prepaid will apply. In addition, we are able to terminate our credit facility upon prior written notice, and, in some cases, are able to revoke such notice. Upon termination, we will be required to repay all obligations outstanding under our credit facility and to satisfy all outstanding letter of credit obligations.

Interest and Applicable Margins

The interest rates with respect to term loans under our credit facility are based on, at our option, (a) adjusted LIBOR plus 2.75% or (b) the higher of (i) Credit Suisse’s prime rate and (ii) the Federal Funds Effective Rate plus 0.5% (“ABR”), in each case plus 1.75%.

The interest rates with respect to revolving loans under our credit facility are, at our option, adjusted LIBOR plus 2.75% or ABR plus 1.75%. These applicable margins are subject to reduction on a quarterly basis by up to .75% if our senior secured bank leverage ratio is equal to or less than certain ratios. Additionally, all overdue amounts owing under our credit facility bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the rate otherwise applicable thereto plus an additional 2.0% or at the senior secured bank ABR plus the applicable margin plus an additional 2.0% if no rate is otherwise applicable thereto.

We have the option of requesting that loans be made as LIBOR loans, converting any part of outstanding ABR loans (other than swingline loans) to LIBOR loans and converting any outstanding LIBOR loan to an ABR loan, subject to the payment of LIBOR breakage costs. With respect to LIBOR loans, interest is payable in arrears at the end of each applicable interest period, but in any event at least every three (3) months. With respect to ABR loans, interest is payable on the last business day of each fiscal quarter. In each case, calculations of interest are based on a 360-day year (or 365 or 366 days, as the case may be, in the case of loans based on the agent’s prime ABR rate, and loans in any jurisdiction where the relevant interbank market practice is to use a 365 or 366 day year) and actual days elapsed.

Guarantees and Collateral

Our obligations under our credit facility are, and we expect that our obligations under any interest rate protection or other hedging arrangements entered into with a lender or any affiliate thereof will be, guaranteed by Holdings and by each of our existing and subsequently acquired or organized domestic subsidiaries, subject to certain exceptions.

Our credit facility is secured to the extent legally permissible by substantially all the assets of (i) Holdings, which consists of a perfected first-priority pledge of all our capital stock and (ii) us and the subsidiary guarantors, including but not limited to: (a) a first-priority pledge of substantially all capital stock held by us or any subsidiary guarantor (which pledge, with respect to obligations in respect of the borrowings secured by a pledge of the stock of any first-tier foreign subsidiary, is limited to 100% of the non-voting stock (if any) and 65% of the voting stock of such foreign subsidiary) and (b) perfected first-priority security interests in substantially all tangible and intangible assets of us and each subsidiary guarantor, subject to certain exceptions.

Covenants

Our credit facility contains financial, affirmative and negative covenants that we believe are usual and customary for a senior secured credit agreement. The negative covenants in the our credit facility include, among other things, limitations (all of which are subject to certain exceptions) on our (and in certain cases, Holdings’) ability to:

 

    declare dividends and make other distributions;

 

    redeem or repurchase our capital stock;

 

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    prepay, redeem or repurchase certain of our subordinated indebtedness;

 

    make loans or investments (including acquisitions);

 

    incur additional indebtedness, except that we may incur, among other things, (i) subordinated indebtedness so long as our senior secured bank leverage ratio is not greater than 2.0 to 1.0 and certain other restrictions and (ii) other indebtedness so long as our senior secured bank leverage ratio is not greater than 2.0 to 1.0 and subject to certain other restrictions;

 

    grant liens;

 

    enter into sale-leaseback transactions;

 

    modify the terms of subordinated debt;

 

    restrict dividends from our subsidiaries;

 

    change our business or the business of our subsidiaries;

 

    merge or enter into acquisitions;

 

    sell our assets; and

 

    enter into transactions with our affiliates.

Our credit facility requires us to comply with the following financial maintenance covenants:

 

    a maximum ratio of total debt to EBITDA; and

 

    a minimum ratio of EBITDA to cash interest expense.

Events of Default

The events of default under our credit facility include, among others, nonpayment, material misrepresentations, breach of covenants, insolvency, bankruptcy, certain judgments, change of control (as defined in the credit agreement governing our credit facility) and cross-events of defaults and acceleration on material indebtedness.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF THE SENIOR NOTES

Capitalized terms used in this “Description of the Senior Notes” section and not otherwise defined have the meanings set forth in the section “Description of the Senior Notes—Certain Definitions.” As used in this “Description of the Senior Notes” section, the “Company” means Affinion Group, Inc. and not any of its Subsidiaries.

On October 17, 2005, the Company issued $270,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of initial senior notes (the “ Initial Senior Notes ”) under an indenture (the “ Indenture ”), dated as of October 17, 2005, among the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee (the “ Trustee ”). On May 3, 2006, the Company issued $34,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of additional senior notes under the Indenture (the “ Additional Senior Notes ” and together with the Initial Senior Notes, the “ Notes ”). The Initial Senior Notes, the Additional Senior Notes and any Additional Notes (as defined below) subsequently issued under the Indenture will be treated as a single class for all purposes under the Indenture, including, without limitation, waivers, amendments, redemptions and offers to purchase. The exchange senior notes will be issued under the Indenture. A copy of the Indenture has been filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. The terms of the exchange senior notes are identical in all material respects to the old senior notes, except the exchange senior notes will not contain transfer restrictions and holders of exchange senior notes will no longer have any registration rights and we will not be obligated to pay additional interest as described in the registration rights agreements. Wells Fargo, N.A., as trustee of the old senior notes, will authenticate and deliver exchange senior notes for original issue only in exchange for a like principal amount of old senior notes. Any old senior notes that remain outstanding after the consummation of this exchange offer, together with the exchange senior notes, will be treated as a single class of securities under the Indenture. Accordingly, all references in this section to specified percentages in aggregate principal amount of outstanding exchange senior notes shall be deemed to mean, at any time after this exchange offer is consummated, such percentage in aggregate principal amount of the old senior notes and the exchange senior notes outstanding.

The following summary of certain provisions of the Indenture and does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, all the provisions of the Indenture, including the definitions of certain terms therein and those terms made a part thereof by the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “ TIA ”). We urge that you carefully read the Indenture and the TIA, because the Indenture and the TIA govern your rights as holders of the senior notes, not this description. A copy of the Indenture has been filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. For purposes of this section we refer to the old senior notes and exchange senior notes together as the “Notes.”

General

We may issue additional Notes (the “Additional Notes” ) from time to time without notice or the consent of holders of Notes. Any offering of Additional Notes is subject to the covenant described below under the caption “—Certain Covenants—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock.” The Notes and any Additional Notes subsequently issued under the Indenture will be treated as a single class for all purposes under the Indenture, including, without limitation, waivers, amendments, redemptions and offers to purchase.

Principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes will be payable, and the Notes may be exchanged or transferred, at the office or agency of the Company as specified in the Indenture (which initially shall be the principal corporate trust office of the Trustee), except that, at the option of the Company, payment of interest may be made by check mailed to the holders at their registered addresses.

The old senior notes are and the exchange senior notes will be issued only in fully registered form, without coupons, in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000. No service charge will be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of Notes, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or other similar governmental charge payable in connection therewith.

 

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Terms of the Notes

The old senior notes are and the exchange senior notes will be:

 

    general unsecured obligations of the Company and will not be entitled to the benefit of any mandatory sinking fund;

 

    effectively subordinated in right of payment to all existing and future secured Indebtedness of the Company, including the Indebtedness of the Company under the Credit Agreement, to the extent of the assets securing such Indebtedness, and to all existing and future Indebtedness and other liabilities of the Company’s Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors of the Notes, to the extent of the assets of such Subsidiaries;

 

    pari passu in right of payment with all existing and future unsecured, unsubordinated Indebtedness of the Company;

 

    senior in right of payment to all existing and future subordinated Indebtedness of the Company; and

 

    guaranteed on a senior basis by the Guarantors as described under “—Guarantees.”

Assuming the Refinancing and the Additional Senior Notes Offering had been completed as of December 31, 2005, the Company and the Initial Guarantors (as defined under “—Guarantees”) would have had $1,144.0 million of Senior Debt (including the Notes), $841.0 million of which would have been secured Indebtedness, and the Company’s Subsidiaries that are not guaranteeing the Notes would have had $81.4 million of indebtedness and other liabilities (including trade payables).

As of the date of this prospectus, all of the Company’s subsidiaries are “Restricted Subsidiaries” except for Affinion Loyalty, LLC, a special purpose, bankruptcy remote subsidiary of Trilegiant Loyalty Solutions, Inc. formed in connection with the loyalty agreements entered into with Cendant. Under certain circumstances, the Company is permitted to designate certain of its other subsidiaries as “Unrestricted Subsidiaries.” Any Unrestricted Subsidiaries are not subject to any of the restrictive covenants in the Indenture and will not guarantee the Notes. Instead of including the Netcentives Patent in the Netcentives Subsidiary and designating such Subsidiary to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary, the Company may choose to distribute, sell for nominal consideration or otherwise transfer such Netcentives Patent to its Parent concurrently with the Transactions or shortly after the Issue Date. To the extent the Company chooses to distribute, sell or otherwise transfer the Netcentives Patent after the Issue Date, the distribution, sale or transfer by the Company to its Parent of the Netcentives Patent will be excluded from the covenants set forth under “—Certain Covenants.”

Additional interest is payable with respect to the Notes in certain circumstances if the Company does not consummate the exchange offer (or shelf registration, if applicable) as further described under “—Registration Rights; Additional Interest.”

The Notes will mature on October 15, 2013, at their principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but not including, the maturity date. Interest on the Notes will accrue at the rate of 10  1 / 8 % per annum and will be payable semi-annually in arrears on April 15 and October 15. The Company will make each interest payment to the holders of record of the Notes on the immediately preceding April 1 and October 1. Interest on the Notes will accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from and including the Issue Date and will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months.

Optional Redemption

On and after October 15, 2009, the Company may redeem the Notes, at its option, in whole at any time or in part from time to time, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice mailed by first-class mail to each holder’s registered address, at the following redemption prices (expressed as a percentage of principal

 

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amount), plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, to the redemption date (subject to the right of holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date), if redeemed during the 12-month period commencing on October 15 of the years set forth below:

 

Period

   Redemption Price  

2009

   105.063 %

2010

   102.531 %

2011 and thereafter

   100.000 %

Optional Redemption of Notes Upon Equity Offering. Notwithstanding the foregoing, at any time and from time to time on or prior to October 15, 2008, the Company may redeem in the aggregate up to 35% of the original aggregate principal amount of the Notes (calculated after giving effect to any issuance of Additional Notes) with the net cash proceeds of one or more (a) Equity Offerings by the Company, (b) Equity Offerings by any Parent of the Company, to the extent the net cash proceeds thereof are contributed to the common equity capital of the Company or used to purchase Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company from it, or (c) Subsidiary Spin-Offs, at a redemption price equal to 110.125% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, to the redemption date (subject to the right of holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date); provided , however , that at least 65% of the original aggregate principal amount of the Notes (calculated after giving effect to any issuance of Additional Notes) must remain outstanding after each such redemption; provided, further, that such redemption shall occur within 90 days after the date on which any such Equity Offering is consummated upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ notice mailed to each holder of Notes being redeemed and otherwise in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Indenture.

Notice of any redemption upon any Equity Offering may be given prior to the completion thereof, and any such redemption or notice may, at the Company’s discretion, be subject to one or more conditions precedent, including, but not limited to, completion of the related Equity Offering.

Selection. In the case of any partial redemption, selection of the Notes for redemption will be made by the Trustee in compliance with the requirements of the principal national securities exchange, if any, on which the Notes are listed, or if the Notes are not so listed, on a pro rata basis, by lot or by such other method as the Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate (and in such manner as complies with applicable legal requirements); provided that no Notes of $1,000 or less shall be redeemed in part. If any Note is to be redeemed in part only, the notice of redemption relating to such Note shall state the portion of the principal amount thereof to be redeemed. A new Note in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion thereof will be issued in the name of the holder thereof upon cancellation of the original Note. On and after the redemption date, interest will cease to accrue on Notes or portions thereof called for redemption so long as the Company has deposited with the paying agent funds sufficient to pay the principal of, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest (if any) on, the Notes to be redeemed.

The Company, its Subsidiaries or any Affiliates of the Company may at any time and from time to time purchase Notes in the open market or otherwise.

Guarantees

The Notes are guaranteed, jointly and severally, by the Subsidiary Guarantors which are each of the Company’s direct and indirect Domestic Restricted Subsidiaries that guarantees Indebtedness under any Credit Agreement. On the Issue Date, each of the Company’s Domestic Restricted Subsidiaries, except Safecard Services Insurance Co., was a Subsidiary Guarantor (the “Initial Guarantors”). For the year ended December 31, 2005, Subsidiaries that are not guaranteeing the Notes (“Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries”) contributed $176.9 million and $9.9 million to our pro forma net revenues and Segment EBITDA, respectively. As of December 31, 2005, the Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries would have held approximately $182.2 million, or 8.4%, of our pro forma total assets.

 

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Each Guarantee:

 

    is a general unsecured obligation of the Guarantor;

 

    is effectively subordinated in right of payment to all existing and future secured Indebtedness of the Guarantor, including the Guarantee of the Guarantor under the Credit Agreement;

 

    is pari passu in right of payment with all existing and future unsecured, unsubordinated Indebtedness of the Guarantor; and

 

    is senior in right of payment to all existing and future subordinated Indebtedness of the Guarantor.

The obligations of each Guarantor under its Guarantee are limited as necessary to prevent that Guarantee from constituting a fraudulent conveyance under applicable law. See “Risk Factors—Risk Factors Related to an Investment in the Notes—Federal and state fraudulent transfer laws permit a court to void the notes and the guarantees, and, if that occurs, you may not receive any payments on the notes.” As of December 31, 2005, after giving pro forma effect to the Refinancing and the Additional Senior Notes Offering, the Initial Guarantors would have had $1,144.0 million of Senior Debt, of which $840.0 million would have been guarantees of Indebtedness under the Credit Agreement and $304.0 million would have been the Guarantees.

Each Guarantee is a continuing guarantee and, subject to the next succeeding paragraph, shall:

 

  (1) remain in full force and effect until payment in full of all the Guaranteed Obligations;

 

  (2) be binding upon each such Subsidiary Guarantor and its successors; and

 

  (3) inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Trustee, the holders and their successors, transferees and assigns.

A Guarantee of a Subsidiary Guarantor will be automatically released and discharged upon:

 

(1)    

(a)    the sale, disposition or other transfer (including through merger, amalgamation or consolidation) of the Capital Stock of the applicable Subsidiary Guarantor, following which such Subsidiary Guarantor is no longer a Restricted Subsidiary, if such sale, disposition or other transfer is made in compliance with the Indenture, or

 

  (b) the Company designating a Subsidiary Guarantor to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary in accordance with the provisions set forth under “—Certain Covenants—Limitation on Restricted Payments” and the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary,” or

 

  (c) in the case of any Restricted Subsidiary which after the Issue Date, is required to guarantee the Notes pursuant to the covenant described under “—Certain Covenants—Future Guarantors,” the release or discharge of the guarantee by such Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary or the repayment of the Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock, in each case, which resulted in the obligation to guarantee the Notes, or

 

  (d) the Company’s exercise of the legal defeasance option as described under “—Defeasance,” or if the Company’s obligations under the Indenture are discharged in accordance with the terms of the Indenture; and

 

  (2) in the case of clause (1)(a) above, such Guarantor is released from its guarantees, if any, of, and all pledges and security, if any, granted in connection with, the Credit Agreement and any other Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company.

A Guarantee also will be automatically released upon the applicable Subsidiary ceasing to be a Subsidiary as a result of any foreclosure of any pledge or security interest securing Bank Indebtedness or other exercise of remedies in respect thereof.

 

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Change of Control

Upon the occurrence of any of the following events (each, a “Change of Control”), each holder will have the right to require the Company to repurchase all or any part of such holder’s Notes at a purchase price in cash equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of repurchase (subject to the right of holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date), except to the extent the Company has previously elected to redeem Notes as described under “—Optional Redemption”:

 

  (1) the sale, lease or transfer, in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all the assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any Person, other than any Permitted Holder; or

 

  (2) the Company becomes aware (by way of a report or any other filing pursuant to Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, proxy, vote, written notice or otherwise) of the acquisition by any Person or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act, or any successor provision), including any group acting for the purpose of acquiring, holding or disposing of securities (within the meaning of Rule 13d-5(b)(1) under the Exchange Act), other than any of the Permitted Holders in a single transaction or in a related series of transactions, by way of merger, amalgamation, consolidation or other business combination or purchase of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, or any successor provision), of more than 50% of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of the Company or any Parent of the Company (for purposes of calculating the total voting power of the Voting Stock held by a group, the voting power beneficially owned by a Permitted Holder shall be excluded to the extent such Permitted Holder retains the sole economic rights with respect to the subject Voting Stock); or

 

  (3) (A) prior to the first public offering of common Capital Stock of the Parent or the Company, the first day on which the Board of Directors of the Parent or the Company shall cease to consist of a majority of directors who (i) were members of the Board of Directors of the Company on the Issue Date or (ii) were either (x) nominated for election by the Board of Directors of the Parent or the Company, a majority of whom were directors on the Issue Date or whose election or nomination for election was previously approved by a majority of directors nominated for election pursuant to this clause (x) or who were designated or appointed pursuant to clause (y) below, or (y) designated or appointed by a Permitted Holder (each of the directors selected pursuant to clauses (A)(i) and (A)(ii), a “Continuing Director”) and (B) after the first public offering of common Capital Stock of either Parent or the Company, (i) if such public offering is of common Capital Stock of the Parent, the first day on which a majority of the members of the Board of Directors of the Parent are not Continuing Directors or (ii) if such public offering is of common Capital Stock of the Company, the first day on which a majority of the members of the Board of Directors of the Company are not Continuing Directors.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Specified Merger/Transfer Transaction shall not constitute a Change of Control.

Within 30 days following any Change of Control, except to the extent that the Company has exercised its right to redeem the Notes as described under “—Optional Redemption,” the Company shall mail a notice (a “ Change of Control Offer ”) to each holder with a copy to the Trustee stating:

 

  (1) that a Change of Control has occurred and that such holder has the right to require the Company to purchase such holder’s Notes at a purchase price in cash equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, to the date of purchase (subject to the right of holders of record on a record date to receive interest on the relevant interest payment date);

 

  (2) the circumstances and relevant facts and financial information regarding such Change of Control;

 

  (3) the repurchase date (which shall be no earlier than 30 days nor later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed); and

 

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  (4) the instructions determined by the Company, consistent with this covenant, that a holder must follow in order to have its Notes purchased.

The Company will not be required to make a Change of Control Offer upon a Change of Control if all of the following conditions are met:

 

  (1) on a pro forma basis after giving effect to such Change of Control transaction, the Company’s Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio would not be lower than its Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio on the date immediately prior to the consummation of the Change of Control transaction;

 

  (2) on a pro forma basis after giving effect to such Change of Control transaction, and immediately prior to the public announcement of such Change of Control transaction, the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Company is or would be, as applicable, equal to or higher than the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Company on the Issue Date;

 

  (3) on a pro forma basis after giving effect to such Change of Control transaction, the Company is permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in the first paragraph of the covenant described below under the caption “—Certain Covenants—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock;” and

 

  (4) at the time such Change of Control is consummated, no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would occur as a result thereof.

In addition, the Company will not be required to make a Change of Control Offer upon a Change of Control if a third party makes the Change of Control Offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements set forth in the Indenture applicable to a Change of Control Offer made by the Company and purchases all Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn under such Change of Control Offer.

A Change of Control Offer may be made in advance of a Change of Control, and conditioned upon such Change of Control, if a definitive agreement is in place for the Change of Control at the time of making of the Change of Control Offer.

The Company will comply, to the extent applicable, with the requirements of Section 14(e) of the Exchange Act and any other securities laws or regulations in connection with the repurchase of Notes pursuant to this covenant. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with provisions of this covenant, the Company will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached its obligations under this paragraph by virtue thereof.

This Change of Control repurchase provision is a result of negotiations between the Company and the Initial Purchasers. The Company has no present intention to engage in a transaction involving a Change of Control, although it is possible that the Company could decide to do so in the future. Subject to the limitations discussed below, the Company could, in the future, enter into certain transactions, including acquisitions, refinancings or other recapitalizations, that would not constitute a Change of Control under the Indenture, but that could increase the amount of indebtedness outstanding at such time or otherwise affect the capital structure or credit ratings of the Company or any of its Affiliates.

The Credit Agreement provides that certain change of control events with respect to the Company would constitute a default under the Credit Agreement. Any future credit agreements or other similar agreements to which the Company becomes a party may contain similar provisions and may directly prohibit the Company from purchasing any Notes. In the event a Change of Control occurs at a time when the Company is prohibited from purchasing Notes, the Company could seek the consent of its lenders, including lenders under the Credit Agreement to the purchase of Notes or could attempt to refinance the borrowings that contain such prohibition. If

 

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the Company does not obtain such a consent or repay such borrowings, the Company will remain prohibited from purchasing Notes. In such case, the Company’s failure to purchase tendered Notes would constitute an Event of Default under the Indenture which would, in turn, constitute a default under the Company’s other Indebtedness.

The definition of “Change of Control” includes a phrase relating to the sale, lease or transfer of “all or substantially all” the assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole. Although there is a developing body of case law interpreting the phrase “substantially all,” under New York law, which governs the Indenture, there is no precise established definition of the phrase under applicable law. Accordingly, the ability of a holder of Notes to require the Company to repurchase such Notes as a result of a sale, lease or transfer of less than all of the assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole to another Person or group may be uncertain.

Certain Covenants

The Indenture contains provisions in respect of certain covenants including, among others, those summarized below:

Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock. The Indenture provides that:

 

  (1) the Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, Incur any Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness) or issue any shares of Disqualified Stock; and

 

  (2) the Company will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to issue any shares of Preferred Stock;

provided , however , that the Company and any Restricted Subsidiary may Incur Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness) or issue shares of Disqualified Stock and any Restricted Subsidiary may issue shares of Preferred Stock, in each case if the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Company’s most recently ended four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date on which such additional Indebtedness is Incurred or such Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock is issued would have been at least 2.0 to 1.0, determined on a pro forma basis (including a pro forma application of the net proceeds therefrom), as if the additional Indebtedness had been Incurred, or the Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock had been issued, as the case may be, and the application of proceeds therefrom had occurred at the beginning of such four-quarter period.

The foregoing limitations will not apply to (collectively, “ Permitted Debt ”):

 

  (a) the Incurrence by the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness under any Credit Agreement and the issuance and creation of letters of credit and bankers’ acceptances thereunder (with letters of credit and bankers’ acceptances being deemed to have a principal amount equal to the face amount thereof) up to an aggregate principal amount of $1,020 million outstanding at any one time;

 

  (b) the Incurrence by the Company and the Guarantors of Indebtedness represented by (i) the Notes (excluding any Additional Notes; provided, however that the Company may Incur Indebtedness represented by Additional Notes pursuant to this clause (b) not to exceed $34 million in aggregate principal amount, including any refinancing thereof pursuant to clause (n) of this paragraph) and (ii) the Guarantees, as applicable (and any exchange notes and guarantees thereof);

 

  (c) Indebtedness of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries existing on the Issue Date (other than Indebtedness described in clauses (a) and (b)), including, without limitation, the Indebtedness outstanding under the Senior Subordinated Bridge Loan Facility;

 

  (d)

(1) Indebtedness (including Capitalized Lease Obligations) Incurred by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, Disqualified Stock issued by the Company or any of its Restricted

 

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Subsidiaries and Preferred Stock issued by any Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company to finance (whether prior to or within 270 days after) the purchase, lease, construction or improvement of property (real or personal) or equipment (whether through the direct purchase of assets or the Capital Stock of any Person owning such assets (but no other material assets)) and (2) Acquired Indebtedness; provided, however , that the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock incurred pursuant to this clause (d), when aggregated with the principal amount of all other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock then outstanding that was Incurred (or deemed Incurred as provided under clause (n) below) pursuant to this clause (d), does not exceed the greater of (x) $95 million and (y) 4.0% of Total Assets of the Company at the time of Incurrence;

 

  (e) Indebtedness Incurred by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries constituting reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit and bank guarantees issued in the ordinary course of business, including without limitation letters of credit in respect of workers’ compensation claims, health, disability or other benefits to employees or former employees or their families or property, casualty or liability insurance or self-insurance, or other Indebtedness with respect to reimbursement type obligations regarding workers’ compensation claims;

 

  (f) Indebtedness arising from agreements of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary providing for indemnification, adjustment of purchase price or similar obligations, in each case, Incurred in connection with the Transactions or the disposition of any business, assets or a Subsidiary of the Company in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, other than guarantees of Indebtedness Incurred by any Person acquiring all or any portion of such business, assets or Subsidiary for the purpose of financing such acquisition;

 

  (g) Indebtedness of the Company to a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that any such Indebtedness is subordinated in right of payment to the obligations of the Company under the Notes; provided , further, that any subsequent issuance or transfer of any Capital Stock or any other event which results in any such Restricted Subsidiary ceasing to be a Restricted Subsidiary or any other subsequent transfer of any such Indebtedness (except to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary) shall be deemed, in each case, to be an Incurrence of such Indebtedness;

 

  (h) shares of Preferred Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary issued to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary; provided that any subsequent issuance or transfer of any Capital Stock or any other event that results in any Restricted Subsidiary that holds such shares of Preferred Stock of another Restricted Subsidiary ceasing to be a Restricted Subsidiary or any other subsequent transfer of any such shares of Preferred Stock (except to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary) shall be deemed, in each case, to be an issuance of shares of Preferred Stock;

 

  (i) Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary; provided that if a Guarantor incurs such Indebtedness, and such Indebtedness is owed to a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor, such Indebtedness is subordinated in right of payment to the Guarantee of such Guarantor; provided , further , that any subsequent issuance or transfer of any Capital Stock or any other event which results in any Restricted Subsidiary holding such Indebtedness ceasing to be a Restricted Subsidiary or any other subsequent transfer of any such Indebtedness (except (x) to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary or (y) a pledge of Indebtedness referred to in this clause (i) shall be deemed to be held by the pledgor and shall not be deemed a transfer until the pledgee commences actions to foreclose on such Indebtedness) shall be deemed, in each case, to be an Incurrence of such Indebtedness;

 

  (j) Hedging Obligations that are Incurred not for speculative purposes and either (1) for the purpose of fixing or hedging interest rate risk with respect to any Indebtedness that is permitted by the terms of the Indenture to be outstanding or (2) for the purpose of fixing or hedging currency exchange rate risk with respect to any currency exchanges;

 

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  (k) obligations (including reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit and bank guarantees) in respect of performance, bid, appeal and surety bonds and completion guarantees provided by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, in each case, reasonably required in the conduct of the business (giving effect to any growth or expansion of such business), including those to secure health, safety, insurance and environmental obligations of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries as conducted in accordance with good and prudent business industry practice;

 

  (l) Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company and Preferred Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company not otherwise permitted hereunder in an aggregate principal amount which, when aggregated with the principal amount or liquidation preference of all other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock then outstanding and Incurred pursuant to this clause (l), does not exceed $100 million at any one time outstanding;

 

  (m) any guarantee by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness or other obligations of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries so long as the Incurrence of such Indebtedness or other Obligations by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary is permitted under the terms of the Indenture; provided that if such Indebtedness is by its express terms subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or the Guarantee of such Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable, any such guarantee of such guarantor with respect to such Indebtedness shall be subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or such Guarantor’s Guarantee, as applicable, substantially to the same extent as such Indebtedness is subordinated to the Notes or the Guarantee of such Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable;

 

  (n) the Incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company which serves to refund, refinance or defease any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock Incurred as permitted under the first paragraph of this covenant and clauses (b), (c), (d), (n), (o), (r) and (s) of this paragraph, including any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock Incurred to pay premiums and fees in connection therewith (subject to the following proviso, “Refinancing Indebtedness”) prior to its respective maturity; provided , however , that such Refinancing Indebtedness:

 

  (1) has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity at the time such Refinancing Indebtedness is Incurred which is not less than the remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock being refunded or refinanced;

 

  (2) has a Stated Maturity which is no earlier than the earlier of (x) the Stated Maturity of the Indebtedness being refunded or refinanced or (y) at least 91 days later than the maturity date of the Notes;

 

  (3) to the extent such Refinancing Indebtedness refinances (a) Indebtedness junior to the Notes or the Guarantee of such Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable, such Refinancing Indebtedness is junior to the Notes or the Guarantee of such Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable, or (b) Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, such Refinancing Indebtedness is Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock;

 

  (4) is Incurred in an aggregate principal amount (or if issued with original issue discount, an aggregate issue price) that is equal to or less than the aggregate principal amount (or if issued with original issue discount, the aggregate accreted value) then outstanding of the Indebtedness being refinanced plus premium and fees Incurred in connection with such refinancing;

 

  (5)

shall not include (x) Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that is not a Subsidiary Guarantor that refinances Indebtedness,

 

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Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary that is a Subsidiary Guarantor, or (y) Indebtedness of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary that refinances Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of an Unrestricted Subsidiary; and

 

  (6) in the case of any Refinancing Indebtedness Incurred to refinance Indebtedness outstanding under clause (d) or (s), shall be deemed to have been Incurred and to be outstanding under such clause (d) or (s), as applicable, and not this clause (n) for purposes of determining amounts outstanding under such clauses (d) and (s),

and provided, further, that subclauses (1) and (2) of this clause (n) will not apply to any refunding, refinancing or defeasance of (A) the Notes or (B) any Secured Indebtedness;

 

  (o) Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of Persons that are acquired by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or merged or amalgamated into the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary in accordance with the terms of the Indenture; provided , however , that such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock is not Incurred in contemplation of such acquisition, merger or amalgamation; provided, further, however, that after giving effect to such acquisition, merger or amalgamation:

 

  (1) the Company would be permitted to Incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in the first paragraph of this covenant; or

 

  (2) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Company would be greater than or equal to such ratio immediately prior to such acquisition;

 

  (p) Indebtedness arising from the honoring by a bank or other financial institution of a check, draft or similar instrument drawn against insufficient funds in the ordinary course of business, provided that such Indebtedness is extinguished within five Business Days of its Incurrence;

 

  (q) Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary supported by a letter of credit or bank guarantee issued pursuant to the Credit Agreement, in a principal amount not in excess of the stated amount of such letter of credit or bank guarantee, provided that if (i) the Indebtedness represented by such letter of credit or bank guarantee is incurred under any of the clauses of this paragraph and (ii) the Indebtedness incurred under this clause (q) is at any time no longer supported by such letter of credit or bank guarantee, then the Indebtedness previously incurred under this clause (q) shall be classified under the preceding paragraph or under another available clause in this paragraph and if such Indebtedness may not be so reclassified, then an Event of Default under the Indenture shall be deemed to have occurred;

 

  (r) Contribution Indebtedness;

 

  (s) if the Company could not Incur $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the first paragraph hereof after giving effect to such borrowing, Indebtedness of Non-Guarantor Restricted Subsidiaries Incurred for working capital purposes and any refinancings of such Indebtedness; provided , however , that the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness Incurred under this clause (s), when aggregated with the principal amount of all other Indebtedness then outstanding and Incurred (or deemed Incurred pursuant to clause (n) above) pursuant to this clause (s), does not exceed $25 million; and

 

  (t)

Indebtedness Incurred by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to fund losses, damages, liabilities, claims, costs and expenses (including attorney’s fees, interest, penalties, judgments and settlements, collectively, “Losses”), by reason of any litigation disclosed in the Offering Circular, including the financial statements included herein, or relating to the same facts and circumstances as disclosed; provided that (as certified in an Officers’ Certificate delivered to the Trustee) (1) the Company has provided to Cendant Corporation (“Cendant”) notice in respect of such Losses and has a reasonable good faith belief it is entitled to be indemnified by Cendant

 

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pursuant to the Stock Purchase Agreement in respect of such Losses and (2) the Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to this clause (t) is in an amount equal to or less than the amount of the Losses for which indemnification is claimed; provided, further, that (1) after 30 days of the Company receiving funds in satisfaction of such indemnity or (2) if Cendant gives written notice to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary that it disputes the Company’s entitlement to indemnity with respect to any Losses and (A) such dispute is not challenged by the Company within 30 days of receipt of such notice or (B) there is a final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction confirming that the Company is not entitled to such indemnity which judgment is not discharged, waived or stayed for a period of 60 days, any amounts Incurred pursuant to this clause (t) in respect of such indemnity that remain outstanding shall no longer be permitted under this clause (t) and shall be deemed to be Incurred on such date.

For purposes of determining compliance with this covenant, in the event that an item of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock meets the criteria of one or more of the categories of permitted Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock described in clauses (a) through (t) above or is entitled to be Incurred pursuant to the first paragraph of this covenant, the Company shall, in its sole discretion, divide, classify or reclassify, or later divide, classify or reclassify, such item of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock in any manner that complies with this covenant and such item of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock will be treated as having been Incurred pursuant to one or more of such clauses or pursuant to the first paragraph hereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Indebtedness under the Credit Agreement outstanding on the Issue Date will be deemed to have been incurred on such date in reliance on the exception provided by clause (a) above and the Company shall not be permitted to reclassify all or any portion of such Indebtedness outstanding on the Issue Date. Accrual of interest, the accretion of accreted value, amortization or original issue discount, the payment of interest in the form of additional Indebtedness with the same terms, the payment of dividends on Preferred Stock in the form of additional shares of Preferred Stock of the same class, the accretion of liquidation preference and increases in the amount of Indebtedness outstanding solely as a result of fluctuations in the exchange rate of currencies will not be deemed to be an Incurrence of Indebtedness for purposes of this covenant. Guarantees of, or obligations in respect of letters of credit relating to, Indebtedness which is otherwise included in the determination of a particular amount of Indebtedness shall not be included in the determination of such amount of Indebtedness; provided that the Incurrence of the Indebtedness represented by such guarantee or letter of credit, as the case may be, was in compliance with this covenant.

For purposes of determining compliance with any U.S. dollar-denominated restriction on the Incurrence of Indebtedness, the U.S. dollar-equivalent principal amount of Indebtedness denominated in a foreign currency shall be calculated based on the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date such Indebtedness was Incurred, in the case of term debt, or first committed or first Incurred (whichever yields the lower U.S. dollar equivalent), in the case of revolving credit debt; provided that if such Indebtedness is Incurred to refinance other Indebtedness denominated in a foreign currency, and such refinancing would cause the applicable U.S. dollar-denominated restriction to be exceeded if calculated at the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date of such refinancing, such U.S. dollar-denominated restriction shall be deemed not to have been exceeded so long as the principal amount of such refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount of such Indebtedness being refinanced.

The Indenture provides that (a) the Company will not Incur any Indebtedness that is subordinate in right of payment to any other Indebtedness of the Company unless it is subordinate in right of payment to the Notes to the same extent and (b) the Company will not permit any Guarantor to Incur any Indebtedness that is subordinate in right of payment to any other Indebtedness of such Guarantor unless it is subordinate in right of payment to such Guarantor’s Guarantee to the same extent. For purposes of the foregoing, no Indebtedness will be deemed to be subordinated in right of payment to any other Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor, as applicable, solely by reason of any Liens or Guarantees arising or created in respect thereof or by virtue of the fact that the holders of any secured Indebtedness have entered into intercreditor agreements giving one or more of such holders priority over the holders in the collateral held by them.

 

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Limitation on Restricted Payments. The Indenture provides that the Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly:

 

  (1) declare or pay any dividend or make any distribution on account of the Company’s or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries’ Equity Interests, including any payment with respect to such Equity Interests made in connection with any merger, amalgamation or consolidation involving the Company (other than (A) dividends or distributions by the Company payable solely in Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company; or (B) dividends or distributions by a Restricted Subsidiary on its common Equity Interests so long as, in the case of any dividend or distribution payable on or in respect of any class or series of securities issued by a Restricted Subsidiary other than a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary, the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary receives at least its pro rata share of such dividend or distribution in accordance with its Equity Interests in such class or series of securities);

 

  (2) purchase or otherwise acquire or retire for value any Equity Interests of the Company or any Parent of the Company, including in connection with any merger, amalgamation or consolidation;

 

  (3) make any principal payment on, or redeem, repurchase, defease or otherwise acquire or retire for value, in each case prior to any scheduled repayment or scheduled maturity, any Subordinated Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than the payment, redemption, repurchase, defeasance, acquisition or retirement of (A) Subordinated Indebtedness in anticipation of satisfying a sinking fund obligation, principal installment or final maturity, in each case due within one year of the date of such payment, redemption, repurchase, defeasance, acquisition or retirement and (B) Indebtedness permitted under clauses (g) and (i) of the second paragraph of the covenant described under “—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock”); or

 

  (4) make any Restricted Investment

(all such payments and other actions set forth in clauses (1) through (4) above being collectively referred to as “Restricted Payments” ), unless, at the time of such Restricted Payment:

 

  (a) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would occur as a consequence thereof;

 

  (b) immediately after giving effect to such transaction on a pro forma basis as if the Restricted Payment had been made and any Indebtedness Incurred on such date had been Incurred, (i) the Company would be permitted to Incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test in the first paragraph of the covenant described under “—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock” and (ii) the Consolidated Leverage Ratio of the Company would have been less than 5.0 to 1; and

 

  (c) such Restricted Payment, together with the aggregate amount of all other Restricted Payments made by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries after the Issue Date (including Restricted Payments permitted by clauses (1), (4) (only to the extent of one-half of the amount paid pursuant to such clause), (6) and (8) of the next succeeding paragraph, but excluding all other Restricted Payments permitted by the next succeeding paragraph), is less than the sum, without duplication, of:

 

  (A)

50% of the Consolidated Net Income of the Company for the period (taken as one accounting period) from July 1, 2005 to the end of the Company’s most recently ended fiscal quarter for which internal financial statements are available at the time of such Restricted Payment (or, if such Consolidated Net Income for such period is a deficit, less 100% of such deficit); provided however that, to the extent the Consolidated Leverage Ratio of the Company on a pro forma basis as if the Restricted Payment had been made and any Indebtedness Incurred on such date had been Incurred would have been less than 3.0 to 1, then 75% of the

 

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Consolidated Net Income of the Company for the aforementioned period shall be included pursuant to this clause (c)(A), plus

 

  (B) 100% of the aggregate net proceeds, including cash and the Fair Market Value (as determined in accordance with the next succeeding sentence) of property other than cash, received by the Company after the Issue Date from the issue or sale of Equity Interests of the Company or any Parent of the Company (excluding (without duplication) Excluded Contributions, Refunding Capital Stock, Designated Preferred Stock, Disqualified Stock and the Cash Contribution Amount) including Equity Interests (other than Refunding Capital Stock, Disqualified Stock or Designated Preferred Stock) issued upon conversion of Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock or upon exercise of warrants or options (other than an issuance or sale to a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company or an employee stock ownership plan or trust established by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries), plus

 

  (C) 100% of the aggregate amount of contributions to the capital of the Company received in cash and the Fair Market Value (as determined in accordance with the next succeeding sentence) of property other than cash after the Issue Date (other than Excluded Contributions, Refunding Capital Stock, Designated Preferred Stock, Disqualified Stock, the Cash Contribution Amount and contributions by a Restricted Subsidiary), plus

 

  (D) 100% of the aggregate amount received by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in cash and the Fair Market Value (as determined in accordance with the next succeeding sentence) of property other than cash received by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary from:

 

  i. the sale or other disposition (other than to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company) of Restricted Investments made by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries and from repurchases and redemptions of such Restricted Investments from the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries by any Person (other than the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries) and from repayments of loans or advances which constituted Restricted Investments (other than in each case to the extent that the Restricted Investment was made pursuant to clause (7) or (10) of the second paragraph of the covenant described under “—Limitation on Restricted Payments”),

 

  ii. the sale (other than to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company) of the Capital Stock of an Unrestricted Subsidiary (other than an Unrestricted Subsidiary to the extent the investments in such Unrestricted Subsidiary was made by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to clause (7) or (10) of the second paragraph of “—Limitation on Restricted Payments” or to the extent such Investment constituted a Permitted Investment), or

 

  iii. a distribution, dividend or other payment from an Unrestricted Subsidiary (other than amounts received from the Netcentives Subsidiary to the extent such amounts are dividended or distributed to any Parent pursuant to clause (18) of the second paragraph of “—Limitation on Restricted Payments”), plus

 

  (E) in the event any Unrestricted Subsidiary of the Company has been redesignated as a Restricted Subsidiary or has been merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into, or transfers or conveys its assets to, or is liquidated into, the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, the Fair Market Value (as determined in accordance with the next succeeding sentence) of the Investments of the Company in such Unrestricted Subsidiary at the time of such redesignation, combination or transfer (or of the assets transferred or conveyed, as applicable) (other than in each case to the extent that the designation of such Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary was made pursuant to clause (7) or (10) of the second paragraph of the covenant described under “—Limitation on Restricted Payments” or constituted a Permitted Investment).

 

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The Fair Market Value of property other than cash covered by clauses (B), (C), (D) and (E) above shall be determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company and

 

  (1) in the event of property with a Fair Market Value in excess of $10.0 million, shall be set forth in an Officers’ Certificate or

 

  (2) in the event of property with a Fair Market Value in excess of $25.0 million, shall be set forth in a resolution approved by at least a majority of the Board of Directors of the Company.

The foregoing provisions will not prohibit:

 

  (1) the payment of any dividend or distribution within 60 days after the date of declaration thereof, if at the date of declaration such payment would have complied with the provisions of the Indenture;

 

  (2)    (a)    the repurchase, retirement or other acquisition of any Equity Interests (“ Retired Capital Stock ”) of the Company or any Parent of the Company or Subordinated Indebtedness of the Company, any Parent of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor in exchange for, or out of the proceeds of, the substantially concurrent sale (other than the Cash Contribution Amount, Excluded Contributions or the sale of any Disqualified Stock or Designated Preferred Stock or any Equity Interests sold to a Subsidiary of the Company or to an employee stock ownership plan or any trust established by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries) of Equity Interests of the Company or any Parent of the Company or contributions to the equity capital of the Company (collectively, including any such contributions, “ Refunding Capital Stock ”) and

 

  (b) the declaration and payment of accrued dividends on the Retired Capital Stock out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale (other than to a Subsidiary of the Company or to an employee stock ownership plan or any trust established by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries) of Refunding Capital Stock;

 

  (3) the redemption, repurchase or other acquisition or retirement of Subordinated Indebtedness of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor made by exchange for, or out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale (or as promptly as practicable after giving any requisite notice to the holders of such Subordinated Indebtedness) of, new Indebtedness of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor which is Incurred in accordance with the covenant described under “—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock” so long as

 

  (a) the principal amount of such new Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount of the Subordinated Indebtedness being so redeemed, repurchased, acquired or retired for value (plus the amount of any premium required to be paid under the terms of the instrument governing the Subordinated Indebtedness being so redeemed, repurchased, acquired or retired plus any fees incurred in connection therewith),

 

  (b) such Indebtedness is Incurred by the Company or by a Subsidiary Guarantor in respect of refinanced Indebtedness of a Subsidiary Guarantor and, in each case, is subordinated to the Notes, or the related Guarantee, as the case may be, at least to the same extent as such Subordinated Indebtedness so purchased, exchanged, redeemed, repurchased, acquired or retired for value,

 

  (c) such Indebtedness has a final scheduled maturity date equal to or later than the earlier of (x) final scheduled maturity date of the Subordinated Indebtedness being so redeemed, repurchased, acquired or retired or (y) at least 91 days later than the maturity date of the Notes, and

 

  (d) such Indebtedness has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity at the time Incurred which is not less than the remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Subordinated Indebtedness being so redeemed, repurchased, acquired or retired;

 

  (4)

the repurchase, retirement or other acquisition for value (or dividends to any Parent of the Company to finance any such repurchase, retirement or other acquisition for value) of Equity Interests of the Company or any Parent of the Company held by any future, present or former employee, director or

 

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consultant of the Company, any Parent of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company pursuant to any management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or other agreement or arrangement; provided , however , that the aggregate amounts paid under this clause (4) do not exceed $12.5 million in any calendar year (with unused amounts in any calendar year being permitted to be carried over to the following two calendar years subject to a maximum payment (without giving effect to the following proviso) of $25 million in any calendar year); provided , further , however , that such amount in any calendar year may be increased by an amount not to exceed:

 

  (a) the cash proceeds received by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries from the sale of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock or Designated Preferred Stock) of the Company after the Issue Date to members of management, directors or consultants of the Company, any Parent of the Company and Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company (provided that the amount of such cash proceeds utilized for any such repurchase, retirement, other acquisition or dividend will not increase the amount available for Restricted Payments under clause (c) of the immediately preceding paragraph); plus

 

  (b) the cash proceeds of key man life insurance policies received by the Company, any Parent of the Company (to the extent contributed to the Company) or the Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company after the Issue Date; less

 

  (c) the amount of any Restricted Payments previously made pursuant to subclauses (a) and (b) of this second proviso of clause (4);

 

  (5) the declaration and payment of dividends or distributions to holders of any class or series of Disqualified Stock of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries issued or incurred in accordance with the covenant described under “—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock;”

 

  (6) the declaration and payment of dividends or distributions (a) to holders of any class or series of Designated Preferred Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) issued after the Issue Date and (b) to any Parent of the Company, the proceeds of which will be used to fund the payment of dividends to holders of any class or series of Designated Preferred Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of any Parent of the Company issued after the Issue Date; provided , however , that (A) in the case of subclause (a) and (b) of this clause (6), for the most recently ended four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date of issuance of such Designated Preferred Stock, after giving effect to such issuance (and the payment of dividends or distributions) on a pro forma basis, the Company would be permitted to Incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test in the first paragraph of the covenant described under “—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock” and (B) the aggregate amount of dividends declared and paid pursuant to subclause (a) and (b) of this clause (6) does not exceed the net cash proceeds actually received by the Company from any such sale of Designated Preferred Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) issued after the Issue Date;

 

  (7) Investments in Unrestricted Subsidiaries having an aggregate Fair Market Value, taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (7) that are at that time outstanding, not to exceed $35 million at the time of such Investment (with the Fair Market Value of each Investment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value); provided that the dollar amount of Investments made pursuant to this clause (7) shall not be reduced by the sale, disposition or other transfer of such Investments unless the proceeds of such sale, disposition or other transfer are received by the Company and/or its Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

  (8)

the payment of dividends on the Company’s common Capital Stock (or the payment of dividends to any Parent of the Company to fund the payment by such Parent of the Company of dividends on such entity’s common Capital Stock) of up to 7.5% per annum of the net cash proceeds received by or contributed to the Company from any public offering of common Capital Stock, other than public offerings with respect to common Capital Stock of the Company or any Parent of the Company

 

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registered on Form S-4 or Form S-8 and other than any public sale constituting an Excluded Contribution;

 

  (9) Investments that are made with Excluded Contributions;

 

  (10) other Restricted Payments in an aggregate amount not to exceed $40 million;

 

  (11) the distribution, as a dividend or otherwise, of shares of Capital Stock of, or Indebtedness owed to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company by, Unrestricted Subsidiaries (other than to the extent such Investments were made pursuant to clauses (7) or (10) above or pursuant to clauses (9) or (10) of the definition of Permitted Investments);

 

  (12) (a) with respect to each tax year or portion thereof that any direct or indirect parent of the Company qualifies as a Flow Through Entity, the distribution by the Company to the holders of Capital Stock of such direct or indirect parent of the Company of an amount equal to the product of the amount of aggregate net taxable income of the Company allocated by the Company to the holders of Capital Stock of the Company for such period and the Presumed Tax Rate for such period; and (b) with respect to any tax year or portion thereof that any direct or indirect parent of the Company does not qualify as a Flow Through Entity, payment of dividends or other distributions to any direct or indirect parent of the Company that files a consolidated U.S. federal tax return that includes the Company and its subsidiaries in an amount not to exceed the amount that the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries would have been required to pay in respect of federal, state or local taxes, as the case may be, in respect of such year if the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries had paid such taxes directly as a stand-alone taxpayer or stand-alone group;

 

  (13) the declaration and payment of dividends to, or the making of loans to, any Parent of the Company (a) in amounts required for such entity to pay general corporate overhead expenses (including salaries, bonuses, benefits paid to management and employees of any Parent and professional and administrative expenses) for any direct or indirect parent entity of the Company to the extent such expenses are attributable to the ownership or operation of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries and (b) in amounts required for any Parent of the Company to pay interest and/or principal on Indebtedness that satisfies each of the following: (i) the proceeds of which were contributed to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, (ii) that has been guaranteed by, or is otherwise considered Indebtedness of, the Company Incurred in accordance with the covenant described under “—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock” and (iii) that was incurred (A) to refund, refinance or defease Indebtedness of such Parent of the Company or the Company and (B) pursuant to the first paragraph or clause (n) of the second paragraph of the covenant described under “—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock;”

 

  (14) any Restricted Payment used to fund the Transactions and the fees and expenses related thereto or made in connection with the consummation of the Transactions as described in the Offering Circular (including payments made pursuant to or as contemplated by the Transaction Documents, whether payable on the Issue Date or thereafter), or owed by any Parent of the Company, the Company or Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company to Affiliates, in each case to the extent permitted by the covenant described under “—Transactions with Affiliates;”

 

  (15) repurchases of Equity Interests deemed to occur upon exercise of stock options or warrants if such Equity Interests represent a portion of the exercise price of such options or warrants;

 

  (16) payments of cash, or dividends, distributions or advances by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary to allow any such entity to make payments of cash, in lieu of the issuance of fractional shares upon the exercise of warrants or upon the conversion or exchange of Capital Stock of any such Person; provided , however , that the aggregate amount of such payments, dividends, distributions or advances does not exceed $4 million;

 

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  (17) (a) the payment, purchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement of Subordinated Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries and (b) the payment of dividends, distributions and advances to any Parent of the Company to allow such Parent to purchase, repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire or retire for value shares of Seller Preferred Stock, in each case pursuant to provisions similar to those described under “—Change of Control” and “—Certain Covenants—Asset Sales;” provided that, prior to such payment, purchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement, the Company (or a third party to the extent permitted by the Indenture) has made a Change of Control Offer or Asset Sale Offer, as the case may be, with respect to the Notes as a result of such Change of Control or Asset Sale, as the case may be, and has repurchased all Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn in connection with such Change of Control Offer or Asset Sale Offer, as the case may be;

 

  (18) the declaration and payment of dividends or distributions by the Company to any Parent from amounts received from a concurrent dividend or distribution or other payment from the Netcentives Subsidiary for so long as the Netcentives Subsidiary remains an Unrestricted Subsidiary; and

 

  (19) the repayment of Indebtedness of the Company outstanding under the Senior Subordinated Bridge Loan Facility out of the proceeds from the sale by the Company of Additional Notes pursuant to clause (b) of the second paragraph of the covenant described under “—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock” in an amount not to exceed $33.6 million;

provided, however, that at the time of, and after giving effect to, any Restricted Payment permitted under clauses (4), (5), (6), (7), (8), (10), (11), (17), (18) and (19), no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would occur as a consequence thereof.

The amount of all Restricted Payments (other than cash) will be the Fair Market Value on the date of the Restricted Payment of the asset(s) or securities proposed to be transferred or issued by the Company or such Subsidiary, as the case may be, pursuant to the Restricted Payment. Except as otherwise provided herein, the Fair Market Value of any assets or securities that are required to be valued by this covenant will be determined in good faith by senior management or the Board of Directors of the Company.

As of the Issue Date, all of the Company’s Subsidiaries (except for the Netcentives Subsidiary and Affinion Loyalty, LLC) will be Restricted Subsidiaries. The Company will not permit any Unrestricted Subsidiary to become a Restricted Subsidiary except pursuant to the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary.” For purposes of designating any Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, all outstanding Investments by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries (except to the extent repaid) in the Subsidiary so designated will be deemed to be Restricted Payments or Permitted Investments in an amount determined as set forth in the last sentence of the definition of “Investments.” Such designation will only be permitted if Restricted Payments or Permitted Investments in such amount would be permitted at such time and if such Subsidiary otherwise meets the definition of an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Subsidiaries. The Indenture provides that the Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create or otherwise cause or suffer to exist or become effective any consensual encumbrance or consensual restriction on the ability of any Restricted Subsidiary to:

 

  (a) (i) pay dividends or make any other distributions to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (1) on its Capital Stock or (2) with respect to any other interest or participation in, or measured by, its profits; or (ii) pay any Indebtedness owed to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

  (b) make loans or advances to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; or

 

  (c) sell, lease or transfer any of its properties or assets to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

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except in each case for such encumbrances or restrictions existing under or by reason of:

 

  (1) contractual encumbrances or restrictions in effect on the Issue Date, including pursuant to the Credit Agreement, other Senior Credit Documents and the Senior Subordinated Bridge Loan Facility,

 

  (2) the Indenture and the Notes (and any exchange notes and guarantees thereof);

 

  (3) applicable law or any applicable rule, regulation or order;

 

  (4) any agreement or other instrument of a Person acquired by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary which was in existence at the time of such acquisition (but not created in contemplation thereof), which encumbrance or restriction is not applicable to any Person, or the properties or assets of any Person, other than the Person, or the property or assets of the Person, so acquired;

 

  (5) contracts or agreements for the sale of assets, including customary restrictions with respect to a Subsidiary pursuant to an agreement that has been entered into for the sale or disposition of all or substantially all of the Capital Stock or assets of such Subsidiary;

 

  (6) Secured Indebtedness otherwise permitted to be Incurred pursuant to the covenants described under “—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock” and “—Liens” that limit the right of the debtor to dispose of the assets securing such Indebtedness;

 

  (7) restrictions on cash or other deposits or net worth imposed by customers, suppliers or other vendors under contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business;

 

  (8) customary provisions in joint venture agreements and other similar agreements (including customary provisions in agreements relating to any Joint Venture);

 

  (9) purchase money obligations for property acquired and Capitalized Lease Obligations in the ordinary course of business that impose restrictions of the nature discussed in clause (c) above on the property so acquired;

 

  (10) customary provisions contained in leases, licenses, contracts and other similar agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business that impose restrictions of the type described in clause (c) above on the property subject to such lease;

 

  (11) other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that is Incurred subsequent to the Issue Date and permitted pursuant to the covenant described under “—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock;” provided that such encumbrances and restrictions contained in any agreement or instrument will not materially affect the Company’s ability to make anticipated principal or interest payments on the Notes (as determined in good faith by senior management or the Board of Directors of the Company); and

 

  (12) any encumbrances or restrictions of the type referred to in clauses (a), (b) and (c) above imposed by any amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings of the contracts, instruments or obligations referred to in clauses (1) through (11) above; provided that such amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings are, in the good faith judgment of senior management or the Board of Directors of the Company, no more restrictive as a whole with respect to such encumbrances and restrictions than those prior to such amendment, modification, restatement, renewal, increase, supplement, refunding, replacement or refinancing.

For purposes of determining compliance with this covenant, (i) the priority of any Preferred Stock in receiving dividends or liquidating distributions prior to dividends or liquidating distributions being paid on common Capital Stock shall not be deemed a restriction on the ability to make distributions on Capital Stock and (ii) the subordination of loans or advances made to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to other Indebtedness Incurred by the Company or any such Restricted Subsidiary shall not be deemed a restriction on the ability to make loans or advances.

 

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Asset Sales. The Indenture provides that the Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, cause or make an Asset Sale, unless (x) the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, as the case may be, receives consideration at the time of such Asset Sale at least equal to the Fair Market Value (as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company) of the assets sold or otherwise disposed of and (y) at least 75% of the consideration therefor received by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, is in the form of Cash Equivalents; provided that the amount of:

 

  (a) any liabilities (as shown on the Company’s or such Restricted Subsidiary’s most recent balance sheet) of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company (other than liabilities that are by their terms subordinated to the Notes) that are assumed by the transferee of any such assets,

 

  (b) any notes or other obligations or other securities or assets received by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary of the Company from such transferee that are converted by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary of the Company into cash within 180 days of the receipt thereof (to the extent of the cash received), and

 

  (c) any Designated Non-cash Consideration received by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in such Asset Sale having an aggregate Fair Market Value (as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company), taken together with all other Designated Non-cash Consideration received pursuant to this clause (c) that is at that time outstanding, not to exceed the greater of $50 million or 2.5% of Total Assets of the Company at the time of the receipt of such Designated Non-cash Consideration (with the Fair Market Value of each item of Designated Non-cash Consideration being measured at the time received and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value)

shall be deemed to be Cash Equivalents for the purposes of this provision.

The Indenture provides that, within 365 days after the receipt by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company of the Net Proceeds of any Asset Sale, the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary of the Company may apply the Net Proceeds from such Asset Sale, at its option:

 

  (1) to repay Secured Indebtedness, including Indebtedness under the Credit Agreement and, if the Indebtedness repaid is revolving credit Indebtedness, to correspondingly reduce commitments with respect thereto or Pari Passu Indebtedness ( provided that if the Company or any Guarantor shall so reduce Obligations under Pari Passu Indebtedness (other than Pari Passu Indebtedness that is Secured Indebtedness), the Company will equally and ratably reduce Obligations under the Notes if the Notes are then prepayable or, if the Notes may not then be prepaid, by making an offer (in accordance with the procedures set forth below for an Asset Sale Offer) to all holders to purchase at a purchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, the pro rata principal amount of Notes that would otherwise be prepaid) or Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor, in each case other than Indebtedness owed to the Company or an Affiliate of the Company; or

 

  (2) to make an investment in any one or more businesses ( provided that if such investment is in the form of the acquisition of Capital Stock of a Person, such acquisition results in such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company), or capital expenditures or assets, in each case used or useful in a Similar Business, and/or

 

  (3) to make an investment in any one or more businesses ( provided that if such investment is in the form of the acquisition of Capital Stock of a Person, such acquisition results in such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company), properties or assets that replace the properties and assets that are the subject of such Asset Sale or Event of Loss;

provided that in the case of clauses (2) and (3) above, a binding commitment shall be treated as a permitted application of the Net Proceeds from the date of such commitment so long as to purchase (x) such purchase is consummated within 545 days after the receipt by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Net Proceeds

 

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of any Asset Sale and (y) if such purchase is not consummated within the period set forth in subclause (x), the Net Proceeds not so applied will be deemed to be Excess Proceeds (as defined below).

Pending the final application of any such Net Proceeds, the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary of the Company may temporarily reduce Indebtedness under a revolving credit facility, if any, or otherwise invest such Net Proceeds in Cash Equivalents or Investment Grade Securities. The Indenture provides that any Net Proceeds from any Asset Sale that are not applied as provided and within the time period set forth in the second paragraph of this covenant (it being understood that any portion of such Net Proceeds used to make an offer to purchase the Notes, as described in clause (1) above, shall be deemed to have been invested whether or not such offer is accepted) will be deemed to constitute “ Excess Proceeds .” When the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds exceeds $25 million, the Company shall make an offer to all holders of Notes (and, at the option of the Company, to holders of any Pari Passu Indebtedness) (an “ Asset Sale Offer ”) to purchase the maximum principal amount of Notes (and such Pari Passu Indebtedness) that is an integral multiple of $1,000 that may be purchased out of the Excess Proceeds at an offer price in cash in an amount equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof (or, in the event such Pari Passu Indebtedness was issued with significant original issue discount, 100% of the accreted value thereof), plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any (or, in respect of such Pari Passu Indebtedness, such lesser price, if any, as may be provided for by the terms of such Pari Passu Indebtedness), to the date fixed for the closing of such offer, in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Indenture. The Company will commence an Asset Sale Offer with respect to Excess Proceeds within ten Business Days after the date that Excess Proceeds exceed $25 million by mailing the notice required pursuant to the terms of the Indenture, with a copy to the Trustee. To the extent that the aggregate amount of Notes (and such Pari Passu Indebtedness) tendered pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer is less than the Excess Proceeds, the Company may use any remaining Excess Proceeds for any purpose that is not prohibited by the Indenture. If the aggregate principal amount of Notes surrendered by holders thereof exceeds the amount of Excess Proceeds, the Trustee shall select the Notes (and such Pari Passu Indebtedness) to be purchased in the manner described below. Upon completion of any such Asset Sale Offer, the amount of Excess Proceeds shall be reset at zero.

The Company will comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations to the extent such laws or regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of the Notes pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the provisions of the Indenture, the Company will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and shall not be deemed to have breached its obligations described in the Indenture by virtue thereof.

If more Notes (and such Pari Passu Indebtedness) are tendered pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer than the Company is required to purchase, the principal amount of the Notes (and Pari Passu Indebtedness) to be purchased will be determined pro rata based on the principal amounts so tendered and the selection of the actual Notes of each series for purchase will be made by the Trustee on a pro rata basis to the extent practicable; provided , however , that no Notes of $1,000 or less shall be purchased in part.

Notice of an Asset Sale Offer shall be mailed by first-class mail, postage prepaid, at least 30 but not more than 60 days before the purchase date to each holder of Notes at such holder’s registered address. If any Note is to be purchased in part only, any notice of purchase that relates to such Note shall state the portion of the principal amount thereof that has been or is to be purchased.

A new Note in principal amount equal to the unpurchased portion of any Note purchased in part will be issued in the name of the holder thereof upon cancellation of the original Note. On and after the purchase date, unless the Company defaults in payment of the purchase price, interest shall cease to accrue on Notes or portions thereof purchased.

The Credit Agreement provides that certain asset sale events with respect to the Company would constitute a default under the Credit Agreement. Any future credit agreements or other similar agreements to which the

 

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Company becomes a party may contain similar restrictions and provisions. In the event an Asset Sale occurs at a time when the Company is prohibited from purchasing Notes, the Company could seek the consent of its lenders, including the lenders under the Credit Agreement to the purchase of Notes or could attempt to refinance the borrowings that contain such prohibition. If the Company does not obtain such a consent or repay such borrowings, the Company will remain prohibited from purchasing Notes. In such case, the Company’s failure to purchase tendered Notes would constitute an Event of Default under the Indenture that would, in turn, constitute a default under the Company’s other Indebtedness.

Transactions with Affiliates. The Indenture provides that the Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, make any payment to, or sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of its properties or assets to, or purchase any property or assets from, or enter into or make or amend any transaction or series of transactions, contract, agreement, understanding, loan, advance or guarantee with or for the benefit of, any Affiliate of the Company (each of the foregoing, an “ Affiliate Transaction ”) involving aggregate consideration in excess of $5 million, unless:

 

  (1) such Affiliate Transaction is on terms that are not less favorable to the Company or the relevant Restricted Subsidiary than those that could have been obtained in a comparable transaction by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary with an unrelated Person; and

 

  (2) with respect to any Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions involving aggregate consideration in excess of $20 million, the Company delivers to the Trustee a resolution adopted in good faith by the majority of the Board of Directors of the Company approving such Affiliate Transaction and set forth in an Officers’ Certificate certifying that such Affiliate Transaction complies with clause (a) above.

The foregoing provisions will not apply to the following:

 

  (1) transactions between or among the Company and/or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

  (2) Restricted Payments permitted by the provisions of the Indenture described above under the covenant “—Limitation on Restricted Payments” and Investments under the definition of “Permitted Investments;”

 

  (3) the entering into of any agreement (and any amendments or modifications to such agreements) to pay, and the payment of, (i) management, consulting, monitoring and advisory fees and expenses to the Sponsor in an aggregate amount in any fiscal year not to exceed the greater of (x) $5 million and (y) 2% of Consolidated Cash Flow, and expense reimbursement, in each case made pursuant to any agreement, or any agreement contemplated by such agreement, each as described under the caption “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions” in the Offering Circular and (ii) the termination fees pursuant to the Sponsor Consulting Agreement not to exceed the amount set forth in the Sponsor Consulting Agreement as in effect on the Issue Date;

 

  (4) the payment of reasonable and customary fees to, and indemnity provided on behalf of officers, directors, employees or consultants of the Company, any Parent of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company;

 

  (5) payments by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to the Sponsor made for any financial advisory, financing, underwriting or placement services or in respect of other investment banking activities, including, without limitation, in connection with acquisitions or divestitures, which payments are (x) approved by a majority of the Board of Directors of the Company in good faith or (y) made pursuant to any agreement, or any agreement contemplated by such agreement, each as described under the caption “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions” in the Offering Circular;

 

  (6) transactions in which the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, as the case may be, delivers to the Trustee a letter from an Independent Financial Advisor stating that such transaction is fair to the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary from a financial point of view or meets the requirements of clause (a) of the preceding paragraph;

 

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  (7) payments or loans (or cancellation of loans) to employees or consultants that are (x) approved by a majority of the Board of Directors of the Company in good faith, (y) made in compliance with applicable law and (z) otherwise permitted under the Indenture;

 

  (8) any agreement as in effect as of the Issue Date and any amendment thereto (so long as any such agreement together with all amendments thereto, taken as a whole, is not more disadvantageous to the holders of the Notes in any material respect than the original agreement as in effect on the Issue Date) or any transaction contemplated thereby as determined in good faith by senior management or the Board of Directors of the Company;

 

  (9) the existence of, or the performance by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of its obligations under the terms of, the Transaction Documents and any amendment thereto or similar agreements which it may enter into thereafter; provided, however, that the existence of, or the performance by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of its obligations under, any future amendment to any such existing agreement or under any similar agreement entered into after the Issue Date shall only be permitted by this clause (9) to the extent that the terms of any such existing agreement together with all amendments thereto, taken as a whole, or new agreement are not otherwise more disadvantageous to the holders of the Notes in any material respect than the original agreement as in effect on the Issue Date;

 

  (10) transactions to effect the Transactions and the payment of all fees and expenses related to the Transactions, as described in the Offering Circular or contemplated by the Transaction Documents;

 

  (11) transactions with customers, clients, suppliers, or purchasers or sellers of goods or services, in each case in the ordinary course of business and otherwise in compliance with the terms of the Indenture that are fair to the Company or the Restricted Subsidiaries, in the reasonable determination of the members of the Board of Directors or the senior management of the Company, or are on terms at least as favorable as would reasonably have been entered into at such time with an unaffiliated party;

 

  (12) if otherwise permitted under the Indenture, the issuance of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company to any Permitted Holder or to any director, officer, employee or consultant of the Company or any Parent of the Company;

 

  (13) the issuances of securities or other payments, awards or grants in cash, securities or otherwise pursuant to, or the funding of, employment arrangements, stock option and stock ownership plans or similar employee benefit plans approved by the Board of Directors of the Company or of a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, as appropriate, in good faith;

 

  (14) the entering into of any tax sharing agreement or arrangement and any payment permitted by clause (12) of the second paragraph of the covenant described under “—Limitations on Restricted Payments;”

 

  (15) any contribution to the capital of the Company;

 

  (16) transactions between the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and any Person, a director of which is also a director of the Company or any direct or indirect parent company of the Company, provided, however , that such director abstains from voting as a director of the Company or such direct or indirect parent company, as the case may be, on any matter involving such other Person;

 

  (17) pledges of Equity Interests of Unrestricted Subsidiaries; and

 

  (18) any employment agreements entered into by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business.

Liens . The Indenture provides that the Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, create, incur, assume or otherwise cause or suffer to exist or become effective any Lien of any kind (other than Permitted Liens) upon any of their property or assets, now owned or hereafter acquired, unless all payments due under the Indenture and the Notes are secured on an equal and ratable basis with the obligations so secured (or, in the case of Indebtedness subordinated to the Notes or the related Guarantees, prior or senior

 

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thereto, with the same relative priority as the Notes will have with respect to such subordinated Indebtedness) until such time as such obligations are no longer secured by a Lien.

Reports and Other Information . The Indenture provides that notwithstanding that the Company may not be subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act or otherwise report on an annual and quarterly basis on forms provided for such annual and quarterly reporting pursuant to rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC, the Company will file with the SEC (unless the SEC will not accept such a filing), and provide the Trustee and holders with copies thereof, without cost to each holder, within 15 days after it files (or attempts to file) them with the SEC,

 

  (1) within the time periods specified by the Exchange Act, an annual report on Form 10-K (or any successor or comparable form) containing the information required to be contained therein (or required in such successor or comparable form);

 

  (2) within the time periods specified by the Exchange Act, a quarterly report on Form 10-Q (or any successor or comparable form), it being expressly understood that the first of such quarterly reports furnished to the holders of the Notes was a report for the quarter ended September 30, 2005, which was required to be furnished on or prior to the 75th day following September 30, 2005; and

 

  (3) all current reports that would be required to be filed with the SEC on Form 8-K.

In addition, the Company will make such information available to prospective investors upon request. In addition, the Company has agreed that, for so long as any Notes remain outstanding during any period when it is not subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, it will furnish to the holders of the Notes and to prospective investors, upon their request, the information required to be delivered pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company will be deemed to have furnished such reports referred to above to the Trustee and the holders if it has filed such reports with the SEC via the EDGAR filing system and such reports are publicly available. In addition, such requirements shall be deemed satisfied prior to the commencement of the exchange offer contemplated by the registration rights agreements relating to the Notes or the effectiveness of the shelf registration statement by the filing with the SEC of the exchange offer registration statement and/or shelf registration statement in accordance with the provisions of such registration rights agreements, and any amendments thereto, with such financial information that satisfies Regulation S-X of the Securities Act and such registration statement and/or amendments thereto are filed at times that otherwise satisfy the time requirements set forth in the first paragraph of this covenant.

In addition, if at any time any Parent of the Company becomes a Guarantor (there being no obligation of any Parent to do so), holds no material assets other than cash, Cash Equivalents and the Capital Stock of the Company or of any direct or indirect parent corporation of the Company (and performs the related incidental activities associated with such ownership) and complies with the requirements of Rule 3-10 of Regulation S-X promulgated by the SEC (or any successor provision), the reports, information and other documents required to be filed and furnished to holders of the Notes pursuant to this covenant may, at the option of the Company, be filed by and be those of such Parent rather than the Company.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not be required to furnish any information, certifications or reports required by Items 307 and 308 of Regulation S-K prior to the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or Shelf Registration Statement, as applicable.

Future Guarantors . The Indenture provides that the Company will cause each Restricted Subsidiary that Guarantees any Indebtedness of the Company or any of the Guarantors (excluding a Guarantee of Indebtedness of a Non-Guarantor Restricted Subsidiary issued by a Non-Guarantor Restricted Subsidiary) to execute and deliver to the Trustee a Guarantee pursuant to which such Restricted Subsidiary will unconditionally Guarantee, on a joint and several basis, the full and prompt payment of the principal of, premium, if any and interest on the

 

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Notes on a senior or pari passu basis and all other obligations under the Indenture. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event any Guarantor is released and discharged in full from all of its obligations under Guarantees of (1) each Credit Agreement and (2) all other Indebtedness of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, then the Guarantee of such Guarantor shall be automatically and unconditionally released or discharged; provided that such Restricted Subsidiary has not incurred any Indebtedness or issued any Preferred Stock in reliance on its status as a Guarantor under “—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock” unless such Guarantor’s obligations under such Indebtedness or Preferred Stock, as the case may be, so incurred are satisfied in full and discharged or are otherwise permitted under one of the exceptions available at the time of such release to Restricted Subsidiaries under the second paragraph of “—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock.”

Each Guarantee will be limited to an amount not to exceed the maximum amount that can be guaranteed by that Restricted Subsidiary without rendering the Guarantee, as it relates to such Restricted Subsidiary, voidable under applicable law relating to fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer or similar laws affecting the rights of creditors generally.

Each Guarantee shall be released in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture described under “—Guarantees.”

Payments for Consent . The Indenture provides that the Company will not, and will not permit any of the Subsidiaries of the Company to, directly or indirectly, pay or cause to be paid any consideration to or for the benefit of any holder of the Notes for or as an inducement to any consent, waiver or amendment of any of the terms or provisions of the Indenture or the Notes unless such consideration is offered to be paid and is paid to all holders of the Notes that consent, waive or agree to amend in the time frame set forth in the solicitation documents relating to such consent, waiver or agreement.

Merger, Amalgamation, Consolidation or Sale of All or Substantially All Assets

The Indenture provides that the Company may not consolidate, amalgamate or merge with or into or wind up into (whether or not the Company is the surviving corporation), or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties or assets in one or more related transactions to, any Person unless:

 

  (1) the Company is a surviving Person or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation, amalgamation or merger (if other than the Company) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition has been made is a corporation, partnership or limited liability company organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, the District of Columbia or any territory thereof (the Company or such Person, as the case may be, being herein called the “ Successor Company ”);

 

  (2) the Successor Company (if other than the Company) expressly assumes all the obligations of the Company under the Indenture and the Notes pursuant to supplemental indentures or other documents or instruments in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee;

 

  (3) immediately after giving effect to such transaction no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing;

 

  (4) immediately after giving pro forma effect to such transaction, as if such transaction had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period (and treating any Indebtedness which becomes an obligation of the Successor Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries as a result of such transaction as having been Incurred by the Successor Company or such Restricted Subsidiary at the time of such transaction), either

 

  (a)

the Successor Company would be permitted to Incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in the first paragraph of the

 

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covenant described under “—Certain Covenants—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock;” or

 

  (b) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Successor Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries would be greater than or equal to such ratio for the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries immediately prior to such transaction;

 

  (5) each Guarantor, unless it is the other party to the transactions described above, shall have by supplemental indenture confirmed that its Guarantee shall apply to such Person’s obligations under the Indenture and the Notes;

 

  (6) if the Successor Company is not organized as a corporation after such transaction, a successor corporation which is a Subsidiary of the Successor Company shall continue to be co-obligor of the Notes and shall have by supplemental indenture confirmed its obligations under the Indenture and the Notes; and

 

  (7) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, amalgamation, merger or transfer and such supplemental indenture (if any) comply with the Indenture.

The Successor Company (if other than the Company) will succeed to, and be substituted for, the Company under the Indenture and the Notes, and the Company will automatically be released and discharged from its obligations under the Indenture and the Notes, but in the case of a lease of all or substantially all of its assets, the Company will not be released from the obligations to pay the principal of and interest on the Notes. Notwithstanding the foregoing clauses (3) and (4), (a) any Restricted Subsidiary may consolidate or amalgamate with, merge into, sell, assign or transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or part of its properties and assets to the Company or to another Restricted Subsidiary and (b) the Company may merge, amalgamate or consolidate with an Affiliate incorporated or organized solely for the purpose of incorporating or organizing the Company in another state of the United States, the District of Columbia or any territory of the United States so long as the amount of Indebtedness of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries is not increased thereby (any transaction described in this sentence a “ Specified Merger/Transfer Transaction ”). This “—Merger, Amalgamation, Consolidation or Sale of All or Substantially All Assets” will not apply to a sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of assets between or among the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries.

For purposes of this covenant, the sale, lease, conveyance, assignment, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of one or more Subsidiaries of the Company, which properties and assets, if held by the Company instead of such Subsidiaries, would constitute all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company on a consolidated basis, shall be deemed to be the transfer of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company.

Although there is a limited body of case law interpreting the phrase “substantially all,” under New York law, which governs the Indenture, there is no precise established definition of the phrase under applicable law. Accordingly, in certain circumstances there may be a degree of uncertainty as to whether a particular transaction would involve “all or substantially all” of the property or assets of a Person.

The Indenture will further provide that subject to certain limitations in the Indenture governing release of a Guarantee upon the sale or disposition of a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that is a Subsidiary Guarantor, each Subsidiary Guarantor will not, and the Company will not permit any Subsidiary Guarantor to, consolidate, amalgamate or merge with or into or wind up into (whether or not such Subsidiary Guarantor is the surviving Person), or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties or assets in one or more related transactions to, any Person unless:

 

  (1) either

 

  (a)

such Subsidiary Guarantor is a surviving Person or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation, amalgamation or merger (if other than such Subsidiary Guarantor) or to which such

 

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sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition is made is a corporation, partnership or limited liability company organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, the District of Columbia or any territory thereof (such Subsidiary Guarantor or such Person, as the case may be, being herein called the “ Successor Guarantor ”) and the Successor Guarantor (if other than such Subsidiary Guarantor) expressly assumes all the obligations of such Subsidiary Guarantor under the Indenture and such Subsidiary Guarantor’s Guarantee pursuant to a supplemental indenture or other documents or instruments in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee; or

 

  (b) such sale or other disposition or consolidation or merger complies with the covenant described above under the caption “—Certain Covenants—Asset Sales;”

 

  (2) immediately after giving effect to such transaction (and treating any Indebtedness which becomes an obligation of the Successor Guarantor or any of its Subsidiaries as a result of such transaction as having been Incurred by the Successor Guarantor or such Subsidiary at the time of such transaction), no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing; and

 

  (3) any Successor Guarantor (if other than such Subsidiary Guarantor) shall have delivered or caused to be delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, amalgamation, merger or transfer and such supplemental indenture (if any) comply with the Indenture.

Subject to certain limitations described in the Indenture, the Successor Guarantor will succeed to, and be substituted for, such Subsidiary Guarantor under the Indenture and such Subsidiary Guarantor’s Guarantee, and such Subsidiary Guarantor will automatically be released and discharged from its obligations under the Indenture and such Subsidiary Guarantor’s guarantee. Notwithstanding clause (2) of the foregoing paragraph, (i) a Subsidiary Guarantor may merge, amalgamate or consolidate with an Affiliate incorporated or organized solely for the purpose of incorporating or organizing such Subsidiary Guarantor in another state of the United States, the District of Columbia or any territory of the United States, so long as the amount of Indebtedness of the Subsidiary Guarantor is not increased thereby and (ii) a Subsidiary Guarantor may merge, amalgamate or consolidate with another Subsidiary Guarantor or the Company.

Defaults

An Event of Default is defined in the Indenture as:

 

  (1) a default in any payment of interest on, or Additional Interest with respect to, any Note when due that continues for 30 days,

 

  (2) a default in the payment of principal or premium, if any, of any Note when due at its Stated Maturity, upon optional redemption, upon required repurchase, upon declaration or otherwise,

 

  (3) the failure by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to comply with the provisions described under the caption “—Merger, Amalgamation, Consolidation or Sale of All or Substantially All Assets,”

 

  (4) the failure by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to comply for 30 days after notice with any of its obligations under the covenants described under “—Certain Covenants” (other than a failure to purchase Notes),

 

  (5) the failure by the Company or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company to comply for 60 days after notice with its other agreements contained in the Notes or the Indenture,

 

  (6) the failure by the Company or any Significant Subsidiary to pay any Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness owing to a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company) within any applicable grace period after final maturity or the acceleration of any such Indebtedness by the holders thereof because of a default, in each case, if the total amount of such Indebtedness unpaid or accelerated exceeds $30 million or its foreign currency equivalent (the “ cross-acceleration provision ”),

 

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  (7) certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of the Company or a Significant Subsidiary (the “ bankruptcy provisions ”),

 

  (8) failure by the Company or any Significant Subsidiary to pay final judgments aggregating in excess of $30 million or its foreign currency equivalent (net of any amounts which are covered by enforceable insurance policies issued by solvent carriers), which judgments are not discharged, waived or stayed for a period of 60 days (the “ judgment default provision ”), or

 

  (9) any Guarantee of a Significant Subsidiary ceases to be in full force and effect (except as contemplated by the terms thereof) or any Guarantor that qualifies as a Significant Subsidiary denies or disaffirms its obligations under the Indenture or any Guarantee and such Default continues for 10 days.

The foregoing will constitute Events of Default whatever the reason for any such Event of Default and whether it is voluntary or involuntary or is effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body.

However, a default under clauses (4) and (5) will not constitute an Event of Default until the Trustee or the holders of 25% in principal amount of the Notes outstanding notify the Company of the default and the Company does not cure such default within the time specified in clauses (4) and (5) hereof after receipt of such notice.

If an Event of Default (other than a Default relating to certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of the Company) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Notes outstanding by notice to the Company may declare the principal of, premium, if any, and accrued but unpaid interest on all the Notes to be due and payable. Upon such a declaration, such principal and interest will be due and payable immediately. If an Event of Default relating to certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of the Company occurs, the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on all the Notes will become immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any holders. Under certain circumstances, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes outstanding may rescind any such acceleration with respect to the Notes and its consequences.

In the event of any Event of Default specified in clause (6) of the first paragraph above, such Event of Default and all consequences thereof (excluding, however, any resulting payment default) will be annulled, waived and rescinded, automatically and without any action by the Trustee or the holders of the Notes, if within 20 days after such Event of Default arose the Company delivers an Officers’ Certificate to the Trustee stating that (x) the Indebtedness or guarantee that is the basis for such Event of Default has been discharged or (y) the holders thereof have rescinded or waived the acceleration, notice or action (as the case may be) giving rise to such Event of Default or (z) the default that is the basis for such Event of Default has been cured, it being understood that in no event shall an acceleration of the principal amount of the Notes as described above be annulled, waived or rescinded upon the happening of any such events.

Subject to the provisions of the Indenture relating to the duties of the Trustee, in case an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers under the Indenture at the request or direction of any of the holders unless such holders have offered to the Trustee reasonable indemnity or security against any loss, liability or expense. Except to enforce the right to receive payment of principal, premium (if any) or interest when due, no holder may pursue any remedy with respect to the Indenture or the Notes unless:

 

  (1) such holder has previously given the Trustee notice that an Event of Default is continuing,

 

  (2) holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Notes outstanding have requested the Trustee to pursue the remedy,

 

  (3) such holders have offered the Trustee reasonable security or indemnity against any loss, liability or expense,

 

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  (4) the Trustee has not complied with such request within 60 days after the receipt of the request and the offer of security or indemnity, and

 

  (5) the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes have not given the Trustee a direction inconsistent with such request within such 60-day period.

Subject to certain restrictions, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes outstanding are given the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or of exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee. The Trustee, however, may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or the Indenture or that the Trustee determines is unduly prejudicial to the rights of any other holder or that would involve the Trustee in personal liability. Prior to taking any action under the Indenture, the Trustee will be entitled to indemnification satisfactory to it in its sole discretion against all losses and expenses caused by taking or not taking such action.

The Indenture provides that if a Default occurs and is continuing and is actually known to the Trustee, the Trustee must mail to each holder of the Notes notice of the Default within the earlier of 90 days after it occurs or 30 days after it is actually known to a Trust Officer or written notice of it is received by the Trustee. Except in the case of a Default in the payment of principal of, premium (if any) or interest on any applicable Note, the Trustee may withhold notice if and so long as a committee of its Trust Officers in good faith determines that withholding notice is in the interests of the noteholders. In addition, the Company is required to deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year, a certificate indicating whether the signers thereof know of any Default that occurred during the previous year. The Company also is required to deliver to the Trustee, within 30 days after the occurrence thereof, written notice of any events which would constitute certain Defaults, their status and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take in respect thereof.

Amendments and Waivers

Subject to certain exceptions, the Indenture may be amended with the consent of the holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding and any past default or compliance with any provision may be waived with the consent of the holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding. However, without the consent of each holder of an outstanding Note affected, no amendment may, among other things:

 

  (1) reduce the amount of Notes whose holders must consent to an amendment,

 

  (2) reduce the rate of or extend the time for payment of interest on any Note,

 

  (3) reduce the principal of or change the Stated Maturity of any Note,

 

  (4) reduce the premium payable upon the redemption of any Note or change the time at which any Note may be redeemed as described under “—Optional Redemption,”

 

  (5) make any Note payable in money other than that stated in such Note,

 

  (6) impair the right of any holder to receive payment of principal of, premium, if any, and interest on such holder’s Notes on or after the due dates therefor or to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or with respect to such holder’s Notes,

 

  (7) make any change in the amendment provisions which require each holder’s consent or in the waiver provisions,

 

  (8) expressly subordinate the Notes or any Guarantee thereof to any other Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor, or

 

  (9) modify the Guarantees in any manner adverse to the holders.

Notwithstanding the preceding, without the consent of any holder, the Company and Trustee may amend the Indenture to cure any ambiguity, omission, defect or inconsistency, to provide for the assumption by a Successor

 

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Company of the obligations of the Company under the Indenture and the Notes, to provide for the assumption by a Successor Guarantor of the obligations of a Subsidiary Guarantor under the Indenture and its Guarantee, to provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated Notes ( provided that the uncertificated Notes are issued in registered form for purposes of Section 163(f) of the Code, or in a manner such that the uncertificated Notes are described in Section 163(f)(2)(B) of the Code), to add Guarantees with respect to the Notes, to secure the Notes, to add to the covenants of the Company for the benefit of the holders or to surrender any right or power conferred upon the Company, to make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of any holder, to comply with any requirement of the SEC in connection with the qualification of the Indenture under the TIA, to effect any provision of the Indenture or to make certain changes to the Indenture to provide for the issuance of Additional Notes.

The consent of the noteholders is not necessary under the Indenture to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment. It is sufficient if such consent approves the substance of the proposed amendment.

After an amendment under the Indenture becomes effective, the Company is required to mail to the noteholders a notice briefly describing such amendment. However, the failure to give such notice to all noteholders entitled to receive such notice, or any defect therein, will not impair or affect the validity of the amendment.

No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Stockholders

The Indenture provides that no director, officer, employee, incorporator or holder of any Equity Interests in the Company, as such, will have any liability for any obligations of the Company under the Notes or the Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each holder of Notes by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes. The waiver may not be effective to waive liabilities under the federal securities laws.

Transfer and Exchange

A noteholder may transfer or exchange Notes in accordance with the Indenture. Upon any transfer or exchange, the registrar and the Trustee may require a noteholder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents and the Company may require a noteholder to pay any taxes required by law or permitted by the Indenture. The Company is not required to transfer or exchange any Note selected for redemption or to transfer or exchange any Note for a period of 15 days prior to a selection of Notes to be redeemed. The Notes will be issued in registered form and the registered holder of a Note will be treated as the owner of such Note for all purposes.

Satisfaction and Discharge

The Indenture will be discharged and will cease to be of further effect (except as to surviving rights of registration or transfer or exchange of the Notes, as expressly provided for in the Indenture) as to all outstanding Notes when:

 

  (1)

either (a) all the Notes theretofore authenticated under the Indenture and delivered (except lost, stolen or destroyed Notes which have been replaced or paid and Notes for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Company and thereafter repaid to the Company or discharged from such trust) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation or (b) all of the Notes under the Indenture (i) have become due and payable, (ii) will become due and payable at their Stated Maturity within one year or (iii) if redeemable at the option of the Company, have been called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Company, and the Company has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee funds in an amount

 

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sufficient to pay and discharge the entire Indebtedness on the Notes not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes to the date of deposit together with irrevocable instructions from the Company directing the Trustee to apply such funds to the payment thereof at maturity or redemption, as the case may be;

 

  (2) the Company has and/or the Guarantors have paid all other sums payable under the Indenture; and

 

  (3) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that all conditions precedent under the Indenture relating to the satisfaction and discharge of the Indenture have been complied with.

Defeasance

The Indenture provides that the Company at any time may terminate all its obligations under the Notes and the Indenture (“ legal defeasance ”), except for certain obligations, including those respecting the defeasance trust and obligations to register the transfer or exchange of the Notes, to replace mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Notes and to maintain a registrar and paying agent in respect of the Notes. The Company at any time may terminate its obligations under certain covenants that are described in the Indenture, including the covenants described under “—Certain Covenants,” the operation of the cross-acceleration provision, the bankruptcy provisions with respect to Significant Subsidiaries and the judgment default provision described under “—Defaults” and the undertakings and covenants contained under “—Change of Control” and “—Merger, Amalgamation, Consolidation or Sale of All or Substantially All Assets” (“ covenant defeasance ”). If the Company exercise its legal or covenant defeasance option each Guarantor will be released from all of its obligations with respect to its Guarantee.

The Company may exercise its legal defeasance option notwithstanding its prior exercise of its covenant defeasance option. If the Company exercises its legal defeasance option, payment of the Notes may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default with respect thereto. If the Company exercises its covenant defeasance option, payment of the Notes may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default specified in clause (3), (4), (5), (6), (7) (with respect only to Significant Subsidiaries), (8) or (9) under “—Defaults” or because of the failure of the Company to comply with the undertakings and covenants contained under “—Change of Control.”

In order to exercise either defeasance option, the Company must irrevocably deposit in trust (the “ defeasance trust ”) with the Trustee money or U.S. Government Obligations for the payment of principal, premium (if any) and interest on the Notes to redemption or maturity, as the case may be, and must comply with certain other conditions, including delivery to the Trustee of an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that holders of the Notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit and defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amount and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit and defeasance had not occurred (and, in the case of legal defeasance only, such Opinion of Counsel must be based on a ruling of the Internal Revenue Service or change in applicable federal income tax law). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Opinion of Counsel required by the immediately preceding sentence with respect to a legal defeasance need not be delivered if all of the Notes not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation (x) have become due and payable or (y) will become due and payable at their Stated Maturity within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Company.

Concerning the Trustee

Wells Fargo Bank, National Association is the Trustee under the Indenture and has been appointed by the Company as registrar and a paying agent with regard to the Notes.

If the Trustee becomes a creditor of the Company or any Guarantor, the Indenture and the TIA limit its right to obtain payment of claims in certain cases, or to realize on certain property received in respect of any such

 

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claim as security or otherwise. The Trustee will be permitted to engage in other transactions; however, if it acquires any conflicting interest it must eliminate such conflict within 90 days, apply to the SEC for permission to continue or resign.

The Indenture provides that in case an Event of Default will occur and be continuing, the Trustee will be required, in the exercise of its power, to use the degree of care of a prudent man in the conduct of his own affairs. Subject to such provisions, the Trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the Indenture at the request of any Holder of Notes, unless such Holder will have offered to the Trustee security and indemnity satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense.

Governing Law

The Indenture provides that it and the Notes will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

Registration Rights; Additional Interest

The following description is a summary of the material provisions of the Registration Rights Agreements. It does not restate those agreements in their entirety. We urge you to read the Registration Rights Agreements in their entirety because they, and not this description, define your registration rights as Holders of these Notes.

On October 17, 2005, the Company, the Guarantors and the Initial Purchasers of the Initial Senior Notes entered into a Registration Rights Agreement (the “Initial Senior Notes Registration Rights Agreement”) and on May 3, 2006, the Company, the Guarantors and the Initial Purchasers of the Additional Senior Notes entered into a Registration Rights Agreement (the “Additional Senior Notes Registration Rights Agreement” and together with the Initial Senior Notes Registration Rights Agreement, the “Registration Rights Agreements”). Pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreements, the Company and the Guarantors agreed to file with the SEC the Exchange Offer Registration Statement on the appropriate form under the Securities Act with respect to the Exchange Notes. As soon as practicable following the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, the Company and the Guarantors agreed to offer to the Holders of Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer who are able to make certain representations the opportunity to exchange their Notes for Exchange Notes.

If:

 

  (1) the Company and the Guarantors are not permitted to consummate the Exchange Offer because the Exchange Offer is not permitted by applicable law or SEC policy;

 

  (2) for any reason, the Exchange Offer is not consummated within the required time period; or

 

  (3) any Holder of Notes notifies the Company that:

 

  (a) it is prohibited by law or SEC policy from participating in the Exchange Offer; or

 

  (b) it may not resell the Exchange Notes acquired by it in the Exchange Offer to the public without delivering a prospectus and the prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is not appropriate or available for such resales; or

 

  (c) it is a broker-dealer and owns Notes acquired directly from the Company or an affiliate of the Company,

the Company and the Guarantors will file with the SEC a Shelf Registration Statement to cover resales of the Notes by the Holders thereof who satisfy certain conditions relating to the provision of information in connection with the Shelf Registration Statement.

The Company and the Guarantors will use their commercially reasonable efforts to cause the applicable registration statement to be declared effective as promptly as possible by the SEC.

 

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The Registration Rights Agreements each provide:

 

  (1) unless the Exchange Offer would not be permitted by applicable law or SEC policy, the Company and the Guarantors will prepare and use commercially reasonable efforts to file an Exchange Offer Registration Statement with the SEC on or prior to 180 days after the closing of the applicable offering;

 

  (2) unless the Exchange Offer would not be permitted by applicable law or SEC policy, the Company and the Guarantors will use their commercially reasonable efforts to have the Exchange Offer Registration Statement declared effective by the SEC on or prior to 300 days after the closing of the applicable offering;

 

  (3) as soon as practicable after the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, unless the Exchange Offer would not be permitted by applicable law or SEC policy, the Company and the Guarantors will

 

  (a) commence the Exchange Offer; and

 

  (b) issue Exchange Notes in exchange for all Notes tendered prior thereto in the Exchange Offer; and

 

  (4) if obligated to file the Shelf Registration Statement, the Company and the Guarantors will prepare and use commercially reasonable efforts to file the Shelf Registration Statement with the SEC on or prior to 180 days after such filing obligation arises and use their commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Shelf Registration to be declared effective by the SEC on or prior to 300 days after such obligation arises.

If:

 

  (1) the Company and the Guarantors fail to file any of the registration statements required by the Registration Rights Agreements on or before the date specified for such filing; or

 

  (2) any of such registration statements is not declared effective by the SEC on or prior to the date specified for such effectiveness (the “Effectiveness Target Date”); or

 

  (3) the Company and the Guarantors fail to consummate the Exchange Offer within 30 Business Days of the Effectiveness Target Date with respect to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement; or

 

  (4) the Shelf Registration Statement or the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is declared effective but thereafter ceases to be effective or usable in connection with resales or exchanges of Notes during the periods specified in the Registration Rights Agreements (each such event referred to in clauses (1) through (4) above, a “Registration Default”), then the Company and the Guarantors will pay Additional Interest to each Holder of Notes, with respect to the first 90-day period immediately following the occurrence of the first Registration Default in an amount equal to one-quarter of one percent (0.25%) per annum on the principal amount of Notes held by such Holder.

The amount of the Additional Interest will increase by an additional one-quarter of one percent (0.25%) per annum on the principal amount of Notes with respect to each subsequent 90-day period until all Registration Defaults have been cured, up to a maximum amount of Additional Interest for all Registration Defaults of 1.0% per annum.

All accrued Additional Interest will be paid by the Company and the Guarantors on each interest payment date to the Global Note Holder by wire transfer of immediately available funds or by federal funds check and to Holders of Certificated Notes by wire transfer to the accounts specified by them or by mailing checks to their registered addresses if no such accounts have been specified.

Immediately upon the cure of all Registration Defaults, the accrual of Additional Interest will cease.

Holders of Notes will be required to make certain representations to the Company (as described in the Registration Rights Agreements) in order to participate in the Exchange Offer and will be required to deliver

 

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certain information to be used in connection with the Shelf Registration Statement and to provide comments on the Shelf Registration Statement within the time periods set forth in the Registration Rights Agreements in order to have their Notes included in the Shelf Registration Statement and benefit from the provisions regarding Additional Interest set forth above. By acquiring Notes, a Holder will be deemed to have agreed to indemnify the Company and the Guarantors against certain losses arising out of information furnished by such Holder in writing for inclusion in any Shelf Registration Statement. Holders of Notes will also be required to suspend their use of the prospectus included in the Shelf Registration Statement under certain circumstances upon receipt of written notice to that effect from the Company.

Certain Definitions

Acquired Indebtedness ” means, with respect to any specified Person:

 

  (1) Indebtedness of any other Person existing at the time such other Person is merged or consolidated with or into or becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of such specified Person, and

 

  (2) Indebtedness secured by a Lien encumbering any asset acquired by such specified Person,

in each case, other than Indebtedness Incurred as consideration in, in contemplation of, or to provide all or any portion of the funds or credit support utilized to consummate, the transaction or series of related transactions pursuant to which such Restricted Subsidiary became a Restricted Subsidiary or was otherwise acquired by such Person, or such asset was acquired by such Person, as applicable.

Additional Interest ” means all additional interest owing on the Notes pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement.

Affiliate ” of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For purposes of this definition, “control” (including, with correlative meanings, the terms “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under common control with”), as used with respect to any Person, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by agreement or otherwise. For purposes of the Indenture, Cendant Corporation and its Affiliates are not deemed Affiliates of the Company so long as (1) such entities would be Affiliates of the Company only by virtue of their beneficial ownership of Capital Stock of the Company and (2) such entities beneficially own, as a group, less of the voting power of the Company than is beneficially owned by the Sponsor.

Asset Sale ” means:

 

  (1) the sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition (whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions) of property or assets (including by way of a Sale/Leaseback Transaction) of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company (each referred to in this definition as a “disposition”) or

 

  (2) the issuance or sale of Equity Interests (other than directors’ qualifying shares or shares or interests required to be held by foreign nationals) of any Restricted Subsidiary (other than to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary of the Company) (whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions),

in each case other than:

 

  (a) a disposition of Cash Equivalents or Investment Grade Securities or obsolete, damaged or worn out property or equipment in the ordinary course of business;

 

  (b) the disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company in a manner permitted pursuant to the provisions described above under “—Merger, Amalgamation, Consolidation or Sale of All or Substantially All Assets” or any disposition that constitutes a Change of Control;

 

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  (c) for purposes of “—Certain Covenants—Asset Sales” only, any Restricted Payment or Permitted Investment (other than a Permitted Investment to the extent such transaction results in the receipt of Cash Equivalents or Investment Grade Securities by the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries) that is permitted to be made, and is made, under the covenant described above under “—Certain Covenants—Limitation on Restricted Payments;”

 

  (d) any disposition of assets or issuance or sale of Equity Interests of any Restricted Subsidiary in any transaction or series of related transactions with an aggregate Fair Market Value of less than $7.5 million;

 

  (e) any disposition of property or assets or the issuance of securities by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to the Company or by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company;

 

  (f) any foreclosures on assets or property of the Company or its Subsidiaries;

 

  (g) any sale of Equity Interests in, or Indebtedness or other securities of, an Unrestricted Subsidiary;

 

  (h) any sale of inventory, equipment or other assets in the ordinary course of business;

 

  (i) any grant in the ordinary course of business of any license of patents, trademarks, know-how and any other intellectual property;

 

  (j) any exchange of assets for assets (including a combination of assets and Cash Equivalents) related to a Similar Business of comparable or greater market value or usefulness to the business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries as a whole, as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company, which in the event of an exchange of assets with a Fair Market Value in excess of (1) $10.0 million shall be evidenced by an Officers’ Certificate, and (2) $25.0 million shall be set forth in a resolution approved in good faith by at least a majority of the Board of Directors of the Company; and

 

  (k) in the ordinary course of business, any swap of assets, or lease, assignment or sublease of any real or personal property, in exchange for services (including in connection with any outsourcing arrangements in which the Company enters into a multi-year services arrangement with the transfer of such assets) of comparable or greater value or usefulness to the business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries as a whole, as determined in good faith by senior management or the Board of Directors of the Company, which in the event of a swap with a Fair Market Value in excess of (1) $10.0 million shall be evidenced by an Officers’ Certificate and (2) $25.0 million shall be set forth in a resolution approved in good faith by at least a majority of the Board of Directors of the Company.

Bank Indebtedness ” means any and all amounts payable under or in respect of the Credit Agreement or the other Senior Credit Documents, as amended, restated, supplemented, waived, replaced, restructured, repaid, refunded, refinanced or otherwise modified from time to time (including after termination of the Credit Agreement), including principal, premium (if any), interest (including interest accruing on or after the filing of any petition in bankruptcy or for reorganization relating to the Company whether or not a claim for post-filing interest is allowed in such proceedings), fees, charges, expenses, reimbursement obligations, guarantees and all other amounts payable thereunder or in respect thereof.

Board of Directors ” means as to any Person, the board of directors or managers, as applicable, of such Person (or, if such Person is a partnership, the board of directors or other governing body of the general partner of such Person) or any duly authorized committee thereof.

Business Day ” means a day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which banking institutions are authorized or required by law to close in New York City.

 

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Capital Stock ” means:

 

  (1) in the case of a corporation or a company, corporate stock or shares;

 

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

 

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

 

  (4) 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.

Capitalized Lease Obligation ” means, at the time any determination thereof is to be made, the amount of the liability in respect of a capital lease that would at such time be required to be capitalized and reflected as a liability on a balance sheet (excluding the footnotes thereto) in accordance with GAAP.

Cash Contribution Amount ” means the aggregate amount of cash contributions made to the capital of the Company or any Guarantor described in the definition of “Contribution Indebtedness.”

Cash Equivalents ” means:

 

  (1) U.S. dollars, pounds sterling, euros, national currency of any participating member state in the European Union or, in the case of any Foreign Subsidiary that is a Restricted Subsidiary, such local currencies held by it from time to time in the ordinary course of business;

 

  (2) securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the government of the United States or any country that is a member of the European Union or any agency or instrumentality thereof, in each case with maturities not exceeding two years from the date of acquisition;

 

  (3) certificates of deposit, time deposits and eurodollar time deposits with maturities of one year or less from the date of acquisition, bankers’ acceptances, in each case with maturities not exceeding one year, and overnight bank deposits, in each case with any commercial bank having capital and surplus in excess of $250 million, or the foreign currency equivalent thereof, and whose long-term debt is rated “A” or the equivalent thereof by Moody’s or S&P (or reasonably equivalent ratings of another internationally recognized ratings agency);

 

  (4) repurchase obligations for underlying securities of the types described in clauses (2) and (3) above entered into with any financial institution meeting the qualifications specified in clause (3) above;

 

  (5) commercial paper issued by a corporation (other than an Affiliate of the Company) rated at least “A-1” or the equivalent thereof by Moody’s or S&P (or reasonably equivalent ratings of another internationally recognized ratings agency) and in each case maturing within one year after the date of acquisition;

 

  (6) readily marketable direct obligations issued by any state of the United States of America or any political subdivision thereof having one of the two highest rating categories obtainable from either Moody’s or S&P (or reasonably equivalent ratings of another internationally recognized ratings agency) in each case with maturities not exceeding two years from the date of acquisition;

 

  (7) Indebtedness issued by Persons (other than Permitted Holders or any of their Affiliates) with a rating of “A” or higher from S&P or “A-2” or higher from Moody’s (or reasonably equivalent ratings of another internationally recognized ratings agency) in each case with maturities not exceeding two years from the date of acquisition; and investment funds investing at least 95% of their assets in securities of the types described in clauses (1) through (7) above.

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

 

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Consolidated Cash Flow ” means, with respect to any specified Person for any period, the Consolidated Net Income of such Person for such period (without giving effect to the amount added to Net Income in calculating Consolidated Net Income for the excess of the provision for taxes over cash taxes) plus:

 

  (1) provision for taxes based on income, profits or capital of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, including, without limitation, state franchise and similar taxes, and including an amount equal to the amount of tax distributions actually made to the holders of Capital Stock of such Person or any Parent of such Person in respect of such period in accordance with clause (12) of the second paragraph under “—Certain Covenants—Limitation on Restricted Payments,” which shall be included as though such amounts had been paid as income taxes directly by such Person, in each case to the extent that such provision for taxes was deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income; plus

 

  (2) Fixed Charges of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, to the extent that any such Fixed Charges were deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income; plus

 

  (3) depreciation, amortization (including amortization of intangibles but excluding amortization of prepaid cash expenses that were paid in a prior period) and other non-cash expenses (excluding any such non-cash expense to the extent that it represents an accrual of or reserve for cash expenses in any future period or amortization of a prepaid cash expense that was paid in a prior period) of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period to the extent that such depreciation, amortization and other non-cash expenses were deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income; plus

 

  (4) the amount of any restructuring charges or expenses (which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall include retention and supplemental bonus payments payable in connection with the Acquisition or otherwise, exit costs, severance payments, systems establishment costs or excess pension charges), to the extent that any such charges or expenses were deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income; plus

 

  (5) the amount of management, monitoring, consulting and advisory fees and related expenses paid to the Permitted Holders (or any accruals relating to such fees and related expenses) during such period; provided that such amount shall not exceed in any four quarter period the greater of (x) $2.5 million or (y) 1.0% of Consolidated Cash Flow (calculated without giving effect to this clause (5)); plus

 

  (6) for any quarter in the four quarter period ended June 30, 2005, all adjustments to net income (or loss) used in connection with the calculation of pro forma “Adjusted EBITDA” for the last twelve months ended June 30, 2005 (as set forth in the Offering Circular under Note (4) to the section entitled “Offering Circular Summary—Summary Historical and Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated and Combined Financial and Other Data”) to the extent such adjustments are not fully reflected in the applicable quarter and continue to be applicable; plus

 

  (7) an amount of $3.0 million for each of the four consecutive calendar quarters commencing with the calendar quarter beginning January 1, 2005, representing anticipated cost savings from the 2005 Reorganization (as defined in the Offering Circular); minus

 

  (8) non-cash items increasing such Consolidated Net Income for such period (excluding the recognition of deferred revenue or any non-cash items which represent the reversal of any accrual of, or reserve for, anticipated cash charges in any prior period and any items for which cash was received in any prior period and excluding amounts increasing Consolidated Net Income pursuant to clause (15) of the definition of Consolidated Net Income);

in each case, on a consolidated basis and determined in accordance with GAAP. For purposes of calculating Consolidated Cash Flow, the calculation shall exclude the effects of purchase accounting as a result of the Transactions.

Notwithstanding the preceding, the provision for taxes based on the income or profits of, the Fixed Charges of, the depreciation and amortization and other non-cash expenses or non-cash items of and the restructuring charges or expenses of, a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company will be added to (or subtracted from, in the case

 

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of non-cash items described in clause (8) above) Consolidated Net Income to compute Consolidated Cash Flow of the Company (A) in the same proportion that the Net Income of such Restricted Subsidiary was added to compute such Consolidated Net Income of the Company and (B) only to the extent that a corresponding amount would be permitted at the date of determination to be dividended or distributed to the Company by such Restricted Subsidiary without prior governmental approval (that has not been obtained), and without direct or indirect restriction pursuant to the terms of its charter and all agreements, instruments, judgments, decrees, orders, statutes, rules and governmental regulations applicable to that Subsidiary or its stockholders.

Consolidated Leverage Ratio ” means, with respect to any Person at any date, the ratio of (a) the aggregate amount of all Indebtedness of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries less cash and cash equivalents (excluding restricted cash), in each case, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP as of such date to (b) the Consolidated Cash Flow of such Person for the four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding such date. In the event that the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries Incurs or redeems any Indebtedness subsequent to the commencement of the period for which the Consolidated Leverage Ratio is being calculated and on or prior to the date on which the event for which the calculation of the Consolidated Leverage Ratio is made, then the Consolidated Leverage Ratio shall be calculated giving pro forma effect to such Incurrence or redemption of Indebtedness as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period. The provisions applicable to pro forma transactions and Indebtedness set forth in the second paragraph of the definition of “Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio” will apply for purposes of making the computation referred to in this paragraph.

Consolidated Net Income ” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the aggregate of the Net Income of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, on a consolidated basis, plus the amount that the provision for taxes exceeds cash taxes paid by such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries in such period; provided , that:

 

  (1) any net after-tax extraordinary or nonrecurring or unusual gains, losses, income, expense or charges (less all fees and expenses relating thereto), including, without limitation, any severance, relocation or other restructuring costs and transition expenses Incurred as a direct result of the transition of the Company to an independent operating company in connection with the Transactions and fees, expenses or charges related to any offering of Equity Interests of such Person, any Investment, any acquisition or any offering of Indebtedness permitted to be Incurred by the Indenture (in each case, whether or not successful), including any such fees, expenses or charges related to the Transactions, in each case, shall be excluded;

 

  (2) any increase in amortization or depreciation or any one-time non-cash charges resulting from purchase accounting in connection with any acquisition that is consummated on or after the Issue Date, shall be excluded;

 

  (3) the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles during such period shall be excluded;

 

  (4) any net after-tax gains or losses on disposal of discontinued operations shall be excluded;

 

  (5) any net after-tax gains or losses (less all fees and expenses or charges relating thereto) attributable to business dispositions or asset dispositions other than in the ordinary course of business (as determined in good faith by senior management or the Board of Directors of the Company) shall be excluded;

 

  (6) any net after-tax gains or losses (less all fees and expenses or charges relating thereto) attributable to the early extinguishment of indebtedness shall be excluded;

 

  (7)

the Net Income for such period of any Person that is not a Subsidiary of such Person, or is an Unrestricted Subsidiary, or that is accounted for by the equity method of accounting, shall be included only to the extent of the amount of dividends or distributions or other payments actually paid in cash (or to the extent converted into cash) to the referent Person or a Restricted Subsidiary thereof in respect of such period (excluding any amounts received from the Netcentives Subsidiary to the extent such

 

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amounts are distributed or otherwise paid to the Sponsor pursuant to clause (18) of the second paragraph of “—Certain Covenants—Limitation on Restricted Payments”);

 

  (8) solely for the purpose of covenant described under “—Certain Covenants—Limitation on Restricted Payments,” the Net Income for such period of any Restricted Subsidiary (other than any Subsidiary Guarantor) shall be excluded to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by such Restricted Subsidiary of its Net Income is not at the date of determination permitted without any prior governmental approval (which has not been obtained) or, directly or indirectly, by the operation of the terms of its charter or any agreement, instrument, judgment, decree, order, statute, rule or governmental regulation applicable to such Restricted Subsidiary or its equity holders, unless such restrictions with respect to the payment of dividends or similar distributions have been legally waived; provided that the Consolidated Net Income of such Person shall be increased by the amount of dividends or other distributions or other payments actually paid in cash (or converted into cash) by any such Restricted Subsidiary to such Person or a Restricted Subsidiary of such Person (subject to the provisions of this clause (8)), to the extent not already included therein;

 

  (9) any non-cash impairment charge or asset write-off resulting from the application of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 142 and 144, and the amortization of intangibles arising pursuant to No. 141, shall be excluded;

 

  (10) any non-cash expenses realized or resulting from employee benefit plans or post-employment benefit plans, grants of stock appreciation or similar rights, stock options or other rights to officers, directors and employees of such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries shall be excluded;

 

  (11) any one-time non-cash compensation charges shall be excluded;

 

  (12) non-cash gains, losses, income and expenses resulting from fair value accounting required by Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 133 and related interpretations shall be excluded;

 

  (13) the effects of purchase accounting as a result of the Transactions shall be excluded;

 

  (14) accruals and reserves that are established within twelve months after the Issue Date and that are so required to be established in accordance with GAAP shall be excluded; and

 

  (15) to the extent not already reflected in Consolidated Net Income, the amount of any accrual, reserve or other charge that reduces Net Income of such Person that was taken in respect of expected or actual Losses by reason of (x) any legal proceedings disclosed in the Offering Circular including the financial statements included herein, or relating to the same facts and circumstances as disclosed, or (y) a breach or violation of law, in each case, shall be excluded; provided that (as certified in an Officers’ Certificate delivered to the Trustee) the Company has (i) a reasonable good faith belief that it is entitled to be indemnified by Cendant pursuant to the Stock Purchase Agreement in respect of such Losses in an amount greater than or equal to the amount to be excluded from the calculation of Consolidated Net Income pursuant to this clause (15) and (ii) has provided Cendant a notice in respect of the Company’s intent to seek indemnity; provided , further that (x) if Net Income is increased as a result of any amounts received from Cendant in respect of such an indemnity and the right to be so indemnified was used in a prior period to increase Consolidated Net Income pursuant to this clause (15), such amounts received shall be excluded from Consolidated Net Income and (y) to the extent the actual indemnity received is less than the expected indemnity amount excluded in a prior period pursuant to this clause (15), Consolidated Net Income shall be reduced by the difference in the period in which such lower actual indemnity amounts are received or in which a final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction is made that the Company is entitled to no indemnity.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, for the purpose of the covenant described under “—Certain Covenants—Limitation on Restricted Payments” only, there shall be excluded from the calculation of Consolidated Net Income any dividends, repayments of loans or advances or other transfers of assets from Unrestricted Subsidiaries to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company in respect of or that originally constituted Restricted Investments.

 

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Contingent Obligations ” means, with respect to any Person, any obligation of such Person guaranteeing any leases, dividends or other obligations that do not constitute Indebtedness (“ primary obligations ”) of any other Person (the “ primary obligor ”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, including, without limitation, any obligation of such Person, whether or not contingent:

 

  (1) to purchase any such primary obligation or any property constituting direct or indirect security therefor;

 

  (2) to advance or supply funds:

 

  (a) for the purchase or payment of any such primary obligation; or

 

  (b) to maintain working capital or equity capital of the primary obligor or otherwise to maintain the net worth or solvency of the primary obligor; or

 

  (3) to purchase property, securities or services primarily for the purpose of assuring the owner of any such primary obligation of the ability of the primary obligor to make payment of such primary obligation against loss in respect thereof.

Contribution Indebtedness ” means Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor in an aggregate principal amount not greater than twice the aggregate amount of cash contributions (other than Excluded Contributions and amounts applied to make a Restricted Payment in accordance with clause (2) of the second paragraph of “—Certain Covenants—Limitation on Restricted Payments”) made to the capital of the Company or such Guarantor after the Issue Date (other than any cash contributions in connection with the Transactions); provided , however that: (1) if the aggregate principal amount of such Contribution Indebtedness is greater than the aggregate amount of such cash contributions to the capital of the Company or such Guarantor, as applicable, the amount in excess shall be Indebtedness (other than Secured Indebtedness) with a Stated Maturity later than the Stated Maturity of the Notes; (2) such Contribution Indebtedness (a) is Incurred within 180 days after the making of such cash contributions and (b) is so designated as Contribution Indebtedness pursuant to an Officers’ Certificate on the date of Incurrence thereof; and (3) such cash contribution is not and has not been included in the calculation of permitted Restricted Payments under the covenant described in “—Certain Covenants—Limitation on Restricted Payments.”

Credit Agreement ” means (i) the credit agreement entered into in connection with, and on or prior to, the consummation of the Transactions, among the Company, the financial institutions named therein and Credit Suisse, Cayman Islands Branch (or an affiliate thereof), as Administrative Agent, as amended, restated, supplemented, waived, replaced (whether or not upon termination, and whether with the original lenders or otherwise), restructured, repaid, refunded, refinanced or otherwise modified from time to time, including any one or more agreements or indentures extending the maturity thereof, refinancing, replacing or otherwise restructuring all or any portion of the Indebtedness under such agreement or agreements or indenture or indentures or any successor or replacement agreement or agreements or indenture or indentures or increasing the amount loaned or issued thereunder or altering the maturity thereof and (ii) whether or not the credit agreement referred to in clause (i) remains outstanding, if designated by the Company to be included in the definition of “Credit Agreement,” one or more (A) debt facilities or commercial paper facilities, providing for revolving credit loans, term loans, receivables financing (including through the sale of receivables to lenders or to special purpose entities formed to borrow from lenders against such receivables) or letters of credit, (B) debt securities, indentures or other forms of debt financing (including convertible or exchangeable debt instruments or bank guarantees or bankers’ acceptances), or (C) instruments or agreements evidencing any other Indebtedness, in each case, with the same or different borrowers or issuers and, in each case, as amended, supplemented, modified, extended, restructured, renewed, refinanced, restated, replaced or refunded in whole or in part from time to time.

Default ” means any event that is, or after notice or passage of time or both would be, an Event of Default.

Designated Non-cash Consideration ” means the Fair Market Value of non-cash consideration received by the Company or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with an Asset Sale that is so designated as

 

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Designated Non-cash Consideration pursuant to an Officers’ Certificate setting forth the basis of such valuation, less the amount of Cash Equivalents received in connection with a subsequent sale of such Designated Non-cash Consideration.

Designated Preferred Stock ” means Preferred Stock of the Company or any Parent of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock), that is issued for cash (other than to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or an employee stock ownership plan or trust established by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries) and is so designated as Designated Preferred Stock, pursuant to an Officers’ Certificate, on the issuance date thereof.

Disqualified Stock ” means, with respect to any Person, any Capital Stock of such Person which, by its terms (or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible or for which it is redeemable, putable or exchangeable), or upon the happening of any event:

 

  (1) matures or is mandatorily redeemable, pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise,

 

  (2) is convertible or exchangeable for Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of such Person, or

 

  (3) is redeemable at the option of the holder thereof, in whole or in part,

in each case prior to 91 days after the maturity date of the Notes;

provided , however , that only the portion of Capital Stock which so matures or is mandatorily redeemable, is so convertible or exchangeable or is so redeemable at the option of the holder thereof prior to such date shall be deemed to be Disqualified Stock; provided , further , however , that (x) if such Capital Stock is issued to any employee or to any plan for the benefit of employees of the Company or its Subsidiaries or by any such plan to such employees, such Capital Stock shall not constitute Disqualified Stock solely because it may be required to be repurchased by the Company in order to satisfy applicable statutory or regulatory obligations or as a result of such employee’s termination, death or disability and (y) such Capital Stock shall not constitute Disqualified Stock if such Capital Stock matures or is mandatorily redeemable or is redeemable at the option of the holders thereof as a result of a change of control or asset sale so long as the relevant asset sale or change of control provisions, taken as a whole, are no more favorable in any material respect to holders of such Capital Stock than the asset sale and change of control provisions applicable to the Notes and any purchase requirement triggered thereby may not become operative until compliance with the asset sale and change of control provisions applicable to the Notes (including the purchase of any Notes tendered pursuant thereto); provided , further , that any class of Capital Stock of such Person that by its terms authorizes such Person to satisfy its obligations thereunder by delivery of Capital Stock that is not Disqualified Stock shall not be deemed to be Disqualified Stock.

Domestic Restricted Subsidiary ” means a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Foreign Subsidiary.

Equity Interests ” means Capital Stock and all warrants, options or other rights to acquire Capital Stock (but excluding any debt security that is convertible into, or exchangeable for, Capital Stock).

Equity Offering ” means any public or private sale after the Issue Date of common stock or Preferred Stock of any Person (other than Disqualified Stock), other than:

 

  (1) public offerings with respect to the Capital Stock of such Person registered on Form S-4 or Form S-8;

 

  (2) any such public or private sale that constitutes an Excluded Contribution;

 

  (3) an issuance to any Subsidiary; and

 

  (4) any Cash Contribution Amounts.

Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.

 

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Excluded Contributions ” means the Cash Equivalents or other assets (valued at their Fair Market Value as determined in good faith by senior management or the Board of Directors of the Company) received by the Company from:

 

  (1) contributions to its common Capital Stock, and

 

  (2) the sale (other than to a Subsidiary of the Company or pursuant to any management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries) of Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock and Designated Preferred Stock) of the Company,

in each case designated as Excluded Contributions pursuant to an Officers’ Certificate executed by an Officer of the Company.

Fair Market Value ” means, with respect to any asset or property, the price that could be negotiated in an arm’s-length transaction between a willing seller and a willing and able buyer, neither of whom is under undue pressure or compulsion to complete the transaction.

Fixed Charges ” means, with respect to any specified Person for any period, the sum, without duplication, of:

 

  (1) the consolidated interest expense (net of interest income) to the extent it relates to Indebtedness of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period and to the extent such expense was deducted in computing Consolidated Net Income, whether paid or accrued, including, without limitation, amortization of debt issuance costs and original issue discount, non-cash interest payments, the interest component of any deferred payment obligations, the interest component of all payments associated with Capital Lease Obligations, commissions, discounts and other fees and charges incurred in respect of letter of credit or bankers’ acceptance financings, and net of the effect of all payments made or received pursuant to Hedging Obligations (but excluding the amortization or writeoff of deferred financing fees or expenses of any bridge or other financing fee in connection with the Transactions); plus

 

  (2) the consolidated interest of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries that was capitalized during such period; plus

 

  (3) any interest expense on Indebtedness of another Person that is Guaranteed by such Person or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries or secured by a Lien on assets of such Person or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries, whether or not such Guarantee or Lien is called upon; plus

 

  (4) to the extent not included in clause (1) above, the product of (a) all dividends, whether paid or accrued and whether or not in cash, on any series of Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, other than dividends on Equity Interests payable solely in Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company or to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, times (b) a fraction, the numerator of which is one and the denominator of which is one minus the then current combined federal, state and local statutory tax rate of such Person, expressed as a decimal,

in each case, on a consolidated basis and in accordance with GAAP.

Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio ” means with respect to any specified Person for any period, the ratio of the Consolidated Cash Flow of such Person for such period to the Fixed Charges of such Person for such period. In the event that the specified Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries Incurs, repays, repurchases or redeems any Indebtedness or issues, repurchases or redeems Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock subsequent to the commencement of the period for which the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is being calculated and on or prior to the date on which the event for which the calculation of the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is made (the “ Calculation Date ”), then the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio will be calculated giving pro forma effect to such

 

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Incurrence, repayment, repurchase or redemption of Indebtedness, or such issuance, repurchase or redemption of Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, and the use of the proceeds therefrom as if the same had occurred at the beginning of such period.

In addition, for purposes of calculating the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio referred to above, Investments, acquisitions, dispositions, mergers, consolidations or discontinued operations (as determined in accordance with GAAP) that have been made by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary during the four-quarter reference period or subsequent to such reference period and on or prior to or simultaneously with the Calculation Date shall be calculated on a pro forma basis assuming that all such Investments, acquisitions, dispositions, mergers, consolidations or discontinued operations (including the Transactions) had occurred on the first day of the four-quarter reference period. If since the beginning of such period any Person (that subsequently became a Restricted Subsidiary or was merged with or into the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary since the beginning of such period) shall have made any Investment, acquisition, disposition, merger or consolidation or discontinued any operation that would have required adjustment pursuant to this definition, then the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio shall be calculated giving pro forma effect thereto for such period as if such Investment, acquisition, disposition, merger, consolidation or discontinued operation had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period. For purposes of this definition, whenever pro forma effect is to be given to an Investment, acquisition, disposition, merger, consolidation or discontinued operation (including the Transactions) and the amount of income or earnings relating thereto, the pro forma calculations shall be determined in good faith by a responsible financial or accounting Officer of the Company and shall comply with the requirements of Rule 11-02 of Regulation S-X promulgated by the SEC, except that such pro forma calculations may include operating expense reductions for such period resulting from the transaction which is being given pro forma effect that have been realized or for which substantially all the steps necessary for realization have been taken or are reasonably expected to be taken within twelve months following any such transaction, including, but not limited to, the execution or termination of any contracts, the reduction of costs related to administrative functions or the termination of any personnel, as applicable; provided that, in either case, such adjustments are set forth in an Officers’ Certificate signed by the Company’s chief financial officer and another Officer which states (i) the amount of such adjustment or adjustments, (ii) that such adjustment or adjustments are based on the reasonable good faith beliefs of the Officers executing such Officers’ Certificate at the time of such execution and (iii) that any related incurrence of Indebtedness is permitted pursuant to the Indenture. If any Indebtedness bears a floating rate of interest and is being given pro forma effect, the interest on such Indebtedness shall be calculated as if the rate in effect on the Calculation Date had been the applicable rate for the entire period (taking into account any Hedging Obligations applicable to such Indebtedness if the related hedge has a remaining term in excess of twelve months).

Interest on a Capitalized Lease Obligation shall be deemed to accrue at an interest rate reasonably determined by a responsible financial or accounting officer of the Company to be the rate of interest implicit in such Capitalized Lease Obligation in accordance with GAAP. For purposes of making the computation referred to above, interest on any Indebtedness under a revolving credit facility computed on a pro forma basis shall be computed based upon the average daily balance of such Indebtedness during the applicable period. Interest on Indebtedness that may optionally be determined at an interest rate based upon a factor of a prime or similar rate, a eurocurrency interbank offered rate, or other rate, shall be deemed to have been based upon the rate actually chosen, or, if none, then based upon such optional rate chosen as the Company may designate.

Flow Through Entity ” means an entity that is treated as a partnership not taxable as a corporation, a grantor trust or a disregarded entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes or subject to treatment on a comparable basis for purposes of state, local or foreign tax law.

Foreign Subsidiary ” means a Restricted Subsidiary not organized or existing under the laws of the United States of America or any state or territory thereof or the District of Columbia and any direct or indirect subsidiary of such Restricted Subsidiary.

 

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GAAP ” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or in such other statements by such other entity as have been approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession, which are in effect on the Issue Date. For the purposes of the Indenture, the term “consolidated” with respect to any Person shall mean such Person consolidated with its Restricted Subsidiaries, and shall not include any Unrestricted Subsidiary, but the interest of such Person in an Unrestricted Subsidiary will be accounted for as an Investment.

guarantee ” means a guarantee (other than by endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business), direct or indirect, in any manner (including, without limitation, letters of credit and reimbursement agreements in respect thereof), of all or any part of any Indebtedness or other obligations.

Guarantee ” means any guarantee of the obligations of the Company under the Indenture and the Notes by any Person in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture.

Guarantor ” means any Person that Incurs a Guarantee; provided that upon the release or discharge of such Person from its Guarantee in accordance with the Indenture, such Person ceases to be a Guarantor.

Hedging Obligations ” means, with respect to any Person, the obligations of such Person under:

 

  (1) currency exchange or interest rate swap agreements, cap agreements and collar agreements; and

 

  (2) other agreements or arrangements designed to manage exposure or protect such Person against fluctuations in currency exchange or interest rates.

holder ” or “noteholder” means the Person in whose name a Note is registered on the registrar’s books.

Incur ” means issue, assume, guarantee, incur or otherwise become liable for; provided , however , that any Indebtedness or Capital Stock of a Person existing at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary (whether by merger, amalgamation, consolidation, acquisition or otherwise) shall be deemed to be Incurred by such Person at the time it becomes a Subsidiary.

Indebtedness ” means, with respect to any Person:

 

  (1) the principal and premium (if any) of any indebtedness of such Person, whether or not contingent, (a) in respect of borrowed money, (b) evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments or letters of credit or bankers’ acceptances (or, without duplication, reimbursement agreements in respect thereof), (c) representing the deferred and unpaid purchase price of any property, except any such balance that constitutes a current account payable, trade payable or similar obligation Incurred, (d) in respect of Capitalized Lease Obligations, or (e) representing any Hedging Obligations, if and to the extent that any of the foregoing indebtedness (other than letters of credit and Hedging Obligations) would appear as a liability on a balance sheet (excluding the footnotes thereto) of such Person prepared in accordance with GAAP;

 

  (2) to the extent not otherwise included, any obligation of such Person to be liable for, or to pay, as obligor, guarantor or otherwise, the Indebtedness of another Person (other than by endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business); and

 

  (3) to the extent not otherwise included, Indebtedness of another Person secured by a Lien on any asset owned by such Person (whether or not such Indebtedness is assumed by such Person); provided , however , that the amount of such Indebtedness will be the lesser of: (a) the Fair Market Value of such asset at such date of determination and (b) the amount of such Indebtedness of such other Person;

provided , however , that notwithstanding the foregoing, Indebtedness shall be deemed not to include (1) Contingent Obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business and not in respect of borrowed money;

 

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(2) deferred or prepaid revenues; (3) purchase price holdbacks in respect of a portion of the purchase price of an asset to satisfy warranty or other unperformed obligations of the respective seller; (4) the Seller Preferred Stock whether or not reflected as a liability of the Company, (5) obligations to make payments in respect of money back guarantees offered to customers in the ordinary course of business, (6) obligations to make payments to one or more insurers in respect of premiums collected by the Company on behalf of such insurers or in respect profit-sharing arrangements entered into with such insurers, in each case in the ordinary course of business, or (7) the financing of insurance premiums with the carrier of such insurance or take or pay obligations contained in supply agreements, in each case entered into in the ordinary course of business.

Notwithstanding anything in the Indenture, Indebtedness shall not include, and shall be calculated without giving effect to, the effects of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 133 and related interpretations to the extent such effects would otherwise increase or decrease an amount of Indebtedness for any purpose under the Indenture as a result of accounting for any embedded derivatives created by the terms of such Indebtedness; and any such amounts that would have constituted Indebtedness under the Indenture but for the application of this sentence shall not be deemed an Incurrence of Indebtedness under the Indenture.

Independent Financial Advisor ” means an accounting, appraisal or investment banking firm or consultant to Persons engaged in a Similar Business, in each case of nationally recognized standing that is, in the good faith determination of the Board of Directors of the Company, qualified to perform the task for which it has been engaged.

Initial Purchasers ” means Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Banc of America Securities LLC, BNP Paribas Securities Corp. and such other initial purchasers party to the purchase agreement entered into in connection with the offer and sale of the Notes.

Investment Grade Securities ” means:

 

  (1) securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the U.S. government or any agency or instrumentality thereof (other than Cash Equivalents),

 

  (2) securities that have a rating equal to or higher than Baa3 (or equivalent) by Moody’s or BBB- (or equivalent) by S&P, or an equivalent rating by any other Rating Agency, but excluding any debt securities or loans or advances between and among the Company and its Subsidiaries,

 

  (3) investments in any fund that invests exclusively in investments of the type described in clauses (1) and (2) which fund may also hold immaterial amounts of cash pending investment and/or distribution, and

 

  (4) corresponding instruments in countries other than the United States customarily utilized for high quality investments and in each case with maturities not exceeding two years from the date of acquisition.

Investments ” means, with respect to any Person, all investments by such Person in other Persons (including Affiliates) in the form of loans (including guarantees), advances or capital contributions (excluding accounts receivable, trade credit and advances to customers and marketing partners and commission, travel and similar advances to officers, employees and consultants, in each case made in the ordinary course of business), purchases or other acquisitions for consideration of Indebtedness, Equity Interests or other securities issued by any other Person and investments that are required by GAAP to be classified on the balance sheet of the Company in the same manner as the other investments included in this definition to the extent such transactions involve the transfer of cash or other property. For purposes of the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary” and the covenant described under “—Certain Covenants—Limitation on Restricted Payments:”

 

  (1)

“Investments” shall include the portion (proportionate to the Company’s equity interest in such Subsidiary) of the Fair Market Value of the net assets of a Subsidiary of the Company at the time that such Subsidiary is designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary; provided , however , that upon a redesignation

 

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of such Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary, the Company shall be deemed to continue to have a permanent “Investment” in an Unrestricted Subsidiary equal to an amount (if positive) equal to:

 

  (a) the Company’s “Investment” in such Subsidiary at the time of such redesignation less

 

  (b) the portion (proportionate to the Company’s equity interest in such Subsidiary) of the Fair Market Value of the net assets of such Subsidiary at the time of such redesignation; and

 

  (2) any property transferred to or from an Unrestricted Subsidiary shall be valued at its Fair Market Value at the time of such transfer, in each case as determined in good faith by senior management or the Board of Directors of the Company.

Issue Date ” means October 17, 2005, the date on which the Notes are originally issued.

Joint Venture ” means any Person, other than an individual or a Subsidiary of the Company, (i) in which the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company holds or acquires an ownership interest (whether by way of Capital Stock or otherwise) and (ii) which is engaged in a Similar Business.

Lien ” means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien, pledge, charge, security interest or encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset, whether or not filed, recorded or otherwise perfected under applicable law (including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any lease in the nature thereof, any other agreement to give a security interest and, any filing of or agreement to give any financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code or equivalent statutes of any jurisdiction (other than a filing for informational purposes)); provided that in no event shall an operating lease be deemed to constitute a Lien.

Management Group ” means all of the individuals consisting of the directors, executive officers and other management personnel of the Company or any direct or indirect parent company of the Company, as the case may be, on the Issue Date together with (1) any new directors whose election by such boards of directors or whose nomination for election by the shareholders of the Company or any direct or indirect parent company of the Company, as the case may be, as applicable, was approved by (x) a vote of a majority of the directors of the Company or any direct or indirect parent of the Company as applicable, then still in office who were either directors on the Issue Date or whose election or nomination was previously so approved or (y) the Permitted Holders and (2) executive officers and other management personnel of the Company or any direct or indirect parent company of the Company, as the case may be, as applicable, hired at a time when the directors on the Issue Date together with the directors so approved constituted a majority of the directors of the Company or any direct or indirect parent company of the Company, as the case may be, as applicable.

Moody’s ” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. or any successor to the rating agency business thereof.

Netcentives Patent” means the portfolio of patents relating to online award redemption programs which expire on December 14, 2015.

Netcentives Subsidiary ” means the Unrestricted Subsidiary owning the Netcentives Patent.

Net Income ” means, with respect to any Person, the net income (loss) of such Person, determined in accordance with GAAP and before any reduction in respect of Preferred Stock dividends, less an amount equal to the amount of tax distributions actually made to the holders of Capital Stock of such Person or any Parent of such Person in respect of a period in accordance with clause (12) of the second paragraph under “—Certain Covenants—Limitation on Restricted Payments,” as if such amounts had been paid as income taxes directly by such Person but only to the extent such amounts have not already been accounted for as taxes reducing the net income (loss) of such Person.

Net Proceeds ” means the aggregate cash proceeds received by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of any Asset Sale, including, without limitation, any cash received in respect of or upon

 

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the sale or other disposition of any Designated Non-cash Consideration received in any Asset Sale, net of the direct costs relating to such Asset Sale and the sale or disposition of such Designated Non-cash Consideration (including, without limitation, legal, accounting and investment banking fees, and brokerage and sales commissions), and any relocation expenses Incurred as a result thereof, taxes paid or payable as a result thereof (after taking into account any available tax credits or deductions and any tax sharing arrangements related thereto), amounts required to be applied to the repayment of principal, premium (if any) and interest on Indebtedness required (other than pursuant to the second or third paragraph of the covenant described under “—Certain Covenants—Asset Sales”) to be paid as a result of such transaction (including to obtain any consent therefor), any deduction of appropriate amounts to be provided by the Company as a reserve in accordance with GAAP against any liabilities associated with the asset disposed of in such transaction and retained by the Company after such sale or other disposition thereof, including, without limitation, pension and other post-employment benefit liabilities and liabilities related to environmental matters or against any indemnification obligations associated with such transaction and any distributions and the payments required to be made to minority interest holders in Subsidiaries or Joint Ventures as a result of such Asset Sale; provided that Net Proceeds shall not include proceeds of a Subsidiary Spin-Off to the extent such proceeds are applied to redeem the Notes pursuant to the provisions described under “—Optional Redemption—Optional Redemption of Notes upon Equity Offering” and any debt securities issued in exchange for, or debt securities issued to refinance, borrowings under the Senior Subordinated Bridge Loan Facility pursuant to provisions similar to those described under “—Optional Redemption—Optional Redemption of the Notes upon Equity Offering.”

Non-Guarantor Restricted Subsidiary ” means any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that is not a Subsidiary Guarantor.

Obligations ” means any principal, interest, penalties, fees, indemnifications, reimbursements (including, without limitation, reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit and bankers’ acceptances), damages and other liabilities payable under the documentation governing any Indebtedness; provided that Obligations with respect to the Notes shall not include fees or indemnifications in favor of the Trustee and other third parties other than the holders of the Notes.

Offering Circular ” means the Confidential Offering Circular dated October 3, 2005 relating to the offer and sale by the Company of $270.0 million principal amount of the Notes.

Officer ” means the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, President, any Executive Vice President, Senior Vice President or Vice President, the Treasurer or the Secretary of the Company or any of the Company’s Restricted Subsidiaries.

Officers’ Certificate ” means a certificate signed on behalf of the Company by two Officers of the Company or any of the Company’s Restricted Subsidiaries, one of whom must be the principal executive officer, the principal financial officer, the treasurer or the principal accounting officer of the Company or any of the Company’s Restricted Subsidiaries, that meets the requirements set forth in the Indenture.

Opinion of Counsel ” means a written opinion from legal counsel who is acceptable to the Trustee. The counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the Company or the Trustee.

Parent ” means, with respect to any Person, any direct or indirect parent company of such Person whose only material assets consist of the common Capital Stock of such Person.

Pari Passu Indebtedness ” means:

 

  (1) with respect to the Company, the Notes and any Indebtedness which ranks pari passu in right of payment with the Notes; and

 

  (2) with respect to any Guarantor, its applicable Guarantee and any Indebtedness which ranks pari passu in right of payment with such Guarantor’s Guarantee.

 

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Permitted Holders ” means, at any time, (1) the Sponsor and (2) the Management Group. Any Person or group whose acquisition of beneficial ownership constitutes a Change of Control in respect of which a Change of Control Offer is made in accordance with the requirements of the Indenture will thereafter, together with its Affiliates, constitute an additional Permitted Holder.

Permitted Investments ” means:

 

  (1) any Investment in the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary;

 

  (2) any Investment in Cash Equivalents or Investment Grade Securities;

 

  (3) any Investment by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company in a Person if as a result of such Investment (a) such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, or (b) such Person, in one transaction or a series of related transactions, is merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into, or transfers or conveys all or substantially all of its assets to, or is liquidated into, the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company;

 

  (4) any Investment in securities or other assets not constituting Cash Equivalents and received in connection with an Asset Sale made pursuant to the provisions of “—Certain Covenants—Asset Sales” or any other disposition of assets not constituting an Asset Sale;

 

  (5) any Investment existing on the Issue Date and any Investments made pursuant to binding commitments in effect on the Issue Date;

 

  (6) advances to employees not in excess of $15 million outstanding at any one time in the aggregate; provided that advances that are forgiven shall continue to be deemed outstanding;

 

  (7) any Investment acquired by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (a) in exchange for any other Investment or accounts receivable held by the Company or any such Restricted Subsidiary in connection with or as a result of a bankruptcy, workout, reorganization or recapitalization of the issuer of such other Investment or accounts receivable or (b) as a result of a foreclosure by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries with respect to any secured Investment or other transfer of title with respect to any secured Investment in default;

 

  (8) Hedging Obligations permitted under clause (j) of the second paragraph of “—Certain Covenants—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock;”

 

  (9) any Investment by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in a Similar Business having an aggregate Fair Market Value, taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (9) that are at that time outstanding (without giving effect to the sale of Investments made pursuant to this clause (9) to the extent the proceeds of such sale received by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries do not consist of Cash Equivalents), not to exceed the greater of (x) $95 million and (y) 4.0% of Total Assets of the Company at the time of such Investment (with the Fair Market Value of each Investment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value); provided, however , that if any Investment pursuant to this clause (9) is made in any Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company at the date of the making of such Investment and such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company after such date, such Investment shall thereafter be deemed to have been made pursuant to clause (1) above and shall cease to have been made pursuant to this clause (9) for so long as such Person continues to be a Restricted Subsidiary;

 

  (10) additional Investments by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries having an aggregate Fair Market Value, taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (10) that are at that time outstanding (without giving effect to the sale of Investments made pursuant to this clause (10) to the extent the proceeds of such sale received by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries do not consist of Cash Equivalents), not to exceed the greater of (x) $110 million and (y) 7.5% of Total Assets of the Company at the time of such Investment (with the Fair Market Value of each Investment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value);

 

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  (11) loans and advances to officers, directors and employees for business-related travel expenses, moving and relocation expenses and other similar expenses, in each case Incurred in the ordinary course of business;

 

  (12) Investments the payment for which consists of Equity Interests of the Company or any Parent of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock); provided, however , that such Equity Interests will not increase the amount available for Restricted Payments under the calculation set forth in clause (c) of the first paragraph of the covenant described under “—Certain Covenants—Limitation on Restricted Payments” until such time as the Investment in such Equity Interests is no longer outstanding;

 

  (13) Investments consisting of the licensing or contribution of intellectual property pursuant to joint marketing arrangements with other Persons;

 

  (14) Investments consisting of purchases and acquisitions of inventory, supplies, materials and equipment or purchases of contract rights or licenses or leases of intellectual property in each case in the ordinary course of business;

 

  (15) Investments of a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company acquired after the Issue Date or of an entity merged into, amalgamated with, or consolidated with a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction that is not prohibited by the covenant described under “—Merger, Amalgamation, Consolidation or Sale of All or Substantially All Assets” after the Issue Date to the extent that such Investments were not made in contemplation of such acquisition, merger, amalgamation or consolidation and were in existence on the date of such acquisition, merger, amalgamation or consolidation;

 

  (16) any Investment in the Notes;

 

  (17) guarantees not prohibited by or required pursuant to, as the case may be, the covenants described under “—Certain Covenants—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock” and “—Certain Covenants—Future Guarantors;” and

 

  (18) any transaction to the extent it constitutes an Investment that is permitted by and made in accordance with the provisions of the second paragraph of the covenant described under “—Certain Covenants—Transactions with Affiliates” (except transactions described in clauses (2), (6), (7), (8), (9), (11) and (16) of such paragraph).

Permitted Liens ” means, with respect to any Person:

 

  (1) pledges or deposits by such Person under workmen’s compensation laws, unemployment insurance laws or similar legislation, or good faith deposits in connection with bids, tenders, contracts (other than for the payment of Indebtedness) or leases to which such Person is a party, or deposits to secure public or statutory obligations, including those to secure health, safety, insurance and environmental obligations, of such Person or deposits of cash or U.S. government bonds to secure surety or appeal bonds to which such Person is a party, or deposits as security for contested taxes or import duties or for the payment of rent, in each case Incurred in the ordinary course of business;

 

  (2) Liens imposed by law, such as carriers’, warehousemen’s and mechanics’ Liens, in each case for sums not yet due or being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings or other Liens arising out of judgments or awards against such Person with respect to which such Person shall then be proceeding with an appeal or other proceedings for review;

 

  (3) Liens for taxes, assessments or other governmental charges not yet due or payable or subject to penalties for nonpayment or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings;

 

  (4) Liens in favor of issuers of performance and surety bonds or bid bonds or with respect to other regulatory requirements or letters of credit issued at the request of and for the account of such Person in the ordinary course of its business;

 

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  (5) minor survey exceptions, minor encumbrances, easements or reservations of, or rights of others for, licenses, rights-of-way, sewers, electric lines, telegraph and telephone lines and other similar purposes, or zoning or other restrictions as to the use of real properties or Liens incidental to the conduct of the business of such Person or to the ownership of its properties which were not Incurred in connection with Indebtedness and which do not in the aggregate materially adversely affect the value of said properties or materially impair their use in the operation of the business of such Person;

 

  (A) Liens securing an aggregate principal amount of Pari Passu Indebtedness not to exceed the greater of (x) the aggregate principal amount of Pari Passu Indebtedness permitted to be Incurred pursuant to clause (a) of the second paragraph of the covenant described under “—Certain Covenants—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock” and (y) the maximum principal amount of Indebtedness that, as of such date, and after giving effect to the Incurrence of such Indebtedness and the application of the proceeds therefrom on such date, would not cause the Secured Indebtedness Leverage Ratio of the Company to exceed 3.00 to 1.00 and (B) Liens securing Indebtedness permitted to be Incurred pursuant to clauses (b), (d) ( provided that such Liens do not extend to any property or assets that are not property being purchased, leased, constructed or improved with the proceeds of such Indebtedness being Incurred pursuant to clause (d)), (l) or (s) ( provided that, in the case of clause (s), such Liens do not extend to any property or assets of the Company or any Guarantor) of the second paragraph of the covenant described under “—Certain Covenants—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock;”

 

  (6) Liens existing on the Issue Date (other than with respect to Obligations in respect of the Credit Agreement);

 

  (7) Liens on assets, property or shares of stock of a Person at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary; provided, however , that such Liens are not created or Incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such other Person becoming such a Subsidiary; provided, further, however , that such Liens may not extend to any other property owned by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company;

 

  (8) Liens on assets or property at the time the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company acquired the assets or property, including any acquisition by means of a merger, amalgamation or consolidation with or into the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company; provided, however , that such Liens are not created or Incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such acquisition; provided, further, however , that the Liens may not extend to any other assets or property owned by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company;

 

  (9) Liens securing Indebtedness or other obligations of a Restricted Subsidiary owing to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary of the Company permitted to be Incurred in accordance with the covenant described under “—Certain Covenants—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock;”

 

  (10) Liens securing Hedging Obligations permitted to be Incurred under clause (j) of the second paragraph of the covenant described under “—Certain Covenants—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock;”

 

  (11) Liens on specific items of inventory or other goods and proceeds of any Person securing such Person’s obligations in respect of bankers’ acceptances issued or created for the account of such Person to facilitate the purchase, shipment or storage of such inventory or other goods;

 

  (12) leases and subleases of real property granted to others in the ordinary course of business that do not (i) materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of business of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or (ii) secure any Indebtedness;

 

  (13) Liens arising from Uniform Commercial Code financing statement filings regarding operating leases entered into by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;

 

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  (14) Liens in favor of the Company or any Guarantor;

 

  (15) Liens on equipment of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary granted in the ordinary course of business to the Company’s customer at the site at which such equipment is located;

 

  (16) Liens securing insurance premiums financing arrangements, provided that such Liens are limited to the applicable unearned insurance premiums;

 

  (17) Liens on the Equity Interests of Unrestricted Subsidiaries;

 

  (18) grants of software and other licenses in the ordinary course of business;

 

  (19) Liens to secure any refinancing, refunding, extension, renewal or replacement (or successive refinancings, refundings, extensions, renewals or replacements) as a whole, or in part, of any Indebtedness secured by any Lien referred to in the foregoing clauses (7), (8), and (9); provided, however , that (x) such new Lien shall be limited to all or part of the same property that secured the original Lien (plus improvements on such property), and (y) the Indebtedness secured by such Lien at such time is not increased to any amount greater than the sum of (A) the outstanding principal amount or, if greater, committed amount of the Indebtedness described under clauses (7), (8) and (9) at the time the original Lien became a Permitted Lien under the Indenture, and (B) an amount necessary to pay any fees and expenses, including premiums, related to such refinancing, refunding, extension, renewal or replacement;

 

  (20) judgment and attachment Liens not giving rise to an Event of Default and notices of lis pendens and associated rights related to litigation being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves have been made;

 

  (21) Liens securing obligations Incurred in the ordinary course of business that do not exceed $15 million at any one time outstanding;

 

  (22) Liens arising out of conditional sale, title retention, consignment or similar arrangements for the sale of goods entered into in the ordinary course of business;

 

  (23) Liens incurred to secure cash management services in the ordinary course of business;

 

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

 

  (25) deposits made in the ordinary course of business to secure liability to insurance carriers.

Person ” means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, Joint Venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, government or any agency or political subdivision thereof or any other entity.

Preferred Stock ” means any Equity Interest with preferential right of payment of dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up.

Presumed Tax Rate ” means the highest effective marginal statutory combined U.S. federal, state and local income tax rate prescribed for an individual residing in New York City (taking into account (i) the deductibility of state and local income taxes for U.S. federal income tax purposes, assuming the limitation of Section 68(a)(2) of the Code applies and taking into account any impact of Section 68(f) of the Code, and (ii) the character (long-term or short-term capital gain, dividend income or other ordinary income) of the applicable income).

Rating Agency ” means (1) each of Moody’s and S&P and (2) if Moody’s or S&P ceases to rate the Notes 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 or any Parent of the Company as a replacement agency for Moody’s or S&P, as the case may be.

 

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Restricted Investment ” means an Investment other than a Permitted Investment.

Restricted Subsidiary ” means, with respect to any Person, any Subsidiary of such Person other than an Unrestricted Subsidiary of such Person. Unless otherwise indicated in this “Description of the Senior Notes,” all references to Restricted Subsidiaries shall mean Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company.

S&P ” means Standard & Poor’s Ratings Group or any successor to the rating agency business thereof.

“Sale/Leaseback Transaction” means an arrangement relating to property now owned or hereafter acquired by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary whereby the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary transfers such property to a Person and the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary leases it from such Person, other than leases between the Company and a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company or between Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company.

“SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

“Secured Indebtedness” means any Indebtedness secured by a Lien.

Secured Indebtedness Leverage Ratio ” means, with respect to any Person, at any date the ratio of (i) Secured Indebtedness of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of such date of calculation (determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP) to (ii) Consolidated Cash Flow of such Person for the four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding such date on which such additional Indebtedness is Incurred. In the event that the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries Incurs or redeems any Indebtedness subsequent to the commencement of the period for which the Secured Indebtedness Leverage Ratio is being calculated but prior to the event for which the calculation of the Secured Indebtedness Leverage Ratio is made (the “Secured Leverage Calculation Date”), then the Secured Indebtedness Leverage Ratio shall be calculated giving pro forma effect to such Incurrence or redemption of Indebtedness as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period. The provisions applicable to pro forma transactions and Indebtedness set forth in the second paragraph of the definition of “Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio” will apply for purposes of making the computation referred to in this paragraph.

“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.

“Seller Preferred Stock” means the shares of the preferred stock to be issued by Holdings in the Transactions, or subsequently issued shares issued in respect of payable-in-kind dividend payments therein or issued upon stock splits or redemptions or otherwise in respect thereof.

“Senior Credit Documents” means the collective reference to any Credit Agreement, any notes issued pursuant thereto and the guarantees thereof, and the collateral documents relating thereto, as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

“Senior Subordinated Bridge Loan Facility” means the senior subordinated bridge loan facility entered into in connection with and upon or prior to, the consummation of the Transactions among the Company, the financial institutions named therein and Credit Suisse, Cayman Islands Branch (or an affiliate thereof), as Administrative Agent.

“Significant Subsidiary” means any Restricted Subsidiary that would be a “significant subsidiary” of the Company within the meaning of Rule 1-02 under Regulation S-X promulgated by the SEC or any successor provision.

“Similar Business” means any business or activity of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries currently conducted or proposed as of the Issue Date, or any business or activity that is reasonably similar thereto or a reasonable extension, development or expansion thereof, or is complementary, incidental, ancillary or related thereto.

 

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“Sponsor” means Apollo Management L.P. or one or more investment funds controlled by Apollo Management L.P. and any of their respective Affiliates.

“Sponsor Consulting Agreement” means the Consulting Agreement between the Sponsor and the Company to be dated the Issue Date.

“Stated Maturity” means, with respect to any security, the date specified in such security as the fixed date on which the final payment of principal of such security is due and payable, including pursuant to any mandatory redemption provision (but excluding any provision providing for the repurchase of such security at the option of the holder thereof upon the happening of any contingency beyond the control of the issuer unless such contingency has occurred).

“Stock Purchase Agreement” means the Purchase Agreement dated as of July 26, 2005, as amended and supplemented on the Issue Date, by and among Cendant Corporation, the Company and Affinion Group Holdings, Inc. (formerly Affinity Acquisition, Inc.), pursuant to which Cendant Corporation agreed to sell to the Company all of the equity interests of Affinion Group, LLC (formerly Cendant Marketing Group, LLC) and Affinion International Holdings Limited (formerly Cendant International Holdings Limited).

“Subordinated Indebtedness” means (a) with respect to the Company, any Indebtedness of the Company which is by its terms subordinated in right of payment to the Notes and (b) with respect to any Guarantor, any Indebtedness of such Guarantor which is by its terms subordinated in right of payment to its Guarantee.

“Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, (1) any corporation, association or other business entity (other than a partnership, joint venture or limited liability company) 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 of determination owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of such Person or a combination thereof, (2) any partnership, joint venture or limited liability company of which (x) more than 50% of the capital accounts, distribution rights, total equity and voting interests or general and limited partnership interests, as applicable, are owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof, whether in the form of membership, general, special or limited partnership interests or otherwise, and (y) such Person or any Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary of such Person is a controlling general partner or otherwise controls such entity and (3) any Person that is consolidated in the consolidated financial statements of the specified Person in accordance with GAAP.

“Subsidiary Guarantor” means each Subsidiary of the Company that is a Guarantor.

“Subsidiary Spin-Off” means any public sale after the Issue Date of common stock of any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company in connection with a spin-off or a similar transaction involving the disposition of a business operation, unit or division.

“TIA” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C. Sections 77aaa-77bbbb) as in effect on the date of the Indenture.

“Total Assets” means, with respect to any Person, the total consolidated assets of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries, as shown on the most recent balance sheet.

“Transaction Documents” means the Stock Purchase Agreement, the Credit Agreement and, in each case, any other document entered into in connection therewith, in each case as amended, supplemented or modified from time to time.

 

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“Transactions” means, collectively, the Acquisition (as defined in the Offering Circular), the entering into of the Credit Agreement and the Senior Subordinated Bridge Loan Facility on the Issue Date and the offering of the Initial Senior Notes and the application of the proceeds therefrom.

“Trust Officer” means any officer within the corporate trust department of the Trustee, including any vice president, assistant vice president, assistant secretary, assistant treasurer, trust officer or any other officer of the Trustee who customarily performs functions similar to those performed by the Persons who at the time shall be such officers, respectively, or to whom any corporate trust matter is referred because of such person’s knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject, and who shall have direct responsibility for the administration of the Indenture.

“Trustee” means the respective party named as such in the Indenture until a successor replaces it and, thereafter, means the successor.

“Unrestricted Subsidiary” means:

 

  (1) initially the Netcentives Subsidiary and Affinion Loyalty, LLC;

 

  (2) any Subsidiary of the Company that at the time of determination shall be designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary by the Board of Directors of such Person in the manner provided below; and

 

  (3) any Subsidiary of an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

The Board of Directors of the Company may designate any Subsidiary of the Company (including any newly acquired or newly formed Subsidiary of the Company) to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary unless such Subsidiary or any of its Subsidiaries owns any Equity Interests or Indebtedness of, or owns or holds any Lien on any property of, the Company or any other Subsidiary of the Company (other than any Subsidiary of the Subsidiary to be so designated); provided, however , that the Subsidiary to be so designated and its Subsidiaries do not at the time of designation have and do not thereafter Incur any Indebtedness pursuant to which the lender has recourse to any of the assets of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than Equity Interests of Unrestricted Subsidiaries); provided, further, however , that either:

 

  (a) the Subsidiary to be so designated has total consolidated assets of $1,000 or less; or

 

  (b) if such Subsidiary has consolidated assets greater than $1,000, then such designation would be permitted under the covenant described under “—Certain Covenants—Limitation on Restricted Payments.”

The Board of Directors of the Company may designate any Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary; provided, however , that immediately after giving effect to such designation:

 

  (x) (1) the Company could Incur $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test described in the first paragraph under “—Certain Covenants—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock,” or (2) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries would be greater than such ratio for the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries immediately prior to such designation, in each case on a pro forma basis taking into account such designation, and

 

  (y) no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing.

Any such designation by the Board of Directors of the Company shall be evidenced to the Trustee by promptly filing with the Trustee a copy of the resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company giving effect to such designation and an Officers’ Certificate certifying that such designation complied with the foregoing provisions.

 

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“U.S. Government Obligations” means securities that are:

 

  (1) direct obligations of the United States of America for the timely payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged or

 

  (2) obligations of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States of America the timely payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United States of America, which, in each case, are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, and shall also include a depository receipt issued by a bank (as defined in Section 3(a)(2) of the Securities Act) as custodian with respect to any such U.S. Government Obligations or a specific payment of principal of or interest on any such U.S. Government Obligations held by such custodian for the account of the holder of such depository receipt; provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depository receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the U.S. Government Obligations or the specific payment of principal of or interest on the U.S. Government Obligations evidenced by such depository receipt.

“Voting Stock” of any Person as of any date means the Capital Stock of such Person that is at the time entitled to vote in the election of the Board of Directors of such Person.

“Weighted Average Life to Maturity” means, when applied to any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, as the case may be, at any date, the quotient obtained by dividing (1) the sum of the products of the number of years from the date of determination to the date of each successive scheduled principal payment of such Indebtedness or redemption or similar payment with respect to such Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock multiplied by the amount of such payment, by (2) the sum of all such payments.

“Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary” is any Wholly Owned Subsidiary that is a Restricted Subsidiary.

“Wholly Owned Subsidiary” of any Person means a Subsidiary of such Person 100% of the outstanding Capital Stock or other ownership interests of which (other than directors’ qualifying shares or shares or interests required to be held by foreign nationals) shall at the time be owned by such Person or by one or more Wholly Owned Subsidiaries of such Person and one or more Wholly Owned Subsidiaries of such Person.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF THE SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES

Capitalized terms used in this “Description of the Senior Subordinated Notes” section and not otherwise defined have the meanings set forth in the section “Description of the Senior Subordinated Notes—Certain Definitions.” As used in this “Description of the Senior Subordinated Notes” section, the “Company” means Affinion Group, Inc. and not any of its Subsidiaries.

On April 26, 2006, the Company issued $355.5 million in aggregate principal amount of old senior subordinated notes (the “Notes” ) under an indenture (the “Indenture” ), dated as of April 26, 2006 among the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee” ). The exchange senior subordinated notes will be issued under the Indenture. A copy of the Indenture has been filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. The terms of the exchange senior subordinated notes are identical in all material respects to the old senior subordinated notes, except the exchange senior subordinated notes will not contain transfer restrictions and holders of exchange senior subordinated notes will no longer have any registration rights and we will not be obligated to pay additional interest as described in the registration rights agreements. Wells Fargo, N.A., as trustee of the old senior subordinated notes, will authenticate and deliver exchange senior subordinated notes for original issue only in exchange for a like principal amount of old senior subordinated notes. Any old senior subordinated notes that remain outstanding after the consummation of this exchange offer, together with the exchange senior subordinated notes, will be treated as a single class of securities under the Indenture. Accordingly, all references in this section to specified percentages in aggregate principal amount of outstanding exchange senior subordinated notes shall be deemed to mean, at any time after this exchange offer is consummated, such percentage in aggregate principal amount of the old senior subordinated notes and the exchange senior subordinated notes outstanding.

The following summary of certain provisions of the Indenture and the Notes does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, all the provisions of the Indenture, including the definitions of certain terms therein and those terms made a part thereof by the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “TIA” ). We urge that you carefully read the Indenture and the TIA, because the Indenture and the TIA govern your rights as holders of the senior subordinated notes, not this description. A copy of the Indenture has been filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. For purposes of this section we refer to the old senior subordinated notes and exchange senior subordinated notes together as the “Notes.”

General

We may issue additional Notes (the “ Additional Notes ”) from time to time without notice or the consent of holders of Notes. Any offering of Additional Notes is subject to the covenant described below under the caption “—Certain Covenants—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock.” The Notes and any Additional Notes subsequently issued under the Indenture will be treated as a single class for all purposes under the Indenture, including, without limitation, waivers, amendments, redemptions and offers to purchase. However, the Notes and any Additional Notes will not be fungible for United States federal income tax purposes unless the issuance of Additional Notes satisfies the requirements for a qualified reopening under the applicable Treasury Regulations.

Principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes will be payable, and the Notes may be exchanged or transferred, at the office or agency of the Company as specified in the Indenture (which initially shall be the principal corporate trust office of the Trustee), except that, at the option of the Company, payment of interest may be made by check mailed to the holders at their registered addresses.

The old senior subordinated notes are and the exchange subordinated notes will be issued only in fully registered form, without coupons, in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000. No service

 

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charge will be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of Notes, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or other similar governmental charge payable in connection therewith.

Terms of the Notes

The old senior subordinated notes are and the exchange senior subordinated notes will be:

 

    general unsecured obligations of the Company and will not be entitled to the benefit of any mandatory sinking fund;

 

    subordinated in right of payment to all existing and future Senior Debt of the Company, including the Indebtedness of the Company under the Credit Agreement and the Indebtedness represented by the Senior Notes;

 

    pari passu in right of payment with all future senior subordinated Indebtedness of the Company;

 

    senior in right of payment to all future subordinated Indebtedness of the Company;

 

    guaranteed on a senior subordinated basis by the Guarantors as described under “—Guarantees;” and

 

    effectively subordinated in right of payment to all existing and future Indebtedness and other liabilities of the Company’s Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors of the Notes, to the extent of the assets of such Subsidiaries.

Assuming the Refinancing had been completed as of December 31, 2005, the Company and the Initial Guarantors (as defined under “—Guarantees”) would have had $1,144.0 million of Senior Debt (including the Senior Notes), $841.0 million of which would have been secured Indebtedness, and the Company’s Subsidiaries that are not guaranteeing the Notes would have had $81.4 million of indebtedness and other liabilities (including trade payables).

As of the date of this prospectus, all of the Company’s subsidiaries are “Restricted Subsidiaries” except for Affinion Loyalty, LLC, a special purpose, bankruptcy remote subsidiary of Affinion Loyalty Group, Inc. formed in connection with the loyalty agreements entered into with Cendant. Under certain circumstances, the Company is permitted to designate certain of its other subsidiaries as “Unrestricted Subsidiaries.” Any Unrestricted Subsidiaries are not subject to any of the restrictive covenants in the Indenture and will not guarantee the Notes.

Additional interest is payable with respect to the Notes in certain circumstances if the Company does not consummate the exchange offer (or shelf registration, if applicable) as further described under “—Registration Rights; Additional Interest.”

The Notes will mature on October 15, 2015, at their principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but not including, the maturity date. Interest on the Notes will accrue at the rate of 11  1 / 2 % per annum and will be payable semi-annually in arrears on April 15 and October 15, commencing on October 15, 2006. The Company will make each interest payment to the holders of record of the Notes on the immediately preceding April 1 and October 1. Interest on the Notes will accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from and including the Issue Date and will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months.

 

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Optional Redemption

On and after October 15, 2010, the Company may redeem the Notes, at its option, in whole at any time or in part from time to time, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice mailed by first-class mail to each holder’s registered address, at the following redemption prices (expressed as a percentage of principal amount), plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, to the redemption date (subject to the right of holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date), if redeemed during the 12-month period commencing on October 15 of the years set forth below:

 

Period

   Redemption Price  

2010

   105.750 %

2011

   103.833 %

2012

   101.917 %

2013 and thereafter

   100.000 %

Optional Redemption of Notes Upon Equity Offering. Notwithstanding the foregoing, at any time and from time to time on or prior to October 15, 2008, the Company may redeem in the aggregate up to 35% of the original aggregate principal amount of the Notes (calculated after giving effect to any issuance of Additional Notes) with the net cash proceeds of one or more (a) Equity Offerings by the Company, (b) Equity Offerings by any Parent of the Company, to the extent the net cash proceeds thereof are contributed to the common equity capital of the Company or used to purchase Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company from it, or (c) Subsidiary Spin-Offs, at a redemption price equal to 111.5% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, to the redemption date (subject to the right of holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date); provided , however , that at least 65% of the original aggregate principal amount of the Notes (calculated after giving effect to any issuance of Additional Notes) must remain outstanding after each such redemption; provided, further , that such redemption shall occur within 90 days after the date on which any such Equity Offering is consummated upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ notice mailed to each holder of Notes being redeemed and otherwise in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Indenture.

Notice of any redemption upon any Equity Offering may be given prior to the completion thereof, and any such redemption or notice may, at the Company’s discretion, be subject to one or more conditions precedent, including, but not limited to, completion of the related Equity Offering.

Selection . In the case of any partial redemption, selection of the Notes for redemption will be made by the Trustee in compliance with the requirements of the principal national securities exchange, if any, on which the Notes are listed, or if the Notes are not so listed, on a pro rata basis, by lot or by such other method as the Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate (and in such manner as complies with applicable legal requirements); provided that no Notes of $1,000 or less shall be redeemed in part. If any Note is to be redeemed in part only, the notice of redemption relating to such Note shall state the portion of the principal amount thereof to be redeemed. A new Note in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion thereof will be issued in the name of the holder thereof upon cancellation of the original Note. On and after the redemption date, interest will cease to accrue on Notes or portions thereof called for redemption so long as the Company has deposited with the paying agent funds sufficient to pay the principal of, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest (if any) on, the Notes to be redeemed.

The Company, its Subsidiaries or any Affiliates of the Company may at any time and from time to time purchase Notes in the open market or otherwise.

Subordination of the Notes

The payment of principal, interest and premium and Additional Interest, if any, on the Notes will be subordinated to the prior payment in full in cash of all Senior Debt of the Company, including the Indebtedness

 

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of the Company under the Credit Agreement, the Indebtedness represented by the Senior Notes and Senior Debt of the Company Incurred after the Issue Date.

The holders of Senior Debt of the Company will be entitled to receive payment in full in cash of all Obligations due in respect of Senior Debt of the Company (including interest after the commencement of any bankruptcy proceeding at the rate specified in the documentation for the applicable Senior Debt of the Company) before the holders of the Notes will be entitled to receive any payment with respect to the Notes (except that holders of the Notes may receive and retain Permitted Junior Securities), in the event of any distribution to creditors of the Company in connection with:

 

  (1) any liquidation or dissolution of the Company;

 

  (2) any bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, receivership or similar proceeding relating to the Company or its property;

 

  (3) any assignment for the benefit of creditors; or

 

  (4) any marshaling of the Company’s assets and liabilities.

The Company also may not make any payment in respect of the Notes (except in Permitted Junior Securities) if:

 

  (1) a default (a “payment default”) in the payment of principal, premium or interest on Designated Senior Debt of the Company occurs and is continuing; or

 

  (2) any other default (a “nonpayment default”) occurs and is continuing on any series of Designated Senior Debt of the Company that permits holders of that series of Designated Senior Debt of the Company to accelerate its maturity and the Trustee receives (with a copy to the Company) a written notice of such default (a “Payment Blockage Notice”) from a representative of the holders of such Designated Senior Debt.

Payments on the Notes may and will be resumed:

 

  (1) in the case of a payment default on Designated Senior Debt of the Company, upon the date on which such default is cured or waived; and

 

  (2) in the case of a nonpayment default on Designated Senior Debt of the Company, the earlier of (x) the date on which such default is cured or waived, (y) 179 days after the date on which the applicable Payment Blockage Notice is received and (z) the date the Trustee receives notice from the representative for such Designated Senior Debt rescinding the Payment Blockage Notice, unless, in each case, the maturity of such Designated Senior Debt of the Company has been accelerated.

No new Payment Blockage Notice may be delivered unless and until:

 

  (1) 360 days have elapsed since the delivery of the immediately prior Payment Blockage Notice; and

 

  (2) all scheduled payments of principal, interest and premium and Additional Interest, if any, on the Notes that have come due have been paid in full in Cash Equivalents.

No nonpayment default that existed or was continuing on the date of delivery of any Payment Blockage Notice to the Trustee will be, or be made, the basis for a subsequent Payment Blockage Notice unless such default has been cured or waived for a period of not less than 90 days.

If the Trustee or any holder of the Notes receives a payment in respect of the Notes (except in Permitted Junior Securities) when:

 

  (1) the payment is prohibited by these subordination provisions; and

 

  (2) the Trustee or the holder has actual knowledge that the payment is prohibited ( provided that such actual knowledge will not be required in the case of any payment default on Designated Senior Debt),

 

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the Trustee or the holder, as the case may be, will hold the payment in trust for the benefit of the holders of Senior Debt of the Company. Upon the written request from the representatives of such Senior Debt of the Company or if there is any payment default on any Designated Senior Debt, the Trustee or the Holder, as the case may be, will deliver the amounts in trust to the representatives of Senior Debt of the Company.

If payment of the Notes is accelerated because of an Event of Default, the Company shall promptly notify holders of its Senior Debt.

As a result of the subordination provisions described above, in the event of a bankruptcy, liquidation or reorganization of the Company, Holders of the Notes may recover less ratably than other creditors of the Company, including lenders under the Credit Agreement and Holders of the Senior Notes.

Payments under the Guarantee of each Guarantor will be subordinated to the prior payment in full of all Senior Debt of such Guarantor, including Senior Debt of such Guarantor Incurred after the Issue Date, on the same basis as provided above with respect to the subordination of payments on the Notes by the Company to the prior payment in full of Senior Debt of the Company.

See “Risk Factors—Risk Factors Related to an Investment in the Notes—Your right to receive payments on the notes will be junior to all of our and the guarantors’ senior indebtedness, including our and the guarantors’ obligations under our credit facility, our senior notes and other existing and future senior debt.”

“Designated Senior Debt” means:

 

  (1) any Indebtedness outstanding under the Credit Agreement; and

 

  (2) to the extent permitted under the Credit Agreement, any other Senior Debt permitted under the Indenture the aggregate principal amount of which is $50.0 million or more and that has been designated by the Company as “Designated Senior Debt.”

“Permitted Junior Securities” means:

 

  (1) Equity Interests in the Company or any other business entity provided for by a plan of reorganization; and

 

  (2) debt securities of the Company or any Guarantor or any other business entity provided for by a plan of reorganization that are subordinated to all Senior Debt and any debt securities issued in exchange for Senior Debt to the same extent as, or to a greater extent than, the Notes and the Guarantees are subordinated to Senior Debt under the Indenture.

“Senior Debt” of any Person means:

 

  (1) all Indebtedness of such Person outstanding under the Credit Agreement, the Senior Notes Indenture and all Hedging Obligations with respect thereto, whether outstanding on the Issue Date or Incurred thereafter;

 

  (2) any other Indebtedness of such Person permitted to be Incurred under the terms of the Indenture, unless the instrument under which such Indebtedness is Incurred expressly provides that it is on a parity with or subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or any Guarantee; and

 

  (3) all Obligations with respect to the items listed in the preceding clauses (1) and (2) (including any interest accruing subsequent to the filing of a petition of bankruptcy at the rate provided for in the documentation with respect thereto, whether or not such interest is an allowed claim under applicable law).

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the preceding paragraph, Senior Debt will not include:

 

  (1) any liability for federal, state, local or other taxes owed or owing by the Company or any Guarantor;

 

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  (2) any Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor to any of their Subsidiaries;

 

  (3) any trade payables;

 

  (4) the portion of any Indebtedness that is Incurred in violation of the Indenture; provided that, for purposes of this clause (4), a good faith determination by the Board of Directors of the Company evidenced by a Board Resolution, or a good faith determination by the Chief Financial Officer of the Company evidenced by an officer’s certificate, that any Indebtedness being incurred under the Credit Agreement is permitted by the Indenture will be conclusive as to whether any Indebtedness is Incurred in violation of the Indenture;

 

  (5) any Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor that, when Incurred, was without recourse to the Company or such Guarantor;

 

  (6) any repurchase, redemption or other obligation in respect of Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock; or

 

  (7) any Indebtedness owed to any employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

Indebtedness of the Company and the Guarantors outstanding under the Senior Subordinated Bridge Loan Facility is on parity in right of payment with the Notes and Guarantees thereof, and as a result is not Senior Debt.

Guarantees

The Notes are guaranteed, jointly and severally, by the Subsidiary Guarantors which are each of the Company’s direct and indirect Domestic Restricted Subsidiaries that guarantees Indebtedness under any Credit Agreement. On the Issue Date, each of the Company’s Domestic Restricted Subsidiaries, except Safecard Services Insurance Co., was a Subsidiary Guarantor (the “Initial Guarantors”). For the year ended December 31, 2005, Subsidiaries that are not guaranteeing the Notes (“Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries”) contributed $176.9 million and $9.9 million to our pro forma net revenues and Segment EBITDA, respectively. As of December 31, 2005, the Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries would have held approximately $182.2 million, or 8.4%, of our pro forma total assets.

Each Guarantee:

 

    is a general unsecured obligation of the Guarantor;

 

    is subordinated in right of payment to all existing and future Senior Debt of the Guarantor, including the guarantee by that Guarantor of Indebtedness under the Credit Agreement and the Indebtedness under the Senior Notes;

 

    is pari passu in right of payment with all existing and future senior subordinated Indebtedness of the Guarantor;

 

    is senior in right of payment to all existing and future subordinated Indebtedness of the Guarantor.

The obligations of each Guarantor under its Guarantee are limited as necessary to prevent that Guarantee from constituting a fraudulent conveyance under applicable law. See “Risk Factors—Risk Factors Related to an Investment in the Notes—Federal and state fraudulent transfer laws permit a court to void the notes and the guarantees, and, if that occurs, you may not receive any payments on the notes.” As of December 31, 2005, after giving pro forma effect to the Refinancing and the Additional Senior Notes Offering and application of net proceeds therefrom, the Initial Guarantors would have had $1,144.0 million of Senior Debt, of which $840.0 million would have been guarantees of Indebtedness under the Credit Agreement and $304.0 million would have been the Senior Notes Guarantees.

Each Guarantee is a continuing guarantee and, subject to the next succeeding paragraph, shall:

 

  (1) remain in full force and effect until payment in full of all the Guaranteed Obligations;

 

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  (2) be binding upon each such Subsidiary Guarantor and its successors; and

 

  (3) inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Trustee, the holders and their successors, transferees and assigns.

A Guarantee of a Subsidiary Guarantor will be automatically released and discharged upon:

 

  (1) (a) the sale, disposition or other transfer (including through merger, amalgamation or consolidation) of the Capital Stock of the applicable Subsidiary Guarantor, following which such Subsidiary Guarantor is no longer a Restricted Subsidiary, if such sale, disposition or other transfer is made in compliance with the Indenture, or

(b) the Company designating a Subsidiary Guarantor to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary in accordance with the provisions set forth under “—Certain Covenants—Limitation on Restricted Payments” and the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary,” or

(c) in the case of any Restricted Subsidiary which after the Issue Date, is required to guarantee the Notes pursuant to the covenant described under “—Certain Covenants—Future Guarantors,” the release or discharge of the guarantee by such Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary or the repayment of the Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock, in each case, which resulted in the obligation to guarantee the Notes, or

(d) the Company’s exercise of the legal defeasance option as described under “—Defeasance,” or if the Company’s obligations under the Indenture are discharged in accordance with the terms of the Indenture; and

 

  (2) in the case of clause (1)(a) above, such Guarantor is released from its guarantees, if any, of, and all pledges and security, if any, granted in connection with, the Credit Agreement and any other Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company.

A Guarantee also will be automatically released upon the applicable Subsidiary ceasing to be a Subsidiary as a result of any foreclosure of any pledge or security interest securing Bank Indebtedness or other exercise of remedies in respect thereof.

Change of Control

Upon the occurrence of any of the following events (each, a “Change of Control”), each holder will have the right to require the Company to repurchase all or any part of such holder’s Notes at a purchase price in cash equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of repurchase (subject to the right of holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date), except to the extent the Company has previously elected to redeem Notes as described under “—Optional Redemption”:

 

  (1) the sale, lease or transfer, in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all the assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any Person, other than any Permitted Holder; or

 

  (2)

the Company becomes aware (by way of a report or any other filing pursuant to Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, proxy, vote, written notice or otherwise) of the acquisition by any Person or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act, or any successor provision), including any group acting for the purpose of acquiring, holding or disposing of securities (within the meaning of Rule 13d-5(b)(1) under the Exchange Act), other than any of the Permitted Holders in a single transaction or in a related series of transactions, by way of merger, amalgamation, consolidation or other business combination or purchase of beneficial ownership (within the meaning

 

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of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, or any successor provision), of more than 50% of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of the Company or any Parent of the Company (for purposes of calculating the total voting power of the Voting Stock held by a group, the voting power beneficially owned by a Permitted Holder shall be excluded to the extent such Permitted Holder retains the sole economic rights with respect to the subject Voting Stock); or

 

  (3) (A) prior to the first public offering of common Capital Stock of the Parent or the Company, the first day on which the Board of Directors of the Parent or the Company shall cease to consist of a majority of directors who (i) were members of the Board of Directors of the Company on the Issue Date or (ii) were either (x) nominated for election by the Board of Directors of the Parent or the Company, a majority of whom were directors on the Issue Date or whose election or nomination for election was previously approved by a majority of directors nominated for election pursuant to this clause (x) or who were designated or appointed pursuant to clause (y) below, or (y) designated or appointed by a Permitted Holder (each of the directors selected pursuant to clauses (A)(i) and (A)(ii), a “Continuing Director”) and (B) after the first public offering of common Capital Stock of either Parent or the Company, (i) if such public offering is of common Capital Stock of the Parent, the first day on which a majority of the members of the Board of Directors of the Parent are not Continuing Directors or (ii) if such public offering is of common Capital Stock of the Company, the first day on which a majority of the members of the Board of Directors of the Company are not Continuing Directors.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Specified Merger/Transfer Transaction shall not constitute a Change of Control.

Within 30 days following any Change of Control, except to the extent that the Company has exercised its right to redeem the Notes as described under “—Optional Redemption,” the Company shall mail a notice (a “Change of Control Offer” ) to each holder with a copy to the Trustee stating:

 

  (1) that a Change of Control has occurred and that such holder has the right to require the Company to purchase such holder’s Notes at a purchase price in cash equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, to the date of purchase (subject to the right of holders of record on a record date to receive interest on the relevant interest payment date);

 

  (2) the circumstances and relevant facts and financial information regarding such Change of Control;

 

  (3) the repurchase date (which shall be no earlier than 30 days nor later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed); and

 

  (4) the instructions determined by the Company, consistent with this covenant, that a holder must follow in order to have its Notes purchased.

The Company will not be required to make a Change of Control Offer upon a Change of Control if all of the following conditions are met:

 

  (1) on a pro forma basis after giving effect to such Change of Control transaction, the Company’s Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio would not be lower than its Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio on the date immediately prior to the consummation of the Change of Control transaction;

 

  (2) on a pro forma basis after giving effect to such Change of Control transaction, and immediately prior to the public announcement of such Change of Control transaction, the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Company is or would be, as applicable, equal to or higher than the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Company on the Issue Date;

 

  (3)

on a pro forma basis after giving effect to such Change of Control transaction, the Company is permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in the first paragraph of the covenant described below under the caption “—Certain

 

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Covenants—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock;” and

 

  (4) at the time such Change of Control is consummated, no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would occur as a result thereof.

In addition, the Company will not be required to make a Change of Control Offer upon a Change of Control if a third party makes the Change of Control Offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements set forth in the Indenture applicable to a Change of Control Offer made by the Company and purchases all Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn under such Change of Control Offer.

A Change of Control Offer may be made in advance of a Change of Control, and conditioned upon such Change of Control, if a definitive agreement is in place for the Change of Control at the time of making of the Change of Control Offer.

The Company will comply, to the extent applicable, with the requirements of Section 14(e) of the Exchange Act and any other securities laws or regulations in connection with the repurchase of Notes pursuant to this covenant. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with provisions of this covenant, the Company will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached its obligations under this paragraph by virtue thereof.

This Change of Control repurchase provision is a result of negotiations between the Company and the Initial Purchasers. The Company has no present intention to engage in a transaction involving a Change of Control, although it is possible that the Company could decide to do so in the future. Subject to the limitations discussed below, the Company could, in the future, enter into certain transactions, including acquisitions, refinancings or other recapitalizations, that would not constitute a Change of Control under the Indenture, but that could increase the amount of indebtedness outstanding at such time or otherwise affect the capital structure or credit ratings of the Company or any of its Affiliates.

The Credit Agreement prohibits the Company from purchasing any Notes upon a Change of Control and also provides that certain change of control events with respect to the Company would constitute a default under the Credit Agreement. In addition, the Senior Notes Indenture prohibits, subject to certain exceptions, the repurchase of the Notes upon a Change of Control. Any future credit agreements or other agreements relating to Senior Debt to which the Company becomes a party may contain similar provisions and may directly prohibit the Company from purchasing any Notes. In the event a Change of Control occurs at a time when the Company is prohibited from purchasing Notes, the Company could seek the consent of its lenders, including lenders under the Credit Agreement and, if applicable, Holders of the Senior Notes to the purchase of Notes or could attempt to refinance the borrowings that contain such prohibition. If the Company does not obtain such a consent or repay such borrowings, the Company will remain prohibited from purchasing Notes. In such case, the Company’s failure to purchase tendered Notes would constitute an Event of Default under the Indenture which would, in turn, constitute a default under the Company’s other Indebtedness. In such circumstances, the subordination provisions of the Indenture would likely restrict payments to the holders of the Notes.

The definition of “Change of Control” includes a phrase relating to the sale, lease or transfer of “all or substantially all” the assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole. Although there is a developing body of case law interpreting the phrase “substantially all,” under New York law, which governs the Indenture, there is no precise established definition of the phrase under applicable law. Accordingly, the ability of a holder of Notes to require the Company to repurchase such Notes as a result of a sale, lease or transfer of less than all of the assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole to another Person or group may be uncertain.

 

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Certain Covenants

The Indenture contains provisions in respect of certain covenants including, among others, those summarized below:

Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock. The Indenture provides that:

 

  (1) the Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, Incur any Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness) or issue any shares of Disqualified Stock; and

 

  (2) the Company will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to issue any shares of Preferred Stock;

provided, however, that the Company and any Restricted Subsidiary may Incur Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness) or issue shares of Disqualified Stock and any Restricted Subsidiary may issue shares of Preferred Stock, in each case if the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Company’s most recently ended four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date on which such additional Indebtedness is Incurred or such Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock is issued would have been at least 2.0 to 1.0, determined on a pro forma basis (including a pro forma application of the net proceeds therefrom), as if the additional Indebtedness had been Incurred, or the Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock had been issued, as the case may be, and the application of proceeds therefrom had occurred at the beginning of such four-quarter period.

The foregoing limitations will not apply to (collectively, “Permitted Debt” ):

 

  (a) the Incurrence by the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness under any Credit Agreement and the issuance and creation of letters of credit and bankers’ acceptances thereunder (with letters of credit and bankers’ acceptances being deemed to have a principal amount equal to the face amount thereof) up to an aggregate principal amount of $1,020 million outstanding at any one time;

 

  (b) the Incurrence by the Company and the Guarantors of Indebtedness represented by (i) the Initial Senior Notes (excluding any additional Senior Notes; provided, however that the Company may Incur Indebtedness represented by additional Senior Notes pursuant to this clause (b) not to exceed $34 million in aggregate principal amount, including any refinancing thereof pursuant to clause (n) of this paragraph), and the Senior Notes Guarantees and (ii) the Notes (excluding any Additional Notes) and the Guarantees, as applicable, and in the case of each of clauses (i) and (ii), any exchange notes and guarantees thereof;

 

  (c) Indebtedness of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries existing on the Issue Date (other than Indebtedness described in clauses (a) and (b)) including, without limitation, the Indebtedness outstanding under the Senior Subordinated Bridge Loan Facility;

 

  (d) (1) Indebtedness (including Capitalized Lease Obligations) Incurred by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, Disqualified Stock issued by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and Preferred Stock issued by any Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company to finance (whether prior to or within 270 days after) the purchase, lease, construction or improvement of property (real or personal) or equipment (whether through the direct purchase of assets or the Capital Stock of any Person owning such assets (but no other material assets)) and (2) Acquired Indebtedness; provided, however , that the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock incurred pursuant to this clause (d), when aggregated with the principal amount of all other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock then outstanding that was Incurred (or deemed Incurred as provided under clause (n) below) pursuant to this clause (d), does not exceed the greater of (x) $95 million and (y) 4.0% of Total Assets of the Company at the time of Incurrence;

 

  (e)

Indebtedness Incurred by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries constituting reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit and bank guarantees issued in the ordinary course of

 

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business, including without limitation letters of credit in respect of workers’ compensation claims, health, disability or other benefits to employees or former employees or their families or property, casualty or liability insurance or self-insurance, or other Indebtedness with respect to reimbursement type obligations regarding workers’ compensation claims;

 

  (f) Indebtedness arising from agreements of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary providing for indemnification, adjustment of purchase price or similar obligations, in each case, Incurred in connection with the Transactions or the disposition of any business, assets or a Subsidiary of the Company in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, other than guarantees of Indebtedness Incurred by any Person acquiring all or any portion of such business, assets or Subsidiary for the purpose of financing such acquisition;

 

  (g) Indebtedness of the Company to a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that any such Indebtedness is subordinated in right of payment to the obligations of the Company under the Notes; provided, further , that any subsequent issuance or transfer of any Capital Stock or any other event which results in any such Restricted Subsidiary ceasing to be a Restricted Subsidiary or any other subsequent transfer of any such Indebtedness (except to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary) shall be deemed, in each case, to be an Incurrence of such Indebtedness;

 

  (h) shares of Preferred Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary issued to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary; provided that any subsequent issuance or transfer of any Capital Stock or any other event that results in any Restricted Subsidiary that holds such shares of Preferred Stock of another Restricted Subsidiary ceasing to be a Restricted Subsidiary or any other subsequent transfer of any such shares of Preferred Stock (except to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary) shall be deemed, in each case, to be an issuance of shares of Preferred Stock;

 

  (i) Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary; provided that if a Guarantor incurs such Indebtedness, and such Indebtedness is owed to a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor, such Indebtedness is subordinated in right of payment to the Guarantee of such Guarantor; provided, further , that any subsequent issuance or transfer of any Capital Stock or any other event which results in any Restricted Subsidiary holding such Indebtedness ceasing to be a Restricted Subsidiary or any other subsequent transfer of any such Indebtedness (except (x) to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary or (y) a pledge of Indebtedness referred to in this clause (i) shall be deemed to be held by the pledgor and shall not be deemed a transfer until the pledgee commences actions to foreclose on such Indebtedness) shall be deemed, in each case, to be an Incurrence of such Indebtedness;

 

  (j) Hedging Obligations that are Incurred not for speculative purposes and either (1) for the purpose of fixing or hedging interest rate risk with respect to any Indebtedness that is permitted by the terms of the Indenture to be outstanding or (2) for the purpose of fixing or hedging currency exchange rate risk with respect to any currency exchanges;

 

  (k) obligations (including reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit and bank guarantees) in respect of performance, bid, appeal and surety bonds and completion guarantees provided by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, in each case, reasonably required in the conduct of the business (giving effect to any growth or expansion of such business), including those to secure health, safety, insurance and environmental obligations of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries as conducted in accordance with good and prudent business industry practice;

 

  (l) Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company and Preferred Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company not otherwise permitted hereunder in an aggregate principal amount which, when aggregated with the principal amount or liquidation preference of all other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock then outstanding and Incurred pursuant to this clause (l), does not exceed $100 million at any one time outstanding;

 

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  (m) any guarantee by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness or other obligations of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries so long as the Incurrence of such Indebtedness or other Obligations by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary is permitted under the terms of the Indenture; provided that if such Indebtedness is by its express terms subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or the Guarantee of such Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable, any such guarantee of such guarantor with respect to such Indebtedness shall be subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or such Guarantor’s Guarantee, as applicable, substantially to the same extent as such Indebtedness is subordinated to the Notes or the Guarantee of such Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable;

 

  (n) the Incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company which serves to refund, refinance or defease any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock Incurred as permitted under the first paragraph of this covenant and clauses (b), (c), (d), (n), (o), (r) and (s) of this paragraph, including any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock Incurred to pay premiums and fees in connection therewith (subject to the following proviso, “Refinancing Indebtedness”) prior to its respective maturity; provided, however , that such Refinancing Indebtedness:

 

  (1) has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity at the time such Refinancing Indebtedness is Incurred which is not less than the remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock being refunded or refinanced;

 

  (2) has a Stated Maturity which is no earlier than the earlier of (x) the Stated Maturity of the Indebtedness being refunded or refinanced or (y) at least 91 days later than the maturity date of the Notes;

 

  (3) to the extent such Refinancing Indebtedness refinances (a) Indebtedness junior to the Notes or the Guarantee of such Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable, such Refinancing Indebtedness is junior to the Notes or the Guarantee of such Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable, or (b) Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, such Refinancing Indebtedness is Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock;

 

  (4) is Incurred in an aggregate principal amount (or if issued with original issue discount, an aggregate issue price) that is equal to or less than the aggregate principal amount (or if issued with original issue discount, the aggregate accreted value) then outstanding of the Indebtedness being refinanced plus premium and fees Incurred in connection with such refinancing;

 

  (5) shall not include (x) Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that is not a Subsidiary Guarantor that refinances Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary that is a Subsidiary Guarantor, or (y) Indebtedness of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary that refinances Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of an Unrestricted Subsidiary; and

 

  (6) in the case of any Refinancing Indebtedness Incurred to refinance Indebtedness outstanding under clause (d) or (s), shall be deemed to have been Incurred and to be outstanding under such clause (d) or (s), as applicable, and not this clause (n) for purposes of determining amounts outstanding under such clauses (d) and (s),

and provided, further, that subclauses (1) and (2) of this clause (n) will not apply to any refunding, refinancing or defeasance of (A) the Notes or (B) any Secured Indebtedness;

 

  (o) Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of Persons that are acquired by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or merged or amalgamated into the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary in accordance with the terms of the Indenture; provided, however , that such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock is not Incurred in contemplation of such acquisition, merger or amalgamation; provided, further, however , that after giving effect to such acquisition, merger or amalgamation:

 

  (1) the Company would be permitted to Incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in the first paragraph of this covenant; or

 

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  (2) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Company would be greater than or equal to such ratio immediately prior to such acquisition;

 

  (p) Indebtedness arising from the honoring by a bank or other financial institution of a check, draft or similar instrument drawn against insufficient funds in the ordinary course of business, provided that such Indebtedness is extinguished within five Business Days of its Incurrence;

 

  (q) Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary supported by a letter of credit or bank guarantee issued pursuant to the Credit Agreement, in a principal amount not in excess of the stated amount of such letter of credit or bank guarantee, provided that if (i) the Indebtedness represented by such letter of credit or bank guarantee is incurred under any of the clauses of this paragraph and (ii) the Indebtedness incurred under this clause (q) is at any time no longer supported by such letter of credit or bank guarantee, then the Indebtedness previously incurred under this clause (q) shall be classified under the preceding paragraph or under another available clause in this paragraph and if such Indebtedness may not be so reclassified, then an Event of Default under the Indenture shall be deemed to have occurred;

 

  (r) Contribution Indebtedness;

 

  (s) if the Company could not Incur $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the first paragraph hereof after giving effect to such borrowing, Indebtedness of Non-Guarantor Restricted Subsidiaries Incurred for working capital purposes and any refinancings of such Indebtedness; provided , however , that the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness Incurred under this clause (s), when aggregated with the principal amount of all other Indebtedness then outstanding and Incurred (or deemed Incurred pursuant to clause (n) above) pursuant to this clause (s), does not exceed $25 million; and

 

  (t) Indebtedness Incurred by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to fund losses, damages, liabilities, claims, costs and expenses (including attorney’s fees, interest, penalties, judgments and settlements, collectively, “Losses”), by reason of any litigation disclosed in the Offering Circular including the financial statements included herein, or relating to the same facts and circumstances as disclosed; provided that (as certified in an Officers’ Certificate delivered to the Trustee) (1) the Company has provided to Cendant Corporation (“Cendant”) notice in respect of such Losses and has a reasonable good faith belief it is entitled to be indemnified by Cendant pursuant to the Stock Purchase Agreement in respect of such Losses and (2) the Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to this clause (t) is in an amount equal to or less than the amount of the Losses for which indemnification is claimed; provided , further , that (1) after 30 days of the Company receiving funds in satisfaction of such indemnity or (2) if Cendant gives written notice to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary that it disputes the Company’s entitlement to indemnity with respect to any Losses and (A) such dispute is not challenged by the Company within 30 days of receipt of such notice or (B) there is a final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction confirming that the Company is not entitled to such indemnity which judgment is not discharged, waived or stayed for a period of 60 days, any amounts Incurred pursuant to this clause (t) in respect of such indemnity that remain outstanding shall no longer be permitted under this clause (t) and shall be deemed to be Incurred on such date.

For purposes of determining compliance with this covenant, in the event that an item of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock meets the criteria of one or more of the categories of permitted Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock described in clauses (a) through (t) above or is entitled to be Incurred pursuant to the first paragraph of this covenant, the Company shall, in its sole discretion, divide, classify or reclassify, or later divide, classify or reclassify, such item of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock in any manner that complies with this covenant and such item of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock will be treated as having been Incurred pursuant to one or more of such clauses or pursuant to the first paragraph hereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Indebtedness under the Credit Agreement outstanding on October 17, 2005 will be deemed to have been incurred on such date in reliance on the exception provided by clause (a) above and the Company shall not be permitted to reclassify all or any portion of such Indebtedness outstanding on October 17, 2005. Accrual of interest, the accretion of accreted value, amortization or original

 

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issue discount, the payment of interest in the form of additional Indebtedness with the same terms, the payment of dividends on Preferred Stock in the form of additional shares of Preferred Stock of the same class, the accretion of liquidation preference and increases in the amount of Indebtedness outstanding solely as a result of fluctuations in the exchange rate of currencies will not be deemed to be an Incurrence of Indebtedness for purposes of this covenant. Guarantees of, or obligations in respect of letters of credit relating to, Indebtedness which is otherwise included in the determination of a particular amount of Indebtedness shall not be included in the determination of such amount of Indebtedness; provided that the Incurrence of the Indebtedness represented by such guarantee or letter of credit, as the case may be, was in compliance with this covenant.

For purposes of determining compliance with any U.S. dollar-denominated restriction on the Incurrence of Indebtedness, the U.S. dollar-equivalent principal amount of Indebtedness denominated in a foreign currency shall be calculated based on the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date such Indebtedness was Incurred, in the case of term debt, or first committed or first Incurred (whichever yields the lower U.S. dollar equivalent), in the case of revolving credit debt; provided that if such Indebtedness is Incurred to refinance other Indebtedness denominated in a foreign currency, and such refinancing would cause the applicable U.S. dollar-denominated restriction to be exceeded if calculated at the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date of such refinancing, such U.S. dollar-denominated restriction shall be deemed not to have been exceeded so long as the principal amount of such refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount of such Indebtedness being refinanced.

Limitation on Restricted Payments. The Indenture provides that the Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly:

 

  (1) declare or pay any dividend or make any distribution on account of the Company’s or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries’ Equity Interests, including any payment with respect to such Equity Interests made in connection with any merger, amalgamation or consolidation involving the Company (other than (A) dividends or distributions by the Company payable solely in Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company; or (B) dividends or distributions by a Restricted Subsidiary on its common Equity Interests so long as, in the case of any dividend or distribution payable on or in respect of any class or series of securities issued by a Restricted Subsidiary other than a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary, the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary receives at least its pro rata share of such dividend or distribution in accordance with its Equity Interests in such class or series of securities);

 

  (2) purchase or otherwise acquire or retire for value any Equity Interests of the Company or any Parent of the Company, including in connection with any merger, amalgamation or consolidation;

 

  (3) make any principal payment on, or redeem, repurchase, defease or otherwise acquire or retire for value, in each case prior to any scheduled repayment or scheduled maturity, any Subordinated Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than the payment, redemption, repurchase, defeasance, acquisition or retirement of (A) Subordinated Indebtedness in anticipation of satisfying a sinking fund obligation, principal installment or final maturity, in each case due within one year of the date of such payment, redemption, repurchase, defeasance, acquisition or retirement and (B) Indebtedness permitted under clauses (g) and (i) of the second paragraph of the covenant described under “—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock”); or

 

  (4) make any Restricted Investment

(all such payments and other actions set forth in clauses (1) through (4) above being collectively referred to as “Restricted Payments”), unless, at the time of such Restricted Payment:

 

  (a) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would occur as a consequence thereof;

 

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  (b) immediately after giving effect to such transaction on a pro forma basis as if the Restricted Payment had been made and any Indebtedness Incurred on such date had been Incurred, (i) the Company would be permitted to Incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test in the first paragraph of the covenant described under “—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock” and (ii) the Consolidated Leverage Ratio of the Company would have been less than 5.0 to 1; and

 

  (c) such Restricted Payment, together with the aggregate amount of all other Restricted Payments made by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries after October 17, 2005 (including Restricted Payments permitted by clauses (1), (4) (only to the extent of one-half of the amount paid pursuant to such clause), (6) and (8) of the next succeeding paragraph, but excluding all other Restricted Payments permitted by the next succeeding paragraph), is less than the sum, without duplication, of:

 

  (A) 50% of the Consolidated Net Income of the Company for the period (taken as one accounting period) from July 1, 2005 to the end of the Company’s most recently ended fiscal quarter for which internal financial statements are available at the time of such Restricted Payment (or, if such Consolidated Net Income for such period is a deficit, less 100% of such deficit); provided however that, to the extent the Consolidated Leverage Ratio of the Company on a pro forma basis as if the Restricted Payment had been made and any Indebtedness Incurred on such date had been Incurred would have been less than 3.0 to 1, then 75% of the Consolidated Net Income of the Company for the aforementioned period shall be included pursuant to this clause (c)(A), plus

 

  (B) 100% of the aggregate net proceeds, including cash and the Fair Market Value (as determined in accordance with the next succeeding sentence) of property other than cash, received by the Company after October 17, 2005 from the issue or sale of Equity Interests of the Company or any Parent of the Company (excluding (without duplication) Excluded Contributions, Refunding Capital Stock, Designated Preferred Stock, Disqualified Stock and the Cash Contribution Amount) including Equity Interests (other than Refunding Capital Stock, Disqualified Stock or Designated Preferred Stock) issued upon conversion of Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock or upon exercise of warrants or options (other than an issuance or sale to a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company or an employee stock ownership plan or trust established by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries), plus

 

  (C) 100% of the aggregate amount of contributions to the capital of the Company received in cash and the Fair Market Value (as determined in accordance with the next succeeding sentence) of property other than cash after October 17, 2005 (other than Excluded Contributions, Refunding Capital Stock, Designated Preferred Stock, Disqualified Stock, the Cash Contribution Amount and contributions by a Restricted Subsidiary), plus

 

  (D) 100% of the aggregate amount received by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary after October 17, 2005 in cash and the Fair Market Value (as determined in accordance with the next succeeding sentence) of property other than cash received by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary after October 17, 2005 from:

 

  i. the sale or other disposition (other than to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company) of Restricted Investments made by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries and from repurchases and redemptions of such Restricted Investments from the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries by any Person (other than the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries) and from repayments of loans or advances which constituted Restricted Investments (other than in each case to the extent that the Restricted Investment was made pursuant to clause (7) or (10) of the second paragraph of the covenant described under “—Limitation on Restricted Payments”),

 

  ii.

the sale (other than to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company) of the Capital Stock of an Unrestricted Subsidiary (other than an Unrestricted Subsidiary to the extent the investments in such Unrestricted Subsidiary was made by the Company or a

 

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Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to clause (7) or (10) of the second paragraph of “—Limitation on Restricted Payments” or to the extent such Investment constituted a Permitted Investment), or

 

  iii. a distribution, dividend or other payment from an Unrestricted Subsidiary, plus

 

  (E) in the event any Unrestricted Subsidiary of the Company has been redesignated as a Restricted Subsidiary or has been merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into, or transfers or conveys its assets to, or is liquidated into, the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company after October 17, 2005, the Fair Market Value (as determined in accordance with the next succeeding sentence) of the Investments of the Company in such Unrestricted Subsidiary at the time of such redesignation, combination or transfer (or of the assets transferred or conveyed, as applicable) (other than in each case to the extent that the designation of such Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary was made pursuant to clause (7) or (10) of the second paragraph of the covenant described under “—Limitation on Restricted Payments” or constituted a Permitted Investment).

The Fair Market Value of property other than cash covered by clauses (B), (C), (D) and (E) above shall be determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company and

 

  (1) in the event of property with a Fair Market Value in excess of $10.0 million, shall be set forth in an Officers’ Certificate or

 

  (2) in the event of property with a Fair Market Value in excess of $25.0 million, shall be set forth in a resolution approved by at least a majority of the Board of Directors of the Company.

The foregoing provisions will not prohibit:

 

  (1) the payment of any dividend or distribution within 60 days after the date of declaration thereof, if at the date of declaration such payment would have complied with the provisions of the Indenture;

 

  (2) (a) the repurchase, retirement or other acquisition of any Equity Interests (“ Retired Capital Stock ”) of the Company or any Parent of the Company or Subordinated Indebtedness of the Company, any Parent of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor in exchange for, or out of the proceeds of, the substantially concurrent sale (other than the Cash Contribution Amount, Excluded Contributions or the sale of any Disqualified Stock or Designated Preferred Stock or any Equity Interests sold to a Subsidiary of the Company or to an employee stock ownership plan or any trust established by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries) of Equity Interests of the Company or any Parent of the Company or contributions to the equity capital of the Company (collectively, including any such contributions, “ Refunding Capital Stock ”) and

 

  (b) the declaration and payment of accrued dividends on the Retired Capital Stock out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale (other than to a Subsidiary of the Company or to an employee stock ownership plan or any trust established by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries) of Refunding Capital Stock;

 

  (3) the redemption, repurchase or other acquisition or retirement of Subordinated Indebtedness of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor made by exchange for, or out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale (or as promptly as practicable after giving any requisite notice to the holders of such Subordinated Indebtedness) of, new Indebtedness of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor which is Incurred in accordance with the covenant described under “—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock” so long as

 

  (a) the principal amount of such new Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount of the Subordinated Indebtedness being so redeemed, repurchased, acquired or retired for value (plus the amount of any premium required to be paid under the terms of the instrument governing the Subordinated Indebtedness being so redeemed, repurchased, acquired or retired plus any fees incurred in connection therewith),

 

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  (b) such Indebtedness is Incurred by the Company or by a Subsidiary Guarantor in respect of refinanced Indebtedness of a Subsidiary Guarantor and, in each case, is subordinated to the Notes, or the related Guarantee, as the case may be, at least to the same extent as such Subordinated Indebtedness so purchased, exchanged, redeemed, repurchased, acquired or retired for value,

 

  (c) such Indebtedness has a final scheduled maturity date equal to or later than the earlier of (x) final scheduled maturity date of the Subordinated Indebtedness being so redeemed, repurchased, acquired or retired or (y) at least 91 days later than the maturity date of the Notes, and

 

  (d) such Indebtedness has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity at the time Incurred which is not less than the remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Subordinated Indebtedness being so redeemed, repurchased, acquired or retired;

 

  (4) the repurchase, retirement or other acquisition for value (or dividends to any Parent of the Company to finance any such repurchase, retirement or other acquisition for value) of Equity Interests of the Company or any Parent of the Company held by any future, present or former employee, director or consultant of the Company, any Parent of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company pursuant to any management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or other agreement or arrangement made after October 17, 2005; provided , however , that the aggregate amounts paid under this clause (4) do not exceed $12.5 million in any calendar year commencing with 2005 (with unused amounts in any calendar year being permitted to be carried over to the following two calendar years subject to a maximum payment (without giving effect to the following proviso) of $25 million in any calendar year); provided , further , however, that such amount in any calendar year may be increased by an amount not to exceed:

 

  (a) the cash proceeds received by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries from the sale of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock or Designated Preferred Stock) of the Company after the Issue Date to members of management, directors or consultants of the Company, any Parent of the Company and Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company ( provided that the amount of such cash proceeds utilized for any such repurchase, retirement, other acquisition or dividend will not increase the amount available for Restricted Payments under clause (c) of the immediately preceding paragraph); plus

 

  (b) the cash proceeds of key man life insurance policies received by the Company, any Parent of the Company (to the extent contributed to the Company) or the Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company after October 17, 2005; less

 

  (c) the amount of any Restricted Payments previously made pursuant to subclauses (a) and (b) of this second proviso of clause (4);

 

  (5) the declaration and payment of dividends or distributions to holders of any class or series of Disqualified Stock of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries issued or incurred in accordance with the covenant described under “—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock;”

 

  (6)

the declaration and payment of dividends or distributions (a) to holders of any class or series of Designated Preferred Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) issued after the Issue Date and (b) to any Parent of the Company, the proceeds of which will be used to fund the payment of dividends to holders of any class or series of Designated Preferred Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of any Parent of the Company issued after the Issue Date; provided , however , that (A) in the case of subclause (a) and (b) of this clause (6), for the most recently ended four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date of issuance of such Designated Preferred Stock, after giving effect to such issuance (and the payment of dividends or distributions) on a pro forma basis, the Company would be permitted to Incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test in the first paragraph of the covenant described under “—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock”

 

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and (B) the aggregate amount of dividends declared and paid pursuant to subclause (a) and (b) of this clause (6) does not exceed the net cash proceeds actually received by the Company from any such sale of Designated Preferred Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) issued after the Issue Date;

 

  (7) Investments in Unrestricted Subsidiaries having an aggregate Fair Market Value, taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (7) that are at that time outstanding, not to exceed $35 million at the time of such Investment (with the Fair Market Value of each Investment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value); provided that the dollar amount of Investments made pursuant to this clause (7) shall not be reduced by the sale, disposition or other transfer of such Investments unless the proceeds of such sale, disposition or other transfer are received by the Company and/or its Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

  (8) the payment of dividends on the Company’s common Capital Stock (or the payment of dividends to any Parent of the Company to fund the payment by such Parent of the Company of dividends on such entity’s common Capital Stock) of up to 7.5% per annum of the net cash proceeds received by or contributed to the Company from any public offering of common Capital Stock, other than public offerings with respect to common Capital Stock of the Company or any Parent of the Company registered on Form S-4 or Form S-8 and other than any public sale constituting an Excluded Contribution;

 

  (9) Investments that are made with Excluded Contributions;

 

  (10) other Restricted Payments in an aggregate amount not to exceed $40 million;

 

  (11) the distribution, as a dividend or otherwise, of shares of Capital Stock of, or Indebtedness owed to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company by, Unrestricted Subsidiaries (other than to the extent such Investments were made pursuant to clauses (7) or (10) above or pursuant to clauses (9) or (10) of the definition of Permitted Investments);

 

  (12) (a) with respect to each tax year or portion thereof that any direct or indirect parent of the Company qualifies as a Flow Through Entity, the distribution by the Company to the holders of Capital Stock of such direct or indirect parent of the Company of an amount equal to the product of the amount of aggregate net taxable income of the Company allocated by the Company to the holders of Capital Stock of the Company for such period and the Presumed Tax Rate for such period; and (b) with respect to any tax year or portion thereof that any direct or indirect parent of the Company does not qualify as a Flow Through Entity, payment of dividends or other distributions to any direct or indirect parent of the Company that files a consolidated U.S. federal tax return that includes the Company and its subsidiaries in an amount not to exceed the amount that the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries would have been required to pay in respect of federal, state or local taxes, as the case may be, in respect of such year if the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries had paid such taxes directly as a stand-alone taxpayer or stand-alone group;

 

  (13) the declaration and payment of dividends to, or the making of loans to, any Parent of the Company (a) in amounts required for such entity to pay general corporate overhead expenses (including salaries, bonuses, benefits paid to management and employees of any Parent and professional and administrative expenses) for any direct or indirect parent entity of the Company to the extent such expenses are attributable to the ownership or operation of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries and (b) in amounts required for any Parent of the Company to pay interest and/or principal on Indebtedness that satisfies each of the following: (i) the proceeds of which were contributed to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, (ii) that has been guaranteed by, or is otherwise considered Indebtedness of, the Company Incurred in accordance with the covenant described under “—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock” and (iii) that was incurred (A) to refund, refinance or defease Indebtedness of such Parent of the Company or the Company and (B) pursuant to the first paragraph or clause (n) of the second paragraph of the covenant described under “—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock;”

 

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  (14) any Restricted Payment used to fund the Transactions and the fees and expenses related thereto or made in connection with the consummation of the Transactions as described in the Offering Circular (including payments made pursuant to or as contemplated by the Transaction Documents, whether payable on October 17, 2005 or thereafter), or owed by any Parent of the Company, the Company or Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company to Affiliates, in each case to the extent permitted by the covenant described under “—Transactions with Affiliates;”

 

  (15) repurchases of Equity Interests deemed to occur upon exercise of stock options or warrants if such Equity Interests represent a portion of the exercise price of such options or warrants;

 

  (16) payments of cash, or dividends, distributions or advances by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary to allow any such entity to make payments of cash, in lieu of the issuance of fractional shares upon the exercise of warrants or upon the conversion or exchange of Capital Stock of any such Person; provided , however , that the aggregate amount of such payments, dividends, distributions or advances does not exceed $4 million;

 

  (17) (a) the payment, purchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement of Subordinated Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries and (b) the payment of dividends, distributions and advances to any Parent of the Company to allow such Parent to purchase, repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire or retire for value shares of Seller Preferred Stock, in each case pursuant to provisions similar to those described under “—Change of Control” and “—Certain Covenants—Asset Sales;” provided that, prior to such payment, purchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement, the Company (or a third party to the extent permitted by the Indenture) has made a Change of Control Offer or Asset Sale Offer, as the case may be, with respect to the Notes as a result of such Change of Control or Asset Sale, as the case may be, and has repurchased all Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn in connection with such Change of Control Offer or Asset Sale Offer, as the case may be; and

 

  (18) the repayment of Indebtedness of the Company outstanding under the Senior Subordinated Bridge Loan Facility out of the proceeds from the sale by the Company of Additional Notes pursuant to clause (b) of the second paragraph of the covenant described under “—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock” in an amount not to exceed $33.6 million;

provided , however , that at the time of, and after giving effect to, any Restricted Payment permitted under clauses (4), (5), (6), (7), (8), (10), (11), (17), (18) and (19), no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would occur as a consequence thereof.

The amount of all Restricted Payments (other than cash) will be the Fair Market Value on the date of the Restricted Payment of the asset(s) or securities proposed to be transferred or issued by the Company or such Subsidiary, as the case may be, pursuant to the Restricted Payment. Except as otherwise provided herein, the Fair Market Value of any assets or securities that are required to be valued by this covenant will be determined in good faith by senior management or the Board of Directors of the Company.

As of the Issue Date, all of the Company’s Subsidiaries (except for Affinion Loyalty, LLC) will be Restricted Subsidiaries. The Company will not permit any Unrestricted Subsidiary to become a Restricted Subsidiary except pursuant to the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary.” For purposes of designating any Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, all outstanding Investments by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries (except to the extent repaid) in the Subsidiary so designated will be deemed to be Restricted Payments or Permitted Investments in an amount determined as set forth in the last sentence of the definition of “Investments.” Such designation will only be permitted if Restricted Payments or Permitted Investments in such amount would be permitted at such time and if such Subsidiary otherwise meets the definition of an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

 

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Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Subsidiaries. The Indenture provides that the Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create or otherwise cause or suffer to exist or become effective any consensual encumbrance or consensual restriction on the ability of any Restricted Subsidiary to:

 

  (a) (i) pay dividends or make any other distributions to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (1) on its Capital Stock or (2) with respect to any other interest or participation in, or measured by, its profits; or (ii) pay any Indebtedness owed to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

  (b) make loans or advances to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; or

 

  (c) sell, lease or transfer any of its properties or assets to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

except in each case for such encumbrances or restrictions existing under or by reason of:

 

  (1) contractual encumbrances or restrictions in effect on the Issue Date, including pursuant to the Credit Agreement, other Senior Credit Documents and the Senior Subordinated Bridge Loan Facility, the Senior Notes Indenture and the Senior Notes (and any exchange notes and guarantees thereof);

 

  (2) the Indenture and the Notes (and any exchange notes and guarantees thereof);

 

  (3) applicable law or any applicable rule, regulation or order;

 

  (4) any agreement or other instrument of a Person acquired by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary which was in existence at the time of such acquisition (but not created in contemplation thereof), which encumbrance or restriction is not applicable to any Person, or the properties or assets of any Person, other than the Person, or the property or assets of the Person, so acquired;

 

  (5) contracts or agreements for the sale of assets, including customary restrictions with respect to a Subsidiary pursuant to an agreement that has been entered into for the sale or disposition of all or substantially all of the Capital Stock or assets of such Subsidiary;

 

  (6) Secured Indebtedness otherwise permitted to be Incurred pursuant to the covenants described under “—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock” and “—Liens” that limit the right of the debtor to dispose of the assets securing such Indebtedness;

 

  (7) restrictions on cash or other deposits or net worth imposed by customers, suppliers or other vendors under contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business;

 

  (8) customary provisions in joint venture agreements and other similar agreements (including customary provisions in agreements relating to any Joint Venture);

 

  (9) purchase money obligations for property acquired and Capitalized Lease Obligations in the ordinary course of business that impose restrictions of the nature discussed in clause (c) above on the property so acquired;

 

  (10) customary provisions contained in leases, licenses, contracts and other similar agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business that impose restrictions of the type described in clause (c) above on the property subject to such lease;

 

  (11) other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that is Incurred subsequent to the Issue Date and permitted pursuant to the covenant described under “—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock;” provided that such encumbrances and restrictions contained in any agreement or instrument will not materially affect the Company’s ability to make anticipated principal or interest payments on the Notes (as determined in good faith by senior management or the Board of Directors of the Company); and

 

  (12)

any encumbrances or restrictions of the type referred to in clauses (a), (b) and (c) above imposed by any amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings,

 

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replacements or refinancings of the contracts, instruments or obligations referred to in clauses (1) through (11) above; provided that such amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings are, in the good faith judgment of senior management or the Board of Directors of the Company, no more restrictive as a whole with respect to such encumbrances and restrictions than those prior to such amendment, modification, restatement, renewal, increase, supplement, refunding, replacement or refinancing.

For purposes of determining compliance with this covenant, (i) the priority of any Preferred Stock in receiving dividends or liquidating distributions prior to dividends or liquidating distributions being paid on common Capital Stock shall not be deemed a restriction on the ability to make distributions on Capital Stock and (ii) the subordination of loans or advances made to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to other Indebtedness Incurred by the Company or any such Restricted Subsidiary shall not be deemed a restriction on the ability to make loans or advances.

Asset Sales. The Indenture provides that the Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, cause or make an Asset Sale, unless (x) the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, as the case may be, receives consideration at the time of such Asset Sale at least equal to the Fair Market Value (as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company) of the assets sold or otherwise disposed of and (y) at least 75% of the consideration therefor received by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, is in the form of Cash Equivalents; provided that the amount of:

 

  (a) any liabilities (as shown on the Company’s or such Restricted Subsidiary’s most recent balance sheet) of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company (other than liabilities that are by their terms subordinated to the Notes) that are assumed by the transferee of any such assets,

 

  (b) any notes or other obligations or other securities or assets received by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary of the Company from such transferee that are converted by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary of the Company into cash within 180 days of the receipt thereof (to the extent of the cash received), and

 

  (c) any Designated Non-cash Consideration received by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in such Asset Sale having an aggregate Fair Market Value (as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company), taken together with all other Designated Non-cash Consideration received pursuant to this clause (c) that is at that time outstanding, not to exceed the greater of $50 million or 2.5% of Total Assets of the Company at the time of the receipt of such Designated Non-cash Consideration (with the Fair Market Value of each item of Designated Non-cash Consideration being measured at the time received and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value)

shall be deemed to be Cash Equivalents for the purposes of this provision.

The Indenture provides that, within 365 days after the receipt by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company of the Net Proceeds of any Asset Sale, the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary of the Company may apply the Net Proceeds from such Asset Sale, at its option:

 

  (1) to permanently reduce Obligations under Senior Debt and, if the Senior Debt repaid is revolving credit Indebtedness, to correspondingly reduce commitments with respect thereto or Pari Passu Indebtedness ( provided that if the Company or any Guarantor shall so reduce Obligations under Pari Passu Indebtedness (other than Pari Passu Indebtedness that is Secured Indebtedness), the Company will equally and ratably reduce Obligations under the Notes if the Notes are then prepayable or, if the Notes may not then be prepaid, by making an offer (in accordance with the procedures set forth below for an Asset Sale Offer) to all holders to purchase at a purchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, the pro rata principal amount of Notes that would otherwise be prepaid) or Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor, in each case other than Indebtedness owed to the Company or an Affiliate of the Company; or

 

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  (2) to make an investment in any one or more businesses ( provided that if such investment is in the form of the acquisition of Capital Stock of a Person, such acquisition results in such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company), or capital expenditures or assets, in each case used or useful in a Similar Business, and/or

 

  (3) to make an investment in any one or more businesses ( provided that if such investment is in the form of the acquisition of Capital Stock of a Person, such acquisition results in such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company), properties or assets that replace the properties and assets that are the subject of such Asset Sale or Event of Loss;

provided that in the case of clauses (2) and (3) above, a binding commitment shall be treated as a permitted application of the Net Proceeds from the date of such commitment so long as to purchase (x) such purchase is consummated within 545 days after the receipt by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Net Proceeds of any Asset Sale and (y) if such purchase is not consummated within the period set forth in subclause (x), the Net Proceeds not so applied will be deemed to be Excess Proceeds (as defined below).

Pending the final application of any such Net Proceeds, the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary of the Company may temporarily reduce Indebtedness under a revolving credit facility, if any, or otherwise invest such Net Proceeds in Cash Equivalents or Investment Grade Securities. The Indenture provides that any Net Proceeds from any Asset Sale that are not applied as provided and within the time period set forth in the second paragraph of this covenant (it being understood that any portion of such Net Proceeds used to make an offer to purchase the Notes, as described in clause (1) above, shall be deemed to have been invested whether or not such offer is accepted) will be deemed to constitute “ Excess Proceeds .” When the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds exceeds $25 million, the Company shall make an offer to all holders of Notes (and, at the option of the Company, to holders of any Pari Passu Indebtedness) (an “ Asset Sale Offer ”) to purchase the maximum principal amount of Notes (and such Pari Passu Indebtedness) that is an integral multiple of $1,000 that may be purchased out of the Excess Proceeds at an offer price in cash in an amount equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof (or, in the event such Pari Passu Indebtedness was issued with significant original issue discount, 100% of the accreted value thereof), plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any (or, in respect of such Pari Passu Indebtedness, such lesser price, if any, as may be provided for by the terms of such Pari Passu Indebtedness), to the date fixed for the closing of such offer, in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Indenture. The Company will commence an Asset Sale Offer with respect to Excess Proceeds within ten Business Days after the date that Excess Proceeds exceed $25 million by mailing the notice required pursuant to the terms of the Indenture, with a copy to the Trustee. To the extent that the aggregate amount of Notes (and such Pari Passu Indebtedness) tendered pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer is less than the Excess Proceeds, the Company may use any remaining Excess Proceeds for any purpose that is not prohibited by the Indenture. If the aggregate principal amount of Notes surrendered by holders thereof exceeds the amount of Excess Proceeds, the Trustee shall select the Notes (and such Pari Passu Indebtedness) to be purchased in the manner described below. Upon completion of any such Asset Sale Offer, the amount of Excess Proceeds shall be reset at zero.

The Company will comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations to the extent such laws or regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of the Notes pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the provisions of the Indenture, the Company will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and shall not be deemed to have breached its obligations described in the Indenture by virtue thereof.

If more Notes (and such Pari Passu Indebtedness) are tendered pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer than the Company is required to purchase, the principal amount of the Notes (and Pari Passu Indebtedness) to be purchased will be determined pro rata based on the principal amounts so tendered and the selection of the actual Notes of each series for purchase will be made by the Trustee on a pro rata basis to the extent practicable; provided , however , that no Notes (or Pari Passu Indebtedness) of $1,000 or less shall be purchased in part.

 

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Notice of an Asset Sale Offer shall be mailed by first-class mail, postage prepaid or electronically transmitted, at least 30 but not more than 60 days before the purchase date to each holder of Notes at such holder’s registered address. If any Note is to be purchased in part only, any notice of purchase that relates to such Note shall state the portion of the principal amount thereof that has been or is to be purchased.

A new Note in principal amount equal to the unpurchased portion of any Note purchased in part will be issued in the name of the holder thereof upon cancellation of the original Note. On and after the purchase date, unless the Company defaults in payment of the purchase price, interest shall cease to accrue on Notes or portions thereof purchased.

The Credit Agreement prohibits the Company from purchasing any Notes in an Asset Sale Offer, and also provides that certain asset sale events with respect to the Company would constitute a default under the Credit Agreement. In addition, the Senior Notes Indenture prohibits, subject to certain exceptions, the repurchase of the Notes in an Asset Sale Offer. Any future credit agreements or other similar agreements relating to Senior Debt to which the Company becomes a party may contain similar restrictions and provisions. In the event an Asset Sale occurs at a time when the Company is prohibited from purchasing Notes, the Company could seek the consent of its lenders, including the lenders under the Credit Agreement and, if applicable, the Holders of the Senior Notes, to the purchase of Notes or could attempt to refinance the borrowings that contain such prohibition. If the Company does not obtain such a consent or repay such borrowings, the Company will remain prohibited from purchasing Notes. In such case, the Company’s failure to purchase tendered Notes would constitute an Event of Default under the Indenture that would, in turn, constitute a default under the Company’s other Indebtedness. In such circumstances, the subordination provisions in the Indenture would likely restrict payments to the holders of the Notes.

Transactions with Affiliates. The Indenture provides that the Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, make any payment to, or sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of its properties or assets to, or purchase any property or assets from, or enter into or make or amend any transaction or series of transactions, contract, agreement, understanding, loan, advance or guarantee with or for the benefit of, any Affiliate of the Company (each of the foregoing, an “ Affiliate Transaction ”) involving aggregate consideration in excess of $5 million, unless:

 

  (1) such Affiliate Transaction is on terms that are not less favorable to the Company or the relevant Restricted Subsidiary than those that could have been obtained in a comparable transaction by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary with an unrelated Person; and

 

  (2) with respect to any Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions involving aggregate consideration in excess of $20 million, the Company delivers to the Trustee a resolution adopted in good faith by the majority of the Board of Directors of the Company approving such Affiliate Transaction and set forth in an Officers’ Certificate certifying that such Affiliate Transaction complies with clause (a) above.

The foregoing provisions will not apply to the following:

 

  (1) transactions between or among the Company and/or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

  (2) Restricted Payments permitted by the provisions of the Indenture described above under the covenant “—Limitation on Restricted Payments” and Investments under the definition of “Permitted Investments;”

 

  (3) the entering into of any agreement (and any amendments or modifications to such agreements) to pay, and the payment of, (i) management, consulting, monitoring and advisory fees and expenses to the Sponsor in an aggregate amount in any fiscal year not to exceed the greater of (x) $5 million and (y) 2% of Consolidated Cash Flow, and expense reimbursement, in each case made pursuant to any agreement, or any agreement contemplated by such agreement, each as described under the caption “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions” in the Offering Circular and (ii) the termination fees pursuant to the Sponsor Consulting Agreement not to exceed the amount set forth in the Sponsor Consulting Agreement as in effect on October 17, 2005;

 

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  (4) the payment of reasonable and customary fees to, and indemnity provided on behalf of officers, directors, employees or consultants of the Company, any Parent of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company;

 

  (5) payments by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to the Sponsor made for any financial advisory, financing, underwriting or placement services or in respect of other investment banking activities, including, without limitation, in connection with acquisitions or divestitures, which payments are (x) approved by a majority of the Board of Directors of the Company in good faith or (y) made pursuant to any agreement, or any agreement contemplated by such agreement, each as described under the caption “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions” in the Offering Circular;

 

  (6) transactions in which the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, as the case may be, delivers to the Trustee a letter from an Independent Financial Advisor stating that such transaction is fair to the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary from a financial point of view or meets the requirements of clause (a) of the preceding paragraph;

 

  (7) payments or loans (or cancellation of loans) to employees or consultants that are (x) approved by a majority of the Board of Directors of the Company in good faith, (y) made in compliance with applicable law and (z) otherwise permitted under the Indenture;

 

  (8) any agreement as in effect as of the Issue Date and any amendment thereto (so long as any such agreement together with all amendments thereto, taken as a whole, is not more disadvantageous to the holders of the Notes in any material respect than the original agreement as in effect on the Issue Date) or any transaction contemplated thereby as determined in good faith by senior management or the Board of Directors of the Company;

 

  (9) the existence of, or the performance by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of its obligations under the terms of, the Transaction Documents and any amendment thereto or similar agreements which it may enter into thereafter; provided , however , that the existence of, or the performance by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of its obligations under, any future amendment to any such existing agreement or under any similar agreement entered into after the Issue Date shall only be permitted by this clause (9) to the extent that the terms of any such existing agreement together with all amendments thereto, taken as a whole, or new agreement are not otherwise more disadvantageous to the holders of the Notes in any material respect than the original agreement as in effect on the Issue Date;

 

  (10) transactions to effect the Transactions and the payment of all fees and expenses related to the Transactions, as described in the Offering Circular or contemplated by the Transaction Documents;

 

  (11) transactions with customers, clients, suppliers, or purchasers or sellers of goods or services, in each case in the ordinary course of business and otherwise in compliance with the terms of the Indenture that are fair to the Company or the Restricted Subsidiaries, in the reasonable determination of the members of the Board of Directors or the senior management of the Company, or are on terms at least as favorable as would reasonably have been entered into at such time with an unaffiliated party;

 

  (12) if otherwise permitted under the Indenture, the issuance of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company to any Permitted Holder or to any director, officer, employee or consultant of the Company or any Parent of the Company;

 

  (13) the issuances of securities or other payments, awards or grants in cash, securities or otherwise pursuant to, or the funding of, employment arrangements, stock option and stock ownership plans or similar employee benefit plans approved by the Board of Directors of the Company or of a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, as appropriate, in good faith;

 

  (14) the entering into of any tax sharing agreement or arrangement and any payment permitted by clause (12) of the second paragraph of the covenant described under “—Limitations on Restricted Payments;”

 

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  (15) any contribution to the capital of the Company;

 

  (16) transactions between the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and any Person, a director of which is also a director of the Company or any direct or indirect parent company of the Company, provided , however , that such director abstains from voting as a director of the Company or such direct or indirect parent company, as the case may be, on any matter involving such other Person;

 

  (17) pledges of Equity Interests of Unrestricted Subsidiaries; and

 

  (18) any employment agreements entered into by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business.

Limitation on Other Senior Subordinated Indebtedness. The Indenture provides that the Company will not Incur any Indebtedness that is subordinate in right of payment to any Senior Debt of the Company unless it is pari passu or subordinate in right of payment to the Notes. The Indenture also provides that no Guarantor will Incur any Indebtedness that is subordinate or junior in right of payment to the Senior Debt of such Guarantor unless it is pari passu or subordinate in right of payment to such Guarantor’s Guarantee. For purposes of the foregoing, no Indebtedness will be deemed to be subordinated in right of payment to any other Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor, as applicable, solely by reason of any Liens or Guarantees arising or created in respect of such other Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor or by virtue of the fact that the holders of any secured Indebtedness have entered into intercreditor agreements giving one or more of such holders priority over the other holders in the collateral held by them.

Liens. The Indenture provides that the Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, create, incur, assume or otherwise cause or suffer to exist or become effective any Lien of any kind securing Indebtedness which is pari passu or junior to the Notes or the Guarantees (other than Permitted Liens) upon any of their property or assets, now owned or hereafter acquired, unless all payments due under the Indenture and the Notes are secured on an equal and ratable basis with the obligations so secured (or, in the case of Indebtedness subordinated to the Notes or the related Guarantees, prior or senior thereto, with the same relative priority as the Notes will have with respect to such subordinated Indebtedness) until such time as such obligations are no longer secured by a Lien.

Reports and Other Information. The Indenture provides that notwithstanding that the Company may not be subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act or otherwise report on an annual and quarterly basis on forms provided for such annual and quarterly reporting pursuant to rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC, the Company will file with the SEC (unless the SEC will not accept such a filing), and provide the Trustee and holders with copies thereof, without cost to each holder, within 15 days after it files (or attempts to file) them with the SEC,

 

  (1) within the time periods specified by the Exchange Act, an annual report on Form 10-K (or any successor or comparable form) containing the information required to be contained therein (or required in such successor or comparable form);

 

  (2) within the time periods specified by the Exchange Act, a quarterly report on Form 10-Q (or any successor or comparable form); and

 

  (3) all current reports that would be required to be filed with the SEC on Form 8-K.

In addition, the Company will make such information available to prospective investors upon request. In addition, the Company has agreed that, for so long as any Notes remain outstanding during any period when it is not subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, it will furnish to the holders of the Notes and to prospective investors, upon their request, the information required to be delivered pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company will be deemed to have furnished such reports referred to above to the Trustee and the holders if it has filed such reports with the SEC via the EDGAR filing system and

 

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such reports are publicly available. In addition, such requirements shall be deemed satisfied prior to the commencement of the exchange offer contemplated by the registration rights agreement relating to the Notes or the effectiveness of the shelf registration statement by the filing with the SEC of the exchange offer registration statement and/or shelf registration statement in accordance with the provisions of such registration rights agreement, and any amendments thereto, with such financial information that satisfies Regulation S-X of the Securities Act and such registration statement and/or amendments thereto are filed at times that otherwise satisfy the time requirements set forth in the first paragraph of this covenant.

In addition, if at any time any Parent of the Company becomes a Guarantor (there being no obligation of any Parent to do so), holds no material assets other than cash, Cash Equivalents and the Capital Stock of the Company or of any direct or indirect parent corporation of the Company (and performs the related incidental activities associated with such ownership) and complies with the requirements of Rule 3-10 of Regulation S-X promulgated by the SEC (or any successor provision), the reports, information and other documents required to be filed and furnished to holders of the Notes pursuant to this covenant may, at the option of the Company, be filed by and be those of such Parent rather than the Company.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not be required to furnish any information, certifications or reports required by Items 307 and 308 of Regulation S-K prior to the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or Shelf Registration Statement, as applicable.

Future Guarantors. The Indenture provides that the Company will cause each Restricted Subsidiary that Guarantees any Indebtedness of the Company or any of the Guarantors (excluding a Guarantee of Indebtedness of a Non-Guarantor Restricted Subsidiary issued by a Non-Guarantor Restricted Subsidiary) to execute and deliver to the Trustee a Guarantee pursuant to which such Restricted Subsidiary will unconditionally Guarantee, on a joint and several basis, the full and prompt payment of the principal of, premium, if any and interest on the Notes on a senior or pari passu basis and all other obligations under the Indenture, unless such other Indebtedness is Senior Debt, in which case the guarantee may be subordinated to the guarantee of such Senior Debt to the same extent as the Notes are subordinated to such Senior Debt. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event any Guarantor is released and discharged in full from all of its obligations under Guarantees of (1) each Credit Agreement and (2) all other Indebtedness of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, then the Guarantee of such Guarantor shall be automatically and unconditionally released or discharged; provided that such Restricted Subsidiary has not incurred any Indebtedness or issued any Preferred Stock in reliance on its status as a Guarantor under “—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock” unless such Guarantor’s obligations under such Indebtedness or Preferred Stock, as the case may be, so incurred are satisfied in full and discharged or are otherwise permitted under one of the exceptions available at the time of such release to Restricted Subsidiaries under the second paragraph of “—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock.”

Each Guarantee will be limited to an amount not to exceed the maximum amount that can be guaranteed by that Restricted Subsidiary without rendering the Guarantee, as it relates to such Restricted Subsidiary, voidable under applicable law relating to fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer or similar laws affecting the rights of creditors generally.

Each Guarantee shall be released in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture described under “—Guarantees.”

Payments for Consent. The Indenture provides that the Company will not, and will not permit any of the Subsidiaries of the Company to, directly or indirectly, pay or cause to be paid any consideration to or for the benefit of any holder of the Notes for or as an inducement to any consent, waiver or amendment of any of the terms or provisions of the Indenture or the Notes unless such consideration is offered to be paid and is paid to all holders of the Notes that consent, waive or agree to amend in the time frame set forth in the solicitation documents relating to such consent, waiver or agreement.

 

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Merger, Amalgamation, Consolidation or Sale of All or Substantially All Assets

The Indenture provides that the Company may not consolidate, amalgamate or merge with or into or wind up into (whether or not the Company is the surviving corporation), or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties or assets in one or more related transactions to, any Person unless:

 

  (1) the Company is a surviving Person or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation, amalgamation or merger (if other than the Company) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition has been made is a corporation, partnership or limited liability company organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, the District of Columbia or any territory thereof (the Company or such Person, as the case may be, being herein called the “Successor Company”);

 

  (2) the Successor Company (if other than the Company) expressly assumes all the obligations of the Company under the Indenture and the Notes pursuant to supplemental indentures or other documents or instruments in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee;

 

  (3) immediately after giving effect to such transaction no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing;

 

  (4) immediately after giving pro forma effect to such transaction, as if such transaction had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period (and treating any Indebtedness which becomes an obligation of the Successor Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries as a result of such transaction as having been Incurred by the Successor Company or such Restricted Subsidiary at the time of such transaction), either

 

  (a) the Successor Company would be permitted to Incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in the first paragraph of the covenant described under “—Certain Covenants—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock;” or

 

  (b) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Successor Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries would be greater than or equal to such ratio for the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries immediately prior to such transaction;

 

  (5) each Guarantor, unless it is the other party to the transactions described above, shall have by supplemental indenture confirmed that its Guarantee shall apply to such Person’s obligations under the Indenture and the Notes;

 

  (6) if the Successor Company is not organized as a corporation after such transaction, a successor corporation which is a Subsidiary of the Successor Company shall continue to be co-obligor of the Notes and shall have by supplemental indenture confirmed its obligations under the Indenture and the Notes; and

 

  (7) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, amalgamation, merger or transfer and such supplemental indenture (if any) comply with the Indenture.

The Successor Company (if other than the Company) will succeed to, and be substituted for, the Company under the Indenture and the Notes, and the Company will automatically be released and discharged from its obligations under the Indenture and the Notes, but in the case of a lease of all or substantially all of its assets, the Company will not be released from the obligations to pay the principal of and interest on the Notes. Notwithstanding the foregoing clauses (3) and (4), (a) any Restricted Subsidiary may consolidate or amalgamate

 

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with, merge into, sell, assign or transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or part of its properties and assets to the Company or to another Restricted Subsidiary and (b) the Company may merge, amalgamate or consolidate with an Affiliate incorporated or organized solely for the purpose of incorporating or organizing the Company in another state of the United States, the District of Columbia or any territory of the United States so long as the amount of Indebtedness of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries is not increased thereby (any transaction described in this sentence a “ Specified Merger/Transfer Transaction ”). This “—Merger, Amalgamation, Consolidation or Sale of All or Substantially All Assets” will not apply to a sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of assets between or among the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries.

For purposes of this covenant, the sale, lease, conveyance, assignment, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of one or more Subsidiaries of the Company, which properties and assets, if held by the Company instead of such Subsidiaries, would constitute all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company on a consolidated basis, shall be deemed to be the transfer of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company.

Although there is a limited body of case law interpreting the phrase “substantially all,” under New York law, which governs the Indenture, there is no precise established definition of the phrase under applicable law. Accordingly, in certain circumstances there may be a degree of uncertainty as to whether a particular transaction would involve “all or substantially all” of the property or assets of a Person.

The Indenture further provides that subject to certain limitations in the Indenture governing release of a Guarantee upon the sale or disposition of a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that is a Subsidiary Guarantor, each Subsidiary Guarantor will not, and the Company will not permit any Subsidiary Guarantor to, consolidate, amalgamate or merge with or into or wind up into (whether or not such Subsidiary Guarantor is the surviving Person), or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties or assets in one or more related transactions to, any Person unless:

 

  (1) either

 

  (a) such Subsidiary Guarantor is a surviving Person or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation, amalgamation or merger (if other than such Subsidiary Guarantor) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition is made is a corporation, partnership or limited liability company organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, the District of Columbia or any territory thereof (such Subsidiary Guarantor or such Person, as the case may be, being herein called the “ Successor Guarantor ”) and the Successor Guarantor (if other than such Subsidiary Guarantor) expressly assumes all the obligations of such Subsidiary Guarantor under the Indenture and such Subsidiary Guarantor’s Guarantee pursuant to a supplemental indenture or other documents or instruments in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee; or

 

  (b) such sale or other disposition or consolidation or merger complies with the covenant described above under the caption “—Certain Covenants—Asset Sales;”

 

  (2) immediately after giving effect to such transaction (and treating any Indebtedness which becomes an obligation of the Successor Guarantor or any of its Subsidiaries as a result of such transaction as having been Incurred by the Successor Guarantor or such Subsidiary at the time of such transaction), no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing; and

 

  (3) any Successor Guarantor (if other than such Subsidiary Guarantor) shall have delivered or caused to be delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, amalgamation, merger or transfer and such supplemental indenture (if any) comply with the Indenture.

 

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Subject to certain limitations described in the Indenture, the Successor Guarantor will succeed to, and be substituted for, such Subsidiary Guarantor under the Indenture and such Subsidiary Guarantor’s Guarantee, and such Subsidiary Guarantor will automatically be released and discharged from its obligations under the Indenture and such Subsidiary Guarantor’s guarantee. Notwithstanding clause (2) of the foregoing paragraph, (i) a Subsidiary Guarantor may merge, amalgamate or consolidate with an Affiliate incorporated or organized solely for the purpose of incorporating or organizing such Subsidiary Guarantor in another state of the United States, the District of Columbia or any territory of the United States, so long as the amount of Indebtedness of the Subsidiary Guarantor is not increased thereby and (ii) a Subsidiary Guarantor may merge, amalgamate or consolidate with another Subsidiary Guarantor or the Company.

Defaults

An Event of Default will be defined in the Indenture as:

 

  (1) a default in any payment of interest on, or Additional Interest with respect to, any Note when due that continues for 30 days, whether or not such payment is prohibited by the subordination provisions of the Indenture,

 

  (2) a default in the payment of principal or premium, if any, of any Note when due at its Stated Maturity, upon optional redemption, upon required repurchase, upon declaration or otherwise, whether or not such payment is prohibited by the subordination provisions of the Indenture,

 

  (3) the failure by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to comply with the provisions described under the caption “—Merger, Amalgamation, Consolidation or Sale of All or Substantially All Assets,”

 

  (4) the failure by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to comply for 30 days after notice with any of its obligations under the covenants described under “—Certain Covenants” (other than a failure to purchase Notes),

 

  (5) the failure by the Company or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company to comply for 60 days after notice with its other agreements contained in the Notes or the Indenture,

 

  (6) the failure by the Company or any Significant Subsidiary to pay any Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness owing to a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company) within any applicable grace period after final maturity or the acceleration of any such Indebtedness by the holders thereof because of a default, in each case, if the total amount of such Indebtedness unpaid or accelerated exceeds $30 million or its foreign currency equivalent (the “ cross-acceleration provision ”),

 

  (7) certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of the Company or a Significant Subsidiary (the “ bankruptcy provisions ”),

 

  (8) failure by the Company or any Significant Subsidiary to pay final judgments aggregating in excess of $30 million or its foreign currency equivalent (net of any amounts which are covered by enforceable insurance policies issued by solvent carriers), which judgments are not discharged, waived or stayed for a period of 60 days (the “ judgment default provision ”), or

 

  (9) any Guarantee of a Significant Subsidiary ceases to be in full force and effect (except as contemplated by the terms thereof) or any Guarantor that qualifies as a Significant Subsidiary denies or disaffirms its obligations under the Indenture or any Guarantee and such Default continues for 10 days.

The foregoing will constitute Events of Default whatever the reason for any such Event of Default and whether it is voluntary or involuntary or is effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body.

However, a default under clauses (4) and (5) will not constitute an Event of Default until the Trustee or the holders of 25% in principal amount of the Notes outstanding notify the Company of the default and the Company

 

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does not cure such default within the time specified in clauses (4) and (5) hereof after receipt of such notice; provided, however , that so long as any Indebtedness permitted to be Incurred pursuant to the Credit Agreement will be outstanding, that acceleration of the Notes will not be effective until the earlier of (1) an acceleration of Indebtedness under the Credit Agreement; or (2) five Business Days after receipt by the Company and the administrative agent under the Credit Agreement of written notice of the acceleration of the Notes.

If an Event of Default (other than a Default relating to certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of the Company) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Notes outstanding by notice to the Company may declare the principal of, premium, if any, and accrued but unpaid interest on all the Notes to be due and payable. Upon such a declaration, such principal and interest will be due and payable immediately. If an Event of Default relating to certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of the Company occurs, the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on all the Notes will become immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any holders. Under certain circumstances, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes outstanding may rescind any such acceleration with respect to the Notes and its consequences.

In the event of any Event of Default specified in clause (6) of the first paragraph above, such Event of Default and all consequences thereof (excluding, however, any resulting payment default) will be annulled, waived and rescinded, automatically and without any action by the Trustee or the holders of the Notes, if within 20 days after such Event of Default arose the Company delivers an Officers’ Certificate to the Trustee stating that (x) the Indebtedness or guarantee that is the basis for such Event of Default has been discharged or (y) the holders thereof have rescinded or waived the acceleration, notice or action (as the case may be) giving rise to such Event of Default or (z) the default that is the basis for such Event of Default has been cured, it being understood that in no event shall an acceleration of the principal amount of the Notes as described above be annulled, waived or rescinded upon the happening of any such events.

Subject to the provisions of the Indenture relating to the duties of the Trustee, in case an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers under the Indenture at the request or direction of any of the holders unless such holders have offered to the Trustee reasonable indemnity or security against any loss, liability or expense. Except to enforce the right to receive payment of principal, premium (if any) or interest when due, no holder may pursue any remedy with respect to the Indenture or the Notes unless:

 

  (1) such holder has previously given the Trustee notice that an Event of Default is continuing,

 

  (2) holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Notes outstanding have requested the Trustee to pursue the remedy,

 

  (3) such holders have offered the Trustee reasonable security or indemnity against any loss, liability or expense,

 

  (4) the Trustee has not complied with such request within 60 days after the receipt of the request and the offer of security or indemnity, and

 

  (5) the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes have not given the Trustee a direction inconsistent with such request within such 60-day period.

Subject to certain restrictions, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes outstanding are given the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or of exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee. The Trustee, however, may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or the Indenture or that the Trustee determines is unduly prejudicial to the rights of any other holder or that would involve the Trustee in personal liability. Prior to taking any action under the Indenture, the Trustee will be entitled to indemnification satisfactory to it in its sole discretion against all losses and expenses caused by taking or not taking such action.

 

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The Indenture provides that if a Default occurs and is continuing and is actually known to the Trustee, the Trustee must mail to each holder of the Notes notice of the Default within the earlier of 90 days after it occurs or 30 days after it is actually known to a Trust Officer or written notice of it is received by the Trustee. Except in the case of a Default in the payment of principal of, premium (if any) or interest on any applicable Note, the Trustee may withhold notice if and so long as a committee of its Trust Officers in good faith determines that withholding notice is in the interests of the noteholders. In addition, the Company is required to deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year, a certificate indicating whether the signers thereof know of any Default that occurred during the previous year. The Company also is required to deliver to the Trustee, within 30 days after the occurrence thereof, written notice of any events which would constitute certain Defaults, their status and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take in respect thereof.

Amendments and Waivers

Subject to certain exceptions, the Indenture may be amended with the consent of the holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding and any past default or compliance with any provision may be waived with the consent of the holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding. However, without the consent of each holder of an outstanding Note affected, no amendment may, among other things:

 

  (1) reduce the amount of Notes whose holders must consent to an amendment,

 

  (2) reduce the rate of or extend the time for payment of interest on any Note,

 

  (3) reduce the principal of or change the Stated Maturity of any Note,

 

  (4) reduce the premium payable upon the redemption of any Note or change the time at which any Note may be redeemed as described under “—Optional Redemption,”

 

  (5) make any Note payable in money other than that stated in such Note,

 

  (6) impair the right of any holder to receive payment of principal of, premium, if any, and interest on such holder’s Notes on or after the due dates therefor or to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or with respect to such holder’s Notes,

 

  (7) make any change in the amendment provisions which require each holder’s consent or in the waiver provisions,

 

  (8) amend or modify any of the subordination provisions of the Indenture or the related definitions in any manner adverse to the holders of the Notes or any Guarantee thereof, or

 

  (9) modify the Guarantees in any manner adverse to the holders.

Notwithstanding the preceding, without the consent of any holder, the Company and Trustee may amend the Indenture to cure any ambiguity, omission, defect or inconsistency, to provide for the assumption by a Successor Company of the obligations of the Company under the Indenture and the Notes, to provide for the assumption by a Successor Guarantor of the obligations of a Subsidiary Guarantor under the Indenture and its Guarantee, to provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated Notes ( provided that the uncertificated Notes are issued in registered form for purposes of Section 163(f) of the Code, or in a manner such that the uncertificated Notes are described in Section 163(f)(2)(B) of the Code), to add Guarantees with respect to the Notes, to secure the Notes, to add to the covenants of the Company for the benefit of the holders or to surrender any right or power conferred upon the Company, to make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of any holder, to comply with any requirement of the SEC in connection with the qualification of the Indenture under the TIA, to effect any provision of the Indenture or to make certain changes to the Indenture to provide for the issuance of Additional Notes.

The consent of the noteholders is not necessary under the Indenture to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment. It is sufficient if such consent approves the substance of the proposed amendment.

 

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After an amendment under the Indenture becomes effective, the Company is required to mail to the noteholders a notice briefly describing such amendment. However, the failure to give such notice to all noteholders entitled to receive such notice, or any defect therein, will not impair or affect the validity of the amendment.

No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Stockholders

The Indenture provides that no director, officer, employee, incorporator or holder of any Equity Interests in the Company, as such, will have any liability for any obligations of the Company under the Notes or the Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each holder of Notes by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes. The waiver may not be effective to waive liabilities under the federal securities laws.

Transfer and Exchange

A noteholder may transfer or exchange Notes in accordance with the Indenture. Upon any transfer or exchange, the registrar and the Trustee may require a noteholder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents and the Company may require a noteholder to pay any taxes required by law or permitted by the Indenture. The Company is not required to transfer or exchange any Note selected for redemption or to transfer or exchange any Note for a period of 15 days prior to a selection of Notes to be redeemed. The Notes will be issued in registered form and the registered holder of a Note will be treated as the owner of such Note for all purposes.

Satisfaction and Discharge

The Indenture will be discharged and will cease to be of further effect (except as to surviving rights of registration or transfer or exchange of the Notes, as expressly provided for in the Indenture) as to all outstanding Notes when:

 

  (1) either (a) all the Notes theretofore authenticated under the Indenture and delivered (except lost, stolen or destroyed Notes which have been replaced or paid and Notes for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Company and thereafter repaid to the Company or discharged from such trust) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation or (b) all of the Notes under the Indenture (i) have become due and payable, (ii) will become due and payable at their Stated Maturity within one year or (iii) if redeemable at the option of the Company, have been called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Company, and the Company has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee (the “discharge trust”) funds in an amount sufficient to pay and discharge the entire Indebtedness on the Notes not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes to the date of deposit together with irrevocable instructions from the Company directing the Trustee to apply such funds to the payment thereof at maturity or redemption, as the case may be; provided that, in order to discharge the Indenture pursuant to clause (b) of this paragraph (1), the Company will have received any consents necessary from the holders of Senior Debt to amend, and the Company will have amended, the provisions of the Indenture establishing the subordination of these Notes to Senior Debt such that any payments made from the discharge trust described above to holders of the Notes are not subordinated;

 

  (2) the Company has and/or the Guarantors have paid all other sums payable under the Indenture; and

 

  (3) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that all conditions precedent under the Indenture relating to the satisfaction and discharge of the Indenture have been complied with.

 

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Defeasance

The Indenture provides that the Company at any time may terminate all its obligations under the Notes and the Indenture (“ legal defeasance ”), except for certain obligations, including those respecting the defeasance trust and obligations to register the transfer or exchange of the Notes, to replace mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Notes and to maintain a registrar and paying agent in respect of the Notes. The Company at any time may terminate its obligations under certain covenants that are described in the Indenture, including the covenants described under “—Certain Covenants,” the operation of the cross-acceleration provision, the bankruptcy provisions with respect to Significant Subsidiaries and the judgment default provision described under “—Defaults” and the undertakings and covenants contained under “—Change of Control” and “—Merger, Amalgamation, Consolidation or Sale of All or Substantially All Assets” (“ covenant defeasance ”). If the Company exercise its legal or covenant defeasance option each Guarantor will be released from all of its obligations with respect to its Guarantee.

The Company may exercise its legal defeasance option notwithstanding its prior exercise of its covenant defeasance option. If the Company exercises its legal defeasance option, payment of the Notes may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default with respect thereto. If the Company exercises its covenant defeasance option, payment of the Notes may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default specified in clause (3), (4), (5), (6), (7) (with respect only to Significant Subsidiaries), (8) or (9) under “—Defaults” or because of the failure of the Company to comply with the undertakings and covenants contained under “—Change of Control.”

In order to exercise either defeasance option, the Company must irrevocably deposit in trust (the “ defeasance trust ”) with the Trustee money or U.S. Government Obligations for the payment of principal, premium (if any) and interest on the Notes to redemption or maturity, as the case may be, and must comply with certain other conditions, including delivery to the Trustee of an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that holders of the Notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit and defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amount and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit and defeasance had not occurred (and, in the case of legal defeasance only, such Opinion of Counsel must be based on a ruling of the Internal Revenue Service or change in applicable federal income tax law). Further, in order to exercise either defeasance option, the Company will have received any consents necessary from the holders of Senior Debt to amend, and the Company will have amended, the provisions of the Indenture establishing the subordination of these Notes to Senior Debt such that any payments made from the defeasance trust described above to holders of the Notes are not subordinated. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Opinion of Counsel required by the immediately preceding sentence with respect to a legal defeasance need not be delivered if all of the Notes not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation (x) have become due and payable or (y) will become due and payable at their Stated Maturity within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Company.

Concerning the Trustee

Wells Fargo Bank, National Association is the Trustee under the Indenture and has been appointed by the Company as registrar and a paying agent with regard to the Notes.

If the Trustee becomes a creditor of the Company or any Guarantor, the Indenture and the Trust Indenture Act limit its right to obtain payment of claims in certain cases, or to realize on certain property received in respect of any such claim as security or otherwise. The Trustee will be permitted to engage in other transactions; however, if it acquires any conflicting interest it must eliminate such conflict within 90 days, apply to the SEC for permission to continue or resign.

The Indenture provides that in case an Event of Default will occur and be continuing, the Trustee will be required, in the exercise of its power, to use the degree of care of a prudent man in the conduct of his own affairs.

 

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Subject to such provisions, the Trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the Indenture at the request of any Holder of Notes, unless such Holder will have offered to the Trustee security and indemnity satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense.

Governing Law

The Indenture provides that it and the Notes will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

Registration Rights; Additional Interest

The following description is a summary of the material provisions of the Registration Rights Agreement. It does not restate that agreement in its entirety. We urge you to read the proposed form of Registration Rights Agreement in its entirety because it, and not this description, defines your registration rights as Holders of these Notes.

On April 26, 2006, the Company, the Guarantors and the Initial Purchasers entered into the Registration Rights Agreement. Pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, the Company and the Guarantors agreed to file with the SEC the Exchange Offer Registration Statement on the appropriate form under the Securities Act with respect to the Exchange Notes. As soon as practicable following the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, the Company and the Guarantors will offer to the Holders of Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer who are able to make certain representations the opportunity to exchange their Notes for Exchange Notes.

If:

 

  (1) the Company and the Guarantors are not permitted to consummate the Exchange Offer because the Exchange Offer is not permitted by applicable law or SEC policy;

 

  (2) for any reason, the Exchange Offer is not consummated within the required time period; or

 

  (3) any Holder of Notes notifies the Company that:

 

  (a) it is prohibited by law or SEC policy from participating in the Exchange Offer; or

 

  (b) it may not resell the Exchange Notes acquired by it in the Exchange Offer to the public without delivering a prospectus and the prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is not appropriate or available for such resales; or

 

  (c) it is a broker-dealer and owns Notes acquired directly from the Company or an affiliate of the Company,

the Company and the Guarantors will file with the SEC a Shelf Registration Statement to cover resales of the Notes by the Holders thereof who satisfy certain conditions relating to the provision of information in connection with the Shelf Registration Statement.

The Company and the Guarantors will use their commercially reasonable efforts to cause the applicable registration statement to be declared effective as promptly as possible by the SEC.

The Registration Rights Agreement provides:

 

  (1) unless the Exchange Offer would not be permitted by applicable law or SEC policy, the Company and the Guarantors will prepare and use commercially reasonable efforts to file an Exchange Offer Registration Statement with the SEC on or prior to 180 days after the closing of the offering;

 

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  (2) unless the Exchange Offer would not be permitted by applicable law or SEC policy, the Company and the Guarantors will use their commercially reasonable efforts to have the Exchange Offer Registration Statement declared effective by the SEC on or prior to 300 days after the closing of the offering;

 

  (3) as soon as practicable after the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, unless the Exchange Offer would not be permitted by applicable law or SEC policy, the Company and the Guarantors will

 

  (a) commence the Exchange Offer; and

 

  (b) issue Exchange Notes in exchange for all Notes tendered prior thereto in the Exchange Offer; and

 

  (4) if obligated to file the Shelf Registration Statement, the Company and the Guarantors will prepare and use commercially reasonable efforts to file the Shelf Registration Statement with the SEC on or prior to 180 days after such filing obligation arises and use their commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Shelf Registration to be declared effective by the SEC on or prior to 300 days after such obligation arises.

If:

 

  (1) the Company and the Guarantors fail to file any of the registration statements required by the Registration Rights Agreement on or before the date specified for such filing; or

 

  (2) any of such registration statements is not declared (or become automatically) effective by the SEC on or prior to the date specified for such effectiveness (the “Effectiveness Target Date”); or

 

  (3) the Company and the Guarantors fail to consummate the Exchange Offer within 30 Business Days of the Effectiveness Target Date with respect to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement; or

 

  (4) the Shelf Registration Statement or the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is declared (or becomes automatically) effective but thereafter ceases to be effective or usable in connection with resales or exchanges of Notes during the periods specified in the Registration Rights Agreement (each such event referred to in clauses (1) through (4) above, a “Registration Default”), then the Company and the Guarantors will pay Additional Interest to each Holder of Notes, with respect to the first 90-day period immediately following the occurrence of the first Registration Default in an amount equal to one-quarter of one percent (0.25%) per annum on the principal amount of Notes held by such Holder.

The amount of the Additional Interest will increase by an additional one-quarter of one percent (0.25%) per annum on the principal amount of Notes with respect to each subsequent 90-day period until all Registration Defaults have been cured, up to a maximum amount of Additional Interest for all Registration Defaults of 1.0% per annum.

All accrued Additional Interest will be paid by the Company and the Guarantors on each interest payment date to the Global Note Holder by wire transfer of immediately available funds or by federal funds check and to Holders of Certificated Notes by wire transfer to the accounts specified by them or by mailing checks to their registered addresses if no such accounts have been specified.

Immediately upon the cure of all Registration Defaults, the accrual of Additional Interest will cease.

Holders of Notes will be required to make certain representations to the Company (as described in the Registration Rights Agreement) in order to participate in the Exchange Offer and will be required to deliver certain information to be used in connection with the Shelf Registration Statement and to provide comments on the Shelf Registration Statement within the time periods set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement in order to have their Notes included in the Shelf Registration Statement and benefit from the provisions regarding Additional Interest set forth above. By acquiring Notes, a Holder will be deemed to have agreed to indemnify the Company and the Guarantors against certain losses arising out of information furnished by such Holder in

 

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writing for inclusion in any Shelf Registration Statement. Holders of Notes will also be required to suspend their use of the prospectus included in the Shelf Registration Statement under certain circumstances upon receipt of written notice to that effect from the Company.

Certain Definitions

Acquired Indebtedness ” means, with respect to any specified Person:

 

  (1) Indebtedness of any other Person existing at the time such other Person is merged or consolidated with or into or becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of such specified Person, and

 

  (2) Indebtedness secured by a Lien encumbering any asset acquired by such specified Person,

in each case, other than Indebtedness Incurred as consideration in, in contemplation of, or to provide all or any portion of the funds or credit support utilized to consummate, the transaction or series of related transactions pursuant to which such Restricted Subsidiary became a Restricted Subsidiary or was otherwise acquired by such Person, or such asset was acquired by such Person, as applicable.

Additional Interest ” means all additional interest owing on the Notes pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement.

Affiliate ” of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For purposes of this definition, “control” (including, with correlative meanings, the terms “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under common control with”), as used with respect to any Person, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by agreement or otherwise. For purposes of the Indenture, Cendant Corporation and its Affiliates are not deemed Affiliates of the Company so long as (1) such entities would be Affiliates of the Company only by virtue of their beneficial ownership of Capital Stock of the Company and (2) such entities beneficially own, as a group, less of the voting power of the Company than is beneficially owned by the Sponsor.

Asset Sale ” means:

 

  (1) the sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition (whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions) of property or assets (including by way of a Sale/Leaseback Transaction) of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company (each referred to in this definition as a “disposition”) or

 

  (2) the issuance or sale of Equity Interests (other than directors’ qualifying shares or shares or interests required to be held by foreign nationals) of any Restricted Subsidiary (other than to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary of the Company) (whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions),

in each case other than:

 

  (a) a disposition of Cash Equivalents or Investment Grade Securities or obsolete, damaged or worn out property or equipment in the ordinary course of business;

 

  (b) the disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company in a manner permitted pursuant to the provisions described above under “—Merger, Amalgamation, Consolidation or Sale of All or Substantially All Assets” or any disposition that constitutes a Change of Control;

 

  (c) for purposes of “—Certain Covenants—Asset Sales” only, any Restricted Payment or Permitted Investment (other than a Permitted Investment to the extent such transaction results in the receipt of Cash Equivalents or Investment Grade Securities by the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries) that is permitted to be made, and is made, under the covenant described above under “—Certain Covenants—Limitation on Restricted Payments;”

 

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  (d) any disposition of assets or issuance or sale of Equity Interests of any Restricted Subsidiary in any transaction or series of related transactions with an aggregate Fair Market Value of less than $7.5 million;

 

  (e) any disposition of property or assets or the issuance of securities by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to the Company or by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company;

 

  (f) any foreclosures on assets or property of the Company or its Subsidiaries;

 

  (g) any sale of Equity Interests in, or Indebtedness or other securities of, an Unrestricted Subsidiary;

 

  (h) any sale of inventory, equipment or other assets in the ordinary course of business;

 

  (i) any grant in the ordinary course of business of any license of patents, trademarks, know-how and any other intellectual property;

 

  (j) any exchange of assets for assets (including a combination of assets and Cash Equivalents) related to a Similar Business of comparable or greater market value or usefulness to the business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries as a whole, as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company, which in the event of an exchange of assets with a Fair Market Value in excess of (1) $10.0 million shall be evidenced by an Officers’ Certificate, and (2) $25.0 million shall be set forth in a resolution approved in good faith by at least a majority of the Board of Directors of the Company; and

 

  (k) in the ordinary course of business, any swap of assets, or lease, assignment or sublease of any real or personal property, in exchange for services (including in connection with any outsourcing arrangements in which the Company enters into a multi-year services arrangement with the transfer of such assets) of comparable or greater value or usefulness to the business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries as a whole, as determined in good faith by senior management or the Board of Directors of the Company, which in the event of a swap with a Fair Market Value in excess of (1) $10.0 million shall be evidenced by an Officers’ Certificate and (2) $25.0 million shall be set forth in a resolution approved in good faith by at least a majority of the Board of Directors of the Company.

Bank Indebtedness ” means any and all amounts payable under or in respect of the Credit Agreement or the other Senior Credit Documents, as amended, restated, supplemented, waived, replaced, restructured, repaid, refunded, refinanced or otherwise modified from time to time (including after termination of the Credit Agreement), including principal, premium (if any), interest (including interest accruing on or after the filing of any petition in bankruptcy or for reorganization relating to the Company whether or not a claim for post-filing interest is allowed in such proceedings), fees, charges, expenses, reimbursement obligations, guarantees and all other amounts payable thereunder or in respect thereof.

Board of Directors ” means as to any Person, the board of directors or managers, as applicable, of such Person (or, if such Person is a partnership, the board of directors or other governing body of the general partner of such Person) or any duly authorized committee thereof.

Business Day ” means a day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which banking institutions are authorized or required by law to close in New York City, or in the city in which the Trustee or the Paying Agent are located.

Capital Stock ” means:

 

  (1) in the case of a corporation or a company, corporate stock or shares;

 

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

 

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

 

  (4) 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.

Capitalized Lease Obligation ” means, at the time any determination thereof is to be made, the amount of the liability in respect of a capital lease that would at such time be required to be capitalized and reflected as a liability on a balance sheet (excluding the footnotes thereto) in accordance with GAAP.

Cash Contribution Amount ” means the aggregate amount of cash contributions made to the capital of the Company or any Guarantor described in the definition of “Contribution Indebtedness.”

Cash Equivalents ” means:

 

  (1) U.S. dollars, pounds sterling, euros, national currency of any participating member state in the European Union or, in the case of any Foreign Subsidiary that is a Restricted Subsidiary, such local currencies held by it from time to time in the ordinary course of business;

 

  (2) securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the government of the United States or any country that is a member of the European Union or any agency or instrumentality thereof, in each case with maturities not exceeding two years from the date of acquisition;

 

  (3) certificates of deposit, time deposits and eurodollar time deposits with maturities of one year or less from the date of acquisition, bankers’ acceptances, in each case with maturities not exceeding one year, and overnight bank deposits, in each case with any commercial bank having capital and surplus in excess of $250 million, or the foreign currency equivalent thereof, and whose long-term debt is rated “A” or the equivalent thereof by Moody’s or S&P (or reasonably equivalent ratings of another internationally recognized ratings agency);

 

  (4) repurchase obligations for underlying securities of the types described in clauses (2) and (3) above entered into with any financial institution meeting the qualifications specified in clause (3) above;

 

  (5) commercial paper issued by a corporation (other than an Affiliate of the Company) rated at least “A-1” or the equivalent thereof by Moody’s or S&P (or reasonably equivalent ratings of another internationally recognized ratings agency) and in each case maturing within one year after the date of acquisition;

 

  (6) readily marketable direct obligations issued by any state of the United States of America or any political subdivision thereof having one of the two highest rating categories obtainable from either Moody’s or S&P (or reasonably equivalent ratings of another internationally recognized ratings agency) in each case with maturities not exceeding two years from the date of acquisition;

 

  (7) Indebtedness issued by Persons (other than Permitted Holders or any of their Affiliates) with a rating of “A” or higher from S&P or “A-2” or higher from Moody’s (or reasonably equivalent ratings of another internationally recognized ratings agency) in each case with maturities not exceeding two years from the date of acquisition; and

investment funds investing at least 95% of their assets in securities of the types described in clauses (1) through (7) above.

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

 

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Consolidated Cash Flow ” means, with respect to any specified Person for any period, the Consolidated Net Income of such Person for such period (without giving effect to the amount added to Net Income in calculating Consolidated Net Income for the excess of the provision for taxes over cash taxes) plus :

 

  (1) provision for taxes based on income, profits or capital of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, including, without limitation, state franchise and similar taxes, and including an amount equal to the amount of tax distributions actually made to the holders of Capital Stock of such Person or any Parent of such Person in respect of such period in accordance with clause (12) of the second paragraph under “—Certain Covenants—Limitation on Restricted Payments,” which shall be included as though such amounts had been paid as income taxes directly by such Person, in each case to the extent that such provision for taxes was deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income; plus

 

  (2) Fixed Charges of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, to the extent that any such Fixed Charges were deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income; plus

 

  (3) depreciation, amortization (including amortization of intangibles but excluding amortization of prepaid cash expenses that were paid in a prior period) and other non-cash expenses (excluding any such non-cash expense to the extent that it represents an accrual of or reserve for cash expenses in any future period or amortization of a prepaid cash expense that was paid in a prior period) of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period to the extent that such depreciation, amortization and other non-cash expenses were deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income; plus

 

  (4) the amount of any restructuring charges or expenses (which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall include retention and supplemental bonus payments payable in connection with the Acquisition or otherwise, exit costs, severance payments, systems establishment costs or excess pension charges), to the extent that any such charges or expenses were deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income; plus

 

  (5) the amount of management, monitoring, consulting and advisory fees and related expenses paid to the Permitted Holders (or any accruals relating to such fees and related expenses) during such period; provided that such amount shall not exceed in any four quarter period the greater of (x) $2.5 million or (y) 1.0% of Consolidated Cash Flow (calculated without giving effect to this clause (5)); plus

 

  (6) for any quarter in the four quarter period ended December 31, 2005, all adjustments to net income (or loss) used in connection with the calculation of pro forma “Adjusted EBITDA” for the last twelve months ended December 31, 2005 (as set forth in the Offering Circular under Note (4) to the section entitled “Summary—Summary Historical and Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated and Combined Financial and Other Data”) to the extent such adjustments are not fully reflected in the applicable quarter and continue to be applicable; plus

 

  (7) an amount of $3.0 million for each of the four consecutive calendar quarters commencing with the calendar quarter beginning January 1, 2005, representing anticipated cost savings from the 2005 Reorganization (as defined in the Offering Circular); minus

 

  (8) non-cash items increasing such Consolidated Net Income for such period (excluding the recognition of deferred revenue or any non-cash items which represent the reversal of any accrual of, or reserve for, anticipated cash charges in any prior period and any items for which cash was received in any prior period and excluding amounts increasing Consolidated Net Income pursuant to clause (15) of the definition of Consolidated Net Income);

in each case, on a consolidated basis and determined in accordance with GAAP. For purposes of calculating Consolidated Cash Flow, the calculation shall exclude the effects of purchase accounting as a result of the Transactions.

Notwithstanding the preceding, the provision for taxes based on the income or profits of, the Fixed Charges of, the depreciation and amortization and other non-cash expenses or non-cash items of and the restructuring charges or expenses of, a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company will be added to (or subtracted from, in the case

 

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of non-cash items described in clause (8) above) Consolidated Net Income to compute Consolidated Cash Flow of the Company (A) in the same proportion that the Net Income of such Restricted Subsidiary was added to compute such Consolidated Net Income of the Company and (B) only to the extent that a corresponding amount would be permitted at the date of determination to be dividended or distributed to the Company by such Restricted Subsidiary without prior governmental approval (that has not been obtained), and without direct or indirect restriction pursuant to the terms of its charter and all agreements, instruments, judgments, decrees, orders, statutes, rules and governmental regulations applicable to that Subsidiary or its stockholders.

Consolidated Leverage Ratio ” means, with respect to any Person at any date, the ratio of (a) the aggregate amount of all Indebtedness of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries less cash and cash equivalents (excluding restricted cash), in each case, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP as of such date to (b) the Consolidated Cash Flow of such Person for the four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding such date. In the event that the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries Incurs or redeems any Indebtedness subsequent to the commencement of the period for which the Consolidated Leverage Ratio is being calculated and on or prior to the date on which the event for which the calculation of the Consolidated Leverage Ratio is made, then the Consolidated Leverage Ratio shall be calculated giving pro forma effect to such Incurrence or redemption of Indebtedness as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period. The provisions applicable to pro forma transactions and Indebtedness set forth in the second paragraph of the definition of “Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio” will apply for purposes of making the computation referred to in this paragraph.

Consolidated Net Income ” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the aggregate of the Net Income of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, on a consolidated basis, plus the amount that the provision for taxes exceeds cash taxes paid by such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries in such period; provided , that:

 

  (1) any net after-tax extraordinary or nonrecurring or unusual gains, losses, income, expense or charges (less all fees and expenses relating thereto), including, without limitation, any severance, relocation or other restructuring costs and transition expenses Incurred as a direct result of the transition of the Company to an independent operating company in connection with the Transactions and fees, expenses or charges related to any offering of Equity Interests of such Person, any Investment, any acquisition or any offering of Indebtedness permitted to be Incurred by the Indenture (in each case, whether or not successful), including any such fees, expenses or charges related to the Transactions, in each case, shall be excluded;

 

  (2) any increase in amortization or depreciation or any one-time non-cash charges resulting from purchase accounting in connection with any acquisition that is consummated on or after October 17, 2005 shall be excluded;

 

  (3) the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles during such period shall be excluded;

 

  (4) any net after-tax gains or losses on disposal of discontinued operations shall be excluded;

 

  (5) any net after-tax gains or losses (less all fees and expenses or charges relating thereto) attributable to business dispositions or asset dispositions other than in the ordinary course of business (as determined in good faith by senior management or the Board of Directors of the Company) shall be excluded;

 

  (6) any net after-tax gains or losses (less all fees and expenses or charges relating thereto) attributable to the early extinguishment of indebtedness shall be excluded;

 

  (7) the Net Income for such period of any Person that is not a Subsidiary of such Person, or is an Unrestricted Subsidiary, or that is accounted for by the equity method of accounting, shall be included only to the extent of the amount of dividends or distributions or other payments actually paid in cash (or to the extent converted into cash) to the referent Person or a Restricted Subsidiary thereof in respect of such period;

 

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  (8) solely for the purpose of covenant described under “—Certain Covenants—Limitation on Restricted Payments,” the Net Income for such period of any Restricted Subsidiary (other than any Subsidiary Guarantor) shall be excluded to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by such Restricted Subsidiary of its Net Income is not at the date of determination permitted without any prior governmental approval (which has not been obtained) or, directly or indirectly, by the operation of the terms of its charter or any agreement, instrument, judgment, decree, order, statute, rule or governmental regulation applicable to such Restricted Subsidiary or its equity holders, unless such restrictions with respect to the payment of dividends or similar distributions have been legally waived; provided that the Consolidated Net Income of such Person shall be increased by the amount of dividends or other distributions or other payments actually paid in cash (or converted into cash) by any such Restricted Subsidiary to such Person or a Restricted Subsidiary of such Person (subject to the provisions of this clause (8)), to the extent not already included therein;

 

  (9) any non-cash impairment charge or asset write-off resulting from the application of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 142 and 144, and the amortization of intangibles arising pursuant to No. 141, shall be excluded;

 

  (10) any non-cash expenses realized or resulting from employee benefit plans or post-employment benefit plans, grants of stock appreciation or similar rights, stock options or other rights to officers, directors and employees of such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries shall be excluded;

 

  (11) any one-time non-cash compensation charges shall be excluded;

 

  (12) non-cash gains, losses, income and expenses resulting from fair value accounting required by Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 133 and related interpretations shall be excluded;

 

  (13) the effects of purchase accounting as a result of the Transactions shall be excluded;

 

  (14) accruals and reserves that are established within twelve months after October 17, 2005 and that are so required to be established in accordance with GAAP shall be excluded; and

 

  (15) to the extent not already reflected in Consolidated Net Income, the amount of any accrual, reserve or other charge that reduces Net Income of such Person that was taken in respect of expected or actual Losses by reason of (x) any legal proceedings disclosed in the Offering Circular, including the financial statements included herein, or relating to the same facts and circumstances as disclosed, or (y) a breach or violation of law, in each case, shall be excluded; provided that (as certified in an Officers’ Certificate delivered to the Trustee) the Company has (i) a reasonable good faith belief that it is entitled to be indemnified by Cendant pursuant to the Stock Purchase Agreement in respect of such Losses in an amount greater than or equal to the amount to be excluded from the calculation of Consolidated Net Income pursuant to this clause (15) and (ii) has provided Cendant a notice in respect of the Company’s intent to seek indemnity; provided, further that (x) if Net Income is increased as a result of any amounts received from Cendant in respect of such an indemnity and the right to be so indemnified was used in a prior period to increase Consolidated Net Income pursuant to this clause (15), such amounts received shall be excluded from Consolidated Net Income and (y) to the extent the actual indemnity received is less than the expected indemnity amount excluded in a prior period pursuant to this clause (15), Consolidated Net Income shall be reduced by the difference in the period in which such lower actual indemnity amounts are received or in which a final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction is made that the Company is entitled to no indemnity.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, for the purpose of the covenant described under “—Certain Covenants—Limitation on Restricted Payments” only, there shall be excluded from the calculation of Consolidated Net Income any dividends, repayments of loans or advances or other transfers of assets from Unrestricted Subsidiaries to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company in respect of or that originally constituted Restricted Investments.

 

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Contingent Obligations ” means, with respect to any Person, any obligation of such Person guaranteeing any leases, dividends or other obligations that do not constitute Indebtedness (“ primary obligations ”) of any other Person (the “ primary obligor ”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, including, without limitation, any obligation of such Person, whether or not contingent:

 

  (1) to purchase any such primary obligation or any property constituting direct or indirect security therefor;

 

  (2) to advance or supply funds:

 

  (a) for the purchase or payment of any such primary obligation; or

 

  (b) to maintain working capital or equity capital of the primary obligor or otherwise to maintain the net worth or solvency of the primary obligor; or

 

  (3) to purchase property, securities or services primarily for the purpose of assuring the owner of any such primary obligation of the ability of the primary obligor to make payment of such primary obligation against loss in respect thereof.

Contribution Indebtedness ” means Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor in an aggregate principal amount not greater than twice the aggregate amount of cash contributions (other than Excluded Contributions and amounts applied to make a Restricted Payment in accordance with clause (2) of the second paragraph of “—Certain Covenants—Limitation on Restricted Payments”) made to the capital of the Company or such Guarantor after October 17, 2005 (other than any cash contributions in connection with the Transactions); provided, however that: (1) if the aggregate principal amount of such Contribution Indebtedness is greater than the aggregate amount of such cash contributions to the capital of the Company or such Guarantor, as applicable, the amount in excess shall be Indebtedness (other than Secured Indebtedness) with a Stated Maturity later than the Stated Maturity of the Notes; (2) such Contribution Indebtedness (a) is Incurred within 180 days after the making of such cash contributions and (b) is so designated as Contribution Indebtedness pursuant to an Officers’ Certificate on the date of Incurrence thereof; and (3) such cash contribution is not and has not been included in the calculation of permitted Restricted Payments under the covenant described in “—Certain Covenants—Limitation on Restricted Payments.”

Credit Agreement ” means (i) the credit agreement dated as of October 17, 2005, among the Company, the financial institutions named therein and Credit Suisse, Cayman Islands Branch (or an affiliate thereof), as Administrative Agent, as amended, restated, supplemented, waived, replaced (whether or not upon termination, and whether with the original lenders or otherwise), restructured, repaid, refunded, refinanced or otherwise modified from time to time, including any one or more agreements or indentures extending the maturity thereof, refinancing, replacing or otherwise restructuring all or any portion of the Indebtedness under such agreement or agreements or indenture or indentures or any successor or replacement agreement or agreements or indenture or indentures or increasing the amount loaned or issued thereunder or altering the maturity thereof and (ii) whether or not the credit agreement referred to in clause (i) remains outstanding, if designated by the Company to be included in the definition of “Credit Agreement,” one or more (A) debt facilities or commercial paper facilities, providing for revolving credit loans, term loans, receivables financing (including through the sale of receivables to lenders or to special purpose entities formed to borrow from lenders against such receivables) or letters of credit, (B) debt securities, indentures or other forms of debt financing (including convertible or exchangeable debt instruments or bank guarantees or bankers’ acceptances), or (C) instruments or agreements evidencing any other Indebtedness, in each case, with the same or different borrowers or issuers and, in each case, as amended, supplemented, modified, extended, restructured, renewed, refinanced, restated, replaced or refunded in whole or in part from time to time.

Default ” means any event that is, or after notice or passage of time or both would be, an Event of Default.

Designated Non-cash Consideration ” means the Fair Market Value of non-cash consideration received by the Company or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with an Asset Sale that is so designated as Designated Non-cash Consideration pursuant to an Officers’ Certificate setting forth the basis of such valuation,

 

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less the amount of Cash Equivalents received in connection with a subsequent sale of such Designated Non-cash Consideration.

Designated Preferred Stock ” means Preferred Stock of the Company or any Parent of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock), that is issued for cash (other than to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or an employee stock ownership plan or trust established by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries) and is so designated as Designated Preferred Stock, pursuant to an Officers’ Certificate, on the issuance date thereof.

Disqualified Stock ” means, with respect to any Person, any Capital Stock of such Person which, by its terms (or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible or for which it is redeemable, putable or exchangeable), or upon the happening of any event:

 

  (1) matures or is mandatorily redeemable, pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise,

 

  (2) is convertible or exchangeable for Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of such Person, or

 

  (3) is redeemable at the option of the holder thereof, in whole or in part,

in each case prior to 91 days after the maturity date of the Notes;

provided, however , that only the portion of Capital Stock which so matures or is mandatorily redeemable, is so convertible or exchangeable or is so redeemable at the option of the holder thereof prior to such date shall be deemed to be Disqualified Stock; provided , further , however , that (x) if such Capital Stock is issued to any employee or to any plan for the benefit of employees of the Company or its Subsidiaries or by any such plan to such employees, such Capital Stock shall not constitute Disqualified Stock solely because it may be required to be repurchased by the Company in order to satisfy applicable statutory or regulatory obligations or as a result of such employee’s termination, death or disability and (y) such Capital Stock shall not constitute Disqualified Stock if such Capital Stock matures or is mandatorily redeemable or is redeemable at the option of the holders thereof as a result of a change of control or asset sale so long as the relevant asset sale or change of control provisions, taken as a whole, are no more favorable in any material respect to holders of such Capital Stock than the asset sale and change of control provisions applicable to the Notes and any purchase requirement triggered thereby may not become operative until compliance with the asset sale and change of control provisions applicable to the Notes (including the purchase of any Notes tendered pursuant thereto); provided , further , that any class of Capital Stock of such Person that by its terms authorizes such Person to satisfy its obligations thereunder by delivery of Capital Stock that is not Disqualified Stock shall not be deemed to be Disqualified Stock.

Equity Interests ” means Capital Stock and all warrants, options or other rights to acquire Capital Stock (but excluding any debt security that is convertible into, or exchangeable for, Capital Stock).

Equity Offering ” means any public or private sale after the Issue Date of common stock or Preferred Stock of any Person (other than Disqualified Stock), other than:

 

  (1) public offerings with respect to the Capital Stock of such Person registered on Form S-4 or Form S-8;

 

  (2) any such public or private sale that constitutes an Excluded Contribution;

 

  (3) an issuance to any Subsidiary; and

 

  (4) any Cash Contribution Amounts.

Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.

 

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Excluded Contributions ” means the Cash Equivalents or other assets (valued at their Fair Market Value as determined in good faith by senior management or the Board of Directors of the Company) received by the Company from:

 

  (1) contributions to its common Capital Stock, and

 

  (2) the sale (other than to a Subsidiary of the Company or pursuant to any management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries) of Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock and Designated Preferred Stock) of the Company,

in each case designated as Excluded Contributions pursuant to an Officers’ Certificate executed by an Officer of the Company.

Fair Market Value ” means, with respect to any asset or property, the price that could be negotiated in an arm’s-length transaction between a willing seller and a willing and able buyer, neither of whom is under undue pressure or compulsion to complete the transaction.

Fixed Charges ” means, with respect to any specified Person for any period, the sum, without duplication, of:

 

  (1) the consolidated interest expense (net of interest income) to the extent it relates to Indebtedness of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period and to the extent such expense was deducted in computing Consolidated Net Income, whether paid or accrued, including, without limitation, amortization of debt issuance costs and original issue discount, non-cash interest payments, the interest component of any deferred payment obligations, the interest component of all payments associated with Capital Lease Obligations, commissions, discounts and other fees and charges incurred in respect of letter of credit or bankers’ acceptance financings, and net of the effect of all payments made or received pursuant to Hedging Obligations (but excluding the amortization or writeoff of deferred financing fees or expenses of any bridge or other financing fee in connection with the Transactions); plus

 

  (2) the consolidated interest of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries that was capitalized during such period; plus

 

  (3) any interest expense on Indebtedness of another Person that is Guaranteed by such Person or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries or secured by a Lien on assets of such Person or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries, whether or not such Guarantee or Lien is called upon; plus

 

  (4) to the extent not included in clause (1) above, the product of (a) all dividends, whether paid or accrued and whether or not in cash, on any series of Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, other than dividends on Equity Interests payable solely in Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company or to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, times (b) a fraction, the numerator of which is one and the denominator of which is one minus the then current combined federal, state and local statutory tax rate of such Person, expressed as a decimal,

in each case, on a consolidated basis and in accordance with GAAP.

Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio ” means with respect to any specified Person for any period, the ratio of the Consolidated Cash Flow of such Person for such period to the Fixed Charges of such Person for such period. In the event that the specified Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries Incurs, repays, repurchases or redeems any Indebtedness or issues, repurchases or redeems Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock subsequent to the commencement of the period for which the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is being calculated and on or prior to the date on which the event for which the calculation of the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is made (the “ Calculation Date ”), then the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio will be calculated giving pro forma effect to such

 

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Incurrence, repayment, repurchase or redemption of Indebtedness, or such issuance, repurchase or redemption of Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, and the use of the proceeds therefrom as if the same had occurred at the beginning of such period.

In addition, for purposes of calculating the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio referred to above, Investments, acquisitions, dispositions, mergers, consolidations or discontinued operations (as determined in accordance with GAAP) that have been made by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary during the four-quarter reference period or subsequent to such reference period and on or prior to or simultaneously with the Calculation Date shall be calculated on a pro forma basis assuming that all such Investments, acquisitions, dispositions, mergers, consolidations or discontinued operations (including the Transactions) had occurred on the first day of the four-quarter reference period. If since the beginning of such period any Person (that subsequently became a Restricted Subsidiary or was merged with or into the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary since the beginning of such period) shall have made any Investment, acquisition, disposition, merger or consolidation or discontinued any operation that would have required adjustment pursuant to this definition, then the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio shall be calculated giving pro forma effect thereto for such period as if such Investment, acquisition, disposition, merger, consolidation or discontinued operation had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period. For purposes of this definition, whenever pro forma effect is to be given to an Investment, acquisition, disposition, merger, consolidation or discontinued operation (including the Transactions) and the amount of income or earnings relating thereto, the pro forma calculations shall be determined in good faith by a responsible financial or accounting Officer of the Company and shall comply with the requirements of Rule 11-02 of Regulation S-X promulgated by the SEC, except that such pro forma calculations may include operating expense reductions for such period resulting from the transaction which is being given pro forma effect that have been realized or for which substantially all the steps necessary for realization have been taken or are reasonably expected to be taken within twelve months following any such transaction, including, but not limited to, the execution or termination of any contracts, the reduction of costs related to administrative functions or the termination of any personnel, as applicable; provided that, in either case, such adjustments are set forth in an Officers’ Certificate signed by the Company’s chief financial officer and another Officer which states (i) the amount of such adjustment or adjustments, (ii) that such adjustment or adjustments are based on the reasonable good faith beliefs of the Officers executing such Officers’ Certificate at the time of such execution and (iii) that any related incurrence of Indebtedness is permitted pursuant to the Indenture. If any Indebtedness bears a floating rate of interest and is being given pro forma effect, the interest on such Indebtedness shall be calculated as if the rate in effect on the Calculation Date had been the applicable rate for the entire period (taking into account any Hedging Obligations applicable to such Indebtedness if the related hedge has a remaining term in excess of twelve months).

Interest on a Capitalized Lease Obligation shall be deemed to accrue at an interest rate reasonably determined by a responsible financial or accounting officer of the Company to be the rate of interest implicit in such Capitalized Lease Obligation in accordance with GAAP. For purposes of making the computation referred to above, interest on any Indebtedness under a revolving credit facility computed on a pro forma basis shall be computed based upon the average daily balance of such Indebtedness during the applicable period. Interest on Indebtedness that may optionally be determined at an interest rate based upon a factor of a prime or similar rate, a eurocurrency interbank offered rate, or other rate, shall be deemed to have been based upon the rate actually chosen, or, if none, then based upon such optional rate chosen as the Company may designate.

Flow Through Entity ” means an entity that is treated as a partnership not taxable as a corporation, a grantor trust or a disregarded entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes or subject to treatment on a comparable basis for purposes of state, local or foreign tax law.

Foreign Subsidiary ” means a Restricted Subsidiary not organized or existing under the laws of the United States of America or any state or territory thereof or the District of Columbia and any direct or indirect subsidiary of such Restricted Subsidiary.

 

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GAAP ” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or in such other statements by such other entity as have been approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession, which are in effect on the Issue Date. For the purposes of the Indenture, the term “consolidated” with respect to any Person shall mean such Person consolidated with its Restricted Subsidiaries, and shall not include any Unrestricted Subsidiary, but the interest of such Person in an Unrestricted Subsidiary will be accounted for as an Investment.

guarantee ” means a guarantee (other than by endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business), direct or indirect, in any manner (including, without limitation, letters of credit and reimbursement agreements in respect thereof), of all or any part of any Indebtedness or other obligations.

Guarantee ” means any guarantee of the obligations of the Company under the Indenture and the Notes by any Person in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture.

Guarantor ” means any Person that Incurs a Guarantee; provided that upon the release or discharge of such Person from its Guarantee in accordance with the Indenture, such Person ceases to be a Guarantor.

Hedging Obligations ” means, with respect to any Person, the obligations of such Person under:

 

  (1) currency exchange or interest rate swap agreements, cap agreements and collar agreements; and

 

  (2) other agreements or arrangements designed to manage exposure or protect such Person against fluctuations in currency exchange or interest rates.

holder ” or “noteholder” means the Person in whose name a Note is registered on the registrar’s books.

Incur ” means issue, assume, guarantee, incur or otherwise become liable for; provided , however , that any Indebtedness or Capital Stock of a Person existing at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary (whether by merger, amalgamation, consolidation, acquisition or otherwise) shall be deemed to be Incurred by such Person at the time it becomes a Subsidiary.

Indebtedness ” means, with respect to any Person:

 

  (1) the principal and premium (if any) of any indebtedness of such Person, whether or not contingent, (a) in respect of borrowed money, (b) evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments or letters of credit or bankers’ acceptances (or, without duplication, reimbursement agreements in respect thereof), (c) representing the deferred and unpaid purchase price of any property, except any such balance that constitutes a current account payable, trade payable or similar obligation Incurred, (d) in respect of Capitalized Lease Obligations, or (e) representing any Hedging Obligations, if and to the extent that any of the foregoing indebtedness (other than letters of credit and Hedging Obligations) would appear as a liability on a balance sheet (excluding the footnotes thereto) of such Person prepared in accordance with GAAP;

 

  (2) to the extent not otherwise included, any obligation of such Person to be liable for, or to pay, as obligor, guarantor or otherwise, the Indebtedness of another Person (other than by endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business); and

 

  (3) to the extent not otherwise included, Indebtedness of another Person secured by a Lien on any asset owned by such Person (whether or not such Indebtedness is assumed by such Person); provided , however , that the amount of such Indebtedness will be the lesser of: (a) the Fair Market Value of such asset at such date of determination and (b) the amount of such Indebtedness of such other Person;

provided , however , that notwithstanding the foregoing, Indebtedness shall be deemed not to include (1) Contingent Obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business and not in respect of borrowed money; (2) deferred or prepaid revenues; (3) purchase price holdbacks in respect of a portion of the purchase price of an

 

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asset to satisfy warranty or other unperformed obligations of the respective seller; (4) the Seller Preferred Stock whether or not reflected as a liability of the Company, (5) obligations to make payments in respect of money back guarantees offered to customers in the ordinary course of business, (6) obligations to make payments to one or more insurers in respect of premiums collected by the Company on behalf of such insurers or in respect profit-sharing arrangements entered into with such insurers, in each case in the ordinary course of business, or (7) the financing of insurance premiums with the carrier of such insurance or take or pay obligations contained in supply agreements, in each case entered into in the ordinary course of business.

Notwithstanding anything in the Indenture, Indebtedness shall not include, and shall be calculated without giving effect to, the effects of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 133 and related interpretations to the extent such effects would otherwise increase or decrease an amount of Indebtedness for any purpose under the Indenture as a result of accounting for any embedded derivatives created by the terms of such Indebtedness; and any such amounts that would have constituted Indebtedness under the Indenture but for the application of this sentence shall not be deemed an Incurrence of Indebtedness under the Indenture.

Independent Financial Advisor ” means an accounting, appraisal or investment banking firm or consultant to Persons engaged in a Similar Business, in each case of nationally recognized standing that is, in the good faith determination of the Board of Directors of the Company, qualified to perform the task for which it has been engaged.

Initial Purchasers ” means Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Banc of America Securities LLC, BNP Paribas Securities Corp. and such other initial purchasers party to the purchase agreement entered into in connection with the offer and sale of the Notes.

Initial Senior Notes ” means the $270 million in aggregate principal amount of 10  1 / 8 % Senior Notes due 2013 issued by the Company on October 17, 2005 under the Senior Notes Indenture.

Investment Grade Securities ” means:

 

  (1) securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the U.S. government or any agency or instrumentality thereof (other than Cash Equivalents),

 

  (2) securities that have a rating equal to or higher than Baa3 (or equivalent) by Moody’s or BBB- (or equivalent) by S&P, or an equivalent rating by any other Rating Agency, but excluding any debt securities or loans or advances between and among the Company and its Subsidiaries,

 

  (3) investments in any fund that invests exclusively in investments of the type described in clauses (1) and (2) which fund may also hold immaterial amounts of cash pending investment and/or distribution, and

 

  (4) corresponding instruments in countries other than the United States customarily utilized for high quality investments and in each case with maturities not exceeding two years from the date of acquisition.

Investments ” means, with respect to any Person, all investments by such Person in other Persons (including Affiliates) in the form of loans (including guarantees), advances or capital contributions (excluding accounts receivable, trade credit and advances to customers and marketing partners and commission, travel and similar advances to officers, employees and consultants, in each case made in the ordinary course of business), purchases or other acquisitions for consideration of Indebtedness, Equity Interests or other securities issued by any other Person and investments that are required by GAAP to be classified on the balance sheet of the Company in the same manner as the other investments included in this definition to the extent such transactions involve the transfer of cash or other property. For purposes of the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary” and the covenant described under “—Certain Covenants—Limitation on Restricted Payments:”

 

  (1)

“Investments” shall include the portion (proportionate to the Company’s equity interest in such Subsidiary) of the Fair Market Value of the net assets of a Subsidiary of the Company at the time that

 

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such Subsidiary is designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary; provided , however , that upon a redesignation of such Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary, the Company shall be deemed to continue to have a permanent “Investment” in an Unrestricted Subsidiary equal to an amount (if positive) equal to:

 

  (a) the Company’s “Investment” in such Subsidiary at the time of such redesignation less

 

  (b) the portion (proportionate to the Company’s equity interest in such Subsidiary) of the Fair Market Value of the net assets of such Subsidiary at the time of such redesignation; and

 

  (2) any property transferred to or from an Unrestricted Subsidiary shall be valued at its Fair Market Value at the time of such transfer, in each case as determined in good faith by senior management or the Board of Directors of the Company.

Issue Date ” means April 26, 2006, the date on which the Notes are originally issued.

Joint Venture ” means any Person, other than an individual or a Subsidiary of the Company, (i) in which the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company holds or acquires an ownership interest (whether by way of Capital Stock or otherwise) and (ii) which is engaged in a Similar Business.

Lien ” means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien, pledge, charge, security interest or encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset, whether or not filed, recorded or otherwise perfected under applicable law (including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any lease in the nature thereof, any other agreement to give a security interest and, any filing of or agreement to give any financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code or equivalent statutes of any jurisdiction (other than a filing for informational purposes)); provided that in no event shall an operating lease be deemed to constitute a Lien.

Management Group ” means all of the individuals consisting of the directors, executive officers and other management personnel of the Company or any direct or indirect parent company of the Company, as the case may be, on the Issue Date together with (1) any new directors whose election by such boards of directors or whose nomination for election by the shareholders of the Company or any direct or indirect parent company of the Company, as the case may be, as applicable, was approved by (x) a vote of a majority of the directors of the Company or any direct or indirect parent of the Company as applicable, then still in office who were either directors on the Issue Date or whose election or nomination was previously so approved or (y) the Permitted Holders and (2) executive officers and other management personnel of the Company or any direct or indirect parent company of the Company, as the case may be, as applicable, hired at a time when the directors on the Issue Date together with the directors so approved constituted a majority of the directors of the Company or any direct or indirect parent company of the Company, as the case may be, as applicable.

Moody’s ” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. or any successor to the rating agency business thereof.

Net Income ” means, with respect to any Person, the net income (loss) of such Person, determined in accordance with GAAP and before any reduction in respect of Preferred Stock dividends, less an amount equal to the amount of tax distributions actually made to the holders of Capital Stock of such Person or any Parent of such Person in respect of a period in accordance with clause (12) of the second paragraph under “—Certain Covenants—Limitation on Restricted Payments,” as if such amounts had been paid as income taxes directly by such Person but only to the extent such amounts have not already been accounted for as taxes reducing the net income (loss) of such Person.

Net Proceeds ” means the aggregate cash proceeds received by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of any Asset Sale, including, without limitation, any cash received in respect of or upon the sale or other disposition of any Designated Non-cash Consideration received in any Asset Sale, net of the direct costs relating to such Asset Sale and the sale or disposition of such Designated Non-cash Consideration (including, without limitation, legal, accounting and investment banking fees, and brokerage and sales commissions), and any relocation expenses Incurred as a result thereof, taxes paid or payable as a result thereof

 

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(after taking into account any available tax credits or deductions and any tax sharing arrangements related thereto), amounts required to be applied to the repayment of principal, premium (if any) and interest on Indebtedness required (other than pursuant to the second or third paragraph of the covenant described under “—Certain Covenants—Asset Sales”) to be paid as a result of such transaction (including to obtain any consent therefor), any deduction of appropriate amounts to be provided by the Company as a reserve in accordance with GAAP against any liabilities associated with the asset disposed of in such transaction and retained by the Company after such sale or other disposition thereof, including, without limitation, pension and other post-employment benefit liabilities and liabilities related to environmental matters or against any indemnification obligations associated with such transaction and any distributions and the payments required to be made to minority interest holders in Subsidiaries or Joint Ventures as a result of such Asset Sale; provided that Net Proceeds shall not include proceeds of a Subsidiary Spin-Off to the extent such proceeds are applied to redeem the Notes pursuant to the provisions described under “—Optional Redemption—Optional Redemption of the Notes upon Equity Offering” and any debt securities issued in exchange for, or debt securities issued to refinance, borrowings under the Senior Subordinated Bridge Loan Facility pursuant to provisions similar to those described under “—Optional Redemption—Optional Redemption of the Notes upon Equity Offering” or to redeem the Senior Notes to the extent such proceeds are applied to redeem the Senior Notes pursuant to provisions similar to those described under “—Optional Redemption—Optional Redemption of the Notes upon Equity Offering.”

Non-Guarantor Restricted Subsidiary ” means any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that is not a Subsidiary Guarantor.

Obligations ” means any principal, interest, penalties, fees, indemnifications, reimbursements (including, without limitation, reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit and bankers’ acceptances), damages and other liabilities payable under the documentation governing any Indebtedness; provided that Obligations with respect to the Notes shall not include fees or indemnifications in favor of the Trustee and other third parties other than the holders of the Notes.

Offering Circular ” means the Confidential Offering Circular dated April 21, 2006, relating to the offer and sale by the Company of $355,500,000 principal amount of the Notes.

Officer ” means the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, President, any Executive Vice President, Senior Vice President or Vice President, the Treasurer or the Secretary of the Company or any of the Company’s Restricted Subsidiaries.

Officers’ Certificate ” means a certificate signed on behalf of the Company by two Officers of the Company or any of the Company’s Restricted Subsidiaries, one of whom must be the principal executive officer, the principal financial officer, the treasurer or the principal accounting officer of the Company or any of the Company’s Restricted Subsidiaries, that meets the requirements set forth in the Indenture.

Opinion of Counsel ” means a written opinion from legal counsel who is acceptable to the Trustee. The counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the Company or the Trustee.

Parent ” means, with respect to any Person, any direct or indirect parent company of such Person whose only material assets consist of the common Capital Stock of such Person.

Pari Passu Indebtedness ” means:

 

  (1) with respect to the Company, the Notes and any Indebtedness which ranks pari passu in right of payment with the Notes; and

 

  (2) with respect to any Guarantor, its applicable Guarantee and any Indebtedness which ranks pari passu in right of payment with such Guarantor’s Guarantee.

 

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Permitted Holders ” means, at any time, (1) the Sponsor and (2) the Management Group. Any Person or group whose acquisition of beneficial ownership constitutes a Change of Control in respect of which a Change of Control Offer is made in accordance with the requirements of the Indenture thereafter, together with its Affiliates, constitute an additional Permitted Holder.

Permitted Investments ” means:

 

  (1) any Investment in the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary;

 

  (2) any Investment in Cash Equivalents or Investment Grade Securities;

 

  (3) any Investment by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company in a Person if as a result of such Investment (a) such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, or (b) such Person, in one transaction or a series of related transactions, is merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into, or transfers or conveys all or substantially all of its assets to, or is liquidated into, the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company;

 

  (4) any Investment in securities or other assets not constituting Cash Equivalents and received in connection with an Asset Sale made pursuant to the provisions of “—Certain Covenants—Asset Sales” or any other disposition of assets not constituting an Asset Sale;

 

  (5) any Investment existing on the Issue Date and any Investments made pursuant to binding commitments in effect on the Issue Date;

 

  (6) advances to employees not in excess of $15 million outstanding at any one time in the aggregate; provided that advances that are forgiven shall continue to be deemed outstanding;

 

  (7) any Investment acquired by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (a) in exchange for any other Investment or accounts receivable held by the Company or any such Restricted Subsidiary in connection with or as a result of a bankruptcy, workout, reorganization or recapitalization of the issuer of such other Investment or accounts receivable or (b) as a result of a foreclosure by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries with respect to any secured Investment or other transfer of title with respect to any secured Investment in default;

 

  (8) Hedging Obligations permitted under clause (j) of the second paragraph of “—Certain Covenants—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock;”

 

  (9) any Investment by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in a Similar Business having an aggregate Fair Market Value, taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (9) that are at that time outstanding (without giving effect to the sale of Investments made pursuant to this clause (9) to the extent the proceeds of such sale received by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries do not consist of Cash Equivalents), not to exceed the greater of (x) $95 million and (y) 4.0% of Total Assets of the Company at the time of such Investment (with the Fair Market Value of each Investment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value); provided , however , that if any Investment pursuant to this clause (9) is made in any Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company at the date of the making of such Investment and such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company after such date, such Investment shall thereafter be deemed to have been made pursuant to clause (1) above and shall cease to have been made pursuant to this clause (9) for so long as such Person continues to be a Restricted Subsidiary;

 

  (10) additional Investments by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries having an aggregate Fair Market Value, taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (10) that are at that time outstanding (without giving effect to the sale of Investments made pursuant to this clause (10) to the extent the proceeds of such sale received by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries do not consist of Cash Equivalents), not to exceed the greater of (x) $110 million and (y) 7.5% of Total Assets of the Company at the time of such Investment (with the Fair Market Value of each Investment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value);

 

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  (11) loans and advances to officers, directors and employees for business-related travel expenses, moving and relocation expenses and other similar expenses, in each case Incurred in the ordinary course of business;

 

  (12) Investments the payment for which consists of Equity Interests of the Company or any Parent of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock); provided , however , that such Equity Interests will not increase the amount available for Restricted Payments under the calculation set forth in clause (c) of the first paragraph of the covenant described under “—Certain Covenants—Limitation on Restricted Payments” until such time as the Investment in such Equity Interests is no longer outstanding;

 

  (13) Investments consisting of the licensing or contribution of intellectual property pursuant to joint marketing arrangements with other Persons;

 

  (14) Investments consisting of purchases and acquisitions of inventory, supplies, materials and equipment or purchases of contract rights or licenses or leases of intellectual property in each case in the ordinary course of business;

 

  (15) Investments of a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company acquired after the Issue Date or of an entity merged into, amalgamated with, or consolidated with a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction that is not prohibited by the covenant described under “—Merger, Amalgamation, Consolidation or Sale of All or Substantially All Assets” after the Issue Date to the extent that such Investments were not made in contemplation of such acquisition, merger, amalgamation or consolidation and were in existence on the date of such acquisition, merger, amalgamation or consolidation;

 

  (16) any Investment in the Notes;

 

  (17) guarantees not prohibited by or required pursuant to, as the case may be, the covenants described under “—Certain Covenants—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock” and “—Certain Covenants—Future Guarantors;” and

 

  (18) any transaction to the extent it constitutes an Investment that is permitted by and made in accordance with the provisions of the second paragraph of the covenant described under “—Certain Covenants—Transactions with Affiliates” (except transactions described in clauses (2), (6), (7), (8), (9), (11) and (16) of such paragraph).

Permitted Liens ” means, with respect to any Person:

 

  (1) pledges or deposits by such Person under workmen’s compensation laws, unemployment insurance laws or similar legislation, or good faith deposits in connection with bids, tenders, contracts (other than for the payment of Indebtedness) or leases to which such Person is a party, or deposits to secure public or statutory obligations, including those to secure health, safety, insurance and environmental obligations, of such Person or deposits of cash or U.S. government bonds to secure surety or appeal bonds to which such Person is a party, or deposits as security for contested taxes or import duties or for the payment of rent, in each case Incurred in the ordinary course of business;

 

  (2) Liens imposed by law, such as carriers’, warehousemen’s and mechanics’ Liens, in each case for sums not yet due or being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings or other Liens arising out of judgments or awards against such Person with respect to which such Person shall then be proceeding with an appeal or other proceedings for review;

 

  (3) Liens for taxes, assessments or other governmental charges not yet due or payable or subject to penalties for nonpayment or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings;

 

  (4) Liens in favor of issuers of performance and surety bonds or bid bonds or with respect to other regulatory requirements or letters of credit issued at the request of and for the account of such Person in the ordinary course of its business;

 

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  (5) Liens existing on the Issue Date;

 

  (6) Liens on assets, property or shares of stock of a Person at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary; provided , however , that such Liens are not created or Incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such other Person becoming such a Subsidiary; provided , further , however , that such Liens may not extend to any other property owned by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company;

 

  (7) Liens on assets or property at the time the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company acquired the assets or property, including any acquisition by means of a merger, amalgamation or consolidation with or into the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company; provided , however , that such Liens are not created or Incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such acquisition; provided , further , however , that the Liens may not extend to any other assets or property owned by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company;

 

  (8) Liens securing Indebtedness or other obligations of a Restricted Subsidiary owing to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary of the Company permitted to be Incurred in accordance with the covenant described under “—Certain Covenants—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock;”

 

  (9) Liens securing Hedging Obligations permitted to be Incurred under clause (j) of the second paragraph of the covenant described under “—Certain Covenants—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock;”

 

  (10) Liens on specific items of inventory or other goods and proceeds of any Person securing such Person’s obligations in respect of bankers’ acceptances issued or created for the account of such Person to facilitate the purchase, shipment or storage of such inventory or other goods;

 

  (11) Liens in favor of the Company or any Guarantor;

 

  (12) Liens securing insurance premiums financing arrangements, provided that such Liens are limited to the applicable unearned insurance premiums;

 

  (13) Liens on the Equity Interests of Unrestricted Subsidiaries;

 

  (14) Liens to secure any refinancing, refunding, extension, renewal or replacement (or successive refinancings, refundings, extensions, renewals or replacements) as a whole, or in part, of any Indebtedness secured by any Lien referred to in the foregoing clauses (5), (6), and (7); provided , however , that (x) such new Lien shall be limited to all or part of the same property that secured the original Lien (plus improvements on such property), and (y) the Indebtedness secured by such Lien at such time is not increased to any amount greater than the sum of (A) the outstanding principal amount or, if greater, committed amount of the Indebtedness described under clauses (5), (6) and (7) at the time the original Lien became a Permitted Lien under the Indenture, and (B) an amount necessary to pay any fees and expenses, including premiums, related to such refinancing, refunding, extension, renewal or replacement;

 

  (15) judgment and attachment Liens not giving rise to an Event of Default and notices of lis pendens and associated rights related to litigation being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves have been made;

 

  (16) Liens securing obligations Incurred in the ordinary course of business that do not exceed $15 million at any one time outstanding;

 

  (17) Liens arising out of conditional sale, title retention, consignment or similar arrangements for the sale of goods entered into in the ordinary course of business;

 

  (18) Liens incurred to secure cash management services in the ordinary course of business;

 

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

 

  (20) deposits made in the ordinary course of business to secure liability to insurance carriers.

 

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Person ” means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, Joint Venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, government or any agency or political subdivision thereof or any other entity.

Preferred Stock ” means any Equity Interest with preferential right of payment of dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up.

Presumed Tax Rate ” means the highest effective marginal statutory combined U.S. federal, state and local income tax rate prescribed for an individual residing in New York City (taking into account (i) the deductibility of state and local income taxes for U.S. federal income tax purposes, assuming the limitation of Section 68(a)(2) of the Code applies and taking into account any impact of Section 68(f) of the Code, and (ii) the character (long-term or short-term capital gain, dividend income or other ordinary income) of the applicable income).

Rating Agency ” means (1) each of Moody’s and S&P and (2) if Moody’s or S&P ceases to rate the Notes 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 or any Parent of the Company as a replacement agency for Moody’s or S&P, as the case may be.

Restricted Investment ” means an Investment other than a Permitted Investment.

Restricted Subsidiary ” means, with respect to any Person, any Subsidiary of such Person other than an Unrestricted Subsidiary of such Person. Unless otherwise indicated in this “Description of the Senior Subordinated Notes,” all references to Restricted Subsidiaries shall mean Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company.

S&P ” means Standard & Poor’s Ratings Group or any successor to the rating agency business thereof.

Sale/Leaseback Transaction ” means an arrangement relating to property now owned or hereafter acquired by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary whereby the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary transfers such property to a Person and the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary leases it from such Person, other than leases between the Company and a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company or between Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company.

SEC ” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Securities Act ” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.

Seller Preferred Stock ” means the shares of the preferred stock to be issued by Holdings in the Transactions, or subsequently issued shares issued in respect of payable-in-kind dividend payments therein or issued upon stock splits or redemptions or otherwise in respect thereof.

Senior Credit Documents ” means the collective reference to any Credit Agreement, any notes issued pursuant thereto and the guarantees thereof, and the collateral documents relating thereto, as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

Senior Notes ” means the $304 million in aggregate principal amount of 10  1 / 8 % Senior Notes due 2013 issued by the Company under the Senior Notes Indenture on October 17, 2005 and additional 10  1 / 8 % Senior Notes due 2013 issued by the Company on or after the Issue Date under the Senior Notes Indenture.

Senior Notes Guarantees ” means the guarantees of the Senior Notes issued by the Guarantors in accordance with the provisions of the Senior Notes Indenture.

 

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Senior Notes Indenture ” means the Indenture dated as of October 17, 2005 among the Company, the Guarantors named therein and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee, as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

Senior Subordinated Bridge Loan Facility ” means the unsecured senior subordinated bridge loan facility dated as of October 17, 2005, in an initial aggregate principal amount of $383.6 million, entered into in connection with the consummation of the Transactions among the Company, the financial institutions named therein and Credit Suisse, Cayman Islands Branch (or an affiliate thereof), as Administrative Agent.

Significant Subsidiary ” means any Restricted Subsidiary that would be a “significant subsidiary” of the Company within the meaning of Rule 1-02 under Regulation S-X promulgated by the SEC or any successor provision.

Similar Business ” means any business or activity of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries currently conducted or proposed as of the Issue Date, or any business or activity that is reasonably similar thereto or a reasonable extension, development or expansion thereof, or is complementary, incidental, ancillary or related thereto.

Sponsor ” means Apollo Management L.P. or one or more investment funds controlled by Apollo Management L.P. and any of their respective Affiliates.

Sponsor Consulting Agreement ” means the Consulting Agreement between the Sponsor and the Company dated as of October 17, 2005.

Stated Maturity ” means, with respect to any security, the date specified in such security as the fixed date on which the final payment of principal of such security is due and payable, including pursuant to any mandatory redemption provision (but excluding any provision providing for the repurchase of such security at the option of the holder thereof upon the happening of any contingency beyond the control of the issuer unless such contingency has occurred).

Stock Purchase Agreement ” means the Purchase Agreement dated as of July 26, 2005, as amended and supplemented on October 17, 2005, by and among Cendant Corporation, the Company and Affinion Group Holdings, Inc. (formerly Affinity Acquisition, Inc.), pursuant to which Cendant Corporation agreed to sell to the Company all of the equity interests of Affinion Group, LLC (formerly Cendant Marketing Group, LLC) and Affinion International Holdings Limited (formerly Cendant International Holdings Limited).

Subordinated Indebtedness ” means (a) with respect to the Company, any Indebtedness of the Company which is by its terms subordinated in right of payment to the Notes and (b) with respect to any Guarantor, any Indebtedness of such Guarantor which is by its terms subordinated in right of payment to its Guarantee.

Subsidiary ” means, with respect to any Person, (1) any corporation, association or other business entity (other than a partnership, joint venture or limited liability company) 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 of determination owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of such Person or a combination thereof, (2) any partnership, joint venture or limited liability company of which (x) more than 50% of the capital accounts, distribution rights, total equity and voting interests or general and limited partnership interests, as applicable, are owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof, whether in the form of membership, general, special or limited partnership interests or otherwise, and (y) such Person or any Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary of such Person is a controlling general partner or otherwise controls such entity and (3) any Person that is consolidated in the consolidated financial statements of the specified Person in accordance with GAAP.

 

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Subsidiary Guarantor ” means each Subsidiary of the Company that is a Guarantor.

Subsidiary Spin-Off ” means any public sale after the Issue Date of common stock of any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company in connection with a spin-off or a similar transaction involving the disposition of a business operation, unit or division.

TIA ” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C. Sections 77aaa-77bbbb) as in effect on the date of the Indenture.

Total Assets ” means, with respect to any Person, the total consolidated assets of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries, as shown on the most recent balance sheet.

Transaction Documents ” means the Stock Purchase Agreement, the Credit Agreement and, in each case, any other document entered into in connection therewith, in each case as amended, supplemented or modified from time to time.

Transactions ” means, collectively, the Acquisition (as defined in the Offering Circular), the entering into of the Credit Agreement and the Senior Subordinated Bridge Loan Facility and the offering, and issuance on October 17, 2005, of the Senior Notes and the application of the proceeds therefrom.

Trust Officer ” means any officer within the corporate trust department of the Trustee, including any vice president, assistant vice president, assistant secretary, assistant treasurer, trust officer or any other officer of the Trustee who customarily performs functions similar to those performed by the Persons who at the time shall be such officers, respectively, or to whom any corporate trust matter is referred because of such person’s knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject, and who shall have direct responsibility for the administration of the Indenture.

Trustee ” means the respective party named as such in the Indenture until a successor replaces it and, thereafter, means the successor.

Unrestricted Subsidiary ” means:

 

  (1) initially Affinion Loyalty, LLC;

 

  (2) any Subsidiary of the Company that at the time of determination shall be designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary by the Board of Directors of such Person in the manner provided below; and

 

  (3) any Subsidiary of an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

The Board of Directors of the Company may designate any Subsidiary of the Company (including any newly acquired or newly formed Subsidiary of the Company) to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary unless such Subsidiary or any of its Subsidiaries owns any Equity Interests or Indebtedness of, or owns or holds any Lien on any property of, the Company or any other Subsidiary of the Company (other than any Subsidiary of the Subsidiary to be so designated); provided , however , that the Subsidiary to be so designated and its Subsidiaries do not at the time of designation have and do not thereafter Incur any Indebtedness pursuant to which the lender has recourse to any of the assets of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than Equity Interests of Unrestricted Subsidiaries); provided , further , however , that either:

 

  (a) the Subsidiary to be so designated has total consolidated assets of $1,000 or less; or

 

  (b) if such Subsidiary has consolidated assets greater than $1,000, then such designation would be permitted under the covenant described under “—Certain Covenants—Limitation on Restricted Payments.”

 

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The Board of Directors of the Company may designate any Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary; provided , however , that immediately after giving effect to such designation:

 

  (x) (1) the Company could Incur $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test described in the first paragraph under “—Certain Covenants—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock,” or (2) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries would be greater than such ratio for the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries immediately prior to such designation, in each case on a pro forma basis taking into account such designation, and

 

  (y) no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing.

Any such designation by the Board of Directors of the Company shall be evidenced to the Trustee by promptly filing with the Trustee a copy of the resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company giving effect to such designation and an Officers’ Certificate certifying that such designation complied with the foregoing provisions.

U.S. Government Obligations ” means securities that are:

 

  (1) direct obligations of the United States of America for the timely payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged or

 

  (2) obligations of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States of America the timely payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United States of America, which, in each case, are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, and shall also include a depository receipt issued by a bank (as defined in Section 3(a)(2) of the Securities Act) as custodian with respect to any such U.S. Government Obligations or a specific payment of principal of or interest on any such U.S. Government Obligations held by such custodian for the account of the holder of such depository receipt; provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depository receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the U.S. Government Obligations or the specific payment of principal of or interest on the U.S. Government Obligations evidenced by such depository receipt.

Voting Stock ” of any Person as of any date means the Capital Stock of such Person that is at the time entitled to vote in the election of the Board of Directors of such Person.

Weighted Average Life to Maturity ” means, when applied to any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, as the case may be, at any date, the quotient obtained by dividing (1) the sum of the products of the number of years from the date of determination to the date of each successive scheduled principal payment of such Indebtedness or redemption or similar payment with respect to such Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock multiplied by the amount of such payment, by (2) the sum of all such payments.

Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary ” is any Wholly Owned Subsidiary that is a Restricted Subsidiary.

Wholly Owned Subsidiary ” of any Person means a Subsidiary of such Person 100% of the outstanding Capital Stock or other ownership interests of which (other than directors’ qualifying shares or shares or interests required to be held by foreign nationals) shall at the time be owned by such Person or by one or more Wholly Owned Subsidiaries of such Person and one or more Wholly Owned Subsidiaries of such Person.

 

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BOOK-ENTRY, DELIVERY AND FORM

Except as set forth below, the exchange senior notes and the exchange senior subordinated notes will each initially be issued in the form of one or more fully registered notes in global form without coupons. Each global note shall be deposited with the trustee, as custodian for, and registered in the name of DTC or a nominee thereof. The old notes to the extent validly tendered and accepted and directed by their holders in their letters of transmittal, will be exchanged through book-entry electronic transfer for the applicable global note.

Except as set forth below, a global note may be transferred, in whole but not in part, solely to another nominee of DTC or to a successor of DTC or its nominee. Beneficial interests in a global note may not be exchanged for notes in certificated form except in the limited circumstances described below.

The Global Notes

We expect that pursuant to procedures established by DTC:

 

    upon the issuance of the global notes, DTC or its custodian will credit, on its internal system, the principal amount of notes of the individual beneficial interests represented by such global notes to the respective accounts of persons who have accounts with such depositary, and

 

    ownership of beneficial interests in the global notes will be shown on, and the transfer of such ownership will be effected only through:

 

    records maintained by DTC or its nominee with respect to interests of persons who have accounts with DTC “participants” and

 

    the records of participants with respect to interests of persons other than participants.

So long as DTC, or its nominee, is the registered owner or holder of the global notes, DTC or such nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner or holder of the notes represented by such global notes for all purposes under the applicable indenture. No beneficial owner of an interest in the global notes will be able to transfer that interest except in accordance with DTC’s procedures, in addition to those provided for under the applicable indenture with respect to the notes.

Payments of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the global notes will be made to DTC or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered owner thereof. None of us, either trustee or any paying agent will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests in the global notes or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interest.

We expect that DTC or its nominee, upon receipt of any payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest on the global notes, will credit participants’ accounts with payments in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in the principal amount of the global notes as shown on the records of DTC or its nominee. We also expect that payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests in the global notes held through such participants will be governed by standing instructions and customary practice, as is now the case with securities held for the accounts of customers registered in the names of nominees for such customers. Such payments will be the responsibility of such participants.

Transfers between participants in DTC will be effected in the ordinary way through DTC’s same-day funds system in accordance with DTC rules and will be settled in same-day funds. If a holder requires physical delivery of a certificated note for any reason, including to sell notes to persons in states that require physical delivery of the notes, or to pledge such securities, such holder must transfer its interest in the global notes, in accordance with the normal procedures of DTC and with the procedures set forth in the applicable indenture. Consequently, the ability to transfer notes or to pledge notes as collateral will be limited to such extent.

 

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Notes that are issued as described below under “—Certificated Notes,” will be issued in registered definitive form without coupons (each, a “Certificated Note”). Upon the transfer of Certificated Notes, such certificated notes may, unless the global note has previously been exchanged for certificated notes, be exchanged for an interest in the applicable global note representing the principal amount of notes being transferred.

DTC has advised us that it will take any action permitted to be taken by a holder of notes (including the presentation of notes for exchange as described below) only at the direction of one or more participants to whose account the DTC interests in the global notes are credited and only in respect of such portion of the aggregate principal amount of notes as to which such participant or participants has or have given such direction. However, if there is an event of default under either indenture, DTC will exchange the applicable global notes for certificated notes, which it will distribute to its participants.

DTC has advised us as follows:

 

    DTC is a limited-purpose trust company organized under the laws of the State of New York,

 

    a member of the Federal Reserve System,

 

    a “clearing corporation” within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code and

 

    a “clearing agency” registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the Exchange Act.

DTC was created to hold securities for its participants and facilitate the clearance and settlement of securities transactions between participants through electronic bookentry changes in accounts of its participants, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of certificates. Participants include securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies and clearing corporations and certain other organizations. Indirect access to the DTC system is available to others such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a participant, either directly or indirectly (“indirect participants”).

Although DTC has agreed to the foregoing procedures in order to facilitate transfers of interests in the global notes among participants of DTC, it is under no obligation to perform such procedures and such procedures may be discontinued at any time. Neither we nor the trustees will have any responsibility for the performance by DTC or its participants or indirect participants of their respective obligations under the rules and procedures governing their operations.

Certificated Notes

If (1) we notify the applicable trustee in writing that DTC is no longer willing or able to act as a depository and we are unable to locate a qualified successor within 90 days or (2) we, at our option, notify the trustee in writing that we elect to cause the issuance of exchange notes in definitive form under either or both indentures, then, upon surrender by DTC of the applicable global note, certificated securities will be issued to each person that DTC identifies as the beneficial owner of the applicable exchange notes represented by the global note. In addition, any person having a beneficial interest in a global note or any holder of old notes whose old notes have been accepted for exchange may, upon request to the trustee or the exchange agent, as the case may be, exchange such beneficial interest or old notes for Certificated Notes.

Upon any such issuance, the applicable trustee is required to register such Certificated Notes in the name of such person or persons (or the nominee of any thereof), and cause the same to be delivered thereto.

Neither we nor either trustee shall be liable for any delay by DTC or any particular or indirect participant in identifying the beneficial owners of the related exchange notes and each such person may conclusively rely on, and shall be protected in relying on, instructions from DTC for all purposes (including with respect to the registration and delivery, and the respective principal amounts, of the exchange notes to be issued).

 

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CERTAIN U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS

General

The following is a summary of material United States federal income tax consequences of the exchange of old notes for exchange notes pursuant to this exchange offer, but does not address any other aspects of United States federal income tax consequences to holders of old notes or exchange notes. This summary is based upon the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, the Treasury Regulations promulgated or proposed thereunder, and administrative and judicial interpretations thereof, all as of the date hereof and all of which are subject to change, possibly on a retroactive basis. This summary is not binding on the Internal Revenue Service or on the courts, and no ruling will be sought from the Internal Revenue Service with respect to the statements made and the conclusions reached in this summary. There can be no assurance that the Internal Revenue Service will agree with such statements and conclusions.

This summary is limited to the tax consequences of those persons who are the original beneficial owner of the notes, who exchange old notes for exchange notes in this exchange offer and who hold the old notes as capital assets within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code, which we refer to as “Holders.” This summary does not address specific tax consequences that may be relevant to particular persons (including banks, financial institutions, broker-dealers, insurance companies, real estate investment trusts, regulated investment companies, partnerships or other pass-through entities, expatriates, tax-exempt organizations and persons that have a functional currency other than the Untied States Dollar or persons in special situations, such as those who have elected to mark securities to market or those who hold the notes as part of a straddle, hedge, conversion transaction or other integrated investment). In addition, this summary does not address United States federal alternative minimum, estate and gift tax consequences, consequences under the tax laws of any state, local or foreign jurisdiction, or consequences under any United States federal tax laws other than income tax law.

If a partnership or other entity taxable as a partnership holds notes, the tax treatment of a partner in the partnership generally will depend upon the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. If you are a partner of a partnership holding the notes, you should consult your tax advisor regarding the tax consequences of the exchange of old notes for exchange notes pursuant to this exchange offer.

This summary is for general information only. Persons considering the exchange of old notes for exchange notes are urged to consult their own tax advisors concerning the United States federal income tax consequences to them of exchanging the notes, as well as the application of state, local and foreign tax laws and United States federal tax laws other than income tax law.

Exchange of an Old Note for an Exchange Note Pursuant to this Exchange Offer

The exchange of the old notes for the exchange notes in the exchange offer described herein will not constitute a significant modification of the terms of the old notes and thus will not constitute a taxable exchange for United States federal income tax purposes. Rather, the exchange notes will be treated as a continuation of the old notes. Consequently, a Holder will not recognize gain or loss upon receipt of the exchange notes in exchange for the old notes in the exchange offer, the Holder’s basis in the exchange notes received in the exchange offer will be the same as its basis in the old notes immediately before the exchange, and the Holder’s holding period in the exchange notes will include its holding period in the old notes.

 

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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

Each broker dealer that receives exchange notes for its own account pursuant to the exchange offer must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such exchange notes. This prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, may be used by a broker dealer in connection with resales of exchange notes received in exchange for old notes where such old notes were acquired as a result of market making activities or other trading activities. We have agreed that, for a period of 180 days after the consummation of the exchange offer, we will make this prospectus, as amended or supplemented, available to any broker dealer for use in connection with any such resale. In addition, until                      , 2006, all dealers effecting transactions in the exchange notes may be required to deliver a prospectus.

We will not receive any proceeds from any sale of exchange notes by broker dealers. Exchange notes received by broker dealers for their own account pursuant to the exchange offer may be sold from time to time in one or more transactions in the over the counter market, in negotiated transactions, through the writing of options on the exchange notes or a combination of such methods of resale, at market prices prevailing at the time of resale, at prices related to such prevailing market prices or negotiated prices. Any such resale may be made directly to purchasers or to or through brokers or dealers who may receive compensation in the form of commissions or concessions from any such broker dealer or the purchasers of any such exchange notes. Any broker dealer that resells exchange notes that were received by it for its own account pursuant to the exchange offer and any broker or dealer that participates in a distribution of such exchange notes may be deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act and any profit on any such resale of exchange notes and any commission or concessions received by any such persons may be deemed to be underwriting compensation under the Securities Act. The letter of transmittal states that, by acknowledging that it will deliver and by delivering a prospectus, a broker dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act.

For a period of 180 days after the consummation of the exchange offer, we will promptly send additional copies of this prospectus and any amendment or supplement to this prospectus to any broker dealer that requests such documents in the letter of transmittal. We have agreed to pay all expenses incident to the exchange offer (including the expenses of one counsel for the holders of the old notes) other than commissions or concessions of any brokers or dealers and will indemnify the holders of the old notes (including any broker dealers) against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.

 

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LEGAL MATTERS

The validity of the exchange notes will be passed upon for us by Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP.

EXPERTS

The consolidated financial statements of Affinion Group, Inc. (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2005, and for the period from October 17, 2005 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2005, and the combined financial statements of Cendant Marketing Services Division (a division of Cendant Corporation) (the “Predecessor”) as of December 31, 2004, and for the periods from January 1, 2005 to October 16, 2005, and for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003, included in this prospectus have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report appearing herein, which report expresses an unqualified opinion and includes explanatory paragraphs relating to (1) the Predecessor being a division of Cendant Corporation through October 16, 2005 and following the sale of the Predecessor to the Company it continued to enter into transactions with Cendant Corporation, and (2) the Predecessor prospectively adopting the fair value method of accounting for stock-based compensation on January 1, 2003 and have been so included in reliance upon the report of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

 

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GLOSSARY

Affinity Marketing

Marketing of programs or services through a third-party channel utilizing its customer base and brand name.

Attrition Rates

Percentage of customers who cancel their membership, package benefits or insurance policy in a given period.

Bounty

Refers to up-front marketing payments we make to our affinity partners as compensation to utilize their brand names, customer contacts and billing vehicles (credit or debit card, checking account, mortgage or other type of billing arrangement).

Click-through

The opportunity for an online visitor to be transferred to a web location by clicking their mouse on an advertisement.

Customer Service Marketing (CSM)

Upsell programs occurring in affinity marketing partners’ contact centers.

Direct Marketing

Any direct communication to a consumer or business that is designed to generate a response in the form of an order, a request for further information and/or a visit to a store for a specific product or service.

Enhanced Checking

Package benefits embedded in a customer’s checking or share draft accounts.

Fee Income

Income for financial institutions generated from the sale of non-interest income products and services.

In-Branch Marketing

Face-to-face solicitation by a customer service representative physically located in a branch office.

Media

Distribution vehicles of solicitations such as direct mail, telemarketing, and the Internet.

Membership

A product that offers members access to a variety of discounts on purchases and other value-added benefits, such as credit monitoring and identity-theft resolution in return for paying a monthly or annual fee.

Package

A collection of benefits, including insurance, that are added to a checking account or credit card account to be offered to customers of our affinity partners.

 

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Solo Direct Mail

Stand-alone mailings that market our programs and services.

Statement inserts

A marketing mailing inserted with financial institution affinity partner’s monthly account statements.

Transfer Plus

Permission-based live operator call transfer program.

Voice Response Unit (VRU)

Automated credit card activation technology fully scripted by us to solicit additional members.

 

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Table of Contents

INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Consolidated Financial Statements of Affinion Group, Inc. (the “Company”) and Combined Financial Statements of Cendant Marketing Services Division (a division of Cendant Corporation) (the “Predecessor”):

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

   F-2

Consolidated Balance Sheet of the Company as of December 31, 2005 and Combined Balance Sheet of the Predecessor as of December 31, 2004

   F-3

Consolidated Statement of Operations of the Company for the period from October 17, 2005 to December 31, 2005, and Combined Statements of Operations of the Predecessor for the period from January 1, 2005 to October 16, 2005 and for the Years Ended December 31, 2004 and 2003

   F-4

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Stockholder’s Equity of the Company for the period from October 17, 2005 to December 31, 2005, and Combined Statements of Changes in Combined Equity of the Predecessor for the period from January 1, 2005 to October 16, 2005 and for the Years Ended December 31, 2004 and 2003

   F-5

Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows of the Company for the period from October 17, 2005 to December 31, 2005, and Combined Statements of Cash Flows of the Predecessor for the period from January 1, 2005 to October 16, 2005 and for the Years Ended December 31, 2004 and 2003

   F-6

Notes to Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements

   F-7

 

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Table of Contents

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

To Affinion Group, Inc.:

 

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheet of Affinion Group, Inc. (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2005, and the related consolidated statements of operations, changes in stockholder’s equity and cash flows of the Company for the period from October 17, 2005 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2005. We have also audited the combined balance sheet of Cendant Marketing Services Division (a division of Cendant Corporation) (the “Predecessor”) as of December 31, 2004 and related combined statements of operations, changes in combined equity and cash flows of the Predecessor for the period from January 1, 2005 to October 16, 2005, and for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the financial statements based on our audits.

 

We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards as established by the Auditing Standards Board (United States) and in accordance with the auditing standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. Neither the Company nor the Predecessor is required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of their internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s or the Predecessor’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

In our opinion, such financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2005, and the consolidated results of the Company’s operations and cash flows for the period from October 17, 2005 to December 31, 2005, and the combined financial position of the Predecessor as of December 31, 2004, the combined results of the Predecessor’s operations and cash flows for the period from January 1, 2005 to October 16, 2005, and for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

As discussed in Note 1 and Note 18 to the financial statements, through October 16, 2005 the Predecessor was a division of Cendant Corporation and following the sale of the Predecessor to the Company, it continued to enter into transactions with Cendant Corporation.

 

As discussed in Note 2 to the financial statements, on January 1, 2003 the Predecessor prospectively adopted the fair value method of accounting for stock-based compensation.

 

/s/    Deloitte & Touche LLP

 

Stamford, CT

March 17, 2006

(May 3, 2006 as to Note 23)

 

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Table of Contents

AFFINION GROUP, INC. AND THE PREDECESSOR

 

CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED BALANCE SHEETS

(In millions, except share amounts)

 

     THE COMPANY

     THE PREDECESSOR

 
     December 31, 2005

     December 31, 2004

 

Assets

                 
 

Current assets:

                 

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 113.4      $ 22.5  

Restricted cash

     28.2        24.8  

Investments

     0.4        0.6  

Receivables (net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $2.8 and $2.9 in 2005 and 2004, respectively)

     61.5        89.8  

Receivables from related parties

     13.7        —    

Profit-sharing receivables from insurance carriers

     62.7        58.8  

Prepaid commissions

     40.7        126.3  

Deferred income taxes

     —          90.4  

Other current assets

     38.6        58.8  
    


  


Total current assets

     359.2        472.0  
 

Property and equipment, net

     107.7        95.7  

Deferred acquisition costs, net

     —          187.1  

Contract rights and list fees, net

     1.8        39.0  

Goodwill

     366.2        254.3  

Other intangibles, net

     1,317.8        34.3  

Deferred income taxes

     —          39.7  

Other non-current assets

     47.3        36.4  
    


  


Total assets

   $ 2,200.0      $ 1,158.5  
    


  


Liabilities and Stockholder’s/Combined Equity

                 

Current liabilities:

                 

Current portion of long-term debt

   $ 20.4      $ 0.6  

Current portion of long-term debt due to Cendant

     —          20.0  

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

     276.5        335.2  

Payables to related parties

     3.1        —    

Deferred revenue

     148.6        429.0  

Deferred income taxes

     2.5        —    

Income taxes payable

     0.8        9.6  
    


  


Total current liabilities

     451.9        794.4  
 

Long-term debt

     1,470.6        1.0  

Long-term debt due to Cendant

     —          10.0  

Deferred income taxes

     27.8        —    

Deferred revenue

     7.6        58.0  

Other long-term liabilities

     8.1        1.1  
    


  


Total liabilities

     1,966.0        864.5  
    


  


Minority interests

     0.1        0.4  
    


  


Stockholder’s/Combined Equity:

                 

Common stock and additional paid-in capital, $0.01 par value, 1,000 shares authorized, and 100 shares issued and outstanding

     372.1        —    

Advances to Cendant, net

     —          (265.3 )

Retained earnings (deficit)

     (136.3 )      560.8  

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

     (1.9 )      (1.9 )
    


  


Total equity

     233.9        293.6  
    


  


Total liabilities and stockholder’s/combined equity

   $ 2,200.0      $ 1,158.5  
    


  


 

See notes to the consolidated and combined financial statements.

 

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AFFINION GROUP, INC. AND THE PREDECESSOR

 

CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(In millions)

 

     THE COMPANY

     THE PREDECESSOR

 
    

For the Period
October 17, 2005
to December 31,

2005


    

For the Period
January 1, 2005 to
October 16,

2005


    For the Years Ended
December 31,


 
                2004      

          2003      

 

Net Revenues

   $ 134.9      $ 1,063.8     $ 1,530.9     $ 1,443.7  
    


  


 


 


Expenses:

                                 

Marketing and commissions

     87.1        515.0       665.3       683.7  

Operating costs

     48.7        315.0       383.3       379.5  

General and administrative

     20.2        134.5       185.0       115.7  

Gain on sale of assets

     —          (4.7 )     (23.9 )     —    

Depreciation and amortization

     84.5        32.3       43.9       44.5  
    


  


 


 


Total Expenses

     240.5        992.1       1,253.6       1,223.4  
    


  


 


 


Income/(Loss) from Operations

     (105.6 )      71.7       277.3       220.3  
 

Interest income

     1.3        1.9       1.7       2.0  
 

Interest expense

     (31.9 )      (0.5 )     (7.3 )     (14.1 )
 

Other income, net

     —          5.9       0.1       6.7  
    


  


 


 


Income/(Loss) Before Income Taxes and Minority Interests

     (136.2 )      79.0       271.8       214.9  
 

Provision for/(benefit from) income taxes

     —          28.9       (104.5 )     71.3  
 

Minority interests, net of tax

     0.1        —         (0.1 )     (0.7 )
    


  


 


 


Net Income/(Loss)

   $ (136.3 )    $ 50.1     $ 376.4     $ 144.3  
    


  


 


 


 

 

See notes to the consolidated and combined financial statements.

 

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Table of Contents

AFFINION GROUP, INC. AND THE PREDECESSOR

 

CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN

STOCKHOLDER’S/COMBINED EQUITY

(In millions)

 

    

Common
Stock and
Additional
Paid-in

Capital


  

Advances
From/(To)

Cendant


   

Retained
Earnings/

(Deficit)


   

Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive

Income/(Loss)


    Total

 

The Predecessor

                                       

Balance, January 1, 2003

          $ 44.2     $ 85.4     $ (6.0 )   $ 123.6  

Comprehensive income:

                                       

Net income

            —         144.3       —         144.3  

Currency translation adjustment

            —         —         2.6       2.6  
                                   


Total comprehensive income

                                    146.9  
                                   


Capital contribution

            12.9       —         —         12.9  

Return of capital

            (20.0 )     —         —         (20.0 )

Advances to Cendant, net

            (112.1 )     —         —         (112.1 )
                                   


Advances to Cendant, net

                                    (119.2 )
                                   


Dividend

            —         (35.7 )     —         (35.7 )
           


 


 


 


Balance, December 31, 2003

            (75.0 )     194.0       (3.4 )     115.6  

Comprehensive income:

                                       

Net income

            —         376.4       —         376.4  

Currency translation adjustment

            —         —         1.5       1.5  
                                   


Total comprehensive income

                                    377.9  
                                   


Capital contribution

            2.5       —         —         2.5  

Return of capital

            (92.3 )     —         —         (92.3 )

Advances to Cendant, net

            (100.5 )     —         —         (100.5 )
                                   


Advances to Cendant, net

                                    (190.3 )
                                   


Dividend

            —         (9.6 )     —         (9.6 )
           


 


 


 


Balance, December 31, 2004

            (265.3 )     560.8       (1.9 )     293.6  

Comprehensive income:

                                       

Net income

            —         50.1               50.1  

Currency translation adjustment

            —         —         1.9       1.9  
                                   


Total comprehensive income

                                    52.0  
                                   


Capital contribution

            5.5       —         —         5.5  

Return of capital

            (0.2 )     —         —         (0.2 )

Capital transfer

            (5.0 )     (7.7 )     —         (12.7 )

Advances from Cendant, net

            25.2       —         —         25.2  
                                   


Advances from Cendant, net

                                    17.8  
           


 


 


 


Balance, October 16, 2005

          $ (239.8 )   $ 603.2     $ —       $ 363.4  
           


 


 


 


The Company

                                       

Comprehensive loss:

                                       

Net loss

   $ —              $ (136.3 )   $ —       $ (136.3 )

Currency translation adjustment

     —                —         (1.9 )     (1.9 )
                                   


Total comprehensive loss

                                    (138.2 )

Capital contribution by Affinion Holdings

     372.1              —         —         372.1  
    

          


 


 


Balance, December 31, 2005

   $ 372.1            $ (136.3 )   $ (1.9 )   $ 233.9  
    

          


 


 


 

See notes to the consolidated and combined financial statements.

 

F-5


Table of Contents

AFFINION GROUP, INC. AND THE PREDECESSOR

 

CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In millions)

 

    THE COMPANY

    THE PREDECESSOR

 
    For the Period
October 17, 2005
to December 31,
2005


    For the Period
January 1, 2005
to October 16,
2005


    For the Year
Ended
December 31,
2004


    For the Year
Ended
December 31,
2003


 

Operating Activities

                               

Net income/(loss)

  $ (136.3 )   $ 50.1     $ 376.4     $ 144.3  

Adjustments to reconcile net income/(loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:

                               

Depreciation and amortization

    84.5       32.3       43.9       44.5  

Amortization of debt discount and financing costs

    3.7       —         —         —    

Gain on sale of assets

    —         (4.7 )     (23.9 )     —    

(Gain)/loss on disposal of property and equipment

    (0.1 )     1.9       2.1       5.9  

(Gain)/loss on mark-to-market of Cendant stock

    —         0.1       (0.4 )     (6.5 )

Deferred income taxes

    (1.3 )     25.9       (74.2 )     61.7  

Net change in assets and liabilities:

                               

Receivables

    9.4       17.0       (8.7 )     2.4  

Receivables from related parties

    (13.7 )     —         —         —    

Profit-sharing receivables from insurance carriers

    (2.1 )     (1.8 )     13.5       5.8  

Prepaid commissions

    (32.2 )     25.9       36.1       37.6  

Other current assets

    (8.1 )     19.4       (4.0 )     3.6  

Deferred acquisition costs

    —         4.9       (9.2 )     (31.3 )

Contract rights and list fees

    (1.7 )     (0.1 )     5.0       7.7  

Other non-current assets

    3.1       4.6       8.9       (8.5 )

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    (4.2 )     13.8       2.2       (7.6 )

Payable to related parties

    3.1       —         —         —    

Deferred revenue

    116.6       (61.5 )     (119.7 )     (88.4 )

Income taxes receivable and payable

    0.8       (11.1 )     12.9       0.2  

Other long-term liabilities

    0.8       (0.2 )     (6.5 )     (3.2 )

Minority interests and other, net

    0.2       0.4       2.5       (1.1 )
   


 


 


 


Net cash provided by operating activities

    22.5       116.9       256.9       167.1  
   


 


 


 


Investing Activities

                               

Capital expenditures

    (9.0 )     (24.0 )     (25.8 )     (20.8 )

Acquisition-related payments, net of cash acquired

    (1,629.0 )     (15.7 )     (21.4 )     (1.5 )

Acquisition of intangible asset

    —         —         —         (2.4 )

Restricted cash

    6.5       (10.2 )     9.5       (6.7 )

Proceeds from sale of assets

    —         —         32.5       —    

Proceeds from sale of investments

    —         —         7.1       4.2  
   


 


 


 


Net cash provided by/(used in) investing activities

    (1,631.5 )     (49.9 )     1.9       (27.2 )
   


 


 


 


Financing Activities

                               

Proceeds from borrowings

    1,510.0       —         2.0       5.2  

Deferred financing costs

    (42.0 )     —         —         —    

Principal payments on borrowings

    (20.1 )     (0.5 )     (18.8 )     (15.9 )

Proceeds/(payments) for Cendant credit agreement

    —         (30.0 )     30.0       —    

Decrease/(increase) in advances to Cendant, net

    —         7.1       (268.4 )     (154.9 )

Distributions to minority shareholder

    —         —         (1.0 )     —    

Proceeds from sale of common stock

    275.0       —         —         —    

Payment of dividend

    —         —         (45.3 )     —    
   


 


 


 


Net cash provided by/(used in) financing activities

    1,722.9       (23.4 )     (301.5 )     (165.6 )
   


 


 


 


Effect of changes in exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents

    (0.5 )     (1.9 )     2.0       2.7  
   


 


 


 


Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

    113.4       41.7       (40.7 )     (23.0 )

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

    —         22.5       63.2       86.2  
   


 


 


 


Cash and Cash Equivalents, End of Period

  $ 113.4     $ 64.2     $ 22.5     $ 63.2  
   


 


 


 


Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information:

                               

Interest payments

  $ 5.4     $ 0.3     $ 6.4     $ 14.1  

Income tax payments

  $ 0.9     $ 27.1     $ 12.6     $ 9.6  

 

See notes to the consolidated and combined financial statements.

 

F-6


Table of Contents

AFFINION GROUP, INC. AND THE PREDECESSOR

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unless otherwise noted, all dollar amounts are in millions, except per share amounts)

 

1. BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND BUSINESS DESCRIPTION

 

Basis of Presentation On October 17, 2005, Cendant Corporation (“Cendant”) completed the sale of the Cendant Marketing Services Division (the “Predecessor”) to Affinion Group, Inc. (the “Company” or “Affinion”), an affiliate of Apollo Management V, L.P (“Apollo”), pursuant to a purchase agreement dated July 26, 2005 for approximately $1.8 billion (the “Apollo Transactions”). The purchase price consisted of approximately $1.7 billion of cash, net of estimated closing adjustments, plus $125 million face value of newly issued preferred stock (fair value of $80.4 million) of Affinion Group Holdings, Inc. (“Affinion Holdings”), the Company’s parent company, and a warrant (fair value of $16.7 million) that is exercisable into 7.5% of the common equity of Affinion Holdings upon the earlier of four years or the achievement by Apollo of certain investment return hurdles and $38.1 million of transaction related costs (see Note 4—Acquisitions for preliminary allocations of purchase price to net assets acquired). On October 14, 2005, the Predecessor acquired all of the outstanding shares of common stock of TRL Group, Inc. (“TRL Group”) not owned by the Predecessor for approximately $15.7 million and the credit agreement provided by Cendant to TRL Group (see Note 10—Long-term Debt Due to Cendant) was terminated. Pursuant to the purchase agreement, Affinion acquired all of the outstanding capital stock and membership interests of the Predecessor, as well as substantially all of the Predecessor’s assets and liabilities. Effective September 30, 2005, the Predecessor transferred assets and liabilities, including related deferred income taxes, totaling $48.6 million and $123.3 million, respectively, to Cendant via noncash transfer (see Note 6—Other Current Assets, Note 8—Accounts Payable and Accrued Expenses and Note 13—Income Taxes).

 

The Predecessor was a combined reporting entity that was comprised of the assets and liabilities used in managing and operating the marketing services businesses of Cendant. The entities that comprise the Predecessor included Affinion Group, LLC (formerly Cendant Marketing Group, LLC) (“AGLLC”), Affinion Membership Services Holdings Subsidiary LLC (formerly Cendant Membership Services Holdings Subsidiary LLC) (“AMS”), Trilegiant Corporation (“Trilegiant”), TRL Group, Affinion Benefits Group, Inc. (formerly known as Progeny Marketing Innovations Inc.) (“Progeny”), Affinion International Holdings Limited (formerly Cendant International Holdings Limited) (“AIH” or “Cims”), Affinion Loyalty Group, Inc. (formerly known as Trilegiant Loyalty Solutions, Inc.) (“TLS”), Cendant Travel, Inc. (“CTI”) and related companies. All of the entities that comprise the Predecessor were acquired by Apollo on October 17, 2005.

 

The accompanying combined financial statements include the accounts and transactions of the Predecessor, as well as entities in which the Predecessor directly or indirectly had a controlling financial interest. For more detailed information regarding the Company’s and Predecessor’s consolidation and combination policies, refer to Note 2—Summary of Significant Accounting Policies.

 

Business Description The Company is a leading affinity marketer of membership, insurance and package programs and services to consumers. The Company markets its programs and services through affinity partnerships with financial and non-financial institutions and directly to consumers using a variety of media including direct mail, online marketing, in-branch marketing, telemarketing and other marketing methods. The Company utilizes the customer bases and brand names of its affinity partners to market membership and insurance programs to its customers. The Company’s programs provide its members with i) access to a variety of discounts and shop-at-home conveniences in such areas as retail merchandise, travel, automotive and home improvement; ii) insurance programs such as accidental death and dismemberment, hospital accident protection and hospital indemnity protection and iii) personal protection benefits and services such as credit monitoring and identity theft protection services. In addition to the Company’s affinity direct marketing business, it also administers points-based loyalty programs on behalf of its affinity partners. The Company markets programs to

 

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AFFINION GROUP, INC. AND THE PREDECESSOR

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unless otherwise noted, all dollar amounts are in millions, except per share amounts)

 

affinity partners under the Trilegiant, Progeny Marketing Innovations, Cims and Trilegiant Loyalty Solutions service marks and are separated into four business segments as follows:

 

    Membership Operations —designs, implements and markets membership programs to customers of its affinity partners in North America and provides travel agency services primarily to its membership customers.

 

    Insurance and Package Operations —markets accidental death and dismemberment and other insurance policies to customers of its affinity partners in North America and designs and provides package enhancement programs primarily to financial institutions, who, in turn, market or provide these programs to their customers.

 

    International Operations markets membership programs and package enhancement programs to customers of its affinity partners outside North America.

 

    Loyalty Operations —administers points-based loyalty programs and provides enhancement benefits to credit card issuers.

 

2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

Consolidation and Combination Policies The consolidated financial statements include all subsidiaries controlled by the Company. The combined financial statements include the accounts of AGLLC, AMS, Trilegiant, TRL Group, Progeny, AIH, TLS, CTI and related companies. These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated.

 

Variable Interest Entities On January 17, 2003, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued FASB Interpretation No. 46, “Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities” (“FIN 46”). Such Interpretation addresses the consolidation of variable interest entities (“VIEs”), including special purpose entities (“SPEs”), that are not controlled through voting interests or in which the equity investors do not bear the residual economic risks and rewards. The provisions of FIN 46 were effective immediately for transactions entered into by the Predecessor subsequent to January 31, 2003 and became effective for all other transactions as of July 1, 2003. However, in October 2003, the FASB permitted companies to defer the July 1, 2003 effective date to December 31, 2003, in whole or in part. On December 24, 2003, the FASB issued a complete replacement of FIN 46 (“FIN 46R”), which clarified certain complexities of FIN 46.

 

In connection with the implementation of FIN 46R, AMS consolidated TRL Group (formerly known as Trilegiant Corporation) effective January 1, 2002 by retroactively restating the combined financial statements to include the financial position, results of operations and cash flows of TRL Group for all periods presented. See Note 17—TRL Group, Inc. for more information regarding TRL Group.

 

In connection with FIN 46R, when evaluating an entity for consolidation, an entity determines whether it is within the scope of FIN 46R and if it is deemed to be a VIE. If the entity is considered to be a VIE, the entity determines whether it would be considered the VIE’s primary beneficiary. Consolidation is required of those VIE’s for which it has determined that it is the primary beneficiary. Generally, the consolidation of an entity not deemed either a VIE or qualifying special purpose entity (“QSPE”) is required upon a determination that an entity, directly or indirectly, exceeds fifty percent of the outstanding voting shares and/or that it has the ability to control the financial or operating policies through its voting rights, board representation or other similar rights. In the absence of a controlling interest (financial or operating), the investments are classified as available-for-sale securities or accounted for using the equity or cost method, as appropriate. The Company and Predecessor apply

 

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AFFINION GROUP, INC. AND THE PREDECESSOR

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unless otherwise noted, all dollar amounts are in millions, except per share amounts)

 

the equity method of accounting when it has the ability to exercise significant influence over operating and financial policies of an investee in accordance with Accounting Principles Board (“APB”) Opinion No. 18, “The Equity Method of Accounting for Investments in Common Stock.”

 

Stock-Based Compensation The Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 123R, “Share Based Payment” (“SFAS No. 123R”) as of the commencement of its operations on October 17, 2005. SFAS No. 123R eliminates the alternative to measure stock-based compensation awards using the intrinsic value approach permitted by APB Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees”, and by SFAS No. 123, “Accounting for Stock Based Compensation” (“SFAS No. 123”). For employee stock awards effective after October 17, 2005, the Company recognizes compensation expense, net of estimated forfeitures upon the issuance of the award, over the requisite service period, which is the period during which the employee is required to provide services in exchange for an award. The requisite service period is often the vesting period. Stock compensation expense of the Company is included in general and administrative expense in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations.

 

On January 1, 2003, the Predecessor (in conjunction with Cendant’s adoption) adopted the fair value method of accounting for stock-based compensation provisions of SFAS No. 123. The Predecessor also adopted SFAS No. 148, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation—Transition and Disclosure,” in its entirety on January 1, 2003, which amended SFAS No. 123 to provide alternative methods of transition for a voluntary change to the fair value based method of accounting provisions. As a result, since January 1, 2003 the Predecessor expensed all employee stock awards over their respective vesting periods based upon the fair value of the award on the date of grant. Stock compensation expense of the Predecessor is included in general and administrative expense in the accompanying combined statements of operations. As Cendant elected to use the prospective transition method, Cendant has allocated expense to the Predecessor only for employee stock awards that were granted or modified subsequent to December 31, 2002.

 

The following table illustrates the effect on net income as if the fair value based method had been applied to all employee stock awards granted by Cendant to the employees of the Predecessor for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003:

 

     The Predecessor

 
     For the Years Ended December 31,

 
             2004        

            2003        

 

Reported net income

   $ 376.4     $ 144.3  

Add back: Stock-based employee compensation included in reported net income, net of tax

     2.8       0.7  

Less: Total stock-based employee compensation expense determined under the fair value method for all awards, net of tax

     (3.0 )     (1.8 )
    


 


Pro forma net income

   $ 376.2     $ 143.2  
    


 


 

As of January 1, 2005, the Predecessor commenced recording compensation expense for all outstanding employee awards; accordingly, pro forma information is not presented for any period subsequent to December 31, 2004.

 

Employee awards granted by TRL Group are excluded from the above pro forma information since TRL Group recorded compensation expense under the fair value method for all periods presented.

 

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AFFINION GROUP, INC. AND THE PREDECESSOR

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unless otherwise noted, all dollar amounts are in millions, except per share amounts)

 

Revenue Recognition

 

Membership— For retail memberships, annual full-money-back (“FMB”), annual pro rata and monthly memberships are offered, each of which is generally marketed with a free trial period. Membership revenue is not recognized until the expiration of the trial period, membership fees have been collected and the membership fees become non-refundable. Although payment is received from members at the beginning of a FMB membership, the memberships are cancelable for a full refund at any time during the membership period. Accordingly, FMB revenue is deferred and recognized at the end of the membership term when it is no longer subject to refund. Annual pro rata fees (related to memberships that are cancelable for a pro rata refund) are recognized ratably over the membership term as membership revenue is earned and no longer subject to refund. Monthly membership revenue is recognized when earned and no longer subject to refund.

 

For wholesale memberships, affinity partners are provided with programs and services and the affinity partners market those programs and services to their customer bases. Monthly fees are received based on the number of members who purchase these programs from the affinity partners and revenue is recognized as the monthly fees are earned.

 

Insurance— Commission revenue is recognized based on premiums earned by the insurance carriers that issue the policies. Premiums are typically paid either monthly or quarterly and revenue is recognized ratably over the underlying policy coverage period. There are also revenue and profit-sharing arrangements with the insurance carriers which issue the underlying insurance policies. Commission revenue from insurance programs is reported net of insurance costs totaling approximately $145.4 million for the period January 1, 2005 to October 16, 2005, $26.7 million for the period October 17, 2005 to December 31, 2005, and $276.6 million and $288.6 million in 2004 and 2003, respectively. Under a typical arrangement, commission revenue of approximately 60% of the gross premiums collected on behalf of the insurance carrier is initially retained and approximately 40% is remitted to the insurance carrier. On a semi-annual or annual basis, a profit-sharing settlement analysis is prepared which is based on the premiums paid to the insurance carriers less claims experience incurred to date, estimated claims incurred but not reported, reinsurance costs and carrier administrative fees. An accrual is made for the expected share of this excess or shortfall monthly based on the claims experience to date including an estimate for claims incurred but not reported. The profit share excess is reflected in profit-sharing receivables from insurance carriers on the accompanying consolidated and combined balance sheets. Historically, the claims experience has not resulted in a shortfall.

 

Package— One-time fees from affinity partners are earned upon the implementation of a package program along with monthly fees based on the number of customers enrolled in such program. Typically, a one-time implementation fee to design a package program for an affinity partner is charged, that is recognized as revenue over the applicable contract term. Following program design, the affinity partner may also pay a one-time fee for each new member to cover initial enrollment costs. The one-time fee for enrollment is recognized as revenue over the contract term and the associated enrollment costs are expensed as incurred. The affinity partner collects revenue each month from its customers and pays a per participant monthly fee for the benefits and services. These monthly fees are recognized as revenue as the fees are earned. Strategic consultation, pricing and profitability consultation, competitive analysis and implementation assistance are provided and revenue is recorded at the time the services are performed.

 

Loyalty— Loyalty solutions programs generate revenue from three primary product lines: loyalty, enhancements and incentives. Generally, loyalty revenue consists of an implementation fee on initial program set-up (with cash received upon completion of agreed-upon milestones and revenue recognized ratably over the term of the contract) and a per member / per month fee. Loyalty revenue is reported net of the pass through of

 

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AFFINION GROUP, INC. AND THE PREDECESSOR

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unless otherwise noted, all dollar amounts are in millions, except per share amounts)

 

fulfillment costs of $89.2 million for the period from January 1, 2005 to October 16, 2005, $24.3 million for the period from October 17, 2005 to December 31, 2005, and $92.4 million and $75.7 million in 2004 and 2003, respectively. Enhancement programs are sold to affinity partners on a wholesale basis; the partner generally provides the enhancements (e.g. credit card enhancements) to their customers and a monthly fee is received from the affinity partner based on the number of affinity partner customers who have access to the enhancement program. Affinity partners also purchase incentives (such as gift cards) and revenue is recognized upon the delivery of the incentives to the affinity partner.

 

Other— Other revenue primarily includes travel reservation services, royalties, co-operative advertising and shopping program revenues. Travel reservation service fee revenue is recognized when the traveler’s reservation or booking is made and secured by a credit card, net of estimated future cancellations and no shows. Royalty revenues are recognized monthly when earned and no longer subject to refund. See Note 17—TRL Group, Inc. for information related to this relationship, which was terminated in 2004. Cooperative advertising revenue is earned from vendors that include advertising of their products and services in the membership program catalogues. Cooperative advertising revenue is recognized upon the distribution of the related travel or shopping catalogues to members. In connection with the shopping membership program, the Company operates a retail merchandising service that offers a variety of consumer products at a discount to members. Shopping program revenue is recorded net of merchandise product costs as the Company acts as an agent between the member and third party merchandise vendor. Shopping program revenue is recorded upon the shipment of the merchandise by the vendor to the member.

 

Deferred Revenue— In addition to the items described above, deferred revenue includes the liability that the Company established at October 17, 2005 for the estimated refund obligation of $39.7 million, the balance of which at December 31, 2005 was $27.2 million .

 

Marketing Expense

 

Membership— Marketing expense to acquire new members is recognized when incurred, which is generally prior to both the trial period and recognition of revenue for its membership programs.

 

Insurance— Marketing expense to acquire new insurance business is recognized by the Company when incurred. Costs which vary with and are directly related to acquiring new insurance business were previously deferred by the Predecessor on the accompanying 2004 combined balance sheet as deferred acquisition costs to the extent such costs were deemed recoverable from future cash flows. Deferred acquisition costs consisted primarily of direct marketing expenses including creative development, database modeling, printing, postage, new account kits and outbound telemarketing costs. These costs were amortized as marketing expense over a 12-year period using a declining balance method generally in proportion to the related insurance revenue, which were based on attrition rates associated with the approximate rate that insurance revenues collected from customers decline over time. Amortization of deferred acquisition costs commenced upon recognition of the related insurance revenue. In October 2004, the Predecessor performed its periodic review of amortization expense and attrition rates and in connection with the results of that review, the Predecessor prospectively accelerated the amortization of its deferred acquisition costs to earlier periods in the 12-year life resulting in additional marketing expense totaling $5.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2004. The Predecessor also wrote-off $3.9 million of deferred acquisition costs that were deemed unrecoverable in 2004. Immediately following the Apollo Transactions, the Company began expensing these costs as they are incurred.

 

Payments are made to affinity partners associated with acquiring commission rights to the affinity partner’s existing block of insurance customers and for the renewal of contracts that provide the Company and provided its Predecessor primarily with the right to retain commission rights for renewal of existing customers’ insurance

 

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AFFINION GROUP, INC. AND THE PREDECESSOR

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unless otherwise noted, all dollar amounts are in millions, except per share amounts)

 

policies. These payments for the contractual rights are deferred on the accompanying consolidated and combined balance sheets as contract rights and list fees with contract rights amortized to amortization expense and list fees amortized as marketing expense over the initial and renewal term of the contract, as applicable, using an accelerated method of amortization for contractual terms longer than five years and the straight line method of amortization for contract terms five years or less. The amortization methods employed generally approximate the expected pattern of insurance net revenues earned over the applicable contract terms.

 

Package— Marketing costs associated with affinity partners’ in-branch programs are expensed as such programs are implemented. These costs include the printing of brochures, banners, posters, other in-branch collateral marketing materials, training materials, new account kits, member mailings and statement inserts. The Company and its Predecessor perform a variety of direct mail campaigns where they incur all associated marketing costs and, in return, receive a greater share of the revenue generated (the “Package Marketing Campaigns”). For these Package Marketing Campaigns, the marketing expense is recognized when incurred which is generally prior to the recognition of monthly revenue.

 

Commission Expense

 

Membership— Membership commissions represent payments to affinity partners, generally based on a percentage of revenue from the marketing of programs to such affinity partners’ customers. Commissions are generally paid for each initial and renewal membership following the collection of membership fees from the customer. Commission payments are deferred on the accompanying consolidated and combined balances sheets as prepaid commissions and expensed over the applicable membership period in the same manner as the related retail membership revenue is recognized.

 

Insurance— Insurance administrative fees represent payments made to bank affinity partners, generally based on a fee per insured or a percentage of the revenue earned from the marketing of insurance programs to such affinity partners’ customers. Administrative fees are paid for new and renewal insurance premiums received. Additionally, for certain channels and clients, commissions are paid to brokers. Administrative fees are included with commission expense on the accompanying consolidated and combined statements of operations and are recognized ratably over the underlying insurance policy coverage period.

 

Package— Package commissions represent payments made to bank associations and brokers who provide support for the related programs. These commissions are based on a percentage of revenue and are expensed as the related revenue is recognized.

 

Income Taxes

 

The provision for/(benefit from) income taxes is determined using the asset and liability method, under which deferred tax assets and liabilities are calculated based upon the temporary differences between the financial statement and income tax bases of assets and liabilities using currently enacted tax rates. Deferred tax assets are recorded net of a valuation allowance when, based on the weight of available evidence; it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the recorded deferred tax assets will not be realized in future periods. Decreases to the valuation allowance are recorded as reductions to the provision for/(benefit from) income taxes, while increases to the valuation allowance result in additional provision. The realization of deferred tax assets is primarily dependent on estimated future taxable income. As of December 31, 2005, the Company has recorded a valuation allowance for its U.S. deferred tax assets.

 

The Predecessor, excluding TRL Group and AIH, was included in the consolidated federal income tax return filed by Cendant. In addition, the Predecessor, excluding TRL Group and AIH, filed unitary and

 

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AFFINION GROUP, INC. AND THE PREDECESSOR

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unless otherwise noted, all dollar amounts are in millions, except per share amounts)

 

consolidated state income tax returns with Cendant in jurisdictions where required. The income taxes payable or receivable associated with the consolidated federal and unitary or consolidated state income tax returns mentioned above were included in advances to Cendant, net on the accompanying 2004 combined balance sheet. The provision for income taxes on the accompanying combined statements of operations was computed as if the Predecessor filed its federal and state income tax returns on a stand-alone basis. Since Cendant maintained less than an 80% ownership interest in TRL Group, TRL Group was not included in Cendant’s consolidated federal and state income tax returns and filed separate tax returns. AIH and its subsidiaries filed income tax returns in countries in which they operated. Income taxes payable/receivable reflected on the accompanying 2004 combined balance sheet are directly due to/from taxing jurisdictions and are separate from Cendant’s consolidated or unitary filings.

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents

 

All highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less are considered to be cash equivalents.

 

Restricted Cash

 

There is a requirement to set aside cash primarily in relation to insurance-related product programs. Restricted cash amounts primarily relate to premiums collected from customers that are held pending remittance to insurance carriers and included in accounts payable and accrued expenses.

 

Derivative Instruments

 

On July 1, 2003, the Predecessor adopted SFAS No. 149, “Amendment of Statement 133 on Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities.” Such standard amends and clarifies the accounting for derivative instruments, including certain derivative instruments embedded in other contracts, and for hedging activities under SFAS No. 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities.” The impact of adopting this standard was not material to the Predecessor’s results of operations or financial position.

 

The Predecessor used certain derivative instruments as part of its overall strategy to manage its exposure to market risks associated with fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates. As of December 31, 2005, the Company does not utilize foreign currency forward contracts. The Company considers its foreign currency risk to be not material. The Company entered into an interest rate swap in 2005 to manage its interest rate risk (see Note 19-Financial Instruments).

 

All derivatives are recorded at fair value either as assets or liabilities. Changes in fair value of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments and of derivatives designated as fair value hedging instruments are recognized currently in earnings in the accompanying combined statements of operations as interest expense. Changes in the fair value of the hedged item in a fair value hedge are recorded as an adjustment to the carrying amount of the hedged item and recognized currently in earnings.

 

As a matter of policy, derivatives are not used for trading or speculative purposes.

 

Property and Equipment

 

Property and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the related assets. Amortization of

 

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AFFINION GROUP, INC. AND THE PREDECESSOR

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unless otherwise noted, all dollar amounts are in millions, except per share amounts)

 

leasehold improvements and computer equipment under capital leases is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated lives of the related assets or the lease term, if shorter. Useful lives are from 5 to 15 years for leasehold improvements, from 3 to 10 years for capitalized software, from 3 to 5 years for computer equipment and 7 years for furniture, fixtures and equipment. Prior to classifying the building and related improvements as property held for sale during the fourth quarter of 2004 (see Note 6—Other Current Assets), the building and related improvements were depreciated using estimated lives ranging from 12 to 30 years. Projects in process are not depreciated until the projects are completed and put into use.

 

Internally-Developed Software

 

Internally developed software is accounted for in accordance with Statement of Position No. 98-1, “Accounting for the Costs of Computer Software Developed or Obtained for Internal Use” (“SOP 98-1”). SOP 98-1 requires all costs related to the development of internal use software other than those incurred during the application development stage to be expensed as incurred. Costs incurred during the application development stage are capitalized and amortized over the estimated useful life of the related software.

 

Goodwill and Identifiable Intangible Assets

 

In connection with SFAS No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets,” there is a requirement to assess goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment annually, or more frequently if circumstances indicate impairment may have occurred. Goodwill is assessed for such impairment by comparing the carrying value of each reporting unit to its fair value. Reporting units are comprised of the four reportable operating segments—Membership, Insurance and Package, International and Loyalty. The Company and its Predecessor determine the fair value of their reporting units utilizing discounted cash flows and incorporate assumptions that they believe marketplace participants would utilize. Indefinite-lived intangible assets are tested for impairment and written down to fair value, as required by SFAS No. 142. Assessments are performed annually, or more frequently if circumstances indicate impairment may have occurred and, during 2005, 2004 and 2003, no such impairment occurred.

 

The Company’s intangible assets as of December 31, 2005 consist primarily of intangible assets with finite useful lives acquired by the Company in the Apollo Transactions and are recorded at their respective fair values in accordance with SFAS No. 141, “Business Combinations”. The Predecessor’s intangible assets included member and affinity relationships that were referred to as customer relationships and package customer rights, respectively. These assets are amortized as follows:

 

Asset


  

Method


  

The Company

Estimated

Useful Lives


  

The Predecessor

Estimated

Useful Lives


Member relationships

  

Declining balance

   7 years    20 years

Affinity relationships

  

Declining balance

   10 years    4 – 15 years

Proprietary databases and systems

  

Straight line

   3 years   

Trademarks/Tradenames

  

Straight line

   15 years   

License agreement

  

Straight line

      2 years

Patents and technology

  

Straight line

   12 years    12 years

 

In addition, the Predecessor entered into arrangements with its affinity partners to serve as agent and third party administrators for the marketing of insurance to customers of the affinity partners, typically financial institutions. The cost of such arrangements was capitalized as contract rights and list fees and amortized to marketing and commissions expense. The value of such relationships was considered in the Company’s preliminary valuation of member and affinity relationships in purchase accounting.

 

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AFFINION GROUP, INC. AND THE PREDECESSOR

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unless otherwise noted, all dollar amounts are in millions, except per share amounts)

 

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

 

If circumstances indicate an impairment may have occurred, the recoverability of long-lived assets including property and equipment and amortizing intangible assets is evaluated by comparing the respective carrying values of the assets to the current and expected future cash flows to be generated from such assets. If applicable, impairment is measured based on the respective fair value of the asset.

 

Self-Insurance Reserves

 

At December 31, 2005 and 2004, included in accounts payable and accrued expenses on the consolidated and combined balance sheets are liabilities of $3.7 million and $1.6 million, respectively, related to health, welfare and workers compensation programs provided to employees in North America. Such compensation programs are self-insured. The required liability of such benefits is estimated based on actual claims outstanding and the estimated costs of claims incurred as of the balance sheet date.

 

Foreign Currency Translation

 

Assets and liabilities of foreign operations having non-U.S.–dollar functional currencies are translated at exchange rates as of the balance sheet dates. Revenues and expenses are translated at average exchange rates during the periods presented. The gains or losses resulting from translating foreign currency financial statements into U.S. dollars, net of hedging gains or losses, are included in accumulated other comprehensive income or loss. Gains or losses resulting from foreign currency transactions are included in the consolidated and combined statements of operations and were de minimis for all periods presented.

 

Estimates

 

In presenting the financial statements, management makes estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and related disclosures, and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities, at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Estimates, by their nature, are based on judgment and available information at the time. As such, actual results could differ from those estimates. Significant estimates include items such as profit-sharing receivables from insurance carriers, accruals and income tax valuation allowances, estimated fair values of assets and liabilities acquired in business combinations, estimated fair values of financial instruments, and, for the Predecessor, deferred acquisition costs.

 

Concentration

 

The Company generally derives more than half of its net revenues from members and end-customers through approximately 10 of the Company’s affinity partners. Many of these key affinity partner relationships are governed by agreements that may be terminated without cause by the affinity partners upon notice of as few as 90 days without penalty. Some of these agreements may be terminated by the Company’s affinity partners upon notice of as few as 30 days without penalty. Moreover, under many of these agreements, the affinity partners may cease or reduce their marketing of the Company’s services without terminating or breaching agreements with the Company. A loss of key affinity partners, a cessation or reduction in their marketing of the Company’s services, or a decline in their businesses could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s future revenue.

 

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AFFINION GROUP, INC. AND THE PREDECESSOR

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unless otherwise noted, all dollar amounts are in millions, except per share amounts)

 

Valuation Account

 

The activity in the allowance for doubtful accounts is as follows:

 

     The Company

    The Predecessor

 
    

October 17, 2005 to

December 31, 2005


   

January 1, 2005 to

October 16, 2005


   

For the Year Ended

December 31, 2004


 

Balance at beginning of period

   $ 2.5     $ 2.9     $ 2.7  

Provision charged to expense

     0.5       0.3       0.6  

Write-offs

     (0.2 )     (0.7 )     (0.4 )
    


 


 


Balance at end of period

   $ 2.8     $ 2.5     $ 2.9  
    


 


 


 

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncement

 

In March 2005, the FASB issued FASB Interpretation No. 47, “Accounting for Conditional Asset Retirement Obligations” (“FIN 47”), which clarifies that conditional asset retirement obligations are within the scope of SFAS No. 143, “Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations”. FIN 47 requires the Company to recognize a liability for the fair value of conditional asset retirement obligations, if the fair value of the liability can be reasonably estimated. The Company adopted the provisions of FIN 47 as of the commencement of its operations on October 17, 2005 without a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.

 

3. SALE OF ASSETS

 

In June 2003, the Predecessor ceased the marketing and sale of long term care insurance policies. The Company continues to derive revenue from commissions based on premiums received pursuant to agreements with the insurance carriers that issued the policies the Predecessor sold and the Company continues to provide customer service and related services to the existing block of insurance policies and policyholders. Additionally, on December 30, 2004, the Predecessor sold 78% of its long-term care commission rights. Proceeds from the sale, net of related transaction costs, totaled approximately $32.5 million and resulted in a gain of approximately $28.1 million, of which $23.9 million was recorded on the accompanying combined statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2004. Approximately $4.2 million of the deferred gain, along with the release of $0.5 million of indemnification liabilities recorded upon the closing of the sale for which the uncertainties associated with those liabilities have been resolved, were recognized in the accompanying combined statement of operations for the period from January 1, 2005 to October 16, 2005. See Note 14—Commitments and Contingencies—Other Guarantees related to indemnification provisions related to the sale.

 

4. ACQUISITIONS

 

As disclosed in Note 1, on October 17, 2005, Cendant completed the sale of the Predecessor to the Company pursuant to a purchase agreement dated July 26, 2005 for approximately $1.8 billion (see Note 9—Long-Term Debt for summary of debt incurred related to the Apollo Transactions). The allocations of purchase price are based on preliminary estimates of the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed, including post-closing relationships with Cendant, available information and management assumptions, which will be revised based upon final fair value calculations generally using an independent third party appraiser and the resolution of purchase price adjustments pursuant to the purchase agreement. Any final adjustments, which may be significant, could change the allocations of purchase price and could result in a change to information presented below.

 

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Table of Contents

AFFINION GROUP, INC. AND THE PREDECESSOR

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unless otherwise noted, all dollar amounts are in millions, except per share amounts)

 

The preliminary allocation of purchase price is as follows:

 

     Amount

Cash consideration paid to Cendant(a)

   $ 1,657.0

Affinion Holdings’ preferred stock issued to Cendant, at estimated fair value

     80.4

Affinion Holdings’ warrant issued to Cendant, at estimated fair value

     16.7

Estimated transaction costs and expenses(c)

     38.1
    

Total purchase price

     1,792.2

Less: Historical value of assets acquired in excess of liabilities assumed

     363.4

Less: Fair value adjustments

     1,062.6
    

Excess of purchase price over fair value of assets acquired in excess of liabilities assumed

   $ 366.2
    

 

The fair value adjustments included in the allocation of the purchase price above consisted of:

 

     Amount

 

Allocation of purchase price to identifiable intangible assets(b)

   $ 1,396.0  

Fair value adjustments to:

        

Assets acquired(d)

     (639.6 )

Liabilities assumed(e)

     306.2  
    


Total fair value adjustments

   $ 1,062.6  
    



(a)   Reflects the contractual cash purchase price of $1,750.0 million reduced by estimated adjustments of $93.0 million.
(b)   Represents: i) $760.0 million and $539.0 million of member and affinity relationships intangibles, respectively, ii) $52.0 million of proprietary databases and systems; iii) $25.0 million of trademarks/ tradenames; and iv) $20.0 of million patents and technology.
(c)   Includes $20.0 million paid to Apollo for structuring and advisory services related to the Apollo Transactions.
(d)   Represents the following adjustments to the October 16, 2005 carrying values of the Predecessor’s assets: property and equipment of $19.3 million; prepaid commissions of $(111.4) million; deferred acquisition costs of $(182.2) million; contract rights and list fees of $(39.1) million; Predecessor’s goodwill and intangibles of $(300.4) million; and other assets of $(25.8) million.
(e)   Represents the following adjustments to the October 16, 2005 carrying values of the Predecessor’s liabilities: deferred revenue of $379.7 million; accounts payable and accrued expenses of $(57.0) million and other liabilities of $(16.5) million.

 

See Note 18—Related Party Transactions for indemnifications agreed to by Cendant related to the Apollo Transactions.

 

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Table of Contents

AFFINION GROUP, INC. AND THE PREDECESSOR

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unless otherwise noted, all dollar amounts are in millions, except per share amounts)

 

The unaudited pro forma consolidated financial information provided below is presented for informational purposes only and is not intended to represent or be indicative of the results of operations that would have been reported had the Apollo Transactions been completed at the beginning of each period presented and should not be taken as representative of results that may occur in the future.

 

     Pro Forma Results for the
Years Ended December 31,


 
           2005      

          2004      

 
     Unaudited  

Net revenues

   $ 1,198.7     $ 1,530.8  

Loss from operations

     (285.6 )     (82.2 )

Net loss

     (432.3 )     (252.2 )

 

The unaudited pro forma loss from operations and net loss does not give effect to transaction bonuses of $18.2 million and the accelerated stock charge of $6.7 million related to Cendant RSUs and stock options recorded by the Predecessor during the period from January 1, 2005 to October 16, 2005. The pro forma loss from operations and net loss for the years ended December 31, 2005 and 2004 include depreciation and amortization expense of $407.4 million and $405.3 million, respectively, including $366.2 million related to the amortization associated with the acquired identifiable intangible assets. The pro forma loss from operations and net loss for the years ended December 31, 2005 and 2004 includes interest expense of $150.9 million related to the Apollo Transactions. The Apollo Transactions’ related debt included the following: i) $860 million term loan under a $960 million senior secured credit facility; ii) $270 million senior notes offering (proceeds of $266.4 million net of discount); and iii) approximately $383.6 million unsecured senior subordinated bridge loan facility. The senior secured credit facility, the senior notes and the unsecured senior subordinated bridge loan facility are guaranteed by certain of the Company’s U.S. subsidiaries (see Note 22—Guarantor/Non-Guarantor Supplemental Financial Information).

 

On October 14, 2005, AMS acquired the stock of TRL Group previously held by management of TRL Group, Inc. for $15.7 million, all of which was accounted for as intangibles by the Predecessor. Prior to this transaction, AMS held approximately 45% (on a fully diluted basis) of the common stock of TRL Group. As a result of this acquisition, TRL Group became a wholly owned subsidiary of AMS as of October 14, 2005.

 

Effective January 1, 2005, the Predecessor acquired certain assets and liabilities from CTI. The assets and liabilities were transferred at their current net book value of approximately $17.1 million. In addition, the Predecessor paid a fee associated with certain transition services provided by CTI of approximately $1.8 million. The assets and liabilities acquired comprise a full-service travel agency dedicated primarily to servicing membership customers. The Company continues to provide travel agency services to customers of certain Cendant subsidiaries.

 

CTI also provided fulfillment and other operational support to various subsidiaries of Cendant’s Travel Distribution Services Segment. CTI’s fulfillment operations were not transferred to the Predecessor in connection with the January 1, 2005 transaction. CTI’s fulfillment activities as well as the travel reservation operations that were transferred to the Predecessor were accounted for as one business by CTI through December 31, 2004. Since the assets and liabilities acquired were from an entity under common control, the transaction was accounted for in a manner similar to a pooling of interests. Control of the CTI fulfillment operations remained with Cendant. Accordingly, a capital transfer was recorded to transfer the CTI fulfillment operations to Cendant as of January 1, 2005. Included in the combined balance sheet as of December 31, 2004 were net assets related to CTI’s fulfillment operations totaling approximately $12.7 million. Revenues associated with CTI’s fulfillment

 

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AFFINION GROUP, INC. AND THE PREDECESSOR

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unless otherwise noted, all dollar amounts are in millions, except per share amounts)

 

operations were not significant during 2004 and 2003. Income from operations related to CTI’s fulfillment operations was approximately $0.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2004 and the loss from operations was approximately $2.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2003.

 

On January 30, 2004, the Predecessor acquired TLS and other affiliated companies, wholly-owned subsidiaries of TRL Group, for approximately $20 million in cash. TLS offers wholesale loyalty enhancement services primarily to credit card issuers. The assets, liabilities and results of TLS and the affiliated companies (as a component of TRL Group) have been included in the accompanying combined financial statements pursuant to FIN 46R. The assets and liabilities of TLS were adjusted to their fair values as of the acquisition date. The excess of the purchase price over the estimated fair values of the underlying assets acquired and liabilities assumed was allocated to goodwill.

 

The allocation of the purchase price is summarized as follows:

 

     Amount

Cash consideration

   $ 20.0

Transaction costs and expenses

     1.4
    

Total purchase price

     21.4

Less: Historical value of assets acquired in excess of liabilities assumed

     0.2

Less: Fair value adjustments

     15.0
    

Excess of purchase price over fair value of assets acquired in excess of liabilities assumed

   $ 6.2
    

 

The fair value adjustments included in the allocation of the purchase price above consisted of:

 

     Amount

 

Allocation of purchase price to identifiable intangible assets(a)

   $ 22.7  

Deferred tax liabilities for book-tax basis differences

     (10.0 )

Fair value adjustments to:

        

Assets acquired

     2.0  

Liabilities assumed

     0.3  
    


Total fair value adjustments

   $ 15.0  
    



(a)   Represents $16.6 million of member relationships and $6.1 million of patents.

 

On August 22, 2003, the Predecessor acquired 50% of the outstanding common stock of Cims South Africa (Proprietary) Limited (“Cims South Africa”) for approximately $2.6 million in cash (see Note 11—Minority Interests). Cims South Africa offers enhancement packages primarily to affinity partners, who, in turn, market these programs to their customers. The assets, liabilities and results of Cims South Africa have been included in the accompanying combined financial statements since the acquisition date. The excess of the purchase price over the estimated fair values of the underlying assets acquired and liabilities assumed totaled $2.0 million and was allocated to goodwill. Included in assets acquired was $1.1 million of cash.

 

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Table of Contents

AFFINION GROUP, INC. AND THE PREDECESSOR

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unless otherwise noted, all dollar amounts are in millions, except per share amounts)

 

5. INTANGIBLE ASSETS

 

Intangible assets consisted of:

 

    The Company
December 31, 2005


  The Predecessor
December 31, 2004


    Gross
Carrying
Amount


  Accumulated
Amortization


    Currency
Translation
and Other


    Net
Carrying
Amount


  Gross
Carrying
Amount


  Currency
Translation
and Other


    Net
Carrying
Amount


Amortized intangible assets:

                                               

Member relationships

  $ 760.0   $ (43.9 )   $ (0.2 )   $ 715.9   $ 16.6   $ (1.1 )   $ 15.5

Affinity relationships

    539.0     (28.0 )     (1.6 )     509.4     20.9     (9.3 )     11.6

Proprietary databases and systems

    52.0     (3.6 )     —         48.4     —       —         —  

Trademarks/Tradenames

    25.0     (0.4 )     (0.1 )     24.5     —       —         —  

Patents and technology

    20.0     (0.4 )     —         19.6     7.8     (0.6 )     7.2
   

 


 


 

 

 


 

    $ 1,396.0   $ (76.3 )   $ (1.9 )   $ 1,317.8   $ 45.3   $ (11.0 )   $ 34.3
   

 


 


 

 

 


 

 

The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill are as follows:

 

    The Company

  The Predecessor

    Acquired During
October 17, 2005
to December 31,
2005 and Balance
at December 31,
2005


  Balance at
January 1,
2004


  Goodwill
Acquired
During
2004(a)


  Currency
Translation
and Other


  Balance at
December 31,
2004


  Currency
Translation
and Other


    Balance at
October 16,
2005


Membership operations

  $ 233.0   $ 186.8   $ 2.6   $ —     $ 189.4   $ —       $ 189.4

Insurance and package operations

    93.1     12.3     —       —       12.3     —         12.3

International operations

    26.5     46.7     —       1.4     48.1     (1.4 )     46.7

Loyalty operations

    13.6     0.9     3.6     —       4.5     —         4.5
   

 

 

 

 

 


 

Total Company

  $ 366.2   $ 246.7   $ 6.2   $ 1.4   $ 254.3   $ (1.4 )   $ 252.9
   

 

 

 

 

 


 


(a)   Related to the acquisition of TLS and affiliated companies.

 

Amortization expense relating to intangible assets was as follows:

 

     The Company

   The Predecessor

    

For the Period
October 17, 2005 to

December 31, 2005


  

For the Period
January 1, 2005 to

October 16, 2005


   For the Years Ended
December 31,


             2004    

       2003    

Member relationships

   $ 43.9    $ 0.9    $ 1.1    $ 0.5

Affinity relationships

     28.0      1.2      1.8      1.7

Proprietary databases and systems

     3.6      —        —        —  

Trademarks/Tradenames

     0.4      —        —        —  

License agreement

     —        —        1.1      0.8

Patents and technology

     0.4      0.5      0.6      0.2
    

  

  

  

Total

   $ 76.3    $ 2.6    $ 4.6    $ 3.2
    

  

  

  

 

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AFFINION GROUP, INC. AND THE PREDECESSOR

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unless otherwise noted, all dollar amounts are in millions, except per share amounts)

 

Based on the Company’s amortizable intangible assets as of December 31, 2005, the Company expects related amortization expense for the five succeeding fiscal years to be approximately $343.9 million, $246.7 million, $188.6 million, $139.3 million, and $115.7 million, respectively.

 

6. OTHER CURRENT ASSETS

 

Other current assets consisted of:

 

     The Company

   The Predecessor

     December 31,

     2005

   2004

Prepaid membership materials

   $ 11.8    $ 14.4

Prepaid insurance costs

     6.6      10.4

Other receivables

     6.1      11.6

Prepaid merchant fees

     0.7      4.3

Property held for sale(a)

     —        9.0

Other

     13.4      9.1
    

  

Total

   $ 38.6    $ 58.8
    

  


(a)   In the fourth quarter of 2004 and the first quarter of 2005, the Predecessor recorded non-cash pretax impairment losses of approximately $1.3 million and $1.5 million respectively, related to a building held for sale. The pretax impairment losses are included in general and administrative expense on the accompanying combined statements of operations. The transfer of the building from property and equipment to property held for sale was excluded from the combined statements of cash flows as a non-cash transaction. During the third quarter of 2005, the building was transferred to Cendant.

 

7. PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET

 

Property and equipment, net consisted of:

 

     The Company

    The Predecessor

 
     December 31,

 
     2005

    2004

 

Leasehold improvements

   $ 9.5     $ 25.2  

Capitalized software

     62.2       136.5  

Computer equipment ($1.0 million and $5.1 million in 2005 and 2004, respectively, under capital leases)

     21.1       67.7  

Furniture, fixtures and equipment

     5.6       41.7  

Projects in progress

     17.5       11.9  
    


 


       115.9       283.0  

Less: Accumulated depreciation and amortization

     (8.2 )     (187.3 )
    


 


Total

   $ 107.7     $ 95.7  
    


 


 

Depreciation and amortization expense on property and equipment totaled $29.7 million for the period from January 1, 2005 to October 16, 2005, $8.2 million for the period from October 17, 2005 to December 31, 2005, and $39.3 million and $41.3 million in 2004 and 2003, respectively.

 

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AFFINION GROUP, INC. AND THE PREDECESSOR

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unless otherwise noted, all dollar amounts are in millions, except per share amounts)

 

8. ACCOUNTS PAYABLE AND ACCRUED EXPENSES

 

Accounts payable and accrued expenses consisted of:

 

     The Company

   The Predecessor

     December 31,

     2005

   2004

Accounts payable

   $ 75.8    $ 81.9

Accrued product costs

     68.0      37.9

Accrued payroll and related costs

     28.9      41.5

Accrued interest

     21.9      —  

Accrued legal and professional fees(a)

     19.0      85.4

Accrued commissions

     9.4      9.8

Accrued sales tax(a)

     4.1      32.3

Other(a)

     49.4      46.4
    

  

Total

   $ 276.5    $ 335.2
    

  


(a)   Pursuant to the Apollo Transactions’ purchase agreement, certain assets and liabilities of the Predecessor were retained by Cendant. The Predecessor transferred accrued legal amounts totaling $90.6 million, accrued sales tax totaling $29.2 million and certain other accrued expenses totaling $3.5 million to Cendant via a non-cash transfer (see Note 14—Commitments and Contingencies and Note 18—Related Party Transactions).

 

Employee retention bonuses totaling $14.7 million granted in connection with the Apollo Transactions are being accrued and recognized ratably as compensation expense by the Company through the future contractual payment dates since these payments are contingent upon the employee being in the employ of the Company at the payment date. Such compensation expense included in general and administrative expenses for the period October 17, 2005 to December 31, 2005 was $3.8 million. Certain employees have elected to receive their bonus amounts in stock of Affinion Holdings. Should the employee terminate prior to the payment date, the Company will reverse the amount accrued through the termination date and pay the amount to Cendant as additional purchase price pursuant to the purchase agreement dated July 26, 2005.

 

9. LONG-TERM DEBT

 

Long-term debt consisted of:

 

     The Company

    The Predecessor

 
     December 31,

 
     2005

    2004

 

Term Loan due 2012

   $ 840.0     $ —    

10.125% senior notes due 2013, net of unamortized discount with an effective interest rate of 10.375%

     266.4       —    

Senior subordinated bridge loan facility

     383.6       —    

Capital lease obligations

     1.0       1.6  
    


 


Total debt

     1,491.0       1.6  

Less: current portion of long-term debt

     (20.4 )     (0.6 )
    


 


Long-term debt

   $ 1,470.6     $ 1.0  
    


 


 

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Table of Contents

AFFINION GROUP, INC. AND THE PREDECESSOR

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unless otherwise noted, all dollar amounts are in millions, except per share amounts)

 

The senior secured credit facility (“Affinion Credit Facility”) is comprised of a term loan that initially totaled $860.0 million due in 2012 and a $100.0 million revolving credit facility terminating in 2011. The revolving credit facility includes letter of credit and swingline sub-facilities. The term loan provides, at the Company’s option, for interest rates of a) adjusted LIBOR plus 2.75% or b) the higher of i) Credit Suisse, Cayman Island Branch’s prime rate and ii) the Federal Funds Effective Rate plus 0.5% (“ABR”), in each case plus 1.75%. The revolving credit facility provides, at the Company’s option, for interest rates of adjusted LIBOR plus 2.75% or ABR plus 1.75% subject to downward adjustment based on the Company’s senior secured bank leverage ratio, as set forth in the agreement governing the Affinion Credit Facility. The Affinion Credit Facility is secured by substantially all of the assets of the Company, subject to certain exceptions. The term loan requires quarterly repayments totaling $8.6 million per annum with the balance payable at maturity in September 2012 subject to reductions for certain prepayments. The Company made two voluntary $20.0 million principal pre-payments of the term loan on November 17, 2005 and March 17, 2006, respectively, thus the quarterly payment obligations will begin in the third quarter of 2010. The Affinion Credit Facility generally requires the Company to prepay the outstanding term loan with proceeds from certain asset dispositions that are not reinvested, a portion of excess cash flow beginning in July 2006 and the net cash proceeds from certain debt issued in the future, as set forth in the agreement governing the Affinion Credit Facility. The Affinion Credit Facility also permits the Company to obtain additional borrowing capacity up to the greater of $175 million and an amount equal to EBITDA, as set forth in the agreement governing the Affinion Credit Facility, for the most recent four-quarter period. The revolving credit facility carries a commitment fee of .5% on the unused amount. As of December 31, 2005, no amounts had been drawn down under the revolving credit facility.

 

The senior notes (the “Senior Notes”), with a face value of $270.0 million, were issued for net proceeds of $266.4 million. The Senior Notes bear interest at 10.125% payable semi-annually in April and October of each year. The notes mature in October 2013. The Company may redeem all or part of the Senior Notes at any time on or after October 15, 2009 at redemption prices (generally at a premium) set forth in the agreement governing the Senior Notes. The Senior Notes are senior unsecured obligations and rank equally in right of payment with the Company’s existing and future senior obligations and senior to the Company’s senior subordinated indebtedness including the $383.6 million unsecured senior subordinated bridge loan facility (the “Bridge Loan”). The Company is required to file a registration statement with respect to an offer to exchange the Senior Notes for a new issue of substantially identical debt securities registered under the Securities Act of 1933 on or prior to April 15, 2006 (180 days from the date the Senior Notes were issued). The Company is also required to use reasonably commercial efforts to have the registration statement declared effective on or prior to August 13, 2006 (300 days from the date the senior notes were issued) and to consummate the exchange offer within 30 business day after effectiveness. If the Company fails to file a registration statement or take certain other actions with respect to the exchange offer within the time frames specified in a registration rights agreement, the Company may, subject to the terms of such registration rights agreement, be required to pay additional interest on the Senior Notes in an amount up to 1.0% per annum. As discussed in Note 22—Guarantor/Non-Guarantor Supplemental Financial Information, the Senior Notes are guaranteed by certain subsidiaries of the Company.

 

The $383.6 million Bridge Loan matures on October 17, 2006; however, if the Bridge Loan has not been repaid as of such date, outstanding borrowings will automatically be converted to unsecured term loans due in April 2014. Further, a 2.5% fee is to be paid on October 17, 2006 for any outstanding principal balance remaining on the Bridge Loan. The Bridge Loan bears an annual interest rate of 11.0% through April 2006, increases to 11.5% through July 2006, and increases to a 12% capped interest rate through maturity. At any time after October 17, 2006, lenders have the option to exchange the outstanding unsecured term loans for senior subordinated exchange notes. At any time following February 1, 2006 and ending on the earlier of i) April 17, 2007 and ii) the date on which 100% of the unsecured term loans have been exchanged for senior subordinated exchange notes, the Company may be required by its lenders to execute a securities offering, subject to certain

 

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Table of Contents

AFFINION GROUP, INC. AND THE PREDECESSOR

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unless otherwise noted, all dollar amounts are in millions, except per share amounts)

 

conditions. The proceeds from such securities offering are required to be used to repay the Bridge Loan. In the event the Company breaches its obligations to execute a securities offering, the Bridge Loan may be subject to a cash interest rate cap of 12.35% and a total interest rate cap of 13.50%. The Bridge Loan is subordinated in right of payment to the Affinion Credit facility and the Senior Notes.

 

The Affinion Credit Facility, the Senior Notes and the Bridge Loan all contain restrictive covenants related primarily to the Company’s ability to distribute dividends, redeem or re-purchase capital stock, sell assets, issue additional debt or merge with or acquire other companies. The covenants in the Credit Facility and Bridge Loan also require compliance with a consolidated leverage ratio and an interest coverage ratio. The Company was in compliance with the covenants referred to above as of December 31, 2005. Payment under each of the debt agreements may be accelerated in the event of a default. Events of default include the failure to pay principal and interest when due, a material breach of representation or warranty, covenant defaults (unless cured within applicable grace periods, if any), events of bankruptcy and, for the Affinion Credit Facility and Bridge Loan, a change of control.

 

Financing costs related to the issuance of the various debt components are amortized over the lives of each debt issue. The unamortized portion totaled $38.4 million as of December 31, 2005 and is included in the “Other Non-Current Assets” caption of the Company’s consolidated balance sheet. The discount on the Senior Notes is amortized to interest expense over the loan period. Financing costs and the discount on the Senior Notes are amortized using the effective interest method.

 

Capital Lease Obligations— The Company leases and its Predecessor leased certain computer equipment used in their operations. The Company’s capital lease obligations bear interest at rates ranging from 3% to 12% per annum and are due at varying dates through October 2009. During 2005, no capital lease obligations were incurred while in 2004 the Predecessor incurred $1.0 million of such obligations.

 

The aggregate maturities of debt as of December 31, 2005 are as follows:

 

     Amount

2006

   $ 20.4

2007

     0.2

2008

     0.2

2009

     0.2

2010

     3.0

Thereafter

     1,467.0
    

     $ 1,491.0
    

 

10. LONG-TERM DEBT DUE TO CENDANT

 

Long-term debt due to Cendant at December 31, 2004 consisted of:

 

     Amount

 

TRL Group credit agreement

   $ 30.0  

Less: current portion of long-term debt due to Cendant

     (20.0 )
    


Long-term debt due to Cendant

   $ 10.0  
    


 

On January 30, 2004, the Predecessor entered into a revolving loan facility that provided for borrowings up to $30.0 million by TRL Group through February 1, 2005 and then reducing to $10.0 million thereafter. The

 

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Table of Contents

AFFINION GROUP, INC. AND THE PREDECESSOR

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unless otherwise noted, all dollar amounts are in millions, except per share amounts)

 

credit agreement was terminated on October 14, 2005. Interest expense incurred for the period from January 1, 2005 to October 16, 2005 was $0.2 million and for the year ended December 31, 2004 was approximately $0.8 million.

 

11. MINORITY INTERESTS

 

At December 31, 2005, minority interest was comprised of the 50% minority share in Cims South Africa (Proprietary) Limited (“Cims South Africa”).

 

In August 2003, the Predecessor acquired a 50% ownership interest in Cims South Africa for $2.6 million and began consolidating Cims South Africa at that time. The minority shareholder holds 50% of the outstanding common shares of Cims South Africa and profits and losses are allocated in proportion to each shareholder’s ownership interest.

 

No distributions were made to the minority shareholder in 2005. Distributions made to minority shareholders totaled $1.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2004. No distributions were made to the minority shareholders during the year ended December 31, 2003.

 

At December 31, 2004, in addition to the 50% minority interest share in Cims South Africa, minority interests comprised: (i) the 20% and 30% minority shares in Kabushiki Kaishi TH Shopping, formerly Cendant Japan Co. Ltd (“Cims Japan”); and (ii) approximately 55% (on a fully diluted basis) of equity of TRL Group which the Predecessor did not own at that date (see Note 4—Acquisitions and Note 17—TRL Group, Inc. for further information related to the consolidation of TRL Group).

 

Prior to its dissolution, the minority shareholders held 50% of the common shares of Cims Japan and profits and losses were allocated in proportion to each shareholder’s ownership interest. No distributions were made to the minority shareholders during 2005, 2004 and 2003. During 2004, the losses of Cims Japan exceeded the minority shareholders’ investments and at that point, the Predecessor began recording 100% of the losses associated with the operations of Cims Japan. Included in accounts payable and accrued expenses at December 31, 2005 and 2004 were amounts due to the minority shareholders totaling $0.0 and $1.6 million, respectively. In November 2004, Cims Japan sold its shopping catalogue mail order business and certain assets and liabilities for approximately $0.2 million. The purchaser assumed all liabilities associated with the existing members of the business, including future servicing of the members. Substantially all employees of Cims Japan were terminated as of December 31, 2004.

 

During 2005, Cims Japan submitted a plan approved by its creditors and shareholders for the orderly dissolution of the entity as required under Japanese regulations, which was approved by the Tokyo District Court on July 5, 2005. In September 2005, Cims Japan completed payments to its creditors under the approved plan. Substantially all of the amounts due to the minority shareholders (approximately $2.2 million) and Cendant (approximately $2.9 million) were forgiven in connection with the plan. As a result of the forgiveness of debt and the dissolution of the entity, Cims Japan recognized other income totaling $5.9 million in the third quarter of 2005. This entity was legally dissolved on February 14, 2006.

 

12. STOCKHOLDER’S/COMBINED EQUITY

 

The Company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Affinion Holdings. Common stock and paid-in capital consists of a cash contribution of $275.0 million and the fair values of Affinion Holdings’ preferred stock of $80.4 million and warrants of $16.7 million issued to Cendant in connection with the Apollo Transactions.

 

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Table of Contents

AFFINION GROUP, INC. AND THE PREDECESSOR

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unless otherwise noted, all dollar amounts are in millions, except per share amounts)

 

Combined equity on the accompanying combined balance sheet as of December 31, 2004 is comprised of common stock, additional paid-in capital and advances to Cendant, net.

 

Cendant incurred certain overhead costs that were allocated to the Predecessor pursuant to the tax sharing agreement between Cendant and its subsidiaries. The allocation of such costs are reflected as a contributions of capital in the accompanying combined financial statements and totaled $5.5 million for the period from January 1, 2005 to October 17, 2005, and $2.5 million and $12.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively. The impact of these contributions of capital is also reflected within advances to Cendant, net resulting in a zero net impact to combined equity on the accompanying combined balance sheet at December 31, 2004.

 

Tax accruals established by the Predecessor are indemnified by Cendant pursuant to the tax sharing agreement between Cendant and its subsidiaries. During 2004 and 2003, certain tax related matters were resolved resulting in tax benefits totaling $92.3 million and $20.0 million, respectively (see Note 13—Income Taxes). The tax benefits associated with these resolutions were transferred to Cendant in 2004 and 2003 and treated as returns of capital by the Predecessor. The impact of the returns of capital is also reflected within advances to Cendant, resulting in a zero net impact to equity on the accompanying combined balances sheet at December 31, 2004.

 

During 2004, AIH declared and paid a dividend totaling $9.6 million to its parent company, RCI Europe Limited (a wholly-owned subsidiary of Cendant). In 2003, AIH declared a dividend totaling $35.7 million to RCI Europe Limited. AIH paid the $35.7 million dividend to RCI Europe Limited during 2004.

 

13. INCOME TAXES

 

The provision for/(benefit from) income taxes consisted of the following:

 

     The Company

    The Predecessor

 
    

For the Period
October 17, 2005 to

December 31, 2005


   

For the Period
January 1, 2005 to

October 16, 2005


   For the Years Ended
December 31,


 
              2004      

          2003      

 

Current:

                               

Federal

   $ —       $ 0.5    $ (53.7 )   $ (1.9 )

State

     (0.2 )     0.1      (1.9 )     3.3  

Foreign

     1.5       2.4      25.3       8.2  
    


 

  


 


       1.3       3.0      (30.3 )     9.6  
    


 

  


 


Deferred:

                               

Federal

     1.6       21.8      (44.8 )     56.8  

State

     0.3       4.1      (22.1 )     4.8  

Foreign

     (3.2 )     0.0      (7.3 )     0.1  
    


 

  


 


       (1.3 )     25.9      (74.2 )     61.7  
    


 

  


 


     $ 0.0     $ 28.9    $ (104.5 )   $ 71.3  
    


 

  


 


 

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AFFINION GROUP, INC. AND THE PREDECESSOR

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unless otherwise noted, all dollar amounts are in millions, except per share amounts)

 

Pre-tax income/(loss) for domestic and foreign operations before minority interests consisted of the following:

 

     The Company

    The Predecessor

    

For the Period
October 17, 2005
to December 31,

2005


   

For the Period
January 1, 2005
to October 16,

2005


   For the Years Ended
December 31,


                2004      

         2003      

Domestic

   $ (130.1 )   $ 70.1    $ 215.2    $ 191.0

Foreign

     (6.1 )     8.9      56.6      23.9
    


 

  

  

Pre-tax income/(loss)

   $ (136.2 )   $ 79.0    $ 271.8    $ 214.9
    


 

  

  

 

Deferred income tax assets and liabilities consisted of the following:

 

     The Company

    The Predecessor

 
     December 31,

 
     2005

    2004

 

Current deferred income tax assets:

                

Net operating loss carryforwards

   $ —       $ 75.1  

State net operating loss carryforwards

     —         7.6  

Accrued expenses and deferred revenue

     4.6       117.6  

Prepaid expenses

     3.1       —    

Provision for doubtful accounts

     —         1.7  

Other

     0.2       2.7  
    


 


Current deferred income tax assets

     7.9       204.7  

Current deferred income tax liabilities:

                

Profit-sharing receivables from insurance carriers

     —         (21.8 )

Accrued expenses

     (0.2 )     —    

Deferred revenue

     (6.8 )     —    

Prepaid expenses

     —         (92.5 )
    


 


Current deferred income tax liabilities

     (7.0 )     (114.3 )

Valuation allowance

     (3.4 )     —    
    


 


Current net deferred income tax asset/(liability)

   $ (2.5 )   $ 90.4  
    


 


Non-current deferred income tax assets:

                

Net operating loss carryforwards

   $ 33.2     $ 1.1  

State net operating loss carryforwards

     3.6       2.0  

Alternative minimum tax credit carryforward

     —         3.0  

Accrued expenses and deferred revenue

     —         47.8  

Depreciation and amortization

     37.7       —    

Other

     1.0       1.0  

Foreign tax credits

     1.4       —    
    


 


Non-current deferred income tax assets

     76.9       54.9  

Non-current deferred income tax liabilities:

                

Prepaid expenses

     —         (7.6 )

Deferred revenue

     (2.5 )     —    

Other

     (0.1 )     —    

Depreciation and amortization

     (40.0 )     (5.6 )
    


 


Non-current deferred income tax liabilities

     (42.6 )     (13.2 )

Valuation allowance

     (62.1 )     (2.0 )
    


 


Non-current net deferred income tax asset/(liability)

   $ (27.8 )   $ 39.7  
    


 


 

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AFFINION GROUP, INC. AND THE PREDECESSOR

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unless otherwise noted, all dollar amounts are in millions, except per share amounts)

 

For federal and state income tax purposes the Apollo Transaction are treated as a purchase of assets and an assumption of liabilities at fair market value. Certain liabilities recognized for financial statement reporting purposes are not recognized for federal and state income tax purposes with respect to the Apollo Transactions and give rise to future income tax deductions. Therefore, the differences between the preliminary values allocated to the assets and liabilities under purchase accounting and the tax bases of the respective assets and liabilities give rise to a net deferred tax asset of approximately $3.6 million as of October 17, 2005. A valuation allowance of approximately $3.3 million was recognized in purchase accounting since it is more likely than not that these net deferred tax assets will not be realized. Goodwill arising from the Apollo Transactions will be deductible for tax purposes.

 

For foreign income tax purposes the Apollo Transactions have no effect on the tax basis of the underlying assets and liabilities. Therefore, a deferred tax liability was established in purchase accounting of approximately $32.4 million to reflect the difference between the preliminary values allocated to the assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes with respect to the foreign entities and the related local income tax values of such assets and liabilities.

 

As of December 31, 2005, the Company had federal net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $77.5 million (which expire in 2026) and foreign tax credit carryovers of approximately $1.4 million (which expire in 2016). The Company has state net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $77.2 million which expire, depending on the jurisdiction, between 2011 and 2026. Since it is more likely than not that these assets will not be realized, a full valuation allowance has been recognized with respect to these carryforwards and credits. The Company also has net operating loss carryforwards in foreign jurisdictions. These net operating losses total approximately $19.5 million. The Company has concluded that a valuation allowance relating to approximately $16.9 million of these net operating losses is required due to the uncertainty as to their realization. The carrying value of the Company’s valuation allowance against all its deferred tax assets at December 31, 2005 totaled $65.5 million.

 

As of December 31, 2004, the Predecessor had federal net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $217.6 million, which expire between 2018 and 2024. Additionally, the Predecessor had alternative minimum tax credit carryforwards of $2.9 million. As discussed above, for federal income tax purposes the Apollo Transactions were treated as a purchase of assets and an assumption of liabilities at fair market values. Therefore, these tax attributes are available to Cendant in its federal consolidated tax filings in periods subsequent to December 31, 2004 and do not carryforward to the Company. Accordingly, on October 16, 2005 the Predecessor transferred deferred tax assets totaling $51.3 million to Cendant.

 

In the third quarter of 2005, deferred income taxes reflected on the accompanying combined balance sheet as of December 31, 2004 were reduced by approximately $36 million for the transfer of deferred income taxes associated with certain assets and liabilities retained by Cendant in connection with the Apollo Transactions.

 

No provision has been made for the accumulated and undistributed earnings of the foreign subsidiaries of the Company. With the exception of all South African subsidiaries and one U.K. subsidiary, foreign taxable income is recognized currently for federal and state income tax purposes since such operations are recognized in entities disregarded for federal and state income tax purposes. As of December 31, 2005 there are no accumulated and undistributed earnings of the South African and UK subsidiaries.

 

In March 2005, Cendant implemented a foreign tax restructuring and changed its permanent reinvestment assertion under APB No. 23, “Accounting for Income Taxes—Special Areas,” with respect to AIH’s foreign subsidiaries. As a result of no longer being permanently reinvested, the Predecessor recorded a tax charge of

 

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AFFINION GROUP, INC. AND THE PREDECESSOR

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unless otherwise noted, all dollar amounts are in millions, except per share amounts)

 

approximately $28.5 million in the period from January 1, 2005 to October 16, 2005 related to certain previously unrecorded deferred tax liabilities consistent with Cendant’s change in assertion. This charge was offset by a tax benefit resulting from the establishment of deferred tax assets during the first quarter of 2005 for the difference between the tax and book basis of the net assets of foreign subsidiaries. The Predecessor also utilized net operating loss carryforwards related to the current U.S. tax liabilities established in connection with the AIH foreign tax restructuring.

 

No provision had been made for U.S. Federal deferred income taxes on approximately $77.3 million of accumulated and undistributed earnings of AIH’s foreign subsidiaries at December 31, 2004 since it was the intention of Cendant’s management to reinvest the undistributed earnings indefinitely in those foreign operations.

 

The effective income tax rate differs from the U.S. federal statutory rate as follows:

 

     The Company

    The Predecessor

 
    

For the Period

October 17, 2005 to

December 31, 2005


   

For the Period

January 1, 2005 to

October 16, 2005


    For the Years Ended
December 31,


 
             2004    

        2003    

 

Federal statutory rate

   35.0 %   35.0 %   35.0 %   35.0 %

State and local income taxes, net of federal benefits

   3.9     2.2     2.0     2.7  

Change in valuation allowance and other

   (41.3 )   —       (41.9 )   4.8  

Taxes on foreign operations at rates different than U.S. federal rates

   1.4     2.9     (0.7 )   (0.1 )

Taxes on repatriated foreign income

   —       (3.1 )   —       —    

Deduction for foreign taxes

   —       (0.6 )   —       —    

Resolution of prior years’ tax examination issues

   —       —       (32.9 )   (9.3 )

Foreign tax credits

   1.0     —       —       —    

Nondeductible expenses

   —       0.1     0.1     0.1  
    

 

 

 

     0 %   36.5 %   (38.4 )%   33.2 %
    

 

 

 

 

A full valuation allowance at December 31, 2005 has been recognized with respect to the net deferred tax assets and liabilities, except deferred tax liabilities relating to intangibles with indefinite lives.

 

The Predecessor’s and Cendant’s income tax returns are periodically examined by various tax authorities. The Predecessor and Cendant are currently under audit by several tax authorities. In connection with these and future examinations, certain tax authorities, including the Internal Revenue Service, may raise issues and impose additional assessments. The Company regularly evaluates the likelihood of additional assessments resulting from these examinations and establishes liabilities, through the provision for income taxes for potential amounts that may result from such examinations. Any tax liabilities established by the Predecessor are indemnified by Cendant pursuant to the tax sharing agreement between Cendant and its subsidiaries. Once a tax liability was established through October 16, 2005, the corresponding tax liability was transferred to Cendant via an adjustment to combined equity. The Company’s tax liabilities are adjusted as information becomes available or when an event requiring a change to the tax liabilities occurs. During the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003, certain tax related liabilities were adjusted based on currently available information resulting in a tax benefit totaling $92.3 million and $20 million, respectively. The tax benefits associated with these tax liability reductions were transferred to Cendant and treated as a return of capital by the Predecessor. The tax liabilities established were transferred to Cendant and treated as capital contributions by the Predecessor.

 

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AFFINION GROUP, INC. AND THE PREDECESSOR

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unless otherwise noted, all dollar amounts are in millions, except per share amounts)

 

14. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

 

Leases

 

The Company has noncancelable operating leases covering various facilities and equipment. Rent expense, net of sublease receipts, totaled $14.6 million for the period from January 1, 2005 to October 16, 2005, $3.2 million for the period from October 17, 2005 to December 31, 2005, and $21.7 million and $20.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively.

 

Future minimum lease payments required under non-cancelable operating leases, net of sublease receipts, as of December 31, 2005 are as follows:

 

     Amount

2006

   $ 13.4

2007

     11.7

2008

     10.5

2009

     7.7

2010

     6.2

Thereafter

     14.2
    

Future minimum lease payments

   $ 63.7
    

 

Litigation

 

The Company is involved in claims, legal proceedings and governmental inquiries related to employment matters, contract disputes, business practices, trademark and copyright infringement claims and other commercial matters. The Company and its affiliate are also parties to a number of class action lawsuits, each of which alleges violations of certain federal and/or state consumer protection statutes. In addition, the Company has received inquiries from numerous state attorneys’ general relating to the marketing of its membership programs.

 

In April 2002, the Predecessor filed and served a complaint against American Bankers Insurance Company of Florida and certain affiliates (“Fortis”) relating to Fortis’ breach of the parties’ exclusive agreement to jointly market insurance programs underwritten by Fortis. Fortis counterclaimed alleging breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, fraudulent inducement and breach of covenant of good faith and fair dealing. In May 2005, the Chancery Court of Tennessee found a total judgment in the amount of $16.5 million, including prejudgment interest, in favor of the Predecessor and a total judgment in the amount of $75.8 million, including prejudgment interest, in favor of Fortis. The Company believes that, among other things, damages in the amount of $42.6 million were improperly awarded to Fortis under the final judgment; and accordingly, on December 13, 2005, filed a notice of appeal. As a result of the verdict and final judgment entered, a charge of $73.7 million was recorded in the accompanying 2004 combined statements of operations. As part of the Apollo Transactions, Cendant retained this liability. The Company will be indemnified for all losses with respect to this matter.

 

From 2001 through early 2005, the Florida State Attorney General (“Florida AG”) investigated whether the Predecessor’s sales practices were fully in compliance with Florida’s laws and regulations. On March 7, 2005, the Predecessor entered into a settlement agreement with the Florida AG’s office. Pursuant to this settlement, the Predecessor agreed to pay $0.4 million to the Florida AG’s office to cover the state’s cost of the investigation. The Predecessor also agreed, among other things, to make refunds to Florida consumers who complained to the Florida AG’s office during the course of the investigation and for a period of six months thereafter and to make certain disclosures in connection with the marketing to Florida consumers.

 

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AFFINION GROUP, INC. AND THE PREDECESSOR

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unless otherwise noted, all dollar amounts are in millions, except per share amounts)

 

Beginning in November 2003, the Predecessor received inquiries from numerous state attorneys general relating to the marketing of its membership programs. In July 2005, the Attorneys General of California and Connecticut filed suit against the Predecessor, and the Attorney General of Maine filed a notice of its intention to sue (collectively, the “AG Matters”), alleging that deceptive marketing practices were used in connection with the offering of membership services. The complaints seek restitution, civil penalties and orders permanently barring the Company from engaging in the alleged practices. The Company may face similar suits from the other states’ attorneys generals that inquired as to the Company’s membership programs. The Company is currently in settlement discussions with certain of these states’ attorneys generals.

 

The Company is also a party to a number of lawsuits which were brought against it or its affiliates, each of which alleges to be a class action in nature and each of which alleges that the Company violated certain federal or state consumer protection statutes (certain of which are described below). The Company intends to vigorously defend itself against these lawsuits.

 

On August 9, 2005, a class action suit (the “August 2005 Suit”) was filed against TRL Group in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, San Francisco Division. The claim asserts violations of the Electronic Funds Transfer Act and various California consumer protection statutes. On October 10, 2005, the complaint was amended to add additional claims, an additional named plaintiff and Cendant as a co-defendant. The suit seeks unspecified actual damages, statutory damages, attorneys’ fees, costs and injunctive relief.

 

On January 28, 2005, a class action complaint (the “January 2005 Suit”) was filed against The Bon, Inc., FACS Group, Inc., and Trilegiant in the Superior Court of Washington, Spokane County. The claim asserts violations of various consumer protection statutes. The Company filed a motion to compel arbitration, which was denied by the court. The Company appealed the court’s decision, and the case has been stayed until the appellate court has ruled on the motion to compel arbitration.

 

On November 12, 2002, a class action complaint (the “November 2002 Class Action”) was filed against Sears, Roebuck & Co., Sears National Bank, Cendant Membership Services, Inc., and Allstate Insurance Company in the Circuit Court of Alabama for Greene County alleging, among other things, breach of contract, unjust enrichment, breach of duty of good faith and fair dealing and violations of the Illinois consumer fraud and deceptive practices act. The case was removed to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama but was remanded to the Circuit Court of Alabama for Greene County.

 

On January 24, 2002, a class action complaint (the “January 2002 Class Action”) was filed against Trilegiant in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama Western Division (the “Alabama Court”) alleging that Trilegiant violated the Credit Repair Organizations Act (“CROA”) in connection with its Creditline product. On November 18, 2005, the court preliminarily approved the terms of a class-wide settlement of this case. Pursuant to the terms of the settlement, Trilegiant has provided notice to the class members via first class mail advising them of the terms of the settlement. All class members will release their claims against Trilegiant under the settlement. All class members wanting to receive benefits under the settlement were required to return a claim form post-marked by February 16, 2006 and had the option of choosing a no-cost annual membership in one of three membership programs offered by Trilegiant. In lieu of a membership program, class members could elect to receive a cash payment. The total cash payments that Trilegiant has offered to make to the class is capped at $0.5 million. On March 13, 2006 the Alabama Court signed the final order approving the terms of the settlement. The judgment is anticipated to become final on April 12, 2006 if there are no appeals.

 

On November 15, 2001, a class action complaint (the “2001 Class Action”) was filed in Madison County, Illinois against Trilegiant alleging violations of state consumer protection statutes in connection with the sale of

 

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AFFINION GROUP, INC. AND THE PREDECESSOR

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unless otherwise noted, all dollar amounts are in millions, except per share amounts)

 

certain membership programs. Motions to dismiss were denied and certification of a class of consumers has been granted; the exact size of the certified class is not known at this time. The case has been removed to federal court. The plaintiffs have moved to remand the matter to state court, and their remand motion is pending.

 

The Company believes that it has adequately accrued for the above matters, or for matters not requiring accrual believes that it will not have a material adverse effect on results of financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows based on information currently available. However, litigation is inherently unpredictable and, although the Company believes that accruals are adequate and/or it has valid defenses in these matters, unfavorable resolution could occur, which could have a material adverse effect on financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

 

Subject to certain limitations, Cendant has agreed to indemnify the Company for actual losses, damages, liabilities, claims, costs and expenses and taxes incurred in connection with certain of the matters described above. See Note 18—Related Party Transactions discussing post-closing relationships with Cendant for a summary of the terms of the indemnification agreements.

 

Other Commitments

 

In the ordinary course of business, the Company enters into purchase agreements for its marketing and membership program support and travel services. The commitments covered by these agreements as of December 31, 2005 totaled approximately $38.1 million for 2006, $21.5 million for 2007, $12.3 million for 2008, $11.7 million for 2009, $11.5 million for 2010 and $21.4 million thereafter.

 

Standard Guarantees/Indemnifications

 

In the ordinary course of business, the Company enters into numerous agreements that contain standard guarantees and indemnities whereby the Company indemnifies the other party for breaches of representations and warranties. Cendant maintained certain insurance coverage which mitigated exposure to the Predecessor for certain indemnifications provided to third parties under these agreements and for certain agreements, Cendant provided guarantees on behalf of the Predecessor. The agreements also generally require the Company to indemnify the other party for damages arising out of the actions or omissions of the Company’s agents or subcontractors. In these cases, the Company generally enters into agreements with such parties pursuant to which such parties are required to indemnify the Company for any damages incurred by the Company due to the actions or omissions of such parties. The Company is not able to develop an estimate of the maximum potential amount of future payments to be made under these indemnifications and guarantees as the triggering events are not subject to predictability.

 

Other Guarantees

 

In connection with the sale of 78% of its long-term preferred care commission rights (see Note 3—Sale of Assets), the sale agreements contained indemnities whereby the Predecessor and Cendant are responsible for indemnifying the buyer for any losses incurred by the buyer as a result of any breach by the Predecessor of any representation, warranty or covenant made by the Predecessor and Cendant within the sale agreements. As of December 31, 2004, the liability recorded by the Predecessor in connection with these guarantees was approximately $3.8 million and is included in accounts payable and accrued expenses on the accompanying combined balance sheet. Effective September 30, 2005, the Predecessor transferred this liability to Cendant via a non-cash transfer pursuant to the purchase agreement from the Apollo Transactions.

 

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AFFINION GROUP, INC. AND THE PREDECESSOR

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unless otherwise noted, all dollar amounts are in millions, except per share amounts)

 

Surety Bonds and Letters of Credit

 

In the ordinary course of business, the Company and its Predecessor is required to provide surety bonds to various state authorities in order to operate its membership, insurance and travel agency programs. Cendant had previously guaranteed the surety bonds issued on behalf of the Predecessor. As of December 31, 2005, the Company provided guarantees for surety bonds totaling approximately $9.7 million and issued letters of credit totaling $1.8 million.

 

Employment and Severance Agreements

 

The Company has entered into employment and severance agreements with various officers of the Company that provide for annual compensation and bonuses and termination benefits.

 

15. STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

 

Company Program

 

In connection with the closing of the Apollo Transactions on October 17, 2005, Affinion Holdings adopted the 2005 Stock Incentive Plan (the “Plan”). The Plan allows Affinion Holdings to grant nonqualified, non-assignable stock options and rights to purchase shares of Affinion Holdings common stock to its directors, employees and consultants. Affinion Holdings is authorized to grant up to 2.1 million shares of its common stock under the Plan. Options granted under the Plan have an exercise price no less than the fair market value of a share of stock on the date of grant. Stock awards shall have a purchase price as determined by the compensation committee and evidenced by an award agreement accompanying the grant. After closing the Apollo Transactions on October 17, 2005, Affinion Holdings granted approximately 1.5 million stock options to employees and directors. As of December 31, 2005, the total number of options available for grant in the future totaled 0.6 million. The restricted shares are subject to five year “cliff” vesting. One-half of the options granted are subject to vesting ratably over five years and the remaining options are subject to vesting upon the satisfaction of specified performance targets, or, if earlier, the eighth anniversary of the grant dates.

 

During the period from October 17, 2005 to December 31, 2005, three tranches of options (“A”, “B” and “C”) were granted to employees at the estimated fair value at date of issuance, with the following terms:

 

     Tranche

     A

     B

     C

Strike price

   $10.00      $10.00      $10.00

Vesting

   Ratable over 5 years      100% after 8 years*      100% after 8 years*

Term of Option

   10 years      10 years      10 years

*   Tranche B and C vesting would be accelerated upon specified realized returns to Apollo.

 

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AFFINION GROUP, INC. AND THE PREDECESSOR

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unless otherwise noted, all dollar amounts are in millions, except per share amounts)

 

A summary of option activity is presented below (number of options in thousands):

 

     Tranche

     A

   B

   C

Granted

     764      382      382

Exercised

     —        —        —  

Forfeited or expired

     —        —        —  
    

  

  

Outstanding at December 31, 2005

     764      382      382
    

  

  

Exercisable at December 31, 2005

     —        —        —  
    

  

  

Weighted average remaining contractual term (years)

     9.8      9.8      9.8

Weighted average grant date fair value per option

   $ 5.00    $ 5.96    $ 6.12

 

Based on the estimated fair values of options granted, stock compensation expense for the period from October 17, 2005 to December 31, 2005 totaled $0.3 million.

 

As of December 31, 2005, there was $8.2 million of unrecognized compensation cost related to the remaining vesting period of options under the Plan. This cost will be recorded in future periods as stock compensation expense over a weighted average period of approximately 6.2 years.

 

The fair value of each option award is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model based on assumptions noted in the following table. Expected volatilities are based on historical volatilities of comparable companies. The expected term of the options granted represents the period of time that options are expected to be outstanding.

 

     Tranche

 
     A

    B

    C

 

Expected volatility

   43 %   47 %   48 %

Expected term (years)

   6.50     8.43     8.72  

Risk-free interest rate

   4.40 %   4.46 %   4.46 %

Dividend yield

   0 %   0 %   0 %

 

Additionally, in connection with the Apollo Transactions, the Chief Executive Officer was granted 50,000 shares of restricted stock of Affinion Holdings at a purchase price of $0.01 per share. This award vests 100% after five years of service or earlier upon a change of control of the Company. The fair value of this award is estimated to be $0.5 million, based upon a $10.00 fair value per share of Affinion Holdings. This award amount is being amortized to stock compensation expense over the five year vesting period, resulting in expense during the period from October 17, 2005 to December 31, 2005 of $0.02 million.

 

Cendant Programs

 

Cendant granted stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted shares and restricted stock units (“RSUs”) to employees of the Predecessor. Beginning in 2003, Cendant changed the method by which it provides stock-based compensation to its employees by significantly reducing the number of stock options granted and instead, issuing RSUs as a form of compensation.

 

In connection with the Apollo Transactions, the Predecessor recorded an expense of $6.7 million during the period from January 1, 2005 to October 16, 2005 related to the accelerated vesting of Cendant RSUs and stock options.

 

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AFFINION GROUP, INC. AND THE PREDECESSOR

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unless otherwise noted, all dollar amounts are in millions, except per share amounts)

 

Stock Options

 

Employee stock options granted by Cendant generally had a ten-year term and those granted prior to 2004 vested ratably over periods ranging from two to five years. In 2004, Cendant adopted performance and time vesting criteria for stock option grants. The predetermined performance criteria determined the number of options that would ultimately vest and were based on the growth of Cendant’s earnings and cash flows over the vesting period of the respective award. The number of options that would ultimately vest ranged from 0% to 200% of the base award. Vesting occurred over a four year period, but could not exceed 25% of the base awards in each of the three years following the grant date. Cendant’s policy was to grant options with exercise prices at then-current fair market value. The activity of Cendant’s stock option plans related to the Predecessor’s employees consisted of the following (number of options in thousands):

 

     The Predecessor

    

For the Period

January 1 to October 16,


   For the Years Ended December 31,

     2005

   2004

   2003

    

Number of

Options


   

Weighted
Average
Exercise

Price


  

Number of

Options


   

Weighted
Average
Exercise

Price


  

Number of

Options


   

Weighted
Average
Exercise

Price


Beginning balance

   2,513     $ 16.54    6,328     $ 17.73    8,452     $ 16.41

Granted at fair market value(a)

   118       *    55       23.12    —         —  

Exercised

   (1,037 )     15.88    (3,617 )     18.58    (1,813 )     11.74

Forfeited

   (31 )     20.22    (253 )     18.49    (311 )     16.70
    

        

        

     

Ending balance

   1,563       16.05    2,513       16.54    6,328       17.73
    

        

        

     

(a)   In 2004, reflects the maximum number of options assuming achievement of all performance and time vesting criteria.
*     Not meaningful.

 

The Predecessor was allocated compensation expense by Cendant related to the issuance of stock options to its employees over the vesting period of the award and based on the estimated number of options that Cendant believed it would ultimately provide. During 2004, pre-tax compensation expense recorded by the Predecessor related to the stock options issued subsequent to January 1, 2003 was de minimus. See Note 2—Summary of Significant Accounting Policies for the effect on net income had the Predecessor elected to recognize and measure compensation expense for all stock options granted to its employees based on the fair value method.

 

The weighted-average grant-date fair value of Cendant common stock options granted during the year ended December 31, 2004 was $6.90. The fair values of these stock options are estimated on the dates of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following weighted average assumptions.

 

     The Predecessor

 
     2004

 

Dividend yield

   1.5 %

Expected volatility

   30.0 %

Risk-free interest rate

   4.0 %

Expected holding period (years)

   5.5  

 

Restricted Stock Units —Each RSU granted by Cendant entitled the employee to receive one share of Cendant common stock upon vesting. RSUs granted in 2003 and the first quarter of 2004 vested ratably over

 

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AFFINION GROUP, INC. AND THE PREDECESSOR

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unless otherwise noted, all dollar amounts are in millions, except per share amounts)

 

three or four year periods. In June 2004, performance and time vesting criteria for RSU grants were adopted. The predetermined performance criteria determined the number of RSUs that would ultimately vest and were based on the growth of Cendant’s earnings and cash flows over the vesting period of the respective award. The number of RSUs that ultimately vested ranged from 0% to 200% of the base award. Vesting occurred over a four year period, but could not exceed 25% of the base award in each of the three years following the grant date.

 

The annual activity of Cendant’s RSU plans related to the employees of the Predecessor consisted of (number of RSUs in thousands):

 

     For the Period
January 1 to October 16,


   For the Years Ended December 31,

     2005

   2004

   2003

    

Number of

RSU’s


   

Weighted
Average
Grant

Price


  

Number of

RSU’s


   

Weighted
Average
Grant

Price


  

Number of

RSU’s


   

Weighted
Average
Grant

Price


Balance at beginning of period

   760     $ 22.51    336     $ 13.68    —       $ —  

Granted at fair market value(a)

   32       *    616       23.87    348       13.68

Vested

   (723 )     21.09    (75 )     13.69    —         —  

Canceled

   (69 )     19.67    (117 )     15.94    (12 )     13.64
    

        

        

     

Balance at end of period

   —         —      760       22.51    336       13.68
    

        

        

     

(a)   In 2004, reflects the maximum number of RSUs assuming achievement of all performance and time vesting criteria.
*     Not meaningful.

 

The Predecessor allocated compensation expense for such RSUs on a basis consistent with the related vesting period. The Predecessor recorded pre-tax compensation expense of $3.3 million for the period from January 1, 2005 to October 16, 2005, and $4.4 million and $1.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively, in connection with these RSUs.

 

As a result of Cendant’s spin-off of its subsidiary, PHH Corporation, on January 31, 2005, the closing price of Cendant common stock was adjusted downward by $1.10 on January 31, 2005. In order to provide an equitable adjustment to holders of its RSUs, Cendant granted incremental RSUs to achieve a balance of 1.0477 RSUs outstanding subsequent to the spin-off for each RSU outstanding prior to the spin-off. Additionally, Cendant granted incremental options to achieve a balance of 1.04249 options outstanding subsequent to the spin-off for each option outstanding prior to the spin-off. The exercise price of each option was also adjusted downward by a proportionate value.

 

TRL Group Programs

 

Stock Appreciation Rights

 

TRL Group maintained a stock equity incentive plan, which was designed to provide benefits to officers and key employees through awards of stock appreciation rights (“SARs”). The stock equity incentive plan was assumed by the Predecessor in connection with the January 2004 transaction described in Note 17—TRL Group, Inc.

 

TRL Group granted 2.0 million SARs with an exercise price of $20.11 on July 6, 2001 that were scheduled to vest on July 6, 2004. TRL Group granted an additional 0.5 million SARs on June 30, 2003, which immediately

 

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AFFINION GROUP, INC. AND THE PREDECESSOR

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unless otherwise noted, all dollar amounts are in millions, except per share amounts)

 

vested with an exercise price of $20.11. The unvested SARs were accelerated and vested in February 2004. Each holder of the vested SARs was entitled to receive cash equal to the amount by which the market price of Cendant’s common stock at the vesting date exceeded the $20.11 exercise price of the award. In February 2004, the Predecessor funded the settlement of the vested SARs with the net proceeds of a call option of $6.0 million resulting in a realized loss totaling approximately $0.4 million. The annual activity of the Predecessor’s stock appreciation rights plan consisted of (number of stock appreciation rights in thousands):

 

     The Predecessor

 
    

For the Years Ended

December 31,


 
         2004    

        2003    

 

Balance at beginning of year

   1,728     1,461  

Granted

   167     515  

Vested

   —       (248 )

Canceled

   (1,895 )   —    
    

 

Balance at end of year

   —       1,728  
    

 

 

Due to the increase in the fair value of the SARs, compensation expense recognized in the combined statements of operations for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003 was increased by $1.1 million and $4.2 million, respectively. The compensation expense recognized in the combined statement of operations for the period from January 1, 2005 to October 16, 2005 was de minimus.

 

Restricted Stock

 

On July 2, 2001, the TRL Group awarded certain employees restricted shares of Cendant stock, which vested on various dates through October 2005. The restricted stock plan was assumed by the Predecessor in connection with the January 2004 TRL Group transactions disclosed in Note 17—TRL Group, Inc. Upon vesting, the equivalent number of Cendant common stock shares is required to be distributed to beneficiaries. The annual activity of the Predecessor’s restricted stock plan consisted of (number of restricted stock awards in thousands):

 

     The Predecessor

 
    

For the Period January 1 to
October 16,

2005


   For the Years Ended December 31,

 
              2004        

            2003        

 

Balance at beginning of period

   4    24     141  

Granted

   —      —       7  

Vested

   —      (19 )   (120 )

Canceled

   —      (1 )   (4 )
    
  

 

Balance at end of period

   4    4     24  
    
  

 

 

The fair value and carrying value of the outstanding unvested restricted stock awards at December 31, 2004 was $0.3 million. The compensation expense related to these shares of restricted stock was $0.0 million for the period from January 1, 2005 to October 16, 2005, and $0.1 million and $1.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively.

 

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AFFINION GROUP, INC. AND THE PREDECESSOR

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unless otherwise noted, all dollar amounts are in millions, except per share amounts)

 

16. EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS

 

Long-Term Cash Incentive Program

 

TRL Group maintained a long-term cash incentive plan to provide cash incentives to selected employees who achieve certain performance goals. The long-term incentive plan was assumed by the Predecessor in connection with the January 30, 2004 TRL Group transaction disclosed in Note 17—TRL Group, Inc. The awards were earned over a two and one-half year term from July 2, 2001 through December 31, 2003. Compensation expense recorded in the accompanying combined statements of operations for the years ended December 31, 2003 totaled $2.8 million. Fifty percent of the cash incentive awards earned was paid to employees in August 2004 with the remaining fifty percent paid in August 2005. The $6.0 million paid in August 2005 was included in accounts payable and accrued expenses in the accompanying combined balance sheet at December 31, 2004.

 

Retirement Plans

 

The Company sponsors a domestic defined contribution savings plan that provides certain eligible employees an opportunity to accumulate funds for retirement. Under the domestic 401(k) defined contribution plan, the Company and its Predecessor matches the contributions of participating employees based on 100% of the first 6% of the participating employee’s contributions up to 6% of the participating employee’s salary. The Company also sponsors certain other international defined contribution retirement plans that are customary in each local country. Under these local country defined contribution plans, the Company contributes between 6% and 10% of each participating employee’s salary or as otherwise provided by the plan. The Predecessor recorded aggregate defined contribution plan expense of $4.8 million for the period from January 1, 2005 to October 16, 2005 and $6.0 million and $6.6 million, for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively. The Company recorded aggregate defined contribution plan expense of $1.2 million for the period from October 17, 2005 to December 31, 2005.

 

The Company and its Predecessor also sponsor certain other international defined benefit retirement plans that are customary in each local country, including a multi-employer plan in one country. Under these local country defined benefit pension plans, benefits are based on a percentage of an employee’s final average salary or as otherwise described by the plan. Pension plan assets and obligations as well as pension expense for all periods presented were de minimus.

 

17. TRL GROUP, INC.

 

On January 30, 2004, Trilegiant Corporation changed its legal name to TRL Group, Inc.

 

From July 2, 2001 to January 30, 2004, TRL Group operated membership-based clubs and programs and other incentive-based loyalty programs through an outsourcing arrangement with AMS whereby AMS licensed TRL Group the right to market programs to new members utilizing certain assets of AMS’ individual membership business. Accordingly, AMS collected membership fees from, and was obligated to provide services to, members of its individual membership business that existed as of July 2, 2001, including their renewals, and TRL Group provided fulfillment services for these members in exchange for a servicing fee paid by AMS. Furthermore, TRL Group collected the membership fees from, and was obligated to provide membership benefits to, any members who joined the membership-based clubs and programs and all other incentive programs subsequent to July 2, 2001 and recognized the related revenue and expenses. Accordingly, similar to Cendant’s franchise businesses, AMS received a royalty from TRL Group on all revenue generated by TRL Group’s new members (those who joined TRL Group’s clubs as a result of TRL Group’s marketing efforts occurring between July 2001 and January 2004). The assets licensed to TRL Group included various tradenames, trademarks, logos, service marks and other intellectual property relating to its membership business.

 

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AFFINION GROUP, INC. AND THE PREDECESSOR

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unless otherwise noted, all dollar amounts are in millions, except per share amounts)

 

During 2003, Cendant performed a strategic review of the TRL Group membership business, AMS’ existing membership business and Progeny’s domestic insurance and package marketing business. Upon completion of such review, Cendant concluded that it could achieve certain revenue and expense synergies by combining the domestic insurance and package marketing business with the new-member marketing performed by TRL Group. Additionally, as a result of the adoption of FIN 46, the Company has reflected the consolidation of TRL Group’s results in the combined financial statements since January 1, 2002 even though it did not have managerial control of the entity. Therefore, in an effort to achieve the revenue and expense synergies identified in Cendant’s strategic review and to obtain managerial control over an entity whose results were being consolidated, AMS and TRL Group agreed to amend their contractual relationship by terminating the contractual rights, intellectual property license and third party administrator arrangements that AMS had previously entered into with TRL Group in 2001.

 

In connection with this new relationship, AMS (i) terminated leases of AMS assets by TRL Group, (ii) terminated the original third party administration agreement, (iii) entered into a new third party administration agreement whereby AMS performs fulfillment services for TRL Group, (iv) leased certain TRL Group fixed assets from TRL Group, (v) offered employment to substantially all of TRL Group’s employees and (vi) entered into other incidental agreements. These contracts have terms that management believes are reasonable from an economic standpoint and consistent with what management would expect from similar arrangements with non-affiliated parties. None of these agreements had an impact on the Predecessor’s combined financial statements as the Predecessor continued to consolidate TRL Group subsequent to this transaction. In connection with the transaction, the parties agreed to liquidate and dissolve TRL Group in an orderly fashion when and if the number of TRL Group members decreases below 1.3 million, provided that such dissolution may not occur prior to January 2007. AMS paid $13.0 million in cash on January 30, 2004 for the contract termination, regained exclusive access to the various tradenames, trademarks, logos, service marks and other intellectual property that it had previously licensed to TRL Group for its use in marketing to new members and now has managerial control of TRL Group through its majority representation on the TRL Group board of directors. TRL Group serviced and collected membership fees from its members to whom it marketed through January 29, 2004, including their renewals. AMS provides fulfillment services (including collecting cash, paying commissions, processing refunds, providing membership services and benefits and maintaining specified service level standards) for TRL Group’s members in exchange for a servicing fee. TRL Group no longer has the ability to market to new members; rather, the Company now markets to new members under the Trilegiant tradename. Immediately following consummation of this transaction, AMS owned approximately 43% of TRL Group on a fully diluted basis and as of December 31, 2004, AMS’ equity ownership interest in TRL Group approximated 45% on a fully diluted basis.

 

On January 30, 2004, TRL Group had net deferred tax assets of approximately $121.5 million, which were mainly comprised of net operating loss carryforwards expiring in years 2021, 2022 and 2023. These deferred tax assets were fully reserved for by TRL Group through a valuation allowance, as TRL Group had not been able to demonstrate future profitability due to the large marketing expenditures it incurred (new member marketing has historically been TRL Group’s single largest expenditure). However, given the fact that TRL Group would no longer incur marketing expenses (as they no longer have the ability to market to new members as a result of this transaction), TRL Group determined that it was more likely than not that it would generate sufficient taxable income (as it would continue to recognize revenue from TRL Group’s existing membership base in the form of renewals and the lapsing of the refund privilege period) to utilize its net operating loss carryforwards within the statutory periods. Accordingly, TRL Group reversed the entire valuation allowance of $121.5 million in January 2004, which resulted in a reduction to the consolidated tax provision during 2004 of $121.5 million, with a corresponding increase in combined net income. The $13.0 million cash payment the Predecessor made to TRL Group was also recorded as a component of its provision for income taxes line item on the combined statement of operations for 2004 and partially offsets the $121.5 million reversal of TRL Group’s valuation allowance.

 

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AFFINION GROUP, INC. AND THE PREDECESSOR

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unless otherwise noted, all dollar amounts are in millions, except per share amounts)

 

During 2004 and 2003, TRL Group contributed revenues of $484.1 million and $574.5 million, respectively and expenses of $287.6 million and $608.7 million respectively, (on a stand-alone basis before eliminations of intercompany entries in consolidation). Reflected within such amounts is $33.8 million of revenue recorded during third quarter 2004 relating to the early termination of a contractual relationship with a third party marketing partner, originally expected to extend beyond 2005. TRL Group had provided services for this marketing partner in 2002 in exchange for royalties related to the success of the marketing program. TRL Group and the marketing partner disputed certain aspects of the marketing agreement and a settlement was reached in September 2004 that provided for early termination of the agreement.

 

18. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

 

The major categories of intercompany activity between the Predecessor and Cendant were as follows:

 

     The Predecessor

 
     For the Period
January 1, 2005
to October 16,


    For the Year
Ended
December 31,


 
     2005

    2004

 

Advances to Cendant, beginning balance

   $ (265.3 )   $ (75.0 )
    


 


Cash activity:

                

Corporate related functions

     27.2       32.4  

Related party agreements

     (5.7 )     (21.0 )

Income taxes, net

     (7.3 )     (70.7 )

Funding of TRL Group minority interest purchase

     15.7       —    

Repayment of long-term debt due to Cendant

     30.0       —    

Interest due on long-term debt due to Cendant

     0.2       4.5  

Advances to Cendant, net

     (53.0 )     (213.6 )
    


 


Total cash activity

     7.1       (268.4 )
    


 


Non-cash activity(a):

                

Transfer of Cendant retained assets and liabilities

     74.7       —    

Capital Transfer

     (5.0 )     —    

Transfer of deferred tax accounts

     (51.3 )     —    

Dividend declared(b)

     —         (35.7 )

Transfer of long-term debt due to Cendant

     —         113.8  
    


 


Total non-cash activity

     18.4       78.1  
    


 


Total activity

     25.5       (190.3 )
    


 


Advances to Cendant, ending balance(c)

   $ (239.8 )   $ (265.3 )
    


 



(a)   Non-cash activity was excluded from the accompanying combined statements of cash flows.
(b)   See Note 12—Stockholder’s/Combined Equity.
(c)   Balance as of October 16, 2005 was forgiven as part of the Apollo Transactions.

 

Post-Closing Relationships with Cendant

 

Cendant has agreed to indemnify the Company, Affinion Holdings and the Company’s affiliates (collectively the “indemnified parties”) for breaches of representations, warranties and covenants made by Cendant, as well as for other specified matters, certain of which are described below. Affinion Holdings and the Company have agreed to indemnify Cendant for breaches of representations, warranties and covenants made in

 

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AFFINION GROUP, INC. AND THE PREDECESSOR

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unless otherwise noted, all dollar amounts are in millions, except per share amounts)

 

the purchase agreement, as well as for certain other specified matters. Generally, all parties’ indemnification obligations with respect to breaches of representations and warranties (except with respect to the matters described below) (i) are subject to a $0.1 million occurrence threshold, (ii) are not effective until the aggregate amount of losses suffered by the indemnified party exceeds $15.0 million (and then only for the amount of losses exceeding $15.0 million) and (iii) are limited to $275.1 million of recovery. Generally, subject to certain exceptions of greater duration, the parties’ indemnification obligations with respect to representations and warranties will survive until April 15, 2007 with indemnification obligations related to covenants surviving until the applicable covenant has been fully performed.

 

In connection with the purchase agreement, Cendant agreed to specific indemnification obligations with respect to the matters described below.

 

Excluded Litigation—Cendant has agreed to fully indemnify the indemnified parties with respect to any pending or future litigation, arbitration, or other proceeding relating to the facts and circumstances of Fortis and the accounting irregularities in the former CUC International, Inc. announced on April 15, 1998.

 

Certain Litigation and Compliance with Law Matters—Cendant has agreed to indemnify the indemnified parties up to specified amounts for: (a) breaches of its representations and warranties with respect to legal proceedings that (1) occur after the date of the purchase agreement, (2) relate to facts and circumstances related to the business of AGLLC or AIH and (3) constitute a breach or violation of its compliance with law representations and warranties, (b) breaches of its representations and warranties with respect to compliance with laws to the extent related to the business of AGLLC or AIH and (c) the August 2005 Suit and the January 2002 Class Action.

 

Cendant, Affinion Holdings and the Company have agreed that losses up to $15 million incurred with respect to these matters will be borne solely by the Company and losses in excess of $15 million will be shared by the parties in accordance with agreed upon allocations. The Company has the right at all times to control litigation related to shared losses and Cendant has consultation rights with respect to such litigation.

 

Other Litigation—Cendant has agreed to indemnify the Company for specified amounts with respect to losses incurred in connection with the 2001 Class Action. Until September 30, 2006, Cendant has the right to control and settle this litigation, subject to certain consultation and other specified limitations. Following September 30, 2006, the Company has the right to control and settle this litigation, subject to certain consultation and other specified limitations.

 

Cendant has agreed to indemnify the Company for specified amounts with respect to losses incurred in connection with the AG Matters. The Company has the right to control and settle this litigation at all times, subject to certain consultation and other specified limitations.

 

The Company will retain all liability with respect to the November 2002 Class Action and will not be indemnified by Cendant for losses related thereto.

 

In connection with the Apollo Transactions, the Company entered into a master transition services agreement with certain subsidiaries of Cendant, pursuant to which the Cendant subsidiaries will provide certain services to the Company at cost for different periods of time generally not exceeding two years from the closing of the Apollo Transactions. These services include financial systems support, treasury function services, information technology and telecommunications services, including help desk services. The expense for such services was $0.4 million for the period from October 17, 2005 to December 31, 2005 and is included in operating costs in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations.

 

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AFFINION GROUP, INC. AND THE PREDECESSOR

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unless otherwise noted, all dollar amounts are in millions, except per share amounts)

 

The Company also entered into agreements pursuant to which the Company will continue to have cost-sharing arrangements with Cendant and/or its subsidiaries relating to office space and customer contact centers. These agreements have expiration dates and financial terms that are generally consistent with the terms of the related intercompany arrangements prior to the Apollo Transactions. The expense for such services was $0.6 million for the period from October 17, 2005 to December 31, 2005 and is included in operating costs in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations. The revenue for such services was $0.1 million for the period from October 17, 2005 to December 31, 2005 and is included in net revenues in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations.

 

In connection with the Apollo Transactions, the Company has granted to Cendant a non-exclusive license to its portfolio of patents relating to online award redemption programs through December 31, 2006. The license includes the exclusive right to enforce patents against third parties within the field of i) online sales, marketing and distribution of travel services and products and ii) servicing certain airlines. Cendant will pay royalty fees for the exclusive right totaling $11.25 million payable in quarterly installments of $2.25 million that began in November 2005 and ends in November 2006. The total amount included in net revenues in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations for such services was $1.9 million for the period from October 17, 2005 to December 31, 2005.

 

Historically, the Company had arrangements with Cendant and its subsidiaries relating to, among other things, the marketing of certain membership programs and related data management, administration of loyalty and rewards programs, operations support (travel agency support and software licensing) and profit sharing arrangements related to the marketing of certain insurance programs. In connection with the closing the transactions, these agreements were terminated and the Company entered into new agreements with Cendant and its subsidiaries that require the parties to provide services similar to those provided prior to the Apollo Transactions. The expense for such services was $0.1 million for the period from October 17, 2005 to December 31, 2005 and is included in operating costs in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations.

 

The new marketing agreements permit the Company to continue to solicit customers of certain Cendant subsidiaries for our membership programs through various direct marketing methods. The marketing agreements generally provide for a minimum amount of marketing volume or a specified quantity of customer data to be allotted to the relevant party. The payment terms of the marketing agreements provide for either i) a fee for each call transferred, ii) a bounty payment for each user that enrolls in one of the Company’s membership programs or iii) a percentage of net membership revenues. These agreements generally expire in December 2010 and are generally terminable by the applicable Cendant party following December 31, 2007, upon six months written notice to the Company. In the event that a Cendant subsidiary terminates an agreement prior to December 31, 2010, then the Cendant subsidiary is required to pay a termination fee based on the projected marketing revenues that would have been generated from such agreement had the marketing agreement been in place through December 31, 2010. The expense for such services was $1.4 million for the period from October 17, 2005 to December 31, 2005 and is included in marketing and commission expense in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations.

 

Under the loyalty and rewards program administration agreements, the Company will continue to administer loyalty programs for certain Cendant subsidiaries. The agreement provides for the Company to earn fees for the following services: an initial fee to implement a new loyalty program, a program administration fee, a redemption fee related to redeemed rewards and a booking fee related to travel bookings by loyalty program members. The loyalty and reward program agreements expire in December 31, 2009. The total amount included in net revenues in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations for such services was $2.6 million for the period from October 17, 2005 to December 31, 2005. In connection with these agreements, the Company formed Affinion

 

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AFFINION GROUP, INC. AND THE PREDECESSOR

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unless otherwise noted, all dollar amounts are in millions, except per share amounts)

 

Loyalty, LLC (“Loyalty”), a special purpose, bankruptcy remote subsidiary which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of TLS. Pursuant to the loyalty agreements, TLS has provided a copy of the object code, source code and related documentation of certain of its intellectual property to Loyalty under a non-exclusive limited license. Loyalty entered into an escrow agreement relating to such intellectual property with Cendant and its affiliates in connection with the parties entering into the loyalty and reward agreements. Loyalty sublicenses such intellectual property to Cendant on a non-exclusive basis but will only provide access to such intellectual property either directly or indirectly through the escrow agent in the event that TLS (i) becomes bankrupt or insolvent, (ii) commits a material, uncured breach of a loyalty and reward agreement, or (iii) transfers or assigns its intellectual property in such a way as to prevent it from performing its obligations under any agreement relating to Cendant’s loyalty and rewards programs. Upon access to the escrowed materials, Cendant will be able to use the escrowed materials for a limited term and for only those purposes for which TLS was using it to provide the services under the loyalty and reward agreements prior to the release of the escrowed materials to Cendant.

 

The Company entered into a platform services agreement with Travel Distribution Services Group, Inc. (“TDS”), a subsidiary of Cendant, under which it has the option to use the to-be-developed Orbitz travel membership club platform, if and when developed by TDS, to obtain services related to such platform for the Company’s travel membership clubs by paying TDS a fee per itinerary. The agreement will expire on December 31, 2010 if the Company elects to use such platform by December 31, 2007. However, it will expire on December 31, 2007 if TDS has not developed such platform or we have elected not to use such platform by such date. There were no expenses related to the agreement for the period from October 17, 2005 to December 31, 2005.

 

The Company entered into an agreement pursuant to which it agreed to exclusively use the global distribution system (“GDS”), an on-line booking system, of Galileo, a subsidiary of Cendant, to make air, hotel or car rental bookings. Pursuant to this agreement, the Company will pay Galileo GDS a flat fee that decreases in each year during the term of the agreement. The agreement will expire on December, 31, 2011, subject to automatic one year renewal periods, unless either party elects upon six months’ prior written notice not to renew the agreement. There were no expenses related to the agreement for the period from October 17, 2005 to December 31, 2005.

 

The Company entered into an agreement which identifies Avis and Budget (each a subsidiary of Cendant) as the primary preferred providers of car rental services to its customers (subject to certain exceptions). The Company will receive commissions and royalty fees on certain qualifying rentals. The agreement will expire on December 31, 2007, subject to automatic one year renewal periods, unless either party elects upon six months’ prior written notice not to renew the agreement. The total amount included in net revenues in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations for such services was $0.4 million for the period from October 17, 2005 to December 31, 2005.

 

Cims entered into an agreement pursuant to which it agreed to continue to use RCI Europe as its exclusive provider of travel services for the benefit of Cims members in the U.K., Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Italy, Belgium, Luxembourg, Ireland and the Netherlands. Pursuant to this agreement, RCI will have a right of first refusal to offer travel services in other countries where Cims members are located. Cims will indemnify RCI in the event its profit margin under this arrangement falls below 1.31%. The agreement will expire ten years from its effective date, subject to either party’s right to terminate the agreement on or after the third anniversary of its effective date, upon one year’s prior written notice or at any time in certain other specified circumstances (either in whole or in part). The expense for such services was $0.4 million for the period from October 17, 2005 to December 31, 2005 and is included in general and administrative expense in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations.

 

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Table of Contents

AFFINION GROUP, INC. AND THE PREDECESSOR

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unless otherwise noted, all dollar amounts are in millions, except per share amounts)

 

Pursuant to an asset purchase agreement dated January 1, 2005, entered into by CTI and its subsidiary, Travel Advantages Services, Inc. (“TAS”), CTI sold and transferred substantially all of the assets and liabilities of CTI to TAS. In connection with such agreement, the Company also entered into a transition services agreement with TDS. In connection with the closing of the Apollo Transactions, the Company entered into an Amended and Restated Transition Services Agreement, pursuant to which it will provide certain information technology related services to TDS and CTI until December 31, 2006. These services will be provided by the Company at cost. The total amount included in net revenues in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations for such services was $0.1 million for the period from October 17, 2005 to December 31, 2005.

 

The Company entered into agreements pursuant to which it will continue to have profit-sharing arrangements with Fairtide Insurance Limited (“Fairtide”), a subsidiary of Cendant. AIH and certain of our subsidiaries market certain insurance programs and Fairtide provides reinsurance for the related insurance policies which are provided by a third-party insurer. Pursuant to these agreements, Fairtide will pay the Company 40-50% of the net profits that it receives on the net premiums under such insurance policies. These agreements will expire on December 31, 2006, or earlier as the parties agree or when Fairtide’s related reinsurance agreements with the related third-party insurer expire. The total amount included in net revenues in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations for such services was $0.1 million for the period from October 17, 2005 to December 31, 2005.

 

The Company earns referral fees for hotel stays and travel packages. The amount included in net revenues in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations for such services was $0.4 million for the period from October 17, 2005 through December 31, 2005.

 

Predecessor Related Party Agreements with Cendant

 

Corporate Related Functions— The Predecessor was allocated general corporate overhead expenses from Cendant for corporate-related functions, as well as directly attributable expenses. Cendant allocated corporate overhead based on a percentage of forecasted revenues and allocated other expenses that directly benefited the Predecessor based on actual utilization of the services. The Predecessor believes the assumptions and methodologies underlying the allocations of general corporate overhead and direct expenses from Cendant are reasonable. However, such expenses are not indicative of, nor is it practical or meaningful for management to estimate for all historical periods presented, the actual level of expenses that might have been incurred had the Predecessor been operating as an independent company. Corporate expense allocations include executive management, finance, legal, insurance, information technology, telecommunications, call centers and real estate usage. Allocated overhead expenses as well as direct charges for the corporate-related functions totaled approximately $27.2 million, $32.4 million and $28.6 million for the period from January 1, 2005 to October 16, 2005 and for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively.

 

Loyalty Programs— TLS administers loyalty programs for several of Cendant’s subsidiaries. The agreements provide for set-up fees, quarterly program management fees and program development fees. TLS earned loyalty revenues under these programs totaling $10.5 million, $11.6 million and $7.4 million for the period from January 1, 2005 to October 16, 2005 and for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively.

 

Marketing Programs— The Predecessor marketed membership programs to customers of certain Cendant subsidiaries and franchisees. The Predecessor incurred fees paid to the Cendant subsidiaries based on i) the number of telephonic and online opportunities transferred to the Predecessor and the number of successful solicitations resulting from the transfers, or ii) a percentage of the membership revenues earned by Predecessor

 

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Table of Contents

AFFINION GROUP, INC. AND THE PREDECESSOR

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unless otherwise noted, all dollar amounts are in millions, except per share amounts)

 

resulting from the successful solicitations transferred. The fees paid totaled $6.2 million for the period from January 1, 2005 to October 16, 2005, $3.9 million in 2004, and $5.5 million in 2003, and are included in marketing and commissions expense on the accompanying combined statements of operations.

 

Travel Programs— CTI provided travel reservation services to certain Cendant subsidiaries’ customers and earned service fees totaling $0.4 million and $2.5 million for the period from January 1, 2005 to October 16, 2005 and for the year ended December 31, 2004, respectively. Service fees earned are generally based on a fee per travel item booked reduced for cancellations and are included in net revenues on the accompanying consolidated and combined statements of operations. CTI’s fulfillment and other operational support activities were provided by Cendent. Fulfillment fees charged to the Predecessor totaled $0.8 million for the period January 1, 2005 to October 16, 2005 and were included in operating costs on the accompanying combined statement of operations.

 

The Predecessor earned fees from a Cendant subsidiary for the placement of airline, car rental and hotel reservations using the subsidiary’s travel reservation system. The fees earned are based on the number of travel related segments placed by the Predecessor. Travel segment fees earned totaled $0.0 million, $4.4 million and $4.7 million for the period from January 1, 2005 to October 16, 2005 and for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively, and are included in net revenues on the accompanying combined statements of operations.

 

The Predecessor earned commissions from several of Cendant’s subsidiaries for the booking of car rentals on behalf of the travelers that the Predecessor services. Commissions earned are based on a percentage of the car rental revenues earned by the Cendant subsidiaries. Commissions earned totaled $1.1 million, $2.0 million and $2.2 million for the period from January 1, 2005 to October 16, 2005 and for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively, and are included in net revenues on the accompanying combined statements of operations.

 

Other Services— The Predecessor provided road and tow services to a Cendant subsidiary’s customers and earned fees totaling $0.3 million, $2.9 million and $2.6 million for the period from January 1, 2005 to October 16, 2005 and for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively. The road and tow fees are included in net revenues on the accompanying combined statements of operations. The Predecessor insured certain membership program benefits through third party insurance companies and a subsidiary of Cendant provided reinsurance for such programs. The differential between claims experience and reinsurance premiums is shared between the Predecessor and the Cendant subsidiary. Profit-sharing revenue totaled approximately $0.5 million, $0.8 million and $2.6 million for the period January 1, 2005 to October 16, 2005 and for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively, and is included in net revenues on the accompanying combined statements of operations. The Predecessor also provides list processing services to certain Cendant subsidiaries. List processing fees totaled $0.1 million for the period from January 1, 2005 to October 16, 2005 and $0.7 million for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively, and are included in net revenues on the accompanying combined statements of operations.

 

Apollo Agreements

 

Consulting Agreement— Apollo entered into a consulting agreement with the Company for the provision of certain structuring and advisory services. The consulting agreement will also allow Apollo and its affiliates to provide certain advisory services for the period of twelve years or until Apollo owns less than 5% of the beneficial economic interests of the Company whichever is earlier. The agreement may be terminated earlier by mutual consent. The Company will pay Apollo an annual fee of $2 million for these services commencing in 2006. If a transaction is consummated involving a change of control or an initial public offering, then, in lieu of the annual consulting fee and subject to certain qualifications, Apollo may elect to receive a lump sum payment equal to the present value of all consulting fees payable through the end of the term of the consulting agreement.

 

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Table of Contents

AFFINION GROUP, INC. AND THE PREDECESSOR

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unless otherwise noted, all dollar amounts are in millions, except per share amounts)

 

In addition, the Company will be required to pay Apollo a transaction fee if it engages in any merger, acquisition or similar transaction. The Company will also indemnify Apollo and its affiliates and their directors, officers and representatives for potential losses relating to the services to be provided under the consulting agreement.

 

19. FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

 

Risk Management

 

Following is a description of the Company’s and its Predecessor’s risk management policies.

 

Foreign Currency Risk

 

The Predecessor used foreign currency forward contracts to manage exposure to changes in foreign currency exchange rates associated with its foreign currency denominated payables, receivables and forecasted earnings of foreign subsidiaries. The Predecessor primarily hedged its foreign currency exposure to the British pound and Euro. The majority of forward contracts utilized did not qualify for hedge accounting treatment under SFAS No. 133. The fluctuations in the value of these forward contracts did, however, largely offset the impact of changes in the value of the underlying risk that they were intended to economically hedge. The impact of these forward contracts was not material to the Predecessor’s results of operations or financial position. The Company currently does not utilize foreign currency forward contracts as it considers its foreign currency risk not material.

 

Interest Rate Swap

 

The Company entered into an interest rate swap as of December 14, 2005. This swap converts a notional amount of the Company’s floating rate credit facility into a fixed rate obligation. The notional amount of the swap was $300 million at December 31, 2005 and reduces in accordance with a contractual amortization schedule through December 31, 2010 when the swap terminates. The purpose of the swap is to maintain the Company’s fixed/variable ratio within policy guidelines. The interest rate swap is recorded at fair value either as an asset or liability. Changes in the fair value of the swap, which is not designated as a hedging instrument, are recognized currently in earnings in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.

 

As disclosed in Note 2—Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, as a matter of policy, neither the Company uses nor its Predecessor used derivatives for trading or speculative purposes.

 

The following table provides information about the Company’s financial instruments that are sensitive to changes in interest rates. The table presents principal cash flows and related weighted-average interest rates by expected maturity for the Company’s long-term debt.

 

    2006

    2007

    2008

    2009

    2010

    2011 and
Thereafter


   Total

   Fair Value
At December 31,
2005


Fixed rate debt

    —       —       —       —         —       $ 653.6    $ 653.6    $ 650.0

Average interest rate

    12.44 %   11.33 %   11.33 %   11.33 %     11.33 %     —        —        —  

Variable rate debt

  $ 20.0     —       —       —       $ 3.0     $ 817.0    $ 840.0    $ 840.0

Average interest rate(a)

    7.10 %   7.10 %   7.10 %   7.10 %     7.10 %     —        —        —  

Variable to fixed—

                                                     

Interest rate swap(b)

    —       —       —       —         —         —        —      $ 0.8

Average pay rate

    4.81 %   4.84 %   4.86 %   4.93 %     4.97 %     —        —        —  

Average receive rate

    4.75 %   4.75 %   4.74 %   4.81 %     4.85 %     —        —        —  

(a)   Average interest rate is based on rates in effect at December 31, 2005
(b)   The fair value of the interest rate swap is included in liabilities at December 31, 2005

 

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Table of Contents

AFFINION GROUP, INC. AND THE PREDECESSOR

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unless otherwise noted, all dollar amounts are in millions, except per share amounts)

 

Credit Risk and Exposure

 

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company and subjected its Predecessor to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of receivables, profit-sharing receivables from insurance carriers and prepaid commissions. Such risk was managed by evaluating the financial position and creditworthiness of such counterparties. As of December 31, 2005, there were no significant concentrations of credit risk. Receivables and profit-sharing receivables from insurance carriers are from various marketing, insurance and business partners and the Company maintains an allowance for losses, based upon expected collectibility. Commission advances are periodically evaluated as to recovery.

 

Fair Value

 

The Company determines and its Predecessor determined the fair value of financial instruments as follows:

 

a. Cash and Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash, Receivables, Profit-Sharing Receivables from Insurance Carriers and Accounts Payable —Carrying amounts approximate fair value at December 31, 2005 and 2004 due to the short-term maturities of these assets and liabilities.

 

b. Investments —Carrying amounts at December 31, 2005 and 2004 approximate fair value, which is based on quoted market prices or other available market information.

 

c. Long-Term Debt — The Company’s estimated fair value of its long-term fixed-rate debt at December 31, 2005 based upon available information for debt having similar terms and risks. The carrying value of the Company’s variable-rate debt approximates its fair value at December 31, 2005 due to the variable interest rate which fluctuates with the market.

 

d. Long-Term Debt due to Cendant —Due to the limited availability of information for comparable related party debt instruments it is impracticable to determine the fair value of long-term debt due to Cendant as of December 31, 2004.

 

20. SEGMENT INFORMATION

 

Management evaluates the operating results of each of its reportable segments based upon revenue and “EBITDA,” which is defined as income from operations before depreciation and amortization. The presentation of EBITDA may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies.

 

The Company

Period from October 17, 2005 to December 31, 2005

 

     Membership
Operations


    Insurance
and Package
Operations


    International
Operations


    Loyalty
Operations


   Corporate

    Eliminations

    Total
Company


 

Net revenues(a)

   $ 55.0     $ 40.5     $ 25.1     $ 15.8    $ —       $ (1.5 )   $ 134.9  

EBITDA

     (21.0 )     (5.6 )     (0.3 )     6.1      (0.3 )     —         (21.1 )

Depreciation and amortization

     55.0       21.9       5.8       1.8      —         —         84.5  

Segment assets

     1,072.3       750.3       182.2       127.3      67.9       —         2,200.0  

Capital expenditures

     4.8       0.3       0.9       3.0      —         —         9.0  

 

F-47


Table of Contents

AFFINION GROUP, INC. AND THE PREDECESSOR

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unless otherwise noted, all dollar amounts are in millions, except per share amounts)

 

The Predecessor

Period from to January 1, 2005 to October 16, 2005

 

     Membership
Operations


   Insurance
and Package
Operations


   International
Operations


   Loyalty
Operations


   Elimination

    Total
Company


Net revenues(a)

   $ 600.9    $ 276.8    $ 151.8    $ 41.3    $ (7.0 )   $ 1,063.8

EBITDA

     27.8      60.8      7.0      8.4      —         104.0

Depreciation and amortization

     16.6      7.0      5.2      3.5      —         32.3

Segment assets

     411.4      375.3      146.4      77.1      —         1,010.2

Capital expenditures

     8.7      1.2      3.9      10.2      —         24.0

 

The Predecessor

Year Ended December 31, 2004

 

    

Membership

Operations


  

Insurance
and Package

Operations


   

International

Operations


  

Loyalty

Operations


   Eliminations

   

Total

Company


Net revenues(a)

   $ 835.9    $ 391.7     $ 264.0    $ 46.1    $ (6.8 )   $ 1,530.9

EBITDA

     176.6      69.8 (b)     61.0      13.8      —         321.2

Depreciation and amortization

     23.6      9.1       7.2      4.0      —         43.9

Segment assets

     597.8      307.0       194.2      59.5      —         1,158.5

Capital expenditures

     15.9      3.8       4.2      1.9      —         25.8

 

The Predecessor

Year Ended December 31, 2003

 

    

Membership

Operations


  

Insurance
and Package

Operations


  

International

Operations


  

Loyalty

Operations


   Eliminations

   

Total

Company


Net revenues(a)

   $ 799.4    $ 391.4    $ 220.4    $ 36.2    $ (3.7 )   $ 1,443.7

EBITDA

     109.6      118.0      27.9      9.3      —         264.8

Depreciation and amortization

     24.6      10.1      7.4      2.4      —         44.5

Segment assets

     630.0      375.0      210.8      30.8      —         1,246.6

Capital expenditures

     10.5      3.8      4.4      2.1      —         20.8

(a)   Inter-segment net revenues were not significant to the net revenues of any one segment.
(b)   Includes a charge totaling $73.7 million related to the Fortis judgment (see Note 14—Commitments and Contingencies).

 

Provided below is a reconciliation of EBITDA to income from operations.

 

     The Company

    The Predecessor

    

For the Period
October 17, 2005 to

December 31, 2005


   

For the Period
January 1, 2005 to

October 16, 2005


  

For the Years Ended

December 31,


            2004    

       2003    

EBITDA

   $ (21.1 )   $ 104.0    $ 321.2    $ 264.8

Less: Depreciation and amortization

     84.5       32.3      43.9      44.5
    


 

  

  

Income/(loss) from operations

   $ (105.6 )   $ 71.7    $ 277.3    $ 220.3
    


 

  

  

 

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Table of Contents

AFFINION GROUP, INC. AND THE PREDECESSOR

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unless otherwise noted, all dollar amounts are in millions, except per share amounts)

 

The geographic segment information provided below is classified based on the geographic location of the Company’s subsidiaries.

 

     United
States


  

United

Kingdom


  

All Other

Countries


   Total

The Company

                           

Period October 17, 2005 to December 31, 2005

                           

Net revenues

   $ 109.8    $ 7.3    $ 17.8    $ 134.9

Total assets

     2,017.8      112.0      70.2      2,200.0

Net property and equipment

     99.5      6.5      1.7      107.7

The Predecessor

                           

Period January 1, 2005 to October 16, 2005

                           

Net revenues

   $ 912.0    $ 72.7    $ 79.1    $ 1,063.8

Total assets

     863.8      81.6      64.8      1,010.2

Net property and equipment

     73.8      11.8      1.9      87.5

The Predecessor

                           

Year ended December 31, 2004

                           

Net revenues

   $ 1,266.9    $ 162.5    $ 101.5    $ 1,530.9

Total assets

     964.3      117.6      76.6      1,158.5

Net property and equipment

     78.9      14.4      2.4      95.7

The Predecessor

                           

Year ended December 31, 2003

                           

Net revenues

   $ 1,223.3    $ 123.3    $ 97.1    $ 1,443.7

Total assets

     1,035.8      134.4      76.4      1,246.6

Net property and equipment

     98.9      15.5      2.0      116.4

 

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Table of Contents

AFFINION GROUP, INC. AND THE PREDECESSOR

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unless otherwise noted, all dollar amounts are in millions, except per share amounts)

 

21. SELECTED QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (UNAUDITED)

 

Provided below is unaudited selected quarterly financial data for 2005:

 

    

The Predecessor

2005


   

The Company

2005


 
     First
Quarter


    Second
Quarter


    Third
Quarter


    October 1 -
October 16


    October 17 -
December 31


 

Net Revenues

                                        

Membership operations

   $ 183.8     $ 187.1     $ 197.1     $ 33.0     $ 55.0  

Insurance and package operations

     90.9       90.5       87.7       7.7       40.5  

International operations

     53.1       44.6       45.2       8.9       25.1  

Loyalty operations

     12.3       13.6       12.7       2.7       15.8  

Eliminations(a)

     (2.6 )     (2.1 )     (2.0 )     (0.4 )     (1.5 )
    


 


 


 


 


Total

   $ 337.5     $ 333.7     $ 340.7     $ 51.9     $ 134.9  
    


 


 


 


 


    

The Predecessor

2005


   

The Company

2005


 
     First
Quarter


    Second
Quarter


    Third
Quarter


    October 1 -
October 16(b)


    October 17 -
December 31


 

EBITDA

                                        

Membership operations

   $ 0.2     $ 12.9     $ 35.5     $ (20.8 )   $ (21.0 )

Insurance and package operations

     21.9       25.7       19.8       (6.6 )     (5.6 )

International operations

     6.7       1.3       2.1       (3.1 )     (0.3 )

Loyalty operations

     2.7       3.0       2.4       0.3       6.1  

Corporate

     —         —         —         —         (0.3 )
    


 


 


 


 


Total

     31.5       42.9       59.8       (30.2 )     (21.1 )

Depreciation and amortization

     10.4       10.4       9.6       1.9       84.5  
    


 


 


 


 


Income/(loss) from operations

   $ 21.1     $ 32.5     $ 50.2     $ (32.1 )   $ (105.6 )
    


 


 


 


 


Net income/(loss)

   $ 13.1     $ 19.6     $ 38.2     $ (20.8 )   $ (136.3 )
    


 


 


 


 



(a)   Inter-segment net revenues were not significant to the net revenues of any one segment.
(b)   Includes $18.2 million of bonus payments to certain employees, a $6.7 million charge related to the accelerated vesting of Cendant RSU’s and stock options in connection with the closing of the Apollo Transactions, and a $10.3 million charge for litigation matters.

 

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Table of Contents

AFFINION GROUP, INC. AND THE PREDECESSOR

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unless otherwise noted, all dollar amounts are in millions, except per share amounts)

 

Provided below is unaudited selected quarterly financial data for 2004:

 

    

The Predecessor

2004


 
     First
Quarter


    Second
Quarter


    Third
Quarter


    Fourth
Quarter


 

Net revenues

                                

Membership operations(b)

   $ 199.8     $ 195.7     $ 231.0     $ 209.4  

Insurance and Package operations(c)

     97.5       96.5       96.3       101.4  

International operations(d)

     59.9       59.5       61.3       83.3  

Loyalty operations

     10.4       12.1       11.0       12.6  

Eliminations(a)

     (1.7 )     (1.6 )     (1.7 )     (1.8 )
    


 


 


 


Total

   $ 365.9     $ 362.2     $ 397.9     $ 404.9  
    


 


 


 


    

The Predecessor

2004


 
     First
Quarter


    Second
Quarter


    Third
Quarter


    Fourth
Quarter


 

EBITDA

                                

Membership operations(b)

   $ 26.1     $ 35.7     $ 65.7     $ 49.1  

Insurance and package operations(c)

     29.6       29.6       30.8       (20.2 )

International operations(d)

     10.2       11.4       11.7       27.7  

Loyalty operations

     2.9       4.5       3.3       3.1  
    


 


 


 


Total

     68.8       81.2       111.5       59.7  

Depreciation and amortization

     10.3       10.2       10.9       12.5  
    


 


 


 


Income from operations

   $ 58.5     $ 71.0     $ 100.6     $ 47.2  
    


 


 


 


Net income

   $ 147.5     $ 43.7     $ 62.4     $ 122.8  
    


 


 


 



(a)   Inter-segment net revenues were not significant to the net revenues of any one segment.
(b)   The third quarter of 2004 includes a gain totaling $33.8 million related to the early termination of a contractual relationship with a third party marketing partner (see Note 17—TRL Group, Inc.).
(c)   The fourth quarter of 2004 includes a charge totaling $73.7 million related to the Fortis judgment (see Note 14—Commitments and Contingencies).
(d)   The fourth quarter of 2004 includes a gain totaling $16.0 million related to the early termination of a contractual relationship with a third party marketing partner.

 

22. GUARANTOR/NON-GUARANTOR SUPPLEMENTAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

The following supplemental consolidating and combining condensed financial information presents the combined guarantor subsidiaries and the combined non-guarantor subsidiaries as defined in the indenture governing the Senior Notes. The guarantees are full and unconditional and joint and several obligations of each of the guarantor subsidiaries. There are no significant restrictions on the ability of the Company to obtain funds from any of the guarantor subsidiaries by dividends or loan. The supplemental financial information has been presented in lieu of separate financial statements of the guarantors as such separate financial statements are not considered meaningful.

 

F-51


Table of Contents

AFFINION GROUP, INC. AND THE PREDECESSOR

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unless otherwise noted, all dollar amounts are in millions, except per share amounts)

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET

AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2005

 

     The Company

     Guarantor
Subsidiaries


   Non-Guarantor
Subsidiaries


   Consolidated

Assets

                    

Current assets:

                    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 93.4    $ 20.0    $ 113.4

Restricted cash

     22.1      6.1      28.2

Investments

     0.4      —        0.4

Receivables, net

     37.2      24.3      61.5

Receivables from related parties

     13.6      0.1      13.7

Profit-sharing receivables from insurance carriers

     62.7      —        62.7

Prepaid commissions

     37.7      3.0      40.7

Other current assets

     29.9      8.7      38.6
    

  

  

Total current assets

     297.0      62.2      359.2

Property and equipment, net

     99.5      8.2      107.7

Contract rights and list fees, net

     1.8      —        1.8

Goodwill

     352.5      13.7      366.2

Other intangibles, net

     1,224.6      93.2      1,317.8

Other non-current assets

     42.4      4.9      47.3
    

  

  

Total assets

   $ 2,017.8    $ 182.2    $ 2,200.0
    

  

  

Liabilities and Stockholder’s Equity

                    

Current liabilities:

                    

Current portion of long-term debt

   $ 20.4    $ —      $ 20.4

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

     234.5      42.0      276.5

Payables to related parties

     2.5      0.6      3.1

Deferred revenue

     141.5      7.1      148.6

Deferred income taxes

     0.2      2.3      2.5

Income taxes payable

     0.3      0.5      0.8
    

  

  

Total current liabilities

     399.4      52.5      451.9

Long-term debt

     1,470.6      —        1,470.6

Deferred income taxes

     1.3      26.5      27.8

Deferred revenue

     6.2      1.4      7.6

Other long-term liabilities

     7.1      1.0      8.1
    

  

  

Total liabilities

     1,884.6      81.4      1,966.0

Minority interests

     —        0.1      0.1

Stockholder’s Equity

     133.2      100.7      233.9
    

  

  

Total liabilities and stockholder’s equity

   $ 2,017.8    $ 182.2    $ 2,200.0
    

  

  

 

F-52


Table of Contents

AFFINION GROUP, INC. AND THE PREDECESSOR

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unless otherwise noted, all dollar amounts are in millions, except per share amounts)

 

CONDENSED COMBINING BALANCE SHEET

AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2004

 

     The Predecessor

     Guarantor
Subsidiaries


    Non-Guarantor
Subsidiaries


   Combined

Assets

                     

Current assets:

                     

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 4.4     $ 18.1    $ 22.5

Restricted cash

     22.0       2.8      24.8

Receivables, net

     43.9       45.9      89.8

Investments

     0.6       —        0.6

Profit-sharing receivables from insurance carriers

     58.8       —        58.8

Prepaid commissions

     112.3       14.0      126.3

Deferred income taxes

     89.5       0.9      90.4

Other current assets

     34.7       24.1      58.8
    


 

  

Total current assets

     366.2       105.8      472.0

Property and equipment, net

     78.9       16.8      95.7

Deferred acquisition costs, net

     187.1       —        187.1

Other intangibles, net

     34.3       —        34.3

Goodwill

     206.2       48.1      254.3

Contract rights and list fees, net

     39.0       —        39.0

Deferred income taxes

     31.6       8.1      39.7

Other non-current assets

     21.0       15.4      36.4
    


 

  

Total assets

   $ 964.3     $ 194.2    $ 1,158.5
    


 

  

Liabilities and Combined Equity

                     

Current liabilities:

                     

Current portion of long-term debt

   $ 0.6     $ —      $ 0.6

Current portion of long-term debt due to Cendant

     20.0       —        20.0

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

     283.5       51.7      335.2

Deferred revenue

     398.6       30.4      429.0

Income taxes (receivable)/payable

     (2.0 )     11.6      9.6
    


 

  

Total current liabilities

     700.7       93.7      794.4

Long-term debt

     1.0       —        1.0

Long-term debt due to Cendant

     10.0       —        10.0

Deferred revenue

     46.2       11.8      58.0

Other long-term liabilities

     1.1       —        1.1
    


 

  

Total liabilities

     759.0       105.5      864.5

Minority interests

     —         0.4      0.4

Combined Equity

     205.3       88.3      293.6
    


 

  

Total liabilities and combined equity

   $ 964.3     $ 194.2    $ 1,158.5
    


 

  

 

F-53


Table of Contents

AFFINION GROUP, INC. AND THE PREDECESSOR

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unless otherwise noted, all dollar amounts are in millions, except per share amounts)

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

FOR THE PERIOD FROM OCTOBER 17, 2005 TO DECEMBER 31, 2005

 

     The Company

 
     Guarantor
Subsidiaries


    Non-Guarantor
Subsidiaries


    Consolidated

 

Net Revenues

   $ 109.8     $ 25.1     $ 134.9  
    


 


 


Expenses:

                        

Marketing and commissions

     80.9       6.2       87.1  

Operating costs

     32.2       16.5       48.7  

General and administrative

     17.5       2.7       20.2  

Depreciation and amortization

     78.7       5.8       84.5  
    


 


 


Total expenses

     209.3       31.2       240.5  
    


 


 


Loss from Operations

     (99.5 )     (6.1 )     (105.6 )

Interest income

     1.1       0.2       1.3  

Interest expense

     (31.8 )     (0.1 )     (31.9 )
    


 


 


Loss Before Income Taxes and Minority Interests

     (130.2 )     (6.0 )     (136.2 )

Provision for/(benefit from) income taxes

     1.5       (1.5 )     —    

Minority interests, net of tax

     —         0.1       0.1  
    


 


 


Net Loss

   $ (131.7 )   $ (4.6 )   $ (136.3 )
    


 


 


 

F-54


Table of Contents

AFFINION GROUP, INC. AND THE PREDECESSOR

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unless otherwise noted, all dollar amounts are in millions, except per share amounts)

 

CONDENSED COMBINING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

FOR THE PERIOD JANUARY 1, 2005 TO OCTOBER 16, 2005

 

     The Predecessor

 
     Guarantor
Subsidiaries


    Non-Guarantor
Subsidiaries


   Combined

 

Net Revenues

   $ 912.0     $ 151.8    $ 1,063.8  
    


 

  


Expenses:

                       

Marketing and commissions

     473.9       41.1      515.0  

Operating costs

     234.2       80.8      315.0  

General and administrative

     111.6       22.9      134.5  

Gain on sale of assets

     (4.7 )     —        (4.7 )

Depreciation and amortization

     27.1       5.2      32.3  
    


 

  


Total expenses

     842.1       150.0      992.1  
    


 

  


Income from Operations

     69.9       1.8      71.7  

Interest income

     0.8       1.1      1.9  

Interest expense

     (0.5 )     —        (0.5 )

Other income, net

     (0.1 )     6.0      5.9  
    


 

  


Income Before Income Taxes

     70.1       8.9      79.0  

Provision for income taxes

     26.5       2.4      28.9  
    


 

  


Net Income

   $ 43.6     $ 6.5    $ 50.1  
    


 

  


 

F-55


Table of Contents

AFFINION GROUP, INC. AND THE PREDECESSOR

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unless otherwise noted, all dollar amounts are in millions, except per share amounts)

 

CONDENSED COMBINING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2004

 

     The Predecessor

 
     Guarantor
Subsidiaries


    Non-Guarantor
Subsidiaries


    Combined

 

Net Revenues

   $ 1,266.9     $ 264.0     $ 1,530.9  
    


 


 


Expenses:

                        

Marketing and commissions

     589.6       75.7       665.3  

Operating costs

     278.0       105.3       383.3  

General and administrative

     163.0       22.0       185.0  

Gain on sale of assets

     (23.9 )     —         (23.9 )

Depreciation and amortization

     36.7       7.2       43.9  
    


 


 


Total expenses

     1,043.4       210.2       1,253.6  
    


 


 


Income from Operations

     223.5       53.8       277.3  

Interest income

     0.7       1.0       1.7  

Interest expense

     (6.0 )     (1.3 )     (7.3 )

Other income, net

     0.1       —         0.1  
    


 


 


Income Before Income Taxes and Minority Interests

     218.3       53.5       271.8  

Provision for / (benefit from) income tax

     (122.5 )     18.0       (104.5 )

Minority interests, net of tax

     —         (0.1 )     (0.1 )
    


 


 


Net Income

   $ 340.8     $ 35.6     $ 376.4  
    


 


 


 

F-56


Table of Contents

AFFINION GROUP, INC. AND THE PREDECESSOR

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unless otherwise noted, all dollar amounts are in millions, except per share amounts)

 

CONDENSED COMBINING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2003

 

     The Predecessor

 
     Guarantor
Subsidiaries


    Non-Guarantor
Subsidiaries


    Combined

 

Net Revenues

   $ 1,223.3     $ 220.4     $ 1,443.7  
    


 


 


Expenses:

                        

Marketing and commissions

     616.1       67.6       683.7  

Operating costs

     282.8       96.7       379.5  

General and administrative

     87.5       28.2       115.7  

Depreciation and amortization

     37.1       7.4       44.5  
    


 


 


Total expenses

     1,023.5       199.9       1,223.4  
    


 


 


Income from Operations

     199.8       20.5       220.3  

Interest Income

     0.9       1.1       2.0  

Interest Expense

     (14.1 )     —         (14.1 )

Other income, net

     6.7       —         6.7  
    


 


 


Income Before Income Taxes and Minority Interests

     193.3       21.6       214.9  

Provisions for income taxes

     63.0       8.3       71.3  

Minority interests, net of tax

     —         (0.7 )     (0.7 )
    


 


 


Net Income

   $ 130.3     $ 14.0     $ 144.3  
    


 


 


 

F-57


Table of Contents

AFFINION GROUP, INC. AND THE PREDECESSOR

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unless otherwise noted, all dollar amounts are in millions, except per share amounts)

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS FOR THE PERIOD FROM OCTOBER 17, 2005 TO DECEMBER 31, 2005

 

     The Company

 
     Guarantor
Subsidiaries


    Non-Guarantor
Subsidiaries


    Consolidated

 

Operating Activities

                        

Net loss

   $ (131.7 )   $ (4.6 )   $ (136.3 )

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities:

                        

Depreciation and amortization

     78.7       5.8       84.5  

Amortization of debt discount and financing costs

     3.7       —         3.7  

Loss on disposal of property and equipment

     (0.1 )     —         (0.1 )

Deferred income taxes

     2.4       (3.7 )     (1.3 )

Net change in assets and liabilities:

                        

Receivables

     9.1       0.3       9.4  

Receivables from related parties

     (13.6 )     (0.1 )     (13.7 )

Profit-sharing receivables from insurance carriers

     (2.1 )     —         (2.1 )

Prepaid commissions

     (29.8 )     (2.4 )     (32.2 )

Other current assets

     (5.3 )     (2.8 )     (8.1 )

Contract rights and list fees

     (1.7 )     —         (1.7 )

Other non-current assets

     2.8       0.3       3.1  

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

     (0.9 )     (3.3 )     (4.2 )

Payables to related parties

     2.5       0.6       3.1  

Deferred revenue

     107.1       9.5       116.6  

Income taxes receivable and payable

     0.3       0.5       0.8  

Other long-term liabilities

     1.0       (0.2 )     0.8  

Minority interests and other, net

     0.1       0.1       0.2  
    


 


 


Net cash provided by operating activities

     22.5       —         22.5  
    


 


 


Investing Activities

                        

Capital expenditures

     (8.1 )     (0.9 )     (9.0 )

Acquisition-related payments, net of cash acquired

     (1,652.4 )     23.4       (1,629.0 )

Restricted cash

     9.6       (3.1 )     6.5  
    


 


 


Net cash provided by/(used in) investing activities

     (1,650.9 )     19.4       (1,631.5 )
    


 


 


Financing Activities

                        

Proceeds from borrowings

     1,510.0       —         1,510.0  

Deferred financing costs

     (42.0 )     —         (42.0 )

Principal payments on borrowings

     (20.1 )     —         (20.1 )

Intercompany receivables and payables

     (1.1 )     1.1       —    

Proceeds from sale of common stock

     275.0       —         275.0  
    


 


 


Net cash provided by financing activities

     1,721.8       1.1       1,722.9  
    


 


 


Effect of changes in exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents

     —         (0.5 )     (0.5 )
    


 


 


Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

     93.4       20.0       113.4  

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

     —         —         —    
    


 


 


Cash and Cash Equivalents, End of Period

   $ 93.4     $ 20.0     $ 113.4  
    


 


 


 

F-58


Table of Contents

AFFINION GROUP, INC. AND THE PREDECESSOR

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unless otherwise noted, all dollar amounts are in millions, except per share amounts)

 

CONDENSED COMBINING STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS FOR THE PERIOD JANUARY 1, 2005 TO OCTOBER 16, 2005

 

     The Predecessor

 
     Guarantor
Subsidiaries


    Non-Guarantor
Subsidiaries


    Combined

 

Operating Activities

                        

Net income

   $ 43.6     $ 6.5     $ 50.1  

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

                        

Depreciation and amortization

     27.1       5.2       32.3  

Gain on sale of assets

     (4.7 )     —         (4.7 )

Loss on disposal of property and equipment

     1.5       0.4       1.9  

Loss on mark-to-market of Cendant stock

     0.1       —         0.1  

Deferred income taxes

     19.5       6.4       25.9  

Net change in assets and liabilities:

                        

Receivables

     (1.4 )     18.4       17.0  

Profit-sharing receivables from insurance carriers

     (1.8 )     —         (1.8 )

Prepaid commissions

     25.0       0.9       25.9  

Other current assets

     (0.2 )     19.6       19.4  

Deferred acquisition costs

     4.9       —         4.9  

Contract rights and list fees

     (0.1 )     —         (0.1 )

Other non-current assets

     0.4       4.2       4.6  

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

     18.2       (4.4 )     13.8  

Deferred revenue

     (58.6 )     (2.9 )     (61.5 )

Income taxes receivable and payable

     0.8       (11.9 )     (11.1 )

Other long-term liabilities

     (0.2 )     —         (0.2 )

Minority interests and other, net

     (1.0 )     1.4       0.4  
    


 


 


Net cash provided by operating activities

     73.1       43.8       116.9  
    


 


 


Investing Activities

                        

Capital expenditures

     (20.1 )     (3.9 )     (24.0 )

Acquisition related payment

     (15.7 )     —         (15.7 )

Restricted cash

     (9.7 )     (0.5 )     (10.2 )
    


 


 


Net cash used in investing activities

     (45.5 )     (4.4 )     (49.9 )
    


 


 


Financing Activities

                        

Principal payments on borrowings

     (0.5 )     —         (0.5 )

Payment for Cendant credit agreement

     (30.0 )     —         (30.0 )

Decrease / (increase) in advances to Cendant, net

     39.3       (32.2 )     7.1  
    


 


 


Net cash provided by/(used in) financing activities

     8.8       (32.2 )     (23.4 )
    


 


 


Effect of changes in exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents

     —         (1.9 )     (1.9 )
    


 


 


Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

     36.4       5.3       41.7  

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

     4.4       18.1       22.5  
    


 


 


Cash and Cash Equivalents, End of Period

   $ 40.8     $ 23.4     $ 64.2  
    


 


 


 

F-59


Table of Contents

AFFINION GROUP, INC. AND THE PREDECESSOR

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unless otherwise noted, all dollar amounts are in millions, except per share amounts)

 

CONDENSED COMBINING STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2004

 

     The Predecessor

 
    

Guarantor

Subsidiaries


    Non-Guarantor
Subsidiaries


    Combined

 

Operating Activities

                        

Net income

   $ 340.8     $ 35.6     $ 376.4  

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

                        

Depreciation and amortization

     36.7       7.2       43.9  

Gain on sale of assets

     (23.9 )     —         (23.9 )

(Gain)/loss on disposal of property and equipment

     2.2       (0.1 )     2.1  

Gain on mark-to-market of Cendant stock

     (0.4 )     —         (0.4 )

Deferred income taxes

     (66.9 )     (7.3 )     (74.2 )

Net change in assets and liabilities:

                        

Receivables

     1.5       (10.2 )     (8.7 )

Profit-sharing receivables from insurance carriers

     13.5       —         13.5  

Prepaid commissions

     27.2       8.9       36.1  

Other current assets

     (6.2 )     2.2       (4.0 )

Deferred acquisition costs

     (14.6 )     5.4       (9.2 )

Other non-current assets

     9.2       4.7       13.9  

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

     4.2       (2.0 )     2.2  

Deferred revenue

     (89.4 )     (30.3 )     (119.7 )

Income taxes receivable and payable

     (1.9 )     14.8       12.9  

Other long-term liabilities

     (6.5 )     —         (6.5 )

Minority interests and other, net

     0.6       1.9       2.5  
    


 


 


Net cash provided by operating activities

     226.1       30.8       256.9  
    


 


 


Investing Activities

                        

Capital expenditures

     (21.6 )     (4.2 )     (25.8 )

Acquisition-related payments, net of cash acquired

     (21.4 )     —         (21.4 )

Restricted cash

     8.5       1.0       9.5  

Proceeds from sale of assets

     32.5       —         32.5  

Proceeds from sale of investments

     7.1       —         7.1  
    


 


 


Net cash provided by/(used in) investing activities

     5.1       (3.2 )     1.9  
    


 


 


Financing Activities

                        

Proceeds from borrowings

     —         2.0       2.0  

Principal payments on borrowings

     (13.9 )     (4.9 )     (18.8 )

Proceeds from Cendant credit agreement

     30.0       —         30.0  

Decrease / (increase) in advances to Cendant, net

     (280.3 )     11.9       (268.4 )

Distributions to minority shareholder

     —         (1.0 )     (1.0 )

Payment of dividend

     —         (45.3 )     (45.3 )
    


 


 


Net cash used in financing activities

     (264.2 )     (37.3 )     (301.5 )
    


 


 


Effect of changes in exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents

     —         2.0       2.0  
    


 


 


Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents

     (33.0 )     (7.7 )     (40.7 )

Cash and Cash Equivalents, beginning of period

     37.4       25.8       63.2  
    


 


 


Cash and Cash Equivalents, End of Period

   $ 4.4     $ 18.1     $ 22.5  
    


 


 


 

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AFFINION GROUP, INC. AND THE PREDECESSOR

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unless otherwise noted, all dollar amounts are in millions, except per share amounts)

 

CONDENSED COMBINING STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2003

 

     The Predecessor

 
     Guarantor
Subsidiaries


    Non-Guarantor
Subsidiaries


    Combined

 

Operating Activities

                        

Net income

   $ 130.3     $ 14.0     $ 144.3  

Adjustments to reconcile net income to

                        

Net cash provided by operating activities:

                        

Depreciation and amortization

     37.1       7.4       44.5  

Loss on disposal of property and equipment

     4.5       1.4       5.9  

Gain on mark-to-market of Cendant stock

     (6.5 )     —         (6.5 )

Deferred income taxes

     61.7       —         61.7  

Net change in assets and liabilities:

                        

Receivables

     4.8       (2.4 )     2.4  

Profit-sharing receivables from insurance carriers

     5.8       —         5.8  

Prepaid commissions

     45.0       (7.4 )     37.6  

Other current assets

     1.2       2.4       3.6  

Deferred acquisition costs

     (31.0 )     (0.3 )     (31.3 )

Other non-current assets

     13.6       (14.4 )     (0.8 )

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

     (11.5 )     3.9       (7.6 )

Deferred revenue

     (100.0 )     11.6       (88.4 )

Income taxes receivable and payable

     (0.1 )     0.3       0.2  

Other long-term liabilities

     (3.2 )     —         (3.2 )

Minority interest and other, net

     0.1       (1.2 )     (1.1 )
    


 


 


Net cash provided by operating activities

     151.8       15.3       167.1  
    


 


 


Investing Activities

                        

Capital expenditures

     (16.4 )     (4.4 )     (20.8 )

Acquisition-related payments, net of cash acquired

     —         (1.5 )     (1.5 )

Restricted cash

     (2.4 )     —         (2.4 )

Proceeds from sale of assets

     (8.4 )     1.7       (6.7 )

Proceeds from sale of investments

     4.2       —         4.2  
    


 


 


Net cash used in investing activities

     (23.0 )     (4.2 )     (27.2 )
    


 


 


Financing Activities:

                        

Proceeds from borrowings

     —         5.2       5.2  

Principal payments on borrowings

     (10.5 )     (5.4 )     (15.9 )

Increase in advances to Cendant, net

     (151.2 )     (3.7 )     (154.9 )
    


 


 


Net cash used in financing activities

     (161.7 )     (3.9 )     (165.6 )
    


 


 


Effect of changes in exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents

     —         2.7       2.7  
    


 


 


Net increase / (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

     (32.9 )     9.9       (23.0 )

Cash and Cash Equivalents, beginning of period

     70.3       15.9       86.2  
    


 


 


Cash and Cash Equivalents, End of Period

   $ 37.4     $ 25.8     $ 63.2  
    


 


 


 

 

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AFFINION GROUP, INC. AND THE PREDECESSOR

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unless otherwise noted, all dollar amounts are in millions, except per share amounts)

 

23. Subsequent Events

 

On April 26, 2006, the Company issued $355.5 million aggregate principal amount of 11.5% senior subordinated notes due October 15, 2015 (“Senior Subordinated Notes”) and applied the gross proceeds of $350.5 million to repay $349.5 million of outstanding borrowings under its Bridge Loan, plus accrued interest, and used cash on hand to pay fees and expenses associated with such issuance.

 

The interest on the Senior Subordinated Notes is payable semi-annually. The Company may redeem some or all of the Senior Subordinated Notes at any time on or after October 15, 2010 at the redemption prices (generally at a premium) set forth in the agreement governing the Senior Subordinated Notes. In addition, on or before October 15, 2008, the Company may redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of the Senior Subordinated Notes with the net proceeds of certain equity offerings, provided that at least 65% of the aggregate principal amount of the Senior Subordinated Notes initially issued remain outstanding immediately after such redemption. The Senior Subordinated Notes are unsecured obligations of the Company. The Senior Subordinated Notes are guaranteed by the same subsidiaries of the Company that guarantee the Affinion Credit Facility, the Senior Notes and the Bridge Loan as discussed in Note 22–Guarantor/Non-Guarantor Supplemental Financial Information. The Senior Subordinated Notes contain restrictive covenants related primarily to the Company’s ability to distribute dividends, redeem or repurchase capital stock, sell assets, issue additional debt or merge with or acquire other companies.

 

On May 3, 2006 the Company issued an additional $34.0 million aggregate principal amount of Senior Notes (see Note 9—Long Term Debt) at a premium and applied the proceeds, together with cash on hand, to repay the remaining $34.1 million of outstanding borrowings under its Bridge Loan, plus accrued interest, and to pay fees and expenses associated with such issuance. These Senior Notes were issued as additional notes under the Senior Notes indenture dated October 17, 2005, and, together with the $270.0 million of Senior Notes originally issued under such indenture, are treated as a single class for all purposes under the indenture, including, without limitation, waivers, amendments, redemptions and offers to purchase. The aggregate principal amount of all the Senior Notes as of May 3, 2006 was $304.0 million.

 

*  *  *  *

 

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PART II: INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN THE PROSPECTUS

 

Item 20. Indemnification of Directors and Officers

The following applies to Affinion Group, Inc., Affinion Benefits Group, Inc., Affinion Data Services, Inc., Travelers Advantage Services, Inc., Trilegiant Corporation, Trilegiant Insurance Services, Inc., Affinion Loyalty Group, Inc. and Trilegiant Retail Services, Inc. (each a “Delaware Registrant” and collectively the “Delaware Registrants”):

Each of the Delaware Registrants is a Delaware corporation. Section 145(a) of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”) provides that a Delaware corporation may indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, other than an action by or in the right of the corporation, by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if the person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe the person’s conduct was unlawful.

Section 145(b) of the DGCL provides that a Delaware corporation may indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that such person acted in any of the capacities set forth above, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if the person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation, unless and only to the extent that the Court of Chancery or the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the court shall deem proper.

Further subsections of DGCL Section 145 provide that:

 

    to the extent a present or former director or officer of a corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in the defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in subsections (a) and (b) of Section 145 or in the defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, such person shall be indemnified against expenses, including attorneys’ fees, actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection therewith;

 

    the indemnification and advancement of expenses provided for pursuant to Section 145 shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled under any bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise; and

 

    the corporation shall have the power to purchase and maintain insurance of behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against any liability asserted against such person and incurred by such person in any such capacity, or arising out of such person’s status as such, whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such liability under Section 145.

As used in this Item 20, the term “proceeding” means any threatened, pending, or completed action, suit, or proceeding, whether or not by or in the right of a Delaware Registrant, and whether civil, criminal, administrative, investigative or otherwise. Section 145 of the DGCL makes provision for the indemnification of

 

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officers and directors in terms sufficiently broad to indemnify officers and directors of each Delaware Registrant under certain circumstances from liabilities (including reimbursement for expenses incurred) arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”). Each of the Delaware Registrants may, in its discretion, similarly indemnify its employees and agents. Each Delaware Registrant’s Bylaws provide, in effect, that, to the fullest extent and under the circumstances permitted by Section 145 of the DGCL, the Delaware Registrant will indemnify any and all of its officers, directors, employees and agents. In addition, each Delaware Registrant’s organizational documents relieves its directors from monetary damages to it or its stockholders for breach of such director’s fiduciary duty as a director to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL. Under Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL, a corporation may relieve its directors from personal liability to such corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for any breach of their fiduciary duty as directors except (i) for a breach of the duty of loyalty, (ii) for failure to act in good faith, (iii) for intentional misconduct or knowing violation of law, (iv) for willful or negligent violations of certain provisions in the DGCL imposing certain requirements with respect to stock repurchases, redemptions and dividends, or (v) for any transactions from which the director derived an improper personal benefit.

Affinion Group, Inc. currently maintains an insurance policy which, within the limits and subject to the terms and conditions thereof, covers certain expenses and liabilities that may be incurred by directors and officers of Affinion Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries in connection with proceedings that may be brought against them as a result of an act or omission committed or suffered while acting as a director or officer of Affinion Group, Inc. or its subsidiaries.

The following applies to Affinion Group, LLC and Affinion Publishing, LLC:

Affinion Group, LLC and Affinion Publishing, LLC are Delaware limited liability companies. Section 108 of the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act (the “LLC Act”) provides that subject to such standards and restrictions, if any, as are set forth in its limited liability company agreement, a limited liability company may, and shall have the power to, indemnify and hold harmless any member or manager or other person from and against any and all claims and demands whatsoever. The Limited Liability Company Agreement of Affinion Group, LLC (“Affinion Group’s LLC Agreement”) provides that Affinion Group, LLC may indemnify its managers, officers, employees and other agents to the maximum extent permitted under the LLC Act, unless the loss or damage for which indemnification is sought is the result of fraud, deceit, gross negligence, wilfull misconduct, breach of Affinion Group’s LLC Agreement or a wrongful taking by the manager, officer, employee or other agent. Affinion Group’s LLC Agreement also provide that expenses incurred in connection with an action or proceeding for which indemnification is sought may be paid by Affinion Group, LLC in advance of the final disposition of such action upon receipt of an undertaking by such, manager, officer, employee or other agent to repay such amount if it is ultimately determined that such person is not entitled to be indemnified by Affinion Group, LLC

The Limited Liability Company Operating Agreement of Affinion Publishing, LLC provides that Affinion Publishing, LLC may, to the fullest extent allowed by the LLC Act, indemnify and hold harmless its sole member from and against any and all claims and demands arising by reason of the fact that the sole member is, or was, a member of Affinion Publishing, LLC.

The following applies to CUC Asia Holdings:

CUC Asia Holdings is a Delaware partnership. There is nothing in the General Partnership Agreement of CUC Asia Holdings or any other contract or other arrangement under which any controlling persons, director or officer of CUC Asia Holdings is insured or indemnified in any manner against liability which he may incur in his capacity as such.

The following applies to Cardwell Agency, Inc.:

Cardwell Agency Inc. (“Cardwell”) is a Virginia corporation. The Virginia Stock Corporation Act (the “VCA”) permits and the Articles of Incorporation of Cardwell require, indemnification of the directors and officers of the Cardwell in a variety of circumstances, which may include liabilities under the Securities Act.

 

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Under sections 13.1-697 and 13.1-702 of the VCA, a Virginia corporation generally is authorized to indemnify its directors and officers in civil or criminal actions if they acted in good faith and, in the case of criminal actions, had no reasonable cause to believe that the conduct was unlawful. The Articles of the Cardwell require indemnification of each person now or hereafter a director or officer of the corporation with respect to any liability, expenses incurred by them by reason of having been a director or officer, except in relation to matters as to which he shall have been finally adjudged in such action, suit, proceeding, or upon such claim, to be liable for negligence or malfeasance in the performance of his duties as such director or officer.

The Amended and Restated Bylaws of Cardwell provide for indemnification to the fullest extent permitted by the VCA. The Amended and Restated Bylaws of Cardwell also provide that each person who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise involved in any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director, officer or employee of the corporation or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer or whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity while serving as a director, officer or employee or in any other capacity while serving as a director, officer or employee, shall be indemnified and held harmless by Cardwell to the fullest extent authorized by the VCA.

Cardwell may purchase insurance on behalf of directors, officers, employees and agents that may cover liabilities under the Securities Act.

The following applies to Long Term Preferred Care, Inc.:

Long Term Preferred Care, Inc. (“Long Term”) is a Tennessee corporation. The Charter of Long Term provides that each person who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise involved in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative and whether formal or informal, by reason of the fact that he is or was a director of the corporation or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a director or in any other capacity while serving as a director, shall be indemnified and held harmless by the corporation to the fullest extent authorized by the Tennessee Business Corporation Act, as amended (the “TBCA”). Long Term’s Charter also provides that the corporation may indemnify and advance expenses to an officer, employee or agent who is not a director to the same extent as to a director by specific action of its board of directors or by contract.

Long Term’s Amended and Restated Bylaws provide that the corporation may indemnify and advance expenses to persons who are or were the directors or officers of the corporation or any person who may have served at the request of Long Term’s Board of Directors or its Chief Executive Officer as a director or officer of another corporation, in accordance with the TBCA. Long Term’s Amended and Restated Bylaws also provide that it may indemnify and advance expenses to any employee or agent of Long Term who is not a director or officer to the same extent as to a director or officer, if the Board of Directors determines that to do so is in the best interests of Long Term.

Long Term’s Amended and Restated Bylaws also provide that the corporation may purchase and maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect itself and any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of Long Term or any person who, while a director, officer, employee or agent of Long Term, is or was serving at the request of Long Term as a director, officer, employer or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any expense, liability or loss, whether or not Long Term would have the power to indemnify such person against such expense, liability or loss under the TBCA.

The following applies to Trilegiant Auto Services, Inc.:

Trilegiant Auto Services, Inc. (“Trilegiant Auto”) is a Wyoming corporation. The Amended and Restated Bylaws of Trilegiant Auto provide that to the fullest extent permitted by the Wyoming Business Corporation Act (the “WBCA”), a director of Trilegiant Auto shall not be liable to the corporation or its stockholders for breach of fiduciary duty as a director.

 

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Section 17-16-851(d) of the WBCA provides that unless ordered to do so by a court, a corporation may not indemnify a director (i) in connection with a proceeding by or in the right of the corporation, except for reasonable expenses incurred in connection with the proceeding if it is determined that the director has met certain standards of conduct; or (ii) in connection with any proceeding with respect to conduct for which he was adjudged liable on the basis that he received a financial benefit to which he was not entitled. Section 17-16-852 of the WBCA provides for mandatory indemnification of a director who is wholly successful, on the merits or otherwise, in the defense of any proceeding to which he was a party because he was a director, against reasonable expenses incurred in connection with the proceeding. Section 17-16-856 of the WBCA provides that an officer may be indemnified to the same extent as a director, and if he is not also a director, to such further extent as may be provided by the articles of incorporation, the bylaws, a resolution of the board of directors or contract; however, officers may not be indemnified for liability in connection with a proceeding by or in the right of the corporation other than for reasonable expenses incurred in connection with the proceeding.

Trilegiant Auto’s Amended and Restated Bylaws provide that expenses, including attorneys’ fees, incurred by a director, officer, employee or agent in defending a civil or criminal action, suit or proceeding may be paid by Trilegiant Auto in advance of the final disposition of the action, suit or proceeding. Section 17-16-853 of the WBCA states that a corporation may advance reasonable expenses if the person incurring such expenses delivers to the corporation a written affirmation of his good faith belief that he has met the applicable standard of conduct and a written undertaking to repay any funds advanced if he is not entitled to mandatory indemnification and it is ultimately determined that he has not met the applicable standard of conduct.

In addition, Trilegiant Auto’s Amended and Restated Bylaws provide that it may purchase and maintain insurance providing coverage for any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of Trilegiant Auto, or is or was serving at Trilegiant Auto’s request as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any liability asserted against him and incurred by him in any capacity or arising out of his status, whether or not it would have the power to indemnify him under the provisions of the WBCA.

 

Item 21. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules

(a) The following exhibits are attached hereto:

 

Exhibit   

Description

2.1†    Purchase Agreement, dated as of July 26, 2005, by and among Cendant Corporation, Affinion Group, Inc. (f/k/a Affinity Acquisition, Inc.), and Affinion Group Holdings, Inc. (f/k/a Affinity Acquisition Holdings, Inc.), as amended by Amendment No. 1 thereto, dated as of October 17, 2005, among Cendant Corporation, Affinion Group, Inc. (f/k/a Affinity Acquisition, Inc.), and Affinion Group Holdings, Inc. (f/k/a Affinity Acquisition Holdings, Inc.).
3.1    Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Affinion Group, Inc. filed in the State of Delaware on September 27, 2005.
3.2    By-laws of Affinion Group, Inc.
3.3    Certificate of Incorporation of Affinion Benefits Group, Inc. filed in the State of Delaware, including all amendments thereto and as last amended on January 13, 2006.
3.4    Second Amended and Restated By-laws of Affinion Benefits Group, Inc. (f/k/a Progeny Marketing Innovations, Inc.).
3.5    Certificate of Incorporation of Affinion Data Services, Inc. filed in the State of Delaware, including all amendments thereto and as last amended on September 28, 2005.
3.6    Amended and Restated By-laws of Affinion Data Services, Inc.
3.7    Certificate of Formation Affinion Group, LLC filed in the State of Delaware, including all amendments thereto and as last amended on September 28, 2005.
3.8    Limited Liability Company Agreement of Affinion Group, LLC (f/k/a Cendant Marketing Group, LLC).

 

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Exhibit   

Description

3.9    Certificate of Formation of Affinion Publishing, LLC filed in the State of Delaware, effective December 31, 2005.
3.10    Limited Liability Company Operating Agreement of Affinion Publishing, LLC.
3.11    Articles of Incorporation of Cardwell Agency, Inc. filed in the Commonwealth of Virginia on June 6, 1986.
3.12    Amended and Restated By-laws of Cardwell Agency, Inc.
3.13    Partnership Agreement of CUC Asia Holdings dated June 27, 1996.
3.14    Charter of Long Term Preferred Care, Inc., filed in the State of Tennessee, including all amendments thereto and as last amended on November 13, 1995.
3.15    Amended and Restated Bylaws of Long Term Preferred Care, Inc.
3.16    Certificate of Incorporation of Travelers Advantage Services, Inc. filed in the State of Delaware on January 19, 2005.
3.17    Amended and Restated By-laws of Travelers Advantage Services, Inc.
3.18    Articles of Incorporation of Trilegiant Auto Services, Inc. filed in the State of Wyoming, including all amendments thereto and as last amended on December 28, 2005.
3.19    Amended and Restated Bylaws of Trilegiant Auto Services, Inc.
3.20    Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Trilegiant Corporation filed in the State of Delaware, including all amendments thereto and as last amended on December 28, 2005.
3.21    Amended and Restated By-laws of Trilegiant Corporation.
3.22    Certificate of Incorporation of Trilegiant Insurance Services, Inc. filed in the State of Delaware, including all amendments thereto and as last amended on October 17, 2002.
3.23    Amended and Restated By-laws of Trilegiant Insurance Services, Inc.
3.24    Certificate of Incorporation of Affinion Loyalty Group, Inc. filed in the State of Delaware, including all amendments thereto and as last amended on February 21, 2006.
3.25    Amended and Restated Bylaws of Affinion Loyalty Group, Inc. (f/k/a Trilegiant Loyalty Solutions, Inc.).
3.26    Certificate of Incorporation of Trilegiant Retail Services, Inc. filed in the State of Delaware, including all amendments thereto and as last amended on December 28, 2005.
3.27    Amended and Restated By-laws of Trilegiant Retail Services, Inc.
4.1    Indenture, dated as of October 17, 2005 governing the 10  1 / 8 % Senior Notes due 2013, among Affinion Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation, the Subsidiary Guarantors (as defined therein) and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee.
4.2    Indenture, dated as of April 26, 2006 governing the 11  1 / 2 % Senior Subordinated Notes due 2015, among Affinion Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation, the Subsidiary Guarantors (as defined therein) and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee.
4.3    Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of October 17, 2005, among Affinion Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation, Credit Suisse Securities First Boston LLC, Deutsche Bank Securities LLC, Banc of America Securities LLC, BNP Paribas Securities Corp and the guarantors listed on Schedule B attached thereto.
4.4    Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of April 26, 2006, among Affinion Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation, Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Deutsche Bank Securities LLC, Banc of America Securities LLC, BNP Paribas Securities Corp and the guarantors listed on Schedule B attached thereto.

 

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Exhibit    

Description

4.5     Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of May 3, 2006, among Affinion Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation, Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Deutsche Bank Securities LLC, Banc of America Securities LLC, BNP Paribas Securities Corp and the guarantors listed on Schedule B attached thereto.
4.6     Form of 10  1 / 8 % Senior Note due 2013 (included in the Indenture filed as Exhibit 4.1 to this Registration Statement).
4.7     Form of 11  1 / 2 % Senior Subordinated Note due 2015 (included in the Indenture filed as Exhibit 4.2 to this Registration Statement).
5.1 **   Opinion of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP.
5.2 **   Opinion of Bass, Berry & Sims PLC.
5.3 **   Opinion of Troutman Sanders LLP.
5.4 **   Opinion of Holland & Hart LLP.
10.1     Credit Agreement, dated as of October 17, 2005, among Affinion Group Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation, Affinion Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation, the Lenders from time to time party hereto, Credit Suisse, Cayman Islands Branch, as administrative agent for the Lenders, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., as syndication agent and Bank of America, N.A. and BNP Paribas Securities Corp., as documentation agents.
10.2     Senior Subordinated Bridge Loan Agreement, dated as of October 17, 2005, among Affinion Group Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation, Affinion Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation, the Lenders from time to time party hereto, Credit Suisse, Cayman Islands Branch, as administrative agent for the Lenders, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., as syndication agent and Banc of America Bridge and BNP Paribas Securities Corp., as documentation agents.
10.3     Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, dated and effective as of October 17, 2005, among Affinion Group Holdings, Inc., Affinion Group, Inc., each Subsidiary of the Borrower identified therein and Credit Suisse, Cayman Islands Branch, as administrative agent.
10.4     Management Investor Rights Agreement, dated as of October 17, 2005 among Affinion Group Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation, Affinion Group Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and the holders that are parties thereto.
10.5     Consulting Agreement, dated as of October 17, 2005, between Affinion Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and Apollo Management V, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership.
10.6     Affinion Group Holdings, Inc. 2005 Stock Incentive Plan, dated as of October 17, 2005.
10.7     Restricted Stock Agreement, dated as of October 17, 2005, between Affinion Group Holdings, Inc. and Nathaniel J. Lipman.
10.8     Option Agreement, dated as of October 17, 2005, between Affinion Group Holdings, Inc. and Nathaniel J. Lipman.
10.9     Option Agreement, dated as of October 17, 2005, between Affinion Group Holdings, Inc. and Optionee (with Optionee signatories being Rooney, Rauscher, Rusin, Siegel, among others).
10.10     Option Agreement, dated as of January 2, 2006, between Affinion Group Holdings, Inc. and Maureen E. O’Connell.
10.11     Retention Letter Agreement by and between Officer and Cendant Marketing Services Division as amended through June 28, 2005 (assumed by Affinion Group, Inc.) (as modified by the Subscription Agreement, dated as of October 17, 2005) (with Officer signatories being Lipman, Rauscher, Rusin, Siegel, among others).

 

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Exhibit    

Description

10.12     Retention Letter Agreement by and between Robert Rooney and Cendant Marketing Services Division as amended through June 28, 2005 (assumed by Affinion Group, Inc.) (as modified by the Subscription Agreement, dated as of October 17, 2005).
10.13     Severance Agreement, dated May 29, 2002, by and between Todd H. Siegel and Trilegiant Corporation (assumed by Affinion Group, Inc.).
10.14     Severance Agreement, dated November 9, 2004, by and between Thomas J. Rusin and Trilegiant Corporation (assumed by Affinion Group. Inc.).
10.15     Subscription Agreement, dated as of October 17, 2005, between Affinion Group Holdings, Inc. and Investor (with Investor signatories being Rooney, Rauscher, Rusin, Siegel, among others).
10.16     Subscription Agreement, dated as of October 17, 2005, between Affinion Group Holdings, Inc. and Nathaniel J. Lipman.
10.17     Subscription Agreement, dated as of January 2, 2006, between Affinion Group Holdings, Inc. and Maureen E. O’Connell.
10.18     Supplemental Bonus Letter by and between Officer and Cendant Marketing Services Division dated September 28, 2005 (assumed by Affinion Group, Inc.) (with Officer signatories being Lipman, Rooney, Raucher, Rusin, Siegel, among others).
10.19     Employment Agreement, dated as of October 17, 2005, between Affinion Group, Inc., and Nathaniel J. Lipman.
10.20     Employment Agreement, dated as of June 15, 2005, by and between Affinion Group, LLC (f/k/a Cendant Marketing Group LLC), Affinion International Holdings Limited (f/k/a Cendant International Holdings Limited), and Robert Rooney.
10.21     Employment Agreement, dated as of September 10, 2002, by and between Trilegiant Corporation and Michael Rauscher.
10.22     Employment Agreement, dated as of December 1, 2005, by and between Affinion Group, Inc. and Maureen E. O’Connell.
10.23     Patent License Agreement, dated as of October 17, 2005, between CD Intellectual Property Holdings, LLC, a Delaware corporation and Trilegiant Loyalty Solutions, Inc., a Delaware corporation.
12.1     Statement regarding earnings to fixed charges ratio.
21.1     Subsidiaries of Affinion Group, Inc.
23.1 **   Consent of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP (included in the opinion filed as Exhibit 5.1 to this Registration Statement).
23.2     Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm.
24.1     Powers of Attorney of Directors and Officers of the registrants (included on Registration Statement Signature Pages).
25.1     Form T-1 of Wells Fargo Bank, National Association (with respect to the 10  1 / 8 % Senior Notes due 2013).
25.2     Form T-1 of Wells Fargo Bank, National Association (with respect to the 11½% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2015).
99.1     Form of Letter of Transmittal.
99.2     Form of Notice of Guaranteed Delivery.
99.3     Form of Letter to Brokers.
99.4     Form of Letter to Clients.

 

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** To be filed by amendment.
The schedules and exhibits to this agreement are omitted pursuant to Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K. Affinion Group, Inc. agrees to furnish supplementally to the SEC, upon request, a copy of any omitted schedule or exhibit.

(b) Financial Statement Schedules

All financial statement schedules are omitted because they are inapplicable, not required or the information has been disclosed elsewhere in the consolidated financial statements or notes thereto.

 

Item 22. Undertakings

The undersigned registrants hereby undertake:

(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

(i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;

(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the registration statement; and

(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement.

(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

The undersigned registrants hereby undertake that:

(1) For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this Registration Statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the registrants pursuant to Rule 424(b)(l) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this Registration Statement as of the time it was declared effective; and

(2) For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at the time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

The undersigned registrants hereby undertake to respond to requests for information that is included in the prospectus pursuant to Items 4, 10(b), 11, or 13 of Form S-4, within one business day of receipt of such request, and to send the incorporated documents by first class mail or other equally prompt means. This includes information contained in documents filed subsequent to the effective date of the registration statement through the date of responding to the request.

The undersigned registrants hereby undertake to supply by means of a post-effective amendment all information concerning a transaction, and the company being acquired involved therein, that was not the subject of and included in the registration statement when it became effective.

 

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Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit, or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Norwalk, State of Connecticut, on the 8th day of May, 2006.

 

AFFINION GROUP, INC.

By:

  /s/    N ATHANIEL J. L IPMAN        
  Nathaniel J. Lipman
  Chief Executive Officer

POWER OF ATTORNEY

Each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints Nathaniel J. Lipman, Maureen E. O’Connell and Todd H. Siegel, and each of them, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and his name place and stead, in any and all capacities, to execute any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this registration statement, to sign any registration statement filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Securities Act of 1933, and to cause the same to be filed with all exhibits thereto, and all documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and desirable to be done in and about the premises as fully and to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all acts and things that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or their or his substitute or substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated below.

 

Signature

  

Title

 

Date

/s/    N ATHANIEL J. L IPMAN        

Nathaniel J. Lipman

  

President, Chief Executive Officer
and Director (Principal Executive
Officer)

  May 8, 2006

/s/    M AUREEN E. O’C ONNELL        

Maureen E. O’Connell

  

Executive Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer (Principal
Financial and Principal
Accounting Officer)

  May 8, 2006

/s/    M ARC E. B ECKER        

Marc E. Becker

  

Director

  May 8, 2006

/s/    S TAN P ARKER        

Stan Parker

  

Director

  May 8, 2006

/s/    E RIC L. P RESS        

Eric L. Press

  

Director

  May 8, 2006

/s/    E RIC Z INTERHOFER        

Eric Zinterhofer

  

Director

  May 8, 2006

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Norwalk, State of Connecticut, on the 8th day of May, 2006.

 

AFFINION BENEFITS GROUP, INC.
AFFINION DATA SERVICES, INC.
AFFINION LOYALTY GROUP, INC.
TRILEGIANT CORPORATION

By:

  /s/    N ATHANIEL J. L IPMAN        
  Nathaniel J. Lipman
  Chief Executive Officer

POWER OF ATTORNEY

Each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints Nathaniel J. Lipman, Maureen E. O’Connell and Todd H. Siegel, and each of them, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and his name place and stead, in any and all capacities, to execute any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this registration statement, to sign any registration statement filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Securities Act of 1933, and to cause the same to be filed with all exhibits thereto, and all documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and desirable to be done in and about the premises as fully and to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all acts and things that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or their or his substitute or substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated below.

 

Signature

  

Title

 

Date

/s/    N ATHANIEL J. L IPMAN        

Nathaniel J. Lipman

  

President, Chief Executive Officer
and Director (Principal Executive
Officer)

  May 8, 2006

/s/    M AUREEN E. O’C ONNELL        

Maureen E. O’Connell

  

Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer (Principal
Financial Officer)

  May 8, 2006

/s/    B RIAN D ICK        

Brian Dick

  

Senior Vice President and Chief
Accounting Officer (Principal
Accounting Officer)

  May 8, 2006

/s/    R OBERT G. R OONEY        

Robert G. Rooney

  

Executive Vice President and
Director

  May 8, 2006

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Norwalk, State of Connecticut, on the 8th day of May, 2006.

 

AFFINION GROUP, LLC

By:

  /s/    N ATHANIEL J. L IPMAN        
  Nathaniel J. Lipman
  Chief Executive Officer

POWER OF ATTORNEY

Each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints Nathaniel J. Lipman, Maureen E. O’Connell and Todd H. Siegel, and each of them, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and his name place and stead, in any and all capacities, to execute any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this registration statement, to sign any registration statement filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Securities Act of 1933, and to cause the same to be filed with all exhibits thereto, and all documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and desirable to be done in and about the premises as fully and to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all acts and things that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or their or his substitute or substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated below.

 

Signature

  

Title

 

Date

/s/    N ATHANIEL J. L IPMAN        

Nathaniel J. Lipman

  

President and Chief Executive
Officer (Principal Executive
Officer)

  May 8, 2006

/s/    M AUREEN E. O’C ONNELL        

Maureen E. O’Connell

  

Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer (Principal
Financial Officer)

  May 8, 2006

/s/    B RIAN D ICK        

Brian Dick

  

Senior Vice President and Chief
Accounting Officer (Principal
Accounting Officer)

  May 8, 2006
AFFINION GROUP, INC.   

Sole Managing Member

  May 8, 2006
By:   /s/    N ATHANIEL J. L IPMAN        

Name:

  Nathaniel J. Lipman

Title:

  President, Chief Executive Officer and Director

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Norwalk, State of Connecticut, on the 8th day of May, 2006.

 

AFFINION PUBLISHING, LLC

By:

  /s/    N ATHANIEL J. L IPMAN        
  Nathaniel J. Lipman
  Chief Executive Officer

POWER OF ATTORNEY

Each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints Nathaniel J. Lipman, Maureen E. O’Connell and Todd H. Siegel, and each of them, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and his name place and stead, in any and all capacities, to execute any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this registration statement, to sign any registration statement filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Securities Act of 1933, and to cause the same to be filed with all exhibits thereto, and all documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and desirable to be done in and about the premises as fully and to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all acts and things that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or their or his substitute or substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated below.

 

Signature

  

Title

 

Date

/s/    N ATHANIEL J. L IPMAN        

Nathaniel J. Lipman

  

President and Chief Executive
Officer (Principal Executive
Officer)

  May 8, 2006

/s/    M AUREEN E. O’C ONNELL        

Maureen E. O’Connell

  

Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer (Principal
Financial Officer)

  May 8, 2006

/s/    B RIAN D ICK        

Brian Dick

  

Senior Vice President and Chief
Accounting Officer (Principal
Accounting Officer)

  May 8, 2006
AFFINION BENEFITS GROUP, INC.   

Sole Managing Member

  May 8, 2006
By:   /s/    N ATHANIEL J. L IPMAN        

Name:

  Nathaniel J. Lipman

Title:

  President, Chief Executive Officer and Director

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Norwalk, State of Connecticut, on the 8th day of May, 2006.

 

CARDWELL AGENCY, INC.
LONG TERM PREFERRED CARE, INC.
TRAVELERS ADVANTAGE SERVICES, INC.
TRILEGIANT AUTO SERVICES, INC.
TRILEGIANT INSURANCE SERVICES, INC.
TRILEGIANT RETAIL SERVICES, INC.

By:

  /s/    N ATHANIEL J. L IPMAN        
  Nathaniel J. Lipman
  Chief Executive Officer

POWER OF ATTORNEY

Each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints Nathaniel J. Lipman, Maureen E. O’Connell and Todd H. Siegel, and each of them, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and his name place and stead, in any and all capacities, to execute any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this registration statement, to sign any registration statement filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Securities Act of 1933, and to cause the same to be filed with all exhibits thereto, and all documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and desirable to be done in and about the premises as fully and to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all acts and things that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or their or his substitute or substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated below.

 

Signature

  

Title

 

Date

/s/    N ATHANIEL J. L IPMAN        

Nathaniel J. Lipman

  

President, Chief Executive Officer
and Director (Principal Executive
Officer)

  May 8, 2006

/s/    M AUREEN E. O’C ONNELL        

Maureen E. O’Connell

  

Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer (Principal
Financial Officer)

  May 8, 2006

/s/    B RIAN D ICK        

Brian Dick

  

Senior Vice President and Chief
Accounting Officer (Principal
Accounting Officer)

  May 8, 2006

/s/    R OBERT G. R OONEY        

Robert G. Rooney

  

Director

  May 8, 2006

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Norwalk, State of Connecticut, on the 8th day of May, 2006.

 

CUC ASIA HOLDINGS, by its partners
TRILEGIANT CORPORATION
By:   /s/    N ATHANIEL J. L IPMAN        
  Nathaniel J. Lipman
  Chief Executive Officer

 

TRILEGIANT RETAIL SERVICES, INC.
By:   /s/    N ATHANIEL J. L IPMAN        
  Nathaniel J. Lipman
  Chief Executive Officer

POWER OF ATTORNEY

Each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints Nathaniel J. Lipman, Maureen E. O’Connell and Todd H. Siegel, and each of them, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and his name place and stead, in any and all capacities, to execute any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this registration statement, to sign any registration statement filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Securities Act of 1933, and to cause the same to be filed with all exhibits thereto, and all documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and desirable to be done in and about the premises as fully and to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all acts and things that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or their or his substitute or substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated below.

 

Signature

  

Title

 

Date

/s/    N ATHANIEL J. L IPMAN        

Nathaniel J. Lipman

  

(1)

  May 8, 2006

/s/    M AUREEN E. O’C ONNELL         

Maureen E. O’Connell

  

(2)

  May 8, 2006

/s/    B RIAN D ICK        

Brian Dick

  

(3)

  May 8, 2006

/s/    R OBERT G. R OONEY        

Robert G. Rooney

  

(4)

  May 8, 2006

(1) Nathaniel J. Lipman has signed this registration statement as President, Chief Executive Officer and Director (Principal Executive Officer) for Trilegiant Corporation, as general partner of CUC Asia Holdings and as President, Chief Executive Officer and Director (Principal Executive Officer) for Trilegiant Retail Services, Inc., as general partner of CUC Asia Holdings.

 

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(2) Maureen E. O’Connell has signed this registration statement as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer) for Trilegiant Corporation, as general partner of CUC Asia Holdings and as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer) for Trilegiant Retail Services, Inc., as general partner of CUC Asia Holdings
(3) Brian Dick has signed this registration statement as Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer (Principal Accounting Officer) for Trilegiant Corporation, as general partner of CUC Asia Holdings and as Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer (Principal Accounting Officer) for Trilegiant Retail Services, Inc., as general partner of CUC Asia Holdings
(4) Robert G. Rooney has signed this registration statement as Executive Vice President and Director for Trilegiant Corporation, as general partner of CUC Asia Holdings and as Director of Trilegiant Retail Services, Inc., as general partner of CUC Asia Holdings

 

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EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit   

Description

2.1†    Purchase Agreement, dated as of July 26, 2005, by and among Cendant Corporation, Affinion Group, Inc. (f/k/a Affinity Acquisition, Inc.), and Affinion Group Holdings, Inc. (f/k/a Affinity Acquisition Holdings, Inc.), as amended by Amendment No. 1 thereto, dated as of October 17, 2005, among Cendant Corporation, Affinion Group, Inc. (f/k/a Affinity Acquisition, Inc.), and Affinion Group Holdings, Inc. (f/k/a Affinity Acquisition Holdings, Inc.).
3.1    Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Affinion Group, Inc. filed in the State of Delaware on September 27, 2005.
3.2    By-laws of Affinion Group, Inc.
3.3    Certificate of Incorporation of Affinion Benefits Group, Inc. filed in the State of Delaware, including all amendments thereto and as last amended on January 13, 2006.
3.4    Second Amended and Restated By-laws of Affinion Benefits Group, Inc. (f/k/a Progeny Marketing Innovations, Inc.).
3.5    Certificate of Incorporation of Affinion Data Services, Inc. filed in the State of Delaware, including all amendments thereto and as last amended on September 28, 2005.
3.6    Amended and Restated By-laws of Affinion Data Services, Inc.
3.7    Certificate of Formation Affinion Group, LLC filed in the State of Delaware, including all amendments thereto and as last amended on September 28, 2005.
3.8    Limited Liability Company Agreement of Affinion Group, LLC (f/k/a Cendant Marketing Group, LLC).
3.9    Certificate of Formation of Affinion Publishing, LLC filed in the State of Delaware, effective December 31, 2005.
3.10    Limited Liability Company Operating Agreement of Affinion Publishing, LLC.
3.11    Articles of Incorporation of Cardwell Agency, Inc. filed in the Commonwealth of Virginia on June 6, 1986.
3.12    Amended and Restated By-laws of Cardwell Agency, Inc.
3.13    Partnership Agreement of CUC Asia Holdings dated June 27, 1996.
3.14    Charter of Long Term Preferred Care, Inc., filed in the State of Tennessee, including all amendments thereto and as last amended on November 13, 1995.
3.15    Amended and Restated Bylaws of Long Term Preferred Care, Inc.
3.16    Certificate of Incorporation of Travelers Advantage Services, Inc. filed in the State of Delaware on January 19, 2005.
3.17    Amended and Restated By-laws of Travelers Advantage Services, Inc.
3.18    Articles of Incorporation of Trilegiant Auto Services, Inc. filed in the State of Wyoming, including all amendments thereto and as last amended on December 28, 2005.
3.19    Amended and Restated Bylaws of Trilegiant Auto Services, Inc.
3.20    Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Trilegiant Corporation filed in the State of Delaware, including all amendments thereto and as last amended on December 28, 2005.
3.21    Amended and Restated By-laws of Trilegiant Corporation.


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Exhibit    

Description

3.22     Certificate of Incorporation of Trilegiant Insurance Services, Inc. filed in the State of Delaware, including all amendments thereto and as last amended on October 17, 2002.
3.23     Amended and Restated By-laws of Trilegiant Insurance Services, Inc.
3.24     Certificate of Incorporation of Affinion Loyalty Group, Inc. filed in the State of Delaware, including all amendments thereto and as last amended on February 21, 2006.
3.25     Amended and Restated Bylaws of Affinion Loyalty Group, Inc. (f/k/a Trilegiant Loyalty Solutions, Inc.).
3.26     Certificate of Incorporation of Trilegiant Retail Services, Inc. filed in the State of Delaware, including all amendments thereto and as last amended on December 28, 2005.
3.27     Amended and Restated By-laws of Trilegiant Retail Services, Inc.
4.1     Indenture, dated as of October 17, 2005 governing the 10  1 / 8 % Senior Notes due 2013, among Affinion Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation, the Subsidiary Guarantors (as defined therein) and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee.
4.2     Indenture, dated as of April 26, 2006 governing the 11  1 / 2 % Senior Subordinated Notes due 2015, among Affinion Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation, the Subsidiary Guarantors (as defined therein) and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee.
4.3     Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of October 17, 2005, among Affinion Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation, Credit Suisse Securities First Boston LLC, Deutsche Bank Securities LLC, Banc of America Securities LLC, BNP Paribas Securities Corp and the guarantors listed on Schedule B attached thereto.
4.4     Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of April 26, 2006, among Affinion Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation, Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Deutsche Bank Securities LLC, Banc of America Securities LLC, BNP Paribas Securities Corp and the guarantors listed on Schedule B attached thereto.
4.5     Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of May 3, 2006, among Affinion Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation, Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Deutsche Bank Securities LLC, Banc of America Securities LLC, BNP Paribas Securities Corp and the guarantors listed on Schedule B attached thereto.
4.6     Form of 10  1 / 8 % Senior Note due 2013 (included in the Indenture filed as Exhibit 4.1 to this Registration Statement).
4.7     Form of 11  1 / 2 % Senior Subordinated Note due 2015 (included in the Indenture filed as Exhibit 4.2 to this Registration Statement).
5.1 **   Opinion of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP.
5.2 **   Opinion of Bass, Berry & Sims PLC.
5.3 **   Opinion of Troutman Sanders LLP.
5.4 **   Opinion of Holland & Hart LLP.
10.1     Credit Agreement, dated as of October 17, 2005, among Affinion Group Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation, Affinion Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation, the Lenders from time to time party hereto, Credit Suisse, Cayman Islands Branch, as administrative agent for the Lenders, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., as syndication agent and Bank of America, N.A. and BNP Paribas Securities Corp., as documentation agents.


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Exhibit   

Description

10.2    Senior Subordinated Bridge Loan Agreement, dated as of October 17, 2005, among Affinion Group Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation, Affinion Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation, the Lenders from time to time party hereto, Credit Suisse, Cayman Islands Branch, as administrative agent for the Lenders, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., as syndication agent and Banc of America Bridge and BNP Paribas Securities Corp., as documentation agents.
10.3    Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, dated and effective as of October 17, 2005, among Affinion Group Holdings, Inc., Affinion Group, Inc., each Subsidiary of the Borrower identified therein and Credit Suisse, Cayman Islands Branch, as administrative agent.
10.4    Management Investor Rights Agreement, dated as of October 17, 2005 among Affinion Group Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation, Affinion Group Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and the holders that are parties thereto.
10.5    Consulting Agreement, dated as of October 17, 2005, between Affinion Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and Apollo Management V, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership.
10.6    Affinion Group Holdings, Inc. 2005 Stock Incentive Plan, dated as of October 17, 2005.
10.7    Restricted Stock Agreement, dated as of October 17, 2005, between Affinion Group Holdings, Inc. and Nathaniel J. Lipman.
10.8    Option Agreement, dated as of October 17, 2005, between Affinion Group Holdings, Inc. and Nathaniel J. Lipman.
10.9    Option Agreement, dated as of October 17, 2005, between Affinion Group Holdings, Inc. and Optionee (with Optionee signatories being Rooney, Rauscher, Rusin, Siegel, among others).
10.10    Option Agreement, dated as of January 2, 2006, between Affinion Group Holdings, Inc. and Maureen E. O’Connell.
10.11    Retention Letter Agreement by and between Officer and Cendant Marketing Services Division as amended through June 28, 2005 (assumed by Affinion Group, Inc.) (as modified by the Subscription Agreement, dated as of October 17, 2005) (with Officer signatories being Lipman, Rauscher, Rusin, Siegel, among others).
10.12    Retention Letter Agreement by and between Robert Rooney and Cendant Marketing Services Division as amended through June 28, 2005 (assumed by Affinion Group, Inc.) (as modified by the Subscription Agreement, dated as of October 17, 2005).
10.13    Severance Agreement, dated May 29, 2002, by and between Todd H. Siegel and Trilegiant Corporation (assumed by Affinion Group, Inc.).
10.14    Severance Agreement, dated November 9, 2004, by and between Thomas J. Rusin and Trilegiant Corporation (assumed by Affinion Group. Inc.).
10.15    Subscription Agreement, dated as of October 17, 2005, between Affinion Group Holdings, Inc. and Investor (with Investor signatories being Rooney, Rauscher, Rusin, Siegel, among others).
10.16    Subscription Agreement, dated as of October 17, 2005, between Affinion Group Holdings, Inc. and Nathaniel J. Lipman.
10.17    Subscription Agreement, dated as of January 2, 2006, between Affinion Group Holdings, Inc. and Maureen E. O’Connell.
10.18    Supplemental Bonus Letter by and between Officer and Cendant Marketing Services Division dated September 28, 2005 (assumed by Affinion Group, Inc.) (with Officer signatories being Lipman, Rooney, Raucher, Rusin, Siegel, among others).


Table of Contents
Exhibit    

Description

10.19     Employment Agreement, dated as of October 17, 2005, between Affinion Group, Inc., and Nathaniel J. Lipman.
10.20     Employment Agreement, dated as of June 15, 2005, by and between Affinion Group, LLC (f/k/a Cendant Marketing Group LLC), Affinion International Holdings Limited (f/k/a Cendant International Holdings Limited), and Robert Rooney.
10.21     Employment Agreement, dated as of September 10, 2002, by and between Trilegiant Corporation and Michael Rauscher.
10.22     Employment Agreement, dated as of December 1, 2005, by and between Affinion Group, Inc. and Maureen E. O’Connell.
10.23     Patent License Agreement, dated as of October 17, 2005, between CD Intellectual Property Holdings, LLC, a Delaware corporation and Trilegiant Loyalty Solutions, Inc., a Delaware corporation.
12.1     Statement regarding earnings to fixed charges ratio.
21.1     Subsidiaries of Affinion Group, Inc.
23.1 **   Consent of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP (included in the opinion filed as Exhibit 5.1 to this Registration Statement).
23.2     Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm.
24.1     Powers of Attorney of Directors and Officers of the registrants (included on Registration Statement Signature Pages).
25.1     Form T-1 of Wells Fargo Bank, National Association (with respect to the 10  1 / 8 % Senior Notes due 2013).
25.2     Form T-1 of Wells Fargo Bank, National Association (with respect to the 11½% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2015).
99.1     Form of Letter of Transmittal.
99.2     Form of Notice of Guaranteed Delivery.
99.3     Form of Letter to Brokers.
99.4     Form of Letter to Clients.

** To be filed by amendment.
The schedules and exhibits to this agreement are omitted pursuant to Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K. Affinion Group, Inc. agrees to furnish supplementally to the SEC, upon request, a copy of any omitted schedule or exhibit.

Exhibit 2.1

EXECUTION COPY

 


PURCHASE AGREEMENT

by and among

Cendant Corporation,

Affinity Acquisition, Inc.

and

Affinity Acquisition Holdings, Inc.

Dated as of July 26, 2005

 



TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

          Page
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS

Section 1.1

   Definitions    2
ARTICLE II
PURCHASE AND SALE OF EQUITY

Section 2.1

   Purchase and Sale of Equity    16

Section 2.2

   Closing    17

Section 2.3

   Closing Consideration Adjustment    19
ARTICLE III
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

Section 3.1

   Representations and Warranties of Seller    20

Section 3.2

   Representations and Warranties of Acquirors    36
ARTICLE IV
COVENANTS

Section 4.1

   Conduct of the Companies’ Business    41

Section 4.2

   Employment Matters    44

Section 4.3

   Publicity    45

Section 4.4

   Confidentiality    45

Section 4.5

   Access to Information; Financial Statements    46

Section 4.6

   Post-Closing Litigation and Other Matters    48

Section 4.7

   Filings and Authorizations, Including HSR Act Filing    48

Section 4.8

   Director and Officer Liability; Indemnification    50

Section 4.9

   Reasonable Best Efforts    50

Section 4.10

   Insurance    50

Section 4.11

   Termination of Agreements; Other Assets    51

Section 4.12

   Debt; Release of Guarantees    53

Section 4.13

   Provision of Certain Services    54

Section 4.14

   Use of Certain Marks    54

Section 4.15

   Tax Matters    55

Section 4.16

   Non-Competition; Non-Hire; Non-Solicitation    61

Section 4.17

   Compliance with WARN Act and Similar Statutes    62

Section 4.18

   Buyer’s Financing Activities    62

Section 4.19

   Resignations    63

Section 4.20

   Certain Assets    64

Section 4.21

   New Inter-Company Agreements    64

 

i


Section 4.22

   Restated Financial Statements    64

Section 4.23

   Reservation of Parent Common Stock    64

Section 4.24

   Retention Payments    64

Section 4.25

   Solvency    64

Section 4.26

   Consents    65

Section 4.27

   Florida Filing    65

Section 4.28

   Further Assurances    65
ARTICLE V
CONDITIONS OF PURCHASE

Section 5.1

   Conditions to Obligations of Buyer    66

Section 5.2

   Conditions to Obligations of Seller    67
ARTICLE VI
TERMINATION

Section 6.1

   Termination of Agreement    68

Section 6.2

   Effect of Termination    68
ARTICLE VII
INDEMNIFICATION

Section 7.1

   Obligations of Seller    69

Section 7.2

   Obligations of Acquirors    70

Section 7.3

   Indemnification Procedures    71

Section 7.4

   Tax Indemnification Procedures    75
ARTICLE VIII
MISCELLANEOUS

Section 8.1

   Assignment; Binding Effect    77

Section 8.2

   Choice of Law    77

Section 8.3

   Consent to Jurisdiction and Service of Process    77

Section 8.4

   Survival    78

Section 8.5

   Notices    78

Section 8.6

   Headings    80

Section 8.7

   Fees and Expenses    80

Section 8.8

   Entire Agreement    80

Section 8.9

   Interpretation    80

Section 8.10

   Waiver and Amendment    80

Section 8.11

   Third-party Beneficiaries    80

Section 8.12

   Specific Performance    81

Section 8.13

   Severability    81

Section 8.14

   No Consequential Damages    81

Section 8.15

   Counterparts; Facsimile Signatures    81

 

ii


Exhibits   
Exhibit A    Form of Master Transition Services Agreement
Exhibit B    Debt Financing Commitment Letter
Exhibit C    Equity Financing Commitment Letter
Schedules   
Schedule I    Parent Preferred Shares Term Sheet
Schedule I    Parent Warrant Term Sheet
Schedule III    Patent License Term Sheet
Schedule IV    Retained IP
Schedule V    New Inter-Company Term Sheets

 

iii


INDEX OF DEFINED TERMS

 

     Page

7.1(a)(xi) Losses

   2, 73

Acquirors

   1, 2, 3

Action

   2

Adjusted EBITDA Statement

   2, 21

Affected Employees

   2, 46

Affiliate

   3

Affinity Partner Contract

   3

Agreement

   3

Ancillary Agreements

   3

Apollo

   3, 40

Asserted Liability

   3, 75

Balance Sheet

   3

Balance Sheet Date

   3

Base Claim

   3, 73

Basket

   3, 73

Business

   3

Business Contract Matters

   4, 51

Business Day

   4

Business Litigation Matters

   4, 51

Buyer

   1, 4

Buyer Claim

   4, 73

Buyer Indemnified Parties

   4, 72

Cash

   4

Ceiling

   4, 73

Cendant Marks

   4, 57

CIH

   1, 4

Cims Limited

   2, 4

claim

   16

Claim Notice

   4, 75

Claims Made Policies

   4

Closing

   4, 19

Closing Consideration

   4, 18

Closing Date

   5, 19

CMG

   1, 5

CMG Interests

   1, 5

Code

   5

Commitment Letters

   5

Companies

   1, 5

Company

   1, 5

Company Contracts

   5, 30

Company Intellectual Property

   5

Company Leases

   5, 27

Company Licensed Intellectual

  

Property

   5

Company Marks

   5, 57

Company Owned Intellectual Property

   5

Company Plans

   5

Company Registered Intellectual Property

   6

Competitive Business

   6, 64

Confidentiality Agreement

   6, 48

Continuing Agreements

   6, 54

Contract

   6

Copyrights

   6

Counsel of Record

   6, 78

debt

   16

Debt Financing

   6, 40

Debt Financing Commitments

   6, 40

Debt Financing Schedule

   6

Defense Materials

   6, 79

Directive

   6, 35

Due Date

   6, 58

Election

   61

Elections

   7, 61

Encumbrance

   7

Equity

   1, 7

Equity Financing

   7, 40

Equity Financing Commitment

   7, 40

Equity Interests

   7

Equity Ratio

   7, 18

ERISA

   7

Excepted Jurisdictions

   7, 70

Excluded Litigation Matters

   7, 50

Existing Licenses

   54

Financial Statements

   7

Financing

   8, 40

Financing Agreements

   8, 66

Financing Commitments

   8, 40

Foreign Antitrust Merger

  

Control Laws

   8, 24

Form A

   1, 8

FSA

   2, 8

FSA Notices

   2, 8

FSMA

   1, 8

 

iv


GAAP

   8

Governmental Entity

   8

Governmental Filings

   8, 24

Grid

   8, 78

Grid Cap

   8, 78

Guarantees

   8, 55

HSR Act

   9

Indebtedness

   9

Indemnified Party

   9, 75

Indemnifying Party

   9, 75

Independent Accounting Firm

   9

Initial Cash Price

   9, 18

Insurance Commissioner

   1, 9

Intellectual Property

   9

Inter-Company Agreements

   9, 37

Interim Period

   9

Knowledge

   9

Law

   10

Liability

   10

Losses

   10, 72

LTM Adjusted EBITDA

   10

LTM Scheduled EBITDA

   10

Master Software Agreements

   10, 54

Master Transition Services Agreement

   10

Material Adverse Effect

   10

Monthly Financial Reports

   11

New Inter-Company Agreement Term Sheets

   11, 37

New Inter-Company Agreements

   11, 67

Notice Period

   11, 75

Occurrence Based Policies

   11

Offering Materials

   11, 65

Organizational Documents

   11

Outside Date

   12, 71

Parent

   1, 12

Parent Common Stock

   12

Parent Preferred Stock

   12

Parent Preferred Stock Certificate of Designations

   12

Parent Warrants

   12

Patent License

   12

Patents

   12

Permits

   12, 32

Permitted Encumbrance

   12

Person

   13

Pre-Closing Period Tax Return

   13, 58

Pre-Closing Tax Period

   13

Pre-Closing Taxes

   13

Public Software

   13

Purchase Price Adjustment Items

   13, 21

Quarterly Financial Statements

   14, 49

RCI Europe

   14

Real Property

   14, 27

Refund Amount

   14

Regulation S-X

   14

Released Parties

   14, 55

Representatives

   14

Restated Financial Statements

   14

Restricted Cash

   14

Restructuring Costs

   14

Retained Company Plans

   14, 47

Retained IP

   14

Retention Payments

   14

Safecard

   1, 15

SAS 100 Quarters

   15, 19

Section 338(h)(10) Allocation Statement

   15, 62

Securities Act

   15

Seller

   1, 15

Seller Claim

   15, 74

Seller Counsel

   15, 79

Seller Disclosure Schedule

   15

Seller Indemnified Parties

   15, 74

Shared Litigation

   15, 78

Shared Losses

   15, 78

Shares

   1, 16

Significant Relationship

   16

Solvency Opinion

   16, 68

Solvent

   16

Straddle Period

   16

Straddle Period Tax Return

   16, 59

Subsidiary

   16

Support Services

   16, 56

Surety Bonds

   17, 56

Survival Expiration Date

   17, 82

S-X Quarterly Financial Statements

   15

Tax

   17

Tax Allocation Statement

   17, 62

Tax Claim

   17, 79

Tax Return

   17

Terminating Contracts

   17, 54

Trade Secrets

   17

 

v


Trademarks

   17

Transfer Taxes

   17

Transferors

   18

Treasury Regulations

   18, 60

TRL Group

   18

WARN Act

   18, 65

 

vi


PURCHASE AGREEMENT

THIS PURCHASE AGREEMENT is made and entered into and effective as of the 26 th day of July, 2005, by and among Cendant Corporation, a Delaware corporation (“ Seller ”), AFFINITY ACQUISITION, INC. , a Delaware corporation (“ Buyer ”) and AFFINITY ACQUISITION HOLDINGS, INC. , a Delaware corporation and the parent corporation of Buyer (“ Parent ” and, together with Buyer, “ Acquirors ”).

RECITALS

WHEREAS, Seller beneficially owns (i) all of the Equity Interests (“ CMG Interests ”) in Cendant Marketing Group, LLC (formerly, Cendant Membership Services Holdings LLC), a Delaware limited liability company and a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of Seller (“ CMG ”), and (ii) 10,000,000 ordinary shares of £1 each in the capital (“ Shares ” and, collectively with CMG Interests, the “ Equity ”) of Cendant International Holdings Limited, a private company limited by shares incorporated in England and Wales with registered number 3458969 and an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Seller (“ CIH ” and, together with CMG, the “ Companies ” and each, individually, a “ Company ”);

WHEREAS, the Equity constitutes all of the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of the Companies;

WHEREAS, Buyer desires to purchase, and Seller desires to sell or cause the sale, as applicable, to Buyer of, the Equity, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein;

WHEREAS, as promptly as practicable, but in no event later than ten (10) days after the date of this Agreement, Buyer and Seller shall file with the Commissioner of Insurance of the State of North Dakota (the “ Insurance Commissioner ”) in accordance with Section 26.1-10-03 of the North Dakota Insurance Code, a completed acquisition of control statement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Seller (the “ Form A ”) relating to Buyer’s proposed acquisition of control of Safecard Services Insurance Company, a North Dakota corporation and an indirect wholly-owned Subsidiary of CMG (“ Safecard ”); and

WHEREAS, as promptly as practicable, but in no event later than ten (10) days after the date of this Agreement, (a) Buyer is to deliver to FSA a completed notice of control (as such term is defined in section 178(5) of the United Kingdom’s Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (“ FSMA ”)), which in the reasonable opinion of Buyer is fully compliant with the requirements of section 182 of FSMA, by Buyer and each other proposed controller regarding the proposed acquisition of control (such term having the meaning ascribed thereto in section 179 of FSMA) of Cims Limited, a private company limited by shares incorporated in England and Wales, with registered number 01008797, and a wholly-owned Subsidiary of CIH (“ Cims Limited ”), envisaged by this Agreement


and to provide the Financial Services Authority, an independent non-governmental body constituted by FSMA (the “ FSA ”), with such information as it may require, in order to consider approving the proposed change of control of Cims Limited, and (b) each controller of Cims Limited is to deliver a completed notice to FSA pursuant to Section 190 of FSMA and Chapter 11.4 of FSA’s Supervision Manual (such two notices to FSA together the (“ FSA Notices ”), in each case, including such information and accompanied by such documents as the FSA may require for the purposes of its consideration of such proposed acquisition of control in accordance with Part XII of FSMA.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing, the representations, warranties, covenants and agreements set forth in this Agreement, and other good and valuable consideration, the adequacy and receipt of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereby agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

Section 1.1 Definitions . Capitalized terms used in this Agreement shall have the meanings set forth in this Agreement. In addition, for purposes of this Agreement, the following terms, when used in this Agreement, shall have the meanings assigned to them in this Section 1.1.

7.1(a)(xi) Losses ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.1(a).

Acquirors ” shall have the meaning set forth in the first paragraph of this Agreement.

Action ” means any action, claim, complaint, investigation, petition, suit, arbitration or other proceeding, whether civil or criminal, at law or in equity by or before any Governmental Entity.

Adjusted EBITDA Statement ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(a).

Affected Employees ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.2(a).

Affiliate ” means a Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, a specified Person. A Person shall be deemed to control another Person if such first Person possesses, directly or indirectly, the power to direct, or cause the direction of, the management and policies of such other Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise. Notwithstanding the foregoing, only Parent and its and Buyer’s Subsidiaries shall be deemed to be Affiliates of Buyer.

 

2


Affinity Partner Contract ” shall mean any Contract pursuant to which the Companies or any of their Subsidiaries have the right to market or sell their products and services to the customers of the Contract counterparty.

Agreement ” means this Agreement, as the same may be amended or supplemented, together with all Exhibits and Schedules attached hereto.

Ancillary Agreements ” means the Master Transition Services Agreement and the Patent License.

Acquirors ” shall have the meaning set forth in the first paragraph of this Agreement.

Apollo ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.2(g).

Asserted Liability ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.3(a).

Balance Sheet ” means the unaudited combined balance sheet of the Companies and their Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2004 included in the Financial Statements.

Balance Sheet Date ” means December 31, 2004.

Base Claim ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.1(b).

Basket ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.1(b).

Business ” means the business of the Companies and their Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, which is comprised of the direct marketing of private label and affinity-based membership programs, the direct marketing of affinity based insurance products, the designing and marketing of enhancement packages, and the administration of points-based loyalty programs.

Business Contract Matters ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.6(b).

Business Day ” means any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banks are required to be closed in New York, New York or London, United Kingdom.

Business Litigation Matters ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.6(b).

Buyer ” shall have the meaning set forth in the first paragraph of this Agreement.

Buyer Claim ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.1(b).

 

3


Buyer Indemnified Parties ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.1(a).

Cash ” means all cash and cash equivalents reflected on the March 31, 2005 unaudited combined balance sheet contained in the Financial Statements (excluding Restricted Cash).

Ceiling ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.1(b).

Cendant Marks ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.14(a).

CIH ” shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

Cims Limited ” shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

Claim Notice ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.3(a).

Claims Made Policies ” means those policies of liability insurance requiring that a claim be made against the insured and reported to the insurer during the policy period for coverage to apply.

Closing ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(a).

Closing Consideration ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(b).

Closing Date ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(a).

CMG ” shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

CMG Interests ” shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

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

Commitment Letters ” mean, together, the Debt Financing Commitments and the Equity Financing Commitment.

Companies ” and “ Company ” shall have the respective meanings set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

Company Contracts ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(n)(i).

Company Intellectual Property ” means the Company Owned Intellectual Property and Company Licensed Intellectual Property.

 

4


Company Leases ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(k).

Company Licensed Intellectual Property ” means the Intellectual Property, excluding Retained IP, which is licensed to the Companies or their Subsidiaries.

Company Marks ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.14(b).

Company Owned Intellectual Property ” means the Intellectual Property, including Company Registered Intellectual Property, but excluding Retained IP, in which the Companies or their Subsidiaries own all Intellectual Property rights.

Company Plans ” means each “employee benefit plan” (within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA), including, but not limited to, each pension, profit sharing, 401(k), severance, welfare, disability, deferred compensation, stock purchase, stock option, employment, change-in-control, retention, fringe benefit, bonus, incentive agreements, programs, policies or other arrangements, whether or not subject to ERISA and that is maintained, sponsored or contributed to by any of the Companies or their Subsidiaries for the benefit of any current or former employee of the Companies or any of their Subsidiaries, except for any such plans, agreements, programs or policies that are mandated by applicable Law.

Company Registered Intellectual Property ” means, for the Company Owned Intellectual Property, other than Retained IP, all U.S. and foreign: (i) patents and patent applications; (ii) trademark registrations and applications (including Internet domain name registrations); and (iii) copyright registrations and applications.

Competitive Business ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.16(c).

Confidentiality Agreement ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.4(a).

Continuing Agreements ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.11(a).

Contract ” means any contract, agreement, commitment, franchise, indenture, lease or sublease, purchase order, license, note, bond or mortgage.

Copyrights ” means all copyrights and works of authorship (including all registrations and applications to register the same), and any unregistered copyrights.

Counsel of Record ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.3(m)(iii).

Debt Financing ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.2(g).

 

5


Debt Financing Commitments ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.2(g).

Debt Financing Schedule ” means the EBITDA schedule appended as Schedule I to the Debt Financing Commitments.

Defense Materials ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.3(m)(v).

Directive ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(r)(vi).

Due Date ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.15(a)(i).

Elections ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.15(d)(i).

Encumbrance ” means any lien, encumbrance, security interest, option, pledge, mortgage, deed of trust, hypothecation, conditional sale or restriction on transfer of title or voting, whether imposed by agreement, understanding, law, equity or otherwise, except for any restrictions on transfer generally arising under any applicable federal or state securities laws.

Equity ” shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

Equity Financing ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.2(g).

Equity Financing Commitment ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.2(g).

Equity Interests ” means any share capital, capital stock, partnership or limited liability company interest or other equity or voting interest or any security or evidence of indebtedness convertible into or exchangeable for any share capital, capital stock, partnership or limited liability company interest or other equity interest, or any right, warrant or option to acquire any of the foregoing.

Equity Ratio ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(c).

ERISA ” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and the related regulations and published interpretations.

Excepted Jurisdictions ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.1(c).

Excluded Litigation Matters ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.6(a).

Financial Statements ” means, collectively, (i) the audited combined balance sheets of the Companies and their Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2004 and 2003 and the audited combined statements of operations and cash flows and changes in

6


combined equity of the Companies and their Subsidiaries for each of the three years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002; and (ii) the unaudited combined balance sheet and unaudited combined statements of operations and cash flows of the Companies and their Subsidiaries as of and for the three months ended March 31, 2005, including in each case, any notes thereto.

Financing ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.2(g).

Financing Agreements ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.18(b).

Financing Commitments ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.2(g).

Foreign Antitrust Merger Control Laws ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(e).

Form A ” shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

FSA ” shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

FSA Notices ” shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

FSMA ” shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

GAAP ” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, as in effect from time to time, consistently applied.

Governmental Entity ” means any national, supranational, federal, state, local or foreign government, or any regulatory authority (including without limitation, of the European Community and the FSA), administrative agency, other agency, bureau, board, commission, court, department, tribunal, arbitral body or other similar governmental, quasi-governmental or regulatory authority or instrumentality thereof.

Governmental Filings ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(e).

Grid ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.3(m)(i).

Grid Cap ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.3(m)(i).

Guarantees ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.12(a).

HSR Act ” means the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, and the related regulations and published interpretations.

 

7


Indebtedness ” means, with respect to any Person, without duplication: (i) obligations for borrowed money; (ii) obligations for borrowed money of any other Person guaranteed in any manner by such Person, (iii) obligations under capitalized leases in respect of which such Person is liable, contingently or otherwise, as obligor or guarantor and (iv) obligations under swaps, hedges or similar instruments.

Indemnified Party ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.3(a).

Indemnifying Party ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.3(a).

Independent Accounting Firm ” means a mutually acceptable nationally recognized firm of independent certified public accountants, other than Ernst & Young LLP.

Initial Cash Price ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(b).

Insurance Commissioner ” shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

Intellectual Property ” means all Trademarks, Patents, Copyrights, Trade Secrets, moral rights and any other intellectual property rights recognized under any Laws or international conventions, and in any country or jurisdiction in the world, all applications, disclosures, renewals, extensions, continuations or reissues thereof, and all rights arising thereunder (including the right to sue for past infringement).

Inter-Company Agreements ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(u)(ii).

Interim Period ” shall mean with respect to any Straddle Period, the portion of such Straddle Period that begins on the first day of such Straddle Period and ends on the Closing Date.

Knowledge ” means the actual knowledge of Thomas Christopoul, Nathaniel Lipman, Claire Mahoney, Steve Webb, Todd Siegel, Sam Katz, Robert Rooney, Tom Smith, Michael Fahey and Marti Beller.

LTM Adjusted EBITDA ” means, if the Closing occurs on or before November 15, 2005, EBITDA for the twelve (12) month period ended June 30, 2005 derived from (a) the financial records used to prepare the Restated Financial Statements for the six month period ended December 31, 2004 and (b) the financial records used to prepare the Financial Statements for the six month period ended June 30, 2005, adjusted (without duplication) to (i) reflect adjustments of the type and calculated consistent with the amounts set forth on the Debt Financing Schedule, provided that the amounts set forth under “One-Time Costs”, “Management Proforma Adjustments” and the line item “Other 2005 Normalizing Adjustments” on the Debt Financing Schedule are not subject to change. If the Closing occurs after November 15, 2005, the nine (9) month period ended

 

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September 30, 2005 shall be substituted for the six (6) month period ended June 30, 2005 in the previous sentence and the three (3) month period shall be substituted for the six (6) month period referred to in clause (a) above.

LTM Scheduled EBITDA ” means $241.6 Million.

Law ” means any statute, code, rule, regulation, order, ordinance, judgment or decree or other pronouncement of any Governmental Entity having the effect of law.

Liability ” means any actual liability or obligation (including as related to Taxes), whether known or unknown, asserted or unasserted, absolute or contingent, accrued or unaccrued, liquidated or unliquidated and whether due or to become due, regardless of when asserted.

Losses ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.1(a).

Master Software Agreements ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.11(d).

Master Transition Services Agreement ” means the Master Transition Services Agreement, substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit A , to be entered into by Seller, the Companies and Buyer at Closing.

Material Adverse Effect ” means any change or event that is, or is reasonably likely to be, materially adverse to the business, results of operations or financial condition of the Companies and their Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, other than any change or event resulting from, relating to or arising out of (i) general economic conditions in any of the geographical areas in which any of the Companies and their Subsidiaries operate unless such condition affects the Companies and their Subsidiaries disproportionately; (ii) any change in the financial, banking, currency or capital markets in general (whether in the United States or any other country or in any international market); (iii) conditions generally affecting any of the industries in which any of the Companies and their Subsidiaries operate unless such condition affects the Companies and their Subsidiaries disproportionately; (iv) acts of God, national or international political or social conditions, including the engagement by the United States or the United Kingdom in hostilities, whether commenced before or after the date hereof, and whether or not pursuant to the declaration of a national emergency or war, or the occurrence of any military or terrorist attack upon the United States or the United Kingdom, or any of their respective territories, possessions, or diplomatic or consular offices or upon any military installation, equipment or personnel of the United States or the United Kingdom; (v) any actions taken, or failures to take action, or such other changes or events, in each case, to which Buyer has consented; (vi) any Action relating to the matters referred to in Section 7.1(a)(x) or (xi) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule; or (vii) the announcement of, or the taking of any action expressly contemplated by, this Agreement and the other agreements contemplated hereby, including by reason of the

 

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identity of Buyer or any communication by Buyer regarding the plans or intentions of Buyer with respect to the conduct of the Business.

Monthly Financial Reports ” means the monthly reports generated, in the ordinary course of business, consistent with past practice by Seller’s Hyperion system based on the consolidated monthly financial data submitted by each of Progeny Marketing Innovations, Inc., Trilegiant Corporation (including Trilegiant Loyalty Solutions, Inc.) and Cims Limited which do not include all adjustments and reclassifications necessary for such reports to be on a basis comparable with the Financial Statements.

New Inter-Company Agreement Term Sheets ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(u)(iii).

New Inter-Company Agreements ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.21(a).

Notice Period ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.3(a).

Occurrence Based Policies ” means those policies of liability and property insurance requiring that an incident or event giving rise to a claim take place during the policy period for coverage to apply, regardless of when claim is made against the insured or reported to the insurer.

Offering Materials ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.18(a).

Organizational Documents ” means the documents by which any Person (other than an individual) establishes its legal existence or which govern its internal affairs (i.e., including, but not limited to, certificate of incorporation, certificate of formation, memorandum of association, articles of association, constitutional documents, by-laws or operating agreement).

Outside Date ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.1(b).

Parent ” shall have the meaning set forth in the first paragraph of this Agreement.

Parent Common Stock ” means the common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Parent.

Parent Preferred Shares ” means the shares of Parent Preferred Stock, designated Series A Exchangeable Redeemable Preferred Stock, and having the terms set forth on Schedule I .

Parent Preferred Stock ” means the preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Parent.

 

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Parent Warrants ” means the warrants to purchase shares of Parent Common Stock having the terms set forth on Schedule II .

Patent Licenses ” means the Patent License Agreements, to be entered into by an Affiliate of Seller, the Companies and Buyer at Closing, containing the terms set forth on Schedule III .

Patents ” means all U.S. and foreign patents and patent applications, including divisions, continuations, continuations-in-part, reissues, reexaminations, and any renewals or extensions thereof, and any corresponding foreign filings claiming priority from any of the foregoing.

Permits ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(p)(i).

Permitted Encumbrance ” means (i) Encumbrances incurred or deposits made 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, surety and appeal bonds, bids, leases, government Contracts, performance and return of money bonds and similar obligations; (ii) mechanics, carriers’, workers’, repairers’, materialmen’s, warehousemen’s and similar Encumbrances which have arisen in the ordinary course of business; (iii) Encumbrances approved by Buyer in writing; (iv) Encumbrances for Taxes not yet delinquent or contested in good faith; (v) requirements and restrictions of zoning, building and other Laws, rules and regulations; (vi) statutory liens of landlords for amounts not yet due and payable; (vii) liens arising under conditional sales contracts and equipment leases with third parties entered into in the ordinary course of business; and (viii) Encumbrances which, in the aggregate, are not reasonably likely to impair, in any material respect, the continued use of the asset or property to which they relate, as used on the date hereof.

Person ” means an association, a corporation, an individual, a partnership, a limited liability company, a trust, or any other entity or organization, including a Governmental Entity.

Pre-Closing Period Tax Return ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.15(a)(i).

Pre-Closing Tax Period ” shall mean any Tax period ending on or before the Closing Date.

Pre-Closing Taxes ” shall mean all liability for Taxes of the Companies and any of their Subsidiaries for Pre-Closing Tax Periods and the Interim Period. For purposes of calculating the liability of the Companies or their Subsidiaries for Taxes of the Interim Period, the portion of any Tax for a Straddle Period that is allocable to the Interim Period shall be deemed to equal: (i) in the case of Taxes based upon or related to income or receipts, the amount that would be payable if the Straddle Period had actually ended on the Closing Date and the books of the Companies or their Subsidiaries were

 

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closed as of the close of such date; (ii) in the case of Taxes imposed on specific transactions or events, Taxes imposed on specific transactions or events occurring on or before the Closing Date; and (iii) in the case of Taxes imposed on a periodic basis, or in the case of any other Taxes not covered by clause (i) or clause (ii), the amount of such Taxes for the entire Straddle Period multiplied by a fraction (a) the numerator of which is the number of calendar days in the period ending on the Closing Date and (b) the denominator of which is the number of calendar days in the entire Straddle Period. For the avoidance of doubt, Pre-Closing Taxes shall include all Taxes imposed as a result of the Elections. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, Pre-Closing Taxes shall not include Taxes imposed on any of the Companies or their Subsidiaries solely to the extent such Taxes arise as a result of any transaction occurring after the Closing on the Closing Date that is not in the ordinary course of business or solely to the extent such Taxes arise as a result of a breach by the Buyer or any of its Affiliates (including, after the Closing, the Companies and their Subsidiaries) of any of their obligations, agreements or covenants set forth in this Agreement.

Public Software ” means any software that is distributed as open source software (e.g., Linux), including software licensed or distributed under any of the following licenses or distribution models, or licenses or distribution models substantially similar to any of the following: (i) GNU’s General Public License (Version 2) (GPL) or Lesser GPL (Version 2.1) (LGPL); (ii) the Mozilla Public License (Version 1.1); (iii) the BSD License; and (iv) the Apache License (Version 2.0).

Purchase Price Adjustment Items ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(b).

Quarterly Financial Statements ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.5(c).

RCI Europe ” means RCI Europe Limited, an unlimited liability company incorporated in England and Wales with registered number 01148410, and an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Seller and the parent corporation of CIH.

Real Property ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(k).

Refund Amount ” means $41,000,000.00.

Regulation S-X ” means Regulation S-X promulgated by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933.

Released Parties ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.12(a).

Representatives ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Confidentiality Agreement.

 

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Restated Financial Statements ” means, collectively, the audited restated combined balance sheets of the Companies and their Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2004 and 2003 and the audited restated combined statements of operations and cash flows and changes in combined equity of the Companies and their Subsidiaries for each of the three years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002, which Restated Financial Statements will reflect the inclusion of certain assets and liabilities of Cendant Travel, Inc. and expanded disclosures related thereto.

Restricted Cash ” means restricted cash under GAAP, consistently applied, plus marketable securities held in restricted accounts.

Restructuring Costs ” means $15,496,843.00.

Retained Company Plans ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.2(b).

Retained IP ” means the Intellectual Property assets held as of the date hereof by the Companies and their Subsidiaries that will be transferred to Seller prior to the Closing as set forth on Schedule IV hereto.

Retention Payments ” means $24,109,201.10, which represents the maximum amount of the retention payments to be made by the Companies and their Subsidiaries pursuant to the agreements listed under the heading “Retention Letters” in Section 3.1(r)(i) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule , as in effect on the date hereof.

S-X Quarterly Financial Statements ” means the unaudited combined balance sheet and the unaudited combined statements of operations and cash flows and changes in combined equity of the Companies for the six month period ended June 30, 2005, adjusted as required for such statements to be in compliance with Regulation S-X, assuming that the Companies and its Subsidiaries were a stand-alone “registrant” under Regulation S-X. If the Closing occurs after November 15, 2005, the nine (9) month period ended September 30, 2005 shall be substituted for June 30, 2005 in the previous sentence.

Safecard ” shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

SAS 100 Quarters ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(d).

Section 338(h)(10) Allocation Statement ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.15(e)(ii).

Securities Act ” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

Seller ” shall have the meaning set forth in the first paragraph of this Agreement.

 

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Seller Claim ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.2(b).

Seller Counsel ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.3(m)(iv).

Seller Disclosure Schedule ” shall mean the disclosure schedule of Seller referred to in and delivered to Buyer pursuant to this Agreement.

Seller Indemnified Parties ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.2(a).

Shared Litigation ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.3(m)(iii).

Shared Losses ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.3(m).

Shares ” shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

Significant Relationship ” means the business relationship of the Companies and their Subsidiaries with their suppliers, vendors, customers, and affinity partners who are parties to Company Contracts.

Solvent ” with regard to any Person, means that (i) the sum of the assets of such Person, both at a fair valuation and at present fair salable value, exceeds its liabilities, including contingent, subordinated, unmatured, unliquidated, and disputed liabilities; (ii) such Person has sufficient capital with which to conduct its business; and (iii) such Person has not incurred debts beyond its ability to pay such debts as they mature. For purposes of this definition, “ debt ” means any liability on a claim, and “ claim ” means (i) a right to payment, whether or not such right is reduced to judgment, liquidated, unliquidated, fixed, contingent, matured, unmatured, disputed, undisputed, legal, equitable, secured, or unsecured or (ii) a right to an equitable remedy for breach of performance to the extent such breach gives rise to a payment, whether or not such right to an equitable remedy is reduced to judgment, fixed, contingent, matured, unmatured, disputed, undisputed, secured, or unsecured. With respect to any such contingent liabilities, such liabilities shall be computed at the amount which, in light of all the facts and circumstances existing at the time, represents the amount which can reasonably be expected to become an actual or matured liability.

Solvency Opinion ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.25.

Straddle Period ” shall mean any Tax period that includes but does not end on the Closing date.

Straddle Period Tax Return ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.15(a)(ii).

 

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Subsidiary ” of any Person means, on any date, any Person (i) the accounts of which would be consolidated with and into those of the applicable Person in such Person’s consolidated financial statements if such financial statements were prepared in accordance with GAAP as of such date or (ii) of which securities or other ownership interests representing at least fifty percent of the equity or at least fifty percent of the ordinary voting power or, in the case of a partnership, at least fifty percent of the general partnership interests or at least fifty percent of the profits or losses of which are, as of such date, owned, controlled or held by the applicable Person or one or more subsidiaries of such Person. Without limiting the foregoing, TRL Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation, shall be deemed to be a Subsidiary of CMG.

Support Services ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.13.

Surety Bonds ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.12(a).

Survival Expiration Date ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8.4(a).

Tax ” means any foreign, federal, state, county or local income, sales and use, excise, franchise, real and personal property, gross receipt, capital stock, production, business and occupation, disability, employment, payroll, severance, withholding, value added or any similar tax or other tax, duty, fee, assessment or charge imposed by any taxing authority, including any interest, addition of Tax or penalties related thereto.

Tax Allocation Statement ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.15(e)(i).

Tax Claim ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.4(a).

Tax Return ” means any return, report, declaration, information return or other document required to be filed (or otherwise filed) with any Tax authority with respect to Taxes, including any amendments thereof.

Terminating Contracts ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.11(a).

Trade Secrets ” means all U.S. and foreign trade secrets, proprietary know-how and other confidential and proprietary information, including customer lists, technical information, data, process technology, plans, drawings, and blue prints, in each case, that derive value (economic, strategic or otherwise) from not being generally known to and/or readily ascertainable by any other Person.

Trademarks ” means all U.S. and foreign trademarks, service marks, trade names and Internet domain names, slogan, design, picture or any other symbol used to identify any good and/or service, together with the goodwill symbolized by any of the foregoing, and all registrations and applications relating to the foregoing.

 

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Transfer Taxes ” means any sales, use, stock transfer, real property transfer, real property gains, transfer, stamp, registration, documentary, recording or similar duties or taxes together with any interest thereon, penalties, fines, costs, fees, additions to tax or additional amounts with respect thereto incurred in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby.

Transferors ” means, together, Seller and RCI Europe.

Treasury Regulations ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.15(d)(i).

TRL Group ” means TRL Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

WARN Act ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.17.

ARTICLE II

PURCHASE AND SALE OF EQUITY

Section 2.1 Purchase and Sale of Equity .

(a) Acquirors and Seller hereby agree that, upon the terms and subject to the satisfaction or waiver, if permissible, of the conditions hereof, at the Closing, Buyer shall purchase from Transferors, and, as applicable, Seller shall, and shall cause RCI Europe to, sell, transfer, assign and deliver to Buyer (in the case of the Shares with full title guarantee), all of the Equity held by Transferors, free and clear of Encumbrances and with all rights attached thereto.

(b) At the Closing, in consideration for the purchase of the Equity pursuant to Section 2.1(a) and the covenants of Seller contained in Section 4.16, Buyer shall pay to Seller by wire transfer through a bank reasonably acceptable to Seller to an account identified by Seller to Buyer not later than two (2) Business Days prior to the Closing Date, (i) in cash $1,750,000,000 (the “ Initial Cash Price ”), as adjusted pursuant to Section 2.3(c) and (d) and 2.1(c) and (d), and (ii) (A) the Parent Preferred Stock, as adjusted pursuant to Section 2.1(c) and (B) the Parent Warrants (the Parent Preferred Stock, the Parent Warrants and the Initial Cash Price, being referred to herein as the “ Closing Consideration ”).

(c) In the event that the ratio of (i) funded equity by Apollo and management under the Equity Financing Commitment to (ii) liquidation preference of Parent Preferred Stock (the “ Equity Ratio ”) is less than 2.16, then the amount of Parent Preferred Stock to be delivered by Buyer pursuant to Section 2.1(b)(ii) shall be decreased and the amount of Cash to be delivered pursuant to Section 2.1(b)(i) shall be increased so that, upon payment of the Closing Consideration at Closing, the Equity Ratio shall be not less than 2.16.

 

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(d) Beginning on the later of (x) September 30, 2005 and (y) the thirty-first day following the delivery by Seller to Buyer of (i) the Restated Financial Statements and (ii) the unaudited combined balance sheets of the Companies and their Subsidiaries and the related unaudited combined statements of operations and cash flows and changes in combined equity for the four full quarters (not including the quarter ended December 31,2004) preceding the quarter in which the items referenced in this Section 2.1(d)(i) and (ii) are delivered (the “ SAS 100 Quarters ”) as to which procedures consistent with SAS 100 shall have been completed, interest shall accrue on the Initial Cash Price at a rate equal to five percent (5%) per annum compounded quarterly. Buyer shall pay the aggregate amount of such interest at the Closing.

Section 2.2 Closing .

(a) The closing of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (the “ Closing ”) shall be held at the offices of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, located at Four Times Square, New York, New York, at 10:00 a.m., New York City time following the satisfaction or waiver, if permissible, of the conditions to Closing set forth in Article V (other than conditions which by their nature can be satisfied only at Closing), at such date as Buyer and Seller mutually agree, which shall be no later than the third Business Day after satisfaction or waiver, if permissible, of the conditions to the Closing set forth in Article V (the “ Closing Date ”), unless another date is agreed to in writing by Buyer and Seller.

(b) Deliveries by Seller . At the Closing, Seller shall deliver, or cause to be delivered, to Buyer:

(i) a certificate or certificates evidencing the CMG Interests, along with such documentation as may be reasonably required to evidence that such CMG Interests have been duly assigned or transferred to Buyer;

(ii) a certificate or certificates evidencing the Shares of CIH along with a duly executed transfer into the name of Buyer or as it may direct in respect of all of the Shares;

(iii) an irrevocable power of attorney in a form agreed between the parties executed by RCI Europe to enable Buyer (during the period prior to the registration of the transfer of the Shares) to exercise all voting and other rights attaching to the Shares;

(iv) with respect to (A) CMG and its Subsidiaries, corporate minute books and stock register/transfer ledger of CMG to the extent not held at the Real Properties, and (B) CIH and its Subsidiaries, the certificates of incorporation, common seal (if applicable), statutory registers, minute books, share certificate books and, to the extent not held at the Real Properties, books of

 

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account and all other books (each certified by the secretary of the relevant company as being duly written up to date);

(v) the Patent Licenses, duly executed by Seller and the Companies;

(vi) the Master Transition Services Agreement, duly executed by Seller and the Companies;

(vii) the New Inter-Company Agreements, duly executed by Seller and the Companies;

(viii) a certificate of an officer of each of Seller, CMG and CIH, dated as of the Closing Date, certifying (A) such Person’s Organizational Documents; (B) the incumbency of each officer executing this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements, as applicable, to which it is a party and any other agreement, document or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby on behalf of such Person to which it is a party; and (C) the resolutions of Seller, CMG and CIH’s board of directors or other applicable governing body and shareholders, if applicable, approving this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements and all other agreements and documents contemplated hereby and thereby;

(ix) certificates of the Secretaries of State or other applicable office or Governmental Entity in states or countries in which CMG and CIH is organized and qualified to do business, dated as of a date not more than thirty (30) Business Days prior to the Closing Date, certifying as to the good standing of each CMG and CIH; provided , however , that with respect to any non-US Person, such certificate shall be as customarily certified by the applicable Governmental Entity;

(x) certificates identified in Section 5.1(a)(iii);

(xi) evidence of satisfaction of all obligations for Indebtedness described in clause (i) of the definition of Indebtedness (including any interest, prepayment premiums or penalties and other fees and charges);

(xii) a duly executed certificate from Seller of non-foreign status in the form and manner that complies with Section 1445(b)(2) of the Code and the Treasury Regulations thereunder; and

(xiii) all other documents required to be delivered by Seller on or prior to the Closing Date pursuant to this Agreement.

 

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(c) Deliveries by Acquirors . At the Closing, Acquirors shall deliver, or cause to be delivered, to Seller:

(i) the Closing Consideration, by wire transfer of immediately available funds through a bank reasonably acceptable to Seller to an account or accounts designated by Seller prior to Closing;

(ii) the Patent Licenses, duly executed by Buyer and Parent;

(iii) the Master Transition Services Agreement, duly executed by Buyer and Parent;

(iv) the New Inter-Company Agreements, duly executed by Buyer and Parent;

(v) certificates identified in Section 5.2(a)(iii);

(vi) all other documents required to be delivered by Acquiror on or prior to the Closing Date pursuant to this Agreement;

(vii) Stock Certificates representing 100% of the Parent Preferred Shares; and

(viii) The Parent Warrant, duly executed by Parent.

Section 2.3 Closing Consideration Adjustment .

(a) No later than sixty (60) days after the end of the fiscal quarter ended forty five (45) days or more prior to the Closing Date (unless the Closing occurs on or after November 15, 2005, then no later than forty five (45) days after such quarter end), Seller shall deliver a statement (the “ Adjusted EBITDA Statement ”) setting forth the LTM Adjusted EBITDA and the calculation thereof.

(b) No later than two Business Days prior to the Closing Date, Seller shall prepare and deliver to Buyer a certificate of an officer of Seller setting forth the aggregate amount of Liabilities of the Companies and their Subsidiaries in respect of (i) the Refund Amount, (ii) Restructuring Costs, (iii) Retention Payments; and (iv) Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness described in subsection (ii) in the definition of Indebtedness) as of June 30, 2005 (collectively, the “ Purchase Price Adjustment Items ”).

(c) The Initial Cash Price shall be decreased by the sum of (i) the Purchase Price Adjustment Items plus (ii) the excess, if any, of (A) the payments made by or on behalf of the Companies or their Subsidiaries to Seller and its Affiliates (other than the Companies and their Subsidiaries), net of any payments made by Seller on

 

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behalf of the Companies or their Subsidiaries, in each case, other than in connection with an Inter-Company Agreement, during the period from July 1, 2005 through the Closing Date over (B) the amount required to be paid by the Companies or their Subsidiaries to Seller and its Affiliates (other than the Companies and their Subsidiaries) during such period pursuant to the Inter-Company Agreements; provided that all Cash of the Business (other than Restricted Cash) through and including June 30, 2005 shall be paid prior to the Closing Date by the Companies and their Subsidiaries to Seller and its Affiliates (other than the Companies and their Subsidiaries) plus (iii) in the case of any payments made by any Company or any Subsidiary prior to or on the Closing Date in connection with the settlement or resolution the matters listed in Section 7.1(a)(x) and Section 7.1(a)(xi) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule , the amount of such payments less the portion of payments that would have been paid by the Companies and its Subsidiaries pursuant to Section 7.1(a)(x) and Section 7.1(a)(xi) (in accordance with Section 7.1(b) and 7.3(m)) had such matter been settled or resolution happened after the Closing Date.

(d) If LTM Adjusted EBITDA is less than LTM Scheduled EBITDA, then the Initial Cash Price shall be further reduced by an amount equal to the product of (i) seven (7) multiplied by (ii) the excess, if any, of (A) LTM Scheduled EBITDA, over (B) LTM Adjusted EBITDA.

ARTICLE III

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

Section 3.1 Representations and Warranties of Seller . Seller represents and warrants to Acquirors as of the date hereof and, except for any representations and warranties that speak as of a different specified date, as of the Closing as follows:

(a) Due Organization and Good Standing of the Transferors . Each of the Transferors is duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the State of Delaware (in the case of Seller) and is duly incorporated and validly existing under the Laws of England and Wales (in the case of RCI Europe) (as customarily certified by the Registrar of Companies in England and Wales in respect of companies registered in England and Wales).

(b) Authorization of Transaction by the Transferors. Seller has all requisite corporate power and authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements, and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. The execution, delivery and performance by Seller of this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements and the consummation by each Transferor of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby have been duly and validly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of each Transferor and no other corporate proceedings on the part of each Transferor are necessary to authorize the execution, delivery and performance by each Transferor of this Agreement and the

 

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Ancillary Agreements, as applicable, or to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by Seller and, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by Buyer, constitutes, and each Ancillary Agreement, when executed and delivered by Seller (assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by the other parties thereto) shall constitute, a valid and binding obligation of Seller, enforceable against Seller in accordance with its terms, except that such enforcement may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar Laws now or hereafter in effect relating to or affecting the rights and remedies of creditors and general principles of equity (whether considered in a proceeding at law or in equity) and the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought.

(c) Due Organization, Good Standing of and Authorization of Ancillary Agreements by the Companies . CMG is duly formed, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the State of Delaware. CIH is duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of England and Wales (as customarily certified by the Registrar of Companies in England and Wales in respect of companies registered in England and Wales). CMG is qualified or otherwise authorized to act as a foreign limited liability company and is in good standing under the Laws of every other jurisdiction in which such qualification or authorization is necessary under applicable Law, except where the failure to be so qualified or otherwise authorized would not have a Material Adverse Effect. CIH is qualified or otherwise authorized to act as a foreign private company limited by shares under the Laws of every other jurisdiction in which such qualification or authorization is necessary under applicable Law, except where the failure to be so qualified or otherwise authorized would not have a Material Adverse Effect. Each Company has all requisite power and authority to own, lease and operate its respective properties and to carry on its respective businesses as now conducted. Each Company has all requisite power and authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under the Ancillary Agreements to which it is a party, and to consummate the transactions contemplated thereby, as applicable. The execution, delivery and performance by each Company of the Ancillary Agreements to which it is a party and the consummation by each Company of the transactions contemplated thereby have been duly and validly authorized by all necessary action on the part of each Company and no other action or proceedings on the part of either Company are necessary to authorize the execution, delivery and performance by either Company of the Ancillary Agreements to which it is a party or to consummate the transactions contemplated thereby. Each Ancillary Agreement, when executed and delivered by each Company party thereto (assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by the other parties thereto) shall constitute, a valid and binding obligation of such Company, enforceable against such Company in accordance with its terms, except that such enforcement may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar Laws now or hereafter in effect relating to or affecting the rights and remedies of creditors and general principles of equity (whether considered in a proceeding at law or in equity) and the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought.

 

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(d) Subsidiaries . Section 3.1(d) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule contains a list of (i) each Subsidiary of CMG, including its name, its jurisdiction of incorporation or formation and other jurisdictions in which it is qualified or authorized to do business, and (ii) each Subsidiary of CIH, including its name, its jurisdiction of incorporation or formation, and other jurisdictions in which it is qualified or authorized to do business. Each Subsidiary of CMG and CIH is validly existing and in good standing in its jurisdiction of incorporation or formation and is in good standing in all other jurisdictions in which it is qualified or authorized to do business (as customarily certified by the applicable Governmental Entity in respect of companies registered in such jurisdictions), except where the failure to be so qualified or otherwise authorized would not have a Material Adverse Effect. Except as set forth in Section 3.1(d)(iii) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule , (A) all of the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of each Subsidiary of CMG and each Subsidiary of CIH is owned directly or indirectly by CMG and CIH, respectively, free and clear of all Encumbrances, and are duly authorized and validly issued, free of preemptive or any other third party rights and, as to Equity Interests of corporate Subsidiaries, are fully paid and non-assessable, (B) there is no subscription, option, warrant, call right, agreement or commitment relating to the issuance, sale, delivery, transfer or redemption by any Subsidiary of CMG or any Subsidiary of CIH (including any right of conversion or exchange under any outstanding security or other instrument) of the share capital, capital stock, partnership capital or equivalent of any Subsidiary of CMG or any Subsidiary of CIH and (C) there are no voting trusts or other agreements or understanding to which any Person who holds outstanding Equity Interests of any Subsidiary of CMG or any Subsidiary of CIH is bound with respect to voting such Equity Interests.

(e) Governmental Filings . No filings or registration with, notification to, or authorization, consent or approval of any Governmental Entity (collectively, “ Governmental Filings ”) are required in connection with the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements by Seller, except (i) Governmental Filings under the HSR Act, (ii) Governmental Filings under any applicable antitrust or other competition Laws of other jurisdictions (“ Foreign Antitrust Merger Control Laws ”), (iii) the Governmental Filing required to be made with each of the Insurance Commissioner and the FSA, (iv) Governmental Filings that become applicable as a result of matters specifically related to Buyer or its Affiliates or (v) the Governmental Filings set forth on Section 3.1(e) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule .

(f) Capital Structure .

(i) The issued and outstanding CMG Interests consist solely of CMG Interests. All of the outstanding CMG Interests have been duly authorized and are validly issued, and have not been issued in violation of any preemptive rights, rights of first refusal or other third party rights. CMG has no other Equity Interests authorized, issued or outstanding other than the CMG Interests, and there are no other subscriptions, options, warrants, call rights, agreements, commitments or other rights or arrangements existing or outstanding

 

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that provide for the sale or issuance of any of the foregoing by Seller or CMG (other than this Agreement). Seller is the sole record and beneficial owner of all of the outstanding CMG Interests, and, at Closing, the CMG Interests purchased by Buyer shall constitute all of the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of CMG. There are no voting trusts or other agreements or understandings to which Seller is bound with respect to voting the Equity Interests of CMG.

(ii) The authorized share capital of CIH consists of 30,000,000 Shares of which 10,000,000 Shares are issued and outstanding. All of the issued and outstanding Shares of CIH have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable, and have not been issued in violation of any preemptive rights, rights of first refusal or other third party rights. CIH has no other Equity Interests authorized, issued or outstanding other than the Shares, and there are no other subscriptions, options, warrants, call rights, agreements, commitments or other rights or arrangements existing or outstanding that provide for the sale or issuance of any of the foregoing by Seller, RCI Europe or CIH (other than this Agreement). RCI Europe is the sole record and beneficial owner of all of the issued and outstanding Shares and, at Closing, the Shares purchased by Buyer shall constitute all of the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of CIH. There are no voting trusts or other agreements or understandings to which Seller or RCI Europe are bound with respect to voting the Equity Interests.

(g) Financial Statements.

(i) Section 3.1(a)(i) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule contains a true and complete copy of the Financial Statements. Except as set forth in Section 3.1(g)(i) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule , the Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with GAAP (except as disclosed in the footnotes thereto) and fairly present, in all material respects, the financial position of the Companies and their Subsidiaries as of the dates thereof and their results of operations and cash flows for the periods then ended, subject, in the case of unaudited statements, to normal recurring adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of interim results and the absence of notes thereto.

(ii) The Restated Financial Statements will have been prepared in accordance with GAAP and, assuming that the Companies and their Subsidiaries were a stand-alone “registrant” under Regulation S-X will, to Seller’s Knowledge, be in compliance with Regulation S-X and will fairly present, in all material respects, the financial position of the Companies as of the date thereof and their results of operations and cash flows for the periods then ended.

(iii) The Companies maintain a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP.

 

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(iv) As of March 31, 2005, the Companies’ combined Restricted Cash was $25,522,601.00.

(h) No Conflict or Violation . Except as set forth in Section 3.1(h) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule , the execution, delivery and performance by Seller of this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements and the consummation by Seller of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby do not (i) assuming all Governmental Filings described in Section 3.1(e) have been obtained or made, violate any applicable Law to which any of Seller, the Companies or the Subsidiaries of the Companies are subject; (ii) (A) require a material consent or approval under, (B) in any material respect, conflict with, result in a violation or breach of, or constitute a default under, or (C) result in the acceleration of, or a right to accelerate, terminate or cancel, any Company Contract or Company Lease; or (iii) violate the Organizational Documents of any of Seller or the Companies.

(i) Legal Proceedings.

(i) Except as set forth in Section 3.1(i) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule , there are no Actions pending, or, to the Knowledge of Seller, threatened against the Companies or any Subsidiary of the Companies. Except as set forth in Section 3.1(i) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule , none of the Companies or their Subsidiaries is subject to any judgment, decree, injunction or order of any Governmental Entity. Section 3.1(i) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule lists all judgments in excess of $1,000,000.00 to which the Companies or their Subsidiaries have been subject since January 1, 2002.

(ii) To the Knowledge of Seller, since January 1, 2002, none of the Companies or any of their Subsidiaries has been denied or informed that it was likely to be denied any Permit relating to the administration, underwriting, solicitation or sale of insurance products or the conduct of the business of insurance in any jurisdiction.

(j) Personal Property. Except as may be reflected in the Financial Statements, the Companies have good and valid title, free and clear of any Encumbrances (except for Permitted Encumbrances), to all the tangible personal property reflected in the Balance Sheet and all tangible personal property acquired since the Balance Sheet Date, except for such tangible personal property as has been disposed of in the ordinary course of business since the Balance Sheet Date. Except for Retained IP, rights under the Inter-Company Agreements and any assets, properties and interests relating to Intellectual Property, which shall be governed exclusively by Section 3.1(s)(ii), (i) the Seller and its Subsidiaries (other than the Companies and their Subsidiaries) do not own or hold any assets, properties or interests (real, personal and mixed, tangible and intangible) or Contracts that are used in or necessary to the conduct of the Business by the Companies and their Subsidiaries as conducted on the date of this Agreement and (ii) following the Closing, assuming the Ancillary Agreements and New Inter-Company

 

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Agreements have been entered into by the parties thereto, the assets of the Companies and their Subsidiaries, in the aggregate, will be sufficient for the conduct of the Business as conducted on the date of this Agreement.

(k) Real Property . None of the Companies or their Subsidiaries owns any real property. Section 3.1(k)(a) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule sets forth (x) the location of all real property (the “ Real Property ”) directly or indirectly leased to any of the Companies or their Subsidiaries by a third party pursuant to a lease, sublease or other similar agreement under which any of the Companies or their Subsidiaries is the lessee or sublessee (collectively, the “ Company Leases ”) and (y) a list of all Company Leases. Each Company Lease (A) constitutes a valid and binding obligation of the Company or the Subsidiary party thereto and (B) assuming such Company Lease is binding and enforceable against the other parties thereto, is enforceable against the Company or the Subsidiary party thereto, except as limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar Laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights in general and subject to general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding at law or in equity), (ii) none of the Companies or their Subsidiaries is, in any material respect, in breach of or default under any Company Lease. True and complete copies of all Company Leases, together with all modifications, extensions, amendments and assignments thereof, if any, have heretofore been furnished or made available to Buyer. The Companies or their Subsidiaries have paid the rents and observed the material terms of the Company Leases. Except as set forth in Section 3.1(k)(b) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule , none of the Companies or their Subsidiaries have subleased, licensed or granted other interests giving any Person any right to the use, occupancy or enjoyment of any Real Property or any portion thereof.

(l) Taxes . Except as set forth in Section 3.1(l) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule:

(i) the Companies and their Subsidiaries have accurately and timely filed (taking into account extensions) all income Tax Returns required to have been filed by them except for such income Tax Returns for which the failure to have filed would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect, and have timely paid all income Taxes shown to be due thereon except for such income Taxes for which the failure to have paid would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect;

(ii) there are no pending, current or, to Seller’s Knowledge, threatened claims, actions, suits, proceedings or investigations for the assessment or collection of material income Taxes with respect to the Companies or any of their Subsidiaries except for such claims, actions, suits, proceedings or investigations that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

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(iii) there are no liens for Taxes against any of the Companies’ assets, other than liens for Taxes not yet due and payable or contested in good faith except for such liens that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect;

(iv) the Companies or any of their Subsidiaries have not executed or filed with any Tax authority any agreement extending the period for assessment or collection of any material income Taxes;

(v) the Companies and their Subsidiaries have withheld and paid, and will withhold and pay prior to the Closing Date, proper and accurate amounts of Taxes from payments made to its employees, independent contractors, creditors, stockholders and other third parties in compliance in all material respects with all withholding and similar provisions of any Tax laws;

(vi) all U.S. federal pro forma and state income Tax Returns of CMG and its Subsidiaries (other than Subsidiaries that were formed or incorporated outside of the United States) for taxable periods ending December 31, 2001, December 31, 2002 and December 31, 2003 were made available by Seller to the Buyer;

(vii) all documents in the possession of the Companies or their Subsidiaries or to the production of which any of the Companies or their Subsidiaries is entitled or which confer any right or title upon the Companies or their Subsidiaries and which attract stamp or transfer Taxes in the United Kingdom or elsewhere have been duly stamped and all transfer Taxes have been paid and there are no such documents retained outside any territory or jurisdiction which, if brought into a territory or jurisdiction, would attract stamp duty (in the case of documents brought into the United Kingdom) or any similar tax (in the case of documents brought into any other territory or jurisdiction). Neither entering into this Agreement nor the Closing will result in the withdrawal of any relief from stamp duty or stamp duty land tax granted on or before the Closing which will affect the Companies or their Subsidiaries;

(viii) all transactions entered into between the Companies and their Subsidiaries contain terms that are consistent with terms that could have resulted from comparable arrangements with non-affiliated parties negotiating at arm’s length, and there have not been circumstances in which any legislation, rule or regulation has previously been applied to any of the Companies or their Subsidiaries causing any Tax authority to make an adjustment to the computation of profits or losses of any Company or Subsidiary for any Tax purposes as a result of any such related-party transaction; and

(ix) on the Closing Date, each of the direct and indirect domestic wholly-owned corporate Subsidiaries of CMG will be a member of the

 

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“consolidated group” (within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 1.1502-1(h)) of which Seller is the common parent.

(m) Absence of Certain Changes . Except as set forth in Section 3.1(m) the Seller Disclosure Schedule and as otherwise contemplated hereby, from the Balance Sheet Date through the date of this Agreement, there has not occurred any Material Adverse Effect. Except as set forth in Section 3.1(m) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule and as otherwise contemplated hereby, from the Balance Sheet Date through the date of this Agreement, the Companies and their Subsidiaries have conducted the Business in the ordinary course in all material respects, and none of the Companies or their Subsidiaries has:

(i) amended or changed its Organizational Documents;

(ii) declared, set aside or paid any dividend or distribution on or in respect of any of its Equity Interests, or, except for daily cash transfers to Seller made in the ordinary course of business or in connection with Inter-Company Agreements, made any payment or transfer of consideration of any kind to any Affiliate or relative of any such Affiliate, other than salary and ordinary expense reimbursement to employees;

(iii) granted, issued, delivered, pledged encumbered or sold any Equity Interests or any other disposition of any Equity Interests of any of the Companies or their Subsidiaries;

(iv) issued any note, bond, or other debt security or incurred or guaranteed any Indebtedness other than capitalized leases;

(v) amended or modified any material Contract (including, but not limited to, the Inter-Company Agreements) with any officer, director or Affiliate of any of the Companies or their Subsidiaries, other than in the ordinary course of business;

(vi) terminated or canceled or waived any material right under any Company Contract other than any Inter-Company Agreement;

(vii) acquired (by merger, consolidation or acquisition of stock or assets) any corporation, partnership or other business organization or division thereof or collection of assets constituting all or substantially all of a business or business unit;

(viii) sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of a material amount of its properties or assets, other than in the ordinary course of business;

 

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(ix) changed its accounting methods or principles theretofore adopted, except as required by GAAP and reflected in the Financial Statements;

(x) made any change to their Tax accounting methods or principles (including any change in depreciation or amortization policies or rates), except as required by Law;

(xi) adopted any material change in the policies of the Companies or their Subsidiaries with regard to the extension of discounts or credit to customers or collection of receivables from customers;

(xii) entered into any Contract to take any of the actions specified in this Section 3.1(m).

(n) Company Contracts.

(i) Section 3.1(n)(i) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule sets forth a list of Contracts in effect as of the date of this Agreement to which any of the Companies or their Subsidiaries is a party, which are in the categories listed below (collectively, the “ Company Contracts ”); provided , however , that a Contract referenced by more than one description need only be listed once on Section 3.1(n) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule :

(1) any joint venture agreement or partnership agreement;

(2) any Contract related to a material acquisition or divestiture of any corporation, partnership or other business organization or division thereof or collection of assets constituting all or substantially all of a business or business unit by the Companies or any of their Subsidiaries since January 1, 2002 or prior to such date to the extent any Company or any Subsidiary of and Company has any continuing obligations or Liabilities, other than inventory in the ordinary course of business;

(3) any Contract for the lease of equipment involving payments in excess of $100,000 per year;

(4) any Contract with an insurer, reinsurer, underwriter or other provider who underwrites or otherwise offers insurance, warranty or similar products that are issued or sold directly or indirectly by the Companies or their Subsidiaries;

(5) any material Contract with a provider of data-processing or similar services in connection with marketing of the products or services of the Companies;

 

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(6) any employment, consulting or similar agreement requiring payment by any of the Companies or their Subsidiaries of base annual compensation in excess of $100,000;

(7) any Contract evidencing Indebtedness (other than capitalized leases) of any of the Companies or their Subsidiaries, or under which any of the Companies or their Subsidiaries have issued any note, bond, indenture, mortgage, security interest or other evidence of Indebtedness, or has directly or indirectly guaranteed Indebtedness (other than capitalized leases), liabilities or obligations of any Person (other than any of the Companies or their Subsidiaries);

(8) any license or substantially similar Contract pursuant to which any of the Companies or their Subsidiaries (i) has the right to use any material Company Intellectual Property, other than software and other Intellectual Property that is generally commercially available, or (ii) has granted to any third party any license to use any material Company Intellectual Property;

(9) for the (A) fiscal year ended December 31, 2004, and (B) the twelve- (12) month period ended June 30, 2005 the ten (10) largest Affinity Partner Contracts for CIH and for each of the membership, insurance, package and loyalty solutions business lines of CMG, based on gross revenues from each such partner and (y) Contracts (other than Affinity Partner Contracts) under which CMG made payments, individually or in the aggregate, in excess of $2,000,000;

(10) any Contract for capital expenditures, the acquisition or construction of assets for the benefit and use of any of the Companies or their Subsidiaries, or the provision of services requiring payments by any of the Companies or their Subsidiaries in excess of $2,000,000 during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005 or any fiscal year thereafter;

(11) any Contract containing a covenant not to compete that impairs the ability of any of the Companies or their Subsidiaries to freely conduct the Business in any geographic area or any material line of business;

(12) any Inter-Company Agreement;

(13) any Contract between the Companies or their Subsidiaries on the one hand and Seller or any of its Affiliates (other than the Companies and their Subsidiaries) on the other hand, other than the Inter-Company Agreements; and

 

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(14) any outstanding binding commitment to enter into any agreement of the type described in subsections (1) through (14) of this Section 3.1(n)(i).

(ii) Except as set forth in Section 3.1(n)(ii) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule , (i) each Company Contract (A) constitutes a valid and binding obligation of the Company or the Subsidiary party thereto and (B) assuming such Company Contract is binding and enforceable against the other parties thereto, is enforceable against the Company or the Subsidiary party thereto, except as limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar Laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights in general and subject to general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding at law or in equity), (ii) none of the Companies or their Subsidiaries is, in any material respect, in breach of or default under any Company Contract and (iii) to the Knowledge of Seller, no counterparty is, in any material respect, in breach of or default under any Company Contract.

(o) Labor . No labor strike or work stoppage against any of the Companies or their Subsidiaries has occurred since January 1, 2002, is pending or, to the Knowledge of Seller, threatened, and none of the Companies or their Subsidiaries is subject to any pending labor dispute, arbitration, lawsuit or administrative proceeding which would materially impair the Business, results of operations or the financial condition of the Business as conducted on the date hereof or materially impair Seller’s or the Companies’ or their Subsidiaries’ ability to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. Except as set forth in Section 3.1(o) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule , employees of the Companies and their Subsidiaries are not represented by any labor union nor are any collective bargaining agreements otherwise in effect with respect to such employees in connection with their employment by any of the Companies or their Subsidiaries and no union organizing activities involving such employees are pending or, to the Knowledge of Seller, threatened.

(p) Compliance With Law .

(i) Except for laws relating to Taxes and Company Plans, which shall be governed exclusively by Section 3.1(l) and Section 3.1(r), respectively, and except as set forth in Section 3.1(p) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule , the Companies and their Subsidiaries since June 30, 2002 have operated and are operating the Business in compliance in all material respects with applicable Laws. Except as set forth in Section 3.1(p) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule , all material approvals, permits and licenses required and/or issued by any Governmental Entity (collectively, “ Permits ”) required to conduct the Business, as conducted on the date hereof, are in the possession of one or more of the Companies or their Subsidiaries, as applicable, are in full force and effect and the Business is being operated in all material respects in compliance therewith.

 

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(ii) The Companies and their Subsidiaries take reasonable steps consistent with their internal policies and procedures which, to the extent applicable, are consistent with those generally known to be adopted by other companies in the industries in which the Companies and their Subsidiaries operate, for the physical and electronic protection of personally identifiable information provided by the Companies’ and their Subsidiaries’ customers from unauthorized disclosure or use. The Companies and their Subsidiaries have previously disclosed to Buyer whether, to the Knowledge of Seller, there have been any breaches of such internal policies and procedures during the past two (2) years, and any known consequences arising directly from such breaches, that have had a Material Adverse Effect.

(iii) The Companies and each of their Subsidiaries are in compliance in all material respects with all applicable Laws and regulations relating to pollution, hazardous substances or protection of human health or the environment, and have obtained and are in compliance in all material respects with all Permits required under such Laws. The Companies and their Subsidiaries have not received notice of any actions, claims or investigations by any Person alleging liability under, or non-compliance with, any such Law.

(q) No Undisclosed Liabilities . Except as reflected or reserved against in the Financial Statements (or the notes thereto), or in Section 3.1(q) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule , none of the Companies or their Subsidiaries had, as of the Balance Sheet Date, any liabilities required by GAAP to be reflected or reserved against on the balance sheet of the Companies and their Subsidiaries or set forth in the notes to audited financial statements. Except as set forth on Section 3.1(q) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule , since the Balance Sheet Date, none of the Companies or their Subsidiaries has incurred any liabilities required by GAAP to be reflected or reserved against on the balance sheet of the Companies and their Subsidiaries or set forth in the notes to audited financial statements.

(r) Employee Benefit Plans.

(i) Section 3.1(r)(i) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule sets forth a list of each material Company Plan. Seller has delivered or made available to the Buyer the following documents to the Buyer with respect to each material Company Plan: (1) correct and complete copies of all documents embodying such Company Plan, including (without limitation) all amendments thereto, and all related trust documents, (2) a written description of any Company Plan that is not set forth in a written document, (3) the most recent summary plan description together with the summary or summaries of material modifications thereto, if any, (4) the most recent annual actuarial valuations, if any, (5) all Internal Revenue Service or Department of Labor determination, opinion, notification and advisory letters received since January 1, 2002, (6) the three most recent annual reports (Form Series 5500 and all schedules and financial

 

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statements attached thereto), if any, (7) all material correspondence to or from any Governmental Entity received in the last year, (8) all discrimination tests for the most recent plan year, and (9) all material written agreements and contracts currently in effect, including (without limitation) administrative service agreements, group annuity contracts, and group insurance contracts.

(ii) Seller represents and warrants that:

(1) each Company Plan has been established and administered in all material respects in accordance with its terms and applicable Law, including, as to each Company Plan that is subject to United States Law, ERISA and the Code.

(2) each Company Plan that is an “employee pension benefit plan” (within the meaning of ERISA Section 3(2)) of the Companies and their Subsidiaries has received a currently effective favorable determination letter as to its qualification. No event has occurred or circumstance exists that could reasonably be expected to give rise to disqualification or loss of tax-exempt status of any Company Plan or a related trust. No Company Plan is subject to the provisions of Section 302 or Title IV of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code. No Company Plan provides welfare benefits (including, without limitation, death or medical benefits) with respect to any former or current employee, or any spouse or dependent of any such employee, beyond the employee’s retirement or other termination of employment with the Company and its Subsidiaries other than coverage mandated by Part 6 of Title I of ERISA. No Company Plan is a “multiemployer plan” as defined in section 3(37) of ERISA;

(iii) With respect to each Company Plan, (i) no material Action is pending or, to the Knowledge of Seller, threatened and (ii) to the Knowledge of Seller, no facts or circumstances exist that reasonably could give rise to any material Actions;

(iv) Except as contemplated by Section 4.2 or as set forth in Section 3.1(r)(iv) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule , the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby shall not, either alone or in combination with another event, (i) entitle any current or former employee or officer of any of the Companies and their Subsidiaries to severance pay, unemployment compensation or any other payment or (ii) accelerate the time of payment or vesting, or increase the amount of compensation due any such employee or officer. For purposes of the foregoing sentence, the term “payment” shall include (without limitation) any payment, acceleration, forgiveness of indebtedness, vesting, distribution, increase in benefits or obligation to fund benefits;

(v) With respect to each Company Plan that is not subject to United States Law, (i) each such plan required to be registered has been registered and has been maintained in good standing with applicable regulatory

 

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authorities, and (ii) each such plan that is required to be funded is funded at levels required by applicable Law as of the Closing Date, and to the extent any such plans are not fully funded as of the Closing Date, such underfunding is not material to the Company and its Subsidiaries, and with respect to all other such plans, adequate reserves with respect to all projected benefit obligations as of the Closing Date will have been established, except to the extent not material;

(vi) No Affected Employee has become employed by any of the Companies or their Subsidiaries pursuant to a transfer of an undertaking or business as defined in Council Directive 2001/23/EC of the European Union (the “ Directive ”) or any legislation implementing the Directive in any member state of the European Union which occurred during the period of three years immediately preceding the Closing Date and no Affected Employee who became employed by any of the Companies or their Subsidiaries pursuant to such a transfer of an undertaking or business has any right to receive benefits or payments on redundancy or early retirement save for those payable under a Company Plan;

(vii) No Company or Subsidiary has initiated negotiations with employees or received any request from employees pursuant to the United Kingdom’s Information and Consultation of Employees Regulations 2004; and

(viii) No Affected Employee has any right to receive any payment or benefit on termination of employment except pursuant to a Company Plan or a “Retention Letter” listed in Section 3.1(r)(i) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule or as otherwise may be required by applicable Law.

(s) Intellectual Property.

(i) Section 3.1(s)(i)(a) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule sets forth a true and complete list of all Company Registered Intellectual Property, and each such item of Company Registered Intellectual Property that is currently used in the Business is, except as set forth on Section 3.1(s)(i)(a) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule , in effect and subsisting and, to the Knowledge of Seller, valid. Commercially reasonable steps have been taken to obtain and maintain each item of Company Registered Intellectual Property that is currently used in the Business and, except as set forth in Section 3.1(s)(i)(b) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule , no filing for Company Registered Intellectual Property that is currently used in the Business is abandoned, canceled or lapsed or, to the Knowledge of Seller, invalid. Except as set forth in Section 3.1(s)(i)(c) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule , no proceeding (including any opposition, interference, invalidation and/or cancellation proceeding or other claim) has been brought against any Company Registered Intellectual Property in the last three (3) years and no such proceeding is either pending or currently threatened in writing

 

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or, to the Knowledge of Seller, orally. Except as set forth in Section 3.1(s)(i)(d) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule , with respect to Company Registered Intellectual Property, there are no actions that must be taken by the Companies or their Subsidiaries on or prior to December 31, 2005 regarding the payment of any registration, maintenance or renewal fees or the filing of any responses to any Government Entity.

(ii) The Companies or their Subsidiaries own all right, title and interest to the Company Owned Intellectual Property. Except as set forth in Section 3.1(s)(ii)(a) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule , there are no material forbearances to sue, consents, judgments or orders that: (A) restrict the rights of the Companies or their Subsidiaries (1) to use or enforce any of the Company Owned Intellectual Property or (2) with respect to such material forbearances to sue, consents, judgments or orders to which the Companies or their Subsidiaries are a party, to use any of the Company Licensed Intellectual Property except in accordance with the terms of the license agreements pursuant to which such Company Licensed Intellectual Property was licensed by any of the Companies or their Subsidiaries, or (3) to the Knowledge of Seller pursuant to a written notice from the owner of Company Licensed Intellectual Property, to use any such Company Licensed Intellectual Property in accordance with the terms of the license agreements pursuant to which such Company Licensed Intellectual Property was licensed by any of the Companies or their Subsidiaries, or (B) restrict the conduct of the Business in order to accommodate a third party’s Intellectual Property rights. Subject to any necessary third party consents and licenses and except for Retained IP and as set forth in Section 3.1(s)(ii)(b) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule , the Company Intellectual Property includes all Intellectual Property (other than with respect to infringement or other violation of Patents and Trademarks) used or held for use by the Companies and their Subsidiaries in, or necessary to, the conduct of the Business as currently conducted. Except where not material, or as set forth in Section 3.1(s)(ii)(c) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule , (a) the conduct of the Business does not infringe or otherwise violate (1) to the Knowledge of Seller, any Person’s Patents or Trademarks, or (2) any Person’s other Intellectual Property, and there is no such claim pending or currently threatened in writing, or to the Knowledge of Seller, orally, against any of the Companies or their Subsidiaries, and (b) to the Knowledge of Seller, no Person is infringing or otherwise violating any Company Intellectual Property, and no such claims are pending or currently threatened against any Person by any of the Companies or their Subsidiaries.

(iii) Except as set forth in Section 3.1(s)(iii) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule , or as would not be material, the Companies or their Subsidiaries have not granted to a third party exclusive rights to (a) any of the Company Owned Intellectual Property or (b) distribute or sublicense any of the Company Owned Intellectual Property.

 

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(iv) Except as set forth in Section 3.1(s)(iv) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule or as would not be material, no Public Software has been distributed by the Companies or their Subsidiaries to any third parties in the conduct of the Business as it is currently conducted.

(t) Brokers’ Fees . No broker, investment banker, financial advisor or other person is entitled to any broker’s, finder’s, financial advisor’s or other similar fee, expenses or commission in connection with this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby for which Buyer or its Affiliates (including the Companies and their Subsidiaries) would be liable.

(u) Affiliate Transactions.

(i) Except as (1) set forth on Section 3.1(u)(i) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule or (2) referred to in clauses (ii) and (iii) of this Section 3.1(u), since the Balance Sheet Date, there have been no material transactions, and as of the date of this Agreement there are no material Contracts, between Seller or any of its Affiliates (other than the Companies and their Subsidiaries), on the one hand, and any of the Companies and their Subsidiaries, on the other hand.

(ii) Section 3.1(u) (ii) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule sets forth, as of the date of this Agreement, all Contracts governing commercial arrangements between Seller or any of its Affiliates (other than the Companies and their Subsidiaries), on the one hand, and any of the Companies and their Subsidiaries, on the other hand (the “ Inter-Company Agreements ”), other than any such Contracts pursuant to which payments of less than $100,000 were made in 2004 and 2005.

(iii) Schedule V hereto sets forth, as of the date of this Agreement, all term sheets relating to the agreements to be in effect after the Closing between Seller or any of its Affiliates (other than the Companies and their Subsidiaries), on the one hand, and any of the Companies and their Subsidiaries, on the other hand (the “ New Inter-Company Agreement Term Sheets ”).

(v) Suppliers and Customers . Except in the ordinary course of business since the Balance Sheet Date, to the Seller’s Knowledge no Significant Relationship has been canceled or terminated, or threatened to be cancelled or terminated by the supplier, vendor customer or affinity partner party to such relationship.

(w) Insurance . Seller has made available to Buyer descriptions of all insurance polices that are owned by the Companies or their Subsidiaries or that name the Companies or any of their Subsidiaries as an insured, including those that pertain to the Companies’ or any of their Subsidiaries’ assets, employees or operations. All such insurance policies are in full force and effect, are valid and enforceable, and all premiums due thereunder have been paid. Neither Seller, the Companies nor their Subsidiaries have received any notice of cancellation or modification in coverage

 

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amounts of any such insurance policies. Seller has timely reported under any insurance policies all events, circumstances or claims or notices of claims as required under the applicable policies of Seller and its Affiliates for all such events, circumstances, claims or notices, existing prior to Closing, and no insurance companies have denied, disputed or reserved their rights regarding such claims.

(x) Disclaimer of Warranties . NOTWITHSTANDING ANY PROVISION OF THIS AGREEMENT TO THE CONTRARY, SELLER MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES TO BUYER IN CONNECTION WITH THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT, EXCEPT AS SPECIFICALLY SET FORTH IN THIS ARTICLE III. ALL OTHER REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES, WHETHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, ARE DISCLAIMED BY SELLER.

(y) Acquisition of Equity for Investment . Seller has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters that it is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of Seller’s investment in the Parent Preferred Stock, Parent Common Stock, and Parent Warrants. Seller confirms that it can bear the economic risk of its investment in the Parent Preferred Stock, Parent Common Stock, and Parent Warrants and can afford to lose its entire investment in the Parent Preferred Stock, Parent Common Stock, and Parent Warrants, has been furnished the materials relating to Seller’s investment in the Parent Preferred Stock, Parent Common Stock, and Parent Warrants which it has reasonably requested in connection with its investment. Seller is acquiring the Parent Preferred Stock, Parent Common Stock, and Parent Warrants for investment and not with a view toward or for sale in connection with any distribution thereof, or with any present intention of distributing or selling such Equity Interests. Seller agrees that the Parent Preferred Stock, Parent Common Stock, and Parent Warrants may not be sold, transferred, offered for sale, pledged, hypothecated or otherwise disposed of without registration under the Securities Act, except pursuant to an exemption from such act.

Section 3.2 Representations and Warranties of Acquirors . Acquirors represent and warrant to Seller as of the date hereof and, except for any representations and warranties that speak as of a different specified date, as of the Closing as follows:

(a) Due Organization and Good Standing of Buyer . The Acquirors are duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the State of Delaware.

(b) Authorization of Transaction by Acquirors . Acquirors have all requisite corporate power and authority to execute, deliver and perform their obligations under this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements, and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. The execution, delivery and performance by the Acquirors of this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements, as applicable, and the consummation by the Acquirors of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby

 

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have been duly and validly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Acquirors and no other corporate proceedings on the part of the Acquirors are necessary to authorize the execution, delivery and performance by the Acquirors of this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements or to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by each of the Acquirors and, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by Seller, constitutes, and each Ancillary Agreement, when executed and delivered by each of the Acquirors, as applicable (assuming due authorization and delivery by the other parties thereto), shall constitute, a valid and binding obligation of each of the Acquirors, enforceable against each of the Acquirors in accordance with its terms, except that such enforcement may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar Laws now or hereafter in effect relating to or affecting the rights and remedies of creditors and general principles of equity (whether considered in a proceeding at law or in equity) and the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought.

(c) Governmental Filings . No Governmental Filings are required in connection with the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements by the Acquirors, as applicable, except (i) Governmental Filings under the HSR Act, (ii) Governmental Filings under Foreign Antitrust Merger Control Laws, (iii) the Governmental Filings required to be made with the Insurance Commissioner and the FSA, (iv) Governmental Filings that become applicable as a result of matters specifically related to Seller or its Affiliates or (v) such other Governmental Filings the failure of which to be obtained or made would not materially impair the Acquirors’ ability to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.

(d) No Conflict or Violation . The execution, delivery and performance by the Acquirors of this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements, as applicable, and the consummation by the Acquirors of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby do not (i) assuming all authorizations, consents and approvals described in Section 3.2(c) have been obtained or made, violate any applicable Law to which the Acquirors are subject; (ii) require a consent, approval or notification under, conflict with, result in a violation or breach of, or constitute a default under, result in the acceleration of, create in any party the right to accelerate, terminate or cancel any Contract to which any of the Acquirors is a party; or (iii) violate the Organizational Documents, except with respect the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii) as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect and would not materially impair the Acquirors’ ability to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.

(e) Legal Proceedings .

(i) As of the date of this Agreement, there are no Actions pending or, to the knowledge of the Acquirors, threatened which challenge the validity or enforceability of this Agreement or seek to enjoin or prohibit consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby. The Acquirors are not subject to any judgment, decree, injunction or order of any Governmental

 

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Entity which would materially impair their ability to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.

(ii) None of the Acquirors or any of their Affiliates has been denied or informed that it was likely to be denied any Permit relating to the administration, underwriting, solicitation or sale of insurance products or the conduct of the business of insurance in any jurisdiction.

(f) Acquisition of Equity for Investment . Buyer has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters that it is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of Buyer’s purchase of the CMG Interests and the Shares. Buyer confirms that it can bear the economic risk of its investment in the CMG Interests and the Shares and can afford to lose its entire investment in the CMG Interests and the Shares, has been furnished the materials relating to Buyer’s purchase of the CMG Interests and the Shares which it has requested, and Seller has provided Buyer the opportunity to ask questions of the officers and management employees of the Companies and to acquire additional information about the business and financial condition of the Companies and their Subsidiaries. Buyer is acquiring the Equity for investment and not with a view toward or for sale in connection with any distribution thereof, or with any present intention of distributing or selling such Equity. Buyer agrees that the CMG Interests and the Shares may not be sold, transferred, offered for sale, pledged, hypothecated or otherwise disposed of without registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, except pursuant to an exemption from such registration available under such Act.

(g) Funding . Attached hereto as Exhibit B is a true and complete copy of the commitment letter from Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch, Deutsche Bank AG Cayman Islands Branch and Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. (the “ Debt Financing Commitments ”), pursuant to which lenders party thereto have agreed, subject to the terms and conditions set forth therein, to lend the amounts set forth therein for the purposes of funding payment of the Closing Consideration and fees and expenses of Buyer relating to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (the “ Debt Financing ”). Attached hereto as Exhibit C is a true and complete copy of the equity commitment letter (the “ Equity Financing Commitment ” and together with the Debt Financing Commitments, the “ Financing Commitments ”), pursuant to which certain affiliates of Apollo Management V, L.P. (“ Apollo ”) have committed, subject to the terms and conditions set forth therein, to invest the amount set forth therein to purchase Equity Interests of Buyer (the “ Equity Financing ” and together with the Debt Financing, the “ Financing ”). None of the Financing Commitments have been amended or modified prior to the date of this Agreement, and the respective commitments contained in the Financing Commitments have not been withdrawn or rescinded in any respect. The Financing Commitments are in full force and effect. There are no conditions precedent or other contingencies related to the funding of the full amount of the Financing, other than as set forth in or contemplated by the Financing Commitments. The aggregate proceeds to be disbursed pursuant to the agreements contemplated by the

 

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Financing Commitments, will be sufficient for Buyer to pay the aggregate Closing Consideration and to pay all related fees and expenses. The Fee Letter referenced in the Debt Financing Commitments (which has not been made available to Seller) does not contain any provisions that directly or indirectly function as conditions to the funding of such commitments or otherwise make such finding less likely to occur (assuming payment by Buyer of all fees payable thereunder).

(h) Brokers’ Fees . No broker, investment banker, financial advisor or other person, is entitled to any broker’s, finder’s, financial advisor’s or other similar fee, expenses or commission in connection with this Agreement or the transactions contemplated for which Seller or any of its Affiliates would be liable.

(i) No Reliance . Buyer acknowledges that it has conducted to its satisfaction an independent investigation of the financial condition, liabilities, results of operations and projected operations of the Companies and their Subsidiaries and the nature and condition of their respective properties and assets and the Business and, in making the determination to proceed with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements, has relied solely on the results of its own independent investigation and the representations and warranties set forth in Section 3.1. Buyer acknowledges that none of Seller, the Companies or their Subsidiaries nor any other Person has made any representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the accuracy or completeness of any information regarding the Companies or their Subsidiaries, the Business or other matters that is not included in this Agreement. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, none of Seller, the Companies or their Subsidiaries nor any other Person has made a representation or warranty to Buyer with respect to (a) any projections, estimates or budgets for the Business, the Companies or their Subsidiaries, or (b) any material, documents or information relating to any of the Companies or their Subsidiaries made available to Buyer or its Representatives in any data room or otherwise, except as expressly covered by a representation or warranty set forth in Section 3.1.

(j) Disclaimer of Warranties . NOTWITHSTANDING ANY PROVISION OF THIS AGREEMENT TO THE CONTRARY, ACQUIRORS MAKE NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES TO SELLER IN CONNECTION WITH THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT, EXCEPT AS SPECIFICALLY SET FORTH IN THIS ARTICLE III. ALL OTHER REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES, WHETHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, ARE DISCLAIMED BY BUYER.

(k) FSA Approval. Except as previously disclosed to Seller, neither Buyer nor any of its Affiliates have actual knowledge of any facts or any reason that would cause the FSA to withhold or delay its consent to the proposed acquisition of control (such term having the meaning ascribed thereto in section 179 of FSMA) of Cims Limited by Buyer and each other person that is a proposed controller pursuant to section 184 of FSMA.

 

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(l) Capitalization.

(i) As of the date hereof, the authorized capital stock of Parent consists of (A) 1,000 shares of Parent Common Stock, of which 100 shares are issued and outstanding and (B) 1,000 shares of Parent Preferred Stock, of which no shares are issued and outstanding. Except as contemplated by this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, as of the date hereof, there are no outstanding Equity Interests, options, warrants, rights or agreements or other commitments pursuant to which Parent is or may become obligated to issue any shares of its Equity Interests. All of the outstanding shares of Parent Common Stock have been duly authorized and validly issued, have not been issued in violation of any preemptive rights, rights of first refusal or other third party rights, and are fully paid and nonassessable. All shares of Parent Preferred Stock and Parent Common Stock to be issued pursuant to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will be, duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. Other than as set forth above, as of the date hereof, Parent has no other Equity Interests authorized, reserved for issuance, issued or outstanding and there are no voting trusts or other agreements or understandings to which Parent is bound with respect to voting the Parent Preferred Stock or Parent Common Stock.

(ii) At Closing, the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of Parent will consist of (A) the Parent Preferred Shares; (B) Parent Common Stock and/or Parent Preferred Stock issued to affiliates of Apollo and certain members of management of the Companies and their Subsidiaries; (C) shares of Parent Common Stock issuable (x) upon exercise of options issued pursuant to an option plan and/or (y) pursuant to a deferred compensation plan, in each case, of the Companies and their Subsidiaries; and (D) shares of Parent Common Stock issuable pursuant to the Parent Warrant.

(m) Investment Company. Parent is not an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

(n) Private Offering. No form of general solicitation or general advertising was used by Parent or its representatives in connection with the offer or sale of the Parent Preferred Stock. Subject in part to the truth and accuracy of each of Parent’s representations and warranties set forth in section 3.2 hereof, no registration of the Parent Preferred Stock, pursuant to the provisions of the Securities Act or any state securities or “blue sky” laws, will be required by the offer, sale or issuance of the Parent Preferred Stock. Parent agrees that neither it, nor anyone acting on its behalf, shall offer to sell the Parent Preferred Stock or any other securities of Parent so as to require the registration of the Parent Preferred Stock pursuant to the provisions of the Securities Act or any state securities or “blue sky” laws, unless such Parent Preferred Stock or other securities are so registered.

 

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(o) Reservation of Parent Common Stock. Prior to the Closing, Parent will have available for issuance such number of its authorized but unissued shares of (i) Parent Common Stock as will be sufficient to permit the exercise in full of all Parent Warrants and (ii) Parent Preferred Stock as will be sufficient to permit the issuance of Parent Preferred Shares as contemplated by this Agreement. All shares of (i) Parent Common Stock issuable pursuant to the terms of the Parent Warrants, when issued upon exercise thereof, with payment therefor in accordance with the terms thereof, and (ii) Parent Preferred Shares, in each case, issuable pursuant to this Agreement, shall be duly and validly issued and fully paid and nonassessable, not subject to preemptive rights and shall be free and clear of all Encumbrances.

ARTICLE IV

COVENANTS

Section 4.1 Conduct of the Companies’ Business .

(a) Seller agrees that, during the period from the date of this Agreement until the earlier of the Closing or the termination of this Agreement, except as (1) required by applicable Law, (2) set forth in Section 4.1 of the Seller Disclosure Schedule or (3) consented to by Buyer in writing (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), Seller shall cause each of the Companies and their Subsidiaries to:

(i) conduct their respective businesses and operations in the ordinary course of business and in accordance with applicable Law, except as expressly contemplated by this Agreement;

(ii) use commercially reasonable efforts to keep available the services of their respective employees and maintain the relations and good will with suppliers, customers, affinity partners, creditors, employees, agents and others having business relationships with the Companies and their Subsidiaries;

(iii) maintain the assets of the Companies and their Subsidiaries in good repair, order and condition, maintain insurance that is reasonable, in both scope and amount, in light of the risks attendant to the Business, replace in accordance with past practice inoperable or worn out assets with modern assets of comparable quality, invest in capital expenditures in the ordinary course of business and, in the event of a casualty, loss or damage to any of such assets prior to the Closing Date, repair or replace such assets, unless otherwise consented to by Buyer in writing;

(iv) promptly notify Buyer in writing upon receipt of Knowledge that there has been an occurrence, or failure to occur, of any event, which occurrence or failure to occur has caused any representation or warranty of

 

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Seller that is contained in this Agreement to be untrue or inaccurate in any material respect at any time from the date of this Agreement to the Closing as if such representation and warranty were made at such time.

(v) maintain, in all material respects, in good standing all permits, and authorization of any Governmental Entity related to the Business and any applications therefor;

(vi) pay all Pre-Closing Tax Period Taxes that become due and payable during such period, or contest such Pre-Closing Tax Period Taxes in good faith with appropriate reserves held in accordance with GAAP; and

(vii) spend as least 80% of the cumulative amounts set forth in Section 4.1(a)(vii) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule .

(b) In addition, subject to the foregoing Section 4.1(a), Seller shall procure that each of the Companies and their Subsidiaries shall not:

(i) authorize or effect any amendment to or change its Organizational Documents in any respect;

(ii) except in connection with the Inter-Company Agreements, declare, set aside or pay any dividend or distribution on or in respect of any of its Equity Interests, or make any payment or transfer of consideration of any kind to any Affiliate or relative of any such Affiliate, other than salary and ordinary expense reimbursement to employees;

(iii) issue or authorize the issuance of any Equity Interests or grant any options, warrants, or other rights to purchase or obtain any of its Equity Interests or issue, sell or otherwise dispose of any of its Equity Interests;

(iv) issue any note, bond, or other debt security, or create, incur, assume or guarantee any Indebtedness or any capitalized lease obligation;

(v) except in the ordinary course of business and other than the New Inter-Company Agreements, enter into any Contract, or amend, modify or waive any right under any existing Contract, in each case, with any Affiliate of the Companies;

(vi) other than in the ordinary course of business, enter into, accelerate, terminate, modify or cancel or waive any material right under any Company Contract;

 

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(vii) except in the ordinary course of business, sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of the material property or assets of the Business other than pursuant to existing Contracts or commitments;

(viii) make any capital expenditure, or commitments therefor, in excess of $3,000,000;

(ix) cancel, compromise or settle any material claim, or intentionally waive or release any material rights, of any of the Companies or their Subsidiaries, except in respect of any Excluded Litigation Matter;

(x) adopt, enter into, amend, alter, or terminate any Company Plan or any employment agreement with any executive level employee or grant or agree to grant any increase in the wages, salary, bonus or other compensation, remuneration or benefits of any executive-level employee of any of the Companies or their Subsidiaries, except as required under applicable Law, any existing Company Plan or any existing employment agreement;

(xi) except with respect to the elimination of any reserve relating exclusively to a matter to be assumed by Seller prior to Closing, make any changes to their accounting methods or principles, other than as may be required by Law, GAAP or generally accepted accounting principles in the jurisdictions of incorporation of the relevant Company or Subsidiary;

(xii) make any material Tax election or changes to their Tax accounting methods or principles, other than as required by Law, or settle or compromise any material liability relating to Taxes of the Companies or their Subsidiaries;

(xiii) acquire (by merger, consolidation or acquisition of stock or assets) any corporation, partnership or other business organization or division thereof or collection of assets constituting all or substantially all of a business or business unit;

(xiv) adopt any material change in the policies or practices of the Companies or their Subsidiaries with regard to the extension of discounts or credit to customers or collection of receivables from customers; and

(xv) agree or otherwise commit to take any of the actions prohibited by the foregoing clauses (i) through (xiv).

(c) Seller agrees, during the period from the date of this Agreement until the earlier of the Closing or the termination of this Agreement, (i) not to directly or indirectly sell or otherwise dispose of any of its Equity Interests in the Companies or any of their Subsidiaries; (ii) not to copy, reproduce or in any way retain or use, other than as expressly permitted by the Inter-Company Agreement, or New Inter-

 

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Company Agreements, any portion of the Company Intellectual Property (unless Seller has an independent right to such Company Licensed Intellectual Property) (including source code) in a manner that would infringe or otherwise violate the Company Intellectual Property; (iii) not to copy the source code of the Loyalty Open Logic Architecture platform; (iv) to assign to the Companies or the Subsidiaries Intellectual Property that is owned by the Seller and is used exclusively by the Companies and their Subsidiaries as of the Closing Date; and (v) to perform in all material respects its obligation under and as set forth in the Inter-Company Agreements.

Section 4.2 Employment Matters .

(a) Immediately after the Closing, each of the Companies and their Subsidiaries shall continue to employ all individuals who are employees of any of the Companies or their Subsidiaries on the Closing Date, including employees not actively at work due to injury, vacation, military duty, disability or other leave of absence (the “ Affected Employees ”). Until the first anniversary of the Closing Date, Buyer shall provide employee benefits and compensation to Affected Employees that are no less favorable in the aggregate than those provided to such persons immediately prior to the Closing Date whether arising under a Company Plan or any plan sponsored by Seller or any of its Affiliates (other than the Companies and their Subsidiaries); provided , however , that Buyer shall not be obligated to provide for equity awards or grants, and equity awards or grants or awards made pursuant to the Cendant Corporation 2003 Long Term Incentive Plan prior to the Closing Date shall not be taken into account in determining the compensation and benefits of Affected Employees. Periods of employment with any of the Companies or their Subsidiaries (including, without limitation, any current or former Affiliate of the Companies or any predecessor, to the extent previously recognized under the Company Plans), shall be taken into account for purposes of determining, as applicable, the eligibility for participation and vesting of any employee under all employee benefit plans offered by Buyer or a Subsidiary of Buyer to the Affected Employees, including vacation plans or arrangements, 401(k) or other retirement savings plans and any severance or welfare plans. Buyer shall (i) waive any limitation on medical coverage of any Affected Employees due to pre-existing conditions under the applicable medical plan of Buyer or a Subsidiary of Buyer to the extent such limitation did not apply to the Affected Employee under the medical employee benefit plan of any of the Companies or their Subsidiaries or their Affiliates that covered the Affected Employee on the Closing Date, and (ii) credit each Affected Employee with all deductible payments and co-payments paid by such employee under the medical employee benefit plan of the Companies or their Affiliates prior to the Closing Date during the year in which the Closing occurs for the purpose of determining the extent to which any such employee has satisfied his or her deductible and whether he or she has reached the out-of-pocket maximum under any medical plan of Buyer or a Subsidiary of Buyer for such year.

(b) The Affected Employees shall not accrue benefits under any Company Plan not sponsored by the Companies on and after the Closing Date. Prior

 

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to the Closing Date, (i) the Companies shall withdraw, effective as of the Closing Date, from any Company Plan not sponsored by the Companies (the “ Retained Company Plans ”), in the manner, if any, that such Company Plan specifies for withdrawal of a participating employer, and (ii) the Sellers shall take all actions necessary or appropriate to cause the Companies and Subsidiaries to have no further obligations or liabilities under any Retained Company Plan on and after the Closing Date.

(c) Notwithstanding the general provisions of Section 4.2(a), until at least December 30, 2006, Buyer shall, and shall cause its Affiliates to, provide each Affected Employee with severance benefits that are no less favorable than those that would have been provided to such Affected Employee immediately prior to the Closing Date under the Cendant Corporation Severance Pay Plan for Non-Officer Employees or, if applicable, the severance benefits set forth on Section 4.2(c) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule , each as in effect on the Closing Date.

(d) Buyer shall take all actions necessary to assume and honor the Company Plans other than the Retained Company Plans. Buyer shall be solely responsible for all liabilities relating to the amendment, termination or alleged termination of any Company Plan other than the Retained Company Plans.

(e) Buyer shall, within two Business Days, notify Seller of the termination of employment and whether such termination is for Cause (as defined in the applicable Retention Letter) of any individual who is party to a “Retention Letter” listed on Section 3.1(r)(i) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule .

Section 4.3 Publicity . Buyer and Seller agree to communicate with each other and cooperate with each other prior to any public disclosure of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Buyer and Seller agree that no public release or announcement concerning the terms of the transactions contemplated hereby shall be issued by any party without the prior consent of Buyer and Seller, except as such release or announcement, upon the advice of outside counsel, may be required by Law or the rules and regulations of any stock exchange upon which the securities of Seller are listed, in which case the party required to make the release or announcement shall allow the other parties reasonable time to comment on such release or announcement in advance of such issuance.

Section 4.4 Confidentiality .

(a) Buyer and its Representatives (as such term is defined in the Confidentiality Agreement between Seller and Apollo, dated January 10, 2005 (the “ Confidentiality Agreement ”)) shall treat all nonpublic information obtained in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby as confidential in accordance with the terms of the Confidentiality Agreement. The terms of the Confidentiality Agreement are hereby incorporated by reference and shall continue in full force and effect until the Closing, at which time such Confidentiality Agreement shall terminate. If this Agreement is, for any reason, terminated prior to the Closing, the

 

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Confidentiality Agreement shall continue in full force and effect as provided in Section 6.2 hereof in accordance with its terms. Notwithstanding the fact that Seller is not a party to the letter related to the Equity Financing Commitment, Seller shall treat all information contained in such letter and the transactions contemplated thereby as confidential in accordance with the terms of the confidentiality provision contained therein.

(b) From and after the Closing except as required by Law, regulation or stock exchange rule, (i) Buyer shall, and shall cause each of the Companies and their Subsidiaries to, keep confidential and not use for any purpose all nonpublic information regarding Seller or its Affiliates (other than the Companies and their Subsidiaries) of which the Companies and their Subsidiaries are aware; and (ii) Seller shall, and shall cause each of its Affiliates to, keep confidential and not use for any purpose all nonpublic information regarding Buyer or its Affiliates (including the Companies and their Subsidiaries) of which Seller or its Affiliates may be aware.

Section 4.5 Access to Information; Financial Statements .

(a) Subject to Section 4.4 hereof, Seller shall cause its officers, directors, employees, auditors and other agents to afford the officers, directors, employees, auditors and other agents of Buyer reasonable access during normal business hours to the officers, directors, employees, auditors, agents, properties, offices and other facilities of Seller, the Companies and their respective Subsidiaries and their books and records, and shall furnish Buyer with such financial, operating and other data and information with respect to the Business (including management reports), as Buyer, through its officers, employees or agents, may reasonably request, including without limitation, auditors’ work papers (subject to execution by Buyer of customary agreements). In exercising its rights hereunder, Buyer shall conduct itself so as not to unreasonably interfere in the conduct of the business of the Companies and their Subsidiaries prior to Closing. Buyer acknowledges and agrees that any contact by Buyer and its agents and representatives with officers, employees, customers or agents of the Companies and their Subsidiaries hereunder shall be arranged and supervised by representatives of Seller, unless Seller otherwise expressly consents with respect to any specific contact. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, neither Seller nor any of its Affiliates (including the Companies and their Subsidiaries) shall be required to disclose to Buyer or any agent or representative thereof any (i) information relating to any sale or divestiture process conducted by Seller or its Affiliates for the Companies or the Business or Seller’s or its Affiliates’ (or their representatives’) evaluation of the Companies or the Business in connection therewith, including projections, financial or other information relating thereto or (ii) information if doing so would violate any Company Contract or Law to which Seller or any of its Affiliates (including the Companies and their Subsidiaries) is a party or is subject or which would result in a loss of the ability to successfully assert a claim of privilege (including without limitation, the attorney-client and work product privileges) or (iii) consolidated, combined, unitary or similar Tax Return of which Seller or any of its Affiliates (other than any of the Companies or their Subsidiaries) is the common parent (other than

 

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schedules relating solely to the Company and their Subsidiaries) or any other information relating to Taxes or Tax Returns other than information relating solely to the Companies and/or their Subsidiaries, it being understood that the Seller shall make reasonable efforts, through redaction or otherwise, to maximize the delivery of information hereunder.

(b) Seller shall cause each of the Companies and their Subsidiaries to provide to Buyer the Monthly Financial Reports within fifteen (15) Business Days following the end of each calendar month prior to the Closing.

(c) Prior to Closing, Seller shall cause each of the Companies and their Subsidiaries to provide to Buyer within sixty (60) days following the end of the calendar quarter ended June 30, 2005, or within forty-five (45) days following the end of each calendar quarter thereafter ending forty-five (45) days or more prior to Closing, (i) the S-X Quarterly Financial Statements, (ii) the comparative figures for the corresponding quarter in the prior fiscal year and the corresponding elapsed portion of the prior fiscal year, (iii) the comparative figures from the budget for such quarter and the corresponding elapsed portion of the fiscal year and (iv) a detailed explanation of significant trends and variances (collectively, the “ Quarterly Financial Statements ”). The Quarterly Financial Statements shall be prepared in accordance with GAAP, consistently applied (except as disclosed in the footnotes thereto), contain condensed notes thereto (consistent with Form 10-Q disclosure), and fairly present, in all material respects, the combined financial position of the Companies and their Subsidiaries as of the dates thereof and their combined results of operations, changes in combined equity and cash flows for the periods then ended, in each case, as if such quarter end was the Companies’ and their Subsidiaries’ fiscal year end.

(d) Without limiting the foregoing, for a period of five years following the Closing, upon request by Buyer, Seller shall provide reasonable access to the books, records, manuals, historical financial data and other materials of Seller and its Affiliates relating to the Business, including without limitation to allow Buyer to (i) consummate any financing transaction, including without limitation, any public or private offering of equity, debt or other securities or (ii) make any filings or registrations under the Securities Act of 1933, any state blue sky laws or any rules promulgated thereunder, or any similar act or regulations of any Governmental Entity. Without limiting the foregoing, Seller shall, and shall cause its Affiliates to reasonably cooperate and assist Buyer with any such financing transactions, filings or registrations. Such cooperation and assistance shall include, without limitation, delivering management representation letters and using its commercially reasonable efforts to cause its auditors to reissue audit and review opinions. Buyer shall reimburse Seller and its Affiliates for any out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred by Seller in connection with this Section 4.5(d) and shall indemnify Seller and its Affiliate for any Liabilities in connection therewith (except to the extent resulting from breach by Seller of this Agreement).

 

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Section 4.6 Post-Closing Litigation and Other Matters .

(a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, from and after the Closing Date, Seller shall (i) assume and retain all responsibility for, (ii) shall retain Liability for all Losses arising out of and (iii) shall have the exclusive right to control the defense and settlement of the Actions (in each case, including all Actions arising out of or relating to the same facts and circumstances giving rise to such original Actions) set forth on Section 4.6(a) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule (the “ Excluded Litigation Matters ”). Seller shall have the exclusive right to control the defense and settlement of all Excluded Litigation Matters in which Seller or the Companies are defendants. Following the Closing Date, Buyer shall, and shall cause the Companies and their Subsidiaries to, maintain all records and materials (in whatever form maintained, whether documentary, electronically stored or otherwise) pertinent to any Excluded Litigation Matters. Buyer shall, and shall cause the Companies and their Subsidiaries to, reasonably cooperate with Seller and its counsel in the investigation, defense and settlement of such Excluded Litigation Matters. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Buyer shall, and shall cause the Companies and their Subsidiaries to, (i) provide Seller with reasonable access at reasonable hours to all books and records and personnel, including the Affected Employees and (ii) permit employees and personnel, including the Affected Employees, to respond to reasonable requests for interviews, depositions, trial or hearing or other testimony, interrogatories and other information in connection with Excluded Litigation Matters and any proceedings in connection therewith.

(b) From and after the Closing Date, except as set forth in Section 4.6(a), Buyer shall cause the Companies and their Subsidiaries to retain or assume all responsibility for and retain or assume liability for all Losses (other than any Losses for which Buyer is indemnified under Article VII) arising out of, and in respect of clause (i) below, the Companies and their Subsidiaries shall have the exclusive right to control the defense and settlement of and in respect of Clause (ii) below, the Companies and their Subsidiaries shall perform all of their covenants and obligations under, (i) all Actions set forth on Section 4.6(b) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule , (the “ Business Litigation Matters ”) regardless of whether Seller or any of its Affiliates (other than any of the Companies or their Subsidiaries) are party thereto or otherwise named therein and (ii) all Company Contracts and Company Leases to which any of the Companies or their Subsidiaries is a party (the “ Business Contract Matters ”) regardless of whether Seller or any of its Affiliates (other than any of the Companies or their Subsidiaries) are party thereto or guarantors thereof. Nothing contained in this Section 4.6(b) shall limit the rights of the Buyer under ARTICLE VII.

Section 4.7 Filings and Authorizations, Including HSR Act Filing .

(a) Seller, on the one hand, and Buyer, on the other hand, shall, and shall cause its Affiliates to, promptly file or cause to be filed all necessary Governmental Filings, including, but not limited to, (i) filing as soon as practicable, but

 

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in no event later than ten (10) days following the date of this Agreement, all necessary Governmental Filings under each of, (w) the HSR Act, and (x) the FSA Notices with the FSA ; (ii) filing as promptly as practicable, but in no event later than ten (10) days following the date of this Agreement, the Form A with the Insurance Commissioner; and (iii) filing as promptly as practicable after the date of this Agreement but in no event later than ten (10) days following the date of this Agreement (provided Seller has delivered to Buyer the information referred to in Section 4.7(c)), all necessary Governmental Filings under any Foreign Antitrust Merger Control Laws, and (iv) submissions of additional information reasonably requested by any Governmental Entity. Each of Buyer and Seller further agrees that it shall, and shall cause its Affiliates to, comply with any applicable post-Closing notification or other requirements of the Insurance Commissioner, the FSA or of any antitrust, trade competition, investment or control reporting or similar Law or regulation of any Governmental Entity with competent jurisdiction. Each of Buyer and Seller agrees to cooperate with and promptly to consult with the other party or its counsel with respect to any filing with any Governmental Entity.

(b) In addition to the agreements set forth in (a) above, the parties shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the consents, approvals, waivers or other authorizations from Governmental Entities, including without limitation, any approvals required by the Insurance Commissioner or the FSA in connection with Buyer’s acquisition of the control of Safecard and Cims Limited, respectively, and antitrust clearance under the HSR Act and any Foreign Antitrust Merger Control Laws, are obtained as promptly as practicable and that any reasonable conditions set forth in or established by any such consents, approvals, waivers or other authorizations from Governmental Entities are wholly satisfied. Furthermore, Buyer shall make promptly, and in any event within any time period as the FSA may from time to time prescribe, any filing required to be made to the FSA, and provide the FSA with such information as it may require, in order to consider approving the proposed acquisition of control (such term having the meaning ascribed thereto in section 179 of FSMA) of Cims Limited by Buyer and each other person that is a proposed controller pursuant to section 184 of FSMA.

(c) Seller shall promptly provide Buyer with all information regarding the Business that is within Seller’s control and is reasonably necessary to complete the required forms in connection with the necessary Governmental Filings under the Foreign Antitrust Merger Control Laws in Austria and Germany.

(d) Buyer shall promptly notify Seller of the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 5.1(b) and Section 5.1(c).

(e) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, in the event that the Insurance Commissioner has not approved Buyer’s acquisition of control statement relating to the acquisition of control of Safecard by the fifth (5 th ) Business Day prior to the Closing Date, then (i) Seller shall, subject to receipt of all necessary insurance regulatory approvals, non-disapprovals or waivers of regulatory

 

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requirements, as applicable, cause Cendant Membership Services Holdings Subsidiary LLC to immediately distribute all of the outstanding shares of stock of Safecard to CMG and, immediately following such distribution, shall cause CMG to distribute all of the outstanding shares of stock of Safecard to Seller, (ii) Safecard shall be deemed to not be a “Subsidiary” under this Agreement, and (iii) Seller shall take all actions reasonably necessary or appropriate to run-off and wind-up the activities of Safecard, provided that Seller may not terminate, cancel, refuse to renew or otherwise cease to provide coverage or increase the premiums under the Safecard policies in effect at the time of such distributions until the earlier of (1) such time Buyer has procured comparable coverage to replace the coverage afforded under the Safecard policies and afford adequate coverage to Safecard’s policyholder(s) or (2) the date which is the 90th day following the Closing Date.

Section 4.8 Director and Officer Liability; Indemnification . Buyer agrees to cause the Company to assume and comply with the obligations of Seller under paragraph 2.1(e) of that certain Amended and Restated Stockholders Agreement dated as of January 30, 2004 by and among TRL Group Inc. (formerly known as Trilegiant Corporation), a Delaware corporation and a Subsidiary of CMG, Seller and the other parties named therein.

Section 4.9 Reasonable Best Efforts . Upon the terms and subject to the conditions herein provided, except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, and without limiting the obligations of the parties under Section 4.7, each of the parties hereto agrees to use its reasonable best efforts to take or cause to be taken all action, to do or cause to be done and to assist and cooperate with the other party hereto in doing all things necessary, proper or advisable under applicable Laws and regulations to consummate and make effective, in the most expeditious manner practicable, the transactions contemplated hereby, including, but not limited to: (i) the satisfaction of the conditions precedent to the obligations of any of the parties hereto; (ii) the obtaining of applicable consents, waivers or approvals of any third parties; (iii) the defending of any lawsuits or other legal proceedings, whether judicial or administrative, challenging this Agreement or the performance of the obligations hereunder; and (iv) the execution and delivery of such instruments, and the taking of such other actions as the other party hereto may reasonably require in order to carry out the intent of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, none of Seller, the Companies or any of their respective Affiliates shall be obligated to make any payments or otherwise pay any consideration to any third party to obtain any applicable consent, waiver or approval, unless the payment of such consideration is required by applicable Law or the terms of the applicable Contract.

Section 4.10 Insurance .

(a) After the Closing, Seller will continue to provide Buyer with access to historic Occurrence Based Policies of Seller and its Subsidiaries that include coverage for the Companies and their Subsidiaries for periods prior to the Closing Date and shall reasonably cooperate with Buyer and take commercially

 

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reasonable actions as may be necessary or advisable to assist Buyer in submitting claims for pre-Closing occurrences to which such policies are responsive; provided that Buyer shall be responsible for any deductibles or co-payments legally due and owing relating to such claims and Seller shall not be required to maintain such policies beyond their current terms.

(b) Buyer acknowledges that under Claims Made Policies of Seller and its Subsidiaries (other than the Companies and their Subsidiaries) all insurance coverage for the Companies and their Subsidiaries for any occurrence, act, omission or event occurring and Liability or condition arising after Closing shall terminate as of the Closing and, following the Closing, except as otherwise provided herein, no claims may be brought against any Claims Made Policy of Seller and its Subsidiaries (other than those of the Companies and their Subsidiaries). Seller shall purchase, prior to the Closing Date, run off/tail coverage for the Companies and their Subsidiaries covering any occurrence, act, omission or event occurring and Liability or condition existing prior to Closing that were covered prior to the Closing under Seller’s and its Subsidiaries’ (other than the Companies and their Subsidiaries) Claims Made Insurance policies. Such run off/tail coverage will provide coverage for claims made or reported a minimum of six years after the Closing Date and will be reasonably satisfactory to Buyer in form and substance.

(c) Seller’s obligations under Section 4.10(a) shall include, without limitation, Seller assigning or causing the relevant Subsidiary to assign to Buyer or one or more of its Subsidiaries rights in respect of its historic Occurrence Based Policies, providing timely written notice of such claims to the third party insurer (with a copy of any such notice to be given by Seller to Buyer) and providing information regarding any such claim as may be required by the applicable insurance policy or required by or requested by the applicable third party insurer. Seller shall provide to the Companies and their Subsidiaries access to pre-Closing insurance and updated loss summaries, for a period of five years of Closing.

Section 4.11 Termination of Agreements; Other Assets .

(a) On and as of the Closing, except for (i) the Ancillary Agreements, (ii) the New Inter-Company Agreements and (iii) those Contracts, if any, set forth on Section 4.11(a) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule , ((i), (ii), and (iii) collectively, the “ Continuing Agreements ”) all Contracts, written or oral, between any of the Companies or their Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and Seller or any of its Affiliates (other than any of the Companies and their Subsidiaries), on the other hand (the “ Terminating Contracts ”) shall be terminated without any further force and effect, and there shall be no further Liabilities or obligations of any of the relevant parties thereunder.

(b) Except as set forth on Section 4.11(b) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule , all inter-company accounts, whether payables or receivables, between Seller or any of its Affiliates (other than any of the Companies and their Subsidiaries), on the one hand, and any of the Companies and their

 

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Subsidiaries, on the other hand, as of the Closing shall be eliminated (by way of capital contribution, cash settlement or as otherwise determined by Seller in its sole discretion) prior to the Closing Date.

(c) Subject to any necessary consents, Seller shall cause and shall cause its Subsidiaries (other than the Companies and their Subsidiaries) to cause all assets and property related exclusively to the Business (other than Cash as to which an adjustment is made pursuant to Section 2.3(c)) which are held by Seller and its Affiliates (other than the Companies and their Subsidiaries) to be transferred to one of the Companies or one of their Subsidiaries without any consideration.

(d) (i) With respect to software currently used by the Companies or their Subsidiaries and for which licenses for such software were purchased under any of the “Master License Agreements” set forth in Section 3.1(n)(i)(8) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule (the “ Master Software Agreements ”; and such licenses purchased thereunder for use by the Companies or their Subsidiaries, the “ Existing Licenses ”), Seller will (A) seek, in accordance with Section 4.26 of this Agreement, any necessary consents to assign the Existing Licenses (but for avoidance of doubt, not to assign the Master Software Agreements) to the Companies, and (B) use commercially reasonable efforts to assist the Companies in obtaining agreements for acquisition of new software and for maintenance renewals to replace such Master Software Agreements; provided , however , that Seller makes no representations, warranties or covenants that pricing or other terms under such replacement agreements will be comparable to those contained in the Master Software Agreements.

(ii)With respect to software used by Seller or its Affiliates (other than the Companies or their Subsidiaries) to provide services under the Master Transition Services Agreement, and for which the Companies or their Subsidiaries will have to obtain a replacement license to use such software in their businesses upon termination or expiration of the Master Transition Services Agreement, Seller will use commercially reasonable efforts to assist the Companies in obtaining such replacement license agreements; provided , however , that Seller makes no representations, warranties or covenants that pricing or other terms under such replacement agreements will be comparable to those contained in Seller’s own agreements with the applicable vendors of such software.

(iii) Other than with respect to (A) costs for third party consents for Seller and its Affiliates (other than the Companies and their Subsidiaries) to operate such software described in 4.11(d)(i) and 4.1(d)(ii) above under the Master Transition Services Agreement on behalf of the Companies and their Subsidiaries (which costs are governed by Section 4.26 of this Agreement) and (B) costs for third party consents required pursuant to Section 4.11(d)(i)(A) above (Seller and Buyer agree that Seller shall pay for 50% and the Companies shall pay for 50% of any out-of-pocket fees required to obtain any such consents

 

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required by Section 4.11(d)(i)(A), and Buyer agrees that such payment obligations shall be subject to the provisions of Section 4.26(c)), the Companies will be responsible for the costs associated with such replacement agreements described in Sections 4.11(d)(i)(B) and 4.11(d)(ii).

Section 4.12 Debt; Release of Guarantees .

(a) Prior to the Closing Date, Seller and Buyer shall cooperate and shall use their respective reasonable best efforts to, effective as of the Closing Date, (i) terminate or cause to be terminated, or cause Buyer or one of its Affiliates to be substituted in all respects for Seller and any of its Affiliates or former Affiliates (other than any of the Companies and their Subsidiaries) (collectively, the “ Released Parties ”) in respect of all obligations of the Released Parties under, any guarantee of or relating to obligations or liabilities (including under any Contract, letter of credit or Company Lease) of any of the Companies and their Subsidiaries in each case listed on Section 4.12 of the Seller Disclosure Schedule (“ Guarantees ”) and (ii) cause Buyer or one of its Affiliates to have Surety Bonds (and any necessary collateral, indemnity or other agreements associated therewith) issued on behalf of Buyer or one of its Affiliates in replacement of all Surety Bonds (and all collateral, indemnity and other agreements associated therewith) listed on Section 4.12 of the Seller Disclosure Schedule issued on behalf of the Released Parties for the benefit of any of the Companies or their Subsidiaries (the “ Surety Bonds ”). In the case of the failure to do so by the by the Closing Date, then, Seller and Buyer shall continue to cooperate and use their respective reasonable best efforts to terminate, or cause Buyer or one of its Affiliates to be substituted in all respects for the Released Parties in respect of, all obligations of the Released Parties under any such Guarantees and to replace Surety Bonds issued on behalf of Released Parties with Surety Bonds issued on behalf of Buyer or one of its Affiliates, and Buyer shall (i) obtain a letter of credit on behalf of Buyer or one if its Affiliates, (ii) indemnify and hold harmless the Released Parties for any losses arising from such Guarantees and Surety Bonds and (iii) not permit any of the Companies or their Subsidiaries or Affiliates to (A) renew or extend the term of or (B) increase its obligations under, or transfer to another third party, any loan, lease, Contract or other obligation for which any Released Party is or would reasonably be expected to be liable under such Guarantee and Surety Bond. To the extent that any Released Party has performance obligations under any such Guarantee or Surety Bond, Buyer shall use reasonable best efforts to (i) perform such obligations on behalf of such Released Party or (ii) otherwise take such action as reasonably requested by Seller so as to put such Released Party in the same position as if Buyer, and not such Released Party, had performed or were performing such obligations.

(b) Seller shall take all necessary action to insure that the Companies and their Subsidiaries have no Indebtedness (other than with respect of capital leases) immediately prior to and at the Closing except to the extent otherwise requested by Buyer.

 

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Section 4.13 Provision of Certain Services . Buyer acknowledges that the Companies and their Subsidiaries currently receive from Seller and its Affiliates certain administrative and corporate services and benefits of a type generally provided to other businesses and Subsidiaries of Seller (“ Support Services ”). Seller and Buyer acknowledge that, except as provided in the Master Transition Services Agreement, Support Services shall cease at Closing, and all agreements and arrangements in respect thereof shall terminate as of the Closing Date, with no further obligation of any party thereto.

Section 4.14 Use of Certain Marks.

(a) Following the Closing, Buyer shall cause the Companies and their Subsidiaries to, as soon as practicable, but in no event later than nine (9) months following the Closing Date, cease to (i) make any use of any names or Trademarks that include the terms (A) “Cendant” or “Cendant Corporation,” or any Trademarks set forth in Section 4.14(a) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule , and (B) any names or Trademarks related thereto or containing or comprising the foregoing, including any names or Trademarks confusingly similar thereto or dilutive thereof (the “ Cendant Marks ”), and (ii) hold themselves out as having any affiliation with Seller or any of its Affiliates; provided , however , that the Companies and their Subsidiaries may make use of Cendant Marks in accordance with the express terms of any applicable Affinity Partner Contract between Seller or any of its Subsidiaries (other than the Companies and their Subsidiaries), on the one hand, and the Companies or any of their Subsidiaries, on the other hand. In furtherance thereof, as soon as practicable but in no event later than six (6) months following the Closing Date, Buyer shall cause each of the Companies and the Subsidiaries to remove, strike over or otherwise obliterate all Cendant Marks from all assets and other materials owned by the Companies and their Subsidiaries, including, without limitation, any vehicles, business cards, schedules, stationery, packaging materials, displays, signs, promotional materials, manuals, forms, websites, email, computer software and other materials and systems. Any use by the Companies or any of their Subsidiaries of any of the Cendant Marks as permitted in this Section 4.14(a) is subject to their compliance with the quality control requirements and guidelines in effect for the Cendant Marks as of the Closing Date.

(b) Following the Closing, Seller shall and shall cause its Affiliates to, as soon as practicable, but in no event later than nine (9) months following the Closing Date, cease to (i) make any use of any names or Trademarks set forth in Section 4.14(b) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule , and (B) any names or Trademarks related thereto or containing or comprising the foregoing, including any names or Trademarks confusingly similar thereto or dilutive thereof (the “ Company Marks ”), and (ii) hold themselves out as having any affiliation with the Companies or any of their Affiliates; provided , however , that Seller and its Affiliates may make use of Company Marks in accordance with the express terms of any applicable Contract between Seller or any of its Subsidiaries (other than the Companies and their Subsidiaries), on the one hand, and the Companies or any of their Subsidiaries, on the other hand. In furtherance thereof,

 

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as soon as practicable but in no event later than six (6) months following the Closing Date, Seller shall cause its Affiliates to remove, strike over or otherwise obliterate all Company Marks from all assets and other materials owned by Seller or its Affiliates, including, without limitation, any vehicles, business cards, schedules, stationery, packaging materials, displays, signs, promotional materials, manuals, forms, websites, email, computer software and other materials and systems. Any use by Seller or its Affiliates of any of the Company Marks as permitted in this Section 4.14(b) is subject to their compliance with the quality control requirements and guidelines in effect for the Company Marks as of the Closing Date.

Section 4.15 Tax Matters .

(a) Tax Return Preparation.

(i) To the extent not filed prior to the Closing Date, the Seller shall prepare (or cause to be prepared) all Tax Returns that are required to be filed by each of the Companies and their Subsidiaries for all Pre-Closing Tax Periods (each, a “ Pre-Closing Period Tax Return ”). All such Pre-Closing Period Tax Returns shall be prepared in a manner that is consistent with the prior practice of the Companies and their Subsidiaries, except as reasonably approved by Buyer. Buyer shall allow Seller access to any and all data and information necessary for the preparation of such Pre-Closing Period Tax Returns and shall cooperate fully with the Seller in the preparation of such Pre-Closing Period Tax Returns; provided , that no employee of Buyer, any Company or any Company Subsidiary shall be required to sign any such Tax Return without, at the request of such employee, being fully indemnified by Seller for any liability incurred as a consequence of signing such Tax Return. With respect to each Pre-Closing Period Tax Return filed after the Closing Date, no later than thirty days prior to the due date (taking into account any valid extensions thereof) (“ Due Date ”) for the filing of such Pre-Closing Period Tax Return, the Seller shall submit, or cause to be submitted, to the Buyer for its review drafts of such Pre-Closing Period Tax Return (together with all related work papers). Within ten days following Buyer’s receipt of such Pre-Closing Period Tax Return, Buyer shall have the right to object to such Pre-Closing Period Tax Return (by written notice to the Seller). If Buyer does not object by written notice to the Seller within such time period, such Pre-Closing Period Tax Return shall be deemed to have been accepted and agreed upon, and final and conclusive, for purposes of this Section 4.15(a)(i). If Buyer objects to such Pre-Closing Period Tax Return, it shall notify the Seller of such disputed item (or items) (in such written notice) and the basis for its objection and the Buyer and Seller shall act in good faith to resolve any such dispute as promptly as practicable. If the Buyer and Seller have not reached agreement regarding such dispute, the dispute shall be presented to the Independent Accounting Firm, whose determination shall be binding upon both Buyer and Seller, provided , however , that (i) such determination shall be limited to whether the disputed item is consistent with past practices, if applicable, and (ii) the Buyer

 

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and Seller shall require the Independent Accounting Firm to make a determination within ten (10) days but in no event later than five (5) days prior to the Due Date of such Pre-Closing Period Tax Return. With respect to each such Pre-Closing Period Tax Return, no later than two (2) days prior to the Due Date of such Pre-Closing Period Tax Return, (x) the Seller shall submit to the Buyer final drafts of such Pre-Closing Period Tax Return and (y) the Seller shall pay to the Buyer an amount equal to the liability for Taxes that are shown to be due and payable on the face of such Pre-Closing Period Tax Return. The Buyer shall cause the applicable Company or Subsidiary (as the case may be) to file each Pre-Closing Period Tax Return and pay to the applicable Tax authority all amounts shown to be due and payable on the face of such Pre-Closing Period Tax Return.

(ii) The Buyer shall prepare (or cause to be prepared) all Tax Returns that are required to be filed by each of the Companies and their Subsidiaries for all Straddle Periods (each, a “ Straddle Period Tax Return ”). All such Straddle Period Tax Returns shall be prepared and filed in a manner that is consistent with the prior practice of the Companies and their Subsidiaries, except as required by applicable Law. With respect to each Straddle Period Tax Return, no later than thirty days prior to the Due Date for the filing of such Straddle Period Tax Return, the Buyer shall submit, or cause to be submitted, to the Seller for its review drafts of such Straddle Period Tax Return (together with all related work papers), and shall notify Seller of Buyer’s calculation of the Taxes of such Straddle Period allocated to the Interim Period of such Straddle Period (in accordance with this Agreement). Within ten days following Seller’s receipt of such Straddle Period Tax Return (and the calculation of the Taxes allocated to the Interim Period of the Straddle Period), Seller shall have the right to object to such Straddle Period Tax Return or calculation (by written notice to the Buyer). If Seller does not object by written notice to the Buyer within such time period, such Straddle Period Tax Return and calculation shall be deemed to have been accepted and agreed upon, and final and conclusive, for purposes of this Section 4.15(a)(ii). If Seller objects to such Straddle Period Tax Return and/or calculation of the Taxes allocated to the Interim Period of the Straddle Period (in accordance with this Agreement), it shall notify the Buyer of such disputed item (or items) (in such written notice) and the basis for its objection and the Seller and Buyer shall act in good faith to resolve any such dispute as promptly as practicable. If the Seller and Buyer have not reached agreement regarding such dispute, the dispute shall be presented to the Independent Accounting Firm, whose determination shall be binding upon both Seller and Buyer, provided , however , that the Seller and Buyer shall require the Independent Accounting Firm to make a determination within ten (10) days but in no event later than five (5) days prior to the Due Date of such Straddle Period Tax Return. With respect to each Straddle Period Tax Return, no later than two (2) days prior to the Due Date of such Straddle Period Tax Return, Seller shall pay to the Buyer an amount equal to the Seller’s portion of the liability for Taxes of such Straddle Period (that are shown to be due and payable on the face of such Straddle Period Tax Return) that are allocable to the

 

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Interim Period in accordance with this Agreement. The Buyer shall cause the applicable Company or Subsidiary (as the case may be) to file each Straddle Period Tax Return and pay to the applicable Tax authority all amounts shown to be due and payable on the face of such Straddle Period Tax Return.

(iii) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, each party shall be responsible for its own costs and expenses incurred in connection with this Section 4.15(a), provided , however , that all costs and expenses of the Independent Accounting Firm shall be paid fifty percent by the Seller and fifty percent by the Buyer.

(b) Tax Refunds . The Buyer shall pay or cause to be paid to the Seller (a) all refunds of Taxes paid by the Companies or their Subsidiaries for a Pre-Closing Tax Period that are received by the Companies or their Subsidiaries after the Closing, and (b) a portion of all refunds of Taxes paid by the Companies or their Subsidiaries for any Straddle Period (such portion to be allocated consistent with the principles set forth in this Agreement) that are received by the Companies or their Subsidiaries after the Closing, in each case, (i) net of any Taxes imposed on or attributable to such refund and (ii) other than refunds attributable to a carryback of net operating losses attributable to periods beginning after the Closing Date or the portion of any Straddle Period beginning after the Closing Date.

(c) Tax Matters Cooperation . Buyer and Seller shall, and shall cause their respective Affiliates (including in the case of the Buyer, the Companies and their Subsidiaries) to, cooperate fully, as and to the extent reasonably requested by the other party, in connection with the filing of Tax Returns of or attributable to any of the Companies or their Subsidiaries and any audit, litigation or other proceeding with respect to Taxes. Such cooperation shall include the retention and (upon the other party’s request) the provision of records and information reasonably relevant to any such audit, litigation or other proceeding and making employees available on a mutually convenient basis to provide additional information and explanation of any material provided hereunder. The Seller and Buyer shall, and shall cause their respective Affiliates (including in the case of the Buyer, the Companies and their Subsidiaries) to, (i) retain all books and records with respect to Tax matters pertinent to each of the Companies and their Subsidiaries relating to any taxable period beginning on or before the Closing Date until expiration of the statute of limitations (and, to the extent notified by Buyer or Seller, any extensions thereof) of the respective taxable periods, and to abide by all record retention agreements entered into with any taxing authority and (ii) to give the other party reasonable written notice prior to transferring, destroying or discarding any such books and records and, if the other party so requests, shall allow the requesting party to take possession of such books and records.

 

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(d) Section 338(h)(10) Elections.

(i) Seller and Buyer agree that an election under Section 338 of the Code (or similar provision of the Law of any state or other Taxing jurisdiction) shall not be made with respect to any of the Companies or their Subsidiaries in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, provided , however , that, Buyer and Seller shall jointly make a timely and effective election provided for by Section 338(h)(10) of the Code and Section 1.338(h)(10)-1 of the United States Treasury regulations promulgated under the Code (“ Treasury Regulations ”) and any comparable election under state, local or foreign Tax Law with respect to the acquisition by Buyer (which, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, qualifies as a “qualified stock purchase” by Buyer) of the stock of each of the direct and indirect domestic wholly-owned corporations being acquired pursuant to this Agreement (each, an “ Election ” and, collectively, the “ Elections ”). Buyer and Seller shall, and shall cause their respective Affiliates (including, in the case of the Buyer, the Companies and their Subsidiaries) to, cooperate with each other to take all actions necessary and appropriate, including filing such additional forms, returns, elections, schedules and other documents as may be required, to effect and preserve timely Elections in accordance with the provisions of Section 338(h)(10) of the Code and Section 1.338(h)(10)-1 of the Treasury Regulations (and any comparable provisions of state, local or foreign Tax Law) or any successor provisions. Unless required by a final, non-appealable, decision of a court of competent jurisdiction, Buyer and Seller shall, and shall cause their respective Affiliates (including, in the case of the Buyer, the Companies and their Subsidiaries) to, report the acquisition by Buyer of the stock of such domestic corporations consistently with the Elections made and shall take no position inconsistent therewith in any Tax Return, any proceeding before any Tax authority or otherwise. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, in the event that the Internal Revenue Service or other Taxing authority challenges Seller’s treatment of any acquisition of a wholly-owned domestic corporate Subsidiary of CMG as a “qualified stock purchase” (within the meaning of Section 338(d)(3) of the Code), Buyer shall (i) reimburse Seller for its out of pocket costs in contesting such challenge, or (ii) assume and control the defense of such challenge at its own costs and expense, and with participation by Seller.

(ii) Unless required by a final, non-appealable decision of a court of competent jurisdiction, Buyer and Seller shall, and shall cause their respective Affiliates (including, in the case of the Buyer, the Companies and their Subsidiaries) to, (i) be bound by the Elections, the Tax Allocation Statement and Section 338(h)(10) Allocation Statement (each as finally determined pursuant to Section 4.15(e)) for purposes of determining any Taxes, (ii) prepare and file their respective Tax Returns on a basis consistent with the Elections and such allocation statements and (iii) take no position inconsistent with the Elections or any such allocation statements in any Tax Return, any proceeding before any Tax

 

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authority or otherwise. In the event that any of the allocations determined pursuant to Section 4.15(e) is disputed by any Tax authority, the party receiving notice of the dispute shall promptly notify the other party concerning resolution of the dispute. Buyer and its Affiliates shall provide to Seller information reasonably determined by Buyer to enable Seller to support the Tax filing position that, for U.S. federal income Tax purposes, the direct and indirect acquisition of any of the Companies or their Subsidiaries qualifies as a “qualified stock purchase” (within the meaning of Section 338 of the Code).

(e) Closing Consideration Allocation.

(i) In connection with the purchase and sale of the Equity of the Companies, as promptly as possible after Closing, Buyer shall provide to Seller a statement (a “ Tax Allocation Statement ”) specifying the allocation of the purchase price for U.S. federal income tax purposes (as adjusted pursuant to payments made between Buyer and Seller pursuant to this Agreement) among the assets held (for U.S. federal income tax purposes) by CMG and CIH (solely for purposes of this Section 4.15(e)(i), without regard to the Elections) and the covenants of Seller contained in Section 4.16. Within fifteen business days following the receipt of such Tax Allocation Statement, Seller shall have the right to object to such statement (by written notice to Buyer). If Seller does not object by written notice to the Tax Allocation Statement within such time period, such statement shall be deemed to have been accepted and agreed upon, and final and conclusive, for all purposes of this Agreement; provided , however , that such objection shall only be that the Tax Allocation Statement is materially inconsistent with Schedule 4.15(e)(i). If Seller objects to a Tax Allocation Statement presented by Buyer, it shall notify the Buyer of such disputed item (or items) (in such written notice) and the basis for its objection and Buyer and Seller shall act in good faith to resolve any such dispute within the thirty day period thereafter. If, within thirty days of Seller’s delivery of a notice of objection to a Tax Allocation Statement, the parties have not reached an agreement regarding such allocations, the dispute shall be presented to the Independent Accounting Firm that will determine which parties’ proposed allocation is more consistent with Schedule 4.15(e)(i) and such allocation shall then become the final “Tax Allocation Statement”. The parties shall cause the Independent Accounting Firm to make a determination within thirty days but in no event later than five days prior to the Due Date of any Tax Return for which such allocation would be relevant. The fees and expenses of such accounting firm shall be paid fifty percent by Seller and fifty percent by Buyer. In the event any Closing Consideration adjustment occurs pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, Buyer shall provide Seller a revised Tax Allocation Statement consistent with Schedule 4.15(e)(i) and the principles of this Section 4.15(e)(i) shall apply to each such revised statement.

 

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(ii) In connection with an Election, as promptly as practicable after the Closing, Buyer shall provide to Seller a statement (a “ Section 338(h)(10) Allocation Statement ”) specifying the proposed manner in which the “aggregate deemed sales price”, as defined in Treasury Regulations Section 1.338-4, shall be allocated among the assets of each such Subsidiary for which an Election is made, which allocations shall be made in accordance with Section 338(b) of the Code and any applicable Treasury Regulations and shall be consistent with the Tax Allocation Statement determined pursuant to Section 4.15(e)(i) hereof. Within fifteen business days following the receipt of such Section 338(h)(10) Allocation Statement, Seller shall have the right to object that such statement is not consistent with Schedule 4.15(e)(ii) (by written notice to Buyer). If Seller does not object by written notice to a Section 338(h)(10) Allocation Statement within such time period, such statement shall be deemed to have been accepted and agreed upon, and final and conclusive, for all purposes of this Agreement; provided , however , that such Section 338(h)(10) Allocation Statement shall be subject to adjustment upon and as a result of any Closing Consideration adjustment pursuant to this Agreement. If Seller objects to a Section 338(h)(10) Allocation Statement presented by Buyer, it shall notify the Buyer of such disputed item (or items) (in such written notice) and the basis for its objection and Buyer and Seller shall act in good faith to resolve any such dispute for the thirty day period thereafter. If, within thirty days of Seller’s delivery of a notice of objection to a Section 338(h)(10) Allocation Statement, the parties have not reached an agreement regarding such allocations, the dispute shall be presented to the Independent Accounting Firm that will determine which of the parties’ proposed allocations are more consistent with Schedule 4.15(e)(ii), and such allocation shall become the final Section 338(h)(10) Allocation Statement. The parties shall endeavor to cause the accounting firm to make a determination within thirty days but in no event later than five days prior to the date the Internal Revenue Service Forms 8023 and 8883 are required to be filed under applicable Law. The fees and expenses of such accounting firm shall be paid fifty percent by Seller and fifty percent by Buyer. In the event any Closing Consideration adjustment occurs pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, Buyer shall provide Seller a revised Section 338(h)(10) Allocation Statement consistent with Schedule 4.15(e)(ii) and the principles of this Section 4.15(e)(ii) shall apply to each such revised statement.

(f) Limitations on Actions Affecting Pre-Closing Taxes . Neither Buyer nor any of its Affiliates (including, after the Closing, any of the Companies or their Subsidiaries) shall, without the prior written consent of Seller, (i) make or change any Tax election (other than the Elections) with respect to any of the Companies or their Subsidiaries applicable to any Pre-Closing Tax Period or Straddle Period, (ii) amend, file or otherwise modify any Tax Return relating to any Pre-Closing Tax Period or Straddle Period of any of the Companies or their Subsidiaries except as contemplated by Section 4.15(a), and (iii) take any other action that relates or is attributable to or that affects any Pre-Closing Tax Period or Straddle Period, in each case,

 

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that results in any increased Tax liability of any of the Companies or their Subsidiaries (or Seller or any of its Affiliates) (or a reduction in a refund) or reduction in a Tax asset of the Seller, its Affiliates or any of the Companies or their Subsidiaries in respect of a Pre-Closing Tax Period or Straddle Period.

Section 4.16 Non-Competition; Non-Hire; Non-Solicitation .

(a) For a period of seven years from and after the Closing Date, Seller shall not, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries not to, directly or indirectly, engage in or own any interest (other than an interest of less than five percent of the voting securities of a publicly traded company) in a Competitive Business; provided , however , that nothing set forth in this Section 4.16(a) shall (i) prohibit another Person (or its successor) from engaging in a Competitive Business from and after the time at which Seller or any of its Subsidiaries acquires an interest in such Person, by acquisition of securities or assets, joint venture, merger or other business combination, if (A) such Competitive Business generates less than $200,000,000 in annual revenues in the aggregate or (B) such Person engages in a Competitive Business that generates more than $200,000,000 in annual revenues in the aggregate and is a business unit of an entity acquired by Seller or any of its Subsidiaries and is divested by Seller (or the relevant Subsidiary) within twelve (12) months after such acquisition; (ii) be deemed to apply to any then existing business of a Person (or any of its Affiliates) that acquires control of Seller or one of its Subsidiaries or that acquires all or substantially all of the assets of Seller or one of its Subsidiaries or merges with Seller in a “merger of equals”; or (iii) prohibit, limit or in any way restrict the ability of Seller and its Subsidiaries to engage in a Competitive Business in connection with any of its businesses, products, services or activities as of the date hereof (assuming the Companies and their Subsidiaries were not direct or indirect Subsidiaries of Seller on the date hereof) including any evolution (by acquisition, organic growth or otherwise) thereof, in each case, in the travel, travel content, travel distribution, lodging, timeshare exchange, timeshare sales and marketing, vacation rental, vacation property management, real estate, relocation, real estate settlement services, mortgage and vehicle rental and services industries.

(b) Other than with respect to those employees set forth on Section 4.16(b) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule , for a period of three years from and after the Closing Date, Seller shall not, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries not to hire or attempt to hire any employee of Buyer, the Companies or their Subsidiaries.

(c) As used in this Agreement, “ Competitive Business ” means any entity or business that markets, provides or makes available, (i) affinity-based membership programs, (ii) affinity-based insurance products, or (iii) benefit packages as an enhancement to financial institution or other customer accounts, in each case, on a fee or commission basis and in a manner that competes with the Business as conducted on the date of this Agreement or on the Closing Date. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, “Competitive Business” does not include any entity or business engaged in or any activity, product, or service related to the administration of

 

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points-based or other loyalty programs including any such points-based or other loyalty program developed and marketed, directly or indirectly, by any of Seller and its Subsidiaries (other than the Companies and their Subsidiaries) solely to the extent used for their own consumers (including individual consumers of Seller’s and its Subsidiaries’ franchisees) as an outsourcer, service provider or other similar arrangement and for online travel agencies and airlines.

(d) For a period of five (5) years from and after the Closing Date, Buyer, the Companies and their Subsidiaries and any Person (or any of its Affiliates) that acquires control of any of such entities or that acquires all or substantially all of the assets of any of such entities or merges with Buyer in a “merger of equals,” shall not, directly or indirectly, engage in the non-membership based, direct to consumer online travel distribution business, including through private label or affiliate relationships, in a manner which utilizes any content or booking or packaging engine of Seller or its Subsidiaries made available by Seller or any of its Subsidiaries to Buyer, the Companies and their Subsidiaries and is competitive to Seller’s online travel businesses, including without limitation, Orbitz, CheapTickets, lodging.com, Flairview, octopustravel.com and ebookers.com.

(e) Neither party hereto will take any action with the intent or effect of directly or indirectly circumventing the terms of this Section 4.16.

Section 4.17 Compliance with WARN Act and Similar Statutes . Buyer shall not, and shall cause the Companies and their Subsidiaries not to, at any time within ninety days after the Closing Date, effectuate (i) a “plant closing” (as defined in the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act of 1988 (the “ WARN Act ”)) affecting any site of employment or one or more facilities or operating units within any site of employment or facility of the Companies and their Subsidiaries or (ii) a “mass layoff” (as defined in the WARN Act) affecting any site of employment or facility of the Companies and their Subsidiaries; or, in the case of clauses (i) and (ii), any similar action under applicable state, local or foreign statute, common law, rule or regulation requiring notice to employees in the event of a plant closing or layoff. For the avoidance of doubt, Buyer shall be responsible for notices or payments due to any employees, and all notices, payments, fines or assessments due to any Governmental Entity pursuant to any applicable federal, state, local or foreign statute, common law, rule or regulation with respect to the employment, discharge or layoff of any employees by Buyer, the Companies or any Subsidiary of the Companies after the Closing, including but not limited to the WARN Act or any comparable state or local law and any rules or regulations as have been issued in connection with the foregoing.

Section 4.18 Buyer’s Financing Activities .

(a) Buyer acknowledges and agrees that Seller and its Affiliates have no responsibility for any financing that Buyer may raise in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby including with respect to any offering

 

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materials and other documents prepared by or on behalf of or utilized by Buyer or its Affiliates, or Buyer’s financing sources, in connection with Buyer’s financing activities in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby which include any information provided by Seller or any of its Affiliates (including the Companies and their Subsidiaries), including any offering memorandum, banker’s book or similar document used, or any other written offering materials used (collectively, “ Offering Materials ”).

(b) Buyer shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions and to do, or cause to be done, all things necessary, proper or advisable to (i) maintain in effect the Financing set forth therein (including by consummating the Equity Financing pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Equity Financing Commitment), (ii) enter into definitive financing agreements with respect to the Debt Financing as contemplated by the Debt Financing Commitments (the “ Financing Agreements ”), so that the Financing Agreements are in effect as promptly as practicable but in any event no later than the Closing Date and (iii) consummate the Financing at or prior to Closing. Buyer shall provide to the Seller copies of all documents relating to the Debt Financing and shall keep the Seller reasonably informed of material developments in respect of the financing process relating thereto. In the period between the date hereof and the Closing Date, Seller shall, upon request of Buyer, use all reasonable efforts to cause the Companies and their Subsidiaries, along with their respective auditors and consultants, to reasonably cooperate with Buyer and its Affiliates in satisfying any condition to financing set out in Buyer’s agreements with banks and other lenders. Such cooperation shall include, without limitation, preparations for the obtaining or release of any liens, providing access to properties and other assets for third party appraisals, obtaining any required consents of landlords and lenders of the Companies and their Subsidiaries, preparations for the implementation of a new cash management system and attending roadshows by the management of the Companies and their Subsidiaries in respect of offering of debt or equity securities and the preparation of financial statements and financial data complying with Regulation S-X and Regulation S-K under the Securities Act. Buyer shall promptly, upon request by Seller, reimburse the Seller for all reasonable, documented out of pocket expenses incurred by the Company or their Subsidiaries in connection with such cooperation; provided , that Seller must obtain the written consent of Buyer prior to incurring such expenses in excess of $100,000.00.

(c) Buyer covenants and agrees that, in the event that the Initial Cash Price is reduced pursuant to the adjustment set forth in Section 2.3(d), then the amount of the aggregate commitment pursuant to the Debt Financing Commitments shall be reduced by 89% of the amount by which the Initial Cash Price is reduced pursuant to Section 2.3(d).

Section 4.19 Resignations . Seller shall either deliver the written resignations of each director or manager, as applicable, of the Companies and their Subsidiaries or cause each such director or officer to be removed effective as of the Closing Date, except as may be requested by Buyer.

 

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Section 4.20 Certain Assets . The assets described in Section 4.20 of the Seller Disclosure Schedule are not part of the Business and shall be transferred promptly to Seller, if, and when received by the Companies or any of their Subsidiaries.

Section 4.21 New Inter-Company Agreements . (a) Buyer and Seller agree to negotiate in good faith final agreements with respect to the arrangements contemplated by the New Inter-Company Term Sheets (the “ New Inter-Company Agreements ”). To the extent that the parties are not able to negotiate and execute a final agreement with respect to any arrangement contemplated by a New Inter-Company Term Sheet as of the Closing, the parties agree to be bound by the terms of the applicable New Inter-Company Term Sheet. To the extent that any subject matter is not covered by a New Inter-Company Term Sheet, Seller, the Companies and their Subsidiaries will continue to perform their obligations in accordance with past practice prior to the date hereof. The parties agree to submit any and all disputes between them arising under or in relation to this Section 4.21 to mediation with a mediator approved by the parties. If the parties resolve their disputes through mediation, the Parties shall share the costs of mediation evenly but pay their own attorneys’ fees and other expenses related to mediation.

(b) The New Inter-Company Agreement Term Sheets set forth on Section 4.21(b)(i) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule shall contain the provisions set forth in Schedule 4.21(b)(ii) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule .

Section 4.22 Restated Financial Statements . On or prior to sixty (60) days after the date hereof, Seller shall deliver to Buyer the Restated Financial Statements.

Section 4.23 Reservation of Parent Common Stock . From and after the date of this Agreement, Parent shall at all times reserve and keep available for issuance upon exercise of the Parent Warrant such number of its authorized but unissued shares of Parent Common Stock as will be sufficient to permit the exercise in full of the Parent Warrant.

Section 4.24 Retention Payments . Buyer agrees to pay Seller all Retention Payments that are forfeited on or prior to the first anniversary of the Closing Date by or otherwise not paid to any employee party thereto in accordance with the Retention Letters promptly following such forfeiture by wire transfer of immediately available funds (it being understood that any such payments that are rolled over into equity securities or other securities of the Buyer will be deemed paid unless forfeited on or prior to the first anniversary of the Closing Date).

Section 4.25 Solvency . Buyer agrees to use commercially reasonable efforts to deliver to Seller an opinion addressed to Seller of a reputable third party appraisal firm reasonably acceptable to Seller, dated as of the Closing Date, that, following consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, the Company and its Subsidiaries will be Solvent and that such transactions do not otherwise “impair the

 

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capital of the corporation” within the meaning of Section 160(a) of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “ Solvency Opinion ”).

Section 4.26 Consents . (a) Seller agrees to use its reasonable best efforts to obtain prior to the Closing all consents and approvals required under any Company Contract or Company Lease in connection with the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements. Seller and Buyer agree that Seller shall pay for 50% and the Companies shall pay for 50% of any out-of-pocket fees required to obtain such consents or approvals.

(b) With respect to the Master Transition Services Agreement, Seller agrees to use its reasonable best efforts to obtain prior to the Closing all consents and approvals required under any Contract of Seller or its Affiliates that is material to the services provided under the Master Transition Services Agreement. Seller and Buyer agree that Seller shall pay for 50% and the Companies shall pay for 50% of any out-of-pocket fees required to obtain such consents or approvals.

(c) In the event that this Agreement is terminated, Buyer shall reimburse Seller promptly following such termination for all such out-of-pocket fees paid by the Companies.

Section 4.27 Florida Filing . As promptly as practicable, but in no event later than ten (10) days after the date hereof, Seller shall cause Trilegiant Corporation, an indirect Subsidiary of CMG, to file with the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation its application for discount medical plan provider organization registration.

Section 4.28 Further Assurances . On and after the Closing Date, Seller and Buyer shall cooperate and use their respective reasonable best efforts to take or cause to be taken all appropriate actions and do, or cause to be done, all things necessary or appropriate to consummate and make effective the transactions contemplated hereby, including the execution of any additional documents or instruments of any kind, the transfer of assets or property, the obtaining of consents which may be reasonably necessary or appropriate to carry out any of the provisions hereof and the taking of all such other actions as such party may reasonably be requested to take by the other party hereto from time to time, consistent with the terms of this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements, in order to effectuate the provisions and purposes of this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.

 

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ARTICLE V

CONDITIONS OF PURCHASE

Section 5.1 Conditions to Obligations of Buyer . The obligations of Buyer to effect the Closing shall be subject to the following conditions except to the extent waived in writing by Buyer:

(a) Representations and Warranties and Covenants of Seller.

(i) The representations and warranties of Seller contained in this Agreement, without giving effect to any materiality or Material Adverse Effect qualifications therein, shall be true and correct as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date as though made on and as of the Closing Date (except for representations and warranties that expressly speak as of an earlier date, which representations and warranties shall be true as of such specified date), except for such failures to be true and correct as would not in the aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect or prevent or materially delay consummation by Seller of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;

(ii) Seller shall have in all material respects performed all obligations and complied with all covenants required by this Agreement to be performed or complied with by it at or prior to the Closing; and

(iii) Seller shall have delivered to Buyer a certificate of Seller, dated the Closing Date, to the effect of the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii).

(b) FSA Approval . Either (i) the FSA shall have notified Buyer in writing that it has approved the proposed acquisition of control (such term having the meaning ascribed thereto in section 179 of FSMA) of Cims Limited by Buyer and each other person that is a proposed controller pursuant to section 184 of FSMA; or (ii) the period for consideration (as defined in section 183(1) of FSMA) in respect of Buyer’s and such persons’ proposed acquisition of control of Cims Limited shall have expired without the FSA having served a warning notice on Buyer or any other person that is a proposed controller under section 183(1)(b) of FSMA.

(c) Waiting Periods . All waiting periods applicable under the HSR Act shall have expired or been terminated. All waiting periods applicable to the transaction under any Foreign Antitrust Merger Control Laws shall have expired or been terminated, except in jurisdictions in which the failure of such waiting periods to have expired or been terminated, individually or in aggregate, is not reasonably likely to (i) have a Material Adverse Effect or (ii) subject the parties hereto or any of their respective directors or officers to criminal liability if the transactions contemplated hereby were to be consummated (the “ Excepted Jurisdictions ”).

(d) No Prohibition . No statute, rule or regulation shall have been enacted or promulgated by any Governmental Entity which prohibits the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, and there shall be no order or injunction of a court of competent jurisdiction in effect preventing the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.

(e) Material Adverse Effect . A Material Adverse Effect shall not have occurred.

 

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(f) Financing. Buyer shall have received the proceeds of the financings described in the Commitment Letters.

(g) TRL Group. Seller shall own 100% of the outstanding Equity Interests of TRL Group.

(h) Consent. The consent identified in Section 5.1(f) of the Seller Disclosure Schedules shall have been obtained.

Section 5.2 Conditions to Obligations of Seller . The obligations of Seller to effect the Closing shall be subject to the following conditions except to the extent waived in writing by Seller:

(a) Representations and Warranties and Covenants of Buyer.

(i) The representations and warranties of Buyer contained in this Agreement, without giving effect to any materiality or Material Adverse Effect qualifications therein, shall be true and correct as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date as though made on and as of the Closing Date (except for representations and warranties that expressly speak as of an earlier date, such representations and warranties shall be true as of such specified date), except for such failures to be true and correct as would not in the aggregate prevent or materially delay consummation by Buyer of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;

(ii) Buyer shall have in all material respects performed all obligations and complied with all covenants required by this Agreement to be performed or complied with by it at or prior to the Closing; and

(iii) Buyer shall have delivered to Seller a certificate of Buyer, dated the Closing Date to the effect of the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii).

(b) State Approval . The Insurance Commissioner shall have approved of Buyer’s acquisition of control statement relating to the acquisition of control (as such term is defined in Section 26.1-10-01 of the North Dakota Insurance Code) of Safecard by Buyer.

(c) FSA Approval . Either (i) the FSA shall have notified Buyer in writing that it has approved the proposed acquisition of control (such term having the meaning ascribed thereto in section 179 of FSMA) of Cims Limited by Buyer and each other person that is a proposed controller pursuant to section 184 of FSMA; or (ii) the period for consideration (as defined in section 183(1) of FSMA) in respect of Buyer’s and such persons’ proposed acquisition of control of Cims Limited shall have expired without the FSA having served a warning notice on Buyer or any other person that is a proposed controller under section 183(1)(b) of FSMA.

 

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(d) Waiting Periods . All applicable waiting periods under the HSR Act shall have expired or been terminated. All waiting periods applicable to the transaction under any Foreign Antitrust Merger Control Laws shall have expired or been terminated, except in the Excepted Jurisdictions.

(e) No Prohibition . No statute, rule or regulation shall have been enacted or promulgated by any Governmental Entity which prohibits the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, and there shall be no order or injunction of a court of competent jurisdiction in effect preventing the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.

(f) Solvency Opinion . Buyer shall have delivered to Seller the Solvency Opinion.

ARTICLE VI

TERMINATION

Section 6.1 Termination of Agreement . This Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the Closing Date as follows:

(a) by mutual written consent of Buyer and Seller;

(b) by the written notice of Seller to Buyer if the Closing shall not have occurred on or before December 26, 2005 (the “ Outside Date ”); provided , however , that the right to terminate this Agreement under this Section 6.1(b) shall not be available to Seller if the failure of Seller to fulfill any obligation under this Agreement shall have been the cause of, or shall have resulted in, the failure of the Closing to occur on or prior to such date; or

(c) by the written notice of Buyer to Seller if the Closing shall not have occurred on or before the Outside Date; provided , however , that the right to terminate this Agreement under this Section 6.1(c) shall not be available to Buyer if the failure of Buyer to fulfill any obligation under this Agreement shall have been the cause of, or shall have resulted in, the failure of the Closing to occur on or prior to such date.

Section 6.2 Effect of Termination . In the event of termination of this Agreement by a party hereto pursuant to Section 6.1 hereof, written notice thereof shall forthwith be given by the terminating party to the other parties hereto, and this Agreement shall thereupon terminate and become void and have no effect, and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be abandoned without further action by the parties hereto, except that the provisions of Section 4.4 and Article VIII (other than Section 8.4) and shall survive the termination of this Agreement; provided, however, that such termination shall not relieve any party hereto of any liability for any breach of this Agreement (other than non-willful breaches of representations, warranties and covenants, as to which no party shall be liable hereunder).

 

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ARTICLE VII

INDEMNIFICATION

Section 7.1 Obligations of Seller .

(a) If the Closing occurs, subject to the terms of this Article VII and Section 8.14, Seller agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Buyer and its Affiliates and each of their respective directors and officers the (“ Buyer Indemnified Parties ”) from and against actual losses, damages, liabilities, claims, costs and expenses (including reasonable attorney’s fees, interest, penalties, judgments, settlements, and Taxes (collectively, “ Losses ”)) incurred by any such indemnified party by reason of: (i) any breach or failure to be true and correct of any of the representations or warranties of Seller in this Agreement (other than to the extent that any such breach or failure to be true and correct is subject to indemnification under Section 7.3(m)) without giving effect to any materiality or Material Adverse Effect qualifications therein; (ii) any breach in any material respect of any of the covenants or agreements of Seller in this Agreement (other than Section 4.1(a)(iv); (iii) any Excluded Litigation Matter; (iv) any Pre-Closing Taxes; (v) each of the four (4) French Labor Court matters set forth under the heading entitled “French Labor Matters” in Section 3.1(o) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule ; (vi) any Taxes imposed on the Companies or their Subsidiaries for any period ending on or prior, or that includes, the Closing Date as a result of being a member of an affiliated, consolidated, combined or unitary group of which Seller or any of its Affiliates other than the Companies or their Subsidiaries was a member on or prior to the Closing Date, including pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.1502-6 or similar state, local or non-United States Law, (vii) any Liability of the Companies and their Subsidiaries unrelated to the Business and arising solely because they are or were Affiliates of Seller and its Affiliates (other than the Companies and their Subsidiaries); (viii) any Liability resulting from the Commission Purchase Agreement between Long Term Preferred Care, Inc. and Lion 2004 Receivables Trust dated as of December 30, 2004; (ix) any use by Seller or any of its Affiliates of the Company Marks; (x) the litigation set forth on Section 7.1(a)(x) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule ; and (xi) the litigation set forth on Section 7.1(a)(xi) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule (“ 7.1(a)(xi) Losses ”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, it is understood and agreed that Losses shall not include any change in marketing practices of the Business or the consequences thereof.

(b) The obligation of Seller to indemnify a Buyer Indemnified Party for Losses is subject to the following limitations: (i) Buyer Indemnified Parties shall not be entitled to make a claim against Seller for indemnification under Section 7.1(a)(i) (“ Buyer Claim ”) unless and until the aggregate amount of Losses incurred by the Buyer Indemnified Party with respect to an event or occurrence and all other events or occurrences arising from the same or similar circumstances or facts exceeds $100,000 (a “ Base Claim ”); (ii) Seller shall not be required to provide indemnification to any Buyer Indemnified Party pursuant to Section 7.1(a)(i) unless the aggregate amount of Losses incurred by all the Buyer Indemnified Parties in respect of Buyer Claims

 

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constituting Base Claims exceeds $15,000,000 (the “ Basket ”), and then the Buyer Indemnified Parties shall be entitled to indemnification for only the amount in excess of the Basket; and (iii) in no event shall the aggregate amount of Losses for which Seller is obligated to indemnify the Buyer Indemnified Parties pursuant to Section 7.1(a)(i) exceed $275,100,000 (reduced, in the event of a reduction in the Initial Cash Price pursuant to Section 2.3(d), by an amount equal to fifteen (15%) percent of the amount of such reduction) (the “ Ceiling ”); provided , however , the foregoing monetary limitations in clauses (i) through and including (iii) above shall not apply to claims in respect of breaches or inaccuracies in the representations made by Seller in Sections 3.1(a), (b), (c), (f) and (t) and in the second sentence of Section 3.1(d). With respect to claims for indemnification pursuant to Section 7.1(a)(x), the aggregate amount of Losses for which Seller is obligated to indemnify the Buyer Indemnified Parties shall not exceed 90% of the aggregate amount of all such Losses. With respect to claims for indemnification pursuant to Section 7.1(a)(xi), the aggregate amount of Section 7.1(a)(xi) Losses for which Seller is obligated to indemnify the Buyer Indemnified Parties shall not exceed 80% of the lesser of (A) the aggregate amount of all such Section 7.1(a)(xi) Losses or (B) the Grid Cap, as then in effect. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, Seller shall not be required to indemnify and hold harmless the Buyer Indemnified Parties from and against any Losses (x) resulting from any breach of representation or warranty set forth in this Agreement that relates or is attributable to any of the Companies or their Subsidiaries not having historic Tax attributes (including basis of assets, net operating loss carryovers and credit carryovers), (y) resulting from any breach of representation or warranty (other than the representation set forth in Section 3.1(l)(ix)) set forth in this Agreement relating or attributable to Taxes or the indemnities set forth in Sections 7.1(a)(iv) and (vi), other than liabilities for Pre-Closing Taxes and the Taxes described in Section 7.1(a)(vi), and related out of pocket costs and expenses, and (z) related or attributable to Taxes imposed on any of the Parent, Buyer, the Companies and/or their Affiliates as a result of a breach by the Parent, Buyer or any of their Affiliates (including, after the Closing, the Companies or their Subsidiaries) of their obligations, covenants and agreements contained in this Agreement.

Section 7.2 Obligations of Acquirors .

(a) If the Closing occurs, subject to the terms of this Article VII and Section 8.14, Acquirors, jointly and severally agree to indemnify and hold harmless Seller, RCI Europe, their respective Affiliates and each of their respective directors and officers (collectively, the “ Seller Indemnified Parties ”) from and against Losses incurred by any Seller Indemnified Party by reason of (i) any breach of any of the representations or warranties (in each case, when made) of any of the Acquirors in this Agreement; (ii) any breach in any material respect of any of the covenants or agreements of any of the Acquirors in this Agreement; (iii) any Business Litigation Matter or Business Contract Matter; (iv) any use by Parent, Buyer or any of its Affiliates of the Cendant Marks; (v) any Liability of Seller arising solely because it is an Affiliate of the Companies and their Subsidiaries or any Liability of Seller arising solely because it was an Affiliate of the Companies and their Subsidiaries.

 

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(b) The obligation of Acquirors to indemnify the Seller Indemnified Parties for Losses is subject to the following limitations: (i) no Seller Indemnified Parties shall be entitled to make a claim against Buyer for indemnification under Section 7.2(a)(i) (“ Seller Claim ”) unless and until the aggregate amount of Losses incurred by the Seller Indemnified Parties with respect to an event or occurrence and all other events or occurrences caused by the same circumstances constitutes a Base Claim; (ii) Buyer shall not be required to provide indemnification to any Seller Indemnified Party pursuant to Section 7.2(a)(i) unless the aggregate amount of Losses incurred by all the Seller Indemnified Parties in respect of Seller Claims constituting Base Claims exceeds the Basket, and then the Seller Indemnified Parties shall be entitled to indemnification for only the amount in excess of the Basket; and (iii) in no event shall the aggregate amount of Losses for which Buyers are obligated to indemnify the Seller Indemnified Parties pursuant to Section 7.2(a)(i) of this Agreement exceed the Ceiling, provided , however , the foregoing monetary limitations in clauses (i) through and including (iii) above shall not apply to claims in respect of breaches or inaccuracies in the representation and warranties made by Buyer in Section 3.2(b).

Section 7.3 Indemnification Procedures .

(a) In the event that any Action is commenced by a third party involving a claim for which a party required to provide indemnity hereunder (an “ Indemnifying Party ”) may be liable to a party entitled to indemnification (an “ Indemnified Party ”) hereunder (an “ Asserted Liability ”), the Indemnified Party shall promptly notify the Indemnifying Party in writing of such Asserted Liability (the “ Claim Notice ”); provided that no delay on the part of the Indemnified Party in giving any such Claim Notice shall relieve the Indemnifying Party of any indemnification obligation hereunder except to the extent that the Indemnifying Party is prejudiced by such delay. The Indemnifying Party shall have sixty days from its receipt of the Claim Notice (the “ Notice Period ”) to notify the Indemnified Party whether or not the Indemnifying Party desires, at the Indemnifying Party’s sole cost and expense and by counsel of its own choosing, to defend against such Asserted Liability. If the Indemnifying Party undertakes to defend against such Asserted Liability, (i) the Indemnifying Party shall use its reasonable best efforts to defend and protect the interests of the Indemnified Party with respect to such Asserted Liability, (ii) the Indemnifying Party shall consult with the Indemnified Party prior to any significant decision, strategy or action in relation thereto, to the extent affecting non-monetary interests of the Indemnified Party and (iii) the Indemnifying Party shall not, without the prior written consent of the Indemnified Party, consent to any settlement unless such settlement (x) requires only the payment of money and (y) provides for a full and unconditional release of the Indemnified Party. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in any event, the Indemnified Party shall have the right to control, pay or settle any Asserted Liability which the Indemnifying Party shall have undertaken to defend so long as the Indemnified Party shall also waive any right to indemnification therefor by the Indemnifying Party. If the Indemnifying Party undertakes to defend against such Asserted Liability, the Indemnified Party shall fully cooperate with the Indemnifying Party and its counsel in the investigation, defense and

 

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settlement thereof. This Section 7.3(a) does not apply to any matter referred to in Section 7.3(b), (c), (d), (e), or (m).

(b) With respect to the litigation set forth on Section 7.1(a)(x) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule , from the date hereof until September 30, 2006, Seller shall have the exclusive right to control such litigation (it being understood that (i) Seller shall undertake to defend such litigation and shall use its reasonable best efforts to defend and protect the interests of Buyer with respect to such litigation, (ii) during the time set forth in this Section 7.3(b), Seller shall consult with Buyer prior to any significant decision, strategy or action in relation to such litigation; and (iii) Seller shall not, without the prior written consent of Buyer, consent to any settlement of such litigation). Buyer shall cooperate fully with Seller and its counsel in the investigation, defense and settlement of such litigation.

(c) With respect to the litigation set forth on Section 7.1(a)(x) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule , following the expiration of the date in Section 7.3(b), Buyer shall have the exclusive right to control such litigation (it being understood that (i) Buyer shall undertake to defend such litigation and shall use its reasonable best efforts to defend and protect the interests of Seller with respect to such litigation, (ii) during the time set forth in this Section 7.3(c), Buyer shall consult with Seller prior to any significant decision, strategy or action in relation to such litigation, to the extent affecting monetary interests of Seller; and (iii) Buyer shall not, without the prior written consent of Seller, consent to any settlement of such litigation). Seller shall cooperate fully with Buyer and its counsel in the investigation, defense and settlement of such litigation.

(d) With respect to the litigation set forth on Sections 7.1(a)(xi) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule , at all times, Buyer shall have the exclusive right to control such litigation (it being understood that (i) Buyer shall consult with Seller prior to any significant decision, strategy or action in relation to such litigation, to the extent affecting monetary interests of Seller; and (ii) Buyer shall not, without the prior written consent of Seller, consent to any monetary settlement of such litigation). Seller shall cooperate fully with Buyer and its counsel in the investigation, defense and settlement of such litigation.

(e) With respect to the Shared Litigation, at all times, Buyer shall have the exclusive right to control such litigation.

(f) If the Indemnifying Party does not undertake within the Notice Period to defend against such Asserted Liability, then the Indemnified Party shall have the right to control the investigation and defense and may settle or take any other actions the Indemnified Party deems reasonably advisable without in any way waiving or otherwise affecting the Indemnified Party’s rights to indemnification pursuant to this Agreement. The Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party agree to make available to each other, their counsel and other representatives, all information and documents available to them which relate to such claim or demand. The Indemnified Party and the

 

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Indemnifying Party and the Companies and their respective employees also agree to render to each other such assistance and cooperation as may reasonably be required to ensure the proper and adequate defense of such claim or demand.

(g) In calculating amounts payable to an Indemnified Party, the amount of any indemnified Losses shall be determined without duplication of any other Loss for which an indemnification claim has been made under any other representation, warranty, covenant, or agreement and shall be computed net of (i) payments recoverable by the Indemnified Party under any insurance policy with respect to such Losses, (ii) any prior or subsequent recovery by the Indemnified Party from any Person with respect to such Losses and (iii) any Tax benefit actually realized by the Indemnified Party with respect to such Losses. To the extent that a Tax benefit is actually realized within three years following the Due Date of the applicable Tax Return that first takes into account the deduction, loss or other Tax attribute generated as a result of the Loss(es) than gave rise to the indemnity payment, then no later than 30 days after the applicable Tax Return has been filed for the applicable period, the indemnified party shall pay to the indemnifying party in immediately available funds the amount of the Tax benefit that is actually realized as a result of the Losses that gave rise to the indemnification (i.e., the reduction in Taxes that would have been otherwise due and payable but for the incurrence of the Losses that gave rise to the indemnification).

(h) Claims for indemnification pursuant to Section 7.1(a)(i), and Section 7.2(a)(i) shall not be made after the Survival Expiration Date. Claims for indemnity pursuant to Section 7.1(a)(ii) and Section 7.2(a)(ii) shall not be made after the expiration of the applicable covenant as determined in accordance with Section 8.4(b). Claims for indemnification under the other sub-sections of Sections 7.1 and 7.2 shall not be made after the thirtieth day following the expiration of the applicable statute of limitations (taking into account valid extensions) of the subject matter of the claim that gave rise to the Losses. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, any timely filed claim for indemnity for which notice has been given prior to the end of the applicable survival period shall survive until the claim has been finally resolved.

(i) To the extent that Seller makes any payment pursuant to this Article VII in respect of Losses for which Buyer or any of its Affiliates have a right to recover against a third party (including, without limitation, an insurance company), Seller shall be subrogated to the right of Buyer or any of its Affiliates to seek and obtain recovery from such third party; provided , however , that if Seller shall be prohibited from such subrogation, Buyer or its Affiliates, as applicable, shall seek recovery from such third party on Seller’s behalf and pay any such recovery to Seller.

(j) Subject to Section 8.12, the remedies provided in this Article VII shall be deemed the sole and exclusive remedies of the parties, from and after the Closing Date, with respect to this Agreement.

 

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(k) For all Tax purposes, the parties agree to treat indemnity payments made pursuant to this Agreement and other payments made between the Buyer and the Seller pursuant to the terms of this Agreement as an adjustment to the Closing Consideration to the extent permitted by applicable Law and to use their reasonable best efforts to ensure that, to the extent necessary in order to secure such treatment under applicable Law, all such payments are made from the actual selling entity to the actual purchasing entity of the Shares or Equity Interests to which the indemnity payment relates; provided , however , that if the Internal Revenue Service or any other Tax authority challenges the treatment of the receipt of any indemnity or other payment made hereunder as an adjustment to the Closing Consideration, the indemnified party shall use its reasonable best efforts to uphold the characterization of any such indemnity payment as an adjustment to the Closing Consideration, and shall keep the other party reasonably informed of all developments. To the extent that the treatment of the indemnification payment as an adjustment to the Closing Consideration is finally determined to be erroneous, any indemnity payment hereunder shall, subject to Section 7.3(g) and to the final sentence of this Section 7.3(k), be increased to take into account the amount of Taxes resulting from the receipt of such indemnification payment. If a party to this Agreement assigns the benefit of this Agreement, the other relevant parties shall only be liable to take into account Taxes resulting from the receipt of an indemnification payment to the extent that those other parties would have been liable to take into account Taxes of an equivalent amount if no such assignment had occurred.

(l) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, Sections 7.3 (a) and (b) shall not apply to any Tax Claim (as defined herein).

(m) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, subject to the terms of this paragraph (m) and the Grid, Seller agrees to indemnify any Buyer Indemnified Party from and against any Losses incurred by reason of the following (the “ Shared Losses ”): (A) any breach or failure to be true and correct of the representations and warranties set forth in Section 3.1(i), without giving effect to any materiality or Material Adverse Effect qualifications therein, which occurs after the date of this Agreement if the facts and circumstances giving rise to such breach or failure to be true and correct relate to the Business and constitute a breach or violation of Section 3.1(p); (B) any breach or failure to be true and correct of the representations and warranties set forth in Section 3.1(p), without giving effect to any materiality or Material Adverse Effect qualifications therein, to the extent relating to the Business and (C) the litigation set forth in Section 7.3(m) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule . Such indemnification obligations shall be subject to the following:

(i) Seller and Buyer shall be liable for, and shall indemnify the other to the extent necessary to give effect to, the allocations reflected in the grid set forth on Section 7.3(m)(i) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule (the “ Grid ”). The amount set forth in Bracket F of the Grid represents the maximum amount to which allocations of liability between Seller and Buyer shall apply and above which Buyer shall have one hundred percent (100%) of the

 

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liability for Shared Losses (as adjusted pursuant to the following sentence, the “ Grid Cap ”). The Grid Cap shall be reduced on a dollar-for-dollar basis by the aggregate amount paid or payable by both Buyer and Seller in respect of Section 7.1(a)(xi) Losses, whether paid prior to or after the Closing Date. An example of such reduction is set forth in Section 7.3(m)(i) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule .

(ii) The amounts set forth on the Grid shall be separate from and shall not be affected by any amounts that may be applied against the Basket or the Ceiling pursuant to this Article VII.

(iii) Counsel of record to the Companies and their Subsidiaries (“ Counsel of Record ”) in any lawsuit that could lead to Shared Losses and for which indemnity is available hereunder (any such lawsuits, together with any lawsuit arising from such lawsuits, the “ Shared Litigation ”) shall communicate and consult with all parties in connection with the defense of such lawsuit.

(iv) Seller shall be free to retain at its own expense counsel to monitor the lawsuit (“ Seller Counsel ”). Counsel of Record shall communicate and consult with any Seller Counsel.

(v) Counsel of Record and Seller Counsel shall make available to each other and other such counsel and any party confidential oral information and memoranda or other documents related to the defense of the Shared Litigation (“ Defense Materials ”) to the extent that they deem it prudent and consistent with the objectives of the joint defense provided for herein.

(vi) The Defense Materials obtained by counsel for any party shall remain confidential and shall be protected from disclosure to any third party except as provided herein.

(n) Claims for indemnification pursuant to Section 7.3(m) shall not be made after April 15, 2007. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, any timely filed claim for indemnity pursuant to Section 7.3(m) for which notice has been given prior to April 15, 2007 shall survive until the claim has been finally resolved.

Section 7.4 Tax Indemnification Procedures .

(a) If a notice of deficiency, proposed adjustment, adjustment, assessment, audit, examination or other administrative or court proceeding, suit, dispute or other claim of any of the Companies or their subsidiaries (a “ Tax Claim ”) shall be delivered or sent to or commenced or initiated against any of the Companies or their Subsidiaries by any Tax authority with respect to Taxes or Tax Returns of the Companies or their Subsidiaries for which Buyer may reasonably be entitled to indemnification from Seller pursuant to Section 7.1 of this Agreement, Buyer shall promptly notify Seller in

 

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writing of the Tax Claim, and shall include a copy of the relevant Tax Claim notice and other related information; provided , that the failure to so notify Seller shall only reduce its indemnity obligations hereunder to the extent it is actually prejudiced thereby.

(b) Tax Claims relating to Pre-Closing Tax Periods . With respect to Tax Claims of or relating to Taxes of any of the Companies or their Subsidiaries for any Pre-Closing Tax Period, Seller may, upon written notice to Buyer, assume and control the defense of such Tax Claim at its own cost and expense and with its own counsel and may (i) pursue or forego any and all administrative appeals, proceedings, hearings and conferences with any Tax authority, or (ii) either pay (A) the Tax claimed and sue for a refund where applicable Law permits such refund suits or (B) contest, settle or compromise the Tax Claim in any permissible manner, and Buyer shall, and shall cause its Affiliates (including the Companies and their Subsidiaries) to, cooperate with Seller in pursuing such Tax Claim and shall provide to Seller (and its employees and other agents) applicable powers of attorney. If Seller elects to assume the defense of any such Tax Claim, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 7.4, (i) Seller shall not enter into any settlement with respect to any such Tax Claim without Buyer’s prior written consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed) if such settlement could reasonably be expected to increase the Tax liability of Buyer (or any of its Affiliates including the Companies or their Subsidiaries) for any Tax period beginning on or after the Closing date (for this purpose, any reduction of Tax attributes relating to any Pre-Closing Tax Period or Interim Period shall be ignored), (ii) Seller shall keep Buyer reasonably informed of all material developments and events relating to such Tax Claim (including promptly forwarding copies to Buyer of any related correspondence and shall use reasonable efforts to provide Buyer with any opportunity to review and comment on any material correspondence before Seller sends such correspondence to any Tax authority), and (iii) Buyer may at its own cost and expense and with its own counsel, participate (including participation in any relevant meetings and conference calls) in (but not to control) the defense of such Tax Claim. In connection with any Tax Claim of or relating to any of the Companies or their Subsidiaries for any Pre-Closing Tax Period that Seller has not elected to control pursuant to this Section 7.4, such contest shall be controlled by Buyer and Seller agrees to cooperate with Buyer and its Affiliates in pursuing such contest, provided , however , that none of Buyer or any of its Affiliates (including the Companies or their Subsidiaries) shall enter into any settlement with respect to any Tax Claim relating to a Pre-Closing Tax Period without the prior written consent of Seller, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed, and provided , further , that Buyer and its Affiliates (including the Companies and their Subsidiaries) shall keep Seller informed of all material developments and events relating to such Tax Claim (including promptly forwarding copies to Seller of any related correspondence and shall use reasonable efforts to provide Seller with an opportunity to review and comment on any material correspondence before Buyer sends such correspondence to any Tax authority) and Seller, at its own cost and expense and with its own counsel, shall have the right to participate in (including in any relevant meetings and conference calls) but not control the defense of such Tax Claims.

 

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(c) Tax Claims relating to Straddle Periods . Buyer and Seller shall jointly control (at each party’s own cost and expense) all proceedings in connection with any Tax Claim relating to a Straddle Period. The parties agree to cooperate fully with each other in pursuing any such Tax Claim and neither Buyer nor Seller shall (or shall permit any of their Affiliates to) settle a Tax Claim relating to a Straddle Period without the other party’s prior written consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed.

ARTICLE VIII

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 8.1 Assignment; Binding Effect . This Agreement and the rights hereunder are not assignable unless such assignment is consented to in writing by both Buyer and Seller and, subject to the preceding clause, this Agreement and all the provisions hereof shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors or permitted assigns. Notwithstanding the forgoing, Buyer shall be permitted, without the consent of Seller, to make an assignment to (i) an Affiliate or (ii) a lender (or agent thereof), for security purposes, provided that, notwithstanding any such assignment, Buyer shall remain responsible for all of its obligations pursuant to this Agreement.

Section 8.2 Choice of Law . This Agreement shall be governed by an interpreted and enforced in accordance with the Laws of the State of New York (other than the words “full title guarantee” in Section 2.1(a) which shall be interpreted in accordance with the Laws of England) without regard to the conflicts of laws rules thereof.

Section 8.3 Consent to Jurisdiction and Service of Process . ALL JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS BROUGHT AGAINST THE PARTIES ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, OR ANY OBLIGATIONS HEREUNDER, SHALL BE BROUGHT IN ANY STATE OR FEDERAL COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK, COUNTY OF NEW YORK. BY EXECUTING AND DELIVERING THIS AGREEMENT, THE PARTIES, IRREVOCABLY (I) ACCEPT GENERALLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION AND VENUE OF THESE COURTS; (II) WAIVE ANY OBJECTIONS WHICH SUCH PARTY MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY OF THE AFORESAID ACTIONS OR PROCEEDINGS ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT BROUGHT IN THE COURTS REFERRED TO IN CLAUSE (I) ABOVE AND HEREBY FURTHER IRREVOCABLY WAIVE AND AGREE NOT TO PLEAD OR CLAIM IN ANY SUCH COURT THAT SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING BROUGHT IN ANY SUCH COURT HAS BEEN BROUGHT IN AN INCONVENIENT FORUM; (III) AGREE THAT SERVICE OF ALL PROCESS IN ANY SUCH PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURT MAY BE MADE BY REGISTERED OR CERTIFIED MAIL, RETURN

 

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RECEIPT REQUESTED, TO SUCH PARTY AT THEIR RESPECTIVE ADDRESSES PROVIDED IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8.5; AND (IV) AGREE THAT SERVICE AS PROVIDED IN CLAUSE (III) ABOVE IS SUFFICIENT TO CONFER PERSONAL JURISDICTION OVER SUCH PARTY IN ANY SUCH PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURT, AND OTHERWISE CONSTITUTES EFFECTIVE AND BINDING SERVICE IN EVERY RESPECT.

Section 8.4 Survival .

(a) The representations and warranties contained herein shall survive the Closing and terminate on April 15, 2007; provided , however , that the representations and warranties made by (i) Seller in Sections 3.1(a), (b), (c), (f) and (t) and the second sentence of Section 3.1(d) and by Buyer in Sections 3.2(a), (b) and (i) shall survive the Closing without any time limit; and (ii) Seller in Section 3.1(l) shall survive the Closing until 90 th day after the expiration of the applicable statute of limitations (as applicable in each case, the “ Survival Expiration Date ”).

(b) All covenants and agreements contained herein which by their terms are to be performed in whole or in part, or which prohibit actions, subsequent to the Closing Date, shall survive the Closing in accordance with their terms. All other covenants and agreements contained herein shall not survive the Closing and shall thereupon terminate, except that claims for indemnification in respect of any breach thereof may be made at any time prior to the Survival Expiration Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a notice of breach is delivered prior to the end of the applicable survival period, the claim shall survive until the claim has been finally resolved.

Section 8.5 Notices . All notices, requests, demands and other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered personally, when sent by confirmed cable, telecopy, telegram or facsimile, when sent by overnight courier service or when mailed by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, with postage prepaid to the parties at the following addresses (or at such other address for a party as shall be specified by like notice):

If to Buyer, to:

Affinity Acquisition, Inc.

c/o Apollo Management, L.P.

9 West 57th Street – 43rd Floor

New York, NY 10019

Telephone: 212-515-3202

Telecopy: 212-515-3263

Attn: Marc Becker

 

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with copies, in the case of notice to Buyer, to:

O’Melveny & Myers LLP

7 Times Square

New York, NY 10036

Telephone: 212-408-2491

Telecopy: 212-326-2061

Email: aweinstein@omm.com

Attn: Adam Weinstein, Esq.

If to Parent, to:

Affinity Acquisition Holdings, Inc.

c/o Apollo Management, L.P.

9 West 57th Street – 43rd Floor

New York, NY 10019

Telephone: 212-515-3202

Telecopy: 212-515-3263

Attn: Marc Becker

with copies, in the case of notice to Buyer, to:

O’Melveny & Myers LLP

7 Times Square

New York, NY 10036

Telephone: 212-408-2491

Telecopy: 212-326-2061

Email: aweinstein@omm.com

Attn: Adam Weinstein, Esq.

If to Seller, to:

Cendant Corporation

9 West 57 th Street

New York, New York 10019

Attn: Eric J. Bock, Esq.

Fax: (212) 413-1922

with copies, in the case of notice to Seller, to:

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP

Four Times Square

New York, New York 10036

Attn: David Fox, Esq.

          Patricia Moran, Esq.

Fax: (212) 735-2000

 

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Section 8.6 Headings . The headings contained in this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not be considered in interpreting or construing any of the provisions contained in this Agreement.

Section 8.7 Fees and Expenses . Except as otherwise specified in this Agreement, each party hereto shall bear its own costs and expenses (including investment advisory and legal fees and expenses) incurred in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby; provided that Seller shall be responsible for all Transfer Taxes (as well as the filing of all Tax Returns with respect thereto) and all costs and expenses of the Companies and their Subsidiaries (other than pursuant to Section 4.26) to the extent incurred in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

Section 8.8 Entire Agreement . This Agreement (including the Exhibits and Schedules hereto), and the Ancillary Agreements constitute the entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings between the parties with respect to such subject matter; provided, however, this Agreement shall not supersede the terms and provisions of the Confidentiality Agreement, which shall survive and remain in effect until expiration or termination thereof in accordance with its terms and this Agreement.

Section 8.9 Interpretation .

(a) When a reference is made to an Article, Section or Schedule, such reference shall be to an Article, Section or Schedule of or to this Agreement unless otherwise indicated.

(b) Whenever the words “include,” “includes” or “including” are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation.”

(c) Unless the context requires otherwise, words using the singular or plural number also include the plural or singular number, respectively, and the use of any gender herein shall be deemed to include the other genders.

(d) References to “dollars” or “$” are to U.S. dollars.

(e) The terms “hereof,” “herein,” “hereby,” “hereto” and derivative or similar words refer to this entire Agreement.

(f) This Agreement was prepared jointly by the parties hereto and no rule that it be construed against the drafter will have any application in its construction or interpretation.

Section 8.10 Waiver and Amendment . This Agreement may be amended, modified or supplemented only by a written mutual agreement executed and

 

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delivered by Seller and Buyer. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, any failure of any party to comply with any obligation, covenant, agreement or condition herein may be waived by the party entitled to the benefits thereof only by a written instrument signed by the party granting such waiver, but such waiver or failure to insist upon strict compliance with such obligations, covenant, agreement or condition shall not operate as a waiver of, or estoppel with respect to, any subsequent or other failure.

Section 8.11 Third-party Beneficiaries . This Agreement is for the sole benefit of the parties hereto and their permitted assigns and nothing herein express or implied shall give or be construed to give to any Person, other than the parties hereto and such permitted assigns, any legal or equitable rights hereunder.

Section 8.12 Specific Performance . The parties hereto agree that if any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached, irreparable damage would occur, no adequate remedy at law would exist and damages would be difficult to determine, and that the parties shall be entitled to specific performance of the terms hereof, in addition to any other remedy at law or equity.

Section 8.13 Severability . If any provision of this Agreement or the application of any such provision to any person or circumstance shall be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect by a court of competent jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provision hereof.

Section 8.14 No Consequential Damages . NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER PROVISION OF THIS AGREEMENT, IN NO EVENT SHALL SELLER OR BUYER BE LIABLE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT FOR PUNITIVE DAMAGES OR ANY SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, INDIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OF ANY KIND OR NATURE, INCLUDING WITH RESPECT TO MARKETING PRACTICES, REGARDLESS OF THE FORM OF ACTION THROUGH WHICH SUCH DAMAGES ARE SOUGHT (IT BEING UNDERSTOOD THAT TO THE EXTENT BUYER OR SELLER IS ACTUALLY LIABLE TO ANY THIRD PARTY FOR ANY DAMAGES, SUCH LIABILITY SHALL INCLUDE LIABILITY FOR PUNITIVE, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, INDIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES THAT CONSTITUTE LOSSES UNDER ARTICLE VIII).

Section 8.15 Reliance . Each party hereto shall be entitled to rely upon, and shall be deemed to have relied upon, all representations, warranties and covenants of each other party set forth in this Agreement that have been or are made in favor of such party, notwithstanding any investigation or examination conducted with respect to, or any knowledge acquired (or capable of being acquired) about the accuracy or inaccuracy of or compliance with, any representation, warranty, covenant, agreement, undertaking or obligation made by or on behalf of the parties hereto.

Section 8.16 Counterparts; Facsimile Signatures . This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which when executed, shall be deemed to be an original and all of which together shall be deemed to be one and the same instrument binding upon all of the parties hereto notwithstanding the fact that all parties are not signatory to the original or the same counterpart. For purposes of this Agreement, facsimile signatures shall be deemed originals.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed the day and year first above written.

 

CENDANT CORPORATION
By:  

/s/ Eric J. Bock

 

Name:

 

Eric J. Bock

 

Title:

  Executive Vice President –
Law and Corporate Secretary
AFFINITY ACQUISITION, INC.
By:  

/s/ Marc Becker

 

Name:

 

Marc Becker

 

Title:

 

President

AFFINITY ACQUISITION HOLDINGS, INC.
By:  

/s/ Marc Becker

 

Name:

 

Marc Becker

 

Title:

 

President


EXECUTION COPY

AMENDMENT NO. 1 dated as of October 17, 2005 (this Amendment ) to the PURCHASE AGREEMENT dated as of July 26, 2005 ( the Original Agreement ), by and among CENDANT CORPORATION , a Delaware corporation (the Seller ), AFFINITY ACQUISITION, INC. (now known as AFFINION GROUP, INC. ), a Delaware corporation (the Buyer ); AFFINITY ACQUISITION HOLDINGS, INC. (now known as AFFINION GROUP HOLDINGS, INC. ), a Delaware corporation and the parent corporation of Buyer (the Parent and together with Buyer, the Acquirors ).

RECITALS

WHEREAS, capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Original Agreement;

WHEREAS, Seller, Parent and Buyer are parties to the Original Agreement providing for the acquisition by Buyer of all of the Equity of CMG and CIH, each a subsidiary of Seller;

WHEREAS, Section 8.10 of the Original Agreement provides that the Original Agreement may be amended by a written instrument executed and delivered by each of Seller and Buyer; and

WHEREAS, the parties desire to amend the Original Agreement as provided herein (the Original Agreement, as so amended, being referred to herein as the “ Agreement ”).

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the respective representations, warranties, covenants and agreements set forth herein and in the Original Agreement, the parties hereto agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

AMENDMENTS

 

1.1 Amendments to Section 1.1

(a) Section 1.1 of the Original Agreement is hereby amended to delete the definition of “Cash” and insert the definition set forth below:

“Cash” means all cash and cash equivalents of the Companies and their Subsidiaries (other than Restricted Cash), as determined in accordance with GAAP, plus the $28,208,979 non-GAAP cash included in the intercompany accounts.

(b) Section 1.1 of the Original Agreement is hereby amended by inserting the following new definitions in alphabetical order in such section:

“Agreement” shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals hereto.


“Applicable Period” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.5.

“Award” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.29(a).

“Cash Reconciliation Schedule” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.5.

“Cash Repatriation Schedule” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.4.

“Costs” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.4(c).

“Dispute Notice” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.5.

“Final Cash Statement” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.5(g).

“Foreign Cash” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.4(a).

“Fortis” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.29(a).

“Fortis Agreement” means the Joint Marketing, Administrative Services and Agency Agreement, effective as of February 1st, 2000, by and among American Bankers Insurance Company of Florida, American Bankers Life Assurance Company of Florida, Fortis Benefits Insurance Company, First Fortis Life Insurance Company, Union Security Life Insurance Company, United Family Life Insurance Company, American Reliable Insurance Company, Voyager Life Insurance Company, Voyager Life And Health Insurance Company, Voyager Indemnity Insurance Company, Voyager Property and Casualty Insurance Company and Benefit Consultants, Inc. and FISI Madison LLC.

“Fortis Dispute Notice” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.29(e).

“Fortis Matter” means the case captioned “Benefit Consultants, Inc. and FISI*Madison L.L.C. v. American Bankers Insurance Company of Florida, American Bankers Life Assurance Company of Florida, Fortis Benefits Insurance Company, First Fortis Life Insurance Company, Union Security Life Insurance Company, United Family Life Insurance Company, American Reliable Insurance Company, Voyager Life Insurance Company, Voyager Life And Health Insurance Company, Voyager Indemnity Insurance Company, Voyager Property and

 

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Casualty Insurance Company, Chancery Court for the State of Tennessee 21st Judicial District, Williamson County” and any appeals thereof.

“Indemnified Loan” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.4(c).

“Indemnified Transactions” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.4(a).

“Inter-Company Accounts” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.5(c)(i).

“June 30 Cash” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.4.

“Net Due” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.5(c)(iv).

“Original Fortis Receivable” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.29(a).

“Preliminary Cash Statement” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.5.

“Profit Share Amounts” means any “profit share” amounts that have been accrued by CMG or any of its Subsidiaries in respect of periods prior to any settlement or final adjudication of the Fortis Matter, subject to adjustment based on the calculation of such amounts in accordance with past practice pursuant to the terms of Section 3 of Schedule C to the Fortis Agreement, but does not include any amounts included in the Original Fortis Receivable.

“Profit Share Calculation” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.29(d).

“Sample Statement” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.5( ).

“Supplemental Bonuses” means $3,552,500.00.

 

1.2 Amendment to Section 2.1

(a) Section 2.1(c) of the Original Agreement is hereby amended by deleting the word “Cash” in the first sentence of such section and inserting in lieu thereof the phrase “the Initial Cash Price”.

 

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1.3 Amendments to Section 2.3

(a) Section 2.3(b) of the Original Agreement is hereby amended by deleting the word “and” after the phrase “Retention Payments;” in such section and inserting immediately after the phrase “June 30, 2005” the phrase “; and (v) Supplemental Bonuses.”

(b) Section 2.3(c) of the Original Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety as set forth below:

“(c) The Initial Cash Price shall be decreased by the sum of: (i) the Purchase Price Adjustment Items; plus (ii) the difference, if any, of (A) the sum of the payments made by or on behalf of the Companies or their Subsidiaries to Seller and its Affiliates (other than the Companies and their Subsidiaries), net of any payments made by Seller or its Affiliates (other than the Companies and their Subsidiaries) on behalf of the Companies or their Subsidiaries in respect of the period from July 1, 2005 through August 31, 2005, and (B) the difference between (1) the amount required to be paid by the Companies or their Subsidiaries to Seller and its Affiliates (other than the Companies and their Subsidiaries) in respect of such period pursuant to the Inter-Company Agreements and (2) the amount required to be paid by Seller and its Affiliates (other than the Companies and their Subsidiaries) to the Companies or their Subsidiaries in respect of such period pursuant to the Inter-Company Agreements; provided that all Cash of the Business (other than Restricted Cash) through and including June 30, 2005 shall be paid prior to the Closing Date by the Companies and their Subsidiaries to Seller and its Affiliates (other than the Companies and their Subsidiaries); plus (iii) in the case of any payments made by any Company or any Subsidiary prior to or on the Closing Date in connection with the settlement or resolution the matters listed in Section 7.1(a)(x) and Section 7.1(a)(xi) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule , the amount of such payments less the portion of payments that would have been paid by the Companies and its Subsidiaries pursuant to Section 7.1(a)(x) and Section 7.1(a)(xi) (in accordance with Section 7.1(b) and 7.3(m)) had such matter been settled or resolution happened after the Closing Date; plus (iv) the aggregate amount of all the payments made to stockholders of TRL Group other than Seller and its Subsidiaries by any of the Companies or their Subsidiaries to satisfy the condition set forth in Section 5.1(g) but only to the extent, if any, that such payments were not funded by Seller or any of its Subsidiaries (other than the Companies and their Subsidiaries); plus (v) all payments made by any of the Companies or their Subsidiaries after June 30, 2005 in respect of legal fees and expenses incurred in respect of the Excluded Litigation Matters and 80% of all payments made by any of the Companies or their Subsidiaries after June 30, 2005 in respect of legal fees and expenses incurred in respect of the litigation set forth on Section 7.1(a)(xi) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule .”

 

1.4 Amendment to Add New Section 2.4

The Original Agreement is hereby amended by inserting a new Section 2.4 as set forth below:

 

  “2.4 Cash Repatriation

(a) As provided in the proviso to clause (ii)(B) of Section 2.3(c), all Cash of the Business (other than Restricted Cash) through and including June 30, 2005 (“ June 30 Cash ”) is to be paid prior to the Closing Date by the Companies and their Subsidiaries to Seller and its Affiliates (other than the Companies and

 

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their Subsidiaries). Schedule I to this Amendment (the “ Cash Repatriation Schedule ”) sets forth for purposes of this Section 2.4 (i) the aggregate amount of June 30 Cash, (ii) the amount of June 30 Cash that is held in Subsidiaries of CIH in jurisdictions outside of the United States (“ Foreign Cash ”) and (iii) the steps pursuant to which the Foreign Cash shall be transferred to Seller or one of its Affiliates (such steps, together with the loan from UK newco to CIMS Limited UK made in connection with the transactions contemplated by the steps ( “Indemnified Loan” ) and the unwinding of the Indemnified Loan, collectively, the “Indemnified Transactions” ).

(b) The parties understand and agree that (i) the Foreign Cash shall be transferred to Seller or one of its Affiliates pursuant to the steps outlined on the Cash Repatriation Schedule and (ii) notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in the Agreement, the execution and delivery of all documents, and the performance of all actions, contemplated by, or necessary or advisable, to effectuate the steps set forth on, the Cash Repatriation Schedule shall not constitute a breach or violation of any of the terms of, or cause a failure to be satisfied of any condition under, the Agreement.

(c) Seller shall pay all stamp duties, capital and transfer Taxes required to be paid with respect to the Indemnified Loan and capital contributions set forth in the Cash Repatriation Schedule before the Closing Date. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement, including any of the limitations on indemnification or remedies contained herein, Seller share bear all out-of-pocket costs ( “Costs” ) of the Indemnified Transactions, whether incurred before or after the Closing Date, and shall indemnify and hold Buyer and its Affiliates harmless against all such Costs. (For the avoidance of doubt, Costs shall not include the principal amount of, and interest with respect to, the Indemnified Loan.) Such Costs shall include, but not be limited to, (i) any Cost that would not have been incurred if the Indemnified Transactions had not occurred, including, but not limited to any incremental Tax Cost incurred by Buyer or any of its Affiliates as a result of the Indemnified Transactions, (ii) any Costs associated with the repayment of the Indemnified Loan, whether by actual repayment or by distributing the Indemnified Loan as a dividend or otherwise to a noteholder’s direct and indirect shareholders, (iii) any Taxes, including withholding Taxes, charged (whether incurred by a Party to the Indemnified Loan or otherwise) with respect to payments on, or deemed payments on, or the distribution of, the Indemnified Loan, and (iv) any accounting, legal, or similar documentation or approval Costs associated with the Indemnified Transactions. In calculating the forgoing, Buyer shall be entitled to include any current Tax Cost incurred by Buyer or any of its Affiliates as a result of the existence of the Indemnified Loan, and shall be required to reduce such Tax Cost only by the amount of any net Tax benefit actually realized in the year such Tax Cost is incurred. For the purpose of this Section 2.4(c), (i) Buyer shall not be required to project the use of Tax benefits or deductions in future years, or otherwise take into account Tax benefits or deductions that are not actually realized, to reduce Costs otherwise payable pursuant to this Section 2.4(c) as a consequence of the

 

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indemnified pursuant hereto, (iii) Buyer and its affiliates shall be entitled to treat all other items of tax deduction, credit, depreciation or amortization as being used before any such Tax benefit from the Indemnified Transactions is used, and (iv) Buyer shall not be obligated to reimburse the Seller for any net Tax benefit received by Buyer or its Affiliates in excess of the aggregate Costs that Seller is obligated to indemnify Buyer hereunder. All calculations of Costs required to be made pursuant to this clause shall be made by Buyer in good faith, and shall be binding on the Seller absent manifest error, provided however, that Buyer shall provide such calculations of Costs to the Seller for its review and Buyer will consider in good faith all comments provided by Seller. Subject to the foregoing, Seller shall deliver any Costs requested by Buyer pursuant to this clause within 5 days written demand therefor.

(d) If, in the reasonable determination of the Buyer (based upon written advice of counsel to Buyer and after consultation with Seller and due consideration of Seller’s opinion), the then outstanding principal of and accrued but unpaid interest with respect to the Indemnified Loan cannot be eliminated in full on or prior to August 31, 2006 under applicable Law in a structure as proposed by Seller by means of (A) distributions by Subsidiaries of CIMs Limited (UK) of (i) Distributable Cash, (ii) all or a portion of the Indemnified Loan and/or (iii) stock of the new UK company, (B) share redemptions by Subsidiaries of CIMs Limited (UK) using as consideration therefor solely (i) Distributable Cash, (ii) all or a portion of the Indemnified Loan and/or (ii) stock of the new UK company, and/or (C) a liquidation, merger or dissolution of the new UK company with or into CIMs Limited (UK) after the distributions or redemptions contemplated by clauses (A) and (B), in each case, in a manner that would not decrease the applicable reserves or capital surplus generated solely after June 30, 2005 or the ability of Subsidiaries of CIMs Limited (UK) to make distributions or redeem securities based solely on profits generated after June 30, 2005 assuming, for these purposes, that the Business Day immediately preceding the Closing Date was the last day of each such Subsidiaries’ fiscal year, then Seller will pay to the new UK company formed in connection with the Indemnified Transactions or as directed by Buyer in immediately available funds an amount equal to the portion of the then outstanding principal of and accrued but unpaid interest with respect to the Indemnified Loan that cannot be so eliminated. For purposes of this Section 2.4(d), with respect to each Subsidiary of CIMS Limited (UK), “Distributable Cash” shall mean an amount of Cash that is not in excess of the amount of Cash reflected on the books and records of such Subsidiary as of June 30, 2005 (reduced by the amount of Restricted Cash as of June 30, 2005 and the amount, if any, of Cash previously transferred pursuant to the Cash Repatriation Schedule

 

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and increased by the amount, if any, of Distributable Cash received by such Subsidiary pursuant to this Section 2.4).

(e) Buyer shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries (including CIH and its Subsidiaries) to, cooperate with, and take any action reasonably requested by, Seller to effect the transactions contemplated by this Section 2.4.”

 

1.5 Amendment to Add New Section 2.5

The Original Agreement is hereby amended by inserting a new Section 2.5 as set forth below:

 

  “2.5 Cash Reconciliation

(a) The parties acknowledge and agree as follows:

(i) Seller is entitled to retain all Cash of the Business (other than Restricted Cash) as of June 30, 2005. All Cash of the Business from and after such date shall be retained by the Companies, other than net amounts payable to or by Seller and its Affiliates (other than the Companies and its Subsidiaries) by or to the Companies and their Subsidiaries in accordance with the Intercompany Agreements (the “Closed Loop”).

(ii) The Closed Loop shall be calculated for the period from and including July 1, 2005 through and including August 31, 2005 pursuant to the adjustment set forth in Section 2.3(c)(ii). The calculation of such adjustment is reflected in the schedules set forth in Schedule II to this Amendment (the “ Cash Reconciliation Schedule ”), which sets forth the Net Due amount for which adjustment shall be made pursuant to Section 2.3(c)(ii).

(iii) The Closed Loop shall be calculated for the period from and including September 1, 2005 through and including the date immediately prior to the Closing Date pursuant to the adjustment set forth below in this Section 2.5.

(b) Within forty-five (45) days following the Closing Date, Buyer shall prepare and deliver to Seller a statement for the period from and including September 1, 2005 through and including the date immediately prior to the Closing Date, setting forth, the following (the “ Preliminary Cash Statement ”):

(i) reconciliations of the inter-company accounts of Seller and its Subsidiaries (other than the Companies and their Subsidiaries), on the one hand, and the Companies and their Subsidiaries, on the other hand (“ Inter-Company Accounts ”);

(ii) activity flowing through the Inter-Company Accounts, broken out between cash activity and non-cash activity;

 

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(iii) cash activity through the Inter-Company Accounts broken out between (x) net inter-company agreement activity, (y) net cash transfer activity and (z) net payments made by Seller on behalf of the Business; and

(iv) a reconciliation of the net amount due to/due from Seller in accordance with Section 2.5(a)(iii) (the “ Net Due ”) with supporting documentation for items (i)—(iii) above.

(c) The Preliminary Cash Statement shall be prepared and the Net Due amount shall be calculated using the same policies, procedures and methodologies used in preparing the Cash Reconciliation Schedule and consistent with Section 2.3(c).

(d) Seller shall have thirty (30) days following receipt of the Preliminary Cash Statement to review the Preliminary Cash Statement and to notify Buyer in writing if it disputes the amount of the Net Due set forth on the Preliminary Cash Statement (the “ Dispute Notice ”), specifying the reasons therefore in reasonable detail.

(e) In connection with Buyer’s preparation of the Preliminary Cash Statement and Seller’s review of such statement, Buyer and its Representatives and Seller and its Representatives, as applicable, shall have reasonable access, during normal business hours and upon reasonable notice, to all business and financial records, relevant work papers, schedules, memoranda and other documents and to finance personnel of Buyer or Seller, as applicable, the Companies and their Subsidiaries and any other information which Buyer or Seller, as applicable, reasonably requests, and Buyer shall, and shall cause the Companies and their Subsidiaries to, and Seller shall and shall cause its Subsidiaries to cooperate reasonably with Buyer or Seller and their respective Representatives, as applicable, in connection therewith.

(f) In the event that Seller shall deliver a Dispute Notice to Buyer, Buyer and Seller shall cooperate in good faith to resolve the dispute over such disputed items as promptly as practicable and, upon such resolution, if any, any adjustments to the Preliminary Cash Statement shall be made in accordance with the agreement of Buyer and Seller. If Buyer and Seller are unable to resolve any such disputed items within ten (10) Business Days (or such longer period as Buyer and Seller shall mutually agree in writing) of Seller’s delivery of such Dispute Notice, such disputed items shall be resolved by the Independent Accounting Firm, and such determination shall be final and binding on the parties. Any expenses relating to the engagement of the Independent Accounting Firm in respect of its services pursuant to this Section 2.5(d) shall be shared equally by Buyer and Seller. The Independent Accounting Firm shall be instructed to use reasonable best efforts to perform its services within thirty (30) days of submission of the Preliminary Cash Statement to it and, in any case, as promptly as practicable after such submission. The Preliminary Cash Statement, (i) if no Dispute Notice has been timely delivered by Seller, as originally submitted by

 

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Buyer, or (ii) if a Dispute Notice has been timely delivered by Seller, as determined pursuant to the resolution of such dispute in accordance with this Section 2.5(d), shall be, respectively, the “ Final Cash Statement.

(g) If the Final Cash Statement shows a Net Due payable to the Companies and their Subsidiaries, then Seller shall pay to CMG the amount of the Net Due. If the Final Cash Statement shows a Net Due payable to Seller, then Buyer shall pay or cause CMG to pay to Seller the amount of the Net Due. The payment of the Net Due as set forth herein shall be made on or before the fifth (5 th ) Business Day following the date on which the Preliminary Cash Statement becomes the Final Cash Statement pursuant to the last sentences of Section 2.5(f), together with interest thereon from the Closing Date to the date of payment, at a floating rate equal to the U.S. dollar prime rate per annum, as quoted by Banc of America Securities LLC from time to time during such period. Such interest shall be calculated based on a year of 365 days and the number of days elapsed since the Closing Date.”

(h) Seller and Buyer shall pay or cause to be paid to or as directed by the other any cash that it or its Affiliates (other than, in the case of Seller, the Companies and their Subsidiaries) receives or has received after June 30, 2005, whether before or after the Closing, from third parties in respect of the business activities of the other party.

 

1.6 Amendment to Section 4.12

Section 4.12(a) of the Original Agreement is hereby amended by deleting the phrase “(i) obtain a letter of credit on behalf of Buyer or one of its Affiliates,” in the second sentence of such section and inserting in lieu thereof the phrase “(i) obtain prior to December 31, 2005, a letter of credit in an amount to be mutually agreed upon by Buyer and Seller, on behalf of Buyer or one of its Affiliates.”

 

1.7 Amendment to Section 4.21

Section 4.21(b) of the Original Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety as set forth below:

“All of the New Inter-Company Agreement Term Sheets set forth in Schedule V shall contain the Universal Provisions set forth in Schedule V; and the New Inter-Company Term Sheets that are marketing services term sheets (other than Marketing 8 and 9 term sheets) shall contain the provisions set forth in Schedule 4.21(b)(ii) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule .”

 

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1.8 Amendment to Section 4.24

Section 4.24 of the Original Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety as set forth below:

“Buyer agrees to pay Seller all Retention Payments and Supplemental Bonuses that are forfeited on or prior to the first anniversary of the Closing Date by or otherwise not paid to any employee party thereto in accordance with the Retention Letters or Supplemental Bonus Letters, as applicable, promptly following such forfeiture by wire transfer of immediately available funds (it being understood that any such payments that are rolled over into equity securities or other securities of the Buyer will be deemed paid unless forfeited on or prior to the first anniversary of the Closing Date).”

 

1.9 Amendment to Add New Section 4.29

(a) The Original Agreement is hereby amended by inserting new Section 4.29 as set forth below:

“Section 4.29 Fortis Receivable

(a) In the event that American Bankers Insurance Company of Florida and certain of its affiliates ( “Fortis” ) pays (i) to Seller all or any portion of the $17,430,607.00 owed to certain Subsidiaries of CMG (the “Original Fortis Receivable” ), which amount includes an award of damages in the amount of $14,340,000 (the “Award” ) plus accrued and unpaid interest on the Award as of September 30, 2005, Seller shall pay to Buyer or as directed by Buyer any such amounts received, including post-judgment interest on the Award received by Seller or any of its Subsidiaries, within ten (10) Business Days of receipt thereof by Seller or (ii) to the Companies or their Subsidiaries all or any portion of the Original Fortis Receivable, Buyer shall give Seller prompt written notice thereof. At any time prior to the payment by Fortis of the full amount of the Original Fortis Receivable to any of Seller or its Subsidiaries or the Companies or their Subsidiaries, Seller may pay, but in no event later than the ninetieth (90 th ) day following the Closing Date, Seller shall pay, to Buyer an amount equal to the then-unpaid amount of the Original Fortis Receivable, plus any accrued post-judgment interest on the Award through the date of payment.

(b) In the event that Fortis does not pay to CMG or its Subsidiaries by June 15 of each of the years 2006 and 2007 all Profit Share Amounts that are due and payable by such dates in respect of prior periods, then within five (5) Business Days following written notice from Buyer to Seller that such payment was not received, Seller shall pay or caused to be paid such Profit Share Amounts to Buyer or as directed by Buyer; provided, however, that (i) Seller shall pay or cause to be paid such Profit Share Amounts only if each of CMG and its Subsidiaries continues to perform in all material respects in good faith all obligations required to be performed by it under any applicable agreements with Fortis, including, without limitation, remitting premium payments to Fortis in accordance with the terms of the Fortis Agreement, (ii) Buyer shall have, or shall have caused the Companies and their Subsidiaries to, provide to Seller and its Subsidiaries, for the applicable period, all of CMG or its Subsidiaries’ calculations, actuarial reports and claims reports and all reports, correspondence

 

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and other information received from Fortis, in each case, regarding the calculation of Profit Share Amounts including, without limitation, the February reports; and (iii) in the event that a final judgment, adjudication, determination or settlement of the Fortis Matter determines that any such Profit Share Amounts were not or will not be due and payable by Fortis, then Seller agrees to pay an amount equal to the unpaid Profit Share Amounts that would have been payable immediately prior to such final judgment, adjudication, determination or settlement under the terms of the Fortis Agreement, with Seller’s obligations in such event to be limited to an aggregate of $7,300,000 of Profit Share Amounts payable in 2006 and an aggregate of $4,482,000 of Profit Share Amounts payable in 2007.

(c) In the event that Seller or any of its Subsidiaries makes any payments pursuant to this Section 4.29, Seller will be subrogated, to the extent of any such payments made, to the rights of CMG and its Subsidiaries to receive payments in respect of the Fortis Receivable until Seller or its Subsidiaries receives from Fortis an amount equal to the amounts paid by Seller or its Subsidiaries pursuant to this Section 4.29. Buyer shall, and shall cause the Companies and their Subsidiaries to, cooperate and use their respective commercially reasonable efforts to take or cause to be taken all appropriate actions and do, or cause to be done, all things necessary or appropriate to give effect to the subrogation referred to in this Section 4.29(c); provided , that Buyer shall use its reasonable best efforts to take such actions upon the request of Seller and Seller shall bear all costs, fees and expenses associated with the taking of such requested actions.

(d) Buyer shall cause the Companies and their Subsidiaries to provide to Seller, promptly following receipt thereof from Fortis, the annual “profit share” calculation under the Fortis Agreement (the “Profit Share Calculation” ). Seller shall have the right, at its own expense, to examine and/or audit the books and records of Buyer and its Subsidiaries, and to make copies and extracts therefrom, for the purpose of confirming the accuracy of payments and Profit Share Calculation under this Section 4.29 or confirming the Buyer’s and its Subsidiaries’ performance of their obligations under the Fortis Agreement. Such audit or examination shall occur only upon reasonable notice to Buyer and shall not occur more than once during any 12 month period unless a violation is discovered, in which case Seller shall conduct such number of audits or examinations within such period that are reasonable under the circumstances.

(e) Seller shall have thirty (30) days following receipt of any Profit Share Calculation to review the Profit Share Calculation and to notify Buyer in writing if it disputes any item set forth on the Profit Share Calculation (the “ Fortis Dispute Notice ”), specifying the reasons therefor in reasonable detail. Buyer and Seller shall cooperate in good faith to resolve the dispute over such disputed items as promptly as practicable and, upon such resolution, if any, any adjustments to the Profit Share Calculation shall be made in accordance with the agreement of Buyer and Seller. If Buyer and Seller are unable to resolve any such disputed items within ten (10) Business Days (or such longer period as Buyer and

 

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Seller shall mutually agree in writing) of Seller’s delivery of such Fortis Dispute Notice, such disputed items shall be resolved by the Independent Accounting Firm, and such determination shall be final and binding on the parties. Any expenses relating to the engagement of the Independent Accounting Firm in respect of its services pursuant to this Section 4.29(e) shall be borne pro rata, by Seller, on the one hand, and Buyer or CMG, on the other hand, in proportion to the allocation of the dollar amount of the amounts remaining in dispute between Seller and Buyer made by the Independent Accounting Firm such that the prevailing party pays the lesser proportion of the fees and expenses. The Independent Accounting Firm shall be instructed to use reasonable best efforts to perform its services within thirty (30) days of submission of the Profit Share Calculation to it and, in any case, as promptly as practicable after such submission.”

(f) Notwithstanding any other provision contained herein, in the event that the Companies or any of their Subsidiaries receives from Fortis any amounts in respect of which Seller has paid or caused to be paid pursuant to this Section 4.29, Buyer shall cause the Companies promptly to pay to Seller any such amounts received from Fortis.

 

1.10 Amendment to Section 5.1

(a) Section 5.1(g) of the Original Agreement is hereby amended by deleting the word “Seller” and inserting in lieu thereof the words “CMG or one of its Subsidiaries.”

(b) Section 5.1(h) of the Original Agreement is hereby amended by deleting the reference to Section “5.1(f)” and inserting in lieu thereof “5.1(h).”

 

1.11 Amendment to Section 7.3

The Original Agreement is hereby amended by inserting a new Section 7.3(o) as set forth below:

“The parties acknowledge that certain state attorneys general or other Governmental Authorities have joined or indicated an intention to join the Actions set forth in Section 7.1(a)(xi) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule and that additional state attorneys general or other Governmental Authorities may hereafter join such Actions. The parties agree that all amounts paid or payable in connection with such Actions that are not allocated to a specific state or Action (in a judgment, order, decree, settlement agreement, invoice or otherwise) shall be allocated between Shared Losses and Section 7.1(a)(xi) Losses in the same proportion as such amounts that are allocated to a specific state or Action (in a judgment, order, decree, settlement agreement, invoice or otherwise).”

 

1.12 Amendment to Seller Disclosure Schedules

(a) Section 3.1(i)(A) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule to the Original Agreement is hereby amended by deleting the date “7/10/01” contained at the end of the reference to Pederson

 

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v. Trilegiant Corporation under the heading “Consumer Class Actions Alleging Unfair and Deceptive Marketing Practices” and inserting the date “11/15/01” in lieu thereof.

(b) Section 4.11(a) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule to the Original Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety as set forth on Annex I hereto.

(c) Section 4.12 of the Seller Disclosure Schedule to the Original Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety as set forth on Annex II hereto.

(d) Section 4.21(b)(ii)(a)(1) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule to the Original Agreement is hereby amended by inserting the phrase “the applicable Cendant party shall have the right to terminate at will following the effective date upon at least” immediately after the phrase “in the case of Marketing (6),” in the first sentence of such section.

ARTICLE II

MISCELLANEOUS

 

2.1 No other Amendments or Waivers

Except as modified by this Amendment, the Original Agreement shall remain in full force and effect, enforceable in accordance with its terms. Except as expressly set forth herein, this Amendment is not a consent to any waiver or modification of any other terms or conditions of the Original Agreement or any of the instruments or documents referred to in the Original Agreement and shall not prejudice any right or rights which the parties thereto may now or hereafter have under or in connection with the Agreement or any of the instruments or documents referred to therein. After the date hereof, any reference to the Original Agreement shall mean the Original Agreement as amended hereby.

 

2.2 Effectiveness

This Amendment shall be effective upon the execution and delivery hereof by Seller and Buyer in accordance with Section 8.10 of the Original Agreement.

 

2.3 Counterparts and Facsimile Execution

This Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which when executed, shall be deemed to be an original and all of which together shall be deemed to be one and the same instrument binding upon all of the parties hereto notwithstanding the fact that all parties are not signatory to the original or the same counterpart. For purposes of this Amendment, facsimile signatures shall be deemed original and the Parties agree to exchange original signatures as promptly as possible.

 

2.4 Choice of Law

This Amendment shall be governed by and interpreted and enforced in accordance with the Laws of the State of New York without regard to the conflicts of laws rules thereof.

* * * * *

 

13


IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the parties have duly executed this Amendment No. 1 to the Original Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

AFFINION GROUP HOLDINGS, INC.
By:  

/s/ Marc Becker

 

Name:

 

Marc Becker

 

Title:

  Chairman
AFFINION GROUP, INC.
By:  

/s/ Marc Becker

 

Name:

 

Marc Becker

 

Title:

 

Chairman

CENDANT CORPORATION
By:  

/s/ David B. Wyshner

 

Name:

 

David B. Wyshner

 

Title:

 

Executive Vice President and Treasurer

Exhibit 3.1

AMENDED AND RESTATED

CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

OF

AFFINITY ACQUISITION, INC.

Affinity Acquisition, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Corporation ”), does hereby certify that:

FIRST: The present name of the Corporation is “Affinity Acquisition, Inc.” The date of filing of the original Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware was July 14, 2005.

SECOND: This Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the “ Amended and Restated Certificate ”) amends and restates in its entirety the present Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation. This Amended and Restated Certificate has been duly adopted and approved in accordance with the applicable provisions of Sections 228, 242 and 245 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

THIRD: This Amended and Restated Certificate shall become effective immediately upon its filing with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware.

FOURTH: Upon the filing with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware of this Amended and Restated Certificate, the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation shall be amended and restated in its entirety to read as set forth on Exhibit A attached hereto.

 

1


IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the undersigned officer of the Corporation has duly executed this Amended and Restated Certificate as of September 27, 2005.

 

/s/ Marc Becker

 

Name: Marc Becker

Title:   Vice President


Exhibit A

AMENDED AND RESTATED

CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

OF

AFFINION GROUP, INC.

ARTICLE I

The name of the corporation is Affinion Group, Inc. (the “ Corporation ”).

ARTICLE II

The address of the registered office of the Corporation in the State of Delaware is 160 Greentree Drive, Suite 101, Dover, County of Kent, Delaware 19904. The name of the registered agent of the Corporation at such address is National Registered Agents, Inc.

ARTICLE III

The purpose for which the Corporation is organized is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “ DGCL ”) and to possess and exercise all of the powers and privileges granted by such law and any other law of the State of Delaware.

ARTICLE IV

The total number of shares of all classes of stock which the Corporation shall have authority to issue is 1,000, consisting of 1,000 shares of Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “ Common Stock ”).

ARTICLE V

The number of directors of the Corporation shall be as set forth in the bylaws of the Corporation.

ARTICLE VI

In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred by the laws of the State of Delaware, the Board is expressly authorized and empowered to make, alter, amend or repeal the bylaws of the Corporation in any manner not inconsistent with the laws of the State of Delaware or this Certificate of Incorporation.

 

1


ARTICLE VII

A director of the Corporation shall not be personally liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except for liability (a) for any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the Corporation or its stockholders, (b) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (c) under Section 174 of the DGCL, or (d) for any transaction from which the director derived any improper personal benefit. If the DGCL is amended after the date of incorporation of the Corporation to authorize corporate action further eliminating or limiting the personal liability of directors, then the liability of a director of the Corporation shall be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, as so amended.

Any repeal or modification of the foregoing paragraph by the stockholders of the Corporation shall not adversely affect any right or protection of a director of the Corporation existing at the time of such repeal or modification.

ARTICLE VIII

The Corporation shall, to the fullest extent permitted by the provisions of Section 145 of the DGCL, as the same now exists or may be amended and supplemented, indemnify and advance expenses to its directors and officers, both as to action in his or her official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office. The Corporation may, by action of the Board, extend such indemnification and advancement of expenses to any and all persons whom it shall have power to indemnify, including but not limited to its employees or agents, on such terms and conditions and to the extent determined by the Board in its sole and absolute discretion. The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided for herein shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those indemnified may be entitled under any bylaw, agreement, vote of the stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise and shall continue as to any person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors, and administrators of such person. The Corporation shall have the power to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation against any liability asserted against him or her and incurred by him or her in any such capacity, or arising out of his or her status as such, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify him or her against such liability under this Article VIII.

Any amendment, repeal or modification of the foregoing paragraph, or the adoption of any provision inconsistent with this Article VIII, shall not adversely affect any right or protection existing at the time of such amendment, repeal, modification or adoption.

ARTICLE IX

To the maximum extent permitted from time to time under the DGCL, the Corporation renounces any interest or expectancy of the Corporation in, or in being offered an opportunity to participate in, business opportunities that are from time to time presented to its directors other than in their capacity as a director and other than those directors who are employees of the Corporation. No amendment or repeal of this Article IX shall apply to or have


any effect on the liability or alleged liability of any director of the Corporation for or with respect to opportunities of which such director becomes aware prior to such amendment or repeal.

ARTICLE X

The Corporation elects not to be governed by Section 203 of the DGCL.

ARTICLE XI

The Corporation reserves the right to amend this Certificate of Incorporation in any manner permitted by DGCL, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended, and all rights and powers conferred upon stockholders, directors and officers herein are granted subject to this reservation.

* * * * * *

Exhibit 3.2

BY-LAWS OF

AFFINION GROUP, INC.

ARTICLE I

Offices

 

1.1 Registered Office.

The registered office of Affinion Group, Inc. (the “Company”) in the State of Delaware shall be 160 Greentree Drive, Dover, County of Kent, Delaware 19904. The name of the registered agent of the Company at such address is National Registered Agents, Inc.

 

1.2 Other Offices.

The Company may also have an office or offices at any other place or places within or outside the State of Delaware.

ARTICLE II

Meeting of Stockholders; Stockholders’ Consent in Lieu of Meeting

 

2.1 Annual Meetings.

The annual meeting of the stockholders for the election of directors, and for the transaction of such other business as may properly come before the meeting, shall be held at such place, date and hour as shall be fixed by the Board of Directors (the “Board”) and designated in the notice or waiver of notice thereof, except that no annual meeting need be held if all actions, including the election of directors, required by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”) to be taken at a stockholders’ annual meeting are taken by written consent in lieu of meeting pursuant to Section 2.10 of this Article II.

 

2.2 Special Meetings.

A special meeting of the stockholders for any purpose or purposes may be called by the Board, the Chairman, the President or the record holders of at least a majority of the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company, to be held at such place, date and hour as shall be designated in the notice or waiver of notice thereof.


2.3 Notice of Meetings.

Except as otherwise required by statute, the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (the “Certificate”) or these By-laws, notice of each annual or special meeting of the stockholders shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at such meeting not less than 10 nor more than 60 days before the day on which the meeting is to be held, by delivering written notice thereof to him personally, or by mailing a copy of such notice, postage prepaid, directly to him at his address as it appears in the records of the Company, or by transmitting such notice thereof to him at such address by telegraph, cable or other telephonic transmission. Every such notice shall state the place, the date and hour of the meeting, and, in case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called. Notice of any meeting of stockholders shall not be required to be given to any stockholder who shall attend such meeting in person or by proxy, or who shall, in person or by his attorney thereunto authorized, waive such notice in writing, either before or after such meeting. Except as otherwise provided in these By-laws, neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any meeting of the stockholders need be specified in any such notice or waiver of notice. Notice of any adjourned meeting of stockholders shall not be required to be given, except when expressly required by law.

 

2.4 Quorum.

At each meeting of the stockholders, except where otherwise provided by the Certificate or these By-laws, the holders of a majority of the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company entitled to vote at such meeting, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. In the absence of a quorum, a majority in interest of the stockholders present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote, or, in the absence of all the stockholders entitled to vote, any officer entitled to preside at, or act as secretary of, such meeting, shall have the power to adjourn the meeting from time to time, until stockholders holding the requisite amount of stock to constitute a quorum shall be present or represented. At any such adjourned meeting at which a quorum shall be present, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the meeting as originally called.

 

2.5 Organization.

Unless otherwise determined by the Board, at each meeting of the stockholders, one of the following shall act as chairman of the meeting and preside thereat, in the following order of precedence:

(a) the Chairman, if any;

(b) the President;

(c) any director, officer or stockholder of the Company designated by the Board to act as chairman of such meeting and to preside thereat if the Chairman or the President shall be absent from such meeting; or

(d) a stockholder of record who shall be chosen chairman of such meeting by a majority in voting interest of the stockholders present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote thereat.


The Secretary or, if he shall be presiding over such meeting in accordance with the provisions of this Section 2.5 or if he shall be absent from such meeting, the person (who shall be an Assistant Secretary, if an Assistant Secretary has been appointed and is present) whom the chairman of such meeting shall appoint, shall act as secretary of such meeting and keep the minutes thereof.

 

2.6 Order of Business.

The order of business at each meeting of the stockholders shall be determined by the chairman of such meeting, but such order of business may be changed by a majority in voting interest of those present in person or by proxy at such meeting and entitled to vote thereat.

 

2.7 Voting.

Except as otherwise provided by law, the Certificate or these By-laws, at each meeting of the stockholders, every stockholder of the Company shall be entitled to one vote in person or by proxy for each share of Common Stock of the Company held by him and registered in his name on the books of the Company on the date fixed pursuant to Section 6.7 of Article VI as the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting. Persons holding stock in a fiduciary capacity shall be entitled to vote the shares so held. A person whose stock is pledged shall be entitled to vote, unless, in the transfer by the pledgor on the books of the Company, he has expressly empowered the pledgee to vote thereon, in which case only the pledgee or his proxy may represent such stock and vote thereon. If shares or other securities having voting power stand in the record of two or more persons, whether fiduciaries, members of a partnership, joint tenants, tenants in common, tenants by the entirety or otherwise, or if two or more persons have the same fiduciary relationship respecting the same shares, unless the Secretary shall be given written notice to the contrary and furnished with a copy of the instrument or order appointing them or creating the relationship wherein it is so provided, their acts with respect to voting shall have the following effect:

(a) if only one votes, his act binds all;

(b) if more than one votes, the act of the majority so voting binds all; and

(c) if more than one votes, but the vote is evenly split on any particular matter, such shares shall be voted in the manner provided by law.

If the instrument so filed shows that any such tenancy is held in unequal interests, a majority or even-split for the purposes of this Section 2.7 shall be a majority or even-split in interest. The Company shall not vote directly or indirectly any share of its own capital stock. Any vote of stock may be given by the stockholder entitled thereto in person or by his proxy appointed by an instrument in writing, subscribed by such stockholder or by his attorney thereunto authorized, delivered to the secretary of the meeting; provided , however , that no proxy shall be voted after three years from its date, unless said proxy provides for a longer period. At all meetings of the stockholders, all matters (except where other provision is made by law, the Certificate or these By-laws) shall be decided by the vote of a majority in interest of the stockholders present in person or by proxy at such meeting and entitled to vote thereon, a quorum being present. Unless demanded by a stockholder present in person or by proxy at any meeting and entitled to vote


thereon, the vote on any question need not be by ballot. Upon a demand by any such stockholder for a vote by ballot upon any question, such vote by ballot shall be taken. On a vote by ballot, each ballot shall be signed by the stockholder voting, or by his proxy, if there be such proxy, and shall state the number of shares voted.

 

2.8 Inspection.

The chairman of the meeting may at any time appoint one or more inspectors to serve at any meeting of the stockholders. Any inspector may be removed, and a new inspector or inspectors appointed, by the Board at any time. Such inspectors shall decide upon the qualifications of voters, accept and count votes, declare the results of such vote, and subscribe and deliver to the secretary of the meeting a certificate stating the number of shares of stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote thereon and the number of shares voted for and against the question, respectively. The inspectors need not be stockholders of the Company, and any director or officer of the Company may be an inspector on any question other than a vote for or against his election to any position with the Company or on any other matter in which he may be directly interested. Before acting as herein provided, each inspector shall subscribe an oath faithfully to execute the duties of an inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of his ability.

 

2.9 List of Stockholders.

It shall be the duty of the Secretary or other officer of the Company who shall have charge of its stock ledger to prepare and make, at least 10 days before every meeting of the stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote thereat, arranged in alphabetical order, and showing the address of each stockholder and the number of shares registered in the name of each stockholder. Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to any such meeting, during ordinary business hours, for a period of at least 10 days prior to such meeting, either at a place within the city where such meeting is to be held; which place shall be specified in the notice of the meeting or, if not so specified, at the place where the meeting is to be held. Such list shall also be produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time thereof, and may be inspected by any stockholder who is present.

 

2.10 Stockholders’ Consent in Lieu of Meeting.

Any action required by the DGCL to be taken at any annual or special meeting of the stockholders of the Company, or any action which may be taken at any annual or special meeting of such stockholders, may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, by a consent in writing, as permitted by the DGCL.


ARTICLE III

Board of Directors

 

3.1 General Powers.

The business, property and affairs of the Company shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board, which may exercise all such powers of the Company and do all such lawful acts and things as are not by law or by the Certificate directed or required to be exercised or done by the stockholders.

 

3.2 Number and Term of Office.

The number of directors shall initially be set at two. Thereafter the number of directors shall be fixed from time to time by the Board. Directors need not be stockholders. Each director shall hold office until his successor is elected and qualified, or until his earlier death or resignation or removal in the manner hereinafter provided.

 

3.3 Election of Directors.

At each meeting of the stockholders for the election of directors at which a quorum is present, the persons receiving the greatest number of votes, up to the number of directors to be elected, of the stockholders present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote thereon shall be the directors; provided , however , that for purposes of such vote no stockholder shall be allowed to cumulate his votes. Unless an election by ballot shall be demanded as provided in Section 2.7 of Article II, election of directors may be conducted in any manner approved at such meeting.

 

3.4 Resignation, Removal and Vacancies.

Any director may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Board, the Chairman, the President or the Secretary. Such resignation shall take effect at the time specified therein or, if the time be not specified, upon receipt thereof; and unless otherwise specified therein, the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.

Any director or the entire Board may be removed, with or without cause, at any time, by vote of the holders of a majority of the shares then entitled to vote at an election of directors or by written consent of the stockholders pursuant to Section 2.10 of Article II.

Vacancies occurring on the Board for any reason may be filled by vote of the stockholders or by the stockholders’ written consent pursuant to Section 2.10 of Article II, or by vote of the Board or by the directors’ written consent pursuant to Section 3.6 of this Article III. If the number of directors then in office is less than a quorum, such vacancies may be filled by a vote of a majority of the directors then in office.

 

3.5 Meetings.

(a) Annual Meetings . As soon as practicable after each annual election of directors, the Board shall meet for the purpose of organization and the transaction of other


business, unless it shall have transacted all such business by written consent pursuant to Section 3.6 of this Article III.

(b) Other Meetings . Other meetings of the Board shall be held at such times and at such places as the Board, the Chairman, the President or any director shall from time to time determine.

(c) Notice of Meetings . Notice shall be given to each director of each meeting, including the time, place and purpose of such meeting. Notice of each such meeting shall be mailed to each director, addressed to him at his residence or usual place of business, at least two days before the date on which such meeting is to be held, or shall be sent to him at such place by telegraph, cable, wireless or other form of recorded communication, or be delivered personally or by telephone not later than the day before the day on which such meeting is to be held, but notice need not be given to any director who shall attend such meeting. A written waiver of notice, signed by the person entitled thereto, whether before or after the time of the meeting stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to notice.

(d) Place of Meetings . The Board may hold its meetings at such place or places within or outside the State of Delaware as the Board may from time to time determine, or as shall be designated in the respective notices or waivers of notice thereof.

(e) Quorum and Manner of Acting . A majority of the total number of directors then in office shall be present in person at any meeting of the Board in order to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at such meeting, and the vote of a majority of those directors present at any such meeting at which a quorum is present shall be necessary for the passage of any resolution or act of the Board, except as otherwise expressly required by law or these By-laws. In the absence of a quorum for any such meeting, a majority of the directors present thereat may adjourn such meeting from time to time until a quorum shall be present.

(f) Organization . At each meeting of the Board, one of the following shall act as chairman of the meeting and preside thereat, in the following order of precedence:

(i) the Chairman, if any;

(ii) the President (if a director); or

(iii) any director designated by a majority of the directors present.

The Secretary or, in the case of his absence, an Assistant Secretary, if an Assistant Secretary has been appointed and is present, or any person whom the chairman of the meeting shall appoint shall act as secretary of such meeting and keep the minutes thereof.

 

3.6 Directors’ Consent in Lieu of Meeting.

Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, if a consent in writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by all of the directors then in office and such consent is filed with the minutes of the proceedings of the Board.


3.7 Action by Means of Conference Telephone or Similar Communications Equipment.

Any one or more members of the Board may participate in a meeting of the Board by means of conference telephone or similar communications equipment by which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and participation in a meeting by such means shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.

 

3.8 Committees.

The Board may, by resolution or resolutions passed by a majority of the whole Board, designate one or more committees, such committee or committees to have such name or names as may be determined from time to time by resolution adopted by the Board, and each such committee to consist of one or more directors of the Company, which to the extent provided in said resolution or resolutions shall have and may exercise the powers of the Board in the management of the business and affairs of the Company and may authorize the seal of the Company to be affixed to all papers which may require it. A majority of all the members of any such committee may determine its action and fix the time and place of its meetings, unless the Board shall otherwise provide. The Board shall have power to change the members of any such committee at any time, to fill vacancies and to discharge any such committee, either with or without cause, at any time.

ARTICLE IV

Officers

 

4.1 Executive Officers.

The principal officers of the Company shall be a Chairman, if one is appointed (and any references to the Chairman shall not apply if a Chairman has not been appointed), a President, a Secretary and a Treasurer, and may include such other officers as the Board may appoint pursuant to Section 4.3 of this Article IV. Any two or more offices may be held by the same person.

 

4.2 Authority and Duties.

All officers, as between themselves and the Company, shall have such authority and perform such duties in the management of the Company as may be provided in these By-laws or, to the extent so provided, by the Board.

 

4.3 Other Officers.

The Company may have such other officers, agents and employees as the Board may deem necessary, including one or more Chief Executive Officers, Co-Chief Executive Officers, Chief Operating Officers, Co-Chief Operating Officers, Chief Financial Officers, Co-Chief Financial Officers, Executive Vice Presidents, Vice Presidents, Assistant Secretaries, and Assistant Treasurers, each of whom shall hold office for such period, have such authority and perform such duties as the Board, the Chairman or the President may from time to time


determine. The Board may delegate to any principal officer the power to appoint and define the authority and duties of, or remove, any such officers, agents or employees.

 

4.4 Term of Office, Resignation and Removal.

All officers shall be elected or appointed by the Board and shall hold office for such term as may be prescribed by the Board. Each officer shall hold office until his successor has been elected or appointed and qualified or until his earlier death or resignation or removal in the manner hereinafter provided. The Board may require any officer to give security for the faithful performance of his duties.

Any officer may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Board, the Chairman, the President or the Secretary. Such resignation shall take effect at the time specified therein or, if the time be not specified, at the time it is accepted by action of the Board. Except as aforesaid, the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.

All officers and agents elected or appointed by the Board shall be subject to removal at any time by the Board or by the stockholders of the Company with or without cause.

 

4.5 Vacancies.

If the office of Chairman, President, Secretary or Treasurer becomes vacant for any reason, the Board shall fill such vacancy, and if any other office becomes vacant, the Board may fill such vacancy. Any officer so appointed or elected by the Board shall serve only until such time as the unexpired term of his predecessor shall have expired; unless reelected or reappointed by the Board.

 

4.6 The Chairman.

The Chairman shall give counsel and advice to the Board and the officers of the Company on all subjects concerning the welfare of the Company and the conduct of its business and shall perform such other duties as the Board may from time to time determine. Unless otherwise determined by the Board, he shall preside at meetings of the Board and of the stockholders at which he is present.

 

4.7 The President.

Unless otherwise determined by the Board, the President shall be the chief executive officer of the Company. The President shall have general and active management and control of the business and affairs of the Company subject to the control of the Board and shall see that all orders and resolutions of the Board are carried into effect. The President shall from time to time make such reports of the affairs of the Company as the Board may require and shall perform such other duties as the Board may from time to time determine.

 

4.8 The Secretary.

The Secretary shall, to the extent practicable, attend all meetings of the Board and all meetings of the stockholders and shall record all votes and the minutes of all proceedings in a


book to be kept for that purpose. He may give, or cause to be given, notice of all meetings of the stockholders and of the Board, and shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board, the Chairman or the President, under whose supervision he shall act. He shall keep in safe custody the seal of the Company and affix the same to any duly authorized instrument requiring it and, when so affixed, it shall be attested by his signature or by the signature of the Treasurer or, if appointed, an Assistant Secretary or an Assistant Treasurer. He shall keep in safe custody the certificate books and stockholder records and such other books and records as the Board may direct, and shall perform all other duties incident to the office of Secretary and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him by the Board, the Chairman or the President.

 

4.9 The Treasurer.

The Treasurer shall have the care and custody of the corporate funds and other valuable effects, including securities, shall keep full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the Company and shall deposit all moneys and other valuable effects in the name and to the credit of the Company in such depositories as may be designated by the Board. The Treasurer shall disburse the funds of the Company as may be ordered by the Board, taking proper vouchers for such disbursements, shall render to the Chairman, President and directors, at the regular meetings of the Board or whenever they may require it, an account of all his transactions as Treasurer and of the financial condition of the Company and shall perform all other duties incident to the office of Treasurer and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him by the Board, the Chairman or the President.

ARTICLE V

Contracts, Checks, Drafts, Bank Accounts, Etc.

 

5.1 Execution of Documents.

The Board shall designate, by either specific or general resolution, the officers, employees and agents of the Company who shall have the power to execute and deliver deeds, contracts, mortgages, bonds, debentures, checks, drafts and other orders for the payment of money and other documents for and in the name of the Company, and may authorize such officers, employees and agents to delegate such power (including authority to redelegate) by written instrument to other officers, employees or agents of the Company. Unless so designated or expressly authorized by these By-laws, no officer, employee or agent shall have any power or authority to bind the Company by any contract or engagement, to pledge its credit or to render it liable pecuniarily for any purpose or amount.

 

5.2 Deposits.

All funds of the Company not otherwise employed shall be deposited from time to time to the credit of the Company or otherwise as the Board or Treasurer, or any other officer of the Company to whom power in this respect shall have been given by the Board, shall select.


5.3 Proxies with Respect to Stock or Other Securities of Other Corporations.

The Board shall designate the officers of the Company who shall have authority from time to time to appoint an agent or agents of the Company to exercise in the name and on behalf of the Company the powers and rights which the Company may have as the holder of stock or other securities in any other entity, and to vote or consent with respect to such stock or securities. Such designated officers may instruct the person or persons so appointed as to the manner of exercising such powers and rights, and such designated officers may execute or cause to be executed in the name and on behalf of the Company and under its corporate seal or otherwise, such written proxies, powers of attorney or other instruments as they may deem necessary or proper in order that the Company may exercise its powers and rights.

ARTICLE VI

Shares and Their Transfer; Fixing Record Date

 

6.1 Certificates for Shares.

Every owner of stock of the Company shall be entitled to have a certificate certifying the number and class of shares owned by him in the Company, which shall be in such form as shall be prescribed by the Board. Certificates shall be numbered and issued in consecutive order and shall be signed by, or in the name of, the Company by the Chairman, the President or any Vice President, and by the Treasurer (or an Assistant Treasurer, if appointed) or the Secretary (or an Assistant Secretary, if appointed). In case any officer or officers who shall have signed any such certificate or certificates shall cease to be such officer or officers of the Company, whether because of death, resignation or otherwise, before such certificate or certificates shall have been delivered by the Company, such certificate or certificates may nevertheless be adopted by the Company and be issued and delivered as though the person or persons who signed such certificate had not ceased to be such officer or officers of the Company.

 

6.2 Record.

A record in one or more counterparts shall be kept of the name of the person, firm or Company owning the shares represented by each certificate for stock of the Company issued, the number of shares represented by each such certificate, the date thereof and, in the case of cancellation, the date of cancellation. Except as otherwise expressly required by law, the person in whose name shares of stock stand on the stock record of the Company shall be deemed the owner thereof for all purposes regarding the Company.

 

6.3 Transfer and Registration of Stock.

The transfer of stock and certificates which represent the stock of the Company shall be governed by Article 8 of Subtitle 1 of Title 6 of the Delaware Code (the Uniform Commercial Code), as amended from time to time.

Registration of transfers of shares of the Company shall be made only on the books of the Company upon request of the registered holder thereof, or of his attorney thereunto authorized


by power of attorney duly executed and filed with the Secretary of the Company, and upon the surrender of the certificate or certificates for such shares properly endorsed or accompanied by a stock power duly executed.

 

6.4 Addresses of Stockholders.

Each stockholder shall designate to the Secretary an address at which notices of meetings and all other corporate notices may be served or mailed to him, and, if any stockholder shall fail to designate such address, corporate notices may be served upon him by mail directed to him at his post-office address, if any, as the same appears on the share record books of the Company or at his last known post-office address.

 

6.5 Lost, Destroyed and Mutilated Certificates.

The holder of any shares of the Company shall immediately notify the Company of any loss, destruction or mutilation of the certificate therefor, and the Board may, in its discretion, cause to be issued to him a new certificate or certificates for such shares, upon the surrender of the mutilated certificates or, in the case of loss or destruction of the certificate, upon satisfactory proof of such loss or destruction, and the Board may, in its discretion, require the owner of the lost or destroyed certificate or his legal representative to give the Company a bond in such sum and with such surety or sureties as it may direct to indemnify the Company against any claim that may be made against it on account of the alleged loss or destruction of any such certificate.

 

6.6 Regulations.

The Board may make such rules and regulations as it may deem expedient, not inconsistent with these By-laws, concerning the issue, transfer and registration of certificates for stock of the Company.

 

6.7 Fixing Date for Determination of Stockholders of Record.

(a) In order that the Company may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, the Board may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board, and which record date shall be not more than 60 nor less than 10 days before the date of such meeting. If no record date is fixed by the Board, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice is given, or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held. A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided , however ; that the Board may fix a new record date for the adjourned meeting.

(b) In order that the Company may determine the stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, the Board may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board, and which date shall be not more than 10 days after the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board. If no record date has been fixed by the Board, the


record date for determining stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, when no prior action by the Board is required by the DGCL, shall be the first date on which a signed written consent setting forth the action taken or proposed to be taken is delivered to the Company by delivery to its registered office in the State of Delaware, its principal place of business or an officer or agent of the Company having custody of the book in which proceedings of meetings of stockholders are recorded. Delivery made to the Company’s registered office shall be by hand or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested. If no record date has been fixed by the Board and prior action by the Board is required by the [ DGCL ], the record date for determining stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board adopts the resolution taking such prior action.

(c) In order that the Company may determine the stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights or the stockholders entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock, or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted, and which record date shall be not more than 60 days prior to such action. If no record date is fixed, the record date for determining stockholders for any such purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board adopts the resolution relating thereto.

ARTICLE VII

Seal

The Board may provide a corporate seal, which shall be in the form of a circle and shall bear the full name of the Company, the year of incorporation of the Company and the words and figures “Corporate Seal – Delaware.”

ARTICLE VIII

Fiscal Year

The fiscal year of the Company shall be the calendar year unless otherwise determined by the Board.

ARTICLE IX

Indemnification and Insurance

 

9.1 Indemnification.

(a) As provided in the Certificate, to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL as the same exists or may hereafter be amended, a director of the Company shall not be liable to the Company or its stockholders for breach of fiduciary duty as a director.


(b) Without limitation of any right conferred by paragraph (a) of this Section 9.1, each person who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise involved in any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (hereinafter a ”proceeding”), by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director, officer or employee of the Company or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer or employee of another Company or of a partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan (hereinafter an “indemnitee”), whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity while serving as a director, officer or employee or in any other capacity while serving as a director, officer or employee, shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company to the fullest extent authorized by the DGCL, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended (but, in the case of any such amendment, only to the extent that such amendment permits the Company to provide broader indemnification rights than permitted prior thereto), against all expense, liability and loss (including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, excise taxes or amounts paid in settlement) reasonably incurred or suffered by such indemnitee in connection therewith and such indemnification shall continue as to an indemnitee who has ceased to be a director, officer or employee and shall inure to the benefit of the indemnitee’s heirs, testators, intestates, executors and administrators; provided , however , that such person acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the Company, and with respect to a criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful; provided , further , however , that no indemnification shall be made in the case of an action, suit or proceeding by or in the right of the Company in relation to matters as to which it shall be adjudged in such action, suit or proceeding that such director, officer, employee or agent is liable to the Company, unless a court having jurisdiction shall determine that, despite such adjudication, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification; provided , further , however that, except as provided in Section 9.1(c) of this Article IX with respect to proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification, the Company shall indemnify any such indemnitee in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such indemnitee only if such proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such indemnitee was authorized by the Board of the Company. The right to indemnification conferred in this Article IX shall be a contract right and shall include the right to be paid by the Company the expenses incurred in defending any such proceeding in advance of its final disposition (hereinafter an “advancement of expenses”); provided , however , that, if the DGCL requires, an advancement of expenses incurred by an indemnitee in his or her capacity as a director or officer (and not in any other capacity in which service was or is rendered by such indemnitee, including, without limitation, service to an employee benefit plan) shall be made only upon delivery to the Company of an undertaking (hereinafter an “undertaking”), by or on behalf of such indemnitee, to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined by final judicial decision from which there is no further right to appeal (hereinafter a “final adjudication”) (i) that such indemnitee breached his fiduciary duty to the Company or (ii) that such indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified for such expenses under this Section or otherwise.

(c) If a claim under Section 9.1(b) of this Article IX is not paid in full by the Company with 60 days after a written claim has been received by the Company, except in the case of a claim for an advancement of expenses, in which case the applicable period shall be 10 days, the indemnitee may at any time thereafter bring suit against the Company to recover the unpaid amount of the claim. If successful in whole or in part in any such suit, or in a suit


brought by the Company to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of any undertaking, the indemnitee shall be entitled to be paid also the expense of prosecuting or defending such suit. In (i) any suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right to indemnification hereunder (but not in a suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right to an advancement of expenses) it shall be a defense that, and (ii) in any suit by the Company to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the Company shall be entitled to recover such expenses upon a final adjudication that, the indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the DGCL. Neither the failure of the Company (including the Board, independent legal counsel, or the stockholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such suit that indemnification of the indemnitee is proper in the circumstances because the indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the DGCL, nor an actual determination by the Company (including the Board, independent legal counsel or the stockholders) that the indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall create a presumption that the indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct or, in the case of such a suit brought by the indemnitee, be a defense to such suit. In any suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right to indemnification or to an advancement of expenses hereunder, or by the Company to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the burden of proving that the indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified, or to such advancement of expenses, under this Section or otherwise shall be on the Company.

(d) The rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses conferred in this Article IX shall not be exclusive of any other right which any person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, the Certificate, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.

 

9.2 Insurance.

The Company may purchase and maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect itself and any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or any person who is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employer or agent of another Company, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any expense, liability or loss, whether or not the Company would have the power to indemnify such person against such expense, liability or loss under the DGCL.

ARTICLE X

Amendment

Any by-law (including these By-laws) may be adopted, amended or repealed by the vote of the holders of a majority of the shares then entitled to vote or by the stockholders’ written consent pursuant to Section 2.10 of Article II, or by the vote of the Board or by the directors’ written consent pursuant to Section 3.6 of Article III.

*****

Exhibit 3.3

CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

of

CUC MEMBER BENEFIT PLANS, INC.

FIRST. The name of the corporation is CUC Member Benefit Plans, Inc.

SECOND. The address of the corporation’s register office in the State of Delaware is Corporation Trust Center, 1209 Orange Street, in the City of Wilmington, County of New Castle. The name of its registered agent at such address is The Corporation Trust Company.

THIRD. The purpose of the corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the General Corporation Law of Delaware.

FOURTH. The total number of shares which the corporation shall have authority to issue is 3,000 shares of Common Stock, and all such shares are to be without par value.

FIFTH. The name and mailing address of the incorporator is Milette Gracin, c/o Baker & McKenzie, 805 Third Avenue, New York, New York 10022.

SIXTH. The board of directors of the corporation is expressly authorized to adopt, amend or repeal by-laws of the corporation.

SEVENTH. Elections of directors need not be by written ballot except and to the extent provided in the by-laws of the corporation.

EIGHTH. Whenever a compromise or arrangement is proposed between this corporation and its creditors or any class of them and/or between this corporation and its stockholders or any class of them, any court of equitable jurisdiction within the State of Delaware may, on the application in a summary way of this corporation or of any creditor or stockholder thereof or on the application of any receiver or receivers appointed for this corporation under the provisions of section 291 of Title 8 of the Delaware Code or on the application of trustees in dissolution or of any receiver or receivers appointed for this corporation under the provisions of section 279 of Title 8 of the Delaware Code order a meeting of the creditors or class of creditors, and/or of the


stockholders or class of stockholders of this corporation, as the case may be, to be summoned in such manner as the said court directs. If a majority in number representing three-fourths in value of the creditors or class of creditors, and/or of the stockholders or class of stockholders of this corporation, as the case may be, agree to any compromise or arrangement and to any reorganization of this corporation as consequence of such compromise or arrangement, the said compromise or arrangement and the said reorganization shall, if sanctioned by the court to which the said application has been made, be binding on all the creditors or class of creditors, and/or on all the stockholders or class of stockholders, of this corporation, as the case may be, and also on this corporation.

NINTH. The corporation reserves the right to amend, alter, change or repeal any provision contained in this certificate of incorporation, in the manner now or hereafter prescribed by statute, and all rights conferred upon stockholders herein are granted subject to this reservation.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have signed this certificate of incorporation this 13 th day of April, 1986.

 

Illegible


CERTIFICATE OF MERGER

OF

L. D. BENEFIT CORP.

INTO

CUC MEMBER BENEFIT PLANS, INC.

The undersigned corporation DOES HEREBY CERTIFY:

FIRST: That the name and state of incorporation of each of the constituent corporations of the merger is as follows:

 

NAME

  

STATE OF

INCORPORATION

L. D. Benefit Corp.

   Delaware

CUC Member Benefit Plans, Inc.

   Delaware

SECOND: That an Agreement of Merger between the parties to the merger has been approved, adopted, certified, executed and acknowledged by each of the constituent corporations in accordance with the requirements of subsection (c) of Section 251 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware and the merger will be effective at the time and on the date on which this Certificate of Merger shall be filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware.

THIRD: The name of the surviving corporation of the merger is CUC Member Benefit Plans, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “Surviving Corporation”).

FOURTH: That the Certificate of Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation as in effect on the date hereof shall be the Certificate of Incorporation of the surviving corporation.

FIFTH: That the executed Agreement of Merger is on file at the principal place of business of the Surviving Corporation. The address of said principal place of business is 707 Summer Street, Stamford, Connecticut 06901.


SIXTH: That a copy of the Agreement of Merger will be furnished by the Surviving Corporation on request and without cost, to any stockholder of either constituent corporation.

Dated: as of April 28,1986

 

CUC MEMBER BENEFIT PLANS, INC.
By  

/s/ Stuart L. Bell

 

Stuart L. Bell

Executive Vice President

 

ATTEST:
By  

/s/ Robert T. Tucker

 

Robert T. Tucker

Secretary


CERTIFICATE OF OWNERSHIP AND MERGER

MERGING

Credit Union Benefit Consultants, Inc.

and

Benefit Consultants, Inc.

INTO

CUC Member Benefit Plans, Inc.

* * * * *

CUC Member Benefit Plans, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under the laws of Delaware,

DOES HEREBY CERTIFY:

FIRST: That this corporation was incorporated on the 15th day of April, 1986, pursuant to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

SECOND: That this corporation owns all of the outstanding shares of the common stock of Credit Union Benefit Consultants, Inc., a corporation incorporated on the 29th day of April, 1980, pursuant to the Corporation Law of the State of California.

THAT this corporation owns all of the outstanding shares of the common stock of Benefit Consultants, Inc., a corporation incorporated on the 30th day of November, 1972, pursuant to the Corporation Law of the State of California.

THIRD: That this corporation, by the following resolutions of its Board of Directors, duly adopted by the unanimous written consent of its members, filed with the minutes of the board on the 1st day of March, 1988, determined to and did merge into itself said Credit Union Benefit Consultants, Inc. and Benefit Consultants, Inc.

RESOLVED, that CUC Member Benefit Plans, Inc. merge, and it hereby does merge into itself said Credit Union Benefit Consultants, Inc. and Benefit Consultants, Inc., and assumes all of their obligations;


and

FURTHER RESOLVED, that the merger shall be effective upon the date of filing with the Secretary of State of Delaware; and

FURTHER RESOLVED, that the proper officers of this corporation be and they hereby are directed to make and execute a Certificate of Ownership and Merger setting forth a copy of the resolutions to merge said Credit Union Benefit Consultants, Inc. and Benefit Consultants, Inc. and assume their liabilities and obligations, and the date of adoption thereof, and to cause the same to be filed with the Secretary of State and a certified copy recorded in the office of the Recorder of Deeds of New Castle County and to do all acts and things whatsoever, whether within or without the State of Delaware, which may be in anyway necessary or proper to effect said merger; and

FURTHER RESOLVED, that this corporation change its corporate name by changing Article 1 of the Certificate of Incorporation of this corporation to read as follows: Article 1: The name of the corporation is Benefit Consultants, Inc.

FOURTH: Anything herein or elsewhere to the contrary notwithstanding this merger may be amended or terminated and abandoned by the board of directors of CUC Member Benefit Plans, Inc. at any time prior to the date of filing the merger with the Secretary of State.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, said CUC Member Benefit Plans, Inc. has caused this certificate to be signed by Stuart L. Bell, its Vice President, and attested by Amy N. Lipton, its Assistant Secretary, this 1st day of March, 1988.

 

CUC Member Benefit Plans, Inc.
By  

Illegible

  Vice President

 

ATTEST:
By  

Illegible

  Assistant Secretary


CERTIFICATE OF MERGER

OF

FISI MADISON FINANCIAL CORPORATION

AND

BENEFIT CONSULTANTS, INC.

It is hereby certified that:

1. The constituent business corporations participating in the merger herein certified are:

(i) FISI Madison Financial Corporation, which is incorporated under the laws of the State of Tennessee; and

(ii) Benefit Consultants, Inc., which is incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware.

2. An Agreement of Merger has been approved, adopted, certified, executed, and acknowledged by each of the aforesaid constituent corporations in accordance with the provisions of Section 48-17-104 of the Tennessee Business Corporation Act and subsection (c) of Section 251 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

3. The name of the surviving corporation in the merger herein certified is Benefit Consultants, Inc., which will continue its existence as said surviving corporation under its present name upon the effective date of said merger pursuant to the provisions of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

4. The Certificate of Incorporation of Benefit Consultants, Inc., as now in force and effect, shall continue to be the Certificate of Incorporation of said surviving corporation until amended and changed pursuant to the provisions of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

5. The executed Agreement of Merger between the aforesaid constituent corporations is on file at an office of the aforesaid surviving corporation, the address of which is as follows: 400 Duke Drive, Franklin, Tennessee 37067.

6. A copy of the aforesaid Agreement of Merger will be furnished by the aforesaid surviving corporation, on request, and without cost, to any stockholder of each of the aforesaid constituent corporations.

7. The Agreement of Merger between the aforesaid constituent corporations provides that the merger herein certified shall be effective at 11:57 p.m. on December 31, 2002.


Dated: December 20, 2002

 

Progeny Marketing Innovations Holdings Inc.
By:  

/s/ Lynn A. Feldman

  Lynn A. Feldman, Assistant Secretary

Dated: December 20, 2002

 

Benefit Consultants, Inc.
By:  

/s/ Lynn A. Feldman

  Lynn A. Feldman, Assistant Secretary


CERTIFICATE OF MERGER

OF

PROGENY MARKETING INNOVATIONS HOLDINGS INC.

AND

BENEFIT CONSULTANTS, INC.

It is hereby certified that:

1. The constituent business corporations participating in the merger herein certified are:

(i) Progeny Marketing Innovations Holdings Inc., which is incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware; and

(ii) Benefit Consultants, Inc., which is incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware.

2. An Agreement of Merger has been approved, adopted, certified, executed, and acknowledged by each of the aforesaid constituent corporations in accordance with the provisions of subsection (c) of Section 251 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

3. The name of the surviving corporation in the merger herein certified is Benefit Consultants, Inc., which will continue its existence as said surviving corporation under its present name upon the effective date of said merger pursuant to the provisions of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

4. The Certificate of Incorporation of Benefit Consultants, Inc., as now in force and effect, shall continue to be the Certificate of Incorporation of said surviving corporation until amended and changed pursuant to the provisions of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

5. The executed Agreement of Merger between the aforesaid constituent corporations is on file at an office of the aforesaid surviving corporation, the address of which is as follows: 400 Duke Drive, Franklin, Tennessee 37067.

6. A copy of the aforesaid Agreement of Merger will be furnished by the aforesaid surviving corporation, on request, and without cost, to any stockholder of each of the aforesaid constituent corporations.

7. The Agreement of Merger between the aforesaid constituent corporations provides that the merger herein certified shall be effective at 11:58 p.m. on December 31, 2002.


Dated: December 20, 2002

 

Progeny Marketing Innovations LLC
By:  

/s/ Lynn A. Feldman

  Lynn A. Feldman, Assistant Secretary

Dated: December 20, 2002

 

Benefit Consultants, Inc.
By:  

/s/ Lynn A. Feldman

  Lynn A. Feldman, Assistant Secretary


CERTIFICATE OF MERGER

OF

PROGENY MARKETING INNOVATIONS LLC

AND

BENEFIT CONSULTANTS, INC.

It is hereby certified that:

1. The constituent limited liability company and business corporation participating in the merger herein certified are:

(i) Progeny Marketing Innovations LLC, which is incorporated under the laws of the State of Tennessee; and

(ii) Benefit Consultants, Inc., which is incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware.

2. An Agreement of Merger has been approved, adopted, certified, executed, and acknowledged by the aforesaid constituent limited liability company in accordance with the provisions of Section 48-244-102 of the Tennessee Limited Liability Company Act and the aforesaid constituent corporation in accordance with subsection (c) of Section 251 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

3. The name of the surviving corporation in the merger herein certified is Benefit Consultants, Inc., which will continue its existence as said surviving corporation under its present name upon the effective date of said merger pursuant to the provisions of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

4. The Certificate of Incorporation of Benefit Consultants, Inc., as now in force and effect, shall continue to be the Certificate of Incorporation of said surviving corporation until amended and changed pursuant to the provisions of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

5. The executed Agreement of Merger between the aforesaid constituent limited liability company and corporation is on file at an office of the aforesaid surviving corporation, the address of which is as follows: 400 Duke Drive, Franklin, Tennessee 37067.

6. A copy of the aforesaid Agreement of Merger will be furnished by the aforesaid surviving corporation, on request, and without cost, to any member or stockholder of each of the aforesaid constituent limited liability company and corporation.

7. The Agreement of Merger between the aforesaid constituent limited liability company and corporation provides that the merger herein certified shall be effective at 11:59 p.m. on December 31, 2002.


Dated: December 20, 2002

 

Progeny Marketing Innovations Holdings Inc.
By:  

/s/ Lynn A. Feldman

  Lynn A. Feldman, Assistant Secretary

Dated: December 20, 2002

 

Benefit Consultants, Inc.
By:  

/s/ Lynn A. Feldman

  Lynn A. Feldman, Assistant Secretary


CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT

OF

CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

OF

BENEFIT CONSULTANTS, INC.

Benefit Consultants, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under and by virtue of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, (the “Corporation”) DOES HEREBY CERTIFY:

FIRST: That the Board of Directors of the Corporation, by the unanimous written consent of its members, filed with the minutes of the Board, adopted a resolution proposing and declaring advisable an amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation to change the name of the Corporation to “Progeny Marketing Innovations Inc.”

SECOND: That in lieu of a meeting and vote of the stockholder, the sole stockholder has given its unanimous written consent to said amendment in accordance with the provisions of Section 228 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware by adopting the following resolution:

RESOLVED, that Article FIRST of the Certificate of Incorporation be amended to read as follows:

“FIRST. The name of the corporation is Progeny Marketing Innovations Inc.”

FURTHER RESOLVED, that the foregoing name change shall be effective upon the filing of this certificate.

THIRD: That the aforesaid amendment was duly adopted in accordance with the applicable provisions of Sections 242 and 228 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused this certificate to be signed by Lynn A. Feldman, its Vice President and Assistant Secretary, this 31 st day of December, 2002.

 

/s/ Lynn A. Feldman

Lynn A. Feldman

Vice President and Assistant Secretary


SECOND CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT

OF

CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

OF

PROGENY MARKETING INNOVATIONS INC.

Dated October 17, 2005

Progeny Marketing Innovations Inc. (the “ Corporation ”), a corporation organized and existing under and by virtue of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “ DGCL ”), does hereby certify as follows:

FIRST: That by unanimous written consent of the Board of Directors of the Corporation, resolutions were adopted setting forth a proposed amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation (the “ Certificate ”), declaring its advisability, and directing that the amendment proposed be submitted to the stockholders of the Corporation for consideration and approval.

SECOND: That the sole stockholder of the Corporation, by written consent in lien of a special meeting, consented to and adopted this amendment.

THIRD: That this amendment was duly adopted in accordance with the applicable provisions of Sections 228 and 242 of the DGCL.

FOURTH: That the Certificate is hereby amended by deleting paragraph EIGHTH thereof in its entirety and replacing it with the following new paragraph:

EIGHTH.

[Intentionally omitted].

*****


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused the undersigned to execute this Certificate as of the date set forth herein.

 

PROGENY MARKETING

INNOVATIONS INC.

By:  

/s/ Nathaniel Lipman

Name:   Nathaniel Lipman
Title:   President


CERTIFICATE OF OWNERSHIP AND MERGER

OF

BENEFIT CONSULTANTS MEMBERSHIP, INC.

(a Delaware corporation)

INTO

PROGENY MARKETING INNOVATIONS INC.

(a Delaware corporation)

(Pursuant to Section 253 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware)

December 28, 2005

Progeny Marketing Innovations Inc. (hereinafter called the “ Company ”), a corporation organized and existing under and by virtue of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “ DGCL ”), does hereby certify:

 

1. The Company is a business corporation of the State of Delaware.

 

2. The Company is the owner of all of the outstanding shares of each class of the stock of Benefit Consultants Membership, Inc. a Delaware corporation (“ Benefit Consultants ”).

 

3. On December 28, 2005, the Board of Directors of the Company adopted the following resolutions to merge Benefit Consultants into the Company (the “ Merger ”):

RESOLVED , that the Company, which is the parent corporation and the owner of all the issued and outstanding shares of Benefit Consultants, hereby approves the merger of Benefit Consultants into the Company pursuant to the Section 253 of the DGCL;

RESOLVED , that at the Effective Time (as herein defined) all of the estate, property, rights, privileges, powers and franchises of Benefit Consultants be vested in and held and enjoyed by the Company as fully and entirely and without change or diminution as the same were before held and enjoyed by Benefit Consultants;

RESOLVED , that at the Effective Time, the Company shall assume all of the obligations of Benefit Consultants;

RESOLVED , that the separate existence of Benefit Consultants shall cease at the Effective Time of the Merger pursuant to the provisions of the DGCL; and that the Company shall continue its existence as the surviving corporation pursuant to the provisions of the DGCL;

RESOLVED , that the issued shares of Benefit Consultants shall not be converted in any manner, but each said share which is issued as of the Effective Time and date of the merger shall be surrendered and extinguished;


RESOLVED , that the Company shall cause to be executed and filed and recorded the documents prescribed by the laws of the State of Delaware and by the laws of any other appropriate jurisdiction and will cause to be performed all necessary acts within the State of Delaware and within any other appropriate jurisdiction;

RESOLVED , that the form, terms and provisions of the Certificate of Ownership and Merger to be filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware (the “ Delaware Certificate of Merger ”), substantially in the form previously submitted to the Board, be, and they hereby are, in all respects adopted, approved, ratified and confirmed; and that the Executive Officers of the Company be, and each of them hereby is, authorized and directed, in the name and on behalf of the Company, and under its corporate seal or otherwise, to enter into, execute, deliver and file the Delaware Certificate of Merger with such additions thereto or deletions therefrom as such Executive Officer or Executive Officers shall, in his or her discretion, determine to be necessary, proper or advisable, such determination to be evidenced conclusively by the execution, delivery and filing thereof;

RESOLVED , that the Merger shall become effective at the date and time specified in the Delaware Certificate of Merger, (the “ Effective Time ”);

RESOLVED , that from and after the Effective Time, the bylaws and certificate of incorporation of the Company shall continue to be the bylaws and certificate of incorporation of the Company;

RESOLVED , that from and after the Effective Time, until successors are duly elected or appointed, the directors and officers of the Company shall continue to be the directors and officers of the Company;

Further Actions

RESOLVED , that the Executive Officers of the Company be, and each of them hereby is, authorized, empowered and directed, in the name and on behalf of the Company, to make all such arrangements, to take all such further action, to cause to be prepared and filed all such documents, to make all expenditures and incur all expenses, and to pay all required fees, and to execute and deliver, in the name of and on behalf of the Company, all agreements, instruments, mortgages, leasehold mortgages, trust deeds, deeds of trust, documents and certificates (including stock certificates), including without limitation, officers’ certificates, as they may deem necessary, appropriate or advisable in order to fully effectuate the purpose of each and all of the foregoing resolutions and the execution by such Executive Officer of any such agreement, instrument, mortgage, leasehold mortgage, trust deeds, deeds of trust, document or certificate or the payment of any such expenditures or expenses or the doing by them of any act in connection with the foregoing matters shall conclusively establish their authority therefor from the Company and the approval and ratification by the Company of the agreement, instrument, mortgage, leasehold mortgage, document or certificate so executed, the expenses or expenditures so paid and the action so taken; and

RESOLVED , that for purposes of the foregoing resolutions, the term “ Executive Officers ” shall mean and include, as applicable the Company, the Chairman, the Chief Executive


Officer, the President, any Vice President, the Secretary, any Assistant Secretary, the Treasurer and any Assistant Treasurer, any other duly authorized officer of the Company or any of them;

 

4. This document shall be effective as of December 31, 2005 at 3:00 pm Eastern Standard Time.

*        *        *        *        *


IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the undersigned has duly executed this Certificate of Ownership and Merger as of the date first written above.

 

PROGENY MARKETING INNOVATIONS INC.
By:  

/s/ Nathaniel J. Lipman

Name:   Nathaniel J. Lipman
Title:   President and CEO


CERTIFICATE OF MERGER

OF

PREFERRED CARE AGENCY, INC.

(an Ohio corporation)

AND

PROGENY MARKETING INNOVATIONS INC.

(a Delaware corporation)

(Pursuant to Section 252 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware)

December 28, 2005

It is hereby certified that:

FIRST: The constituent business corporations participating in the merger herein certified are

(i) Preferred Care Agency, Inc., which is incorporated under the laws of the State of Ohio (“ Preferred Care ”); and

(ii) (ii) Progeny Marketing Innovations Inc., which is incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware (“ Progeny ”).

SECOND: An Agreement of Merger has been approved, adopted, certified, executed, and acknowledged by each of the aforesaid constituent corporations in accordance with the provisions of subsection (c) of Section 252 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “ DGCL ”), to wit, by Preferred Care in accordance with the laws of the state of its incorporation and by Progeny in the same manner as is provided in Section 251 of the DGCL.

THIRD: The name of the surviving corporation in the merger herein certified is Progeny Marketing Innovations Inc., a Delaware corporation, which will continue its existence as said surviving corporation under its present name upon the effective date and time of said merger pursuant to the provisions of the DGCL.

FOURTH: The certificate of incorporation of Progeny, as now in force and effect, shall continue to be the certificate of incorporation of said surviving corporation until amended and changed pursuant to the provisions of the DGCL.

FIFTH: The executed Agreement and Plan of Merger between the aforesaid constituent corporations is on file at an office of the aforesaid surviving corporation, the address of which is as follows: 100 Connecticut Avenue, Norwalk, Connecticut 06850.


SIXTH: A copy of the aforesaid Agreement and Plan of Merger will be furnished by the aforesaid surviving corporation on request, and without cost, to any stockholder of each of the aforesaid constituent corporations.

SEVENTH: The authorized capital stock of Preferred Care consists of 1,000 shares of Common Stock, no par value.

EIGHTH: The merger is to become effective on December 31, 2005 at 4:00 pm Eastern Standard Time insofar as the DGCL shall govern said effective date and time.


IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the undersigned has duly executed this Certificate of Merger as of the date first written above.

 

PROGENY MARKETING INNOVATIONS INC.
By:  

/s/ Nathaniel J. Lipman

Name:   Nathaniel J. Lipman
Title:   President and CEO


CERTIFICATE OF OWNERSHIP AND MERGER

OF

PROGENY MARKETING INNOVATIONS OF KENTUCKY, INC.

(a Kentucky corporation)

INTO

PROGENY MARKETING INNOVATIONS INC.

(a Delaware corporation)

(Pursuant to Section 253 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware)

December 28, 2005

Progeny Marketing Innovations Inc. (hereinafter called the “ Company ”), a corporation organized and existing under and by virtue of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “ DGCL ”), does hereby certify:

 

1. The Company is a business corporation of the State of Delaware.

 

2. The Company is the owner of all of the outstanding shares of each class of stock of Progeny Marketing Innovations of Kentucky, Inc. (“ Progeny KY ”), which is a business corporation of the State of Kentucky.

 

3. The laws of the jurisdiction of organization of Progeny KY permit the merger of a business corporation of that jurisdiction with a business corporation of another jurisdiction.

 

4. The Company hereby merges Progeny KY into the Company.

 

5. On December 28, 2005, the Board of Directors of the Company adopted the following resolutions to merge Progeny KY into the Company (the “ Merger ”):

RESOLVED , that the Company, which is the parent corporation and the owner of all the issued and outstanding shares of Progeny KY, hereby approves the merger of Progeny KY into the Company pursuant to Section 271B. 11-040 and 271 B.11-070 of the Kentucky Business Corporation Act (“the KBCA ”) and pursuant to Section 253 of the DGCL;

RESOLVED , that at the Effective Time (as herein defined) all of the estate, property, rights, privileges, powers and franchises of Progeny KY be vested in and held and enjoyed by the Company as fully and entirely and without change or diminution as the same were before held and enjoyed by Progeny KY in its name;

RESOLVED , that at the Effective Time the Company shall assume all of the obligations of Progeny KY;


RESOLVED , that the separate existence of Progeny KY shall cease at the Effective Time of the Merger pursuant to the provisions of the KBCA; and that the Company shall continue its existence as the surviving corporation pursuant to the provisions of the DGCL;

RESOLVED , that at the Effective Time the issued shares of Progeny KY shall not be converted in any manner, but each said share which is issued as of the Effective Time of the merger shall be surrendered and extinguished, and no payment shall be made with respect thereto;

RESOLVED , that the Company is the owner of all of the issued shares of Progeny KY, and that the Company waived the mailing of a copy of the Plan of Merger in writing;

RESOLVED , that, in order to effect the Merger, the Company shall cause to be executed and filed and recorded the documents prescribed by the laws of the State of Delaware and by the laws of any other appropriate jurisdiction and will cause to be performed all necessary acts within the State of Delaware and within any other appropriate jurisdiction;

RESOLVED , that in order to effect the Merger, the Company shall cause to be executed and filed and recorded the documents prescribed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Kentucky and by the laws of any other appropriate jurisdiction and will cause to be performed all necessary acts within the Commonwealth of Kentucky and within any other appropriate jurisdiction;

RESOLVED , that the form, terms and provisions of the Certificate of Ownership and Merger to be filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware (the “ Delaware Certificate of Merger ”), substantially in the form previously submitted to the Board, be, and they hereby are, in all respects adopted, approved, ratified and confirmed; and that the Executive Officers of the Company be, and each of them hereby is, authorized and directed, in the name and on behalf of the Company, and under its corporate seal or otherwise, to enter into, execute, deliver and file the Delaware Certificate of Merger with such additions thereto or deletions therefrom as such Executive Officer or Executive Officers shall, in his or her discretion, determine to be necessary, proper or advisable, such determination to be evidenced conclusively by the execution, delivery and filing thereof;

RESOLVED , that the form, terms and provisions of the Articles of Merger to be filed with the Secretary of State of the Commonwealth of Kentucky (the “ Kentucky Certificate of Merger ”), substantially in the form previously submitted to the Board, be, and they hereby are, in all respects adopted, approved, ratified and confirmed; and that the Executive Officers of the Company be, and each of them hereby is, authorized and directed, in the name and on behalf of the Company, and under its corporate seal or otherwise, to enter into, execute, deliver and file the Kentucky Certificate of Merger with such additions thereto or deletions therefrom as such Executive Officer or Executive Officers shall, in his or her discretion, determine to be necessary, proper or advisable, such determination to be evidenced conclusively by the execution, delivery and filing thereof;

RESOLVED , that the Merger shall become effective at the date and time specified in the Delaware Certificate of Merger and Kentucky Certificate of Merger (the “Effective Time”);


RESOLVED , that from and after the Effective Time, the bylaws and certificate of incorporation of the Company, in existence at the Effective Time, shall continue to be the bylaws and certificate of incorporation of the Company;

RESOLVED , that from and after the Effective Time, until successors are duly elected or appointed, the directors and officers of the Company at the Effective Time shall continue to be the directors and officers of the Company;

Further Actions

RESOLVED , that the Executive Officers of the Company be, and each of them hereby is, authorized, empowered and directed, in the name and on behalf of the Company, to make all such arrangements, to take all such further action, to cause to be prepared and filed all such documents, to make all expenditures and incur all expenses, and to pay all required fees, and to execute and deliver, in the name of and on behalf of the Company, all agreements, instruments, mortgages, leasehold mortgages, trust deeds, deeds of trust, documents and certificates (including stock certificates), including without limitation, officers’ certificates, as they may deem necessary, appropriate or advisable in order to fully effectuate the purpose of each and all of the foregoing resolutions and the execution by such Executive Officer of any such agreement, instrument, mortgage, leasehold mortgage, trust deeds, deeds of trust, document or certificate or the payment of any such expenditures or expenses or the doing by them of any act in connection with the foregoing matters shall conclusively establish their authority therefor from the Company and the approval and ratification by the Company of the agreement, instrument, mortgage, leasehold mortgage, document or certificate so executed, the expenses or expenditures so paid and the action so taken; and

RESOLVED , that for purposes of the foregoing resolutions, the term “ Executive Officers ” shall mean and include, as applicable the Company, the Chairman, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, any Vice President, the Secretary, any Assistant Secretary, the Treasurer and any Assistant Treasurer, any other duly authorized officer of the Company or any of them.

 

6. This document shall be effective as of December 31, 2005 at 5:00 pm Eastern Standard Time insofar as the DGCL shall govern said effective date and time.


IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the undersigned has duly executed this Certificate of Ownership and Merger as of the date first written above.

 

PROGENY MARKETING INNOVATIONS INC.
By:  

/s/ Nathaniel J. Lipman

Name:   Nathaniel J. Lipman
Title:   President and CEO


CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT

OF

CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

OF

PROGENY MARKETING INNOVATIONS INC.

Dated January 13, 2006

Progeny Marketing Innovations Inc., a corporation organized and existing under and by virtue of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “ DGCL ”), does hereby certify as follows:

FIRST: That by unanimous written consent of the Board of Directors of the Corporation, resolutions were adopted setting forth a proposed amendment to the Certificate of incorporation of the Corporation (the “ Certificate ”), declaring its advisability, and directing that the amendment proposed be submitted to the stockholders of the Corporation for consideration and approval.

SECOND: That the sole stockholder of the Corporation, by written consent in lieu of a special meeting, consented to and adopted this amendment.

THIRD: That this amendment was duly adopted in accordance with the applicable provisions of Sections 228 and 242 of the DGCL.

FOURTH: The Certificate is hereby amended by deleting the FIRST paragraph thereof and by substituting in lieu of said FIRST paragraph the following new FIRST paragraph:

“FIRST. The name of the corporation is Affinion Benefits Group, Inc.”

*    *    *    *    *


IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the Corporation has caused the undersigned to execute this Certificate as of the date set forth herein.

 

PROGENY MARKETING INNOVATIONS INC.
By:  

/s/ Nathaniel J. Lipman

Name:   Nathaniel J. Lipman
Title:   President and CEO

Exhibit 3.4

SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED

BY-LAWS OF

PROGENY MARKETING INNOVATIONS, INC.

ARTICLE I

Offices

1.1 Registered Office.

The registered office of Progeny Marketing Innovations, Inc. (the “Company”) in the State of Delaware shall be 2711Centerville Road, Suite 400, City of Wilmington 19808, County of New Castle. The name of the registered agent of the Company at such address is Corporation Service Company.

1.2 Other Offices.

The Company may also have an office or offices at any other place or places within or outside the State of Delaware.

ARTICLE II

Meeting of Stockholders; Stockholders’ Consent in Lieu of Meeting

2.1 Annual Meetings.

The annual meeting of the stockholders for the election of directors, and for the transaction of such other business as may properly come before the meeting, shall be held at such place, date and hour as shall be fixed by the Board of Directors (the “Board”) and designated in the notice or waiver of notice thereof, except that no annual meeting need be held if all actions, including the election of directors, required by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”) to be taken at a stockholders’ annual meeting are taken by written consent in lieu of meeting pursuant to Section 2.10 of this Article II.


2.2 Special Meetings.

A special meeting of the stockholders for any purpose or purposes may be called by the Board, the Chairman, the President or the record holders of at least a majority of the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company, to be held at such place, date and hour as shall be designated in the notice or waiver of notice thereof.

2.3 Notice of Meetings.

Except as otherwise required by statute, the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (the “Certificate”) or these By-laws, notice of each annual or special meeting of the stockholders shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at such meeting not less than 10 nor more than 60 days before the day on which the meeting is to be held, by delivering written notice thereof to him personally, or by mailing a copy of such notice, postage prepaid, directly to him at his address as it appears in the records of the Company, or by transmitting such notice thereof to him at such address by telegraph, cable or other telephonic transmission. Every such notice shall state the place, the date and hour of the meeting, and, in case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called. Notice of any meeting of stockholders shall not be required to be given to any stockholder who shall attend such meeting in person or by proxy, or who shall, in person or by his attorney thereunto authorized, waive such notice in writing, either before or after such meeting. Except as otherwise provided in these By-laws, neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any meeting of the stockholders need be specified in any such notice or waiver of notice. Notice of any adjourned meeting of stockholders shall not be required to be given, except when expressly required by law.

2.4 Quorum.

At each meeting of the stockholders, except where otherwise provided by the Certificate or these By-laws, the holders of a majority of the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company entitled to vote at such meeting, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. In the absence of a quorum, a majority in interest of the stockholders present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote, or, in the absence of all the stockholders entitled to vote, any officer entitled to preside at, or act as secretary of, such meeting, shall have the power to adjourn the meeting from time to time, until stockholders holding the requisite amount of stock to constitute a quorum shall be present or represented. At any such adjourned meeting at which a quorum shall be present, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the meeting as originally called.

2.5 Organization.

Unless otherwise determined by the Board, at each meeting of the stockholders, one of the following shall act as chairman of the meeting and preside thereat, in the following order of precedence:

(a) the Chairman, if any;

(b) the President;

 

2


(c) any director, officer or stockholder of the Company designated by the Board to act as chairman of such meeting and to preside thereat if the Chairman or the President shall be absent from such meeting; or

(d) a stockholder of record who shall be chosen chairman of such meeting by a majority in voting interest of the stockholders present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote thereat.

The Secretary or, if he shall be presiding over such meeting in accordance with the provisions of this Section 2.5 or if he shall be absent from such meeting, the person (who shall be an Assistant Secretary, if an Assistant Secretary has been appointed and is present) whom the chairman of such meeting shall appoint, shall act as secretary of such meeting and keep the minutes thereof.

2.6 Order of Business.

The order of business at each meeting of the stockholders shall be determined by the chairman of such meeting, but such order of business may be changed by a majority in voting interest of those present in person or by proxy at such meeting and entitled to vote thereat.

2.7 Voting.

Except as otherwise provided by law, the Certificate or these By-laws, at each meeting of the stockholders, every stockholder of the Company shall be entitled to one vote in person or by proxy for each share of Common Stock of the Company held by him and registered in his name on the books of the Company on the date fixed pursuant to Section 6.7 of Article VI as the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting. Persons holding stock in a fiduciary capacity shall be entitled to vote the shares so held. A person whose stock is pledged shall be entitled to vote, unless, in the transfer by the pledgor on the books of the Company, he has expressly empowered the pledgee to vote thereon, in which case only the pledgee or his proxy may represent such stock and vote thereon. If shares or other securities having voting power stand in the record of two or more persons, whether fiduciaries, members of a partnership, joint tenants, tenants in common, tenants by the entirety or otherwise, or if two or more persons have the same fiduciary relationship respecting the same shares, unless the Secretary shall be given written notice to the contrary and furnished with a copy of the instrument or order appointing them or creating the relationship wherein it is so provided, their acts with respect to voting shall have the following effect:

(a) if only one votes, his act binds all;

(b) if more than one votes, the act of the majority so voting binds all; and

(c) if more than one votes, but the vote is evenly split on any particular matter, such shares shall be voted in the manner provided by law.

If the instrument so filed shows that any such tenancy is held in unequal interests, a majority or even-split for the purposes of this Section 2.7 shall be a majority or even-split in interest. The Company shall not vote directly or indirectly any share of its own capital stock. Any vote of

 

3


stock may be given by the stockholder entitled thereto in person or by his proxy appointed by an instrument in writing, subscribed by such stockholder or by his attorney thereunto authorized, delivered to the secretary of the meeting; provided , however , that no proxy shall be voted after three years from its date, unless said proxy provides for a longer period. At all meetings of the stockholders, all matters (except where other provision is made by law, the Certificate or these By-laws) shall be decided by the vote of a majority in interest of the stockholders present in person or by proxy at such meeting and entitled to vote thereon, a quorum being present. Unless demanded by a stockholder present in person or by proxy at any meeting and entitled to vote thereon, the vote on any question need not be by ballot. Upon a demand by any such stockholder for a vote by ballot upon any question, such vote by ballot shall be taken. On a vote by ballot, each ballot shall be signed by the stockholder voting, or by his proxy, if there be such proxy, and shall state the number of shares voted.

2.8 Inspection.

The chairman of the meeting may at any time appoint one or more inspectors to serve at any meeting of the stockholders. Any inspector may be removed, and a new inspector or inspectors appointed, by the Board at any time. Such inspectors shall decide upon the qualifications of voters, accept and count votes, declare the results of such vote, and subscribe and deliver to the secretary of the meeting a certificate stating the number of shares of stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote thereon and the number of shares voted for and against the question, respectively. The inspectors need not be stockholders of the Company, and any director or officer of the Company may be an inspector on any question other than a vote for or against his election to any position with the Company or on any other matter in which he may be directly interested. Before acting as herein provided, each inspector shall subscribe an oath faithfully to execute the duties of an inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of his ability.

2.9 List of Stockholders.

It shall be the duty of the Secretary or other officer of the Company who shall have charge of its stock ledger to prepare and make, at least 10 days before every meeting of the stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote thereat, arranged in alphabetical order, and showing the address of each stockholder and the number of shares registered in the name of each stockholder. Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to any such meeting, during ordinary business hours, for a period of at least 10 days prior to such meeting, either at a place within the city where such meeting is to be held, which place shall be specified in the notice of the meeting or, if not so specified, at the place where the meeting is to be held. Such list shall also be produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time thereof, and may be inspected by any stockholder who is present.

2.10 Stockholders’ Consent in Lieu of Meeting.

Any action required by the DGCL to be taken at any annual or special meeting of the stockholders of the Company, or any action which may be taken at any annual or special meeting of such stockholders, may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, by a consent in writing, as permitted by the DGCL.

 

4


ARTICLE III

Board of Directors

3.1 General Powers.

The business, property and affairs of the Company shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board, which may exercise all such powers of the Company and do all such lawful acts and things as are not by law or by the Certificate directed or required to be exercised or done by the stockholders.

3.2 Number and Term of Office.

The number of directors shall initially be set at two. Thereafter the number of directors shall be fixed from time to time by the Board. Directors need not be stockholders. Each director shall hold office until his successor is elected and qualified, or until his earlier death or resignation or removal in the manner hereinafter provided.

3.3 Election of Directors.

At each meeting of the stockholders for the election of directors at which a quorum is present, the persons receiving the greatest number of votes, up to the number of directors to be elected, of the stockholders present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote thereon shall be the directors; provided , however , that for purposes of such vote no stockholder shall be allowed to cumulate his votes. Unless an election by ballot shall be demanded as provided in Section 2.7 of Article II, election of directors may be conducted in any manner approved at such meeting.

3.4 Resignation, Removal and Vacancies.

Any director may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Board, the Chairman, the President or the Secretary. Such resignation shall take effect at the time specified therein or, if the time be not specified, upon receipt thereof; and unless otherwise specified therein, the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.

Any director or the entire Board may be removed, with or without cause, at any time, by vote of the holders of a majority of the shares then entitled to vote at an election of directors or by written consent of the stockholders pursuant to Section 2.10 of Article II.

Vacancies occurring on the Board for any reason may be filled by vote of the stockholders or by the stockholders’ written consent pursuant to Section 2.10 of Article II, or by vote of the Board or by the directors’ written consent pursuant to Section 3.6 of this Article III. If the number of directors then in office is less than a quorum, such vacancies may be filled by a vote of a majority of the directors then in office.

 

5


3.5 Meetings.

(a) Annual Meetings . As soon as practicable after each annual election of directors, the Board shall meet for the purpose of organization and the transaction of other business, unless it shall have transacted all such business by written consent pursuant to Section 3.6 of this Article III.

(b) Other Meetings . Other meetings of the Board shall be held at such times and at such places as the Board, the Chairman, the President or any director shall from time to time determine.

(c) Notice of Meetings . Notice shall be given to each director of each meeting, including the time, place and purpose of such meeting. Notice of each such meeting shall be mailed to each director, addressed to him at his residence or usual place of business, at least two days before the date on which such meeting is to be held, or shall be sent to him at such place by telegraph, cable, wireless or other form of recorded communication, or be delivered personally or by telephone not later than the day before the day on which such meeting is to be held, but notice need not be given to any director who shall attend such meeting. A written waiver of notice, signed by the person entitled thereto, whether before or after the time of the meeting stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to notice.

(d) Place of Meetings . The Board may hold its meetings at such place or places within or outside the State of Delaware as the Board may from time to time determine, or as shall be designated in the respective notices or waivers of notice thereof.

(e) Quorum and Manner of Acting . A majority of the total number of directors then in office shall be present in person at any meeting of the Board in order to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at such meeting, and the vote of a majority of those directors present at any such meeting at which a quorum is present shall be necessary for the passage of any resolution or act of the Board, except as otherwise expressly required by law or these By-laws. In the absence of a quorum for any such meeting, a majority of the directors present thereat may adjourn such meeting from time to time until a quorum shall be present.

(f) Organization . At each meeting of the Board, one of the following shall act as chairman of the meeting and preside thereat, in the following order of precedence:

(i) the Chairman, if any;

(ii) the President (if a director); or

(iii) any director designated by a majority of the directors present.

The Secretary or, in the case of his absence, an Assistant Secretary, if an Assistant Secretary has been appointed and is present, or any person whom the chairman of the meeting shall appoint shall act as secretary of such meeting and keep the minutes thereof.

 

6


3.6 Directors’ Consent in Lieu of Meeting.

Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, if a consent in writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by all of the directors then in office and such consent is filed with the minutes of the proceedings of the Board.

3.7 Action by Means of Conference Telephone or Similar Communications Equipment.

Any one or more members of the Board may participate in a meeting of the Board by means of conference telephone or similar communications equipment by which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and participation in a meeting by such means shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.

3.8 Committees.

The Board may, by resolution or resolutions passed by a majority of the whole Board, designate one or more committees, such committee or committees to have such name or names as may be determined from time to time by resolution adopted by the Board, and each such committee to consist of one or more directors of the Company, which to the extent provided in said resolution or resolutions shall have and may exercise the powers of the Board in the management of the business and affairs of the Company and may authorize the seal of the Company to be affixed to all papers which may require it. A majority of all the members of any such committee may determine its action and fix the time and place of its meetings, unless the Board shall otherwise provide. The Board shall have power to change the members of any such committee at any time, to fill vacancies and to discharge any such committee, either with or without cause, at any time.

ARTICLE IV

Officers

4.1 Executive Officers.

The principal officers of the Company shall be a Chairman, if one is appointed (and any references to the Chairman shall not apply if a Chairman has not been appointed), a President, a Secretary and a Treasurer, and may include such other officers as the Board may appoint pursuant to Section 4.3 of this Article IV. Any two or more offices may be held by the same person.

4.2 Authority and Duties.

All officers, as between themselves and the Company, shall have such authority and perform such duties in the management of the Company as may be provided in these By-laws or, to the extent so provided, by the Board.

 

7


4.3 Other Officers.

The Company may have such other officers, agents and employees as the Board may deem necessary, including one or more Chief Executive Officers, Co-Chief Executive Officers, Chief Operating Officers, Co-Chief Operating Officers, Chief Financial Officers, Co-Chief Financial Officers, Executive Vice Presidents, Vice Presidents, Assistant Secretaries, and Assistant Treasurers, each of whom shall hold office for such period, have such authority and perform such duties as the Board, the Chairman or the President may from time to time determine. The Board may delegate to any principal officer the power to appoint and define the authority and duties of, or remove, any such officers, agents or employees.

4.4 Term of Office, Resignation and Removal.

All officers shall be elected or appointed by the Board and shall hold office for such term as may be prescribed by the Board. Each officer shall hold office until his successor has been elected or appointed and qualified or until his earlier death or resignation or removal in the manner hereinafter provided. The Board may require any officer to give security for the faithful performance of his duties.

Any officer may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Board, the Chairman, the President or the Secretary. Such resignation shall take effect at the time specified therein or, if the time be not specified, at the time it is accepted by action of the Board. Except as aforesaid, the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.

All officers and agents elected or appointed by the Board shall be subject to removal at any time by the Board or by the stockholders of the Company with or without cause.

4.5 Vacancies.

If the office of Chairman, President, Secretary or Treasurer becomes vacant for any reason, the Board shall fill such vacancy, and if any other office becomes vacant, the Board may fill such vacancy. Any officer so appointed or elected by the Board shall serve only until such time as the unexpired term of his predecessor shall have expired, unless reelected or reappointed by the Board.

4.6 The Chairman.

The Chairman shall give counsel and advice to the Board and the officers of the Company on all subjects concerning the welfare of the Company and the conduct of its business and shall perform such other duties as the Board may from time to time determine. Unless otherwise determined by the Board, he shall preside at meetings of the Board and of the stockholders at which he is present.

4.7 The President.

Unless otherwise determined by the Board, the President shall be the chief executive officer of the Company. The President shall have general and active management and control of the business and affairs of the Company subject to the control of the Board and shall see that all orders and resolutions of the Board are carried into effect. The President shall from time to time make such reports of the affairs of the Company as the Board may require and shall perform such other duties as the Board may from time to time determine.

 

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4.8 The Secretary.

The Secretary shall, to the extent practicable, attend all meetings of the Board and all meetings of the stockholders and shall record all votes and the minutes of all proceedings in a book to be kept for that purpose. He may give, or cause to be given, notice of all meetings of the stockholders and of the Board, and shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board, the Chairman or the President, under whose supervision he shall act. He shall keep in safe custody the seal of the Company and affix the same to any duly authorized instrument requiring it and, when so affixed, it shall be attested by his signature or by the signature of the Treasurer or, if appointed, an Assistant Secretary or an Assistant Treasurer. He shall keep in safe custody the certificate books and stockholder records and such other books and records as the Board may direct, and shall perform all other duties incident to the office of Secretary and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him by the Board, the Chairman or the President.

4.9 The Treasurer.

The Treasurer shall have the care and custody of the corporate funds and other valuable effects, including securities, shall keep full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the Company and shall deposit all moneys and other valuable effects in the name and to the credit of the Company in such depositories as may be designated by the Board. The Treasurer shall disburse the funds of the Company as may be ordered by the Board, taking proper vouchers for such disbursements, shall render to the Chairman, President and directors, at the regular meetings of the Board or whenever they may require it, an account of all his transactions as Treasurer and of the financial condition of the Company and shall perform all other duties incident to the office of Treasurer and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him by the Board, the Chairman or the President.

ARTICLE V

Contracts, Checks, Drafts, Bank Accounts, Etc.

5.1 Execution of Documents.

The Board shall designate, by either specific or general resolution, the officers, employees and agents of the Company who shall have the power to execute and deliver deeds, contracts, mortgages, bonds, debentures, checks, drafts and other orders for the payment of money and other documents for and in the name of the Company, and may authorize such officers, employees and agents to delegate such power (including authority to redelegate) by written instrument to other officers, employees or agents of the Company. Unless so designated or expressly authorized by these By-laws, no officer, employee or agent shall have any power or authority to bind the Company by any contract or engagement, to pledge its credit or to render it liable pecuniarily for any purpose or amount.

 

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5.2 Deposits.

All funds of the Company not otherwise employed shall be deposited from time to time to the credit of the Company or otherwise as the Board or Treasurer, or any other officer of the Company to whom power in this respect shall have been given by the Board, shall select.

5.3 Proxies with Respect to Stock or Other Securities of Other Corporations.

The Board shall designate the officers of the Company who shall have authority from time to time to appoint an agent or agents of the Company to exercise in the name and on behalf of the Company the powers and rights which the Company may have as the holder of stock or other securities in any other entity, and to vote or consent with respect to such stock or securities. Such designated officers may instruct the person or persons so appointed as to the manner of exercising such powers and rights, and such designated officers may execute or cause to be executed in the name and on behalf of the Company and under its corporate seal or otherwise, such written proxies, powers of attorney or other instruments as they may deem necessary or proper in order that the Company may exercise its powers and rights.

ARTICLE VI

Shares and Their Transfer; Fixing Record Date

6.1 Certificates for Shares.

Every owner of stock of the Company shall be entitled to have a certificate certifying the number and class of shares owned by him in the Company, which shall be in such form as shall be prescribed by the Board. Certificates shall be numbered and issued in consecutive order and shall be signed by, or in the name of, the Company by the Chairman, the President or any Vice President, and by the Treasurer (or an Assistant Treasurer, if appointed) or the Secretary (or an Assistant Secretary, if appointed). In case any officer or officers who shall have signed any such certificate or certificates shall cease to be such officer or officers of the Company, whether because of death, resignation or otherwise, before such certificate or certificates shall have been delivered by the Company, such certificate or certificates may nevertheless be adopted by the Company and be issued and delivered as though the person or persons who signed such certificate had not ceased to be such officer or officers of the Company.

6.2 Record.

A record in one or more counterparts shall be kept of the name of the person, firm or Company owning the shares represented by each certificate for stock of the Company issued, the number of shares represented by each such certificate, the date thereof and, in the case of cancellation, the date of cancellation. Except as otherwise expressly required by law, the person in whose name shares of stock stand on the stock record of the Company shall be deemed the owner thereof for all purposes regarding the Company.

 

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6.3 Transfer and Registration of Stock.

The transfer of stock and certificates which represent the stock of the Company shall be governed by Article 8 of Subtitle 1 of Title 6 of the Delaware Code (the Uniform Commercial Code), as amended from time to time.

Registration of transfers of shares of the Company shall be made only on the books of the Company upon request of the registered holder thereof, or of his attorney thereunto authorized by power of attorney duly executed and filed with the Secretary of the Company, and upon the surrender of the certificate or certificates for such shares properly endorsed or accompanied by a stock power duly executed.

6.4 Addresses of Stockholders.

Each stockholder shall designate to the Secretary an address at which notices of meetings and all other corporate notices may be served or mailed to him, and, if any stockholder shall fail to designate such address, corporate notices may be served upon him by mail directed to him at his post-office address, if any, as the same appears on the share record books of the Company or at his last known post-office address.

6.5 Lost, Destroyed and Mutilated Certificates.

The holder of any shares of the Company shall immediately notify the Company of any loss, destruction or mutilation of the certificate therefor, and the Board may, in its discretion, cause to be issued to him a new certificate or certificates for such shares, upon the surrender of the mutilated certificates or, in the case of loss or destruction of the certificate, upon satisfactory proof of such loss or destruction, and the Board may, in its discretion, require the owner of the lost or destroyed certificate or his legal representative to give the Company a bond in such sum and with such surety or sureties as it may direct to indemnify the Company against any claim that may be made against it on account of the alleged loss or destruction of any such certificate.

6.6 Regulations.

The Board may make such rules and regulations as it may deem expedient, not inconsistent with these By-laws, concerning the issue, transfer and registration of certificates for stock of the Company.

6.7 Fixing Date for Determination of Stockholders of Record.

(a) In order that the Company may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, the Board may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board, and which record date shall be not more than 60 nor less than 10 days before the date of such meeting. If no record date is fixed by the Board, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice is given, or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held. A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided , however , that the Board may fix a new record date for the adjourned meeting.

 

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(b) In order that the Company may determine the stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, the Board may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board, and which date shall be not more than 10 days after the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board. If no record date has been fixed by the Board, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, when no prior action by the Board is required by the DGCL, shall be the first date on which a signed written consent setting forth the action taken or proposed to be taken is delivered to the Company by delivery to its registered office in the State of Delaware, its principal place of business or an officer or agent of the Company having custody of the book in which proceedings of meetings of stockholders are recorded. Delivery made to the Company’s registered office shall be by hand or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested. If no record date has been fixed by the Board and prior action by the Board is required by the DGCL, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board adopts the resolution taking such prior action.

(c) In order that the Company may determine the stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights or the stockholders entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock, or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted, and which record date shall be not more than 60 days prior to such action. If no record date is fixed, the record date for determining stockholders for any such purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board adopts the resolution relating thereto.

ARTICLE VII

Seal

The Board may provide a corporate seal, which shall be in the form of a circle and shall bear the full name of the Company, the year of incorporation of the Company and the words and figures “Corporate Seal – Delaware.”

ARTICLE VIII

Fiscal Year

The fiscal year of the Company shall be the calendar year unless otherwise determined by the Board.

 

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ARTICLE IX

Indemnification and Insurance

9.1 Indemnification.

(a) As provided in the Certificate, to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL as the same exists or may hereafter be amended, a director of the Company shall not be liable to the Company or its stockholders for breach of fiduciary duty as a director.

(b) Without limitation of any right conferred by paragraph (a) of this Section 9.1, each person who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise involved in any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (hereinafter a “proceeding”), by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director, officer or employee of the Company or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer or employee of another Company or of a partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan (hereinafter an “indemnitee”), whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity while serving as a director, officer or employee or in any other capacity while serving as a director, officer or employee, shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company to the fullest extent authorized by the DGCL, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended (but, in the case of any such amendment, only to the extent that such amendment permits the Company to provide broader indemnification rights than permitted prior thereto), against all expense, liability and loss (including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, excise taxes or amounts paid in settlement) reasonably incurred or suffered by such indemnitee in connection therewith and such indemnification shall continue as to an indemnitee who has ceased to be a director, officer or employee and shall inure to the benefit of the indemnitee’s heirs, testators, intestates, executors and administrators; provided , however , that such person acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the Company, and with respect to a criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful; provided , further , however , that no indemnification shall be made in the case of an action, suit or proceeding by or in the right of the Company in relation to matters as to which it shall be adjudged in such action, suit or proceeding that such director, officer, employee or agent is liable to the Company, unless a court having jurisdiction shall determine that, despite such adjudication, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification; provided , further , however , that, except as provided in Section 9.1(c) of this Article IX with respect to proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification, the Company shall indemnify any such indemnitee in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such indemnitee only if such proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such indemnitee was authorized by the Board of the Company. The right to indemnification conferred in this Article IX shall be a contract right and shall include the right to be paid by the Company the expenses incurred in defending any such proceeding in advance of its final disposition (hereinafter an “advancement of expenses”); provided , however , that, if the DGCL requires, an advancement of expenses incurred by an indemnitee in his or her capacity as a director or officer (and not in any other capacity in which service was or is rendered by such indemnitee, including, without limitation, service to an employee benefit plan) shall be made only upon delivery to the Company of an undertaking (hereinafter an “undertaking”), by or on behalf of such indemnitee, to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined by final judicial decision from which there is no further right to appeal (hereinafter a “final adjudication”) (i) that such indemnitee breached his fiduciary duty to the Company or (ii) that such indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified for such expenses under this Section or otherwise.

 

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(c) If a claim under Section 9.1(b) of this Article IX is not paid in full by the Company with 60 days after a written claim has been received by the Company, except in the case of a claim for an advancement of expenses, in which case the applicable period shall be 10 days, the indemnitee may at any time thereafter bring suit against the Company to recover the unpaid amount of the claim. If successful in whole or in part in any such suit, or in a suit brought by the Company to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of any undertaking, the indemnitee shall be entitled to be paid also the expense of prosecuting or defending such suit. In (i) any suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right to indemnification hereunder (but not in a suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right to an advancement of expenses) it shall be a defense that, and (ii) in any suit by the Company to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the Company shall be entitled to recover such expenses upon a final adjudication that, the indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the DGCL. Neither the failure of the Company (including the Board, independent legal counsel, or the stockholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such suit that indemnification of the indemnitee is proper in the circumstances because the indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the DGCL, nor an actual determination by the Company (including the Board, independent legal counsel or the stockholders) that the indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall create a presumption that the indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct or, in the case of such a suit brought by the indemnitee, be a defense to such suit. In any suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right to indemnification or to an advancement of expenses hereunder, or by the Company to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the burden of proving that the indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified, or to such advancement of expenses, under this Section or otherwise shall be on the Company.

(d) The rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses conferred in this Article IX shall not be exclusive of any other right which any person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, the Certificate, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.

9.2 Insurance.

The Company may purchase and maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect itself and any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or any person who is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employer or agent of another Company, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any expense, liability or loss, whether or not the Company would have the power to indemnify such person against such expense, liability or loss under the DGCL.

ARTICLE X

Amendment

Any by-law (including these By-laws) may be adopted, amended or repealed by the vote of the holders of a majority of the shares then entitled to vote or by the stockholders’ written consent pursuant to Section 2.10 of Article II, or by the vote of the Board or by the directors’ written consent pursuant to Section 3.6 of Article III.

* * * * *

 

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Exhibit 3.5

CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

FIRST : The name of the Corporation is Cendant Data Services, Inc. (hereinafter the “Corporation”).

SECOND : The address of the registered office of the Corporation in the State of Delaware is 1209 Orange Street, in the City of Wilmington, County of New Castle. The name of its registered agent at that address is The Corporation Trust Company.

THIRD : The purpose of the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which a corporation may be organized under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware as set forth in Title 8 of the Delaware Code (the “GCL”).

FOURTH : The total number of shares of stock which the Corporation shall have authority to issue is 1,000 shares of Common Stock, each having a par value of one penny ($.01).

FIFTH : The name and mailing address of the Sole Incorporator is as follows:

Mary Ellen Rizzo

6 Sylvan Way

Parsippany, NJ 07054

SIXTH : The following provisions are inserted for the management of the business and the conduct of the affairs of the Corporation, and for further definition, limitation and regulation of the powers of the Corporation and of its directors and stockholders:

(1) The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors.

(2) The directors shall have concurrent power with the stockholders to make, alter, amend change, add to or appeal by the By-Laws of the Corporation.

(3) The number of directors of the Corporation shall be as from time to time fixed by, or in the manner provided in, the By-Laws of the Corporation. Election of directors need not be by written ballot unless the By-Laws so provide.

(4) No director shall be personally liable to the Corporation or any of its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except for liability (i) for any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the Corporation or its stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) pursuant to Section 174 of the Delaware General Corporation Law or (iv) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit. Any repeal or modification of this Article SIXTH by the stockholders of the Corporation shall not adversely affect any right or protection of a


director of the Corporation existing at the time of such repeal or modification with respect to acts or omissions occurring prior to such repeal or modification.

(5) In addition to the powers and authority hereinbefore or by statute expressly conferred upon them, the directors are hereby empowered to exercise all such powers and do all such acts and things as may be exercised or done by the Corporation, subject, nevertheless, to the provisions of the GCL, this Certificate of Incorporation, and any By-Laws adopted by the stockholders; provided, however, that no By-Laws hereafter adopted by the stockholders shall invalidate any prior act of the directors which would have been valid if such By-Laws had not been adopted.

SEVENTH : Meetings of the stockholders may be held within or without the State of Delaware, as the By-Laws may provide. The books of the Corporation may be kept (subject to any provision contained in the GCL) outside the State of Delaware at such place or places as may be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors or in the By-Laws of the Corporation.

EIGHTH : The Corporation reserves the right to amend, alter, change or repeal any provision contained in this Certificate of Incorporation, in the manner now or hereafter prescribed by statute, and all rights conferred upon stockholders herein are granted subject to this reservation.

I, THE UNDERSIGNED, being the Sole Incorporator hereinbefore named, for the purpose of forming a corporation pursuant to the GCL, do make this Certificate, hereby declaring and certifying that this is my act and deed and the facts herein stated are true, and accordingly have hereunto set my hand this 26 th day of March 2001.

 

/s/ Mary Ellen Ritzo

 

Mary Ellen Ritzo

Sole Incorporator


CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT

TO

CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

OF

CENDANT DATA SERVICES, INC.

Cendant Data Services, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under and by virtue of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, (the “Corporation”) DOES HEREBY CERTIFY:

FIRST: That the Board of Directors of the Corporation, by the unanimous written consent of its members, filed with the minutes of the Board, adopted a resolution proposing and declaring advisable an amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation to change the name of the Corporation to “Affinion Data Services, Inc.”

SECOND: That in lieu of a meeting and vote of the stockholder, the sole stockholder has given its unanimous written consent to said amendment in accordance with the provisions of Section 228 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware by adopting the following resolutions:

“RESOLVED, that Article FIRST of the Certificate of Incorporation be amended to read as follows:

“FIRST: The name of the Corporation is Affinion Data Services, Inc.

FURTHER RESOLVED, that the foregoing name change shall be effective upon the filing of this certificate.”

THIRD: That the aforesaid amendment was duly adopted in accordance with the applicable provisions of Sections 242 and 228 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused this certificate to be signed by Lynn A. Feldman, its Vice President and Assistant Secretary, this 22nd th day of September, 2005.

 

/s/ Lynn A. Feldman

 

Lynn A. Feldman

Vice President and Assistant Secretary

Exhibit 3.6

AMENDED AND RESTATED

BY-LAWS OF

AFFINION DATA SERVICES, INC.

ARTICLE I

Offices

1.1 Registered Office.

The registered office of Affinion Data Services, Inc. (the “Company”) in the State of Delaware shall be 2711 Centerville Road, Suite 400, City of Wilmington 19808, County of New Castle. The name of the registered agent of the Company at such address is Corporation Service Company.

1.2 Other Offices.

The Company may also have an office or offices at any other place or places within or outside the State of Delaware.

ARTICLE II

Meeting of Stockholders; Stockholders’ Consent in Lieu of Meeting

2.1 Annual Meetings.

The annual meeting of the stockholders for the election of directors, and for the transaction of such other business as may properly come before the meeting, shall be held at such place, date and hour as shall be fixed by the Board of Directors (the “Board”) and designated in the notice or waiver of notice thereof, except that no annual meeting need be held if all actions, including the election of directors, required by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”) to be taken at a stockholders’ annual meeting are taken by written consent in lieu of meeting pursuant to Section 2.10 of this Article II.

2.2 Special Meetings.

A special meeting of the stockholders for any purpose or purposes may be called by the Board, the Chairman, the President or the record holders of at least a majority of the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company, to be held at such place, date and hour as shall be designated in the notice or waiver of notice thereof.


2.3 Notice of Meetings.

Except as otherwise required by statute, the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (the “Certificate”) or these By-laws, notice of each annual or special meeting of the stockholders shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at such meeting not less than 10 nor more than 60 days before the day on which the meeting is to be held, by delivering written notice thereof to him personally, or by mailing a copy of such notice, postage prepaid, directly to him at his address as it appears in the records of the Company, or by transmitting such notice thereof to him at such address by telegraph, cable or other telephonic transmission. Every such notice shall state the place, the date and hour of the meeting, and, in case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called. Notice of any meeting of stockholders shall not be required to be given to any stockholder who shall attend such meeting in person or by proxy, or who shall, in person or by his attorney thereunto authorized, waive such notice in writing, either before or after such meeting. Except as otherwise provided in these By-laws, neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any meeting of the stockholders need be specified in any such notice or waiver of notice. Notice of any adjourned meeting of stockholders shall not be required to be given, except when expressly required by law.

2.4 Quorum.

At each meeting of the stockholders, except where otherwise provided by the Certificate or these By-laws, the holders of a majority of the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company entitled to vote at such meeting, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. In the absence of a quorum, a majority in interest of the stockholders present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote, or, in the absence of all the stockholders entitled to vote, any officer entitled to preside at, or act as secretary of, such meeting, shall have the power to adjourn the meeting from time to time, until stockholders holding the requisite amount of stock to constitute a quorum shall be present or represented. At any such adjourned meeting at which a quorum shall be present, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the meeting as originally called.

2.5 Organization.

Unless otherwise determined by the Board, at each meeting of the stockholders, one of the following shall act as chairman of the meeting and preside thereat, in the following order of precedence:

(a) the Chairman, if any;

(b) the President;

(c) any director, officer or stockholder of the Company designated by the Board to act as chairman of such meeting and to preside thereat if the Chairman or the President shall be absent from such meeting; or

 

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(d) a stockholder of record who shall be chosen chairman of such meeting by a majority in voting interest of the stockholders present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote thereat.

The Secretary or, if he shall be presiding over such meeting in accordance with the provisions of this Section 2.5 or if he shall be absent from such meeting, the person (who shall be an Assistant Secretary, if an Assistant Secretary has been appointed and is present) whom the chairman of such meeting shall appoint, shall act as secretary of such meeting and keep the minutes thereof.

2.6 Order of Business.

The order of business at each meeting of the stockholders shall be determined by the chairman of such meeting, but such order of business may be changed by a majority in voting interest of those present in person or by proxy at such meeting and entitled to vote thereat.

2.7 Voting.

Except as otherwise provided by law, the Certificate or these By-laws, at each meeting of the stockholders, every stockholder of the Company shall be entitled to one vote in person or by proxy for each share of Common Stock of the Company held by him and registered in his name on the books of the Company on the date fixed pursuant to Section 6.7 of Article VI as the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting. Persons holding stock in a fiduciary capacity shall be entitled to vote the shares so held. A person whose stock is pledged shall be entitled to vote, unless, in the transfer by the pledgor on the books of the Company, he has expressly empowered the pledgee to vote thereon, in which case only the pledgee or his proxy may represent such stock and vote thereon. If shares or other securities having voting power stand in the record of two or more persons, whether fiduciaries, members of a partnership, joint tenants, tenants in common, tenants by the entirety or otherwise, or if two or more persons have the same fiduciary relationship respecting the same shares, unless the Secretary shall be given written notice to the contrary and furnished with a copy of the instrument or order appointing them or creating the relationship wherein it is so provided, their acts with respect to voting shall have the following effect:

(a) if only one votes, his act binds all;

(b) if more than one votes, the act of the majority so voting binds all; and

(c) if more than one votes, but the vote is evenly split on any particular matter, such shares shall be voted in the manner provided by law.

If the instrument so filed shows that any such tenancy is held in unequal interests, a majority or even-split for the purposes of this Section 2.7 shall be a majority or even-split in interest. The Company shall not vote directly or indirectly any share of its own capital stock. Any vote of stock may be given by the stockholder entitled thereto in person or by his proxy appointed by an instrument in writing, subscribed by such stockholder or by his attorney thereunto authorized, delivered to the secretary of the meeting; provided , however , that no proxy shall be voted after three years from its date, unless said proxy provides for a longer period. At all meetings of the

 

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stockholders, all matters (except where other provision is made by law, the Certificate or these By-laws) shall be decided by the vote of a majority in interest of the stockholders present in person or by proxy at such meeting and entitled to vote thereon, a quorum being present. Unless demanded by a stockholder present in person or by proxy at any meeting and entitled to vote thereon, the vote on any question need not be by ballot. Upon a demand by any such stockholder for a vote by ballot upon any question, such vote by ballot shall be taken. On a vote by ballot, each ballot shall be signed by the stockholder voting, or by his proxy, if there be such proxy, and shall state the number of shares voted.

2.8 Inspection.

The chairman of the meeting may at any time appoint one or more inspectors to serve at any meeting of the stockholders. Any inspector may be removed, and a new inspector or inspectors appointed, by the Board at any time. Such inspectors shall decide upon the qualifications of voters, accept and count votes, declare the results of such vote, and subscribe and deliver to the secretary of the meeting a certificate stating the number of shares of stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote thereon and the number of shares voted for and against the question, respectively. The inspectors need not be stockholders of the Company, and any director or officer of the Company may be an inspector on any question other than a vote for or against his election to any position with the Company or on any other matter in which he may be directly interested. Before acting as herein provided, each inspector shall subscribe an oath faithfully to execute the duties of an inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of his ability.

2.9 List of Stockholders.

It shall be the duty of the Secretary or other officer of the Company who shall have charge of its stock ledger to prepare and make, at least 10 days before every meeting of the stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote thereat, arranged in alphabetical order, and showing the address of each stockholder and the number of shares registered in the name of each stockholder. Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to any such meeting, during ordinary business hours, for a period of at least 10 days prior to such meeting, either at a place within the city where such meeting is to be held, which place shall be specified in the notice of the meeting or, if not so specified, at the place where the meeting is to be held. Such list shall also be produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time thereof, and may be inspected by any stockholder who is present.

2.10 Stockholders’ Consent in Lieu of Meeting.

Any action required by the DGCL to be taken at any annual or special meeting of the stockholders of the Company, or any action which may be taken at any annual or special meeting of such stockholders, may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, by a consent in writing, as permitted by the DGCL.

 

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ARTICLE III

Board of Directors

3.1 General Powers.

The business, property and affairs of the Company shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board, which may exercise all such powers of the Company and do all such lawful acts and things as are not by law or by the Certificate directed or required to be exercised or done by the stockholders.

3.2 Number and Term of Office.

The number of directors shall initially be set at two. Thereafter the number of directors shall be fixed from time to time by the Board. Directors need not be stockholders. Each director shall hold office until his successor is elected and qualified, or until his earlier death or resignation or removal in the manner hereinafter provided.

3.3 Election of Directors.

At each meeting of the stockholders for the election of directors at which a quorum is present, the persons receiving the greatest number of votes, up to the number of directors to be elected, of the stockholders present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote thereon shall be the directors; provided , however , that for purposes of such vote no stockholder shall be allowed to cumulate his votes. Unless an election by ballot shall be demanded as provided in Section 2.7 of Article II, election of directors may be conducted in any manner approved at such meeting.

3.4 Resignation, Removal and Vacancies.

Any director may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Board, the Chairman, the President or the Secretary. Such resignation shall take effect at the time specified therein or, if the time be not specified, upon receipt thereof; and unless otherwise specified therein, the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.

Any director or the entire Board may be removed, with or without cause, at any time, by vote of the holders of a majority of the shares then entitled to vote at an election of directors or by written consent of the stockholders pursuant to Section 2.10 of Article II.

Vacancies occurring on the Board for any reason may be filled by vote of the stockholders or by the stockholders’ written consent pursuant to Section 2.10 of Article II, or by vote of the Board or by the directors’ written consent pursuant to Section 3.6 of this Article III. If the number of directors then in office is less than a quorum, such vacancies may be filled by a vote of a majority of the directors then in office.

 

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3.5 Meetings.

(a) Annual Meetings . As soon as practicable after each annual election of directors, the Board shall meet for the purpose of organization and the transaction of other business, unless it shall have transacted all such business by written consent pursuant to Section 3.6 of this Article III.

(b) Other Meetings . Other meetings of the Board shall be held at such times and at such places as the Board, the Chairman, the President or any director shall from time to time determine.

(c) Notice of Meetings . Notice shall be given to each director of each meeting, including the time, place and purpose of such meeting. Notice of each such meeting shall be mailed to each director, addressed to him at his residence or usual place of business, at least two days before the date on which such meeting is to be held, or shall be sent to him at such place by telegraph, cable, wireless or other form of recorded communication, or be delivered personally or by telephone not later than the day before the day on which such meeting is to be held, but notice need not be given to any director who shall attend such meeting. A written waiver of notice, signed by the person entitled thereto, whether before or after the time of the meeting stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to notice.

(d) Place of Meetings . The Board may hold its meetings at such place or places within or outside the State of Delaware as the Board may from time to time determine, or as shall be designated in the respective notices or waivers of notice thereof.

(e) Quorum and Manner of Acting . A majority of the total number of directors then in office shall be present in person at any meeting of the Board in order to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at such meeting, and the vote of a majority of those directors present at any such meeting at which a quorum is present shall be necessary for the passage of any resolution or act of the Board, except as otherwise expressly required by law or these By-laws. In the absence of a quorum for any such meeting, a majority of the directors present thereat may adjourn such meeting from time to time until a quorum shall be present.

(f) Organization . At each meeting of the Board, one of the following shall act as chairman of the meeting and preside thereat, in the following order of precedence:

(i) the Chairman, if any;

(ii) the President (if a director); or

(iii) any director designated by a majority of the directors present.

The Secretary or, in the case of his absence, an Assistant Secretary, if an Assistant Secretary has been appointed and is present, or any person whom the chairman of the meeting shall appoint shall act as secretary of such meeting and keep the minutes thereof.

3.6 Directors’ Consent in Lieu of Meeting.

Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, if a consent in writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by all of the directors then in office and such consent is filed with the minutes of the proceedings of the Board.

 

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3.7 Action by Means of Conference Telephone or Similar Communications Equipment.

Any one or more members of the Board may participate in a meeting of the Board by means of conference telephone or similar communications equipment by which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and participation in a meeting by such means shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.

3.8 Committees.

The Board may, by resolution or resolutions passed by a majority of the whole Board, designate one or more committees, such committee or committees to have such name or names as may be determined from time to time by resolution adopted by the Board, and each such committee to consist of one or more directors of the Company, which to the extent provided in said resolution or resolutions shall have and may exercise the powers of the Board in the management of the business and affairs of the Company and may authorize the seal of the Company to be affixed to all papers which may require it. A majority of all the members of any such committee may determine its action and fix the time and place of its meetings, unless the Board shall otherwise provide. The Board shall have power to change the members of any such committee at any time, to fill vacancies and to discharge any such committee, either with or without cause, at any time.

ARTICLE IV

Officers

4.1 Executive Officers.

The principal officers of the Company shall be a Chairman, if one is appointed (and any references to the Chairman shall not apply if a Chairman has not been appointed), a President, a Secretary and a Treasurer, and may include such other officers as the Board may appoint pursuant to Section 4.3 of this Article IV. Any two or more offices may be held by the same person.

4.2 Authority and Duties.

All officers, as between themselves and the Company, shall have such authority and perform such duties in the management of the Company as may be provided in these By-laws or, to the extent so provided, by the Board.

4.3 Other Officers.

The Company may have such other officers, agents and employees as the Board may deem necessary, including one or more Chief Executive Officers, Co-Chief Executive Officers, Chief Operating Officers, Co-Chief Operating Officers, Chief Financial Officers, Co-Chief

 

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Financial Officers, Executive Vice Presidents, Vice Presidents, Assistant Secretaries, and Assistant Treasurers, each of whom shall hold office for such period, have such authority and perform such duties as the Board, the Chairman or the President may from time to time determine. The Board may delegate to any principal officer the power to appoint and define the authority and duties of, or remove, any such officers, agents or employees.

4.4 Term of Office, Resignation and Removal.

All officers shall be elected or appointed by the Board and shall hold office for such term as may be prescribed by the Board. Each officer shall hold office until his successor has been elected or appointed and qualified or until his earlier death or resignation or removal in the manner hereinafter provided. The Board may require any officer to give security for the faithful performance of his duties.

Any officer may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Board, the Chairman, the President or the Secretary. Such resignation shall take effect at the time specified therein or, if the time be not specified, at the time it is accepted by action of the Board. Except as aforesaid, the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.

All officers and agents elected or appointed by the Board shall be subject to removal at any time by the Board or by the stockholders of the Company with or without cause.

4.5 Vacancies.

If the office of Chairman, President, Secretary or Treasurer becomes vacant for any reason, the Board shall fill such vacancy, and if any other office becomes vacant, the Board may fill such vacancy. Any officer so appointed or elected by the Board shall serve only until such time as the unexpired term of his predecessor shall have expired, unless reelected or reappointed by the Board.

4.6 The Chairman.

The Chairman shall give counsel and advice to the Board and the officers of the Company on all subjects concerning the welfare of the Company and the conduct of its business and shall perform such other duties as the Board may from time to time determine. Unless otherwise determined by the Board, he shall preside at meetings of the Board and of the stockholders at which he is present.

4.7 The President.

Unless otherwise determined by the Board, the President shall be the chief executive officer of the Company. The President shall have general and active management and control of the business and affairs of the Company subject to the control of the Board and shall see that all orders and resolutions of the Board are carried into effect. The President shall from time to time make such reports of the affairs of the Company as the Board may require and shall perform such other duties as the Board may from time to time determine.

 

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4.8 The Secretary.

The Secretary shall, to the extent practicable, attend all meetings of the Board and all meetings of the stockholders and shall record all votes and the minutes of all proceedings in a book to be kept for that purpose. He may give, or cause to be given, notice of all meetings of the stockholders and of the Board, and shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board, the Chairman or the President, under whose supervision he shall act. He shall keep in safe custody the seal of the Company and affix the same to any duly authorized instrument requiring it and, when so affixed, it shall be attested by his signature or by the signature of the Treasurer or, if appointed, an Assistant Secretary or an Assistant Treasurer. He shall keep in safe custody the certificate books and stockholder records and such other books and records as the Board may direct, and shall perform all other duties incident to the office of Secretary and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him by the Board, the Chairman or the President.

4.9 The Treasurer.

The Treasurer shall have the care and custody of the corporate funds and other valuable effects, including securities, shall keep full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the Company and shall deposit all moneys and other valuable effects in the name and to the credit of the Company in such depositories as may be designated by the Board. The Treasurer shall disburse the funds of the Company as may be ordered by the Board, taking proper vouchers for such disbursements, shall render to the Chairman, President and directors, at the regular meetings of the Board or whenever they may require it, an account of all his transactions as Treasurer and of the financial condition of the Company and shall perform all other duties incident to the office of Treasurer and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him by the Board, the Chairman or the President.

ARTICLE V

Contracts, Checks, Drafts, Bank Accounts, Etc.

5.1 Execution of Documents.

The Board shall designate, by either specific or general resolution, the officers, employees and agents of the Company who shall have the power to execute and deliver deeds, contracts, mortgages, bonds, debentures, checks, drafts and other orders for the payment of money and other documents for and in the name of the Company, and may authorize such officers, employees and agents to delegate such power (including authority to redelegate) by written instrument to other officers, employees or agents of the Company. Unless so designated or expressly authorized by these By-laws, no officer, employee or agent shall have any power or authority to bind the Company by any contract or engagement, to pledge its credit or to render it liable pecuniarily for any purpose or amount.

 

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5.2 Deposits.

All funds of the Company not otherwise employed shall be deposited from time to time to the credit of the Company or otherwise as the Board or Treasurer, or any other officer of the Company to whom power in this respect shall have been given by the Board, shall select.

5.3 Proxies with Respect to Stock or Other Securities of Other Corporations.

The Board shall designate the officers of the Company who shall have authority from time to time to appoint an agent or agents of the Company to exercise in the name and on behalf of the Company the powers and rights which the Company may have as the holder of stock or other securities in any other entity, and to vote or consent with respect to such stock or securities. Such designated officers may instruct the person or persons so appointed as to the manner of exercising such powers and rights, and such designated officers may execute or cause to be executed in the name and on behalf of the Company and under its corporate seal or otherwise, such written proxies, powers of attorney or other instruments as they may deem necessary or proper in order that the Company may exercise its powers and rights.

ARTICLE VI

Shares and Their Transfer; Fixing Record Date

6.1 Certificates for Shares.

Every owner of stock of the Company shall be entitled to have a certificate certifying the number and class of shares owned by him in the Company, which shall be in such form as shall be prescribed by the Board. Certificates shall be numbered and issued in consecutive order and shall be signed by, or in the name of, the Company by the Chairman, the President or any Vice President, and by the Treasurer (or an Assistant Treasurer, if appointed) or the Secretary (or an Assistant Secretary, if appointed). In case any officer or officers who shall have signed any such certificate or certificates shall cease to be such officer or officers of the Company, whether because of death, resignation or otherwise, before such certificate or certificates shall have been delivered by the Company, such certificate or certificates may nevertheless be adopted by the Company and be issued and delivered as though the person or persons who signed such certificate had not ceased to be such officer or officers of the Company.

6.2 Record.

A record in one or more counterparts shall be kept of the name of the person, firm or Company owning the shares represented by each certificate for stock of the Company issued, the number of shares represented by each such certificate, the date thereof and, in the case of cancellation, the date of cancellation. Except as otherwise expressly required by law, the person in whose name shares of stock stand on the stock record of the Company shall be deemed the owner thereof for all purposes regarding the Company.

 

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6.3 Transfer and Registration of Stock.

The transfer of stock and certificates which represent the stock of the Company shall be governed by Article 8 of Subtitle 1 of Title 6 of the Delaware Code (the Uniform Commercial Code), as amended from time to time.

Registration of transfers of shares of the Company shall be made only on the books of the Company upon request of the registered holder thereof, or of his attorney thereunto authorized by power of attorney duly executed and filed with the Secretary of the Company, and upon the surrender of the certificate or certificates for such shares properly endorsed or accompanied by a stock power duly executed.

6.4 Addresses of Stockholders.

Each stockholder shall designate to the Secretary an address at which notices of meetings and all other corporate notices may be served or mailed to him, and, if any stockholder shall fail to designate such address, corporate notices may be served upon him by mail directed to him at his post-office address, if any, as the same appears on the share record books of the Company or at his last known post-office address.

6.5 Lost, Destroyed and Mutilated Certificates.

The holder of any shares of the Company shall immediately notify the Company of any loss, destruction or mutilation of the certificate therefor, and the Board may, in its discretion, cause to be issued to him a new certificate or certificates for such shares, upon the surrender of the mutilated certificates or, in the case of loss or destruction of the certificate, upon satisfactory proof of such loss or destruction, and the Board may, in its discretion, require the owner of the lost or destroyed certificate or his legal representative to give the Company a bond in such sum and with such surety or sureties as it may direct to indemnify the Company against any claim that may be made against it on account of the alleged loss or destruction of any such certificate.

6.6 Regulations.

The Board may make such rules and regulations as it may deem expedient, not inconsistent with these By-laws, concerning the issue, transfer and registration of certificates for stock of the Company.

6.7 Fixing Date for Determination of Stockholders of Record.

(a) In order that the Company may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, the Board may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board, and which record date shall be not more than 60 nor less than 10 days before the date of such meeting. If no record date is fixed by the Board, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice is given, or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held. A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided , however , that the Board may fix a new record date for the adjourned meeting.

 

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(b) In order that the Company may determine the stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, the Board may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board, and which date shall be not more than 10 days after the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board. If no record date has been fixed by the Board, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, when no prior action by the Board is required by the DGCL, shall be the first date on which a signed written consent setting forth the action taken or proposed to be taken is delivered to the Company by delivery to its registered office in the State of Delaware, its principal place of business or an officer or agent of the Company having custody of the book in which proceedings of meetings of stockholders are recorded. Delivery made to the Company’s registered office shall be by hand or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested. If no record date has been fixed by the Board and prior action by the Board is required by the DGCL, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board adopts the resolution taking such prior action.

(c) In order that the Company may determine the stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights or the stockholders entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock, or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted, and which record date shall be not more than 60 days prior to such action. If no record date is fixed, the record date for determining stockholders for any such purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board adopts the resolution relating thereto.

ARTICLE VII

Seal

The Board may provide a corporate seal, which shall be in the form of a circle and shall bear the full name of the Company, the year of incorporation of the Company and the words and figures “Corporate Seal – Delaware.”

ARTICLE VIII

Fiscal Year

The fiscal year of the Company shall be the calendar year unless otherwise determined by the Board.

 

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ARTICLE IX

Indemnification and Insurance

9.1 Indemnification.

(a) As provided in the Certificate, to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL as the same exists or may hereafter be amended, a director of the Company shall not be liable to the Company or its stockholders for breach of fiduciary duty as a director.

(b) Without limitation of any right conferred by paragraph (a) of this Section 9.1, each person who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise involved in any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (hereinafter a “proceeding”), by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director, officer or employee of the Company or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer or employee of another Company or of a partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan (hereinafter an “indemnitee”), whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity while serving as a director, officer or employee or in any other capacity while serving as a director, officer or employee, shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company to the fullest extent authorized by the DGCL, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended (but, in the case of any such amendment, only to the extent that such amendment permits the Company to provide broader indemnification rights than permitted prior thereto), against all expense, liability and loss (including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, excise taxes or amounts paid in settlement) reasonably incurred or suffered by such indemnitee in connection therewith and such indemnification shall continue as to an indemnitee who has ceased to be a director, officer or employee and shall inure to the benefit of the indemnitee’s heirs, testators, intestates, executors and administrators; provided , however , that such person acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the Company, and with respect to a criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful; provided , further , however , that no indemnification shall be made in the case of an action, suit or proceeding by or in the right of the Company in relation to matters as to which it shall be adjudged in such action, suit or proceeding that such director, officer, employee or agent is liable to the Company, unless a court having jurisdiction shall determine that, despite such adjudication, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification; provided , further , however , that, except as provided in Section 9.1(c) of this Article IX with respect to proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification, the Company shall indemnify any such indemnitee in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such indemnitee only if such proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such indemnitee was authorized by the Board of the Company. The right to indemnification conferred in this Article IX shall be a contract right and shall include the right to be paid by the Company the expenses incurred in defending any such proceeding in advance of its final disposition (hereinafter an “advancement of expenses”); provided , however , that, if the DGCL requires, an advancement of expenses incurred by an indemnitee in his or her capacity as a director or officer (and not in any other capacity in which service was or is rendered by such indemnitee, including, without limitation, service to an employee benefit plan) shall be made only upon delivery to the Company of an undertaking (hereinafter an “undertaking”), by or on behalf of such indemnitee, to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined by final judicial decision from which there is no further right to appeal (hereinafter a “final adjudication”) (i) that such indemnitee breached his fiduciary duty to the Company or (ii) that such indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified for such expenses under this Section or otherwise.

 

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(c) If a claim under Section 9.1(b) of this Article IX is not paid in full by the Company with 60 days after a written claim has been received by the Company, except in the case of a claim for an advancement of expenses, in which case the applicable period shall be 10 days, the indemnitee may at any time thereafter bring suit against the Company to recover the unpaid amount of the claim. If successful in whole or in part in any such suit, or in a suit brought by the Company to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of any undertaking, the indemnitee shall be entitled to be paid also the expense of prosecuting or defending such suit. In (i) any suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right to indemnification hereunder (but not in a suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right to an advancement of expenses) it shall be a defense that, and (ii) in any suit by the Company to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the Company shall be entitled to recover such expenses upon a final adjudication that, the indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the DGCL. Neither the failure of the Company (including the Board, independent legal counsel, or the stockholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such suit that indemnification of the indemnitee is proper in the circumstances because the indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the DGCL, nor an actual determination by the Company (including the Board, independent legal counsel or the stockholders) that the indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall create a presumption that the indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct or, in the case of such a suit brought by the indemnitee, be a defense to such suit. In any suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right to indemnification or to an advancement of expenses hereunder, or by the Company to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the burden of proving that the indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified, or to such advancement of expenses, under this Section or otherwise shall be on the Company.

(d) The rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses conferred in this Article IX shall not be exclusive of any other right which any person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, the Certificate, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.

9.2 Insurance.

The Company may purchase and maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect itself and any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or any person who is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employer or agent of another Company, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any expense, liability or loss, whether or not the Company would have the power to indemnify such person against such expense, liability or loss under the DGCL.

ARTICLE X

Amendment

Any by-law (including these By-laws) may be adopted, amended or repealed by the vote of the holders of a majority of the shares then entitled to vote or by the stockholders’ written consent pursuant to Section 2.10 of Article II, or by the vote of the Board or by the directors’ written consent pursuant to Section 3.6 of Article III.

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Exhibit 3.7

CERTIFICATE OF FORMATION

OF

CENDANT MEMBERSHIP SERVICES HOLDINGS LLC

1. The name of the limited liability company is Cendant Membership Services Holdings LLC.

2. The address of its registered office in the State of Delaware is 2711 Centerville Road, Suite 400, in the City of Wilmington, County of New Castle. The name of its registered agent at such address is: Corporation Service Company.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Certificate of Formation on this 27th day of December, 2004.

 

CENDANT MEMBERSHIP SERVICES

HOLDINGS LLC

By:

 

/s/ Lynn A. Feldman

 

Name: Lynn A. Feldman

 

Title: Authorized Person


CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT TO

CERTIFICATE OF FORMATION

OF

CENDANT MEMBERSHIP SERVICES HOLDINGS LLC

It is hereby certified that;

1. The name of the limited liability company (hereinafter called the “limited liability company”) is Cendant Membership Services Holdings LLC.

2. The certificate of formation of the limited liability company is hereby amended by striking out Article 1 thereof and by substituting in lieu of said Article 1 the following new Article:

“1. The name of the limited liability company is Cendant Marketing Group, LLC.”

Executed on April 14, 2005

 

/s/ Lynn A. Feldman

Lynn A. Feldman, Authorized Person


CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT TO

CERTIFICATE OF FORMATION

OF

CENDANT MARKETING GROUP, LLC

It is hereby certified that:

1. The name of the limited liability company (hereinafter called the “limited liability company”) is Cendant Marketing Group, LLC.

2. The certificate of formation of the limited liability company is hereby amended by striking out Article 1 thereof and by substituting in lieu of said Article 1 the following new Article:

“1. The name of the limited liability company is Affinion Marketing Group, LLC.”

Executed on September 22, 2005

 

/s/ Lynn A. Feldman

Lynn A. Feldman, Authorized Person


CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION

TO THE CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT

OF THE CERTIFICATE OF FORMATION

OF

AFFINION MARKETING GROUP, LLC

This Certificate of Correction of Affinion Marketing Group, LLC (the “ Company ”), dated September 28, 2005, is tiled under Sections 206 and 211 of the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act (6 Del. C. § 18-101 et seq .).

 

  1. The name of the Company as listed on the current certificate of formation is Affinion Marketing Group, LLC.

 

  2. The certificate of amendment of the certificate of formation of the Company (the “ Certificate ”) was filed on September 27, 2005.

 

  3. The Certificate incorrectly stated the Company’s new name.

 

  4. Article 2 of the Certificate is corrected by replacing it in its entirety as follows:

“2. The certificate of formation of the limited liability company is hereby amended by striking out Article I thereof and by substituting in lieu of said Article I the following new Article:

“1. The name of the limited liability company is Affinion Group, LLC.”

 

/s/ Lynn A. Feldman

Lynn A. Feldman, Authorized Person

Exhibit 3.8

LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT

OF

CENDANT MARKETING GROUP, LLC

THIS LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) of Cendant Marketing Group, LLC (the “Company”) dated as of this 16 th day of December, 2004, by Cendant Corporation, as the sole member of the Company (the “Member”).

RECITAL

The Member has formed the Company as a limited liability company under the laws of the State of Delaware and desires to enter into a written agreement, in accordance with the provisions of the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act and any successor statute, as amended from time to time (the “Act”), governing the affairs of the Company and the conduct of its business.

ARTICLE I

The Limited Liability Company

1.1 Formation . The Member has previously formed the Company as a limited liability company pursuant to the provisions of the Act. A certificate of formation for the Company as described in Section 18-201 of the Act (the “Certificate of Formation”) has been filed in the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware in conformity with the Act.

1.2 Name . The name of the Company shall be “Cendant Marketing Group, LLC” and its business shall be carried on in such name with such variations and changes as the Member shall determine or deem necessary to comply with requirements of the jurisdictions in which the Company’s operations are conducted.

1.3 Business Purpose; Powers . The Company is formed for the purpose of engaging in any lawful business, purpose or activity for which limited liability companies may be formed under the Act. The Company shall possess and may exercise all the powers and privileges granted by the Act or by any other law or by this Agreement, together with any powers incidental thereto, so far as such powers and privileges are necessary or convenient to the conduct, promotion or attainment of the business purposes or activities of the Company.

1.4 Registered Office and Agent . The location of the registered office of the Company shall be 2711 Centerville Road, Suite 400, Wilmington, County of New Castle, Delaware. The Company’s Registered Agent at such address shall be Corporation Service Company.

1.5 Term . Subject to the provisions of Article 6 below, the Company shall have perpetual existence.


ARTICLE II

The Member

2.1 The Member . The name and address of the Member is as follows:

 

Name

   Address

Cendant Corporation

   9 West 57 th Street, 37th Floor, New York, NY 10019

2.2 Actions by the Member; Meetings . The Member may approve a matter or take any action at a meeting or without a meeting by the written consent of the Member. Meetings of the Member may be called at any time by the Member.

2.3 Liability of the Member . All debts, obligations and liabilities of the Company, whether arising in contract, tort or otherwise, shall be solely the debts, obligations and liabilities of the Company, and the Member shall not be obligated personally for any such debt, obligation or liability of the Company solely by reason of being a member.

2.4 Power to Bind the Company . The Member (acting in its capacity as such) shall have the authority to bind the Company to any third party with respect to any matter.

2.5 Admission of Members . New members shall be admitted only upon the approval of the Member.

ARTICLE III

Management by the Member

3.1 The management of the Company is fully reserved to the Member, and the Company shall not have “managers,” as that term is used in the Act. The powers of the Company shall be exercised by or under the authority of, and the business and affairs of the Company shall be managed under the direction of, the Member, who shall make all decisions and take all actions for the Company. In managing the business and affairs of the Company and exercising its powers, the Member shall act through resolutions adopted in written consents. Decisions or actions taken by the Member in accordance with this Agreement shall constitute decisions or action by the Company and shall be binding on the Company.

3.2 Officers and Related Persons . The Member shall have the authority to appoint and terminate officers of the Company and retain and terminate employees, agents and consultants of the Company and to delegate such duties to any such officers, employees, agents and consultants as the Member deems appropriate, including the power, acting individually or jointly, to represent and bind the Company in all matters, in accordance with the scope of their respective duties.

ARTICLE IV

Capital Structure and Contributions

4.1 Capital Structure . The capital structure of the Company shall consist of one class of common interests (the “Common Interests”). All Common Interests shall be

 

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identical with each other in every respect. The Member shall own all of the Common Interests issued and outstanding.

4.2 Capital Contributions . From time to time, the Member may determine that the Company requires capital and may make capital contribution(s) in an amount determined by the Member.

ARTICLE V

Profits, Losses and Distributions

5.1 Profits and Losses . For financial accounting purposes, the Company’s net profits or net losses shall be determined on an annual basis in accordance with the manner determined by the Member. In each year, profits and losses shall be allocated entirely to the Member.

5.2 Distributions . The Member shall determine profits available for distribution and the amount, if any, to be distributed to the Member, and shall authorize and distribute on the Common Interests, the determined amount when, as and if declared by the Member. The distributions of the Company shall be allocated entirely to the Member.

ARTICLE VI

Events of Dissolution

The Company shall be dissolved and its affairs wound up upon the occurrence of any of the following events (each, an “Event of Dissolution”):

(a) The Member votes for dissolution; or

(b) A judicial dissolution of the Company under Section 18-802 of the Act.

ARTICLE VII

Transfer of Interests in the Company

The Member may sell, assign, transfer, convey, gift, exchange or otherwise dispose of any or all of its Common Interests and, upon receipt by the Company of a written agreement executed by the person or entity to whom such Common Interests are to be transferred agreeing to be bound by the terms of this Agreement, such person shall be admitted as a member.

ARTICLE VIII

Exculpation and Indemnification

8.1 Exculpation . Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement, whether express or implied, or any obligation or duty at law or in equity, none of the Member, or any officers, directors, stockholders, partners, employees, affiliates, representatives or agents of any of the Member, nor any officer, employee, representative or agent of the Company (individually, a “Covered Person” and, collectively, the “Covered Persons”) shall be liable to the Company or any other person for any act or omission (in relation to the Company, its property or

 

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the conduct of its business or affairs, this Agreement, any related document or any transaction or investment contemplated hereby or thereby) taken or omitted by a Covered Person in the reasonable belief that such act or omission is in or is not contrary to the best interests of the Company and is within the scope of authority granted to such Covered Person by the Agreement, provided such act or omission does not constitute fraud, willful misconduct, bad faith, or gross negligence.

8.2 Indemnification . To the fullest extent permitted by law the Company shall indemnify and hold harmless each Covered Person from and against any and all losses, claims, demands, liabilities, expenses, judgments, fines, settlements and other amounts arising from any and all claims, demands, actions, suits or proceedings, civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (“Claims”), in which the Covered Person may be involved, or threatened to be involved, as a party or otherwise, by reason of its management of the affairs of the Company or which relates to or arises out of the Company or its property, business or affairs. A Covered Person shall not be entitled to indemnification under this Section 8.2 with respect to (i) any Claim with respect to which such Covered Person has engaged in fraud, willful misconduct, bad faith or gross negligence or (ii) any Claim initiated by such Covered Person unless such Claim (or part thereof) (A) was brought to enforce such Covered Person’s rights to indemnification hereunder or (B) was authorized or consented to by the Member. Expenses incurred by a Covered Person in defending any Claim shall be paid by the Company in advance of the final disposition of such Claim upon receipt by the Company of an undertaking by or on behalf of such Covered Person to repay such amount if it shall be ultimately determined that such Covered Person is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company as authorized by this Section 8.2.

8.3 Amendments . Any repeal or modification of this Article VIII by the Member shall not adversely affect any rights of such Covered Person pursuant to this Article VIII, including the right to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses of a Covered Person existing at the time of such repeal or modification with respect to any acts or omissions occurring prior to such repeal or modification.

ARTICLE IX

Miscellaneous

9.1 Tax Treatment . Unless otherwise determined by the Member, the Company shall be a disregarded entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes (as well as for any analogous state or local tax purposes), and the Member and the Company shall timely make any and all necessary elections and filings for the Company to be treated as a disregarded entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes (as well as for any analogous state or local tax purposes).

9.2 Amendments . Amendments to this Agreement and to the Certificate of Formation shall be approved in writing by the Member. An amendment shall become effective as of the date specified in the approval of the Member or if none is specified as of the date of such approval or as otherwise provided in the Act.

9.3 Severability . If any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid or unenforceable for any reason, such provision shall be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity or unenforceability; provided , however , that the remaining provisions will continue in full force

 

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without being impaired or invalidated in any way unless such invalid or unenforceable provision or clause shall be so significant as to materially affect the expectations of the Member regarding this Agreement. Otherwise, any invalid or unenforceable provision shall be replaced by the Member with a valid provision which most closely approximates the intent and economic effect of the invalid or unenforceable provision.

9.4 Governing Law . This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware without regard to the principles of conflicts of laws thereof.

9.5 Limited Liability Company . The Member intends to form a limited liability company and does not intend to form a partnership under the laws of the State of Delaware or any other laws.

 

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Exhibit 3.9

CERTIFICATE OF FORMATION

OF

AFFINION PUBLISHING, LLC

December 28, 2005

This Certificate of Formation of Affinion Publishing, LLC is being duly executed and filed by Nathaniel J. Lipman, as an authorized person to form a limited liability company under the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act (6 Del . C . §18-101 et seq .).

The undersigned, being duly authorized to execute and file this Certificate of Formation, hereby certifies that:

FIRST : The name of the limited liability company is Affinion Publishing, LLC.

SECOND : The address of the registered office and the name and the address of the registered agent of the limited liability company required to be maintained by Section 18 -104 of the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act are National Registered Agents, Inc., 160 Greentree Drive, Suite 101, Dover, County of Kent, Delaware 19904.

THIRD : The Formation is to become effective on December 31, 2005 at 11:00 am Eastern Standard Time.

* * * * *


IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the undersigned has duly executed this Certificate of Formation as of the date first written above.

 

By:

 

/s/ Nathaniel J. Lipman

Name:

 

Nathaniel J. Lipman

Title:

 

Authorized Person

Exhibit 3.10

 

 

AFFINION PUBLISHING, LLC

(a Delaware Limited Liability Company)

 

 

 


OPERATING AGREEMENT

 


 

 

December 31, 2005


 

LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY OPERATING AGREEMENT  of  AFFINION

PUBLISHING, LLC, ) dated and effective as of

December 31, 2005 (this “ Agreement ”).

 

Progeny Marketing Innovations Inc. (the “ Member ”) has formed a limited liability company (the “ Company ”) pursuant to the provisions of the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act, 6 Del . C . § 18-101 et seq . (the “ Delaware Act ”) that from and after the date hereof shall be governed by, and operated pursuant to, the terms and provisions of this Agreement.

ACCORDINGLY the Member agrees as follows:

 

1. Name .

The name of the Company shall be Affinion Publishing, LLC, or such other name as the Member may from time to time hereafter designate.

 

2. Purpose .

The Company may engage in any lawful act or activity for which limited liability companies may be formed under the Delaware Act and may engage in any and all activities necessary or incidental to the foregoing.

 

3. Offices .

(a) The principal office of the Company, and such additional offices as the Member may determine to establish, shall be located at such place or places inside or outside the State of Delaware as the Member may designate from time to time.

(b) The registered office of the Company in the State of Delaware is located at 160 Greentree Drive, Suite 101, Dover, County of Kent, Delaware 19904. The registered agent of the Company at such address is National Registered Agents, Inc.

 

4. Management of the Company; Officers; Formation .

(a) Subject to the delegation of rights and powers provided for herein the Member shall have the sole right to manage the business of the Company and shall have all powers and rights necessary, appropriate or advisable to effectuate and carry out the purposes and business of the Company, and is authorized to execute any document on behalf of the Company in all cases consistent with this Agreement and the Member’s Certificate of Formation, in each case as in effect from time to time.

(b) The Member shall have the authority to appoint and terminate officers or managers of the Company, and retain and terminate employees, agents and consultants of the Company, and to delegate such duties to any such officers, managers, employees, agents and consultants as the Member deems appropriate, including the power, acting individually or jointly, to represent and bind the Company in all matters.

 

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5. Membership Units .

The Company shall be authorized to issue 1,000 membership units (the “ Membership Units ”). The Company shall issue 100 Membership Units to the Member. Membership Units shall, for all purposes, be personal property. The Membership Units shall not be certificated.

 

6. Capital Contribution .

Prior to the conversion of the Company from a corporation to a limited liability company, the Member made contributions of capital to the Company. The Member shall not be obligated to make any further capital contributions to the Company but may, in its sole discretion, make additional capital contributions to the Company from time to time. Any and all capital contributions to the Company may be made by the Member in the form of cash or other assets.

 

7. Allocation of Profits and Losses .

The Company’s profits and losses shall be allocated 100% to the Member or in a manner otherwise determined by the Member.

 

8. Distributions .

Distributions of cash or property shall be made at such times and in such amounts as determined by the Member.

 

9. Dissolution .

(a) Subject to the provisions of Section 9(b) , the Company shall be dissolved and its affairs wound up and terminated upon the first to occur of the following:

 

  (i) the determination of the Member to dissolve the Company; or

 

  (ii) the withdrawal of the Member or the occurrence of any other event causing a dissolution of the Company under Section 18-801 of the Delaware Act.

(b) Upon dissolution of the Company, the Company’s affairs shall be promptly wound up. The Company shall engage in no further business except as may be necessary, in the reasonable discretion of the Member, to preserve the value of the Company’s assets during the period of dissolution and liquidation.

 

10. Administrative Matters .

 

  (a) The Company shall be disregarded for federal income tax purposes.

 

  (b) Unless otherwise determined by the Member, the fiscal year of the Company shall be the calendar year.

 

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11. Admission of Additional Members .

One or more additional members of the Company may be admitted to the Company with the consent of the Member.

 

12. Limitation on Liability, Indemnification .

(a) Except as otherwise provided by the Delaware Act, the debts, obligations and liabilities of the Company, whether arising in contract, tort or otherwise, shall be solely the debts, obligations and liabilities of the Company, and the Member shall not be obligated for any such debt, obligation or liability of the Company.

(b) The Company shall, to the fullest extent authorized by the Delaware Act, indemnify and hold harmless the Member from and against any and all claims and demands arising by reason of the fact that the Member is, or was, a member of the Company.

 

13. Severability .

If any provision of this Agreement shall be determined to be illegal or unenforceable by any court of law, the remaining provisions shall be severable and enforceable in accordance with their terms.

 

14. Entire Agreement; Amendment .

(a) This Agreement and the other writings referred to herein contain the entire agreement with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede all prior agreements and understandings with respect thereto.

(b) Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement or the Delaware Act, this Agreement may be amended only by the written consent of the Members to such effect.

 

15. Governing Law; Jurisdiction .

(a) The law of the State of Delaware, without regard to its conflicts of law principles, shall govern the validity of this Agreement, the construction and interpretation of its terms, the organization and internal affairs of the Company and the limited liability of any managers, Member(s) and other owners.

(b) Any action or proceeding seeking to enforce any provision of, or based on any right arising out of, this Agreement may be brought against any of the parties only in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware, and each of the parties consents to the jurisdiction of such court (and of the appropriate appellate courts) in any such action or proceeding and waives any objection to venue laid therein.

 

 

    *    *    *    *    *    

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has duly executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

 

PROGENY MARKETING INNOVATIONS INC.

By:

  /s/ Nathaniel J. Lipman
   
  Name: Nathaniel J. Lipman
  Title:

 

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Exhibit 3.11

ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION

OF

CARDWELL AGENCY, INC.

ARTICLE I

The name of the corporation is Cardwell Agency, Inc.

ARTICLE II

The purposes for which the corporation is organized are as follows:

1. As insurance agent to solicit, sell, service, adjust, advertise, advise on, collect and transmit premiums and other charges for, and otherwise deal in and with all forms and classes of insurance and reinsurance including, but not limited to, those classified and defined by Article 2 of chapter 1 of Title 38.1 of the Code of Virginia.

2. To have and exercise the power to carry on business of any character whatsoever that is not prohibited by law or required to be stated in these articles, and to enter into partnership agreements with other corporations and individuals.

ARTICLE III

The aggregate number of shares which the corporation shall have authority to issue is 500 shares of common stock, $100.00 par value. Each share of common stock shall entitle the record holder thereof to one vote.

ARTICLE IV

Each person now or hereafter a director or officer of the corporation (and his heirs, executors and administrators) shall be indemnified by the corporation against all costs and expenses, including all attorneys’ fees, imposed upon or reasonably incurred by him in connection with or resulting from any action, suit, proceeding, or claim to which he is or may be made a party by reason of his being or having been a director or officer of the corporation or at its request, of any other corporation (whether or not a director or officer at the time such cost or expenses are incurred by or imposed upon him), except in relation to matters as to which he shall have been finally adjudged in such action, suit, proceeding, or upon such claim, to be liable for negligence or malfeasance in the performance of his duties as such director or officer. In case of settlement of any such action, suit, proceeding, or claim, such person shall be entitled to such indemnification (including the amount of settlement) as to any particular matter, if (i) the corporation shall receive the opinion of independent counsel that such person was not liable for the alleged negligence or malfeasance with respect to such matter and that the terms of settlement with respect thereto are not unreasonable, or (ii) the holders of a majority of voting


stock (other than directors and officers entitled to indemnification in connection with the acts or omissions involved) shall approve the settlement. The foregoing indemnification shall not be exclusive of any other rights to which he may be entitled.

ARTICLE V

The address of the initial registered office of the Corporation is P. O. Box 100, Crozier, Virginia 23039, which is in the County of Goochland, Virignia, and the name of the initial registered agent at such address is JoAnne L. Nolte, who is a resident of Virginia and a member of the Virginia State Bar.

ARTICLE VI

The number of directors constituting the initial Board of Directors is four, and their names and addresses are:

 

Name

  

Address

Eugene B. Moranville

  

24 West Runswick Drive

Richmond, VA 23233

J. Wesley Hall, Jr.

  

1716 Cloister Drive

Richmond, VA 23233

Patsi F. Hail

  

1716 Cloister Drive

Richmond, VA 23233

Francis M. Fenderson

  

9901 Drouin Drive

Richmond, VA 23233

Executed this 30th day of May, 1986.


/s/ Francis M. Fenderson

Francis M. Fenderson

STATE OF VIRGINIA

CITY OF RICHMOND

I, the undersigned, a Notary Public in and for the City and State aforesaid, do hereby certify that Francis M. Fenderson, whose name is signed to the foregoing Articles of Incorporation, bearing date the 30th day of May, 1986, has this day acknowledged the same before me in my jurisdiction aforesaid.

Given under my hand this 4th day of June, 1986.

My commission expires: 1-3-90.

 

Illegible

Notary Public

Exhibit 3.12

AMENDED AND RESTATED

BY-LAWS OF

CARDWELL AGENCY, INC.

ARTICLE I

Offices

1.1 Registered Office.

The registered office of Cardwell Agency, Inc. (the “Company”) in the State of Virginia shall be P.O. Box 100, Crozier, Virginia, 23039, County of Goochland, Virginia. The name of the registered agent of the Company at such address is Joanne L. Nolte.

1.2 Other Offices.

The Company may also have an office or offices at any other place or places within or outside the State of Virginia.

ARTICLE II

Meeting of Stockholders; Stockholders’ Consent in Lieu of Meeting

2.1 Annual Meetings.

The annual meeting of the stockholders for the election of directors, and for the transaction of such other business as may properly come before the meeting, shall be held at such place, date and hour as shall be fixed by the Board of Directors (the “Board”) and designated in the notice or waiver of notice thereof, except that no annual meeting need be held if all actions, including the election of directors, required by the Virginia Stock Corporation Act (the “VCA”) to be taken at a stockholders’ annual meeting are taken by written consent in lieu of meeting pursuant to Section 2.10 of this Article II.

2.2 Special Meetings.

A special meeting of the stockholders for any purpose or purposes may be called by the Board, the Chairman, the President or the record holders of at least a majority of the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company, to be held at such place, date and hour as shall be designated in the notice or waiver of notice thereof.


2.3 Notice of Meetings.

Except as otherwise required by statute, the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (the “Certificate”) or these By-laws, notice of each annual or special meeting of the stockholders shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at such meeting not less than 10 nor more than 60 days before the day on which the meeting is to be held, by delivering written notice thereof to him personally, or by mailing a copy of such notice, postage prepaid, directly to him at his address as it appears in the records of the Company, or by transmitting such notice thereof to him at such address by telegraph, cable or other telephonic transmission. Every such notice shall state the place, the date and hour of the meeting, and, in case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called. Notice of any meeting of stockholders shall not be required to be given to any stockholder who shall attend such meeting in person or by proxy, or who shall, in person or by his attorney thereunto authorized, waive such notice in writing, either before or after such meeting. Except as otherwise provided in these By-laws, neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any meeting of the stockholders need be specified in any such notice or waiver of notice. Notice of any adjourned meeting of stockholders shall not be required to be given, except when expressly required by law.

2.4 Quorum.

At each meeting of the stockholders, except where otherwise provided by the Certificate or these By-laws, the holders of a majority of the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company entitled to vote at such meeting, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. In the absence of a quorum, a majority in interest of the stockholders present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote, or, in the absence of all the stockholders entitled to vote, any officer entitled to preside at, or act as secretary of, such meeting, shall have the power to adjourn the meeting from time to time, until stockholders holding the requisite amount of stock to constitute a quorum shall be present or represented. At any such adjourned meeting at which a quorum shall be present, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the meeting as originally called.

2.5 Organization.

Unless otherwise determined by the Board, at each meeting of the stockholders, one of the following shall act as chairman of the meeting and preside thereat, in the following order of precedence:

(a) the Chairman, if any;

(b) the President;

(c) any director, officer or stockholder of the Company designated by the Board to act as chairman of such meeting and to preside thereat if the Chairman or the President shall be absent from such meeting; or

(d) a stockholder of record who shall be chosen chairman of such meeting by a majority in voting interest of the stockholders present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote thereat.

 

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The Secretary or, if he shall be presiding over such meeting in accordance with the provisions of this Section 2.5 or if he shall be absent from such meeting, the person (who shall be an Assistant Secretary, if an Assistant Secretary has been appointed and is present) whom the chairman of such meeting shall appoint, shall act as secretary of such meeting and keep the minutes thereof.

2.6 Order of Business.

The order of business at each meeting of the stockholders shall be determined by the chairman of such meeting, but such order of business may be changed by a majority in voting interest of those present in person or by proxy at such meeting and entitled to vote thereat.

2.7 Voting.

Except as otherwise provided by law, the Certificate or these By-laws, at each meeting of the stockholders, every stockholder of the Company shall be entitled to one vote in person or by proxy for each share of Common Stock of the Company held by him and registered in his name on the books of the Company on the date fixed pursuant to Section 6.7 of Article VI as the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting. Persons holding stock in a fiduciary capacity shall be entitled to vote the shares so held. A person whose stock is pledged shall be entitled to vote, unless, in the transfer by the pledgor on the books of the Company, he has expressly empowered the pledgee to vote thereon, in which case only the pledgee or his proxy may represent such stock and vote thereon. If shares or other securities having voting power stand in the record of two or more persons, whether fiduciaries, members of a partnership, joint tenants, tenants in common, tenants by the entirety or otherwise, or if two or more persons have the same fiduciary relationship respecting the same shares, unless the Secretary shall be given written notice to the contrary and furnished with a copy of the instrument or order appointing them or creating the relationship wherein it is so provided, their acts with respect to voting shall have the following effect:

(a) if only one votes, his act binds all;

(b) if more than one votes, the act of the majority so voting binds all; and

(c) if more than one votes, but the vote is evenly split on any particular matter, such shares shall be voted in the manner provided by law.

If the instrument so filed shows that any such tenancy is held in unequal interests, a majority or even-split for the purposes of this Section 2.7 shall be a majority or even-split in interest. The Company shall not vote directly or indirectly any share of its own capital stock. Any vote of stock may be given by the stockholder entitled thereto in person or by his proxy appointed by an instrument in writing, subscribed by such stockholder or by his attorney thereunto authorized, delivered to the secretary of the meeting; provided , however , that no proxy shall be voted after three years from its date, unless said proxy provides for a longer period. At all meetings of the stockholders, all matters (except where other provision is made by law, the Certificate or these By-laws) shall be decided by the vote of a majority in interest of the stockholders present in person or by proxy at such meeting and entitled to vote thereon, a quorum being present. Unless demanded by a stockholder present in person or by proxy at any meeting and entitled to vote

 

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thereon, the vote on any question need not be by ballot. Upon a demand by any such stockholder for a vote by ballot upon any question, such vote by ballot shall be taken. On a vote by ballot, each ballot shall be signed by the stockholder voting, or by his proxy, if there be such proxy, and shall state the number of shares voted.

2.8 Inspection.

The chairman of the meeting may at any time appoint one or more inspectors to serve at any meeting of the stockholders. Any inspector may be removed, and a new inspector or inspectors appointed, by the Board at any time. Such inspectors shall decide upon the qualifications of voters, accept and count votes, declare the results of such vote, and subscribe and deliver to the secretary of the meeting a certificate stating the number of shares of stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote thereon and the number of shares voted for and against the question, respectively. The inspectors need not be stockholders of the Company, and any director or officer of the Company may be an inspector on any question other than a vote for or against his election to any position with the Company or on any other matter in which he may be directly interested. Before acting as herein provided, each inspector shall subscribe an oath faithfully to execute the duties of an inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of his ability.

2.9 List of Stockholders.

It shall be the duty of the Secretary or other officer of the Company who shall have charge of its stock ledger to prepare and make, at least 10 days before every meeting of the stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote thereat, arranged in alphabetical order, and showing the address of each stockholder and the number of shares registered in the name of each stockholder. Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to any such meeting, during ordinary business hours, for a period of at least 10 days prior to such meeting, either at a place within the city where such meeting is to be held, which place shall be specified in the notice of the meeting or, if not so specified, at the place where the meeting is to be held. Such list shall also be produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time thereof, and may be inspected by any stockholder who is present.

2.10 Stockholders’ Consent in Lieu of Meeting.

Any action required by the VCA to be taken at any annual or special meeting of the stockholders of the Company, or any action which may be taken at any annual or special meeting of such stockholders, may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, by a consent in writing, as permitted by the VCA.

 

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ARTICLE III

Board of Directors

3.1 General Powers.

The business, property and affairs of the Company shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board, which may exercise all such powers of the Company and do all such lawful acts and things as are not by law or by the Certificate directed or required to be exercised or done by the stockholders.

3.2 Number and Term of Office.

The number of directors shall initially be set at two. Thereafter the number of directors shall be fixed from time to time by the Board. Directors need not be stockholders. Each director shall hold office until his successor is elected and qualified, or until his earlier death or resignation or removal in the manner hereinafter provided.

3.3 Election of Directors.

At each meeting of the stockholders for the election of directors at which a quorum is present, the persons receiving the greatest number of votes, up to the number of directors to be elected, of the stockholders present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote thereon shall be the directors; provided , however , that for purposes of such vote no stockholder shall be allowed to cumulate his votes. Unless an election by ballot shall be demanded as provided in Section 2.7 of Article II, election of directors may be conducted in any manner approved at such meeting.

3.4 Resignation, Removal and Vacancies.

Any director may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Board, the Chairman, the President or the Secretary. Such resignation shall take effect at the time specified therein or, if the time be not specified, upon receipt thereof; and unless otherwise specified therein, the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.

Any director or the entire Board may be removed, with or without cause, at any time, by vote of the holders of a majority of the shares then entitled to vote at an election of directors or by written consent of the stockholders pursuant to Section 2.10 of Article II.

Vacancies occurring on the Board for any reason may be filled by vote of the stockholders or by the stockholders’ written consent pursuant to Section 2.10 of Article II, or by vote of the Board or by the directors’ written consent pursuant to Section 3.6 of this Article III. If the number of directors then in office is less than a quorum, such vacancies may be filled by a vote of a majority of the directors then in office.

3.5 Meetings.

(a) Annual Meetings . As soon as practicable after each annual election of directors, the Board shall meet for the purpose of organization and the transaction of other business, unless it shall have transacted all such business by written consent pursuant to Section 3.6 of this Article III.

(b) Other Meetings . Other meetings of the Board shall be held at such times and at such places as the Board, the Chairman, the President or any director shall from time to time determine.

 

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(c) Notice of Meetings . Notice shall be given to each director of each meeting, including the time, place and purpose of such meeting. Notice of each such meeting shall be mailed to each director, addressed to him at his residence or usual place of business, at least two days before the date on which such meeting is to be held, or shall be sent to him at such place by telegraph, cable, wireless or other form of recorded communication, or be delivered personally or by telephone not later than the day before the day on which such meeting is to be held, but notice need not be given to any director who shall attend such meeting. A written waiver of notice, signed by the person entitled thereto, whether before or after the time of the meeting stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to notice.

(d) Place of Meetings . The Board may hold its meetings at such place or places within or outside the State of Virginia as the Board may from time to time determine, or as shall be designated in the respective notices or waivers of notice thereof.

(e) Quorum and Manner of Acting . A majority of the total number of directors then in office shall be present in person at any meeting of the Board in order to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at such meeting, and the vote of a majority of those directors present at any such meeting at which a quorum is present shall be necessary for the passage of any resolution or act of the Board, except as otherwise expressly required by law or these By-laws. In the absence of a quorum for any such meeting, a majority of the directors present thereat may adjourn such meeting from time to time until a quorum shall be present.

(f) Organization . At each meeting of the Board, one of the following shall act as chairman of the meeting and preside thereat, in the following order of precedence:

(i) the Chairman, if any;

(ii) the President (if a director); or

(iii) any director designated by a majority of the directors present.

The Secretary or, in the case of his absence, an Assistant Secretary, if an Assistant Secretary has been appointed and is present, or any person whom the chairman of the meeting shall appoint shall act as secretary of such meeting and keep the minutes thereof.

3.6 Directors’ Consent in Lieu of Meeting.

Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, if a consent in writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by all of the directors then in office and such consent is filed with the minutes of the proceedings of the Board.

3.7 Action by Means of Conference Telephone or Similar Communications Equipment.

Any one or more members of the Board may participate in a meeting of the Board by means of conference telephone or similar communications equipment by which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and participation in a meeting by such means shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.

 

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3.8 Committees.

The Board may, by resolution or resolutions passed by a majority of the whole Board, designate one or more committees, such committee or committees to have such name or names as may be determined from time to time by resolution adopted by the Board, and each such committee to consist of one or more directors of the Company, which to the extent provided in said resolution or resolutions shall have and may exercise the powers of the Board in the management of the business and affairs of the Company and may authorize the seal of the Company to be affixed to all papers which may require it. A majority of all the members of any such committee may determine its action and fix the time and place of its meetings, unless the Board shall otherwise provide. The Board shall have power to change the members of any such committee at any time, to fill vacancies and to discharge any such committee, either with or without cause, at any time.

ARTICLE IV

Officers

4.1 Executive Officers.

The principal officers of the Company shall be a Chairman, if one is appointed (and any references to the Chairman shall not apply if a Chairman has not been appointed), a President, a Secretary and a Treasurer, and may include such other officers as the Board may appoint pursuant to Section 4.3 of this Article IV. Any two or more offices may be held by the same person.

4.2 Authority and Duties.

All officers, as between themselves and the Company, shall have such authority and perform such duties in the management of the Company as may be provided in these By-laws or, to the extent so provided, by the Board.

4.3 Other Officers.

The Company may have such other officers, agents and employees as the Board may deem necessary, including one or more Chief Executive Officers, Co-Chief Executive Officers, Chief Operating Officers, Co-Chief Operating Officers, Chief Financial Officers, Co-Chief Financial Officers, Executive Vice Presidents, Vice Presidents, Assistant Secretaries, and Assistant Treasurers, each of whom shall hold office for such period, have such authority and perform such duties as the Board, the Chairman or the President may from time to time determine. The Board may delegate to any principal officer the power to appoint and define the authority and duties of, or remove, any such officers, agents or employees.

4.4 Term of Office, Resignation and Removal.

All officers shall be elected or appointed by the Board and shall hold office for such term as may be prescribed by the Board. Each officer shall hold office until his successor has been

 

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elected or appointed and qualified or until his earlier death or resignation or removal in the manner hereinafter provided. The Board may require any officer to give security for the faithful performance of his duties.

Any officer may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Board, the Chairman, the President or the Secretary. Such resignation shall take effect at the time specified therein or, if the time be not specified, at the time it is accepted by action of the Board. Except as aforesaid, the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.

All officers and agents elected or appointed by the Board shall be subject to removal at any time by the Board or by the stockholders of the Company with or without cause.

4.5 Vacancies.

If the office of Chairman, President, Secretary or Treasurer becomes vacant for any reason, the Board shall fill such vacancy, and if any other office becomes vacant, the Board may fill such vacancy. Any officer so appointed or elected by the Board shall serve only until such time as the unexpired term of his predecessor shall have expired, unless reelected or reappointed by the Board.

4.6 The Chairman.

The Chairman shall give counsel and advice to the Board and the officers of the Company on all subjects concerning the welfare of the Company and the conduct of its business and shall perform such other duties as the Board may from time to time determine. Unless otherwise determined by the Board, he shall preside at meetings of the Board and of the stockholders at which he is present.

4.7 The President.

Unless otherwise determined by the Board, the President shall be the chief executive officer of the Company. The President shall have general and active management and control of the business and affairs of the Company subject to the control of the Board and shall see that all orders and resolutions of the Board are carried into effect. The President shall from time to time make such reports of the affairs of the Company as the Board may require and shall perform such other duties as the Board may from time to time determine.

4.8 The Secretary.

The Secretary shall, to the extent practicable, attend all meetings of the Board and all meetings of the stockholders and shall record all votes and the minutes of all proceedings in a book to be kept for that purpose. He may give, or cause to be given, notice of all meetings of the stockholders and of the Board, and shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board, the Chairman or the President, under whose supervision he shall act. He shall keep in safe custody the seal of the Company and affix the same to any duly authorized instrument requiring it and, when so affixed, it shall be attested by his signature or by the signature of the Treasurer or, if appointed, an Assistant Secretary or an Assistant Treasurer. He shall keep in safe custody the certificate books and stockholder records and such other books and records as the

 

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Board may direct, and shall perform all other duties incident to the office of Secretary and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him by the Board, the Chairman or the President.

4.9 The Treasurer.

The Treasurer shall have the care and custody of the corporate funds and other valuable effects, including securities, shall keep full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the Company and shall deposit all moneys and other valuable effects in the name and to the credit of the Company in such depositories as may be designated by the Board. The Treasurer shall disburse the funds of the Company as may be ordered by the Board, taking proper vouchers for such disbursements, shall render to the Chairman, President and directors, at the regular meetings of the Board or whenever they may require it, an account of all his transactions as Treasurer and of the financial condition of the Company and shall perform all other duties incident to the office of Treasurer and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him by the Board, the Chairman or the President.

ARTICLE V

Contracts, Checks, Drafts, Bank Accounts, Etc.

5.1 Execution of Documents.

The Board shall designate, by either specific or general resolution, the officers, employees and agents of the Company who shall have the power to execute and deliver deeds, contracts, mortgages, bonds, debentures, checks, drafts and other orders for the payment of money and other documents for and in the name of the Company, and may authorize such officers, employees and agents to delegate such power (including authority to redelegate) by written instrument to other officers, employees or agents of the Company. Unless so designated or expressly authorized by these By-laws, no officer, employee or agent shall have any power or authority to bind the Company by any contract or engagement, to pledge its credit or to render it liable pecuniarily for any purpose or amount.

5.2 Deposits.

All funds of the Company not otherwise employed shall be deposited from time to time to the credit of the Company or otherwise as the Board or Treasurer, or any other officer of the Company to whom power in this respect shall have been given by the Board, shall select.

5.3 Proxies with Respect to Stock or Other Securities of Other Corporations.

The Board shall designate the officers of the Company who shall have authority from time to time to appoint an agent or agents of the Company to exercise in the name and on behalf of the Company the powers and rights which the Company may have as the holder of stock or other securities in any other entity, and to vote or consent with respect to such stock or securities. Such designated officers may instruct the person or persons so appointed as to the manner of exercising such powers and rights, and such designated officers may execute or cause to be

 

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executed in the name and on behalf of the Company and under its corporate seal or otherwise, such written proxies, powers of attorney or other instruments as they may deem necessary or proper in order that the Company may exercise its powers and rights.

ARTICLE VI

Shares and Their Transfer; Fixing Record Date

6.1 Certificates for Shares.

Every owner of stock of the Company shall be entitled to have a certificate certifying the number and class of shares owned by him in the Company, which shall be in such form as shall be prescribed by the Board. Certificates shall be numbered and issued in consecutive order and shall be signed by, or in the name of, the Company by the Chairman, the President or any Vice President, and by the Treasurer (or an Assistant Treasurer, if appointed) or the Secretary (or an Assistant Secretary, if appointed). In case any officer or officers who shall have signed any such certificate or certificates shall cease to be such officer or officers of the Company, whether because of death, resignation or otherwise, before such certificate or certificates shall have been delivered by the Company, such certificate or certificates may nevertheless be adopted by the Company and be issued and delivered as though the person or persons who signed such certificate had not ceased to be such officer or officers of the Company.

6.2 Record.

A record in one or more counterparts shall be kept of the name of the person, firm or Company owning the shares represented by each certificate for stock of the Company issued, the number of shares represented by each such certificate, the date thereof and, in the case of cancellation, the date of cancellation. Except as otherwise expressly required by law, the person in whose name shares of stock stand on the stock record of the Company shall be deemed the owner thereof for all purposes regarding the Company.

6.3 Transfer and Registration of Stock.

The transfer of stock and certificates which represent the stock of the Company shall be governed by Title 8.8A of the Code of Virginia (1950), as amended (the Uniform Commercial Code).

Registration of transfers of shares of the Company shall be made only on the books of the Company upon request of the registered holder thereof, or of his attorney thereunto authorized by power of attorney duly executed and filed with the Secretary of the Company, and upon the surrender of the certificate or certificates for such shares properly endorsed or accompanied by a stock power duly executed.

6.4 Addresses of Stockholders.

Each stockholder shall designate to the Secretary an address at which notices of meetings and all other corporate notices may be served or mailed to him, and, if any stockholder shall fail

 

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to designate such address, corporate notices may be served upon him by mail directed to him at his post-office address, if any, as the same appears on the share record books of the Company or at his last known post-office address.

6.5 Lost, Destroyed and Mutilated Certificates.

The holder of any shares of the Company shall immediately notify the Company of any loss, destruction or mutilation of the certificate therefor, and the Board may, in its discretion, cause to be issued to him a new certificate or certificates for such shares, upon the surrender of the mutilated certificates or, in the case of loss or destruction of the certificate, upon satisfactory proof of such loss or destruction, and the Board may, in its discretion, require the owner of the lost or destroyed certificate or his legal representative to give the Company a bond in such sum and with such surety or sureties as it may direct to indemnify the Company against any claim that may be made against it on account of the alleged loss or destruction of any such certificate.

6.6 Regulations.

The Board may make such rules and regulations as it may deem expedient, not inconsistent with these By-laws, concerning the issue, transfer and registration of certificates for stock of the Company.

6.7 Fixing Date for Determination of Stockholders of Record.

(a) In order that the Company may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, the Board may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board, and which record date shall be not more than 60 nor less than 10 days before the date of such meeting. If no record date is fixed by the Board, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice is given, or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held. A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided , however , that the Board may fix a new record date for the adjourned meeting.

(b) In order that the Company may determine the stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, the Board may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board, and which date shall be not more than 10 days after the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board. If no record date has been fixed by the Board, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, when no prior action by the Board is required by the VCA, shall be the first date on which a signed written consent setting forth the action taken or proposed to be taken is delivered to the Company by delivery to its registered office in the State of Virginia, its principal place of business or an officer or agent of the Company having custody of the book in which proceedings of meetings of stockholders are recorded. Delivery made to the Company’s registered office shall be by hand or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested. If

 

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no record date has been fixed by the Board and prior action by the Board is required by the VCA, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board adopts the resolution taking such prior action.

(c) In order that the Company may determine the stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights or the stockholders entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock, or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted, and which record date shall be not more than 60 days prior to such action. If no record date is fixed, the record date for determining stockholders for any such purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board adopts the resolution relating thereto.

ARTICLE VII

Seal

The Board may provide a corporate seal, which shall be in the form of a circle and shall bear the full name of the Company, the year of incorporation of the Company and the words and figures “Corporate Seal – Virginia.”

ARTICLE VIII

Fiscal Year

The fiscal year of the Company shall be the calendar year unless otherwise determined by the Board.

ARTICLE IX

Indemnification and Insurance

9.1 Indemnification.

(a) As provided in the Certificate, to the fullest extent permitted by the VCA as the same exists or may hereafter be amended, a director of the Company shall not be liable to the Company or its stockholders for breach of fiduciary duty as a director.

(b) Without limitation of any right conferred by paragraph (a) of this Section 9.1, each person who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise involved in any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (hereinafter a “proceeding”), by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director, officer or employee of the Company or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer or employee of another Company or of a

 

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partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan (hereinafter an “indemnitee”), whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity while serving as a director, officer or employee or in any other capacity while serving as a director, officer or employee, shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company to the fullest extent authorized by the VCA, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended (but, in the case of any such amendment, only to the extent that such amendment permits the Company to provide broader indemnification rights than permitted prior thereto), against all expense, liability and loss (including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, excise taxes or amounts paid in settlement) reasonably incurred or suffered by such indemnitee in connection therewith and such indemnification shall continue as to an indemnitee who has ceased to be a director, officer or employee and shall inure to the benefit of the indemnitee’s heirs, testators, intestates, executors and administrators; provided , however , that such person acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the Company, and with respect to a criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful; provided , further , however , that no indemnification shall be made in the case of an action, suit or proceeding by or in the right of the Company in relation to matters as to which it shall be adjudged in such action, suit or proceeding that such director, officer, employee or agent is liable to the Company, unless a court having jurisdiction shall determine that, despite such adjudication, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification; provided , further , however , that, except as provided in Section 9.1(c) of this Article IX with respect to proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification, the Company shall indemnify any such indemnitee in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such indemnitee only if such proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such indemnitee was authorized by the Board of the Company. The right to indemnification conferred in this Article IX shall be a contract right and shall include the right to be paid by the Company the expenses incurred in defending any such proceeding in advance of its final disposition (hereinafter an “advancement of expenses”); provided , however , that, if the VCA requires, an advancement of expenses incurred by an indemnitee in his or her capacity as a director or officer (and not in any other capacity in which service was or is rendered by such indemnitee, including, without limitation, service to an employee benefit plan) shall be made only upon delivery to the Company of an undertaking (hereinafter an “undertaking”), by or on behalf of such indemnitee, to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined by final judicial decision from which there is no further right to appeal (hereinafter a “final adjudication”) (i) that such indemnitee breached his fiduciary duty to the Company or (ii) that such indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified for such expenses under this Section or otherwise.

(c) If a claim under Section 9.1(b) of this Article IX is not paid in full by the Company with 60 days after a written claim has been received by the Company, except in the case of a claim for an advancement of expenses, in which case the applicable period shall be 10 days, the indemnitee may at any time thereafter bring suit against the Company to recover the unpaid amount of the claim. If successful in whole or in part in any such suit, or in a suit brought by the Company to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of any undertaking, the indemnitee shall be entitled to be paid also the expense of prosecuting or defending such suit. In (i) any suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right to indemnification hereunder (but not in a suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right to an advancement of expenses) it shall be a defense that, and (ii) in any suit by the Company to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the Company shall

 

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be entitled to recover such expenses upon a final adjudication that, the indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the VCA. Neither the failure of the Company (including the Board, independent legal counsel, or the stockholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such suit that indemnification of the indemnitee is proper in the circumstances because the indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the VCA, nor an actual determination by the Company (including the Board, independent legal counsel or the stockholders) that the indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall create a presumption that the indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct or, in the case of such a suit brought by the indemnitee, be a defense to such suit. In any suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right to indemnification or to an advancement of expenses hereunder, or by the Company to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the burden of proving that the indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified, or to such advancement of expenses, under this Section or otherwise shall be on the Company.

(d) The rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses conferred in this Article IX shall not be exclusive of any other right which any person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, the Certificate, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.

9.2 Insurance.

The Company may purchase and maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect itself and any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or any person who is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employer or agent of another Company, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any expense, liability or loss, whether or not the Company would have the power to indemnify such person against such expense, liability or loss under the VCA.

ARTICLE X

Amendment

Any by-law (including these By-laws) may be adopted, amended or repealed by the vote of the holders of a majority of the shares then entitled to vote or by the stockholders’ written consent pursuant to Section 2.10 of Article II, or by the vote of the Board or by the directors’ written consent pursuant to Section 3.6 of Article III.

* * * * *

 

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Exhibit 3.13

DELAWARE EXECUTED ORIGINAL COPY AGREEMENT

OF

CUC ASIA HOLDINGS

Dated as of June 27, 1996


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

1. ORGANIZATION

   4

1.1 F ORMATION OF P ARTNERSHIP

   4

1.2 N AME

   4

1.3 P URPOSE

   4

1.4 P RINCIPAL P LACE OF B USINESS

   4

1.5 F ISCAL Y EAR

   4

2. PARTNERS

   4

2.1 P ARTNERS

   4

2.2 L IABILITY OF P ARTNERS

   4

2.3 N O OBLIGATION TO R EPLENISH N EGATIVE C APITAL A CCOUNT

   4

3. CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS, CAPITAL ACCOUNTS

   5

3.1 C APITAL C ONTRIBUTIONS

   5

3.2 C APITAL A CCOUNTS

   5

3.3 S HARING P ERCENTAGES

   5

3.4 A LLOCATION TO C APITAL A CCOUNTS

   5

3.5 T AX A LLOCATION

   5

4. DISTRIBUTIONS

   5

5. MANAGEMENT

   5

5.1 M ANAGEMENT BY P ARTNERS

   5

5.2 T HIRD P ARTY R ELIANCE

   5

5.3 O THER A CTIVITIES OF P ARTNERS

   5

5.4 R IGHTS OF P ARTNERS TO E MPLOY P ERSONS

   5

6. BOOKS OF ACCOUNT, RECORDS AND REPORTS

   6

7. DURATION AND TERMINATION OF THE PARTNERSHIP

   6

7.1 T ERM

   6

7.2 W INDING -U P

   6


8. DISSOLUTION, ETC. OF PARTNERS

   7

8.1 R ESTRICTIONS ON T RANSFER

   7

8.2 E FFECT OF R ETIREMENT , W ITHDRAWAL , B ANKRUPTCY , E TC . OF P ARTNERS

   7

9. AMENDMENTS

   7

10. DEFINITIONS

   7

11. MISCELLANEOUS

   8

11.1 E NTIRE A GREEMENT

   8

11.2 C HOICE OF L AW

   8

11.3 S UCCESSORS AND A SSIGNS

   8

11.4 I NTERPRETATION

   8

11.5 C APTIONS

   8

11.6 S EVERABILITY

   9

11.7 C OUNTERPARTS

   9

11.8 A DDITIONAL D OCUMENTS

   9

11.9 D ESIGNATION OF T AX M ATTERS P ARTNER

   9

 

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This PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) of CUC Asia Holdings (the “Partnership”) is made as of the 27th day of June, 1996. All capitalized but undefined terms used in this Agreement shall have the same meanings as set forth-below in Section 10 of this Agreement, except where the context otherwise requires.

1. ORGANIZATION .

1.1 Formation of Partnership . The parties to this Agreement hereby agree to form a general partnership pursuant to the provisions of the Delaware Uniform Partnership Act (the “Act”) and in accordance with the further terms and provisions hereof.

1.2 Name . The name of the Partnership shall be “CUC Asia Holdings”.

1.3 Purpose . The Partnership is organized for the object and purpose of engaging in any lawful act or activity for which partnerships may be organized under the Act.

1.4 Principal Place of Business . The Partnership shall have its principal place of business at c/o CUC International Inc., 707 Summer Street, Stamford, Connecticut 06901, or at such other place or places as the Partners may, from time to time, decide.

1.5 Fiscal Year . The fiscal year of the Partnership shall end on the 31st day of January in each year.

2. PARTNERS .

2.1 Partners . The Partnership shall consist of CUC International Inc., a Delaware corporation (“CUC International”) and Comp-U-Card Services, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“CUC Services”, and together with CUC International, the “Partners”). No real or other property of the Partnership shall be deemed to be owned by any Partner individually, but shall be owned by and title shall be vested solely in the Partnership. The interests of the Partners in the Partnership shall constitute personal property.

2.2 Liability of Partners . No Partner (nor any of its Affiliates) shall be liable, responsible or accountable in damages to the Partnership or any other Partner for any action taken or omitted by such Partner (or any such Affiliates) unless such action or omission (a) was taken or omitted in bad faith, (b) constituted intentional misconduct or (c) constituted a knowing violation of law. No Partner (nor any of its Affiliates) shall be liable to the Partnership or any other Partner for any action taken or omitted by any other Partner, nor shall any Partner (or any of its Affiliates) be liable to the Partnership or any other Partner for any action of any employee or agent of the Partnership (or its Affiliate, as the case may be), unless such Partner has (i) acted in bad faith, (ii) engaged in intentional misconduct or (iii) committed a knowing violation of law.

2.3 No obligation to Replenish Negative Capital Account . No Partner shall have any obligation at any time to contribute any funds to replenish any negative balance in its Capital Account, except as otherwise required by applicable law.

 

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3. CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS, CAPITAL ACCOUNTS .

3.1 Capital Contributions . Each Partner shall contribute to the capital of the Partnership such amounts (the “Capital Contributions”) as may be agreed upon from time to time.

3.2 Capital Accounts . Each Partner shall have a capital account (a “Capital Account”), which shall equal any initial Capital Contribution of such Partner, (a) increased by (i) additional Capital Contributions, if any, to the capital of the Partnership made by such Partner and (ii) such Partner’s allocable share of the Partnership’s Net Income and (b) decreased by (i) distributions to such Partner of cash or the fair market value of other property (net of any liabilities secured by such distributed property that such Partner is considered to assume or take subject to under section 752 of the Code) and (ii) such Partner’s allocable share of the Partnership’s Net Loss.

3.3 Sharing Percentages . Each Partner shall have a sharing percentage determined in accordance with this Section 3.3 (collectively, the “Sharing Percentages”). The respective Sharing Percentages of the Partners shall be 99% for CUC International and 1% for CUC Services; provided that such Sharing Percentages may be modified from time to time by mutual agreement of the Partners.

3.4 Allocation to Capital Accounts . Net Income or Net Loss, as the case may be, of the Partnership for any fiscal period shall be allocated to the Capital Accounts of the Partners in proportion to their respective Sharing Percentages.

3.5 Tax Allocation . Items of income, gain, loss, deduction and credit realized by the Partnership shall, for each fiscal period, be allocated, for Federal, state and local income tax purposes, among the Partners in the same manner as the Net Income or Net Loss of which such items are components were allocated pursuant to section 3.4, subject, however, to any adjustment required to comply with Treasury Regulation Section 1.7041(b).

4. DISTRIBUTIONS . The Partnership shall make distributions to the Partners at such times and in such amounts as the Partners may from time to time by mutual agreement determine.

5. MANAGEMENT .

5.1 Management by Partners . The Partnership shall be managed jointly by the Partners and each Partner shall devote such time to the business and affairs of the Partnership as it deems necessary in his sole discretion.

5.2 Third Party Reliance . Third parties dealing with the Partnership are entitled to rely conclusively upon the authority of any Partner as set forth in this Agreement.

5.3 Other Activities of Partners . Any Partner may engage independently or with others in other business ventures of every nature and description. Neither the Partnership nor any other Partners shall have any rights or obligations in and to such independent ventures or the income or profits derived therefrom.

5.4 Rights of Partners to Employ Persons . The Partners may employ on behalf of the Partnership, such persons, firms or corporations (including accountants, attorneys and persons

 

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who are Partners) as they deem advisable for the conduct of the business of the Partnership, on such terms and for such compensation as the Partners may determine.

6. BOOKS OF ACCOUNT, RECORDS AND REPORTS . The Partnership shall maintain books and records on the basis utilized in preparing the Partnership’s Federal income tax return, incorporating the accrual or cash method or accounting, as the Partners may determine to be in the best interest of the Partnership, and such other records as may be required in connection with the preparation and filing of the Partnership’s Federal and state income tax returns or other tax returns or reports.

7. DURATION AND TERMINATION OF THE PARTNERSHIP .

7.1 Term . The existence of the Partnership shall commence on the date of this Agreement and shall continue until the first to occur of the following events (an “Event of Termination”):

(a) January 1, 2046;

(b) the failure to continue the business of the Partnership as provided in Section 8.2 following a Disabling Event in respect of a Partner; or

(c) a determination by a Majority in Interest of the Partners to terminate the Partnership.

7.2 Winding-Up . Upon the occurrence of an Event of Termination, the Partnership shall be dissolved and wound-up. In connection with the dissolution and wind-up of the Partnership, a Majority in Interest of Partners or, if there is no Partner, a liquidator appointed by a court of competent jurisdiction shall proceed with the sale or liquidation or all of the assets of the Partnership (including the conversion to cash or cash equivalents of its notes or accounts receivable) and shall apply and distribute the proceeds of such sale or liquidation in the following order of priority, unless otherwise required by mandatory provisions of applicable law:

(a) to pay (or to make provision for the payment of) all creditors of the Partnership (including Partners who are creditors of the Partnership), in the order of priority provided by law or otherwise, in satisfaction of all debts, liabilities or obligations of the Partnership due such creditors; and

(b) after the payment (or the provision for payment) of all debts, liabilities and obligations of the Partnership in accordance with clause (a), to the Partners or their legal representatives in proportion to each such Partner’s Capital Account balance, as adjusted pursuant to Article 3 for all Partnership operations up to and including such liquidation. In the event that the foregoing order of distribution is not permitted under the Act or is not otherwise permitted pursuant to the provisions of applicable law, distributions shall be made as permitted thereby as closely as possible to the foregoing order of distribution. If, after the distributions described in the preceding paragraph, either Partner has a negative balance in its Capital Account, such Partner shall be required to make an additional capital contribution in an amount equal to such negative balance.

 

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8. DISSOLUTION, ETC. OF PARTNERS .

8.1 Restrictions on Transfer . No Partner may sell, transfer, assign, hypothecate, pledge or otherwise dispose of or encumber all or any party of such Partner’s interest in the Partnership (whether voluntarily, involuntarily or by operation of law) without the prior written consent of the other Partner.

8.2 Effect of Retirement, Withdrawal, Bankruptcy, Etc. of Partners . In the event of the dissolution, liquidation, withdrawal or bankruptcy (a “Disabling Event”) of a Partner which is not the last remaining Partner (the “Withdrawing Partner”), the Partnership, by mutual agreement of the remaining Partner and any duly authorized representative of the Withdrawing Partner reached within 60 days of the Disabling Event, may be continued rather than terminated. If such option is exercised, such remaining Partner shall form a limited partnership pursuant to appropriate documents and instruments with such remaining Partner as general partner and otherwise containing terms substantially similar to this Agreement, except that the interest of the Withdrawing Partner in the Partnership shall be converted into that of a limited partner in such limited partnership, provided that such conversion shall not affect any right or liability of the Withdrawing Partner which matured prior to the time it ceased to be Partner. In the event of the dissolution, liquidation, withdrawal or bankruptcy of the last remaining Partner, the Partnership shall be dissolved and wound up as provided in Section 7.2.

9. AMENDMENTS . This Agreement may be modified or amended only with the written consent of each Partner.

10. DEFINITIONS .

As used herein the following terms shall have the following respective meanings:

Act — the Delaware Uniform Partnership Act.

Affiliate — with reference to any Person, (x) any other Person who is a member, director, officer or employee of such Person, or (y) any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such Person and any director, officer, employee, agent or legal representative of any of the foregoing. For the purposes of this definition, the term “controls”, “is controlled by” or “is under common control with” means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of the Person in question, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.

Capital Account — as defined in Section 3.2.

Capital Contribution — as defined in Section 3.1.

Code — the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

Disabling Event — as defined in Section 8.2.

 

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Majority in Interest — at any time, the Partners which hold more than one-half of the Sharing Percentages of the Partners pursuant to Article 3.

Net Income — with respect to any period, the net income, if any, of the Partnership for such period as determined for Federal income tax purposes, provided that such income shall be increased by the amount of all income of the Partnership during such period that is exempt from Federal income tax and decreased by the amount of all expenditures of the Partnership during such period which are not deductible in computing the Partnership’s income for Federal income tax purposes and which do not constitute capital expenditures of the Partnership.

Net Loss — with respect to any period, the net loss, if any, of the Partnership for such period as determined for Federal income tax purposes, provided that such loss shall be decreased by the amount of all income of the Partnership during such period that is exempt from Federal income tax and increased by the amount of all expenditures of the Partnership during such period which are not deductible in computing the Partnership’s income for Federal income tax purposes and which do not constitute capital expenditures of the Partnership.

Partners — as defined in Section 2.1.

Person — an individual, partnership, corporation, trust or unincorporated organization, and a government or agency or political subdivision thereof.

Sharing Percentages — as defined in Section 3.3.

Withdrawing Partner — as defined in Section 8.2.

11. MISCELLANEOUS .

11.1 Entire Agreement . This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement among the parties. It supersedes any prior agreement or understanding among them, and it may not be modified or amended in any manner other than as set forth herein.

11.2 Choice of Law . This Agreement and the rights of the parties hereunder shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware.

11.3 Successors and Assigns . Except as herein otherwise specifically provided, this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties and their legal representatives, successors and assigns.

11.4 Interpretation . Wherever from the context it appears appropriate, each term stated in either the singular or the plural shall include the singular and the plural, and pronouns stated in the masculine, the feminine or neuter gender shall include the masculine, the feminine and neuter.

11.5 Captions . Captions contained in this Agreement are inserted only as a matter of convenience and in no way define, limit or extend the scope or intent of this Agreement or any provision hereof.

 

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11.6 Severability . If any provision of this Agreement or the application of such provision to any person or circumstance, shall be held invalid, the remainder of this Agreement, or the application of such provision to persons or circumstances other than those to which it is held invalid, shall not be affected thereby.

11.7 Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original but all of which shall constitute one and the same instrument. It shall not be necessary for all Partners to execute the same counterpart hereof.

11.8 Additional Documents . Each party hereto agrees to execute, with acknowledgment or affidavit, if required, any and all documents and writings which may be necessary or expedient in connection with the creation of the Partnership and the achievement of its purposes, specifically including (a) any amendments to this Agreement and such certificates and other documents as are necessary or appropriate to form, qualify or continue the Partnership as a general partnership in all other jurisdictions in which the Partnership conducts or plans to conduct business and (b) all such agreements, certificates, tax statements, tax returns and other documents as may be required of the Partnership or its Partners by the laws of the United States of America, the States of Delaware and New York or any other state in which the Partnership conducts or plans to conduct business, or any political subdivision or agency thereof.

11.9 Designation of Tax Matters Partner . CUC International is hereby designated as the “Tax Matters Partner” under Section 6231(a)(7) of the Code, to manage administrative tax proceedings conducted at the Partnership level by the Internal Revenue Service with respect to Partnership matters. The Tax Matters Partner is specifically directed and authorized to take whatever steps the Tax Matters Partner, in his sole discretion, deems necessary or desirable to perfect such designation, including without limitation, filing any forms or documents with the Internal Revenue Service and taking such other action as may from time to time be required under Treasury regulations. Expenses of administrative proceedings relating to the determination of Partnership items at the Partnership level undertaken by the Tax Matters Partner will be deemed to be Partnership expenses.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement in multiple counterparts as of the day and in the year first above written, each of which counterparts, when taken together, shall constitute one and the same instrument.

 

COMP-U-CARD SERVICES, INC.     CUC INTERNATIONAL INC.
By:   /s/ Christopher K. McLeod    

By:

  /s/ Christopher K. McLeod
  Name: Christopher K. McLeod       Name: Christopher K. McLeod
  Title:   Executive Vice President       Title:   Executive Vice President

 

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Exhibit 3.14

CHARTER

OF

BANKERS PREFERRED CARE CORPORATION

The undersigned person, having capacity to contract and acting as the incorporator of a corporation for profit under the Tennessee Business Corporation Act, hereby adopts the following Charter for such corporation:

1. The name of the corporation is: Bankers Preferred Care Corporation.

2. The corporation’s initial registered office is located at 200 Powell Place, Brentwood, Tennessee 37027, County of Williamson. The initial registered agent at that office is William B. King.

3. The name and address of the incorporator is Lee C. Dilworth, Esq., Harwell Martin & Stegall, P.C., 172 Second Avenue North, Nashville, Tennessee 37201.

4. The address of the principal office of the corporation shall be 200 Powell Place, Brentwood, Tennessee 37027.

5. The corporation is for profit.

6. The corporation is authorized to issue One Thousand (1,000) shares of common stock, no par value.

7. The business and affairs of the corporation shall be managed by a Board of Directors:

a. The number of directors and their term shall be specified in the By-laws of the corporation;

b. Whenever the Board of Directors is required or permitted to take any action by vote, such actions may be taken without a meeting on written consent setting forth the action so taken, signed by all of the directors, indicating each signing director’s vote or abstention. The affirmative vote of the number of directors that would be necessary to authorize or to take such action at a meeting is an act of the Board of Directors;

c. Any or all of the directors may be removed with cause by a majority vote of the entire Board of Directors.

8. To the fullest extent permitted by the Tennessee Business Corporation Act as the same became effective on January 1, 1988 or as it may thereafter be amended from time to time,


a director of the corporation shall not be liable to the corporation or its shareholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director. If the Tennessee Business Corporation Act is amended, after approval by the shareholders of this provision, to authorize corporate action further eliminating or limiting the personal liability of a director, then the liability of a director of the corporation shall be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent permitted by the Tennessee Business Corporation Act, as so amended from time to time. Any repeal or modification of this Section 8 by the shareholders of the corporation shall not adversely affect any right or protection of a director of the corporation existing at the time of such repeal or modification or with respect to events occurring prior to such time.

9. Each person who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise involved in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative and whether formal or informal (hereafter a “proceeding”), by reason of the fact that he is or was a director of the corporation or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to employee benefit plans (hereinafter an “indemnitee”) whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a director or in any other capacity while serving as a director, shall be indemnified and held harmless by the corporation to the fullest extent authorized by the Tennessee Business Corporation Act, as the same became effective on January 1, 1988 or may thereafter be amended (but, in the case of any such amendment, only to the extent that such amendment permits the corporation to provide broader indemnification rights than such law permitted the corporation to provide prior to such amendment), against all expense, liability and loss (including but not limited to counsel fees, judgments, fines, ERISA, excise taxes or penalties and amounts paid in settlement) reasonably incurred or suffered by such Indemnitee in connection therewith and such indemnification shall continue as to an indemnitee who has ceased to be a director and shall inure to the benefit of the indemnitee’s heirs, executors and administrators. The right to indemnification conferred in this Section 9 shall be a contract right and shall include the right to be paid by the corporation the expenses incurred in any such proceeding in advance of its final disposition (hereinafter an “advancement of expenses”); provided, however, that an advancement of expenses incurred by an indemnitee shall be made only upon delivery to the corporation of an undertaking, by or on behalf of such indemnitee, to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined by final judicial decision from which there is no further right to appeal that such indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified for such expenses under this Section 9 or otherwise (hereinafter an “undertaking”); the indemnitee furnishes the corporation with a written affirmation of his good faith belief that he has met the standards for indemnification under the Tennessee Business Corporation Act; and a determination is made that the facts then known to those making the determination would not preclude indemnification.

The corporation may indemnify and advance expenses to an officer, employee or agent who is not a director to the same extent as to a director by specific action of its board of directors or by contract.

The rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses conferred in this Section 9 shall not be exclusive of any other right which any person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, this Charter, bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.


The corporation may maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect itself and any director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation or another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any expense, liability or loss, whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such expense, liability or loss under the Tennessee Business Corporation Act.

Dated this 21st day of January, 1991.

 

/s/ Lee C. Dilworth

 

Lee C. Dilworth, Incorporator


ARTICLES OF AMENDMENT TO THE CHARTER

OF

BANKERS PREFERRED CARE CORPORATION

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 48-20-106 of the Tennessee Business Corporation Act, the undersigned corporation adopts the following articles of amendment to its charter:

 

  1. The name of the corporation is: Bankers Preferred Care Corporation.

 

  2. The amendment as adopted is:

The charter of the corporation shall be amended by deleting item Number 1 thereof and replacing it with a new item Number 1 so that, as amended, item Number 1 shall read as follows:

 

  1. The name of the corporation is: Long Term Preferred Care, Inc.

 

  3. The corporation is a for-profit corporation.

 

  4. This amendment was duly adopted by Unanimous Written Consent Action of the Board of Directors of the Corporation dated June 3, 1991

 

  5. This amendment shall be effective when these Articles are filed with the Secretary of State.

Dated: June 10, 1991.

 

BANKERS PREFERRED CARE CORPORATION

/s/ Kenneth L. Keith

 

Kenneth L. Keith, Secretary


ARTICLES OF AMENDMENT TO THE CHARTER

OF

LONG TERM PREFERRED CARE, INC.

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 48-20-106 of the Tennessee Business Corporation Act, the undersigned corporation adopts the following articles of amendment to its charter:

 

  1. The purposes for which the Corporation is formed, which shall be in addition to the authority to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be formed under Section 48-20-106 of the Tennessee Business Corporation Act, are as follows:

 

    To engage generally in all aspects of the marketing, soliciting and receiving applications for long term health care insurance, including acting as an insurance agency.

This amendment was duly adopted by Unanimous Written Consent Action of the Board of Directors of the Corporation dated November 15, 1991.

 

  2. This amendment shall be effective when these Articles are filed with the Secretary of State.

 

  Dated: November 20, 1991.

 

LONG TERM PREFERRED CARE, INC.

/s/ Greg Thurman

 

Greg Thurman, President

/s/ Kenneth L. Keith

 

Kenneth L. Keith, Secretary


ARTICLES OF AMENDMENT TO THE CHARTER

OF

LONG TERM PREFERRED CARE, INC.

 


Pursuant to the provisions of Section 48-20-106 of the Tennessee Business Corporation Act, Long Term Preferred Care, Inc., a Tennessee corporation, adopts the following Articles of Amendment to its charter:

 

  1. The name of the corporation is Long Term Preferred Care, Inc.

 

  2. The text of the amendment adopted is as follows:

Item 2 of the Charter is amended to read as follows:

The registered agent of the corporation and the

registered office of the corporation shall be and

hereby are as follows:

Gary L Pierce

200 Powell Place

Brentwood, TN 37027

Williamson County

 

  3. After the change, the street addresses of the registered office and the business office of the registered agent will be identical.

 

  4. The corporation is a for-profit corporation.

 

  5. The amendment was duly adopted as of November 13, 1995 by the Board of Directors and shareholders of the corporation.


These Articles of Amendment to the Charter shall be effective when filed with the Tennessee Secretary of State.

 

Dated: November 13, 1995

   

LONG TERM PREFERRED CARE, INC.

 
   

By:

 

/s/ Kenneth L. Keith

 

 
     

Kenneth L. Keith

 
     

President

 

Exhibit 3.15

AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS OF

LONG TERM PREFERRED CARE, INC.

ARTICLE I

Offices

 

1.1 Registered Office.

The registered office of Long Term Preferred Care, Inc. (the “Company”) in the State of Tennessee shall be 200 Powell Place, Brentwood, Tennessee 37027, County of Williamson. The name of the registered agent of the Company at such address is William B. King.

 

1.2 Other Offices.

The Company may also have an office or offices at any other place or places within or outside the State of Tennessee.

ARTICLE II

Meeting of Shareholders; Shareholders’ Consent in Lieu of Meeting

 

2.1 Annual Meetings.

The annual meeting of the shareholders for the election of directors, and for the transaction of such other business as may properly come before the meeting, shall be held at such place, date and hour as shall be fixed by the Board of Directors (the “Board”) and designated in the notice or waiver of notice thereof, except that no annual meeting need be held if all actions, including the election of directors, required by the Tennessee Business Corporation Act (the “Act”) to be taken at a shareholders’ annual meeting are taken by written consent in lieu of meeting pursuant to Section 2.9 of this Article II.

 

2.2 Special Meetings.

A special meeting of the shareholders for any purpose or purposes may be called by the Board, the Chairman, the President or the record holders of at least a majority of the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company, to be held at such place, date and hour and for such purpose or purposes as shall be designated in the notice or waiver of notice thereof.

 

2.3 Notice of Meetings.

Except as otherwise required by statute, the Charter of the Company (the “Charter”) or these Bylaws, notice of each annual or special meeting of the shareholders shall be given to each shareholder of record entitled to vote at such meeting not less than 10 nor more than 60 days


before the day on which the meeting is to be held, by delivering written notice thereof to him personally, or by mailing a copy of such notice, postage prepaid, directly to him at his address as it appears in the records of the Company, or by transmitting such notice thereof to him at such address by telegraph, cable or other telephonic transmission. Every such notice shall state the place, the date and hour of the meeting, and, in case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called. Notice of any meeting of shareholders shall not be required to be given to any shareholder who shall attend such meeting in person without objection or by proxy, or who shall, in person or by his attorney thereunto authorized, waive such notice in writing, either before or after such meeting. Except as otherwise provided in these Bylaws, neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any meeting of the shareholders need be specified in any such notice or waiver of notice. Notice of any adjourned meeting of shareholders shall not be required to be given, except when expressly required by law.

 

2.4 Quorum.

Except where otherwise provided by the Act, the Charter or these Bylaws, a majority of the votes entitled to be cast on a matter by a voting group shall constitute a quorum of that voting group for action on that matter. In the absence of a quorum, the chair of the meeting or a majority in interest of the shareholders present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote shall have the power to adjourn the meeting from time to time, until shareholders holding the requisite amount of stock to constitute a quorum shall be present or represented. At any such adjourned meeting at which a quorum shall be present, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the meeting as originally called.

 

2.5 Organization.

Unless otherwise determined by the Board, at each meeting of the shareholders, one of the following shall act as chairman of the meeting and preside thereat, in the following order of precedence:

(a) the Chairman, if any;

(b) the President; or

(c) a person who shall be chosen chairman of such meeting by a majority in voting interest of the shareholders present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote thereat.

The Secretary or, if he shall be presiding over such meeting in accordance with the provisions of this Section 2.5 or if he shall be absent from such meeting, the person (who shall be an Assistant Secretary, if an Assistant Secretary has been appointed and is present) whom the chairman of such meeting shall appoint, shall act as secretary of such meeting and keep the minutes thereof.

 

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2.6 Order of Business.

The order of business at each meeting of the shareholders shall be determined by the chairman of such meeting, but such order of business may be changed by a majority in voting interest of those present in person or by proxy at such meeting and entitled to vote thereat.

 

2.7 Voting.

Except as otherwise provided by law, the Charter or these Bylaws, at each meeting of the shareholders, every shareholder of the Company shall be entitled to one vote in person or by proxy for each share of Common Stock of the Company held by him and registered in his name on the books of the Company on the date fixed pursuant to Section 6.7 of Article VI as the record date for the determination of shareholders entitled to vote at such meeting. Persons holding stock in a fiduciary capacity shall be entitled to vote the shares so held. A person whose stock is pledged shall be entitled to vote, unless, in the transfer by the pledgor on the books of the Company, he has expressly empowered the pledgee to vote thereon, in which case only the pledgee or his proxy may represent such stock and vote thereon. If the name signed on a shareholder document (a vote, consent, waiver, or proxy appointment) corresponds to the name of a shareholder, the Company, if acting in good faith, is entitled to accept such shareholder document and give it effect as the act of the. shareholder. If the name signed on such shareholder document does not correspond to the name of a shareholder, the Company, if acting in good faith, is nevertheless entitled to accept such shareholder document and to give it effect as the act of the shareholder if:

(i) the shareholder is an entity and the name signed purports to be that of an officer or agent of the entity;

(ii) the name signed purports to be that of a fiduciary representing the shareholder and, if the Company requests, evidence of fiduciary status acceptable to the Company has been presented with respect to such shareholder document;

(iii) the name signed purports to be that of a receiver or trustee in bankruptcy of the shareholder and, if the Company requests, evidence of this status acceptable to the Company has been presented with respect to the shareholder document;

(iv) the name signed purports to be that of a pledgee, beneficial owner or attorney-in-fact of the shareholder and, if the Company requests, evidence acceptable to the Company of the signatory’s authority to sign for the shareholder has been presented with respect to such shareholder document; or

(v) two or more persons are the shareholder as co-tenants or fiduciaries and the name signed purports to be the name of at least one (1) of the co-owners and the person signing appears to be acting on behalf of all the co-owners.

The Company is entitled to reject a shareholder document if the Secretary or other officer or agent authorized to tabulate votes, acting in good faith, has a reasonable basis for doubt about the validity of the signature on such shareholder document or about the signatory’s authority to sign for the shareholder. The Company shall not vote directly or indirectly any share of its own capital stock, other than stock held by it in a fiduciary capacity. Any vote of stock may be given by the shareholder entitled thereto in person or by his proxy appointed by an instrument in

 

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writing, subscribed by such shareholder or by his attorney thereunto authorized, delivered to the secretary of the meeting; provided , however , that no proxy shall be voted after eleven months from its date, unless said proxy provides for a longer period. At all meetings of the shareholders, if a quorum exists, action on a matter (other than the election of directors) by a voting group is approved if the votes cast within the voting group favoring the action exceed the votes cast opposing the action (except where other provision is made by law or the Charter). Unless demanded by a shareholder present in person or by proxy at any meeting and entitled to vote thereon, the vote on any question need not be by ballot. Upon a demand by any such shareholder for a vote by ballot upon any question, such vote by ballot shall be taken. On a vote by ballot, each ballot shall be signed by the shareholder voting, or by his proxy, if there be such proxy, and shall state the number of shares voted.

 

2.8 List of Shareholders.

It shall be the duty of the Secretary or other officer of the Company who shall have charge of its stock ledger to prepare and make, after fixing a record date for a meeting, a complete list of the shareholders who are entitled to notice of a shareholders’ meeting, arranged by voting group in alphabetical order, and showing the address of each shareholder and the number of shares held by each shareholder. Such list shall be open to the examination of any shareholder, during ordinary business hours, beginning two business days after notice of the meeting is given and continuing through the meeting, either at a place within the city where such meeting is to be held, which place shall be specified in the notice of the meeting or, if not so specified, at the Company’s principal office. Such list shall also be produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time thereof, and may be inspected by any shareholder who is present.

 

2.9 Shareholders’ Consent in Lieu of Meeting.

Any action required by the Act to be taken at any annual or special meeting of the shareholders of the Company, or any action which may be taken at any annual or special meeting of such shareholders, may be taken without a meeting, by a consent in writing, as permitted by the Act.

ARTICLE III

Board of Directors

 

3.1 General Powers.

The business, property and affairs of the Company shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board, which may exercise all such powers of the Company and do all such lawful acts and things as are not by law or by the Charter directed or required to be exercised or done by the shareholders.

 

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3.2 Number and Term of Office.

The number of directors shall initially be set at two. Thereafter the number of directors shall be fixed from time to time by the Board but shall be at least one. Directors need not be shareholders. Each director shall hold office until his successor is elected and qualified, or until his earlier death or resignation or removal in the manner hereinafter provided.

 

3.3 Election of Directors.

At each meeting of the shareholders for the election of directors at which a quorum is present, the directors are elected by a plurality of the votes cast by the shares entitled to vote; provided , however , that for purposes of such, vote no shareholder shall be allowed to cumulate his votes. Unless an election by ballot shall be demanded as provided in Section 2.7 of Article II, election of directors may be conducted in any manner approved at such meeting.

 

3.4 Resignation, Removal and Vacancies.

Any director may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Board, the Chairman or the Company. Such resignation shall take effect at the time specified therein or, if the time be not specified, upon receipt thereof; and unless otherwise specified therein, the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.

Any director or the entire Board may be removed, with or without cause, at any time, by the shareholders.

Vacancies occurring on the Board for any reason may be filled by vote of the shareholders or by the shareholders’ written consent pursuant to Section 2.9 of Article II, or by vote of the Board or by the directors’ written consent pursuant to Section 3.6 of this Article III. If the number of directors then in office is less than a quorum, such vacancies may be filled by a vote of a majority of the directors then in office.

 

3.5 Meetings.

(a) Annual Meetings . As soon as practicable after each annual election of directors, the Board shall meet for the purpose of organization and the transaction of other business, unless it shall have transacted all such business by written consent pursuant to Section 3.6 of this Article III.

(b) Other Meetings . Other meetings of the Board shall be held at such times and at such places as the Board, the Chairman, the President or any director shall from time to time determine.

(c) Notice of Meetings . Notice shall be given to each director of each meeting, including the date, time, place and purpose of such meeting. Notice of each such meeting shall be mailed to each director, addressed to him at his residence or usual place of business, at least two days before the date on which such meeting is to be held, or shall be sent to him at such place by telegraph, cable, wireless or other form of recorded communication, or be delivered personally or by telephone not later than the day before the day on which such meeting is to be held, but notice need not be given to any director who shall attend such meeting without

 

5


objection. A written waiver of notice, signed by the person entitled thereto, whether before or after the time of the meeting stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to notice.

(d) Place of Meetings . The Board may hold its meetings at such place or places within or outside the State of Tennessee as the Board may from time to time determine, or as shall be designated in the respective notices or waivers of notice thereof.

(e) Quorum and Manner of Acting . A majority of the total number of directors then in office shall be present in person at any meeting of the Board in order to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at such meeting, and the vote of a majority of those directors present at any such meeting at which a quorum is present shall be necessary for the passage of any resolution or act of the Board, except as otherwise expressly required by the Charter or these Bylaws. In the absence of a quorum for any such meeting, a majority of the directors present thereat may adjourn such meeting from time to time until a quorum shall be present.

(f) Organization . At each meeting of the Board, one of the following shall act as chairman of the meeting and preside thereat, in the following order of precedence:

(i) the Chairman, if any;

(ii) the President (if a director); or

(iii) any director designated by a majority of the directors present.

The Secretary or, in the case of his absence, an Assistant Secretary, if an Assistant Secretary has been appointed and is present, or any person whom the chairman of the meeting shall appoint shall act as secretary of such meeting and keep the minutes thereof.

 

3.6 Directors’ Consent in Lieu of Meeting.

Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board may be taken without a meeting, if a consent in writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by all of the directors then in office and such consent is filed with the minutes of the proceedings of the Board.

 

3.7 Action by Means of Conference Telephone or Similar Communications Equipment.

Any one or more members of the Board may participate in a meeting of the Board by means of conference telephone or similar communications equipment by which all persons participating in the meeting can simultaneously hear each other, and participation in a meeting by such means shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.

 

3.8 Committees.

The Board may, by resolution or resolutions passed by a majority of the whole Board, designate one or more committees, such committee or committees to have such name or names as may be determined from time to time by resolution adopted by the Board, and each such

 

6


committee to consist of one or more directors of the Company, which to the extent provided in said resolution or resolutions (and except as prohibited by the Act) shall have and may exercise the powers of the Board in the management of the business and affairs of the Company and may authorize the seal of the Company to be affixed to all papers which may require it. A majority of all the members of any such committee may determine its action and fix the time and place of its meetings, unless the Board shall otherwise provide. The Board shall have power to change the members of any such committee at any time, to fill vacancies and to discharge any such committee, either with or without cause, at any time.

ARTICLE IV

Officers

 

4.1 Executive Officers.

The principal officers of the Company shall be a Chairman, if one is appointed (and any references to the Chairman shall not apply if a Chairman has not been appointed), a President, a Secretary and a Treasurer, and may include such other officers as the Board may appoint pursuant to Section 4.3 of this Article IV. Any two or more offices may be held by the same person, except the offices of President and Secretary.

 

4.2 Authority and Duties.

All officers, as between themselves and the Company, shall have such authority and perform such duties in the management of the Company as may be provided in these Bylaws or, to the extent so provided, by the Board.

 

4.3 Other Officers.

The Company may have such other officers, agents and employees as the Board may deem necessary, including one or more Chief Executive Officers, Co-Chief Executive Officers, Chief Operating Officers, Co-Chief Operating Officers, Chief Financial Officers, Co-Chief Financial Officers, Executive Vice Presidents, Vice Presidents, Assistant Secretaries, and Assistant Treasurers, each of whom shall have such authority and perform such duties as-the Board, may from time to time determine. The Board may delegate to any principal officer the power to appoint and define the authority and duties of, or remove, any such officers, agents or employees.

 

4.4 Term of Office, Resignation and Removal.

All officers shall be elected or appointed by the Board and shall hold office for such term as may be prescribed by the Board. Each officer shall hold office until his successor has been elected or appointed and qualified or until his earlier death or resignation or removal in the manner hereinafter provided. The Board may require any officer to give security for the faithful performance of his duties.

 

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Any officer may resign at any time by giving notice to the Company. Such resignation shall take effect at the time specified therein or, if the time is not specified, at the time it is delivered.

All officers and agents elected or appointed by the Board shall be subject to removal at any time by the Board of the Company with or without cause and any officer appointed by another officer may be removed by such officer.

 

4.5 Vacancies.

If the office of Chairman, President, Secretary or Treasurer becomes vacant for any reason, the Board shall fill such vacancy, and if any other office becomes vacant, the Board may fill such vacancy. Any officer so appointed or elected by the Board shall serve only until such time as the unexpired term of his predecessor shall have expired, unless reelected or reappointed by the Board.

 

4.6 The Chairman.

The Chairman shall give counsel and advice to the Board and the officers of the Company on all subjects concerning the welfare of the Company and the conduct of its business and shall perform such other duties as the Board may from time to time determine. Unless otherwise determined by the Board, he shall preside at meetings of the Board and of the shareholders at which he is present.

 

4.7 The President.

Unless otherwise determined by the Board, the President shall be the chief executive officer of the Company. The President shall have general and active management and control of the business and affairs of the Company subject to the control of the Board and shall see that all orders and resolutions of the Board are carried into effect. The President shall from time to time make such reports of the affairs of the Company as the Board may require and shall perform such other duties as the Board may from time to time determine.

 

4.8 The Secretary.

The Secretary shall, to the extent practicable, attend all meetings of the Board and all meetings of the shareholders and shall record all votes and the minutes of all proceedings in a book to be kept for that purpose. He may give, or cause to be given, notice of all meetings of the shareholders and of the Board, and shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board, the Chairman or the President, under whose supervision he shall act. He shall keep in safe custody the seal of the Company and affix the same to any duly authorized instrument requiring it and, when so affixed, it shall be attested by his signature or by the signature of the Treasurer or, if appointed, an Assistant Secretary or an Assistant Treasurer. He shall keep in safe custody the certificate books and shareholder records and such other books and records as the Board may direct, and shall perform all other duties incident to the office of Secretary and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him by the Board, the Chairman or the President.

 

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4.9 The Treasurer.

The Treasurer shall have the care and custody of the corporate funds and other valuable effects, including securities, shall keep full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the Company and shall deposit all moneys and other valuable effects in the name and to the credit of the Company in such depositories as may be designated by the Board. The Treasurer shall disburse the funds of the Company as may be ordered by the Board, taking proper vouchers for such disbursements, shall render to the Chairman, President and directors, at the regular meetings of the Board or whenever they may require it, an account of all his transactions as Treasurer and of the financial condition of the Company and shall perform all other duties incident to the office of Treasurer and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him by the Board, the Chairman or the President.

ARTICLE V

Contracts, Checks, Drafts, Bank Accounts, Etc.

 

5.1 Execution of Documents.

The Board shall designate, by either specific or general resolution, the officers, employees and agents of the Company who shall have the power to execute and deliver deeds, contracts, mortgages, bonds, debentures, checks, drafts and other orders for the payment of money and other documents for and in the name of the Company, and may authorize such officers, employees and agents to delegate such power (including authority to redelegate) by written instrument to other officers, employees or agents of the Company. Unless so designated or expressly authorized by these Bylaws, no officer, employee or agent shall have any power or authority to bind the Company by any contract or engagement, to pledge its credit or to render it liable pecuniarily for any purpose or amount.

 

5.2 Deposits.

All funds of the Company not otherwise employed shall be deposited from time to time to the credit of the Company or otherwise as the Board or Treasurer, or any other officer of the Company to whom power in this respect shall have been given by the Board, shall select.

 

5.3 Proxies with Respect to Stock or Other Securities of Other Corporations.

The Board shall designate the officers of the Company who shall have authority from time to time to appoint an agent or agents of the Company to exercise in the name and on behalf of the Company the powers and rights which the Company may have as the holder of stock or other securities in any other entity, and to vote or consent with respect to such stock or securities. Such designated officers may instruct the person or persons so appointed as to the manner of exercising such powers and rights, and such designated officers may execute or cause to be executed in the name and on behalf of the Company and under its corporate seal or otherwise, such written proxies, powers of attorney or other instruments as they may deem necessary or proper in order that the Company may exercise its powers and rights.

 

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ARTICLE VI

Shares and Their Transfer; Fixing Record Date

 

6.1 Certificates for Shares.

Every owner of stock of the Company shall be entitled to have a certificate certifying the number and class of shares owned by him in the Company, which shall be in such form as shall be prescribed by the Board. Certificates shall be numbered and issued in consecutive order and shall be signed by, or in the name of, the Company by the Chairman, the President or any Vice President, and by the Treasurer (or an Assistant Treasurer, if appointed) or the Secretary (or an Assistant Secretary, if appointed). In case any officer or officers who shall have signed any such certificate or certificates shall cease to be such officer or officers of the Company, whether because of death, resignation or otherwise, before such certificate or certificates shall have been delivered by the Company, such certificate or certificates may nevertheless be adopted by the Company and be issued and delivered as though the person or persons who signed such certificate had not ceased to be such officer or officers of the Company.

 

6.2 Record.

A record in one or more counterparts shall be kept of the name of the person, firm or Company owning the shares represented by each certificate for stock of the Company issued, the number of shares represented by each such certificate, the date thereof and, in the case of cancellation, the date of cancellation. Except as otherwise expressly required by law, the person in whose name shares of stock stand on the stock record of the Company shall be deemed the owner thereof for all purposes regarding the Company.

 

6.3 Transfer and Registration of Stock.

The transfer of stock and certificates which represent the stock of the Company shall be governed by Chapter 8 of Title 47 of the Tennessee Code Annotated (the Uniform Commercial Code), as amended from time to time.

Registration of transfers of shares of the Company shall be made only on the books of the Company upon request of the registered holder thereof, or of his attorney thereunto authorized by power of attorney duly executed and filed with the Secretary of the Company, and upon the surrender of the certificate or certificates for such shares properly endorsed or accompanied by a stock power duly executed.

 

6.4 Addresses of Shareholders.

Each shareholder shall designate to the Secretary an address at which notices of meetings and all other corporate notices may be served or mailed to him, and, if any shareholder shall fail to designate such address, corporate notices may be served upon him by mail directed to him at his post-office address, if any, as the same appears on the share record books of the Company or at his last known post-office address.

 

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6.5 Lost, Destroyed and Mutilated Certificates.

The holder of any shares of the Company shall immediately notify the Company of any loss, destruction or mutilation of the certificate therefor, and the Board may, in its discretion, cause to be issued to him a new certificate or certificates for such shares, upon the surrender of the mutilated certificates or, in the case of loss or destruction of the certificate, upon satisfactory proof of such loss or destruction, and the Board may, in its discretion, require the owner of the lost or destroyed certificate or his legal representative to give the Company a bond in such sum and with such surety or sureties as it may direct to indemnify the Company against any claim that may be made against it on account of the alleged loss or destruction of any such certificate.

 

6.6 Regulations.

The Board may make such rules and regulations as it may deem expedient, not inconsistent with these Bylaws, concerning the issue, transfer and registration of certificates for stock of the Company.

 

6.7 Fixing Date for Determination of Shareholders of Record.

(a) In order that the Company may determine the shareholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of shareholders or any adjournment thereof, the Board may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board, and which record date shall be not more than 70 days before the date of such meeting. If no record date is fixed by the Board, the record date for determining shareholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of shareholders shall be at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice is given, or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held. A determination of shareholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of shareholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided , however , that the Board may fix a new record date for the adjourned meeting which it must do if the meeting is adjourned to a date more than 4 months after the date of the original meeting.

(b) In order that the Company may determine the shareholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, the Board may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board, and which date shall be not more than 10 days after the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board and not more than 70 days before the action requiring consent. If no record date has been fixed by the Board, the record date for determining shareholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, when no prior action by the Board is required by the Act, shall be the first date on which a signed written consent setting forth the action taken or proposed to be taken is delivered to the Company by delivery to its registered office in the State of Tennessee, its principal place of business or an officer or agent of the Company having custody of the book in which proceedings of meetings of shareholders are recorded. Delivery made to the Company’s registered office shall be by hand or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested. If no record date has been fixed by the Board and prior action by the Board is required by the Act, the record date for determining

 

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shareholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board adopts the resolution taking such prior action.

(c) In order that the Company may determine the shareholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights or the shareholders entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock, or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted, and which record date shall be not more than 60 days prior to such action. If no record date is fixed, the record date for determining shareholders for any such purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board adopts the resolution relating thereto.

ARTICLE VII

Seal

The Board may provide a corporate seal, which shall be in the form of a circle and shall bear the full name of the Company, the year of incorporation of the Company and the words and figures “Corporate Seal – Tennessee.”

ARTICLE VIII

Fiscal Year

The fiscal year of the Company shall be the calendar year unless otherwise determined by the Board.

ARTICLE IX

Indemnification and Insurance

 

9.1 Indemnification.

(a) The Company shall indemnify and advance expenses to each director and officer of the Company, or any person who may have served at the request of the Company’s Board of Directors or its Chief Executive Officer as a director or officer of another corporation (and, in either case, his heirs, executors and administrators), to the full extent allowed by the laws of the State of Tennessee, both as now in effect and as hereafter adopted. The Company may indemnify and advance expenses to any employee or agent of the Company who is not a director or officer (and his heirs, executors and administrators) to the same extent as to a director or officer, if the Board of Directors determines that to do so is in the best interests of the Company.

(b) The rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses conferred in this Article IX shall not be exclusive of any other right which any person may have or

 

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hereafter acquire under any statute, the Charter, agreement, vote of shareholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.

 

9.2 Insurance.

The Company may purchase and maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect itself and any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or any person who, while a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company, is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employer or agent of another Company, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any expense, liability or loss, whether or not the Company would have the power to indemnify such person against such expense, liability or loss under the Act.

ARTICLE X

Amendment

Any by-law (including these Bylaws) may be adopted, amended or repealed by the vote of the holders of a majority of the shares then entitled to vote or by the shareholders’ written consent pursuant to Section 2.9 of Article II, or by the vote of the Board or by the directors’ written consent pursuant to Section 3.6 of Article III.

* * * * *

 

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Exhibit 3.16

CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

OF

TRAVELERS ADVANTAGE SERVICES, INC.

FIRST : The name of the corporation is Travelers Advantage Services, Inc. (hereinafter the “Corporation”).

SECOND : The address of the registered office of the Corporation in the State of Delaware is 2711 Centerville Road, Suite 400, in the City of Wilmington, County of New Castle. The name of its registered agent at that address is Corporation Service Company.

THIRD : The purpose of the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which a corporation may be organized under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware as set forth in Title 8 of the Delaware Code (the “GCL”).

FOURTH : The total number of shares of stock which the Corporation shall have authority to issue is 1,000 shares of Common Stock, each having a par value of $.01.

FIFTH : The name and mailing address of the Sole Incorporator is as follows:

Lynn A. Feldman

Cendant Corporation

1 Campus Corporation

Parsippany, NJ 07054

SIXTH : The following provisions are inserted for the management of the business and the conduct of the affairs of the Corporation, and for further definition, limitation and regulation of the powers of the Corporation and of its directors and stockholders:

(1) The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors.

(2) The directors shall have concurrent power with the stockholders to make, alter, amend, change, add to or appeal the By-Laws of the Corporation.

(3) The number of directors of the Corporation shall be as from time to time fixed by, or in the manner provided in, the By-Laws of the Corporation. Election of directors need not be by written ballot unless the By-Laws so provide.

(4) No director shall be personally liable to the Corporation or any of its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except for liability (i) for any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the Corporation or its stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) pursuant to Section 174 of the Delaware General Corporation Law or (iv) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit. Any repeal or modification of this Article SIXTH by the


stockholders of the Corporation shall not adversely affect any right or protection of a director of the Corporation existing at the time of such repeal or modification with respect to acts or omissions occurring prior to such repeal or modification.

(5) In addition to the powers and authority hereinbefore or by statute expressly conferred upon them, the directors are hereby empowered to exercise all such powers and do all such acts and things as may be exercised or done by the Corporation, subject, nevertheless, to the provisions of the GCL, this Certificate of Incorporation, and any By-Laws adopted by the stockholders; provided, however, that no By-Laws hereafter adopted by the stockholders shall invalidate any prior act of the directors which would have been valid if such By-Laws had not been adopted.

SEVENTH : Meetings of the stockholders may be held within or without the State of Delaware, as the By-Laws may provide. The books of the Corporation may be kept (subject to any provision contained in the GCL) outside the State of Delaware at such place or places as may be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors or in the By-Laws of the Corporation.

EIGHTH : The Corporation reserves the right to amend, alter, change or repeal any provision contained in this Certificate of Incorporation, in the manner now or hereafter prescribed by statute, and all rights conferred upon stockholders herein are granted subject to this reservation.

I, THE UNDERSIGNED, being the Sole Incorporator hereinbefore named, for the purpose of forming a corporation pursuant to the GCL, do make this Certificate, hereby declaring and certifying that this is my act and deed and the facts herein stated are true, and accordingly have hereunto set my hand this 13th day of January, 2005.

 

/s/ Lynn A. Feldman

Lynn A. Feldman

Sole Incorporator

 

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Exhibit 3.17

AMENDED AND RESTATED

BY-LAWS OF

TRAVELERS ADVANTAGE SERVICES, INC.

ARTICLE I

Offices

1.1 Registered Office.

The registered office of Travelers Advantage Services, Inc. (the “Company”) in the State of Delaware shall be 2711 Centerville Road, Suite 400, City of Wilmington, County of New Castle. The name of the registered agent of the Company at such address is Corporation Service Company.

1.2 Other Offices.

The Company may also have an office or offices at any other place or places within or outside the State of Delaware.

ARTICLE II

Meeting of Stockholders; Stockholders’ Consent in Lieu of Meeting

2.1 Annual Meetings.

The annual meeting of the stockholders for the election of directors, and for the transaction of such other business as may properly come before the meeting, shall be held at such place, date and hour as shall be fixed by the Board of Directors (the “Board”) and designated in the notice or waiver of notice thereof, except that no annual meeting need be held if all actions, including the election of directors, required by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”) to be taken at a stockholders’ annual meeting are taken by written consent in lieu of meeting pursuant to Section 2.10 of this Article II.

2.2 Special Meetings.

A special meeting of the stockholders for any purpose or purposes may be called by the Board, the Chairman, the President or the record holders of at least a majority of the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company, to be held at such place, date and hour as shall be designated in the notice or waiver of notice thereof.


2.3 Notice of Meetings.

Except as otherwise required by statute, the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (the “Certificate”) or these By-laws, notice of each annual or special meeting of the stockholders shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at such meeting not less than 10 nor more than 60 days before the day on which the meeting is to be held, by delivering written notice thereof to him personally, or by mailing a copy of such notice, postage prepaid, directly to him at his address as it appears in the records of the Company, or by transmitting such notice thereof to him at such address by telegraph, cable or other telephonic transmission. Every such notice shall state the place, the date and hour of the meeting, and, in case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called. Notice of any meeting of stockholders shall not be required to be given to any stockholder who shall attend such meeting in person or by proxy, or who shall, in person or by his attorney thereunto authorized, waive such notice in writing, either before or after such meeting. Except as otherwise provided in these By-laws, neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any meeting of the stockholders need be specified in any such notice or waiver of notice. Notice of any adjourned meeting of stockholders shall not be required to be given, except when expressly required by law.

2.4 Quorum.

At each meeting of the stockholders, except where otherwise provided by the Certificate or these By-laws, the holders of a majority of the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company entitled to vote at such meeting, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. In the absence of a quorum, a majority in interest of the stockholders present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote, or, in the absence of all the stockholders entitled to vote, any officer entitled to preside at, or act as secretary of, such meeting, shall have the power to adjourn the meeting from time to time, until stockholders holding the requisite amount of stock to constitute a quorum shall be present or represented. At any such adjourned meeting at which a quorum shall be present, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the meeting as originally called.

2.5 Organization.

Unless otherwise determined by the Board, at each meeting of the stockholders, one of the following shall act as chairman of the meeting and preside thereat, in the following order of precedence:

(a) the Chairman, if any;

(b) the President;

(c) any director, officer or stockholder of the Company designated by the Board to act as chairman of such meeting and to preside thereat if the Chairman or the President shall be absent from such meeting; or

 

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(d) a stockholder of record who shall be chosen chairman of such meeting by a majority in voting interest of the stockholders present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote thereat.

The Secretary or, if he shall be presiding over such meeting in accordance with the provisions of this Section 2.5 or if he shall be absent from such meeting, the person (who shall be an Assistant Secretary, if an Assistant Secretary has been appointed and is present) whom the chairman of such meeting shall appoint, shall act as secretary of such meeting and keep the minutes thereof.

2.6 Order of Business.

The order of business at each meeting of the stockholders shall be determined by the chairman of such meeting, but such order of business may be changed by a majority in voting interest of those present in person or by proxy at such meeting and entitled to vote thereat.

2.7 Voting.

Except as otherwise provided by law, the Certificate or these By-laws, at each meeting of the stockholders, every stockholder of the Company shall be entitled to one vote in person or by proxy for each share of Common Stock of the Company held by him and registered in his name on the books of the Company on the date fixed pursuant to Section 6.7 of Article VI as the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting. Persons holding stock in a fiduciary capacity shall be entitled to vote the shares so held. A person whose stock is pledged shall be entitled to vote, unless, in the transfer by the pledgor on the books of the Company, he has expressly empowered the pledgee to vote thereon, in which case only the pledgee or his proxy may represent such stock and vote thereon. If shares or other securities having voting power stand in the record of two or more persons, whether fiduciaries, members of a partnership, joint tenants, tenants in common, tenants by the entirety or otherwise, or if two or more persons have the same fiduciary relationship respecting the same shares, unless the Secretary shall be given written notice to the contrary and furnished with a copy of the instrument or order appointing them or creating the relationship wherein it is so provided, their acts with respect to voting shall have the following effect:

(a) if only one votes, his act binds all;

(b) if more than one votes, the act of the majority so voting binds all; and

(c) if more than one votes, but the vote is evenly split on any particular matter, such shares shall be voted in the manner provided by law.

If the instrument so filed shows that any such tenancy is held in unequal interests, a majority or even-split for the purposes of this Section 2.7 shall be a majority or even-split in interest. The Company shall not vote directly or indirectly any share of its own capital stock. Any vote of stock may be given by the stockholder entitled thereto in person or by his proxy appointed by an instrument in writing, subscribed by such stockholder or by his attorney thereunto authorized, delivered to the secretary of the meeting; provided , however , that no proxy shall be voted after three years from its date, unless said proxy provides for a longer period. At all meetings of the

 

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stockholders, all matters (except where other provision is made by law, the Certificate or these By-laws) shall be decided by the vote of a majority in interest of the stockholders present in person or by proxy at such meeting and entitled to vote thereon, a quorum being present. Unless demanded by a stockholder present in person or by proxy at any meeting and entitled to vote thereon, the vote on any question need not be by ballot. Upon a demand by any such stockholder for a vote by ballot upon any question, such vote by ballot shall be taken. On a vote by ballot, each ballot shall be signed by the stockholder voting, or by his proxy, if there be such proxy, and shall state the number of shares voted.

2.8 Inspection.

The chairman of the meeting may at any time appoint one or more inspectors to serve at any meeting of the stockholders. Any inspector may be removed, and a new inspector or inspectors appointed, by the Board at any time. Such inspectors shall decide upon the qualifications of voters, accept and count votes, declare the results of such vote, and subscribe and deliver to the secretary of the meeting a certificate stating the number of shares of stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote thereon and the number of shares voted for and against the question, respectively. The inspectors need not be stockholders of the Company, and any director or officer of the Company may be an inspector on any question other than a vote for or against his election to any position with the Company or on any other matter in which he may be directly interested. Before acting as herein provided, each inspector shall subscribe an oath faithfully to execute the duties of an inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of his ability.

2.9 List of Stockholders.

It shall be the duty of the Secretary or other officer of the Company who shall have charge of its stock ledger to prepare and make, at least 10 days before every meeting of the stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote thereat, arranged in alphabetical order, and showing the address of each stockholder and the number of shares registered in the name of each stockholder. Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to any such meeting, during ordinary business hours, for a period of at least 10 days prior to such meeting, either at a place within the city where such meeting is to be held, which place shall be specified in the notice of the meeting or, if not so specified, at the place where the meeting is to be held. Such list shall also be produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time thereof, and may be inspected by any stockholder who is present.

2.10 Stockholders’ Consent in Lieu of Meeting.

Any action required by the DGCL to be taken at any annual or special meeting of the stockholders of the Company, or any action which may be taken at any annual or special meeting of such stockholders, may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, by a consent in writing, as permitted by the DGCL.

 

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ARTICLE III

Board of Directors

3.1 General Powers.

The business, property and affairs of the Company shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board, which may exercise all such powers of the Company and do all such lawful acts and things as are not by law or by the Certificate directed or required to be exercised or done by the stockholders.

3.2 Number and Term of Office.

The number of directors shall initially be set at two. Thereafter the number of directors shall be fixed from time to time by the Board. Directors need not be stockholders. Each director shall hold office until his successor is elected and qualified, or until his earlier death or resignation or removal in the manner hereinafter provided.

3.3 Election of Directors.

At each meeting of the stockholders for the election of directors at which a quorum is present, the persons receiving the greatest number of votes, up to the number of directors to be elected, of the stockholders present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote thereon shall be the directors; provided , however , that for purposes of such vote no stockholder shall be allowed to cumulate his votes. Unless an election by ballot shall be demanded as provided in Section 2.7 of Article II, election of directors may be conducted in any manner approved at such meeting.

3.4 Resignation, Removal and Vacancies.

Any director may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Board, the Chairman, the President or the Secretary. Such resignation shall take effect at the time specified therein or, if the time be not specified, upon receipt thereof; and unless otherwise specified therein, the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.

Any director or the entire Board may be removed, with or without cause, at any time, by vote of the holders of a majority of the shares then entitled to vote at an election of directors or by written consent of the stockholders pursuant to Section 2.10 of Article II.

Vacancies occurring on the Board for any reason may be filled by vote of the stockholders or by the stockholders’ written consent pursuant to Section 2.10 of Article II, or by vote of the Board or by the directors’ written consent pursuant to Section 3.6 of this Article III. If the number of directors then in office is less than a quorum, such vacancies may be filled by a vote of a majority of the directors then in office.

 

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3.5 Meetings.

(a) Annual Meetings . As soon as practicable after each annual election of directors, the Board shall meet for the purpose of organization and the transaction of other business, unless it shall have transacted all such business by written consent pursuant to Section 3.6 of this Article III.

(b) Other Meetings . Other meetings of the Board shall be held at such times and at such places as the Board, the Chairman, the President or any director shall from time to time determine.

(c) Notice of Meetings . Notice shall be given to each director of each meeting, including the time, place and purpose of such meeting. Notice of each such meeting shall be mailed to each director, addressed to him at his residence or usual place of business, at least two days before the date on which such meeting is to be held, or shall be sent to him at such place by telegraph, cable, wireless or other form of recorded communication, or be delivered personally or by telephone not later than the day before the day on which such meeting is to be held, but notice need not be given to any director who shall attend such meeting. A written waiver of notice, signed by the person entitled thereto, whether before or after the time of the meeting stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to notice.

(d) Place of Meetings . The Board may hold its meetings at such place or places within or outside the State of Delaware as the Board may from time to time determine, or as shall be designated in the respective notices or waivers of notice thereof.

(e) Quorum and Manner of Acting . A majority of the total number of directors then in office shall be present in person at any meeting of the Board in order to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at such meeting, and the vote of a majority of those directors present at any such meeting at which a quorum is present shall be necessary for the passage of any resolution or act of the Board, except as otherwise expressly required by law or these By-laws. In the absence of a quorum for any such meeting, a majority of the directors present thereat may adjourn such meeting from time to time until a quorum shall be present.

(f) Organization . At each meeting of the Board, one of the following shall act as chairman of the meeting and preside thereat, in the following order of precedence:

(i) the Chairman, if any;

(ii) the President (if a director); or

(iii) any director designated by a majority of the directors present.

The Secretary or, in the case of his absence, an Assistant Secretary, if an Assistant Secretary has been appointed and is present, or any person whom the chairman of the meeting shall appoint shall act as secretary of such meeting and keep the minutes thereof.

3.6 Directors’ Consent in Lieu of Meeting.

Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, if a consent in writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by all of the directors then in office and such consent is filed with the minutes of the proceedings of the Board.

 

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3.7 Action by Means of Conference Telephone or Similar Communications Equipment.

Any one or more members of the Board may participate in a meeting of the Board by means of conference telephone or similar communications equipment by which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and participation in a meeting by such means shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.

3.8 Committees.

The Board may, by resolution or resolutions passed by a majority of the whole Board, designate one or more committees, such committee or committees to have such name or names as may be determined from time to time by resolution adopted by the Board, and each such committee to consist of one or more directors of the Company, which to the extent provided in said resolution or resolutions shall have and may exercise the powers of the Board in the management of the business and affairs of the Company and may authorize the seal of the Company to be affixed to all papers which may require it. A majority of all the members of any such committee may determine its action and fix the time and place of its meetings, unless the Board shall otherwise provide. The Board shall have power to change the members of any such committee at any time, to fill vacancies and to discharge any such committee, either with or without cause, at any time.

ARTICLE IV

Officers

4.1 Executive Officers.

The principal officers of the Company shall be a Chairman, if one is appointed (and any references to the Chairman shall not apply if a Chairman has not been appointed), a President, a Secretary and a Treasurer, and may include such other officers as the Board may appoint pursuant to Section 4.3 of this Article IV. Any two or more offices may be held by the same person.

4.2 Authority and Duties.

All officers, as between themselves and the Company, shall have such authority and perform such duties in the management of the Company as may be provided in these By-laws or, to the extent so provided, by the Board.

4.3 Other Officers.

The Company may have such other officers, agents and employees as the Board may deem necessary, including one or more Chief Executive Officers, Co-Chief Executive Officers, Chief Operating Officers, Co-Chief Operating Officers, Chief Financial Officers, Co-Chief

 

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Financial Officers, Executive Vice Presidents, Vice Presidents, Assistant Secretaries, and Assistant Treasurers, each of whom shall hold office for such period, have such authority and perform such duties as the Board, the Chairman or the President may from time to time determine. The Board may delegate to any principal officer the power to appoint and define the authority and duties of, or remove, any such officers, agents or employees.

4.4 Term of Office, Resignation and Removal.

All officers shall be elected or appointed by the Board and shall hold office for such term as may be prescribed by the Board. Each officer shall hold office until his successor has been elected or appointed and qualified or until his earlier death or resignation or removal in the manner hereinafter provided. The Board may require any officer to give security for the faithful performance of his duties.

Any officer may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Board, the Chairman, the President or the Secretary. Such resignation shall take effect at the time specified therein or, if the time be not specified, at the time it is accepted by action of the Board. Except as aforesaid, the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.

All officers and agents elected or appointed by the Board shall be subject to removal at any time by the Board or by the stockholders of the Company with or without cause.

4.5 Vacancies.

If the office of Chairman, President, Secretary or Treasurer becomes vacant for any reason, the Board shall fill such vacancy, and if any other office becomes vacant, the Board may fill such vacancy. Any officer so appointed or elected by the Board shall serve only until such time as the unexpired term of his predecessor shall have expired, unless reelected or reappointed by the Board.

4.6 The Chairman.

The Chairman shall give counsel and advice to the Board and the officers of the Company on all subjects concerning the welfare of the Company and the conduct of its business and shall perform such other duties as the Board may from time to time determine. Unless otherwise determined by the Board, he shall preside at meetings of the Board and of the stockholders at which he is present.

4.7 The President.

Unless otherwise determined by the Board, the President shall be the chief executive officer of the Company. The President shall have general and active management and control of the business and affairs of the Company subject to the control of the Board and shall see that all orders and resolutions of the Board are carried into effect. The President shall from time to time make such reports of the affairs of the Company as the Board may require and shall perform such other duties as the Board may from time to time determine.

 

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4.8 The Secretary.

The Secretary shall, to the extent practicable, attend all meetings of the Board and all meetings of the stockholders and shall record all votes and the minutes of all proceedings in a book to be kept for that purpose. He may give, or cause to be given, notice of all meetings of the stockholders and of the Board, and shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board, the Chairman or the President, under whose supervision he shall act. He shall keep in safe custody the seal of the Company and affix the same to any duly authorized instrument requiring it and, when so affixed, it shall be attested by his signature or by the signature of the Treasurer or, if appointed, an Assistant Secretary or an Assistant Treasurer. He shall keep in safe custody the certificate books and stockholder records and such other books and records as the Board may direct, and shall perform all other duties incident to the office of Secretary and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him by the Board, the Chairman or the President.

4.9 The Treasurer.

The Treasurer shall have the care and custody of the corporate funds and other valuable effects, including securities, shall keep full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the Company and shall deposit all moneys and other valuable effects in the name and to the credit of the Company in such depositories as may be designated by the Board. The Treasurer shall disburse the funds of the Company as may be ordered by the Board, taking proper vouchers for such disbursements, shall render to the Chairman, President and directors, at the regular meetings of the Board or whenever they may require it, an account of all his transactions as Treasurer and of the financial condition of the Company and shall perform all other duties incident to the office of Treasurer and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him by the Board, the Chairman or the President.

ARTICLE V

Contracts, Checks, Drafts, Bank Accounts, Etc.

5.1 Execution of Documents.

The Board shall designate, by either specific or general resolution, the officers, employees and agents of the Company who shall have the power to execute and deliver deeds, contracts, mortgages, bonds, debentures, checks, drafts and other orders for the payment of money and other documents for and in the name of the Company, and may authorize such officers, employees and agents to delegate such power (including authority to redelegate) by written instrument to other officers, employees or agents of the Company. Unless so designated or expressly authorized by these By-laws, no officer, employee or agent shall have any power or authority to bind the Company by any contract or engagement, to pledge its credit or to render it liable pecuniarily for any purpose or amount.

 

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5.2 Deposits.

All funds of the Company not otherwise employed shall be deposited from time to time to the credit of the Company or otherwise as the Board or Treasurer, or any other officer of the Company to whom power in this respect shall have been given by the Board, shall select.

5.3 Proxies with Respect to Stock or Other Securities of Other Corporations.

The Board shall designate the officers of the Company who shall have authority from time to time to appoint an agent or agents of the Company to exercise in the name and on behalf of the Company the powers and rights which the Company may have as the holder of stock or other securities in any other entity, and to vote or consent with respect to such stock or securities. Such designated officers may instruct the person or persons so appointed as to the manner of exercising such powers and rights, and such designated officers may execute or cause to be executed in the name and on behalf of the Company and under its corporate seal or otherwise, such written proxies, powers of attorney or other instruments as they may deem necessary or proper in order that the Company may exercise its powers and rights.

ARTICLE VI

Shares and Their Transfer; Fixing Record Date

6.1 Certificates for Shares.

Every owner of stock of the Company shall be entitled to have a certificate certifying the number and class of shares owned by him in the Company, which shall be in such form as shall be prescribed by the Board. Certificates shall be numbered and issued in consecutive order and shall be signed by, or in the name of, the Company by the Chairman, the President or any Vice President, and by the Treasurer (or an Assistant Treasurer, if appointed) or the Secretary (or an Assistant Secretary, if appointed). In case any officer or officers who shall have signed any such certificate or certificates shall cease to be such officer or officers of the Company, whether because of death, resignation or otherwise, before such certificate or certificates shall have been delivered by the Company, such certificate or certificates may nevertheless be adopted by the Company and be issued and delivered as though the person or persons who signed such certificate had not ceased to be such officer or officers of the Company.

6.2 Record.

A record in one or more counterparts shall be kept of the name of the person, firm or Company owning the shares represented by each certificate for stock of the Company issued, the number of shares represented by each such certificate, the date thereof and, in the case of cancellation, the date of cancellation. Except as otherwise expressly required by law, the person in whose name shares of stock stand on the stock record of the Company shall be deemed the owner thereof for all purposes regarding the Company.

 

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6.3 Transfer and Registration of Stock.

The transfer of stock and certificates which represent the stock of the Company shall be governed by Article 8 of Subtitle 1 of Title 6 of the Delaware Code (the Uniform Commercial Code), as amended from time to time.

Registration of transfers of shares of the Company shall be made only on the books of the Company upon request of the registered holder thereof, or of his attorney thereunto authorized by power of attorney duly executed and filed with the Secretary of the Company, and upon the surrender of the certificate or certificates for such shares properly endorsed or accompanied by a stock power duly executed.

6.4 Addresses of Stockholders.

Each stockholder shall designate to the Secretary an address at which notices of meetings and all other corporate notices may be served or mailed to him, and, if any stockholder shall fail to designate such address, corporate notices may be served upon him by mail directed to him at his post-office address, if any, as the same appears on the share record books of the Company or at his last known post-office address.

6.5 Lost, Destroyed and Mutilated Certificates.

The holder of any shares of the Company shall immediately notify the Company of any loss, destruction or mutilation of the certificate therefor, and the Board may, in its discretion, cause to be issued to him a new certificate or certificates for such shares, upon the surrender of the mutilated certificates or, in the case of loss or destruction of the certificate, upon satisfactory proof of such loss or destruction, and the Board may, in its discretion, require the owner of the lost or destroyed certificate or his legal representative to give the Company a bond in such sum and with such surety or sureties as it may direct to indemnify the Company against any claim that may be made against it on account of the alleged loss or destruction of any such certificate.

6.6 Regulations.

The Board may make such rules and regulations as it may deem expedient, not inconsistent with these By-laws, concerning the issue, transfer and registration of certificates for stock of the Company.

6.7 Fixing Date for Determination of Stockholders of Record.

(a) In order that the Company may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, the Board may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board, and which record date shall be not more than 60 nor less than 10 days before the date of such meeting. If no record date is fixed by the Board, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice is given, or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held. A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided , however , that the Board may fix a new record date for the adjourned meeting.

 

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(b) In order that the Company may determine the stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, the Board may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board, and which date shall be not more than 10 days after the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board. If no record date has been fixed by the Board, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, when no prior action by the Board is required by the DGCL, shall be the first date on which a signed written consent setting forth the action taken or proposed to be taken is delivered to the Company by delivery to its registered office in the State of Delaware, its principal place of business or an officer or agent of the Company having custody of the book in which proceedings of meetings of stockholders are recorded. Delivery made to the Company’s registered office shall be by hand or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested. If no record date has been fixed by the Board and prior action by the Board is required by the [DGCL] , the record date for determining stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board adopts the resolution taking such prior action.

(c) In order that the Company may determine the stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights or the stockholders entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock, or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted, and which record date shall be not more than 60 days prior to such action. If no record date is fixed, the record date for determining stockholders for any such purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board adopts the resolution relating thereto.

ARTICLE VII

Seal

The Board may provide a corporate seal, which shall be in the form of a circle and shall bear the full name of the Company, the year of incorporation of the Company and the words and figures “Corporate Seal – Delaware.”

ARTICLE VIII

Fiscal Year

The fiscal year of the Company shall be the calendar year unless otherwise determined by the Board.

 

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ARTICLE IX

Indemnification and Insurance

9.1 Indemnification.

(a) As provided in the Certificate, to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL as the same exists or may hereafter be amended, a director of the Company shall not be liable to the Company or its stockholders for breach of fiduciary duty as a director.

(b) Without limitation of any right conferred by paragraph (a) of this Section 9.1, each person who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise involved in any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (hereinafter a “proceeding”), by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director, officer or employee of the Company or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer or employee of another Company or of a partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan (hereinafter an “indemnitee”), whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity while serving as a director, officer or employee or in any other capacity while serving as a director, officer or employee, shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company to the fullest extent authorized by the DGCL, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended (but, in the case of any such amendment, only to the extent that such amendment permits the Company to provide broader indemnification rights than permitted prior thereto), against all expense, liability and loss (including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, excise taxes or amounts paid in settlement) reasonably incurred or suffered by such indemnitee in connection therewith and such indemnification shall continue as to an indemnitee who has ceased to be a director, officer or employee and shall inure to the benefit of the indemnitee’s heirs, testators, intestates, executors and administrators; provided , however , that such person acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the Company, and with respect to a criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful; provided , further , however , that no indemnification shall be made in the case of an action, suit or proceeding by or in the right of the Company in relation to matters as to which it shall be adjudged in such action, suit or proceeding that such director, officer, employee or agent is liable to the Company, unless a court having jurisdiction shall determine that, despite such adjudication, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification; provided , further , however , that, except as provided in Section 9.1(c) of this Article IX with respect to proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification, the Company shall indemnify any such indemnitee in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such indemnitee only if such proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such indemnitee was authorized by the Board of the Company. The right to indemnification conferred in this Article IX shall be a contract right and shall include the right to be paid by the Company the expenses incurred in defending any such proceeding in advance of its final disposition (hereinafter an “advancement of expenses”); provided , however , that, if the DGCL requires, an advancement of expenses incurred by an indemnitee in his or her capacity as a director or officer (and not in any other capacity in which service was or is rendered by such indemnitee, including, without limitation, service to an employee benefit plan) shall be made only upon delivery to the Company of an undertaking (hereinafter an “undertaking”), by or on behalf of such indemnitee, to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined by final judicial decision from which there is no further right to appeal (hereinafter a “final adjudication”) (i) that such indemnitee breached his fiduciary duty to the Company or (ii) that such indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified for such expenses under this Section or otherwise.

 

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(c) If a claim under Section 9.1(b) of this Article IX is not paid in full by the Company with 60 days after a written claim has been received by the Company, except in the case of a claim for an advancement of expenses, in which case the applicable period shall be 10 days, the indemnitee may at any time thereafter bring suit against the Company to recover the unpaid amount of the claim. If successful in whole or in part in any such suit, or in a suit brought by the Company to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of any undertaking, the indemnitee shall be entitled to be paid also the expense of prosecuting or defending such suit. In (i) any suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right to indemnification hereunder (but not in a suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right to an advancement of expenses) it shall be a defense that, and (ii) in any suit by the Company to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the Company shall be entitled to recover such expenses upon a final adjudication that, the indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the DGCL. Neither the failure of the Company (including the Board, independent legal counsel, or the stockholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such suit that indemnification of the indemnitee is proper in the circumstances because the indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the DGCL, nor an actual determination by the Company (including the Board, independent legal counsel or the stockholders) that the indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall create a presumption that the indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct or, in the case of such a suit brought by the indemnitee, be a defense to such suit. In any suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right to indemnification or to an advancement of expenses hereunder, or by the Company to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the burden of proving that the indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified, or to such advancement of expenses, under this Section or otherwise shall be on the Company.

(d) The rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses conferred in this Article IX shall not be exclusive of any other right which any person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, the Certificate, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.

9.2 Insurance.

The Company may purchase and maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect itself and any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or any person who is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employer or agent of another Company, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any expense, liability or loss, whether or not the Company would have the power to indemnify such person against such expense, liability or loss under the DGCL.

ARTICLE X

Amendment

Any by-law (including these By-laws) may be adopted, amended or repealed by the vote of the holders of a majority of the shares then entitled to vote or by the stockholders’ written consent pursuant to Section 2.10 of Article II, or by the vote of the Board or by the directors’ written consent pursuant to Section 3.6 of Article III.

* * * * *

 

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Exhibit 3.18

ARTICLES OF MERGER

OF

AFFINION AUTO SERVICES, INC.

(a Delaware corporation)

AND

TRILEGIANT AUTO SERVICES, INC.

(a Wyoming corporation)

(Pursuant to Section 17-16-1107 of the Wyoming Business Corporation Act)

December 28, 2005

To the Secretary of State

State of Wyoming

Pursuant to the provisions of the Wyoming Business Corporation Act (the “ WBCA ”), the domestic business corporation and the foreign business corporation herein named do hereby submit the following articles of merger.

FIRST: The plan of merger for merging Affinion Auto Services, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“ Affinion Auto ”), with and into Trilegiant Auto Services, Inc., a Wyoming corporation (“ Trilegiant Auto ”), as adopted by the board of directors of Affinion Auto on December 28, 2005 and adopted by the board of directors and sole stockholder of Trilegiant Auto on December 28, 2005 (the “Merger”) is as follows:

(a) Trilegiant Auto shall be the surviving corporation in the Merger.

(b) The articles of incorporation and bylaws of Trilegiant Auto as in effect immediately prior to the Merger Effective Time (defined below) shall be the articles of incorporation and bylaws of Trilegiant Auto as the surviving corporation immediately after the consummation of the Merger. The directors and officers of Trilegiant Auto, as in effect at the Merger Effective Time, shall be the directors and officers of Trilegiant Auto as the surviving corporation immediately after the consummation of the Merger. Except as specifically set forth herein, at the Merger Effective Time, all Rights (as hereinafter defined) of Trilegiant Auto shall continue in effect and be unimpaired by the Merger, and all Rights of Affinion Auto shall be merged with and into Trilegiant Auto. As used herein, “Rights” means, with respect to any corporation, such corporation’s identity, existence, corporate organization, purposes, powers, objects, franchises, privileges, rights, immunities, restrictions, debts, liabilities and duties, collectively.


(c) As of the Merger Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of any holder, each issued and outstanding share of Affinion Auto’s common stock, no par value, shall be cancelled and the shares of Trilegiant Auto authorized and outstanding as of the Merger Effective Time shall be the shares of the merged entity immediately after the consummation of the Merger.

SECOND: With respect to Trilegiant Auto, the designation, the number of outstanding shares, and the number of votes entitled to be cast by the voting group entitled to vote on the said merger are as follows:

(a) Designation of voting group: Common Stock, par value $0.01

(b) Number of outstanding shares of voting group: 3,000 shares

(c) Number of outstanding shares of voting group entitled to be cast on the merger: 3000 shares

THIRD: With respect to Trilegiant Auto, the total number of votes cast for and against the Merger by the voting group entitled to vote on the said Merger is as follows:

(a) Designation of voting group: Common Stock, par value $0.01

(b) Number of votes of voting group cast for the merger: 3000

(c) Number of votes of voting group cast against the merger: 0

FOURTH: With respect to Trilegiant Auto, the number of votes cast for the said Merger was sufficient for the approval thereof by the said voting group.

FIFTH: The Merger of Affinion Auto, with and into Trilegiant Auto, is permitted by the laws of the jurisdiction of organization of Affinion Auto and has been authorized in compliance with said laws.

SIXTH: Trilegiant Auto will continue its existence as the surviving corporation under its present name pursuant to the provisions of the WBCA.

SEVENTH: The effective time and date of the merger herein provided for in the State of Wyoming shall be on December 31, 2005 at 10:00 am Mountain Standard Time (12:00 pm EST) (“Merger Effective Time”).


IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the undersigned has duly executed these Articles of Merger as of the date first written above.

 

AFFINION AUTO SERVICES, INC.
By:   /s/ Nathaniel J. Lipman
 

Name:

 

Nathaniel J. Lipman

 

Title:

 

Chief Executive Officer

TRILEGIANT AUTO SERVICES, INC.
By:   /s/ Nathaniel J. Lipman
 

Name:

 

Nathaniel J. Lipman

 

Title:

 

Chief Executive Officer


ARTICLES OF MERGER

OF

TRILEGIANT AUTO SERVICES, INC., a Delaware corporation

WITH AND INTO

TRILEGIANT AUTO SERVICES, INC., a Wyoming corporation

Pursuant to the provisions of the Wyoming Business Corporation Act, the undersigned, Trilegiant Auto Services, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and Trilegiant Auto Services, Inc., a Wyoming corporation, do hereby submit the following Articles of Merger.

FIRST : Annexed hereto and made a part hereof is the executed Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “ Plan of Merger ”) for merging Trilegiant Auto Services, Inc., a Delaware corporation, with and into Trilegiant Auto Services, Inc., a Wyoming corporation (the “ Merger ”).

SECOND : For Trilegiant Auto Services, Inc., a Wyoming corporation, the designation, the number of outstanding shares, and the number of votes entitled to be cast by the voting group entitled to vote on the said Merger is as follows: (a) there is one voting group designated as Common Stock, par value $.01 per share, (b) the number of outstanding shares of this voting group are 1,500 shares which are held by one (1) shareholder, and (c) the number of votes of this voting group entitled to be cast on the Merger is 1,500. The total number of votes cast for and against the Merger by the sole voting group entitled to vote on the said Merger is as follows: all 1,500 votes entitled to vote on the Merger have voted unanimously and undisputed for the Merger.

THIRD : For Trilegiant Auto Services, Inc., a Delaware corporation, the designation, the number of outstanding shares, and the number of votes entitled to be cast by the voting group entitled to vote on the said Merger is as follows: (a) there is one voting group designated as Common Stock, par value $.01 per share, (b) the number of outstanding shares of this voting group are 3,000 shares which are held by one (1) shareholder, and (c) the number of votes of this voting group entitled to be cast on the Merger is 3,000. The total number of votes cast for and against the Merger by the sole voting group entitled to vote on the said Merger is as follows: all 3,000 votes entitled to vote on the Merger have voted unanimously and undisputed for the Merger.

FOURTH : For Trilegiant Auto Services, Inc., a Wyoming corporation, and Trilegiant Auto Services, Inc., a Delaware corporation, the number of votes cast for the Merger was sufficient for the approval thereof by the sole voting group of each such corporation.

FIFTH : The Merger of Trilegiant Auto Services, Inc., a Delaware corporation with and into Trilegiant Auto Services, Inc., a Wyoming corporation, is permitted and has been authorized in accordance with the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware and the Wyoming Business Corporation Act.


SIXTH : Trilegiant Auto Services, Inc., a Wyoming corporation, will continue its existence as the surviving corporation under its present name upon the effective date of the Merger, pursuant to the provisions of the Wyoming Business Corporation Act.

[Signature Page Follows]


I HEREBY DECLARE , under the penalties of false statement, that the statements made in the foregoing Articles of Merger are true insofar as they pertain to the surviving corporation, Trilegiant Auto Services, Inc., a Wyoming corporation and the merging corporation, Trilegiant Auto Services, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

Dated as of September 20, 2002

 

TRILEGIANT AUTO SERVICES, INC.,

a Delaware corporation

By:   /s/ Peter G. McGonagle
 

Name:

 

Peter G. McGonagle

 

Title:

 

Executive Vice President

TRILEGIANT AUTO SERVICES, INC.,

a Wyoming corporation

By:   /s/ Peter G. McGonagle
 

Name:

 

Peter G. McGonagle

 

Title:

 

Executive Vice President


ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION

OF

TRILEGIANT AUTO SERVICES, INC.

(Pursuant to Section 17-16-202 of the Wyoming Business Corporation Act)

FIRST: The name of the corporation is Trilegiant Auto Services, Inc. (the “ Corporation ”).

SECOND: The name of the registered agent is CT Corporation System

THIRD: The address of the registered agent is 1720 Carey Ave., Ste 200, Cheyenne, WY 82001.

FOURTH: The number and class of shares the Corporation will have authority to issue is 3,000 shares of Common Stock, par value $.01 per share (the “ Common Stock ”). The number and class of shares which are entitled to receive the net assets upon dissolution are the 3,000 shares of Common Stock.

FIFTH: The address for mailing the annual report form is 100 Connecticut Avenue, Norwalk, CT 06850.

SIXTH: The name and address of the incorporator is Ryan C. Fisher, Esq. c/o Cummings & Lockwood, Four Stamford Plaza, 107 Elm Street, Stamford, CT 06902.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned, as sole incorporator, has executed these Articles of Incorporation as of the 30th day of August, 2002.

 

/s/ Ryan C. Fisher

Ryan C. Fisher, Esq.

Sole Incorporator

Exhibit 3.19

AMENDED AND RESTATED

BYLAWS OF

TRILEGIANT AUTO SERVICES, INC.

ARTICLE I

Offices

1.1 Registered Office.

The registered office of Trilegiant Auto Services, Inc. (the “Company”) in the State of Wyoming shall be 1720 Carey Avenue, Suite 200, Cheyenne, Wyoming 82001. The name of the registered agent of the Company at such address is CT Corporation System.

1.2 Other Offices.

The Company may also have an office or offices at any other place or places within or outside the State of Wyoming.

ARTICLE II

Meeting of Stockholders; Stockholders’ Consent in Lieu of Meeting

2.1 Annual Meetings.

The annual meeting of the stockholders for the election of directors, and for the transaction of such other business as may properly come before the meeting, shall be held at such place, date and hour as shall be fixed by the Board of Directors (the “Board”) and designated in the notice or waiver of notice thereof, except that no annual meeting need be held if all actions, including the election of directors, required by the Wyoming Business Corporation Act (the “ WBCA ”) General Corporation Law of the State of Wyoming (the “[WBCA]”) to be taken at a stockholders’ annual meeting are taken by written consent in lieu of meeting pursuant to Section 2.10 of this Article II.

2.2 Special Meetings.

A special meeting of the stockholders for any purpose or purposes may be called by the Board, the Chairman, the President or the record holders of at least a majority of the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company, to be held at such place, date and hour as shall be designated in the notice or waiver of notice thereof.


2.3 Notice of Meetings.

Except as otherwise required by statute, the Articles of Incorporation of the Company (the “Articles”) or these Bylaws, notice of each annual or special meeting of the stockholders shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at such meeting not less than 10 nor more than 60 days before the day on which the meeting is to be held, by delivering written notice thereof to him personally, or by mailing a copy of such notice, postage prepaid, directly to him at his address as it appears in the records of the Company, or by transmitting such notice thereof to him at such address by telegraph, cable or other telephonic transmission. Every such notice shall state the place, the date and hour of the meeting, and, in case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called. Notice of any meeting of stockholders shall not be required to be given to any stockholder who shall attend such meeting in person or by proxy, or who shall, in person or by his attorney thereunto authorized, waive such notice in writing, either before or after such meeting. Except as otherwise provided in these Bylaws, neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any meeting of the stockholders need be specified in any such notice or waiver of notice. Notice of any adjourned meeting of stockholders shall not be required to be given, except when expressly required by law.

2.4 Quorum.

At each meeting of the stockholders, except where otherwise provided by the Articles or these Bylaws, the holders of a majority of the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company entitled to vote at such meeting, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. In the absence of a quorum, a majority in interest of the stockholders present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote, or, in the absence of all the stockholders entitled to vote, any officer entitled to preside at, or act as secretary of, such meeting, shall have the power to adjourn the meeting from time to time, until stockholders holding the requisite amount of stock to constitute a quorum shall be present or represented. At any such adjourned meeting at which a quorum shall be present, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the meeting as originally called.

2.5 Organization.

Unless otherwise determined by the Board, at each meeting of the stockholders, one of the following shall act as chairman of the meeting and preside thereat, in the following order of precedence:

(a) the Chairman, if any;

(b) the President;

(c) any director, officer or stockholder of the Company designated by the Board to act as chairman of such meeting and to preside thereat if the Chairman or the President shall be absent from such meeting; or

 

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(d) a stockholder of record who shall be chosen chairman of such meeting by a majority in voting interest of the stockholders present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote thereat.

The Secretary or, if he shall be presiding over such meeting in accordance with the provisions of this Section 2.5 or if he shall be absent from such meeting, the person (who shall be an Assistant Secretary, if an Assistant Secretary has been appointed and is present) whom the chairman of such meeting shall appoint, shall act as secretary of such meeting and keep the minutes thereof.

2.6 Order of Business.

The order of business at each meeting of the stockholders shall be determined by the chairman of such meeting, but such order of business may be changed by a majority in voting interest of those present in person or by proxy at such meeting and entitled to vote thereat.

2.7 Voting.

Except as otherwise provided by law, the Articles or these Bylaws, at each meeting of the stockholders, every stockholder of the Company shall be entitled to one vote in person or by proxy for each share of Common Stock of the Company held by him and registered in his name on the books of the Company on the date fixed pursuant to Section 6.7 of Article VI as the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting. Persons holding stock in a fiduciary capacity shall be entitled to vote the shares so held. A person whose stock is pledged shall be entitled to vote, unless, in the transfer by the pledgor on the books of the Company, he has expressly empowered the pledgee to vote thereon, in which case only the pledgee or his proxy may represent such stock and vote thereon. If shares or other securities having voting power stand in the record of two or more persons, whether fiduciaries, members of a partnership, joint tenants, tenants in common, tenants by the entirety or otherwise, or if two or more persons have the same fiduciary relationship respecting the same shares, unless the Secretary shall be given written notice to the contrary and furnished with a copy of the instrument or order appointing them or creating the relationship wherein it is so provided, their acts with respect to voting shall have the following effect:

(a) if only one votes, his act binds all;

(b) if more than one votes, the act of the majority so voting binds all; and

(c) if more than one votes, but the vote is evenly split on any particular matter, such shares shall be voted in the manner provided by law.

If the instrument so filed shows that any such tenancy is held in unequal interests, a majority or even-split for the purposes of this Section 2.7 shall be a majority or even-split in interest. The Company shall not vote directly or indirectly any share of its own capital stock. Any vote of stock may be given by the stockholder entitled thereto in person or by his proxy appointed by an instrument in writing, subscribed by such stockholder or by his attorney thereunto authorized, delivered to the secretary of the meeting; provided , however , that no proxy shall be voted after three years from its date, unless said proxy provides for a longer period. At all meetings of the

 

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stockholders, all matters (except where other provision is made by law, the Articles or these Bylaws) shall be decided by the vote of a majority in interest of the stockholders present in person or by proxy at such meeting and entitled to vote thereon, a quorum being present. Unless demanded by a stockholder present in person or by proxy at any meeting and entitled to vote thereon, the vote on any question need not be by ballot. Upon a demand by any such stockholder for a vote by ballot upon any question, such vote by ballot shall be taken. On a vote by ballot, each ballot shall be signed by the stockholder voting, or by his proxy, if there be such proxy, and shall state the number of shares voted.

2.8 Inspection.

The chairman of the meeting may at any time appoint one or more inspectors to serve at any meeting of the stockholders. Any inspector may be removed, and a new inspector or inspectors appointed, by the Board at any time. Such inspectors shall decide upon the qualifications of voters, accept and count votes, declare the results of such vote, and subscribe and deliver to the secretary of the meeting a Articles stating the number of shares of stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote thereon and the number of shares voted for and against the question, respectively. The inspectors need not be stockholders of the Company, and any director or officer of the Company may be an inspector on any question other than a vote for or against his election to any position with the Company or on any other matter in which he may be directly interested. Before acting as herein provided, each inspector shall subscribe an oath faithfully to execute the duties of an inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of his ability.

2.9 List of Stockholders.

It shall be the duty of the Secretary or other officer of the Company who shall have charge of its stock ledger to prepare and make, at least 10 days before every meeting of the stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote thereat, arranged in alphabetical order, and showing the address of each stockholder and the number of shares registered in the name of each stockholder. Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to any such meeting, during ordinary business hours, for a period of at least 10 days prior to such meeting, either at a place within the city where such meeting is to be held, which place shall be specified in the notice of the meeting or, if not so specified, at the place where the meeting is to be held. Such list shall also be produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time thereof, and may be inspected by any stockholder who is present.

2.10 Stockholders’ Consent in Lieu of Meeting.

Any action required by the WBCA to be taken at any annual or special meeting of the stockholders of the Company, or any action which may be taken at any annual or special meeting of such stockholders, may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, by a consent in writing, as permitted by the WBCA.

 

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ARTICLE III

Board of Directors

3.1 General Powers.

The business, property and affairs of the Company shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board, which may exercise all such powers of the Company and do all such lawful acts and things as are not by law or by the Articles directed or required to be exercised or done by the stockholders.

3.2 Number and Term of Office.

The number of directors shall initially be set at two. Thereafter the number of directors shall be fixed from time to time by the Board. Directors need not be stockholders. Each director shall hold office until his successor is elected and qualified, or until his earlier death or resignation or removal in the manner hereinafter provided.

3.3 Election of Directors.

At each meeting of the stockholders for the election of directors at which a quorum is present, the persons receiving the greatest number of votes, up to the number of directors to be elected, of the stockholders present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote thereon shall be the directors; provided , however , that for purposes of such vote no stockholder shall be allowed to cumulate his votes. Unless an election by ballot shall be demanded as provided in Section 2.7 of Article II, election of directors may be conducted in any manner approved at such meeting.

3.4 Resignation, Removal and Vacancies.

Any director may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Board, the Chairman, the President or the Secretary. Such resignation shall take effect at the time specified therein or, if the time be not specified, upon receipt thereof; and unless otherwise specified therein, the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.

Any director or the entire Board may be removed, with or without cause, at any time, by vote of the holders of a majority of the shares then entitled to vote at an election of directors or by written consent of the stockholders pursuant to Section 2.10 of Article II.

Vacancies occurring on the Board for any reason may be filled by vote of the stockholders or by the stockholders’ written consent pursuant to Section 2.10 of Article II, or by vote of the Board or by the directors’ written consent pursuant to Section 3.6 of this Article III. If the number of directors then in office is less than a quorum, such vacancies may be filled by a vote of a majority of the directors then in office.

 

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3.5 Meetings.

(a) Annual Meetings . As soon as practicable after each annual election of directors, the Board shall meet for the purpose of organization and the transaction of other business, unless it shall have transacted all such business by written consent pursuant to Section 3.6 of this Article III.

(b) Other Meetings . Other meetings of the Board shall be held at such times and at such places as the Board, the Chairman, the President or any director shall from time to time determine.

(c) Notice of Meetings . Notice shall be given to each director of each meeting, including the time, place and purpose of such meeting. Notice of each such meeting shall be mailed to each director, addressed to him at his residence or usual place of business, at least two days before the date on which such meeting is to be held, or shall be sent to him at such place by telegraph, cable, wireless or other form of recorded communication, or be delivered personally or by telephone not later than the day before the day on which such meeting is to be held, but notice need not be given to any director who shall attend such meeting. A written waiver of notice, signed by the person entitled thereto, whether before or after the time of the meeting stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to notice.

(d) Place of Meetings . The Board may hold its meetings at such place or places within or outside the State of Wyoming as the Board may from time to time determine, or as shall be designated in the respective notices or waivers of notice thereof.

(e) Quorum and Manner of Acting . A majority of the total number of directors then in office shall be present in person at any meeting of the Board in order to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at such meeting, and the vote of a majority of those directors present at any such meeting at which a quorum is present shall be necessary for the passage of any resolution or act of the Board, except as otherwise expressly required by law or these Bylaws. In the absence of a quorum for any such meeting, a majority of the directors present thereat may adjourn such meeting from time to time until a quorum shall be present.

(f) Organization . At each meeting of the Board, one of the following shall act as chairman of the meeting and preside thereat, in the following order of precedence:

(i) the Chairman, if any;

(ii) the President (if a director); or

(iii) any director designated by a majority of the directors present.

The Secretary or, in the case of his absence, an Assistant Secretary, if an Assistant Secretary has been appointed and is present, or any person whom the chairman of the meeting shall appoint shall act as secretary of such meeting and keep the minutes thereof.

3.6 Directors’ Consent in Lieu of Meeting.

Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, if a consent in writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by all of the directors then in office and such consent is filed with the minutes of the proceedings of the Board.

 

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3.7 Action by Means of Conference Telephone or Similar Communications Equipment.

Any one or more members of the Board may participate in a meeting of the Board by means of conference telephone or similar communications equipment by which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and participation in a meeting by such means shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.

3.8 Committees.

The Board may, by resolution or resolutions passed by a majority of the whole Board, designate one or more committees, such committee or committees to have such name or names as may be determined from time to time by resolution adopted by the Board, and each such committee to consist of one or more directors of the Company, which to the extent provided in said resolution or resolutions shall have and may exercise the powers of the Board in the management of the business and affairs of the Company and may authorize the seal of the Company to be affixed to all papers which may require it. A majority of all the members of any such committee may determine its action and fix the time and place of its meetings, unless the Board shall otherwise provide. The Board shall have power to change the members of any such committee at any time, to fill vacancies and to discharge any such committee, either with or without cause, at any time.

ARTICLE IV

Officers

4.1 Executive Officers.

The principal officers of the Company shall be a Chairman, if one is appointed (and any references to the Chairman shall not apply if a Chairman has not been appointed), a President, a Secretary and a Treasurer, and may include such other officers as the Board may appoint pursuant to Section 4.3 of this Article IV. Any two or more offices may be held by the same person.

4.2 Authority and Duties.

All officers, as between themselves and the Company, shall have such authority and perform such duties in the management of the Company as may be provided in these Bylaws or, to the extent so provided, by the Board.

4.3 Other Officers.

The Company may have such other officers, agents and employees as the Board may deem necessary, including one or more Chief Executive Officers, Co-Chief Executive Officers, Chief Operating Officers, Co-Chief Operating Officers, Chief Financial Officers, Co-Chief

 

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Financial Officers, Executive Vice Presidents, Vice Presidents, Assistant Secretaries, and Assistant Treasurers, each of whom shall hold office for such period, have such authority and perform such duties as the Board, the Chairman or the President may from time to time determine. The Board may delegate to any principal officer the power to appoint and define the authority and duties of, or remove, any such officers, agents or employees.

4.4 Term of Office, Resignation and Removal.

All officers shall be elected or appointed by the Board and shall hold office for such term as may be prescribed by the Board. Each officer shall hold office until his successor has been elected or appointed and qualified or until his earlier death or resignation or removal in the manner hereinafter provided. The Board may require any officer to give security for the faithful performance of his duties.

Any officer may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Board, the Chairman, the President or the Secretary. Such resignation shall take effect at the time specified therein or, if the time be not specified, at the time it is accepted by action of the Board. Except as aforesaid, the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.

All officers and agents elected or appointed by the Board shall be subject to removal at any time by the Board or by the stockholders of the Company with or without cause.

4.5 Vacancies.

If the office of Chairman, President, Secretary or Treasurer becomes vacant for any reason, the Board shall fill such vacancy, and if any other office becomes vacant, the Board may fill such vacancy. Any officer so appointed or elected by the Board shall serve only until such time as the unexpired term of his predecessor shall have expired, unless reelected or reappointed by the Board.

4.6 The Chairman.

The Chairman shall give counsel and advice to the Board and the officers of the Company on all subjects concerning the welfare of the Company and the conduct of its business and shall perform such other duties as the Board may from time to time determine. Unless otherwise determined by the Board, he shall preside at meetings of the Board and of the stockholders at which he is present.

4.7 The President.

Unless otherwise determined by the Board, the President shall be the chief executive officer of the Company. The President shall have general and active management and control of the business and affairs of the Company subject to the control of the Board and shall see that all orders and resolutions of the Board are carried into effect. The President shall from time to time make such reports of the affairs of the Company as the Board may require and shall perform such other duties as the Board may from time to time determine.

 

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4.8 The Secretary.

The Secretary shall, to the extent practicable, attend all meetings of the Board and all meetings of the stockholders and shall record all votes and the minutes of all proceedings in a book to be kept for that purpose. He may give, or cause to be given, notice of all meetings of the stockholders and of the Board, and shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board, the Chairman or the President, under whose supervision he shall act. He shall keep in safe custody the seal of the Company and affix the same to any duly authorized instrument requiring it and, when so affixed, it shall be attested by his signature or by the signature of the Treasurer or, if appointed, an Assistant Secretary or an Assistant Treasurer. He shall keep in safe custody the Articles books and stockholder records and such other books and records as the Board may direct, and shall perform all other duties incident to the office of Secretary and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him by the Board, the Chairman or the President.

4.9 The Treasurer.

The Treasurer shall have the care and custody of the corporate funds and other valuable effects, including securities, shall keep full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the Company and shall deposit all moneys and other valuable effects in the name and to the credit of the Company in such depositories as may be designated by the Board. The Treasurer shall disburse the funds of the Company as may be ordered by the Board, taking proper vouchers for such disbursements, shall render to the Chairman, President and directors, at the regular meetings of the Board or whenever they may require it, an account of all his transactions as Treasurer and of the financial condition of the Company and shall perform all other duties incident to the office of Treasurer and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him by the Board, the Chairman or the President.

ARTICLE V

Contracts, Checks, Drafts, Bank Accounts, Etc.

5.1 Execution of Documents.

The Board shall designate, by either specific or general resolution, the officers, employees and agents of the Company who shall have the power to execute and deliver deeds, contracts, mortgages, bonds, debentures, checks, drafts and other orders for the payment of money and other documents for and in the name of the Company, and may authorize such officers, employees and agents to delegate such power (including authority to redelegate) by written instrument to other officers, employees or agents of the Company. Unless so designated or expressly authorized by these Bylaws, no officer, employee or agent shall have any power or authority to bind the Company by any contract or engagement, to pledge its credit or to render it liable pecuniarily for any purpose or amount.

 

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5.2 Deposits.

All funds of the Company not otherwise employed shall be deposited from time to time to the credit of the Company or otherwise as the Board or Treasurer, or any other officer of the Company to whom power in this respect shall have been given by the Board, shall select.

5.3 Proxies with Respect to Stock or Other Securities of Other Corporations.

The Board shall designate the officers of the Company who shall have authority from time to time to appoint an agent or agents of the Company to exercise in the name and on behalf of the Company the powers and rights which the Company may have as the holder of stock or other securities in any other entity, and to vote or consent with respect to such stock or securities. Such designated officers may instruct the person or persons so appointed as to the manner of exercising such powers and rights, and such designated officers may execute or cause to be executed in the name and on behalf of the Company and under its corporate seal or otherwise, such written proxies, powers of attorney or other instruments as they may deem necessary or proper in order that the Company may exercise its powers and rights.

ARTICLE VI

Shares and Their Transfer; Fixing Record Date

6.1 Articless for Shares.

Every owner of stock of the Company shall be entitled to have a Articles certifying the number and class of shares owned by him in the Company, which shall be in such form as shall be prescribed by the Board. Articless shall be numbered and issued in consecutive order and shall be signed by, or in the name of, the Company by the Chairman, the President or any Vice President, and by the Treasurer (or an Assistant Treasurer, if appointed) or the Secretary (or an Assistant Secretary, if appointed). In case any officer or officers who shall have signed any such Articles or Articless shall cease to be such officer or officers of the Company, whether because of death, resignation or otherwise, before such Articles or Articless shall have been delivered by the Company, such Articles or Articless may nevertheless be adopted by the Company and be issued and delivered as though the person or persons who signed such Articles had not ceased to be such officer or officers of the Company.

6.2 Record.

A record in one or more counterparts shall be kept of the name of the person, firm or Company owning the shares represented by each Articles for stock of the Company issued, the number of shares represented by each such Articles, the date thereof and, in the case of cancellation, the date of cancellation. Except as otherwise expressly required by law, the person in whose name shares of stock stand on the stock record of the Company shall be deemed the owner thereof for all purposes regarding the Company.

 

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6.3 Transfer and Registration of Stock.

The transfer of stock and Articless which represent the stock of the Company shall be governed by Article 8 of the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in Wyoming (the Uniform Commercial Code), as amended from time to time.

Registration of transfers of shares of the Company shall be made only on the books of the Company upon request of the registered holder thereof, or of his attorney thereunto authorized by power of attorney duly executed and filed with the Secretary of the Company, and upon the surrender of the Articles or Articless for such shares properly endorsed or accompanied by a stock power duly executed.

6.4 Addresses of Stockholders.

Each stockholder shall designate to the Secretary an address at which notices of meetings and all other corporate notices may be served or mailed to him, and, if any stockholder shall fail to designate such address, corporate notices may be served upon him by mail directed to him at his post-office address, if any, as the same appears on the share record books of the Company or at his last known post-office address.

6.5 Lost, Destroyed and Mutilated Articless.

The holder of any shares of the Company shall immediately notify the Company of any loss, destruction or mutilation of the Articles therefor, and the Board may, in its discretion, cause to be issued to him a new Articles or Articless for such shares, upon the surrender of the mutilated Articless or, in the case of loss or destruction of the Articles, upon satisfactory proof of such loss or destruction, and the Board may, in its discretion, require the owner of the lost or destroyed Articles or his legal representative to give the Company a bond in such sum and with such surety or sureties as it may direct to indemnify the Company against any claim that may be made against it on account of the alleged loss or destruction of any such Articles.

6.6 Regulations.

The Board may make such rules and regulations as it may deem expedient, not inconsistent with these Bylaws, concerning the issue, transfer and registration of Articless for stock of the Company.

6.7 Fixing Date for Determination of Stockholders of Record.

(a) In order that the Company may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, the Board may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board, and which record date shall be not more than 60 nor less than 10 days before the date of such meeting. If no record date is fixed by the Board, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice is given, or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held. A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided , however , that the Board may fix a new record date for the adjourned meeting.

 

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(b) In order that the Company may determine the stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, the Board may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board, and which date shall be not more than 10 days after the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board. If no record date has been fixed by the Board, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, when no prior action by the Board is required by the WBCA, shall be the first date on which a signed written consent setting forth the action taken or proposed to be taken is delivered to the Company by delivery to its registered office in the State of Wyoming, its principal place of business or an officer or agent of the Company having custody of the book in which proceedings of meetings of stockholders are recorded. Delivery made to the Company’s registered office shall be by hand or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested. If no record date has been fixed by the Board and prior action by the Board is required by the WBCA, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board adopts the resolution taking such prior action.

(c) In order that the Company may determine the stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights or the stockholders entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock, or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted, and which record date shall be not more than 60 days prior to such action. If no record date is fixed, the record date for determining stockholders for any such purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board adopts the resolution relating thereto.

ARTICLE VII

Seal

The Board may provide a corporate seal, which shall be in the form of a circle and shall bear the full name of the Company, the year of incorporation of the Company and the words and figures “Corporate Seal – Wyoming.”

ARTICLE VIII

Fiscal Year

The fiscal year of the Company shall be the calendar year unless otherwise determined by the Board.

 

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ARTICLE IX

Indemnification and Insurance

9.1 Indemnification.

(a) To the fullest extent permitted by the WBCA, a director of the Company shall not be liable to the Company or its stockholders for breach of fiduciary duty as a director.

(b) Without limitation of any right conferred by paragraph (a) of this Section 9.1, each person who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise involved in any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (hereinafter a “proceeding”), by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director, officer or employee of the Company or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer or employee of another Company or of a partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan (hereinafter an “indemnitee”), whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity while serving as a director, officer or employee or in any other capacity while serving as a director, officer or employee, shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company to the fullest extent authorized or allowed by the WBCA , as the same exists or may hereafter be amended (but, in the case of any such amendment, only to the extent that such amendment permits the Company to provide broader indemnification rights than permitted prior thereto), against all expense, liability and loss (including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, excise taxes or amounts paid in settlement) reasonably incurred or suffered by such indemnitee in connection therewith and such indemnification shall continue as to an indemnitee who has ceased to be a director, officer or employee and shall inure to the benefit of the indemnitee’s heirs, testators, intestates, executors and administrators; provided , however , that such person acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the Company, and with respect to a criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful; provided , further , however , that no indemnification shall be made in the case of an action, suit or proceeding by or in the right of the Company in relation to matters as to which it shall be adjudged in such action, suit or proceeding that such director, officer, employee or agent is liable to the Company, unless a court having jurisdiction shall determine that, despite such adjudication, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification; provided , further , however , that, except as provided in Section 9.1(c) of this Article IX with respect to proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification, the Company shall indemnify any such indemnitee in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such indemnitee only if such proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such indemnitee was authorized by the Board of the Company. The right to indemnification conferred in this Article IX shall be a contract right and shall include the right to be paid by the Company the expenses incurred in defending any such proceeding in advance of its final disposition (hereinafter an “advancement of expenses”); provided , however , that, if the WBCA requires, an advancement of expenses incurred by an indemnitee in his or her capacity as a director or officer (and not in any other capacity in which service was or is rendered by such indemnitee, including, without limitation, service to an employee benefit plan) shall be made only upon delivery to the Company of an undertaking (hereinafter an “undertaking”), by or on behalf of such indemnitee, to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined by final judicial decision from which there is no further right to appeal (hereinafter a “final adjudication”) (i) that such indemnitee breached his fiduciary duty to the Company or (ii) that such indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified for such expenses under this Section or otherwise.

 

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(c) If a claim under Section 9.1(b) of this Article IX is not paid in full by the Company within 60 days after a written claim has been received by the Company, except in the case of a claim for an advancement of expenses, in which case the applicable period shall be 10 days, the indemnitee may at any time thereafter bring suit against the Company to recover the unpaid amount of the claim. If successful in whole or in part in any such suit, or in a suit brought by the Company to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of any undertaking, the indemnitee shall be entitled to be paid also the expense of prosecuting or defending such suit. In (i) any suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right to indemnification hereunder (but not in a suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right to an advancement of expenses) it shall be a defense that, and (ii) in any suit by the Company to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the Company shall be entitled to recover such expenses upon a final adjudication that, the indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the WBCA. Neither the failure of the Company (including the Board, independent legal counsel, or the stockholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such suit that indemnification of the indemnitee is proper in the circumstances because the indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the WBCA, nor an actual determination by the Company (including the Board, independent legal counsel or the stockholders) that the indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall create a presumption that the indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct or, in the case of such a suit brought by the indemnitee, be a defense to such suit. In any suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right to indemnification or to an advancement of expenses hereunder, or by the Company to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the burden of proving that the indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified, or to such advancement of expenses, under this Section or otherwise shall be on the Company.

(d) The rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses conferred in this Article IX shall not be exclusive of any other right which any person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, the Articles, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.

9.2 Insurance.

The Company may purchase and maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect itself and any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or any person who is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employer or agent of another Company, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any expense, liability or loss, whether or not the Company would have the power to indemnify such person against such expense, liability or loss under the WBCA .

ARTICLE X

Amendment

Any by-law (including these Bylaws) may be adopted, amended or repealed by the vote of the holders of a majority of the shares then entitled to vote or by the stockholders’ written consent pursuant to Section 2.10 of Article II, or by the vote of the Board or by the directors’ written consent pursuant to Section 3.6 of Article III.

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Exhibit 3.20

RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

OF

TRILEGIANT CORPORATION

Trilegiant Corporation (the “Corporation” does hereby certify under the seal of the Corporation as follows:

First: The name of the Corporation is Trilegiant Corporation.

Second: The original Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on January 12, 2004 as Boomerang Acquisition Corporation. The Corporation amended its Certificate of Incorporation on January 23, 2004 to change its name to CMS Subsidiary, Inc. and subsequently further amended its Certificate of Incorporation on February 2, 2004 to change its name to Trilegiant Corporation.

Third: This Restated Certificate of Incorporation was duly adopted in accordance with Section 245 of the General Corporation Law of Delaware and only restates and integrates and does not further amend the provisions of the Corporation’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as heretofore amended. There is no discrepancy between those provisions and the provisions of this Restated Certificate of Incorporation.

Fourth: The text of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, as amended, is hereby restated to read in full, as follows:

FIRST: The name of the corporation is Trilegiant Corporation (hereinafter the “Corporation”).

SECOND: The address of the registered office of the Corporation in the State of Delaware is 2711 Centerville Road, Suite 400, in the City of Wilmington, County of New Castle. The name of its registered agent at that address is Corporation Service Company.

THIRD: The purpose of the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which a corporation may be organized under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware as set forth in Title 8 of the Delaware Code (the “GCL”).

FOURTH: The total number of shares of stock which the Corporation shall have authority to issue is 1,000 shares of Common Stock each having a par value of $.01.

FIFTH: The name and mailing address of the Sole Incorporator is as follows:

Lynn A. Feldman

Cendant Corporation

1 Campus Drive

Parsippany, NJ 07054

SIXTH: The following provisions are inserted for the management of the business and the conduct of the affairs of the Corporation, and for further definition, limitation and regulation of the powers of the Corporation and of its directors and stockholders:

(1) The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors.


(2) The directors shall have concurrent power with the stockholders to make, alter, amend, change, add to or appeal the By-Laws of the Corporation.

(3) The number of directors of the Corporation shall be as from time to time fixed by, or in the manner provided in, the By-Laws of the Corporation. Election of directors need not be by written ballot unless the By-Laws so provide.

(4) No director shall be personally liable to the Corporation or any of its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except for liability (i) for any breach of the directors duty of loyalty to the Corporation or its stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) pursuant to Section 174 of the Delaware General Corporation Law or (iv) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit. Any repeal or modification of this Article SIXTH by the stockholders of the Corporation shall not adversely affect any right or protection of a director of the Corporation existing at the time of such repeal or modification with respect to acts or omissions occurring prior to such repeal or modification.

(5) In addition to the powers and authority hereinbefore or by statute expressly conferred upon than, the directors are hereby empowered o exercise all such powers and do all such acts and things as may be exercised or done by the Corporation, subject, nevertheless, to the provisions of the GCL, this Certificate of Incorporation, and any By-Laws adopted by the stockholders; provided, however, that no By-Laws hereafter adopted by the stockholders shall invalidate any prior act of the directors which would have been valid if such By-Laws had not been adopted.

SEVENTH: Meetings of the stockholders maybe held within or without the State of Delaware, as the By-Laws may provide. The books of the Corporation may be kept (subject to any provision contained in the GCL) outside the State of Delaware at such place or places as may be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors or in the By-Laws of the Corporation.

EIGHTH: The Corporation reserves the right to amend, alter, change or repeal any provision contained in this Certificate of Incorporation, in the manner now or hereafter prescribed by statute, and all rights conferred upon stockholders herein are granted subject to this reservation.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused this certificate to be signed by its authorized officer and caused the Corporation to be hereunto affixed this 5 th day of February, 2004.

 

/s/ Lynn A. Feldman

Lynn A. Feldman

Vice President and Assistant Secretary


CERTIFICATE OF MERGER

OF

TRL GROUP, INC.

(a Delaware corporation)

AND

AFFINION MEMBERSHIP SERVICES HOLDINGS SUBSIDIARY LLC

(a Delaware limited liability company)

INTO

TRILEGIANT CORPORATION

(a Delaware corporation)

(Pursuant to Title 8, Section 264(c) of the General Corporation Law of the State of

Delaware and Title 6, Section 18-209 of the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act)

December 28, 2005

It is hereby certified that:

FIRST: The constituent business corporations and limited liability company participating in the merger herein certified are:

(i) TRL Group, Inc., which is incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware;

(ii) Affinion Membership Services Holdings Subsidiary LLC, which is organized under the laws of the State of Delaware; and

(iii) Trilegiant Corporation, which is incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware (“ Trilegiant ”).

SECOND: An Agreement and Plan of Merger has been approved, adopted, certified, executed and acknowledged by each of the aforesaid constituent corporations and limited liability company in accordance with the provisions of subsection (c) of Section 264 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “ DGCL ”) and subsection (b) of Section 18-209 of the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act.

THIRD: The name of the surviving corporation in the merger herein certified is Trilegiant Corporation, a Delaware corporation, which will continue its existence as said surviving corporation under its present name upon the effective date and time of said merger pursuant to the provisions of the DGCL.

FOURTH: The certificate of incorporation of Trilegiant, as now in force and effect, shall continue to be the certificate of incorporation of said surviving corporation until amended and changed pursuant to the provisions of the DGCL.


FIFTH: The executed Agreement and Plan of Merger between the aforesaid constituent corporations and limited liability company is on file at an office of the aforesaid surviving corporation, the address of which is as follows: 100 Connecticut Avenue, Norwalk, Connecticut 06850.

SIXTH: A copy of the aforesaid Agreement and Plan of Merger will be furnished by the aforesaid surviving corporation on request, and without cost, to any stockholder of each of the aforesaid constituent corporations or member of any constituent limited liability company.

SEVENTH: The Merger is to become effective on December 31, 2005 at 10:00 am Eastern Standard Time.


IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the undersigned has duly executed this Certificate of Merger as of the date first written above.

 

TRILEGIANT CORPORATION

By:  

 

/s/ Nathaniel J. Lipman

 

Name: Nathaniel J. Lipman

 

Title: President


CERTIFICATE OF OWNERSHIP AND MERGER

OF

CREDENTIALS SERVICES INTERNATIONAL, INC.

NGI HOLDINGS, INC.

SAFECARD SERVICES, INCORPORATED

TRILEGIANT MARKETING SERVICES, INC.

(each a Delaware corporation)

INTO

TRILEGIANT CORPORATION

(a Delaware corporation)

(Pursuant to Section 253 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware)

December 28, 2005

Trilegiant Corporation (hereinafter called the “ Company ”), a corporation organized and existing under and by virtue of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “ DGCL ”), does hereby certify:

 

1. The Company is a business corporation of the State of Delaware.

 

2. The Company is the owner of all of the outstanding shares of each class of the stock of each of Credentials Services International, Inc., a Delaware corporation, NGI Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation, Safecard Services, Incorporated, a Delaware corporation, and Trilegiant Marketing Services, Inc., a Delaware corporation, (each a “ Subsidiary ” and together the “ Subsidiaries ”).

 

3. On December 28, 2005, the Board of Directors of the Company adopted the following resolutions to merge each of the Subsidiaries into the Company (the “ Merger ”):

RESOLVED , that the Company, which is the parent corporation and the owner of all the issued and outstanding shares of each Subsidiary, hereby approves the merger of the Subsidiaries into the Company pursuant to the Section 253 of the DGCL;

RESOLVED , that at the Effective Time (as herein defined) all of the estate, property, rights, privileges, powers and franchises of each Subsidiary be vested in and held and enjoyed by the Company as fully and entirely and without change or diminution as the same were before held and enjoyed by each Subsidiary in its name as applicable;

RESOLVED , that at the Effective Time, the Company shall assume all of the obligations of each Subsidiary;


RESOLVED , that the separate existence of each Subsidiary shall cease at the Effective Time of the Merger pursuant to the provisions of the DGCL; and that the Company shall continue its existence as the surviving corporation pursuant to the provisions of the DGCL;

RESOLVED , that the issued shares of each Subsidiary shall not be converted in any manner, but each said share which is issued as of the Effective Time and date of the merger shall be surrendered and extinguished;

RESOLVED , that the Company shall cause to be executed and filed and recorded the documents prescribed by the laws of the State of Delaware and by the laws of any other appropriate jurisdiction and will cause to be performed all necessary acts within the State of Delaware and within any other appropriate jurisdiction;

RESOLVED , that the form, terms and provisions of the Certificate of Ownership and Merger to be filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware (the “ Delaware Certificate of Merger ”), substantially in the form previously submitted to the Board, be, and they hereby are, in all respects adopted, approved, ratified and confirmed; and that the Executive Officers of the Company be, and each of them hereby is, authorized and directed, in the name and on behalf of the Company, and under its corporate seal or otherwise, to enter into, execute, deliver and file the Delaware Certificate of Merger with such additions thereto or deletions therefrom as such Executive Officer or Executive Officers shall, in his or her discretion, determine to be necessary, proper or advisable, such determination to be evidenced conclusively by the execution, delivery and filing thereof;

RESOLVED , that the Merger shall become effective at the date and time specified in the Delaware Certificate of Merger, (the “ Effective Time ”);

RESOLVED , that from and after the Effective Time, the bylaws and certificate of incorporation of the Company shall continue to be the bylaws and certificate of incorporation of the Company;

RESOLVED , that from and after the Effective Time, until successors are duly elected or appointed, the directors and officers of the Company shall continue to be the directors and officers of the Company;

Further Actions

RESOLVED , that the Executive Officers of the Company be, and each of them hereby is, authorized, empowered and directed, in the name and on behalf of the Company, to make all such arrangements, to take all such further action, to cause to be prepared and filed all such documents, to make all expenditures and incur all expenses, and to pay all required fees, and to execute and deliver, in the name of and on behalf of the Company, all agreements, instruments, mortgages, leasehold mortgages, trust deeds, deeds of trust, documents and certificates (including stock certificates), including without limitation, officers’ certificates, as they may deem necessary, appropriate or advisable in order to fully effectuate the purpose of each and all of the foregoing resolutions and the execution by such Executive Officer of any such agreement, instrument, mortgage, leasehold mortgage, trust deeds, deeds of trust, document or certificate or the payment of any such expenditures or expenses or the doing by them of any act in connection


with the foregoing matters shall conclusively establish their authority therefor from the Company and the approval and ratification by the Company of the agreement, instrument, mortgage, leasehold mortgage, document or certificate so executed, the expenses or expenditures so paid and the action so taken; and

RESOLVED , that for purposes of the foregoing resolutions, the term “ Executive Officers ” shall mean and include, as applicable the Company, the Chairman, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, any Vice President, the Secretary, any Assistant Secretary, the Treasurer and any Assistant Treasurer, any other duly authorized officer of the Company or any of them.

 

4. This document shall be effective as of December 31, 2005, at 2:00 pm Eastern Standard Time.

*            *            *            *


IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the undersigned has duly executed this Certificate of Ownership and Merger as of the date first written above.

 

TRILEGIANT CORPORATION

By:

 

/s/ Nathaniel J. Lipman

Name:

 

Nathaniel J. Lipman

Title:

 

President and CEO

Exhibit 3.21

AMENDED AND RESTATED

BY-LAWS OF

TRILEGIANT CORPORATION

ARTICLE I

Offices

1.1 Registered Office.

The registered office of Trilegiant Corporation (the “Company”) in the State of Delaware shall be 2711 Centerville Road, Suite 400, City of Wilmington, County of New Castle. The name of the registered agent of the Company at such address is Corporation Service Company.

1.2 Other Offices.

The Company may also have an office or offices at any other place or places within or outside the State of Delaware.

ARTICLE II

Meeting of Stockholders; Stockholders’ Consent in Lieu of Meeting

2.1 Annual Meetings.

The annual meeting of the stockholders for the election of directors, and for the transaction of such other business as may properly come before the meeting, shall be held at such place, date and hour as shall be fixed by the Board of Directors (the “Board”) and designated in the notice or waiver of notice thereof, except that no annual meeting need be held if all actions, including the election of directors, required by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”) to be taken at a stockholders’ annual meeting are taken by written consent in lieu of meeting pursuant to Section 2.10 of this Article II.

2.2 Special Meetings.

A special meeting of the stockholders for any purpose or purposes may be called by the Board, the Chairman, the President or the record holders of at least a majority of the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company, to be held at such place, date and hour as shall be designated in the notice or waiver of notice thereof.


2.3 Notice of Meetings.

Except as otherwise required by statute, the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (the “Certificate”) or these By-laws, notice of each annual or special meeting of the stockholders shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at such meeting not less than 10 nor more than 60 days before the day on which the meeting is to be held, by delivering written notice thereof to him personally, or by mailing a copy of such notice, postage prepaid, directly to him at his address as it appears in the records of the Company, or by transmitting such notice thereof to him at such address by telegraph, cable or other telephonic transmission. Every such notice shall state the place, the date and hour of the meeting, and, in case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called. Notice of any meeting of stockholders shall not be required to be given to any stockholder who shall attend such meeting in person or by proxy, or who shall, in person or by his attorney thereunto authorized, waive such notice in writing, either before or after such meeting. Except as otherwise provided in these By-laws, neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any meeting of the stockholders need be specified in any such notice or waiver of notice. Notice of any adjourned meeting of stockholders shall not be required to be given, except when expressly required by law.

2.4 Quorum.

At each meeting of the stockholders, except where otherwise provided by the Certificate or these By-laws, the holders of a majority of the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company entitled to vote at such meeting, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. In the absence of a quorum, a majority in interest of the stockholders present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote, or, in the absence of all the stockholders entitled to vote, any officer entitled to preside at, or act as secretary of, such meeting, shall have the power to adjourn the meeting from time to time, until stockholders holding the requisite amount of stock to constitute a quorum shall be present or represented. At any such adjourned meeting at which a quorum shall be present, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the meeting as originally called.

2.5 Organization.

Unless otherwise determined by the Board, at each meeting of the stockholders, one of the following shall act as chairman of the meeting and preside thereat, in the following order of precedence:

(a) the Chairman, if any;

(b) the President;

(c) any director, officer or stockholder of the Company designated by the Board to act as chairman of such meeting and to preside thereat if the Chairman or the President shall be absent from such meeting; or

(d) a stockholder of record who shall be chosen chairman of such meeting by a majority in voting interest of the stockholders present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote thereat.

 

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The Secretary or, if he shall be presiding over such meeting in accordance with the provisions of this Section 2.5 or if he shall be absent from such meeting, the person (who shall be an Assistant Secretary, if an Assistant Secretary has been appointed and is present) whom the chairman of such meeting shall appoint, shall act as secretary of such meeting and keep the minutes thereof.

2.6 Order of Business.

The order of business at each meeting of the stockholders shall be determined by the chairman of such meeting, but such order of business may be changed by a majority in voting interest of those present in person or by proxy at such meeting and entitled to vote thereat.

2.7 Voting.

Except as otherwise provided by law, the Certificate or these By-laws, at each meeting of the stockholders, every stockholder of the Company shall be entitled to one vote in person or by proxy for each share of Common Stock of the Company held by him and registered in his name on the books of the Company on the date fixed pursuant to Section 6.7 of Article VI as the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting. Persons holding stock in a fiduciary capacity shall be entitled to vote the shares so held. A person whose stock is pledged shall be entitled to vote, unless, in the transfer by the pledgor on the books of the Company, he has expressly empowered the pledgee to vote thereon, in which case only the pledgee or his proxy may represent such stock and vote thereon. If shares or other securities having voting power stand in the record of two or more persons, whether fiduciaries, members of a partnership, joint tenants, tenants in common, tenants by the entirety or otherwise, or if two or more persons have the same fiduciary relationship respecting the same shares, unless the Secretary shall be given written notice to the contrary and furnished with a copy of the instrument or order appointing them or creating the relationship wherein it is so provided, their acts with respect to voting shall have the following effect:

(a) if only one votes, his act binds all;

(b) if more than one votes, the act of the majority so voting binds all; and

(c) if more than one votes, but the vote is evenly split on any particular matter, such shares shall be voted in the manner provided by law.

If the instrument so filed shows that any such tenancy is held in unequal interests, a majority or even-split for the purposes of this Section 2.7 shall be a majority or even-split in interest. The Company shall not vote directly or indirectly any share of its own capital stock. Any vote of stock may be given by the stockholder entitled thereto in person or by his proxy appointed by an instrument in writing, subscribed by such stockholder or by his attorney thereunto authorized, delivered to the secretary of the meeting; provided , however , that no proxy shall be voted after three years from its date, unless said proxy provides for a longer period. At all meetings of the stockholders, all matters (except where other provision is made by law, the Certificate or these By-laws) shall be decided by the vote of a majority in interest of the stockholders present in person or by proxy at such meeting and entitled to vote thereon, a quorum being present. Unless demanded by a stockholder present in person or by proxy at any meeting and entitled to vote

 

3


thereon, the vote on any question need not be by ballot. Upon a demand by any such stockholder for a vote by ballot upon any question, such vote by ballot shall be taken. On a vote by ballot, each ballot shall be signed by the stockholder voting, or by his proxy, if there be such proxy, and shall state the number of shares voted.

2.8 Inspection.

The chairman of the meeting may at any time appoint one or more inspectors to serve at any meeting of the stockholders. Any inspector may be removed, and a new inspector or inspectors appointed, by the Board at any time. Such inspectors shall decide upon the qualifications of voters, accept and count votes, declare the results of such vote, and subscribe and deliver to the secretary of the meeting a certificate stating the number of shares of stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote thereon and the number of shares voted for and against the question, respectively. The inspectors need not be stockholders of the Company, and any director or officer of the Company may be an inspector on any question other than a vote for or against his election to any position with the Company or on any other matter in which he may be directly interested. Before acting as herein provided, each inspector shall subscribe an oath faithfully to execute the duties of an inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of his ability.

2.9 List of Stockholders.

It shall be the duty of the Secretary or other officer of the Company who shall have charge of its stock ledger to prepare and make, at least 10 days before every meeting of the stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote thereat, arranged in alphabetical order, and showing the address of each stockholder and the number of shares registered in the name of each stockholder. Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to any such meeting, during ordinary business hours, for a period of at least 10 days prior to such meeting, either at a place within the city where such meeting is to be held, which place shall be specified in the notice of the meeting or, if not so specified, at the place where the meeting is to be held. Such list shall also be produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time thereof, and may be inspected by any stockholder who is present.

2.10 Stockholders’ Consent in Lieu of Meeting.

Any action required by the DGCL to be taken at any annual or special meeting of the stockholders of the Company, or any action which may be taken at any annual or special meeting of such stockholders, may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, by a consent in writing, as permitted by the DGCL.

 

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ARTICLE III

Board of Directors

3.1 General Powers.

The business, property and affairs of the Company shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board, which may exercise all such powers of the Company and do all such lawful acts and things as are not by law or by the Certificate directed or required to be exercised or done by the stockholders.

3.2 Number and Term of Office.

The number of directors shall initially be set at two. Thereafter the number of directors shall be fixed from time to time by the Board. Directors need not be stockholders. Each director shall hold office until his successor is elected and qualified, or until his earlier death or resignation or removal in the manner hereinafter provided.

3.3 Election of Directors.

At each meeting of the stockholders for the election of directors at which a quorum is present, the persons receiving the greatest number of votes, up to the number of directors to be elected, of the stockholders present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote thereon shall be the directors; provided , however , that for purposes of such vote no stockholder shall be allowed to cumulate his votes. Unless an election by ballot shall be demanded as provided in Section 2.7 of Article II, election of directors may be conducted in any manner approved at such meeting.

3.4 Resignation, Removal and Vacancies.

Any director may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Board, the Chairman, the President or the Secretary. Such resignation shall take effect at the time specified therein or, if the time be not specified, upon receipt thereof; and unless otherwise specified therein, the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.

Any director or the entire Board may be removed, with or without cause, at any time, by vote of the holders of a majority of the shares then entitled to vote at an election of directors or by written consent of the stockholders pursuant to Section 2.10 of Article II.

Vacancies occurring on the Board for any reason may be filled by vote of the stockholders or by the stockholders’ written consent pursuant to Section 2.10 of Article II, or by vote of the Board or by the directors’ written consent pursuant to Section 3.6 of this Article III. If the number of directors then in office is less than a quorum, such vacancies may be filled by a vote of a majority of the directors then in office.

3.5 Meetings.

(a) Annual Meetings . As soon as practicable after each annual election of directors, the Board shall meet for the purpose of organization and the transaction of other business, unless it shall have transacted all such business by written consent pursuant to Section 3.6 of this Article III.

(b) Other Meetings . Other meetings of the Board shall be held at such times and at such places as the Board, the Chairman, the President or any director shall from time to time determine.

 

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(c) Notice of Meetings . Notice shall be given to each director of each meeting, including the time, place and purpose of such meeting. Notice of each such meeting shall be mailed to each director, addressed to him at his residence or usual place of business, at least two days before the date on which such meeting is to be held, or shall be sent to him at such place by telegraph, cable, wireless or other form of recorded communication, or be delivered personally or by telephone not later than the day before the day on which such meeting is to be held, but notice need not be given to any director who shall attend such meeting. A written waiver of notice, signed by the person entitled thereto, whether before or after the time of the meeting stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to notice.

(d) Place of Meetings . The Board may hold its meetings at such place or places within or outside the State of Delaware as the Board may from time to time determine, or as shall be designated in the respective notices or waivers of notice thereof.

(e) Quorum and Manner of Acting . A majority of the total number of directors then in office shall be present in person at any meeting of the Board in order to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at such meeting, and the vote of a majority of those directors present at any such meeting at which a quorum is present shall be necessary for the passage of any resolution or act of the Board, except as otherwise expressly required by law or these By-laws. In the absence of a quorum for any such meeting, a majority of the directors present thereat may adjourn such meeting from time to time until a quorum shall be present.

(f) Organization . At each meeting of the Board, one of the following shall act as chairman of the meeting and preside thereat, in the following order of precedence:

(i) the Chairman, if any;

(ii) the President (if a director); or

(iii) any director designated by a majority of the directors present.

The Secretary or, in the case of his absence, an Assistant Secretary, if an Assistant Secretary has been appointed and is present, or any person whom the chairman of the meeting shall appoint shall act as secretary of such meeting and keep the minutes thereof.

3.6 Directors’ Consent in Lieu of Meeting.

Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, if a consent in writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by all of the directors then in office and such consent is filed with the minutes of the proceedings of the Board.

3.7 Action by Means of Conference Telephone or Similar Communications Equipment.

Any one or more members of the Board may participate in a meeting of the Board by means of conference telephone or similar communications equipment by which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and participation in a meeting by such means shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.

 

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3.8 Committees.

The Board may, by resolution or resolutions passed by a majority of the whole Board, designate one or more committees, such committee or committees to have such name or names as may be determined from time to time by resolution adopted by the Board, and each such committee to consist of one or more directors of the Company, which to the extent provided in said resolution or resolutions shall have and may exercise the powers of the Board in the management of the business and affairs of the Company and may authorize the seal of the Company to be affixed to all papers which may require it. A majority of all the members of any such committee may determine its action and fix the time and place of its meetings, unless the Board shall otherwise provide. The Board shall have power to change the members of any such committee at any time, to fill vacancies and to discharge any such committee, either with or without cause, at any time.

ARTICLE IV

Officers

4.1 Executive Officers.

The principal officers of the Company shall be a Chairman, if one is appointed (and any references to the Chairman shall not apply if a Chairman has not been appointed), a President, a Secretary and a Treasurer, and may include such other officers as the Board may appoint pursuant to Section 4.3 of this Article IV. Any two or more offices may be held by the same person.

4.2 Authority and Duties.

All officers, as between themselves and the Company, shall have such authority and perform such duties in the management of the Company as may be provided in these By-laws or, to the extent so provided, by the Board.

4.3 Other Officers.

The Company may have such other officers, agents and employees as the Board may deem necessary, including one or more Chief Executive Officers, Co-Chief Executive Officers, Chief Operating Officers, Co-Chief Operating Officers, Chief Financial Officers, Co-Chief Financial Officers, Executive Vice Presidents, Vice Presidents, Assistant Secretaries, and Assistant Treasurers, each of whom shall hold office for such period, have such authority and perform such duties as the Board, the Chairman or the President may from time to time determine. The Board may delegate to any principal officer the power to appoint and define the authority and duties of, or remove, any such officers, agents or employees.

4.4 Term of Office, Resignation and Removal.

All officers shall be elected or appointed by the Board and shall hold office for such term as may be prescribed by the Board. Each officer shall hold office until his successor has been

 

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elected or appointed and qualified or until his earlier death or resignation or removal in the manner hereinafter provided. The Board may require any officer to give security for the faithful performance of his duties.

Any officer may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Board, the Chairman, the President or the Secretary. Such resignation shall take effect at the time specified therein or, if the time be not specified, at the time it is accepted by action of the Board. Except as aforesaid, the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.

All officers and agents elected or appointed by the Board shall be subject to removal at any time by the Board or by the stockholders of the Company with or without cause.

4.5 Vacancies.

If the office of Chairman, President, Secretary or Treasurer becomes vacant for any reason, the Board shall fill such vacancy, and if any other office becomes vacant, the Board may fill such vacancy. Any officer so appointed or elected by the Board shall serve only until such time as the unexpired term of his predecessor shall have expired, unless reelected or reappointed by the Board.

4.6 The Chairman.

The Chairman shall give counsel and advice to the Board and the officers of the Company on all subjects concerning the welfare of the Company and the conduct of its business and shall perform such other duties as the Board may from time to time determine. Unless otherwise determined by the Board, he shall preside at meetings of the Board and of the stockholders at which he is present.

4.7 The President.

Unless otherwise determined by the Board, the President shall be the chief executive officer of the Company. The President shall have general and active management and control of the business and affairs of the Company subject to the control of the Board and shall see that all orders and resolutions of the Board are carried into effect. The President shall from time to time make such reports of the affairs of the Company as the Board may require and shall perform such other duties as the Board may from time to time determine.

4.8 The Secretary.

The Secretary shall, to the extent practicable, attend all meetings of the Board and all meetings of the stockholders and shall record all votes and the minutes of all proceedings in a book to be kept for that purpose. He may give, or cause to be given, notice of all meetings of the stockholders and of the Board, and shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board, the Chairman or the President, under whose supervision he shall act. He shall keep in safe custody the seal of the Company and affix the same to any duly authorized instrument requiring it and, when so affixed, it shall be attested by his signature or by the signature of the Treasurer or, if appointed, an Assistant Secretary or an Assistant Treasurer. He shall keep in safe custody the certificate books and stockholder records and such other books and records as the

 

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Board may direct, and shall perform all other duties incident to the office of Secretary and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him by the Board, the Chairman or the President.

4.9 The Treasurer.

The Treasurer shall have the care and custody of the corporate funds and other valuable effects, including securities, shall keep full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the Company and shall deposit all moneys and other valuable effects in the name and to the credit of the Company in such depositories as may be designated by the Board. The Treasurer shall disburse the funds of the Company as may be ordered by the Board, taking proper vouchers for such disbursements, shall render to the Chairman, President and directors, at the regular meetings of the Board or whenever they may require it, an account of all his transactions as Treasurer and of the financial condition of the Company and shall perform all other duties incident to the office of Treasurer and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him by the Board, the Chairman or the President.

ARTICLE V

Contracts, Checks, Drafts, Bank Accounts, Etc.

5.1 Execution of Documents.

The Board shall designate, by either specific or general resolution, the officers, employees and agents of the Company who shall have the power to execute and deliver deeds, contracts, mortgages, bonds, debentures, checks, drafts and other orders for the payment of money and other documents for and in the name of the Company, and may authorize such officers, employees and agents to delegate such power (including authority to redelegate) by written instrument to other officers, employees or agents of the Company. Unless so designated or expressly authorized by these By-laws, no officer, employee or agent shall have any power or authority to bind the Company by any contract or engagement, to pledge its credit or to render it liable pecuniarily for any purpose or amount.

5.2 Deposits.

All funds of the Company not otherwise employed shall be deposited from time to time to the credit of the Company or otherwise as the Board or Treasurer, or any other officer of the Company to whom power in this respect shall have been given by the Board, shall select.

5.3 Proxies with Respect to Stock or Other Securities of Other Corporations.

The Board shall designate the officers of the Company who shall have authority from time to time to appoint an agent or agents of the Company to exercise in the name and on behalf of the Company the powers and rights which the Company may have as the holder of stock or other securities in any other entity, and to vote or consent with respect to such stock or securities. Such designated officers may instruct the person or persons so appointed as to the manner of exercising such powers and rights, and such designated officers may execute or cause to be

 

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executed in the name and on behalf of the Company and under its corporate seal or otherwise, such written proxies, powers of attorney or other instruments as they may deem necessary or proper in order that the Company may exercise its powers and rights.

ARTICLE VI

Shares and Their Transfer; Fixing Record Date

6.1 Certificates for Shares.

Every owner of stock of the Company shall be entitled to have a certificate certifying the number and class of shares owned by him in the Company, which shall be in such form as shall be prescribed by the Board. Certificates shall be numbered and issued in consecutive order and shall be signed by, or in the name of, the Company by the Chairman, the President or any Vice President, and by the Treasurer (or an Assistant Treasurer, if appointed) or the Secretary (or an Assistant Secretary, if appointed). In case any officer or officers who shall have signed any such certificate or certificates shall cease to be such officer or officers of the Company, whether because of death, resignation or otherwise, before such certificate or certificates shall have been delivered by the Company, such certificate or certificates may nevertheless be adopted by the Company and be issued and delivered as though the person or persons who signed such certificate had not ceased to be such officer or officers of the Company.

6.2 Record.

A record in one or more counterparts shall be kept of the name of the person, firm or Company owning the shares represented by each certificate for stock of the Company issued, the number of shares represented by each such certificate, the date thereof and, in the case of cancellation, the date of cancellation. Except as otherwise expressly required by law, the person in whose name shares of stock stand on the stock record of the Company shall be deemed the owner thereof for all purposes regarding the Company.

6.3 Transfer and Registration of Stock.

The transfer of stock and certificates which represent the stock of the Company shall be governed by Article 8 of Subtitle 1 of Title 6 of the Delaware Code (the Uniform Commercial Code), as amended from time to time.

Registration of transfers of shares of the Company shall be made only on the books of the Company upon request of the registered holder thereof, or of his attorney thereunto authorized by power of attorney duly executed and filed with the Secretary of the Company, and upon the surrender of the certificate or certificates for such shares properly endorsed or accompanied by a stock power duly executed.

6.4 Addresses of Stockholders.

Each stockholder shall designate to the Secretary an address at which notices of meetings and all other corporate notices may be served or mailed to him, and, if any stockholder shall fail

 

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to designate such address, corporate notices may be served upon him by mail directed to him at his post-office address, if any, as the same appears on the share record books of the Company or at his last known post-office address.

6.5 Lost, Destroyed and Mutilated Certificates.

The holder of any shares of the Company shall immediately notify the Company of any loss, destruction or mutilation of the certificate therefor, and the Board may, in its discretion, cause to be issued to him a new certificate or certificates for such shares, upon the surrender of the mutilated certificates or, in the case of loss or destruction of the certificate, upon satisfactory proof of such loss or destruction, and the Board may, in its discretion, require the owner of the lost or destroyed certificate or his legal representative to give the Company a bond in such sum and with such surety or sureties as it may direct to indemnify the Company against any claim that may be made against it on account of the alleged loss or destruction of any such certificate.

6.6 Regulations.

The Board may make such rules and regulations as it may deem expedient, not inconsistent with these By-laws, concerning the issue, transfer and registration of certificates for stock of the Company.

6.7 Fixing Date for Determination of Stockholders of Record.

(a) In order that the Company may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, the Board may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board, and which record date shall be not more than 60 nor less than 10 days before the date of such meeting. If no record date is fixed by the Board, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice is given, or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held. A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided , however , that the Board may fix a new record date for the adjourned meeting.

(b) In order that the Company may determine the stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, the Board may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board, and which date shall be not more than 10 days after the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board. If no record date has been fixed by the Board, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, when no prior action by the Board is required by the DGCL, shall be the first date on which a signed written consent setting forth the action taken or proposed to be taken is delivered to the Company by delivery to its registered office in the State of Delaware, its principal place of business or an officer or agent of the Company having custody of the book in which proceedings of meetings of stockholders are recorded. Delivery made to the Company’s registered office shall be by hand or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested. If

 

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no record date has been fixed by the Board and prior action by the Board is required by the DGCL, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board adopts the resolution taking such prior action.

(c) In order that the Company may determine the stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights or the stockholders entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock, or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted, and which record date shall be not more than 60 days prior to such action. If no record date is fixed, the record date for determining stockholders for any such purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board adopts the resolution relating thereto.

ARTICLE VII

Seal

The Board may provide a corporate seal, which shall be in the form of a circle and shall bear the full name of the Company, the year of incorporation of the Company and the words and figures “Corporate Seal – Delaware.”

ARTICLE VIII

Fiscal Year

The fiscal year of the Company shall be the calendar year unless otherwise determined by the Board.

ARTICLE IX

Indemnification and Insurance

9.1 Indemnification.

(a) As provided in the Certificate, to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL as the same exists or may hereafter be amended, a director of the Company shall not be liable to the Company or its stockholders for breach of fiduciary duty as a director.

(b) Without limitation of any right conferred by paragraph (a) of this Section 9.1, each person who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise involved in any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (hereinafter a “proceeding”), by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director, officer or employee of the Company or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer or employee of another Company or of a

 

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partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan (hereinafter an “indemnitee”), whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity while serving as a director, officer or employee or in any other capacity while serving as a director, officer or employee, shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company to the fullest extent authorized by the DGCL, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended (but, in the case of any such amendment, only to the extent that such amendment permits the Company to provide broader indemnification rights than permitted prior thereto), against all expense, liability and loss (including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, excise taxes or amounts paid in settlement) reasonably incurred or suffered by such indemnitee in connection therewith and such indemnification shall continue as to an indemnitee who has ceased to be a director, officer or employee and shall inure to the benefit of the indemnitee’s heirs, testators, intestates, executors and administrators; provided , however , that such person acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the Company, and with respect to a criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful; provided , further , however , that no indemnification shall be made in the case of an action, suit or proceeding by or in the right of the Company in relation to matters as to which it shall be adjudged in such action, suit or proceeding that such director, officer, employee or agent is liable to the Company, unless a court having jurisdiction shall determine that, despite such adjudication, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification; provided , further , however , that, except as provided in Section 9.1(c) of this Article IX with respect to proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification, the Company shall indemnify any such indemnitee in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such indemnitee only if such proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such indemnitee was authorized by the Board of the Company. The right to indemnification conferred in this Article IX shall be a contract right and shall include the right to be paid by the Company the expenses incurred in defending any such proceeding in advance of its final disposition (hereinafter an “advancement of expenses”); provided , however , that, if the DGCL requires, an advancement of expenses incurred by an indemnitee in his or her capacity as a director or officer (and not in any other capacity in which service was or is rendered by such indemnitee, including, without limitation, service to an employee benefit plan) shall be made only upon delivery to the Company of an undertaking (hereinafter an “undertaking”), by or on behalf of such indemnitee, to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined by final judicial decision from which there is no further right to appeal (hereinafter a “final adjudication”) (i) that such indemnitee breached his fiduciary duty to the Company or (ii) that such indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified for such expenses under this Section or otherwise.

(c) If a claim under Section 9.1(b) of this Article IX is not paid in full by the Company with 60 days after a written claim has been received by the Company, except in the case of a claim for an advancement of expenses, in which case the applicable period shall be 10 days, the indemnitee may at any time thereafter bring suit against the Company to recover the unpaid amount of the claim. If successful in whole or in part in any such suit, or in a suit brought by the Company to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of any undertaking, the indemnitee shall be entitled to be paid also the expense of prosecuting or defending such suit. In (i) any suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right to indemnification hereunder (but not in a suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right to an advancement of expenses) it shall be a defense that, and (ii) in any suit by the Company to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the Company shall

 

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be entitled to recover such expenses upon a final adjudication that, the indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the DGCL. Neither the failure of the Company (including the Board, independent legal counsel, or the stockholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such suit that indemnification of the indemnitee is proper in the circumstances because the indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the DGCL, nor an actual determination by the Company (including the Board, independent legal counsel or the stockholders) that the indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall create a presumption that the indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct or, in the case of such a suit brought by the indemnitee, be a defense to such suit. In any suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right to indemnification or to an advancement of expenses hereunder, or by the Company to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the burden of proving that the indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified, or to such advancement of expenses, under this Section or otherwise shall be on the Company.

(d) The rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses conferred in this Article IX shall not be exclusive of any other right which any person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, the Certificate, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.

9.2 Insurance.

The Company may purchase and maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect itself and any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or any person who is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employer or agent of another Company, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any expense, liability or loss, whether or not the Company would have the power to indemnify such person against such expense, liability or loss under the DGCL.

ARTICLE X

Amendment

Any by-law (including these By-laws) may be adopted, amended or repealed by the vote of the holders of a majority of the shares then entitled to vote or by the stockholders’ written consent pursuant to Section 2.10 of Article II, or by the vote of the Board or by the directors’ written consent pursuant to Section 3.6 of Article III.

* * * * *

 

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Exhibit 3.22

CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

CENDANT MEMBERSHIP INSURANCE SERVICES, INC.

FIRST: The name of the Corporation is CENDANT MEMBERSHIP INSURANCE SERVICES, INC. (hereinafter the “Corporation”).

SECOND: The address of the registered office of the Corporation in the State of Delaware is 1209 Orange Street, in the City of Wilmington, County of New Castle. The name of its registered agent at that address is The Corporation Trust Company.

THIRD: The purpose of the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which a corporation may be organized under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware as set forth in Title 8 of the Delaware Code (the “GCL”).

FOURTH: The total number of shares of stock which the Corporation shall have authority to issue is 1,000 shares of Common Stock, each having a par value of one penny ($.01).

FIFTH: The name and mailing address of the Sole Incorporator is Robin R. Kline, Cendant Corporation, Legal Department, 6 Sylvan Way, Parsippany NJ 07054

SIXTH: The following provisions are inserted for the management of the business and the conduct of the affairs of the Corporation, and for further definition, limitation and regulation of the powers of the Corporation and of its directors and stockholders:

(1) The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction, of the Board of Directors.

(2) The directors shall have concurrent power with the stockholders to make, alter, amend change, add to or appeal by the By-Laws of the Corporation.

(3) The number of directors of the Corporation shall be as from time to time fixed by, or in the manner provided in, the By-Laws of the Corporation. Election of directors need not be by written ballot unless the By-Laws so provides.

(4) No director shall be personally liable to the Corporation or any of its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except for liability (i) for any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the Corporation or its stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) pursuant to Section 174 of the Delaware General Corporation Law or (iv) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit. Any repeal or modification of this Article SIXTH by the stockholders of the Corporation shall not adversely affect any right or protection of a director of the Corporation existing at the time of such repeal or modification with respect to acts or omissions occurring prior to such repeal or modification.


(5) In addition to the powers and authority hereinbefore or by statute expressly conferred upon them, the directors are hereby empowered to exercise all such powers and do all such acts and things as may be exercised or done by the Corporation, subject, nevertheless, to the provisions of the GCL, this Certificate of Incorporation, and any By-Laws adopted by the stockholders; provided, however, that no By-Laws hereafter adopted by the stockholders shall invalidate any prior act of the directors which would have been valid if such By-Laws had not been adopted.

SEVENTH: Meetings of the stockholders may be held within or without the State of Delaware, as the By-Laws may provide. The books of the Corporation may be kept (subject to any provision contained in the GCL) outside the State of Delaware at such place or places as may be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors or in the By-Laws of the Corporation.

EIGHTH: The Corporation reserves the right to amend, alter, change or repeal any provision contained in this Certificate of Incorporation, in the manner now or hereafter prescribed by statute, and all rights conferred upon stockholders herein are granted subject to this reservation.

I, THE UNDERSIGNED, being the Sole Incorporator herein named, for the purpose of forming a corporation pursuant to the GCL, do make this Certificate, hereby declaring and certifying that this is my act and deed and the facts herein stated are true, and accordingly have hereunto set my hand this 28th day of April 2000.

 

/s/ Robin R. Kline

 

Robin R. Kline

Sole Incorporator


CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT

TO THE

CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

OF

CENDANT MEMBERSHIP INSURANCE SERVICES, INC.

 


Pursuant to Section 242 of the General

Corporation Law of the State of Delaware

 


Cendant Membership Insurance Services, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Corporation”), does hereby certify as follows:

FIRST: Article FIRST of the Corporation’s Certificate of Incorporation is hereby amended to read in its entirety as set forth below:

“FIRST: The name of the Corporation is Trilegiant Insurance Services, Inc. (hereinafter the “Corporation”).”

SECOND: The foregoing amendment was duly adopted in accordance with Section 242 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused this Certificate to be duly executed in its corporate name this 26 th day of September, 2002.

CENDANT MEMBERSHIP INSURANCE SERVICES, INC.

 

By:

 

/s/ Lawrence M. LeHan

 

 

Name: Lawrence M. LeHan

 

Title: Vice President and Secretary

Exhibit 3.23

AMENDED AND RESTATED

BY-LAWS OF

TRILEGIANT INSURANCE SERVICES, INC.

ARTICLE I

Offices

1.1 Registered Office.

The registered office of Trilegiant Insurance Services, Inc. (the “Company”) in the State of Delaware shall be 1209 Orange Street, City of Wilmington, County of New Castle. The name of the registered agent of the Company at such address is Corporation Trust Company.

1.2 Other Offices.

The Company may also have an office or offices at any other place or places within or outside the State of Delaware.

ARTICLE II

Meeting of Stockholders; Stockholders’ Consent in Lieu of Meeting

2.1 Annual Meetings.

The annual meeting of the stockholders for the election of directors, and for the transaction of such other business as may properly come before the meeting, shall be held at such place, date and hour as shall be fixed by the Board of Directors (the “Board”) and designated in the notice or waiver of notice thereof, except that no annual meeting need be held if all actions, including the election of directors, required by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”) to be taken at a stockholders’ annual meeting are taken by written consent in lieu of meeting pursuant to Section 2.10 of this Article II.

2.2 Special Meetings.

A special meeting of the stockholders for any purpose or purposes may be called by the Board, the Chairman, the President or the record holders of at least a majority of the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company, to be held at such place, date and hour as shall be designated in the notice or waiver of notice thereof.


2.3 Notice of Meetings.

Except as otherwise required by statute, the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (the “Certificate”) or these By-laws, notice of each annual or special meeting of the stockholders shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at such meeting not less than 10 nor more than 60 days before the day on which the meeting is to be held, by delivering written notice thereof to him personally, or by mailing a copy of such notice, postage prepaid, directly to him at his address as it appears in the records of the Company, or by transmitting such notice thereof to him at such address by telegraph, cable or other telephonic transmission. Every such notice shall state the place, the date and hour of the meeting, and, in case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called. Notice of any meeting of stockholders shall not be required to be given to any stockholder who shall attend such meeting in person or by proxy, or who shall, in person or by his attorney thereunto authorized, waive such notice in writing, either before or after such meeting. Except as otherwise provided in these By-laws, neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any meeting of the stockholders need be specified in any such notice or waiver of notice. Notice of any adjourned meeting of stockholders shall not be required to be given, except when expressly required by law.

2.4 Quorum.

At each meeting of the stockholders, except where otherwise provided by the Certificate or these By-laws, the holders of a majority of the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company entitled to vote at such meeting, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. In the absence of a quorum, a majority in interest of the stockholders present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote, or, in the absence of all the stockholders entitled to vote, any officer entitled to preside at, or act as secretary of, such meeting, shall have the power to adjourn the meeting from time to time, until stockholders holding the requisite amount of stock to constitute a quorum shall be present or represented. At any such adjourned meeting at which a quorum shall be present, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the meeting as originally called.

2.5 Organization.

Unless otherwise determined by the Board, at each meeting of the stockholders, one of the following shall act as chairman of the meeting and preside thereat, in the following order of precedence:

(a) the Chairman, if any;

(b) the President;

(c) any director, officer or stockholder of the Company designated by the Board to act as chairman of such meeting and to preside thereat if the Chairman or the President shall be absent from such meeting; or

(d) a stockholder of record who shall be chosen chairman of such meeting by a majority in voting interest of the stockholders present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote thereat.

 

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The Secretary or, if he shall be presiding over such meeting in accordance with the provisions of this Section 2.5 or if he shall be absent from such meeting, the person (who shall be an Assistant Secretary, if an Assistant Secretary has been appointed and is present) whom the chairman of such meeting shall appoint, shall act as secretary of such meeting and keep the minutes thereof.

2.6 Order of Business.

The order of business at each meeting of the stockholders shall be determined by the chairman of such meeting, but such order of business may be changed by a majority in voting interest of those present in person or by proxy at such meeting and entitled to vote thereat.

2.7 Voting.

Except as otherwise provided by law, the Certificate or these By-laws, at each meeting of the stockholders, every stockholder of the Company shall be entitled to one vote in person or by proxy for each share of Common Stock of the Company held by him and registered in his name on the books of the Company on the date fixed pursuant to Section 6.7 of Article VI as the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting. Persons holding stock in a fiduciary capacity shall be entitled to vote the shares so held. A person whose stock is pledged shall be entitled to vote, unless, in the transfer by the pledgor on the books of the Company, he has expressly empowered the pledgee to vote thereon, in which case only the pledgee or his proxy may represent such stock and vote thereon. If shares or other securities having voting power stand in the record of two or more persons, whether fiduciaries, members of a partnership, joint tenants, tenants in common, tenants by the entirety or otherwise, or if two or more persons have the same fiduciary relationship respecting the same shares, unless the Secretary shall be given written notice to the contrary and furnished with a copy of the instrument or order appointing them or creating the relationship wherein it is so provided, their acts with respect to voting shall have the following effect:

(a) if only one votes, his act binds all;

(b) if more than one votes, the act of the majority so voting binds all; and

(c) if more than one votes, but the vote is evenly split on any particular matter, such shares shall be voted in the manner provided by law.

If the instrument so filed shows that any such tenancy is held in unequal interests, a majority or even-split for the purposes of this Section 2.7 shall be a majority or even-split in interest. The Company shall not vote directly or indirectly any share of its own capital stock. Any vote of stock may be given by the stockholder entitled thereto in person or by his proxy appointed by an instrument in writing, subscribed by such stockholder or by his attorney thereunto authorized, delivered to the secretary of the meeting; provided , however , that no proxy shall be voted after three years from its date, unless said proxy provides for a longer period. At all meetings of the stockholders, all matters (except where other provision is made by law, the Certificate or these By-laws) shall be decided by the vote of a majority in interest of the stockholders present in person or by proxy at such meeting and entitled to vote thereon, a quorum being present. Unless demanded by a stockholder present in person or by proxy at any meeting and entitled to vote

 

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thereon, the vote on any question need not be by ballot. Upon a demand by any such stockholder for a vote by ballot upon any question, such vote by ballot shall be taken. On a vote by ballot, each ballot shall be signed by the stockholder voting, or by his proxy, if there be such proxy, and shall state the number of shares voted.

2.8 Inspection.

The chairman of the meeting may at any time appoint one or more inspectors to serve at any meeting of the stockholders. Any inspector may be removed, and a new inspector or inspectors appointed, by the Board at any time. Such inspectors shall decide upon the qualifications of voters, accept and count votes, declare the results of such vote, and subscribe and deliver to the secretary of the meeting a certificate stating the number of shares of stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote thereon and the number of shares voted for and against the question, respectively. The inspectors need not be stockholders of the Company, and any director or officer of the Company may be an inspector on any question other than a vote for or against his election to any position with the Company or on any other matter in which he may be directly interested. Before acting as herein provided, each inspector shall subscribe an oath faithfully to execute the duties of an inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of his ability.

2.9 List of Stockholders.

It shall be the duty of the Secretary or other officer of the Company who shall have charge of its stock ledger to prepare and make, at least 10 days before every meeting of the stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote thereat, arranged in alphabetical order, and showing the address of each stockholder and the number of shares registered in the name of each stockholder. Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to any such meeting, during ordinary business hours, for a period of at least 10 days prior to such meeting, either at a place within the city where such meeting is to be held, which place shall be specified in the notice of the meeting or, if not so specified, at the place where the meeting is to be held. Such list shall also be produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time thereof, and may be inspected by any stockholder who is present.

2.10 Stockholders’ Consent in Lieu of Meeting.

Any action required by the DGCL to be taken at any annual or special meeting of the stockholders of the Company, or any action which may be taken at any annual or special meeting of such stockholders, may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, by a consent in writing, as permitted by the DGCL.

 

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ARTICLE III

Board of Directors

3.1 General Powers.

The business, property and affairs of the Company shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board, which may exercise all such powers of the Company and do all such lawful acts and things as are not by law or by the Certificate directed or required to be exercised or done by the stockholders.

3.2 Number and Term of Office.

The number of directors shall initially be set at two. Thereafter the number of directors shall be fixed from time to time by the Board. Directors need not be stockholders. Each director shall hold office until his successor is elected and qualified, or until his earlier death or resignation or removal in the manner hereinafter provided.

3.3 Election of Directors.

At each meeting of the stockholders for the election of directors at which a quorum is present, the persons receiving the greatest number of votes, up to the number of directors to be elected, of the stockholders present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote thereon shall be the directors; provided , however , that for purposes of such vote no stockholder shall be allowed to cumulate his votes. Unless an election by ballot shall be demanded as provided in Section 2.7 of Article II, election of directors may be conducted in any manner approved at such meeting.

3.4 Resignation, Removal and Vacancies.

Any director may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Board, the Chairman, the President or the Secretary. Such resignation shall take effect at the time specified therein or, if the time be not specified, upon receipt thereof; and unless otherwise specified therein, the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.

Any director or the entire Board may be removed, with or without cause, at any time, by vote of the holders of a majority of the shares then entitled to vote at an election of directors or by written consent of the stockholders pursuant to Section 2.10 of Article II.

Vacancies occurring on the Board for any reason may be filled by vote of the stockholders or by the stockholders’ written consent pursuant to Section 2.10 of Article II, or by vote of the Board or by the directors’ written consent pursuant to Section 3.6 of this Article III. If the number of directors then in office is less than a quorum, such vacancies may be filled by a vote of a majority of the directors then in office.

3.5 Meetings.

(a) Annual Meetings . As soon as practicable after each annual election of directors, the Board shall meet for the purpose of organization and the transaction of other business, unless it shall have transacted all such business by written consent pursuant to Section 3.6 of this Article III.

(b) Other Meetings . Other meetings of the Board shall be held at such times and at such places as the Board, the Chairman, the President or any director shall from time to time determine.

 

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(c) Notice of Meetings . Notice shall be given to each director of each meeting, including the time, place and purpose of such meeting. Notice of each such meeting shall be mailed to each director, addressed to him at his residence or usual place of business, at least two days before the date on which such meeting is to be held, or shall be sent to him at such place by telegraph, cable, wireless or other form of recorded communication, or be delivered personally or by telephone not later than the day before the day on which such meeting is to be held, but notice need not be given to any director who shall attend such meeting. A written waiver of notice, signed by the person entitled thereto, whether before or after the time of the meeting stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to notice.

(d) Place of Meetings . The Board may hold its meetings at such place or places within or outside the State of Delaware as the Board may from time to time determine, or as shall be designated in the respective notices or waivers of notice thereof.

(e) Quorum and Manner of Acting . A majority of the total number of directors then in office shall be present in person at any meeting of the Board in order to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at such meeting, and the vote of a majority of those directors present at any such meeting at which a quorum is present shall be necessary for the passage of any resolution or act of the Board, except as otherwise expressly required by law or these By-laws. In the absence of a quorum for any such meeting, a majority of the directors present thereat may adjourn such meeting from time to time until a quorum shall be present.

(f) Organization . At each meeting of the Board, one of the following shall act as chairman of the meeting and preside thereat, in the following order of precedence:

(i) the Chairman, if any;

(ii) the President (if a director); or

(iii) any director designated by a majority of the directors present.

The Secretary or, in the case of his absence, an Assistant Secretary, if an Assistant Secretary has been appointed and is present, or any person whom the chairman of the meeting shall appoint shall act as secretary of such meeting and keep the minutes thereof.

3.6 Directors’ Consent in Lieu of Meeting.

Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, if a consent in writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by all of the directors then in office and such consent is filed with the minutes of the proceedings of the Board.

3.7 Action by Means of Conference Telephone or Similar Communications Equipment.

Any one or more members of the Board may participate in a meeting of the Board by means of conference telephone or similar communications equipment by which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and participation in a meeting by such means shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.

 

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3.8 Committees.

The Board may, by resolution or resolutions passed by a majority of the whole Board, designate one or more committees, such committee or committees to have such name or names as may be determined from time to time by resolution adopted by the Board, and each such committee to consist of one or more directors of the Company, which to the extent provided in said resolution or resolutions shall have and may exercise the powers of the Board in the management of the business and affairs of the Company and may authorize the seal of the Company to be affixed to all papers which may require it. A majority of all the members of any such committee may determine its action and fix the time and place of its meetings, unless the Board shall otherwise provide. The Board shall have power to change the members of any such committee at any time, to fill vacancies and to discharge any such committee, either with or without cause, at any time.

ARTICLE IV

Officers

4.1 Executive Officers.

The principal officers of the Company shall be a Chairman, if one is appointed (and any references to the Chairman shall not apply if a Chairman has not been appointed), a President, a Secretary and a Treasurer, and may include such other officers as the Board may appoint pursuant to Section 4.3 of this Article IV. Any two or more offices may be held by the same person.

4.2 Authority and Duties.

All officers, as between themselves and the Company, shall have such authority and perform such duties in the management of the Company as may be provided in these By-laws or, to the extent so provided, by the Board.

4.3 Other Officers.

The Company may have such other officers, agents and employees as the Board may deem necessary, including one or more Chief Executive Officers, Co-Chief Executive Officers, Chief Operating Officers, Co-Chief Operating Officers, Chief Financial Officers, Co-Chief Financial Officers, Executive Vice Presidents, Vice Presidents, Assistant Secretaries, and Assistant Treasurers, each of whom shall hold office for such period, have such authority and perform such duties as the Board, the Chairman or the President may from time to time determine. The Board may delegate to any principal officer the power to appoint and define the authority and duties of, or remove, any such officers, agents or employees.

4.4 Term of Office, Resignation and Removal.

All officers shall be elected or appointed by the Board and shall hold office for such term as may be prescribed by the Board. Each officer shall hold office until his successor has been

 

7


elected or appointed and qualified or until his earlier death or resignation or removal in the manner hereinafter provided. The Board may require any officer to give security for the faithful performance of his duties.

Any officer may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Board, the Chairman, the President or the Secretary. Such resignation shall take effect at the time specified therein or, if the time be not specified, at the time it is accepted by action of the Board. Except as aforesaid, the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.

All officers and agents elected or appointed by the Board shall be subject to removal at any time by the Board or by the stockholders of the Company with or without cause.

4.5 Vacancies.

If the office of Chairman, President, Secretary or Treasurer becomes vacant for any reason, the Board shall fill such vacancy, and if any other office becomes vacant, the Board may fill such vacancy. Any officer so appointed or elected by the Board shall serve only until such time as the unexpired term of his predecessor shall have expired, unless reelected or reappointed by the Board.

4.6 The Chairman.

The Chairman shall give counsel and advice to the Board and the officers of the Company on all subjects concerning the welfare of the Company and the conduct of its business and shall perform such other duties as the Board may from time to time determine. Unless otherwise determined by the Board, he shall preside at meetings of the Board and of the stockholders at which he is present.

4.7 The President.

Unless otherwise determined by the Board, the President shall be the chief executive officer of the Company. The President shall have general and active management and control of the business and affairs of the Company subject to the control of the Board and shall see that all orders and resolutions of the Board are carried into effect. The President shall from time to time make such reports of the affairs of the Company as the Board may require and shall perform such other duties as the Board may from time to time determine.

4.8 The Secretary.

The Secretary shall, to the extent practicable, attend all meetings of the Board and all meetings of the stockholders and shall record all votes and the minutes of all proceedings in a book to be kept for that purpose. He may give, or cause to be given, notice of all meetings of the stockholders and of the Board, and shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board, the Chairman or the President, under whose supervision he shall act. He shall keep in safe custody the seal of the Company and affix the same to any duly authorized instrument requiring it and, when so affixed, it shall be attested by his signature or by the signature of the Treasurer or, if appointed, an Assistant Secretary or an Assistant Treasurer. He shall keep in safe custody the certificate books and stockholder records and such other books and records as the

 

8


Board may direct, and shall perform all other duties incident to the office of Secretary and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him by the Board, the Chairman or the President.

4.9 The Treasurer.

The Treasurer shall have the care and custody of the corporate funds and other valuable effects, including securities, shall keep full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the Company and shall deposit all moneys and other valuable effects in the name and to the credit of the Company in such depositories as may be designated by the Board. The Treasurer shall disburse the funds of the Company as may be ordered by the Board, taking proper vouchers for such disbursements, shall render to the Chairman, President and directors, at the regular meetings of the Board or whenever they may require it, an account of all his transactions as Treasurer and of the financial condition of the Company and shall perform all other duties incident to the office of Treasurer and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him by the Board, the Chairman or the President.

ARTICLE V

Contracts, Checks, Drafts, Bank Accounts, Etc.

5.1 Execution of Documents.

The Board shall designate, by either specific or general resolution, the officers, employees and agents of the Company who shall have the power to execute and deliver deeds, contracts, mortgages, bonds, debentures, checks, drafts and other orders for the payment of money and other documents for and in the name of the Company, and may authorize such officers, employees and agents to delegate such power (including authority to redelegate) by written instrument to other officers, employees or agents of the Company. Unless so designated or expressly authorized by these By-laws, no officer, employee or agent shall have any power or authority to bind the Company by any contract or engagement, to pledge its credit or to render it liable pecuniarily for any purpose or amount.

5.2 Deposits.

All funds of the Company not otherwise employed shall be deposited from time to time to the credit of the Company or otherwise as the Board or Treasurer, or any other officer of the Company to whom power in this respect shall have been given by the Board, shall select.

5.3 Proxies with Respect to Stock or Other Securities of Other Corporations.

The Board shall designate the officers of the Company who shall have authority from time to time to appoint an agent or agents of the Company to exercise in the name and on behalf of the Company the powers and rights which the Company may have as the holder of stock or other securities in any other entity, and to vote or consent with respect to such stock or securities. Such designated officers may instruct the person or persons so appointed as to the manner of exercising such powers and rights, and such designated officers may execute or cause to be

 

9


executed in the name and on behalf of the Company and under its corporate seal or otherwise, such written proxies, powers of attorney or other instruments as they may deem necessary or proper in order that the Company may exercise its powers and rights.

ARTICLE VI

Shares and Their Transfer; Fixing Record Date

6.1 Certificates for Shares.

Every owner of stock of the Company shall be entitled to have a certificate certifying the number and class of shares owned by him in the Company, which shall be in such form as shall be prescribed by the Board. Certificates shall be numbered and issued in consecutive order and shall be signed by, or in the name of, the Company by the Chairman, the President or any Vice President, and by the Treasurer (or an Assistant Treasurer, if appointed) or the Secretary (or an Assistant Secretary, if appointed). In case any officer or officers who shall have signed any such certificate or certificates shall cease to be such officer or officers of the Company, whether because of death, resignation or otherwise, before such certificate or certificates shall have been delivered by the Company, such certificate or certificates may nevertheless be adopted by the Company and be issued and delivered as though the person or persons who signed such certificate had not ceased to be such officer or officers of the Company.

6.2 Record.

A record in one or more counterparts shall be kept of the name of the person, firm or Company owning the shares represented by each certificate for stock of the Company issued, the number of shares represented by each such certificate, the date thereof and, in the case of cancellation, the date of cancellation. Except as otherwise expressly required by law, the person in whose name shares of stock stand on the stock record of the Company shall be deemed the owner thereof for all purposes regarding the Company.

6.3 Transfer and Registration of Stock.

The transfer of stock and certificates which represent the stock of the Company shall be governed by Article 8 of Subtitle 1 of Title 6 of the Delaware Code (the Uniform Commercial Code), as amended from time to time.

Registration of transfers of shares of the Company shall be made only on the books of the Company upon request of the registered holder thereof, or of his attorney thereunto authorized by power of attorney duly executed and filed with the Secretary of the Company, and upon the surrender of the certificate or certificates for such shares properly endorsed or accompanied by a stock power duly executed.

6.4 Addresses of Stockholders.

Each stockholder shall designate to the Secretary an address at which notices of meetings and all other corporate notices may be served or mailed to him, and, if any stockholder shall fail

 

10


to designate such address, corporate notices may be served upon him by mail directed to him at his post-office address, if any, as the same appears on the share record books of the Company or at his last known post-office address.

6.5 Lost, Destroyed and Mutilated Certificates.

The holder of any shares of the Company shall immediately notify the Company of any loss, destruction or mutilation of the certificate therefor, and the Board may, in its discretion, cause to be issued to him a new certificate or certificates for such shares, upon the surrender of the mutilated certificates or, in the case of loss or destruction of the certificate, upon satisfactory proof of such loss or destruction, and the Board may, in its discretion, require the owner of the lost or destroyed certificate or his legal representative to give the Company a bond in such sum and with such surety or sureties as it may direct to indemnify the Company against any claim that may be made against it on account of the alleged loss or destruction of any such certificate.

6.6 Regulations.

The Board may make such rules and regulations as it may deem expedient, not inconsistent with these By-laws, concerning the issue, transfer and registration of certificates for stock of the Company.

6.7 Fixing Date for Determination of Stockholders of Record.

(a) In order that the Company may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, the Board may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board, and which record date shall be not more than 60 nor less than 10 days before the date of such meeting. If no record date is fixed by the Board, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice is given, or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held. A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided , however , that the Board may fix a new record date for the adjourned meeting.

(b) In order that the Company may determine the stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, the Board may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board, and which date shall be not more than 10 days after the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board. If no record date has been fixed by the Board, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, when no prior action by the Board is required by the DGCL, shall be the first date on which a signed written consent setting forth the action taken or proposed to be taken is delivered to the Company by delivery to its registered office in the State of Delaware, its principal place of business or an officer or agent of the Company having custody of the book in which proceedings of meetings of stockholders are recorded. Delivery made to the Company’s registered office shall be by hand or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested. If

 

11


no record date has been fixed by the Board and prior action by the Board is required by the DGCL, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board adopts the resolution taking such prior action.

(c) In order that the Company may determine the stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights or the stockholders entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock, or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted, and which record date shall be not more than 60 days prior to such action. If no record date is fixed, the record date for determining stockholders for any such purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board adopts the resolution relating thereto.

ARTICLE VII

Seal

The Board may provide a corporate seal, which shall be in the form of a circle and shall bear the full name of the Company, the year of incorporation of the Company and the words and figures “Corporate Seal – Delaware.”

ARTICLE VIII

Fiscal Year

The fiscal year of the Company shall be the calendar year unless otherwise determined by the Board.

ARTICLE IX

Indemnification and Insurance

9.1 Indemnification.

(a) As provided in the Certificate, to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL as the same exists or may hereafter be amended, a director of the Company shall not be liable to the Company or its stockholders for breach of fiduciary duty as a director.

(b) Without limitation of any right conferred by paragraph (a) of this Section 9.1, each person who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise involved in any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (hereinafter a “proceeding”), by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director, officer or employee of the Company or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer or employee of another Company or of a

 

12


partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan (hereinafter an “indemnitee”), whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity while serving as a director, officer or employee or in any other capacity while serving as a director, officer or employee, shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company to the fullest extent authorized by the DGCL, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended (but, in the case of any such amendment, only to the extent that such amendment permits the Company to provide broader indemnification rights than permitted prior thereto), against all expense, liability and loss (including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, excise taxes or amounts paid in settlement) reasonably incurred or suffered by such indemnitee in connection therewith and such indemnification shall continue as to an indemnitee who has ceased to be a director, officer or employee and shall inure to the benefit of the indemnitee’s heirs, testators, intestates, executors and administrators; provided , however , that such person acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the Company, and with respect to a criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful; provided , further , however , that no indemnification shall be made in the case of an action, suit or proceeding by or in the right of the Company in relation to matters as to which it shall be adjudged in such action, suit or proceeding that such director, officer, employee or agent is liable to the Company, unless a court having jurisdiction shall determine that, despite such adjudication, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification; provided , further , however , that, except as provided in Section 9.1(c) of this Article IX with respect to proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification, the Company shall indemnify any such indemnitee in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such indemnitee only if such proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such indemnitee was authorized by the Board of the Company. The right to indemnification conferred in this Article IX shall be a contract right and shall include the right to be paid by the Company the expenses incurred in defending any such proceeding in advance of its final disposition (hereinafter an “advancement of expenses”); provided , however , that, if the DGCL requires, an advancement of expenses incurred by an indemnitee in his or her capacity as a director or officer (and not in any other capacity in which service was or is rendered by such indemnitee, including, without limitation, service to an employee benefit plan) shall be made only upon delivery to the Company of an undertaking (hereinafter an “undertaking”), by or on behalf of such indemnitee, to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined by final judicial decision from which there is no further right to appeal (hereinafter a “final adjudication”) (i) that such indemnitee breached his fiduciary duty to the Company or (ii) that such indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified for such expenses under this Section or otherwise.

(c) If a claim under Section 9.1(b) of this Article IX is not paid in full by the Company with 60 days after a written claim has been received by the Company, except in the case of a claim for an advancement of expenses, in which case the applicable period shall be 10 days, the indemnitee may at any time thereafter bring suit against the Company to recover the unpaid amount of the claim. If successful in whole or in part in any such suit, or in a suit brought by the Company to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of any undertaking, the indemnitee shall be entitled to be paid also the expense of prosecuting or defending such suit. In (i) any suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right to indemnification hereunder (but not in a suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right to an advancement of expenses) it shall be a defense that, and (ii) in any suit by the Company to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the Company shall

 

13


be entitled to recover such expenses upon a final adjudication that, the indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the DGCL. Neither the failure of the Company (including the Board, independent legal counsel, or the stockholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such suit that indemnification of the indemnitee is proper in the circumstances because the indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the DGCL, nor an actual determination by the Company (including the Board, independent legal counsel or the stockholders) that the indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall create a presumption that the indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct or, in the case of such a suit brought by the indemnitee, be a defense to such suit. In any suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right to indemnification or to an advancement of expenses hereunder, or by the Company to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the burden of proving that the indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified, or to such advancement of expenses, under this Section or otherwise shall be on the Company.

(d) The rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses conferred in this Article IX shall not be exclusive of any other right which any person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, the Certificate, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.

9.2 Insurance.

The Company may purchase and maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect itself and any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or any person who is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employer or agent of another Company, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any expense, liability or loss, whether or not the Company would have the power to indemnify such person against such expense, liability or loss under the DGCL.

ARTICLE X

Amendment

Any by-law (including these By-laws) may be adopted, amended or repealed by the vote of the holders of a majority of the shares then entitled to vote or by the stockholders’ written consent pursuant to Section 2.10 of Article II, or by the vote of the Board or by the directors’ written consent pursuant to Section 3.6 of Article III.

* * * * *

 

14

Exhibit 3.24

CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

OF

TRILEGIANT SERVICES, INC.

FIRST: The name of the Corporation is Trilegiant Services, Inc. (the “Corporation”).

SECOND: The address of the registered office of the Corporation in the State of Delaware is 1209 Orange Street, in the City of Wilmington, County of New Castle. The name of its registered agent at that address is The Corporation Trust Company.

THIRD: The purpose of the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which a corporation may be organized under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware as set forth in Title 8 of the Delaware Code (the “GCL”).

FOURTH: The total number of shares of stock which the Corporation shall have authority to issue is 1,000 shares of Common Stock, each having a par value of $.001.

FIFTH: The name and mailing address of the Sole Incorporator is as follows:

 

Name

  

Address

Mary E. Keogh

   P.O. Box 636
   Wilmington, DE 19899

SIXTH: The following provisions are inserted for the management of the business and the conduct of the affairs of the Corporation, and for further definition, limitation and regulation of the powers of the corporation and of its directors and stockholders:

(1) The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors.

(2) The directors shall have concurrent power with the stockholders to make, alter, amend, change, add to or repeal the By-Laws of the Corporation.

(3) The number of directors of the Corporation shall be as from time to time fixed by, or in the manner provided in, the By-Laws of the Corporation. Election of directors need not be by written ballot unless the By-Laws so provide.

(4) No director shall be personally liable to the Corporation or any of its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except for liability (i) for any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the Corporation or its


stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) pursuant to Section 174 of the GCL or (iv) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit. Any repeal or modification of this Article SIXTH by the stockholders of the corporation shall not adversely affect any right or protection of a director of the Corporation existing at the time of such repeal or modification with respect to acts or omissions occurring prior to such repeal or modification.

(5) In addition to the powers and authority hereinbefore or by statute expressly conferred upon them, the directors are hereby empowered to exercise all such powers and do all such acts and things as may be exercised or done by the Corporation, subject, nevertheless, to the provisions of the GCL, this Certificate of Incorporation, and any By-Laws adopted by the stockholders; provided, however, that no By-Laws hereafter adopted by the stockholders shall invalidate any prior act of the directors which would have been valid if such By-Laws had not been adopted.

SEVENTH: Meetings of stockholders may be held within or without the State of Delaware, as the By-Laws may provide. The books of the Corporation may be kept (subject to any provision contained in the GCL) outside the State of Delaware at such place or places as may be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors or in the By-Laws of the Corporation.

EIGHTH: The Corporation reserves the right to amend, alter, change or repeal any provision contained in this Certificate of Incorporation, in the manner now or hereafter prescribed by statute, and all rights conferred upon stockholders herein are granted subject to this reservation.

I, THE UNDERSIGNED, being the Sole Incorporator hereinbefore named, for the purpose of forming a corporation pursuant to the GCL, do make this Certificate, hereby declaring and certifying that this is my act and deed and the facts herein stated are true, and accordingly have hereunto set my hand this 28th day of June, 2001.

 

/s/ Mary E. Keogh

Mary E. Keogh

Sole Incorporator


CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT

TO THE

CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

OF

TRILEGIANT SERVICES, INC.

 


Pursuant to Section 242 of the General

Corporation Law of the State of Delaware

 


Trilegiant Services, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Corporation”), does hereby certify as follows:

FIRST: Article FIRST of the Corporation’s Certificate of Incorporation is hereby amended to read in its entirety as set forth below:

“FIRST: The name of the corporation is Trilegiant Loyalty Solutions, Inc. (hereinafter the “Corporation”).”

SECOND: The foregoing amendment was duly adopted in accordance with Section 242 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused this Certificate to be duly executed in its corporate name this 28th day of August, 2001.

 

TRILEGIANT SERVICES, INC.

By:

 

/s/ Peter G. McGonagle

 

Name:

 

Peter G. McGonagle

 

Title:

 

Executive Vice President


CERTIFICATE OF MERGER

OF

CENDANT MEMBERSHIP SERVICES, INC.

AND

TRILEGIANT LOYALTY SOLUTIONS, INC.

It is hereby certified that:

1. The constituent business corporations participating in the merger herein certified are:

(i) Cendant Membership Service, Inc., which is incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware and

(ii) Trilegiant Loyalty Solutions, Inc., which is incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware.

2. An Agreement of Merger has been approved, adopted, certified, executed, and acknowledged by each of the aforesaid constituent corporations in accordance with the provisions of subsection (c) of Section 251 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

3. The name of the surviving corporation in the merger herein certified is Trilegiant Loyalty Solutions, Inc., which will continue its existence as said surviving corporation under its present name upon the effective date of said merger pursuant to the provisions of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

4. The Certificate of Incorporation of Trilegiant Loyalty Solutions, Inc., as now in force and effect, shall continue to be the Certificate of Incorporation of said surviving corporation until amended and changed pursuant to the provisions of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

5. The executed Agreement of Merger between the aforesaid constituent corporations is on file at an office of the aforesaid surviving corporation, the address of which is as fellows: 1 Campus Drive, Parsippany, NJ 07054.

6. A copy of the aforesaid Agreement of Merger will be furnished by the aforesaid surviving corporation, on request, and without cost, to any stockholder of each of the aforesaid constituent corporations.

7. The Agreement of Merger between the aforesaid constituent corporations provides that the merger herein certified shall be effective upon filing.


Dated: December 23, 2004

 

CENDANT MEMBERSHIP SERVICES, INC.

By:

 

/s/ Lynn A. Feldman

 

Lynn A. Feldman,

Vice President and Assistant Secretary

Dated: December 23, 2004

 

TRILEGIANT LOYALTY SOLUTIONS, INC.

By:

 

/s/ Lynn A. Feldman

 

Lynn A. Feldman,

Vice President and Assistant Secretary


CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT

OF

CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

OF

TRILEGIANT LOYALTY SOLUTIONS, INC.

Dated February 21, 2006

Trilegiant Loyalty Solutions, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under and by virtue of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “ DGCL ”), does hereby certify as follows:

FIRST: That by unanimous written consent of the Board of Directors of the Corporation, resolutions were adopted setting forth a proposed amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation (the “ Certificate ”), declaring its advisability, and directing that the amendment proposed be submitted to the stockholders of the Corporation for consideration and approval.

SECOND: That the sole stockholder of the Corporation, by written consent in lieu of a special meeting, consented to and adopted this amendment.

THIRD: That this amendment was duly adopted in accordance with the applicable provisions of Sections 228 and 242 of the DGCL.

FOURTH: The Certificate is hereby amended by deleting the FIRST paragraph thereof and by substituting in lieu of said FIRST paragraph the following new FIRST paragraph:

“FIRST: The name of the corporation is Affinion Loyalty Group, Inc.”

*    *    *    *     *


IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the Corporation has caused the undersigned to execute this Certificate as of the date set forth herein.

 

TRILEGIANT LOYALTY SOLUTIONS, INC.,

By:

 

/s/ Nathaniel J. Lipman

  Name: Nathaniel J. Lipman
 

Title:   President and Chief Executive Officer

Exhibit 3.25

AMENDED AND RESTATED

BY-LAWS OF

TRILEGIANT LOYALTY SOLUTIONS, INC.

ARTICLE I

Offices

1.1 Registered Office.

The registered office of Trilegiant Loyalty Solutions, Inc. (the “Company”) in the State of Delaware shall be 1209 Orange Street, City of Wilmington, County of New Castle. The name of the registered agent of the Company at such address is Corporation Trust Company.

1.2 Other Offices.

The Company may also have an office or offices at any other place or places within or outside the State of Delaware.

ARTICLE II

Meeting of Stockholders; Stockholders’ Consent in Lieu of Meeting

2.1 Annual Meetings.

The annual meeting of the stockholders for the election of directors, and for the transaction of such other business as may properly come before the meeting, shall be held at such place, date and hour as shall be fixed by the Board of Directors (the “Board”) and designated in the notice or waiver of notice thereof, except that no annual meeting need be held if all actions, including the election of directors, required by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”) to be taken at a stockholders’ annual meeting are taken by written consent in lieu of meeting pursuant to Section 2.10 of this Article II.

2.2 Special Meetings.

A special meeting of the stockholders for any purpose or purposes may be called by the Board, the Chairman, the President or the record holders of at least a majority of the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company, to be held at such place, date and hour as shall be designated in the notice or waiver of notice thereof.


2.3 Notice of Meetings.

Except as otherwise required by statute, the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (the “Certificate”) or these By-laws, notice of each annual or special meeting of the stockholders shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at such meeting not less than 10 nor more than 60 days before the day on which the meeting is to be held, by delivering written notice thereof to him personally, or by mailing a copy of such notice, postage prepaid, directly to him at his address as it appears in the records of the Company, or by transmitting such notice thereof to him at such address by telegraph, cable or other telephonic transmission. Every such notice shall state the place, the date and hour of the meeting, and, in case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called. Notice of any meeting of stockholders shall not be required to be given to any stockholder who shall attend such meeting in person or by proxy, or who shall, in person or by his attorney thereunto authorized, waive such notice in writing, either before or after such meeting. Except as otherwise provided in these By-laws, neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any meeting of the stockholders need be specified in any such notice or waiver of notice. Notice of any adjourned meeting of stockholders shall not be required to be given, except when expressly required by law.

2.4 Quorum.

At each meeting of the stockholders, except where otherwise provided by the Certificate or these By-laws, the holders of a majority of the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company entitled to vote at such meeting, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. In the absence of a quorum, a majority in interest of the stockholders present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote, or, in the absence of all the stockholders entitled to vote, any officer entitled to preside at, or act as secretary of, such meeting, shall have the power to adjourn the meeting from time to time, until stockholders holding the requisite amount of stock to constitute a quorum shall be present or represented. At any such adjourned meeting at which a quorum shall be present, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the meeting as originally called.

2.5 Organization.

Unless otherwise determined by the Board, at each meeting of the stockholders, one of the following shall act as chairman of the meeting and preside thereat, in the following order of precedence:

(a) the Chairman, if any;

(b) the President;

(c) any director, officer or stockholder of the Company designated by the Board to act as chairman of such meeting and to preside thereat if the Chairman or the President shall be absent from such meeting; or

(d) a stockholder of record who shall be chosen chairman of such meeting by a majority in voting interest of the stockholders present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote thereat.

 

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The Secretary or, if he shall be presiding over such meeting in accordance with the provisions of this Section 2.5 or if he shall be absent from such meeting, the person (who shall be an Assistant Secretary, if an Assistant Secretary has been appointed and is present) whom the chairman of such meeting shall appoint, shall act as secretary of such meeting and keep the minutes thereof.

2.6 Order of Business.

The order of business at each meeting of the stockholders shall be determined by the chairman of such meeting, but such order of business may be changed by a majority in voting interest of those present in person or by proxy at such meeting and entitled to vote thereat.

2.7 Voting.

Except as otherwise provided by law, the Certificate or these By-laws, at each meeting of the stockholders, every stockholder of the Company shall be entitled to one vote in person or by proxy for each share of Common Stock of the Company held by him and registered in his name on the books of the Company on the date fixed pursuant to Section 6.7 of Article VI as the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting. Persons holding stock in a fiduciary capacity shall be entitled to vote the shares so held. A person whose stock is pledged shall be entitled to vote, unless, in the transfer by the pledgor on the books of the Company, he has expressly empowered the pledgee to vote thereon, in which case only the pledgee or his proxy may represent such stock and vote thereon. If shares or other securities having voting power stand in the record of two or more persons, whether fiduciaries, members of a partnership, joint tenants, tenants in common, tenants by the entirety or otherwise, or if two or more persons have the same fiduciary relationship respecting the same shares, unless the Secretary shall be given written notice to the contrary and furnished with a copy of the instrument or order appointing them or creating the relationship wherein it is so provided, their acts with respect to voting shall have the following effect:

(a) if only one votes, his act binds all;

(b) if more than one votes, the act of the majority so voting binds all; and

(c) if more than one votes, but the vote is evenly split on any particular matter, such shares shall be voted in the manner provided by law.

If the instrument so filed shows that any such tenancy is held in unequal interests, a majority or even-split for the purposes of this Section 2.7 shall be a majority or even-split in interest. The Company shall not vote directly or indirectly any share of its own capital stock. Any vote of stock may be given by the stockholder entitled thereto in person or by his proxy appointed by an instrument in writing, subscribed by such stockholder or by his attorney thereunto authorized, delivered to the secretary of the meeting; provided , however , that no proxy shall be voted after three years from its date, unless said proxy provides for a longer period. At all meetings of the stockholders, all matters (except where other provision is made by law, the Certificate or these By-laws) shall be decided by the vote of a majority in interest of the stockholders present in person or by proxy at such meeting and entitled to vote thereon, a quorum being present. Unless demanded by a stockholder present in person or by proxy at any meeting and entitled to vote

 

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thereon, the vote on any question need not be by ballot. Upon a demand by any such stockholder for a vote by ballot upon any question, such vote by ballot shall be taken. On a vote by ballot, each ballot shall be signed by the stockholder voting, or by his proxy, if there be such proxy, and shall state the number of shares voted.

2.8 Inspection.

The chairman of the meeting may at any time appoint one or more inspectors to serve at any meeting of the stockholders. Any inspector may be removed, and a new inspector or inspectors appointed, by the Board at any time. Such inspectors shall decide upon the qualifications of voters, accept and count votes, declare the results of such vote, and subscribe and deliver to the secretary of the meeting a certificate stating the number of shares of stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote thereon and the number of shares voted for and against the question, respectively. The inspectors need not be stockholders of the Company, and any director or officer of the Company may be an inspector on any question other than a vote for or against his election to any position with the Company or on any other matter in which he may be directly interested. Before acting as herein provided, each inspector shall subscribe an oath faithfully to execute the duties of an inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of his ability.

2.9 List of Stockholders.

It shall be the duty of the Secretary or other officer of the Company who shall have charge of its stock ledger to prepare and make, at least 10 days before every meeting of the stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote thereat, arranged in alphabetical order, and showing the address of each stockholder and the number of shares registered in the name of each stockholder. Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to any such meeting, during ordinary business hours, for a period of at least 10 days prior to such meeting, either at a place within the city where such meeting is to be held, which place shall be specified in the notice of the meeting or, if not so specified, at the place where the meeting is to be held. Such list shall also be produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time thereof, and may be inspected by any stockholder who is present.

2.10 Stockholders’ Consent in Lieu of Meeting.

Any action required by the DGCL to be taken at any annual or special meeting of the stockholders of the Company, or any action which may be taken at any annual or special meeting of such stockholders, may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, by a consent in writing, as permitted by the DGCL.

 

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ARTICLE III

Board of Directors

3.1 General Powers.

The business, property and affairs of the Company shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board, which may exercise all such powers of the Company and do all such lawful acts and things as are not by law or by the Certificate directed or required to be exercised or done by the stockholders.

3.2 Number and Term of Office.

The number of directors shall initially be set at two. Thereafter the number of directors shall be fixed from time to time by the Board. Directors need not be stockholders. Each director shall hold office until his successor is elected and qualified, or until his earlier death or resignation or removal in the manner hereinafter provided.

3.3 Election of Directors.

At each meeting of the stockholders for the election of directors at which a quorum is present, the persons receiving the greatest number of votes, up to the number of directors to be elected, of the stockholders present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote thereon shall be the directors; provided , however , that for purposes of such vote no stockholder shall be allowed to cumulate his votes. Unless an election by ballot shall be demanded as provided in Section 2.7 of Article II, election of directors may be conducted in any manner approved at such meeting.

3.4 Resignation, Removal and Vacancies.

Any director may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Board, the Chairman, the President or the Secretary. Such resignation shall take effect at the time specified therein or, if the time be not specified, upon receipt thereof; and unless otherwise specified therein, the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.

Any director or the entire Board may be removed, with or without cause, at any time, by vote of the holders of a majority of the shares then entitled to vote at an election of directors or by written consent of the stockholders pursuant to Section 2.10 of Article II.

Vacancies occurring on the Board for any reason may be filled by vote of the stockholders or by the stockholders’ written consent pursuant to Section 2.10 of Article II, or by vote of the Board or by the directors’ written consent pursuant to Section 3.6 of this Article III. If the number of directors then in office is less than a quorum, such vacancies may be filled by a vote of a majority of the directors then in office.

3.5 Meetings.

(a) Annual Meetings . As soon as practicable after each annual election of directors, the Board shall meet for the purpose of organization and the transaction of other business, unless it shall have transacted all such business by written consent pursuant to Section 3.6 of this Article III.

(b) Other Meetings . Other meetings of the Board shall be held at such times and at such places as the Board, the Chairman, the President or any director shall from time to time determine.

 

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(c) Notice of Meetings . Notice shall be given to each director of each meeting, including the time, place and purpose of such meeting. Notice of each such meeting shall be mailed to each director, addressed to him at his residence or usual place of business, at least two days before the date on which such meeting is to be held, or shall be sent to him at such place by telegraph, cable, wireless or other form of recorded communication, or be delivered personally or by telephone not later than the day before the day on which such meeting is to be held, but notice need not be given to any director who shall attend such meeting. A written waiver of notice, signed by the person entitled thereto, whether before or after the time of the meeting stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to notice.

(d) Place of Meetings . The Board may hold its meetings at such place or places within or outside the State of Delaware as the Board may from time to time determine, or as shall be designated in the respective notices or waivers of notice thereof.

(e) Quorum and Manner of Acting . A majority of the total number of directors then in office shall be present in person at any meeting of the Board in order to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at such meeting, and the vote of a majority of those directors present at any such meeting at which a quorum is present shall be necessary for the passage of any resolution or act of the Board, except as otherwise expressly required by law or these By-laws. In the absence of a quorum for any such meeting, a majority of the directors present thereat may adjourn such meeting from time to time until a quorum shall be present.

(f) Organization . At each meeting of the Board, one of the following shall act as chairman of the meeting and preside thereat, in the following order of precedence:

(i) the Chairman, if any;

(ii) the President (if a director); or

(iii) any director designated by a majority of the directors present.

The Secretary or, in the case of his absence, an Assistant Secretary, if an Assistant Secretary has been appointed and is present, or any person whom the chairman of the meeting shall appoint shall act as secretary of such meeting and keep the minutes thereof.

3.6 Directors’ Consent in Lieu of Meeting.

Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, if a consent in writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by all of the directors then in office and such consent is filed with the minutes of the proceedings of the Board.

3.7 Action by Means of Conference Telephone or Similar Communications Equipment.

Any one or more members of the Board may participate in a meeting of the Board by means of conference telephone or similar communications equipment by which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and participation in a meeting by such means shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.

 

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3.8 Committees.

The Board may, by resolution or resolutions passed by a majority of the whole Board, designate one or more committees, such committee or committees to have such name or names as may be determined from time to time by resolution adopted by the Board, and each such committee to consist of one or more directors of the Company, which to the extent provided in said resolution or resolutions shall have and may exercise the powers of the Board in the management of the business and affairs of the Company and may authorize the seal of the Company to be affixed to all papers which may require it. A majority of all the members of any such committee may determine its action and fix the time and place of its meetings, unless the Board shall otherwise provide. The Board shall have power to change the members of any such committee at any time, to fill vacancies and to discharge any such committee, either with or without cause, at any time.

ARTICLE IV

Officers

4.1 Executive Officers.

The principal officers of the Company shall be a Chairman, if one is appointed (and any references to the Chairman shall not apply if a Chairman has not been appointed), a President, a Secretary and a Treasurer, and may include such other officers as the Board may appoint pursuant to Section 4.3 of this Article IV. Any two or more offices may be held by the same person.

4.2 Authority and Duties.

All officers, as between themselves and the Company, shall have such authority and perform such duties in the management of the Company as may be provided in these By-laws or, to the extent so provided, by the Board.

4.3 Other Officers.

The Company may have such other officers, agents and employees as the Board may deem necessary, including one or more Chief Executive Officers, Co-Chief Executive Officers, Chief Operating Officers, Co-Chief Operating Officers, Chief Financial Officers, Co-Chief Financial Officers, Executive Vice Presidents, Vice Presidents, Assistant Secretaries, and Assistant Treasurers, each of whom shall hold office for such period, have such authority and perform such duties as the Board, the Chairman or the President may from time to time determine. The Board may delegate to any principal officer the power to appoint and define the authority and duties of, or remove, any such officers, agents or employees.

4.4 Term of Office, Resignation and Removal.

All officers shall be elected or appointed by the Board and shall hold office for such term as may be prescribed by the Board. Each officer shall hold office until his successor has been

 

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elected or appointed and qualified or until his earlier death or resignation or removal in the manner hereinafter provided. The Board may require any officer to give security for the faithful performance of his duties.

Any officer may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Board, the Chairman, the President or the Secretary. Such resignation shall take effect at the time specified therein or, if the time be not specified, at the time it is accepted by action of the Board. Except as aforesaid, the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.

All officers and agents elected or appointed by the Board shall be subject to removal at any time by the Board or by the stockholders of the Company with or without cause.

4.5 Vacancies.

If the office of Chairman, President, Secretary or Treasurer becomes vacant for any reason, the Board shall fill such vacancy, and if any other office becomes vacant, the Board may fill such vacancy. Any officer so appointed or elected by the Board shall serve only until such time as the unexpired term of his predecessor shall have expired, unless reelected or reappointed by the Board.

4.6 The Chairman.

The Chairman shall give counsel and advice to the Board and the officers of the Company on all subjects concerning the welfare of the Company and the conduct of its business and shall perform such other duties as the Board may from time to time determine. Unless otherwise determined by the Board, he shall preside at meetings of the Board and of the stockholders at which he is present.

4.7 The President.

Unless otherwise determined by the Board, the President shall be the chief executive officer of the Company. The President shall have general and active management and control of the business and affairs of the Company subject to the control of the Board and shall see that all orders and resolutions of the Board are carried into effect. The President shall from time to time make such reports of the affairs of the Company as the Board may require and shall perform such other duties as the Board may from time to time determine.

4.8 The Secretary.

The Secretary shall, to the extent practicable, attend all meetings of the Board and all meetings of the stockholders and shall record all votes and the minutes of all proceedings in a book to be kept for that purpose. He may give, or cause to be given, notice of all meetings of the stockholders and of the Board, and shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board, the Chairman or the President, under whose supervision he shall act. He shall keep in safe custody the seal of the Company and affix the same to any duly authorized instrument requiring it and, when so affixed, it shall be attested by his signature or by the signature of the Treasurer or, if appointed, an Assistant Secretary or an Assistant Treasurer. He shall keep in safe custody the certificate books and stockholder records and such other books and records as the

 

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Board may direct, and shall perform all other duties incident to the office of Secretary and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him by the Board, the Chairman or the President.

4.9 The Treasurer.

The Treasurer shall have the care and custody of the corporate funds and other valuable effects, including securities, shall keep full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the Company and shall deposit all moneys and other valuable effects in the name and to the credit of the Company in such depositories as may be designated by the Board. The Treasurer shall disburse the funds of the Company as may be ordered by the Board, taking proper vouchers for such disbursements, shall render to the Chairman, President and directors, at the regular meetings of the Board or whenever they may require it, an account of all his transactions as Treasurer and of the financial condition of the Company and shall perform all other duties incident to the office of Treasurer and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him by the Board, the Chairman or the President.

ARTICLE V

Contracts, Checks, Drafts, Bank Accounts, Etc.

5.1 Execution of Documents.

The Board shall designate, by either specific or general resolution, the officers, employees and agents of the Company who shall have the power to execute and deliver deeds, contracts, mortgages, bonds, debentures, checks, drafts and other orders for the payment of money and other documents for and in the name of the Company, and may authorize such officers, employees and agents to delegate such power (including authority to redelegate) by written instrument to other officers, employees or agents of the Company. Unless so designated or expressly authorized by these By-laws, no officer, employee or agent shall have any power or authority to bind the Company by any contract or engagement, to pledge its credit or to render it liable pecuniarily for any purpose or amount.

5.2 Deposits.

All funds of the Company not otherwise employed shall be deposited from time to time to the credit of the Company or otherwise as the Board or Treasurer, or any other officer of the Company to whom power in this respect shall have been given by the Board, shall select.

5.3 Proxies with Respect to Stock or Other Securities of Other Corporations.

The Board shall designate the officers of the Company who shall have authority from time to time to appoint an agent or agents of the Company to exercise in the name and on behalf of the Company the powers and rights which the Company may have as the holder of stock or other securities in any other entity, and to vote or consent with respect to such stock or securities. Such designated officers may instruct the person or persons so appointed as to the manner of exercising such powers and rights, and such designated officers may execute or cause to be

 

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executed in the name and on behalf of the Company and under its corporate seal or otherwise, such written proxies, powers of attorney or other instruments as they may deem necessary or proper in order that the Company may exercise its powers and rights.

ARTICLE VI

Shares and Their Transfer; Fixing Record Date

6.1 Certificates for Shares.

Every owner of stock of the Company shall be entitled to have a certificate certifying the number and class of shares owned by him in the Company, which shall be in such form as shall be prescribed by the Board. Certificates shall be numbered and issued in consecutive order and shall be signed by, or in the name of, the Company by the Chairman, the President or any Vice President, and by the Treasurer (or an Assistant Treasurer, if appointed) or the Secretary (or an Assistant Secretary, if appointed). In case any officer or officers who shall have signed any such certificate or certificates shall cease to be such officer or officers of the Company, whether because of death, resignation or otherwise, before such certificate or certificates shall have been delivered by the Company, such certificate or certificates may nevertheless be adopted by the Company and be issued and delivered as though the person or persons who signed such certificate had not ceased to be such officer or officers of the Company.

6.2 Record.

A record in one or more counterparts shall be kept of the name of the person, firm or Company owning the shares represented by each certificate for stock of the Company issued, the number of shares represented by each such certificate, the date thereof and, in the case of cancellation, the date of cancellation. Except as otherwise expressly required by law, the person in whose name shares of stock stand on the stock record of the Company shall be deemed the owner thereof for all purposes regarding the Company.

6.3 Transfer and Registration of Stock.

The transfer of stock and certificates which represent the stock of the Company shall be governed by Article 8 of Subtitle 1 of Title 6 of the Delaware Code (the Uniform Commercial Code), as amended from time to time.

Registration of transfers of shares of the Company shall be made only on the books of the Company upon request of the registered holder thereof, or of his attorney thereunto authorized by power of attorney duly executed and filed with the Secretary of the Company, and upon the surrender of the certificate or certificates for such shares properly endorsed or accompanied by a stock power duly executed.

6.4 Addresses of Stockholders.

Each stockholder shall designate to the Secretary an address at which notices of meetings and all other corporate notices may be served or mailed to him, and, if any stockholder shall fail

 

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to designate such address, corporate notices may be served upon him by mail directed to him at his post-office address, if any, as the same appears on the share record books of the Company or at his last known post-office address.

6.5 Lost, Destroyed and Mutilated Certificates.

The holder of any shares of the Company shall immediately notify the Company of any loss, destruction or mutilation of the certificate therefor, and the Board may, in its discretion, cause to be issued to him a new certificate or certificates for such shares, upon the surrender of the mutilated certificates or, in the case of loss or destruction of the certificate, upon satisfactory proof of such loss or destruction, and the Board may, in its discretion, require the owner of the lost or destroyed certificate or his legal representative to give the Company a bond in such sum and with such surety or sureties as it may direct to indemnify the Company against any claim that may be made against it on account of the alleged loss or destruction of any such certificate.

6.6 Regulations.

The Board may make such rules and regulations as it may deem expedient, not inconsistent with these By-laws, concerning the issue, transfer and registration of certificates for stock of the Company.

6.7 Fixing Date for Determination of Stockholders of Record.

(a) In order that the Company may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, the Board may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board, and which record date shall be not more than 60 nor less than 10 days before the date of such meeting. If no record date is fixed by the Board, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice is given, or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held. A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided , however , that the Board may fix a new record date for the adjourned meeting.

(b) In order that the Company may determine the stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, the Board may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board, and which date shall be not more than 10 days after the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board. If no record date has been fixed by the Board, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, when no prior action by the Board is required by the DGCL, shall be the first date on which a signed written consent setting forth the action taken or proposed to be taken is delivered to the Company by delivery to its registered office in the State of Delaware, its principal place of business or an officer or agent of the Company having custody of the book in which proceedings of meetings of stockholders are recorded. Delivery made to the Company’s registered office shall be by hand or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested. If

 

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no record date has been fixed by the Board and prior action by the Board is required by the DGCL, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board adopts the resolution taking such prior action.

(c) In order that the Company may determine the stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights or the stockholders entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock, or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted, and which record date shall be not more than 60 days prior to such action. If no record date is fixed, the record date for determining stockholders for any such purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board adopts the resolution relating thereto.

ARTICLE VII

Seal

The Board may provide a corporate seal, which shall be in the form of a circle and shall bear the full name of the Company, the year of incorporation of the Company and the words and figures “Corporate Seal – Delaware.”

ARTICLE VIII

Fiscal Year

The fiscal year of the Company shall be the calendar year unless otherwise determined by the Board.

ARTICLE IX

Indemnification and Insurance

9.1 Indemnification.

(a) As provided in the Certificate, to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL as the same exists or may hereafter be amended, a director of the Company shall not be liable to the Company or its stockholders for breach of fiduciary duty as a director.

(b) Without limitation of any right conferred by paragraph (a) of this Section 9.1, each person who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise involved in any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (hereinafter a “proceeding”), by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director, officer or employee of the Company or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer or employee of another Company or of a

 

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partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan (hereinafter an “indemnitee”), whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity while serving as a director, officer or employee or in any other capacity while serving as a director, officer or employee, shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company to the fullest extent authorized by the DGCL, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended (but, in the case of any such amendment, only to the extent that such amendment permits the Company to provide broader indemnification rights than permitted prior thereto), against all expense, liability and loss (including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, excise taxes or amounts paid in settlement) reasonably incurred or suffered by such indemnitee in connection therewith and such indemnification shall continue as to an indemnitee who has ceased to be a director, officer or employee and shall inure to the benefit of the indemnitee’s heirs, testators, intestates, executors and administrators; provided , however , that such person acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the Company, and with respect to a criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful; provided , further , however , that no indemnification shall be made in the case of an action, suit or proceeding by or in the right of the Company in relation to matters as to which it shall be adjudged in such action, suit or proceeding that such director, officer, employee or agent is liable to the Company, unless a court having jurisdiction shall determine that, despite such adjudication, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification; provided , further , however , that, except as provided in Section 9.1(c) of this Article IX with respect to proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification, the Company shall indemnify any such indemnitee in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such indemnitee only if such proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such indemnitee was authorized by the Board of the Company. The right to indemnification conferred in this Article IX shall be a contract right and shall include the right to be paid by the Company the expenses incurred in defending any such proceeding in advance of its final disposition (hereinafter an “advancement of expenses”); provided , however , that, if the DGCL requires, an advancement of expenses incurred by an indemnitee in his or her capacity as a director or officer (and not in any other capacity in which service was or is rendered by such indemnitee, including, without limitation, service to an employee benefit plan) shall be made only upon delivery to the Company of an undertaking (hereinafter an “undertaking”), by or on behalf of such indemnitee, to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined by final judicial decision from which there is no further right to appeal (hereinafter a “final adjudication”) (i) that such indemnitee breached his fiduciary duty to the Company or (ii) that such indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified for such expenses under this Section or otherwise.

(c) If a claim under Section 9.1(b) of this Article IX is not paid in full by the Company with 60 days after a written claim has been received by the Company, except in the case of a claim for an advancement of expenses, in which case the applicable period shall be 10 days, the indemnitee may at any time thereafter bring suit against the Company to recover the unpaid amount of the claim. If successful in whole or in part in any such suit, or in a suit brought by the Company to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of any undertaking, the indemnitee shall be entitled to be paid also the expense of prosecuting or defending such suit. In (i) any suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right to indemnification hereunder (but not in a suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right to an advancement of expenses) it shall be a defense that, and (ii) in any suit by the Company to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the Company shall

 

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be entitled to recover such expenses upon a final adjudication that, the indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the DGCL. Neither the failure of the Company (including the Board, independent legal counsel, or the stockholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such suit that indemnification of the indemnitee is proper in the circumstances because the indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the DGCL, nor an actual determination by the Company (including the Board, independent legal counsel or the stockholders) that the indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall create a presumption that the indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct or, in the case of such a suit brought by the indemnitee, be a defense to such suit. In any suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right to indemnification or to an advancement of expenses hereunder, or by the Company to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the burden of proving that the indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified, or to such advancement of expenses, under this Section or otherwise shall be on the Company.

(d) The rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses conferred in this Article IX shall not be exclusive of any other right which any person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, the Certificate, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.

9.2 Insurance.

The Company may purchase and maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect itself and any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or any person who is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employer or agent of another Company, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any expense, liability or loss, whether or not the Company would have the power to indemnify such person against such expense, liability or loss under the DGCL.

ARTICLE X

Amendment

Any by-law (including these By-laws) may be adopted, amended or repealed by the vote of the holders of a majority of the shares then entitled to vote or by the stockholders’ written consent pursuant to Section 2.10 of Article II, or by the vote of the Board or by the directors’ written consent pursuant to Section 3.6 of Article III.

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Exhibit 3.26

CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

OF

TRILEGIANT RETAIL SERVICES, INC.

FIRST: The name of the Corporation is Trilegiant Retail Services, Inc (hereinafter the “Corporation”).

SECOND: The address of the registered office of the Corporation in the State of Delaware is 1209 Orange Street, in the City of Wilmington, County of New Castle. The name of its registered agent at that address is The Corporation Trust Company.

THIRD: The purpose of the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which a corporation may be organized under the General Corporation law of the State of Delaware as set forth in Title 8 of the Delaware Code (the “DGCL”).

FOURTH: (a) The total number of shares of stock which the Corporation shall have authority to issue is 10,000 shares of Common Stock, each having a par value $ 001.

(b) The Board of Directors is expressly authorized to provide for the issuance of all or any shares of the Preferred Stock in one or more classes or series, and to fix for each such class or series such voting powers, full or limited, or no voting powers, and such distinctive designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights and such qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, as shall be stated and expressed in the resolution or resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors providing for the issuance of such class or series and as may be permitted by the DGCL, including, without limitation, the authority to provide that any such class or series may be: (i) subject to redemption at such time or times and at such price or prices; (ii) entitled to receive dividends (which may be cumulative or non-cumulative) at such rates, on such conditions, and at such times, and payable in preference to, or in such relation to, the dividends payable on any other class or classes or any other series; (iii) entitled to such rights upon the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of, or upon any distribution of the assets of, the Corporation; (iv) entitled to the benefit of a sinking or retirement fund to be applied to the purchase or redemption of shares of the class or series and, if so entitled, the amount of such fund and the manner of its application, including the price or prices at which the shares may be redeemed or purchased through the application of such fund; (v) dependent upon facts ascertainable outside the resolution or resolutions providing for the issuance of such series adopted by the Board of Directors, provided that the manner in which such facts shall operate upon the voting powers, designations, preferences, rights and qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such class or series is clearly and expressly set forth in the resolution(s) providing for the issuance of such class or series by the Board of Directors; or (vi) convertible into, or exchangeable for, shares of any other class or classes of stock, or of any other series of the same or any other class or classes of stock, of the Corporation at such price or prices or at such rates of exchange and with such adjustments; all as may be stated in such resolution or resolutions.


FIFTH: The name and mailing address of the Sole Incorporator is as follows:

 

Name

  

Address

Deborah M. Reusch

  

P.O. Box 636 Wilmington, DE 19899

SIXTH: The following provisions are inserted for the management of the business and the conduct of the affairs of the Corporation, and for further definition, limitation and regulation of the powers of the Corporation and of its directors and stockholders:

(1) The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors. The number of directors of the Corporation shall be six or such other number as determined by the Board of Directors in accordance with the By-laws of the Corporation.

(2) The directors shall have concurrent power with the stockholders to make, alter, amend, change, add to or repeal the By-laws of the Corporation.

(3) Election of directors need not be by written ballot unless the By-laws so provide.

(4) No director shall be personally liable to the Corporation or any of its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except for liability (i) for any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the Corporation or its stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) pursuant to Section 174 of the DGCL or (iv) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit. If the DGCL is amended after the date of incorporation of the Corporation to authorize corporate action further eliminating or limiting the personal liability of directors, then the liability of a director of the Corporation shall be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, as so amended. Any repeal or modification of this Article SIXTH by the stockholders of the Corporation shall not adversely affect any right or protection of a director of the Corporation existing at the time of such repeal or modification with respect to acts or omissions occurring prior to such repeal or modification.

(5) In addition to the powers and authority hereinbefore or by statute expressly conferred upon them, the directors are hereby empowered to exercise all such powers and do all such acts and things as may be exercised or done by the Corporation, subject, nevertheless, to the provisions of the DGCL, this Certificate of Incorporation, and any By-laws adopted by the stockholders; provided, however, that no By-laws hereafter adopted by the stockholders shall invalidate any prior act of the directors which would have been valid if such By-laws had not been adopted.

SEVENTH: The Corporation expressly elects not to be governed by Section 203 of the DGCL.


EIGHTH: Meetings of stockholders may be held within or without the State of Delaware, as the By-laws may provide. The books of the Corporation may be kept (subject to any provision contained in the DGCL) outside The State of Delaware at such place or places as may be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors or in the By-laws of the Corporation.

NINTH: Unless otherwise required by law, special meetings of stockholders, for any purpose or purposes, may be called by either (i) the Chairman of the Board of Directors, if there be one or (ii) the President.

TENTH: Notwithstanding any other provision of law, or the fact that a lesser percentage may be specified by law, any amendments to this Certificate of Incorporation shall require the affirmative vote of greater than 80% of the combined voting power of the then outstanding shares of capital stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class.


I, THE UNDERSIGNED, being the Sale Incorporator hereinbefore named, for the purpose of forming a corporation pursuant to the DGCL, do make this Certificate, hereby declaring and certifying that this is my act and deed and the facts herein stated are true, and accordingly have hereunto set my hand this 23rd day of July 2001.

 

/s/ Deborah M. Reusch

Deborah M. Reusch

Sole Incorporator


CERTIFICATE OF MERGER

OF

COMP-U-CARD SERVICES LLC

(a Delaware limited liability company)

INTO

TRILEGIANT RETAIL SERVICES, INC.

(a Delaware corporation)

(Pursuant to Title 8, Section 264(c) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware and Title 6, Section 18-209 of the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act)

December 28, 2005

It is hereby certified that:

FIRST: The constituent business corporation and limited liability company participating in the merger herein certified are:

(i) Comp-U-Card Services LLC, which is organized under the laws of the State of Delaware; and

(ii) Trilegiant Retail Services, Inc , which is incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware (“ Trilegiant Retail ”).

SECOND: An Agreement and Plan of Merger has been approved, adopted, certified, executed and acknowledged by the aforesaid constituent corporation and limited liability company in accordance with the provisions of subsection (c) of Section 264 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “ DGCL ”) and subsection (b) of Section 18-209 of the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act.

THIRD: The name of the surviving corporation in the merger herein certified is Trilegiant Retail Services, Inc., a Delaware corporation, which will continue its existence as said surviving corporation under its present name upon the effective date and time of said merger pursuant to the provisions of the DGCL.

FOURTH: The certificate of incorporation of Trilegiant Retail, as now in force and effect, shall continue to be the certificate of incorporation of said surviving corporation until amended and changed pursuant to the provisions of the DGCL.

FIFTH: The executed Agreement and Plan of Merger between the aforesaid constituent corporation and limited liability company is on file at an office of the aforesaid surviving corporation, the address of which is as follows: 100 Connecticut Avenue, Norwalk, Connecticut 06850.


SIXTH: A copy of the aforesaid Agreement and Plan of Merger will be furnished by the aforesaid surviving corporation on request, without cost, to any stockholder of the constituent corporation or member of the constituent limited liability company.

SEVENTH: The merger is to become effective on December 31, 2005 at 1:00 p m Eastern Standard Time.


IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the undersigned has duly executed this Certificate of Merger as of the date first written above.

 

TRILEGIANT RETAIL SERVICES, INC.
By:  

/s/ Nathaniel J. Lipman

 

Name: Nathaniel J. Lipman

 

Title: President

Exhibit 3.27

AMENDED AND RESTATED

BY-LAWS OF

TRILEGIANT RETAIL SERVICES, INC.

ARTICLE I

Offices

1.1 Registered Office.

The registered office of Trilegiant Retail Services, Inc. (the “Company”) in the State of Delaware shall be 1209 Orange Street, City of Wilmington, County of New Castle. The name of the registered agent of the Company at such address is Corporation Trust Company.

1.2 Other Offices.

The Company may also have an office or offices at any other place or places within or outside the State of Delaware.

ARTICLE II

Meeting of Stockholders; Stockholders’ Consent in Lieu of Meeting

2.1 Annual Meetings.

The annual meeting of the stockholders for the election of directors, and for the transaction of such other business as may properly come before the meeting, shall be held at such place, date and hour as shall be fixed by the Board of Directors (the “Board”) and designated in the notice or waiver of notice thereof, except that no annual meeting need be held if all actions, including the election of directors, required by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”) to be taken at a stockholders’ annual meeting are taken by written consent in lieu of meeting pursuant to Section 2.10 of this Article II.

2.2 Special Meetings.

A special meeting of the stockholders for any purpose or purposes may be called by the Board, the Chairman, the President or the record holders of at least a majority of the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company, to be held at such place, date and hour as shall be designated in the notice or waiver of notice thereof.


2.3 Notice of Meetings.

Except as otherwise required by statute, the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (the “Certificate”) or these By-laws, notice of each annual or special meeting of the stockholders shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at such meeting not less than 10 nor more than 60 days before the day on which the meeting is to be held, by delivering written notice thereof to him personally, or by mailing a copy of such notice, postage prepaid, directly to him at his address as it appears in the records of the Company, or by transmitting such notice thereof to him at such address by telegraph, cable or other telephonic transmission. Every such notice shall state the place, the date and hour of the meeting, and, in case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called. Notice of any meeting of stockholders shall not be required to be given to any stockholder who shall attend such meeting in person or by proxy, or who shall, in person or by his attorney thereunto authorized, waive such notice in writing, either before or after such meeting. Except as otherwise provided in these By-laws, neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any meeting of the stockholders need be specified in any such notice or waiver of notice. Notice of any adjourned meeting of stockholders shall not be required to be given, except when expressly required by law.

2.4 Quorum.

At each meeting of the stockholders, except where otherwise provided by the Certificate or these By-laws, the holders of a majority of the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company entitled to vote at such meeting, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. In the absence of a quorum, a majority in interest of the stockholders present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote, or, in the absence of all the stockholders entitled to vote, any officer entitled to preside at, or act as secretary of, such meeting, shall have the power to adjourn the meeting from time to time, until stockholders holding the requisite amount of stock to constitute a quorum shall be present or represented. At any such adjourned meeting at which a quorum shall be present, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the meeting as originally called.

2.5 Organization.

Unless otherwise determined by the Board, at each meeting of the stockholders, one of the following shall act as chairman of the meeting and preside thereat, in the following order of precedence:

(a) the Chairman, if any;

(b) the President;

(c) any director, officer or stockholder of the Company designated by the Board to act as chairman of such meeting and to preside thereat if the Chairman or the President shall be absent from such meeting; or

(d) a stockholder of record who shall be chosen chairman of such meeting by a majority in voting interest of the stockholders present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote thereat.

 

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The Secretary or, if he shall be presiding over such meeting in accordance with the provisions of this Section 2.5 or if he shall be absent from such meeting, the person (who shall be an Assistant Secretary, if an Assistant Secretary has been appointed and is present) whom the chairman of such meeting shall appoint, shall act as secretary of such meeting and keep the minutes thereof.

2.6 Order of Business.

The order of business at each meeting of the stockholders shall be determined by the chairman of such meeting, but such order of business may be changed by a majority in voting interest of those present in person or by proxy at such meeting and entitled to vote thereat.

2.7 Voting.

Except as otherwise provided by law, the Certificate or these By-laws, at each meeting of the stockholders, every stockholder of the Company shall be entitled to one vote in person or by proxy for each share of Common Stock of the Company held by him and registered in his name on the books of the Company on the date fixed pursuant to Section 6.7 of Article VI as the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting. Persons holding stock in a fiduciary capacity shall be entitled to vote the shares so held. A person whose stock is pledged shall be entitled to vote, unless, in the transfer by the pledgor on the books of the Company, he has expressly empowered the pledgee to vote thereon, in which case only the pledgee or his proxy may represent such stock and vote thereon. If shares or other securities having voting power stand in the record of two or more persons, whether fiduciaries, members of a partnership, joint tenants, tenants in common, tenants by the entirety or otherwise, or if two or more persons have the same fiduciary relationship respecting the same shares, unless the Secretary shall be given written notice to the contrary and furnished with a copy of the instrument or order appointing them or creating the relationship wherein it is so provided, their acts with respect to voting shall have the following effect:

(a) if only one votes, his act binds all;

(b) if more than one votes, the act of the majority so voting binds all; and

(c) if more than one votes, but the vote is evenly split on any particular matter, such shares shall be voted in the manner provided by law.

If the instrument so filed shows that any such tenancy is held in unequal interests, a majority or even-split for the purposes of this Section 2.7 shall be a majority or even-split in interest. The Company shall not vote directly or indirectly any share of its own capital stock. Any vote of stock may be given by the stockholder entitled thereto in person or by his proxy appointed by an instrument in writing, subscribed by such stockholder or by his attorney thereunto authorized, delivered to the secretary of the meeting; provided , however , that no proxy shall be voted after three years from its date, unless said proxy provides for a longer period. At all meetings of the stockholders, all matters (except where other provision is made by law, the Certificate or these By-laws) shall be decided by the vote of a majority in interest of the stockholders present in person or by proxy at such meeting and entitled to vote thereon, a quorum being present. Unless demanded by a stockholder present in person or by proxy at any meeting and entitled to vote

 

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thereon, the vote on any question need not be by ballot. Upon a demand by any such stockholder for a vote by ballot upon any question, such vote by ballot shall be taken. On a vote by ballot, each ballot shall be signed by the stockholder voting, or by his proxy, if there be such proxy, and shall state the number of shares voted.

2.8 Inspection.

The chairman of the meeting may at any time appoint one or more inspectors to serve at any meeting of the stockholders. Any inspector may be removed, and a new inspector or inspectors appointed, by the Board at any time. Such inspectors shall decide upon the qualifications of voters, accept and count votes, declare the results of such vote, and subscribe and deliver to the secretary of the meeting a certificate stating the number of shares of stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote thereon and the number of shares voted for and against the question, respectively. The inspectors need not be stockholders of the Company, and any director or officer of the Company may be an inspector on any question other than a vote for or against his election to any position with the Company or on any other matter in which he may be directly interested. Before acting as herein provided, each inspector shall subscribe an oath faithfully to execute the duties of an inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of his ability.

2.9 List of Stockholders.

It shall be the duty of the Secretary or other officer of the Company who shall have charge of its stock ledger to prepare and make, at least 10 days before every meeting of the stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote thereat, arranged in alphabetical order, and showing the address of each stockholder and the number of shares registered in the name of each stockholder. Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to any such meeting, during ordinary business hours, for a period of at least 10 days prior to such meeting, either at a place within the city where such meeting is to be held, which place shall be specified in the notice of the meeting or, if not so specified, at the place where the meeting is to be held. Such list shall also be produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time thereof, and may be inspected by any stockholder who is present.

2.10 Stockholders’ Consent in Lieu of Meeting.

Any action required by the DGCL to be taken at any annual or special meeting of the stockholders of the Company, or any action which may be taken at any annual or special meeting of such stockholders, may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, by a consent in writing, as permitted by the DGCL.

 

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ARTICLE III

Board of Directors

3.1 General Powers.

The business, property and affairs of the Company shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board, which may exercise all such powers of the Company and do all such lawful acts and things as are not by law or by the Certificate directed or required to be exercised or done by the stockholders.

3.2 Number and Term of Office.

The number of directors shall initially be set at two. Thereafter the number of directors shall be fixed from time to time by the Board. Directors need not be stockholders. Each director shall hold office until his successor is elected and qualified, or until his earlier death or resignation or removal in the manner hereinafter provided.

3.3 Election of Directors.

At each meeting of the stockholders for the election of directors at which a quorum is present, the persons receiving the greatest number of votes, up to the number of directors to be elected, of the stockholders present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote thereon shall be the directors; provided , however , that for purposes of such vote no stockholder shall be allowed to cumulate his votes. Unless an election by ballot shall be demanded as provided in Section 2.7 of Article II, election of directors may be conducted in any manner approved at such meeting.

3.4 Resignation, Removal and Vacancies.

Any director may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Board, the Chairman, the President or the Secretary. Such resignation shall take effect at the time specified therein or, if the time be not specified, upon receipt thereof; and unless otherwise specified therein, the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.

Any director or the entire Board may be removed, with or without cause, at any time, by vote of the holders of a majority of the shares then entitled to vote at an election of directors or by written consent of the stockholders pursuant to Section 2.10 of Article II.

Vacancies occurring on the Board for any reason may be filled by vote of the stockholders or by the stockholders’ written consent pursuant to Section 2.10 of Article II, or by vote of the Board or by the directors’ written consent pursuant to Section 3.6 of this Article III. If the number of directors then in office is less than a quorum, such vacancies may be filled by a vote of a majority of the directors then in office.

3.5 Meetings.

(a) Annual Meetings . As soon as practicable after each annual election of directors, the Board shall meet for the purpose of organization and the transaction of other business, unless it shall have transacted all such business by written consent pursuant to Section 3.6 of this Article III.

(b) Other Meetings . Other meetings of the Board shall be held at such times and at such places as the Board, the Chairman, the President or any director shall from time to time determine.

 

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(c) Notice of Meetings . Notice shall be given to each director of each meeting, including the time, place and purpose of such meeting. Notice of each such meeting shall be mailed to each director, addressed to him at his residence or usual place of business, at least two days before the date on which such meeting is to be held, or shall be sent to him at such place by telegraph, cable, wireless or other form of recorded communication, or be delivered personally or by telephone not later than the day before the day on which such meeting is to be held, but notice need not be given to any director who shall attend such meeting. A written waiver of notice, signed by the person entitled thereto, whether before or after the time of the meeting stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to notice.

(d) Place of Meetings . The Board may hold its meetings at such place or places within or outside the State of Delaware as the Board may from time to time determine, or as shall be designated in the respective notices or waivers of notice thereof.

(e) Quorum and Manner of Acting . A majority of the total number of directors then in office shall be present in person at any meeting of the Board in order to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at such meeting, and the vote of a majority of those directors present at any such meeting at which a quorum is present shall be necessary for the passage of any resolution or act of the Board, except as otherwise expressly required by law or these By-laws. In the absence of a quorum for any such meeting, a majority of the directors present thereat may adjourn such meeting from time to time until a quorum shall be present.

(f) Organization . At each meeting of the Board, one of the following shall act as chairman of the meeting and preside thereat, in the following order of precedence:

(i) the Chairman, if any;

(ii) the President (if a director); or

(iii) any director designated by a majority of the directors present.

The Secretary or, in the case of his absence, an Assistant Secretary, if an Assistant Secretary has been appointed and is present, or any person whom the chairman of the meeting shall appoint shall act as secretary of such meeting and keep the minutes thereof.

3.6 Directors’ Consent in Lieu of Meeting.

Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, if a consent in writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by all of the directors then in office and such consent is filed with the minutes of the proceedings of the Board.

3.7 Action by Means of Conference Telephone or Similar Communications Equipment.

Any one or more members of the Board may participate in a meeting of the Board by means of conference telephone or similar communications equipment by which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and participation in a meeting by such means shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.

 

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3.8 Committees.

The Board may, by resolution or resolutions passed by a majority of the whole Board, designate one or more committees, such committee or committees to have such name or names as may be determined from time to time by resolution adopted by the Board, and each such committee to consist of one or more directors of the Company, which to the extent provided in said resolution or resolutions shall have and may exercise the powers of the Board in the management of the business and affairs of the Company and may authorize the seal of the Company to be affixed to all papers which may require it. A majority of all the members of any such committee may determine its action and fix the time and place of its meetings, unless the Board shall otherwise provide. The Board shall have power to change the members of any such committee at any time, to fill vacancies and to discharge any such committee, either with or without cause, at any time.

ARTICLE IV

Officers

4.1 Executive Officers.

The principal officers of the Company shall be a Chairman, if one is appointed (and any references to the Chairman shall not apply if a Chairman has not been appointed), a President, a Secretary and a Treasurer, and may include such other officers as the Board may appoint pursuant to Section 4.3 of this Article IV. Any two or more offices may be held by the same person.

4.2 Authority and Duties.

All officers, as between themselves and the Company, shall have such authority and perform such duties in the management of the Company as may be provided in these By-laws or, to the extent so provided, by the Board.

4.3 Other Officers.

The Company may have such other officers, agents and employees as the Board may deem necessary, including one or more Chief Executive Officers, Co-Chief Executive Officers, Chief Operating Officers, Co-Chief Operating Officers, Chief Financial Officers, Co-Chief Financial Officers, Executive Vice Presidents, Vice Presidents, Assistant Secretaries, and Assistant Treasurers, each of whom shall hold office for such period, have such authority and perform such duties as the Board, the Chairman or the President may from time to time determine. The Board may delegate to any principal officer the power to appoint and define the authority and duties of, or remove, any such officers, agents or employees.

4.4 Term of Office, Resignation and Removal.

All officers shall be elected or appointed by the Board and shall hold office for such term as may be prescribed by the Board. Each officer shall hold office until his successor has been

 

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elected or appointed and qualified or until his earlier death or resignation or removal in the manner hereinafter provided. The Board may require any officer to give security for the faithful performance of his duties.

Any officer may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Board, the Chairman, the President or the Secretary. Such resignation shall take effect at the time specified therein or, if the time be not specified, at the time it is accepted by action of the Board. Except as aforesaid, the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.

All officers and agents elected or appointed by the Board shall be subject to removal at any time by the Board or by the stockholders of the Company with or without cause.

4.5 Vacancies.

If the office of Chairman, President, Secretary or Treasurer becomes vacant for any reason, the Board shall fill such vacancy, and if any other office becomes vacant, the Board may fill such vacancy. Any officer so appointed or elected by the Board shall serve only until such time as the unexpired term of his predecessor shall have expired, unless reelected or reappointed by the Board.

4.6 The Chairman.

The Chairman shall give counsel and advice to the Board and the officers of the Company on all subjects concerning the welfare of the Company and the conduct of its business and shall perform such other duties as the Board may from time to time determine. Unless otherwise determined by the Board, he shall preside at meetings of the Board and of the stockholders at which he is present.

4.7 The President.

Unless otherwise determined by the Board, the President shall be the chief executive officer of the Company. The President shall have general and active management and control of the business and affairs of the Company subject to the control of the Board and shall see that all orders and resolutions of the Board are carried into effect. The President shall from time to time make such reports of the affairs of the Company as the Board may require and shall perform such other duties as the Board may from time to time determine.

4.8 The Secretary.

The Secretary shall, to the extent practicable, attend all meetings of the Board and all meetings of the stockholders and shall record all votes and the minutes of all proceedings in a book to be kept for that purpose. He may give, or cause to be given, notice of all meetings of the stockholders and of the Board, and shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board, the Chairman or the President, under whose supervision he shall act. He shall keep in safe custody the seal of the Company and affix the same to any duly authorized instrument requiring it and, when so affixed, it shall be attested by his signature or by the signature of the Treasurer or, if appointed, an Assistant Secretary or an Assistant Treasurer. He shall keep in safe custody the certificate books and stockholder records and such other books and records as the

 

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Board may direct, and shall perform all other duties incident to the office of Secretary and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him by the Board, the Chairman or the President.

4.9 The Treasurer.

The Treasurer shall have the care and custody of the corporate funds and other valuable effects, including securities, shall keep full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the Company and shall deposit all moneys and other valuable effects in the name and to the credit of the Company in such depositories as may be designated by the Board. The Treasurer shall disburse the funds of the Company as may be ordered by the Board, taking proper vouchers for such disbursements, shall render to the Chairman, President and directors, at the regular meetings of the Board or whenever they may require it, an account of all his transactions as Treasurer and of the financial condition of the Company and shall perform all other duties incident to the office of Treasurer and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him by the Board, the Chairman or the President.

ARTICLE V

Contracts, Checks, Drafts, Bank Accounts, Etc.

5.1 Execution of Documents.

The Board shall designate, by either specific or general resolution, the officers, employees and agents of the Company who shall have the power to execute and deliver deeds, contracts, mortgages, bonds, debentures, checks, drafts and other orders for the payment of money and other documents for and in the name of the Company, and may authorize such officers, employees and agents to delegate such power (including authority to redelegate) by written instrument to other officers, employees or agents of the Company. Unless so designated or expressly authorized by these By-laws, no officer, employee or agent shall have any power or authority to bind the Company by any contract or engagement, to pledge its credit or to render it liable pecuniarily for any purpose or amount.

5.2 Deposits.

All funds of the Company not otherwise employed shall be deposited from time to time to the credit of the Company or otherwise as the Board or Treasurer, or any other officer of the Company to whom power in this respect shall have been given by the Board, shall select.

5.3 Proxies with Respect to Stock or Other Securities of Other Corporations.

The Board shall designate the officers of the Company who shall have authority from time to time to appoint an agent or agents of the Company to exercise in the name and on behalf of the Company the powers and rights which the Company may have as the holder of stock or other securities in any other entity, and to vote or consent with respect to such stock or securities. Such designated officers may instruct the person or persons so appointed as to the manner of exercising such powers and rights, and such designated officers may execute or cause to be

 

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executed in the name and on behalf of the Company and under its corporate seal or otherwise, such written proxies, powers of attorney or other instruments as they may deem necessary or proper in order that the Company may exercise its powers and rights.

ARTICLE VI

Shares and Their Transfer; Fixing Record Date

6.1 Certificates for Shares.

Every owner of stock of the Company shall be entitled to have a certificate certifying the number and class of shares owned by him in the Company, which shall be in such form as shall be prescribed by the Board. Certificates shall be numbered and issued in consecutive order and shall be signed by, or in the name of, the Company by the Chairman, the President or any Vice President, and by the Treasurer (or an Assistant Treasurer, if appointed) or the Secretary (or an Assistant Secretary, if appointed). In case any officer or officers who shall have signed any such certificate or certificates shall cease to be such officer or officers of the Company, whether because of death, resignation or otherwise, before such certificate or certificates shall have been delivered by the Company, such certificate or certificates may nevertheless be adopted by the Company and be issued and delivered as though the person or persons who signed such certificate had not ceased to be such officer or officers of the Company.

6.2 Record.

A record in one or more counterparts shall be kept of the name of the person, firm or Company owning the shares represented by each certificate for stock of the Company issued, the number of shares represented by each such certificate, the date thereof and, in the case of cancellation, the date of cancellation. Except as otherwise expressly required by law, the person in whose name shares of stock stand on the stock record of the Company shall be deemed the owner thereof for all purposes regarding the Company.

6.3 Transfer and Registration of Stock.

The transfer of stock and certificates which represent the stock of the Company shall be governed by Article 8 of Subtitle 1 of Title 6 of the Delaware Code (the Uniform Commercial Code), as amended from time to time.

Registration of transfers of shares of the Company shall be made only on the books of the Company upon request of the registered holder thereof, or of his attorney thereunto authorized by power of attorney duly executed and filed with the Secretary of the Company, and upon the surrender of the certificate or certificates for such shares properly endorsed or accompanied by a stock power duly executed.

6.4 Addresses of Stockholders.

Each stockholder shall designate to the Secretary an address at which notices of meetings and all other corporate notices may be served or mailed to him, and, if any stockholder shall fail

 

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to designate such address, corporate notices may be served upon him by mail directed to him at his post-office address, if any, as the same appears on the share record books of the Company or at his last known post-office address.

6.5 Lost, Destroyed and Mutilated Certificates.

The holder of any shares of the Company shall immediately notify the Company of any loss, destruction or mutilation of the certificate therefor, and the Board may, in its discretion, cause to be issued to him a new certificate or certificates for such shares, upon the surrender of the mutilated certificates or, in the case of loss or destruction of the certificate, upon satisfactory proof of such loss or destruction, and the Board may, in its discretion, require the owner of the lost or destroyed certificate or his legal representative to give the Company a bond in such sum and with such surety or sureties as it may direct to indemnify the Company against any claim that may be made against it on account of the alleged loss or destruction of any such certificate.

6.6 Regulations.

The Board may make such rules and regulations as it may deem expedient, not inconsistent with these By-laws, concerning the issue, transfer and registration of certificates for stock of the Company.

6.7 Fixing Date for Determination of Stockholders of Record.

(a) In order that the Company may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, the Board may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board, and which record date shall be not more than 60 nor less than 10 days before the date of such meeting. If no record date is fixed by the Board, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice is given, or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held. A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided , however , that the Board may fix a new record date for the adjourned meeting.

(b) In order that the Company may determine the stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, the Board may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board, and which date shall be not more than 10 days after the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board. If no record date has been fixed by the Board, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, when no prior action by the Board is required by the DGCL, shall be the first date on which a signed written consent setting forth the action taken or proposed to be taken is delivered to the Company by delivery to its registered office in the State of Delaware, its principal place of business or an officer or agent of the Company having custody of the book in which proceedings of meetings of stockholders are recorded. Delivery made to the Company’s registered office shall be by hand or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested. If

 

11


no record date has been fixed by the Board and prior action by the Board is required by the [DGCL] , the record date for determining stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board adopts the resolution taking such prior action.

(c) In order that the Company may determine the stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights or the stockholders entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock, or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted, and which record date shall be not more than 60 days prior to such action. If no record date is fixed, the record date for determining stockholders for any such purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board adopts the resolution relating thereto.

ARTICLE VII

Seal

The Board may provide a corporate seal, which shall be in the form of a circle and shall bear the full name of the Company, the year of incorporation of the Company and the words and figures “Corporate Seal – Delaware.”

ARTICLE VIII

Fiscal Year

The fiscal year of the Company shall be the calendar year unless otherwise determined by the Board.

ARTICLE IX

Indemnification and Insurance

9.1 Indemnification.

(a) As provided in the Certificate, to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL as the same exists or may hereafter be amended, a director of the Company shall not be liable to the Company or its stockholders for breach of fiduciary duty as a director.

(b) Without limitation of any right conferred by paragraph (a) of this Section 9.1, each person who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise involved in any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (hereinafter a “proceeding”), by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director, officer or employee of the Company or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer or employee of another Company or of a

 

12


partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan (hereinafter an “indemnitee”), whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity while serving as a director, officer or employee or in any other capacity while serving as a director, officer or employee, shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company to the fullest extent authorized by the DGCL, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended (but, in the case of any such amendment, only to the extent that such amendment permits the Company to provide broader indemnification rights than permitted prior thereto), against all expense, liability and loss (including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, excise taxes or amounts paid in settlement) reasonably incurred or suffered by such indemnitee in connection therewith and such indemnification shall continue as to an indemnitee who has ceased to be a director, officer or employee and shall inure to the benefit of the indemnitee’s heirs, testators, intestates, executors and administrators; provided , however , that such person acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the Company, and with respect to a criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful; provided , further , however , that no indemnification shall be made in the case of an action, suit or proceeding by or in the right of the Company in relation to matters as to which it shall be adjudged in such action, suit or proceeding that such director, officer, employee or agent is liable to the Company, unless a court having jurisdiction shall determine that, despite such adjudication, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification; provided , further , however , that, except as provided in Section 9.1(c) of this Article IX with respect to proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification, the Company shall indemnify any such indemnitee in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such indemnitee only if such proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such indemnitee was authorized by the Board of the Company. The right to indemnification conferred in this Article IX shall be a contract right and shall include the right to be paid by the Company the expenses incurred in defending any such proceeding in advance of its final disposition (hereinafter an “advancement of expenses”); provided , however , that, if the DGCL requires, an advancement of expenses incurred by an indemnitee in his or her capacity as a director or officer (and not in any other capacity in which service was or is rendered by such indemnitee, including, without limitation, service to an employee benefit plan) shall be made only upon delivery to the Company of an undertaking (hereinafter an “undertaking”), by or on behalf of such indemnitee, to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined by final judicial decision from which there is no further right to appeal (hereinafter a “final adjudication”) (i) that such indemnitee breached his fiduciary duty to the Company or (ii) that such indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified for such expenses under this Section or otherwise.

(c) If a claim under Section 9.1(b) of this Article IX is not paid in full by the Company with 60 days after a written claim has been received by the Company, except in the case of a claim for an advancement of expenses, in which case the applicable period shall be 10 days, the indemnitee may at any time thereafter bring suit against the Company to recover the unpaid amount of the claim. If successful in whole or in part in any such suit, or in a suit brought by the Company to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of any undertaking, the indemnitee shall be entitled to be paid also the expense of prosecuting or defending such suit. In (i) any suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right to indemnification hereunder (but not in a suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right to an advancement of expenses) it shall be a defense that, and (ii) in any suit by the Company to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the Company shall

 

13


be entitled to recover such expenses upon a final adjudication that, the indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the DGCL. Neither the failure of the Company (including the Board, independent legal counsel, or the stockholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such suit that indemnification of the indemnitee is proper in the circumstances because the indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the DGCL, nor an actual determination by the Company (including the Board, independent legal counsel or the stockholders) that the indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall create a presumption that the indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct or, in the case of such a suit brought by the indemnitee, be a defense to such suit. In any suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right to indemnification or to an advancement of expenses hereunder, or by the Company to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the burden of proving that the indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified, or to such advancement of expenses, under this Section or otherwise shall be on the Company.

(d) The rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses conferred in this Article IX shall not be exclusive of any other right which any person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, the Certificate, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.

9.2 Insurance.

The Company may purchase and maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect itself and any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or any person who is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employer or agent of another Company, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any expense, liability or loss, whether or not the Company would have the power to indemnify such person against such expense, liability or loss under the DGCL.

ARTICLE X

Amendment

Any by-law (including these By-laws) may be adopted, amended or repealed by the vote of the holders of a majority of the shares then entitled to vote or by the stockholders’ written consent pursuant to Section 2.10 of Article II, or by the vote of the Board or by the directors’ written consent pursuant to Section 3.6 of Article III.

* * * * *

 

14


Exhibit 4.1

AFFINION GROUP, INC.

as Issuer

the GUARANTORS named herein

$270,000,000 10  1 / 8 % SENIOR NOTES DUE 2013

 


INDENTURE

Dated as of October 17, 2005

 


WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Trustee

 



TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

       Page
ARTICLE 1   
DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE   
SECTION 1.01. Definitions    1
SECTION 1.02. Other Definitions    30
SECTION 1.03. Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act    31
SECTION 1.04. Rules of Construction    32
ARTICLE 2   
THE NOTES   
SECTION 2.01. Amount of Notes; Issuable in Series    32
SECTION 2.02. Form and Dating    33
SECTION 2.03. Execution and Authentication    33
SECTION 2.04. Registrar and Paying Agent    34
SECTION 2.05. Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust    34
SECTION 2.06. Holder Lists    35
SECTION 2.07. Transfer and Exchange    35
SECTION 2.08. Replacement Notes    35
SECTION 2.09. Outstanding Notes    36
SECTION 2.10. Temporary Notes    36
SECTION 2.11. Cancellation    37
SECTION 2.12. Defaulted Interest    37
SECTION 2.13. CUSIP Numbers, ISINs, etc.    37
SECTION 2.14. Calculation of Principal Amount of Notes    37
ARTICLE 3   
REDEMPTION   
SECTION 3.01. Redemption    38
SECTION 3.02. Applicability of Article    38
SECTION 3.03. Notices to Trustee    38
SECTION 3.04. Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed    38
SECTION 3.05. Notice of Optional Redemption    38
SECTION 3.06. Effect of Notice of Redemption    39
SECTION 3.07. Deposit of Redemption Price    40
SECTION 3.08. Notes Redeemed in Part    40

 

i


ARTICLE 4   
COVENANTS   
SECTION 4.01. Payment of Notes    40
SECTION 4.02. Reports and Other Information    40
SECTION 4.03. Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock    43
SECTION 4.04. Limitation on Restricted Payments    48
SECTION 4.05. Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Subsidiaries    55
SECTION 4.06. Asset Sales    57
SECTION 4.07. Transactions with Affiliates    60
SECTION 4.08. Change of Control    62
SECTION 4.09. Compliance Certificate    62
SECTION 4.10. Further Instruments and Acts    64
SECTION 4.11. Future Guarantors    64
SECTION 4.12. Liens    65
SECTION 4.13. Maintenance of Office or Agency    65
ARTICLE 5   
MERGER, CONSOLIDATION OR SALE OF ALL   
OR SUBSTANTIALLY ALL ASSETS   
SECTION 5.01. Merger, Consolidation or Sale of All or Substantially All Assets    66
ARTICLE 6   
DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES   
SECTION 6.01. Events of Default    68
SECTION 6.02. Acceleration    70
SECTION 6.03. Other Remedies    71
SECTION 6.04. Waiver of Past Defaults    71
SECTION 6.05. Control by Majority    71
SECTION 6.06. Limitation on Suits    71
SECTION 6.07. Rights of the Holders to Receive Payment    72
SECTION 6.08. Collection Suit by Trustee    72
SECTION 6.09. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim    72
SECTION 6.10. Priorities    72
SECTION 6.11. Undertaking for Costs    73
SECTION 6.12. Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws    73
ARTICLE 7   
TRUSTEE   
SECTION 7.01. Duties of Trustee    73
SECTION 7.02. Rights of Trustee    74
SECTION 7.03. Individual Rights of Trustee    75
SECTION 7.04. Trustee’s Disclaimer    75

 

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SECTION 7.05. Notice of Defaults    75
SECTION 7.06. Reports by Trustee to the Holders    76
SECTION 7.07. Compensation and Indemnity    76
SECTION 7.08. Replacement of Trustee    77
SECTION 7.09. Successor Trustee by Merger    78
SECTION 7.10. Eligibility; Disqualification    78
SECTION 7.11. Preferential Collection of Claims Against Issuer    78
ARTICLE 8   
DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE; DEFEASANCE   
SECTION 8.01. Discharge of Liability on Notes; Defeasance    78
SECTION 8.02. Conditions to Defeasance    80
SECTION 8.03. Application of Trust Money    81
SECTION 8.04. Repayment to the Issuer    81
SECTION 8.05. Indemnity for Government Obligations    81
SECTION 8.06. Reinstatement    81
ARTICLE 9   
AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS   
SECTION 9.01. Without Consent of the Holders    82
SECTION 9.02. With Consent of the Holders    83
SECTION 9.03. Compliance with Trust Indenture Act    83
SECTION 9.04. Revocation and Effect of Consents and Waivers    84
SECTION 9.05. Notation on or Exchange of Notes    84
SECTION 9.06. Trustee to Sign Amendments    84
SECTION 9.07. Payment for Consent    84
SECTION 9.08. Additional Voting Terms; Calculation of Principal Amount    85
ARTICLE 10   
GUARANTEES   
SECTION 10.01. Guarantees    85
SECTION 10.02. Limitation on Liability; Release    87
SECTION 10.03. Successors and Assigns    88
SECTION 10.04. No Waiver    88
SECTION 10.05. Modification    88
SECTION 10.06. Execution of Supplemental Indenture for Future Guarantors    88

 

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ARTICLE 11   
[INTENTIONALLY OMITTED]   
ARTICLE 12   
[INTENTIONALLY OMITTED]   
ARTICLE 13   
MISCELLANEOUS   
SECTION 13.01. Trust Indenture Act Controls    89
SECTION 13.02. Notices    89
SECTION 13.03. Communication by the Holders with Other Holders    90
SECTION 13.04. Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent    90
SECTION 13.05. Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion    90
SECTION 13.06. When Notes Disregarded    90
SECTION 13.07. Rules by Trustee, Paying Agent and Registrar    91
SECTION 13.08. Legal Holidays    91
SECTION 13.09. GOVERNING LAW    91
SECTION 13.10. No Recourse Against Others    91
SECTION 13.11. Successors    91
SECTION 13.12. Multiple Originals    91
SECTION 13.13. Table of Contents; Headings    91
SECTION 13.14. Indenture Controls    91
SECTION 13.15. Severability    91
SECTION 13.16. Currency of Account; Conversion of Currency; Foreign Exchange Restrictions    92

 

Appendix A – Rule 144A/Regulation S/IAI Appendix

Exhibit 1 – Form of Rule 144A Initial Notes

Exhibit A – Form of Exchange Note or Private Exchange Note

Exhibit 2 – Form of Letter of Representation

Appendix B – Form of Supplemental Indenture for Future Guarantors

 

iv


CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE

 

TIA
Section

        Indenture
Section
310    (a)(1)    7.10
   (a)(2)    7.10
   (a)(3)    N.A.
   (a)(4)    N.A.
   (b)    7.08; 7.10
   (c)    N.A.
311    (a)    7.11
   (b)    7.11
   (c)    N.A.
312    (a)    2.06
   (b)    13.03
   (c)    13.03
313    (a)    7.06
   (b)(1)    N.A.
   (b)(2)    7.06
   (c)    7.06
   (d)    7.06
314    (a)    4.02; 4.09
   (b)    N.A.
   (c)(1)    13.04
   (c)(2)    13.04
   (c)(3)    N.A.
   (d)    N.A.
   (e)    N.A.
   (f)    4.10
315    (a)    7.01
   (b)    7.05
   (c)    7.01
   (d)    7.01
   (e)    6.11
316    (a) (last sentence)    13.06
   (a)(1)(A)    6.05
   (a)(1)(B)    6.04
   (a)(2)    N.A.
   (b)    6.07
317    (a)(1)    6.08
   (a)(2)    6.09
   (b)    2.05
318    (a)    13.01

N.A. means Not Applicable.

Note: This Cross-Reference Table shall not, for any purposes, be deemed to be part of this Indenture.

 

v


INDENTURE dated as of October 17, 2005 among Affinion Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Issuer ”), the Subsidiary Guarantors (as defined herein) and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee (the “ Trustee ”).

Each party agrees as follows for the benefit of the other parties and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of Notes issued under this Indenture.

ARTICLE 1

DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

SECTION 1.01. Definitions .

“Acquired Indebtedness” means, with respect to any specified Person:

(1) Indebtedness of any other Person existing at the time such other Person is merged or consolidated with or into or becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of such specified Person, and

(2) Indebtedness secured by a Lien encumbering any asset acquired by such specified Person,

in each case, other than Indebtedness Incurred as consideration in, in contemplation of, or to provide all or any portion of the funds or credit support utilized to consummate, the transaction or series of related transactions pursuant to which such Restricted Subsidiary became a Restricted Subsidiary or was otherwise acquired by such Person, or such asset was acquired by such Person, as applicable.

“Acquisition” means the purchase by the Issuer on the Issue Date pursuant to the Stock Purchase Agreement of all the equity interests of Affinion Group, LLC and all of the share capital of Affinion International Holdings Limited.

“Additional Interest” means all additional interest owing on the Notes pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement.

“Additional Notes” means the 10  1 / 8 % Senior Notes due 2013 issued by the Issuer from time to time after the Issue Date.

“Affiliate” of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For purposes of this definition, “control” (including, with correlative meanings, the terms “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under common control with”), as used with respect to any Person, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by agreement or otherwise. For purposes of this Indenture, Cendant Corporation and its Affiliates shall not be not deemed Affiliates of the Issuer so long as (1) such entities would be Affiliates of the Issuer only by virtue of their beneficial ownership of Capital Stock of the Issuer


and (2) such entities beneficially own, as a group, less of the voting power of the Issuer than is beneficially owned by the Sponsor.

“Asset Sale” means:

(1) the sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition (whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions) of property or assets (including by way of a Sale/Leaseback Transaction) of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer (each referred to in this definition as a “disposition”) or

(2) the issuance or sale of Equity Interests (other than directors’ qualifying shares or shares or interests required to be held by foreign nationals) of any Restricted Subsidiary (other than to the Issuer or another Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer) (whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions),

in each case other than:

(a) a disposition of Cash Equivalents or Investment Grade Securities or obsolete, damaged or worn out property or equipment in the ordinary course of business;

(b) the disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Issuer in a manner permitted pursuant to the provisions described above under Section 5.01 herein or any disposition that constitutes a Change of Control;

(c) for purposes of Section 4.06 only, any Restricted Payment or Permitted Investment (other than a Permitted Investment to the extent such transaction results in the receipt of Cash Equivalents or Investment Grade Securities by the Issuer or its Restricted Subsidiaries) that is permitted to be made, and is made, under Section 4.04 herein.

(d) any disposition of assets or issuance or sale of Equity Interests of any Restricted Subsidiary in any transaction or series of related transactions with an aggregate Fair Market Value of less than $7.5 million;

(e) any disposition of property or assets or the issuance of securities by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer to the Issuer or by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer to a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer;

(f) any foreclosures on assets or property of the Issuer or its Subsidiaries;

(g) any sale of Equity Interests in, or Indebtedness or other securities of, an Unrestricted Subsidiary;

(h) any sale of inventory, equipment or other assets in the ordinary course of business;

(i) any grant in the ordinary course of business of any license of patents, trademarks, know-how and any other intellectual property;

 

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(j) any exchange of assets for assets (including a combination of assets and Cash Equivalents) related to a Similar Business of comparable or greater market value or usefulness to the business of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries as a whole, as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Issuer, which in the event of an exchange of assets with a Fair Market Value in excess of (1) $10.0 million shall be evidenced by an Officers’ Certificate, and (2) $25.0 million shall be set forth in a resolution approved in good faith by at least a majority of the Board of Directors of the Issuer;

(k) in the ordinary course of business, any swap of assets, or lease, assignment or sublease of any real or personal property, in exchange for services (including in connection with any outsourcing arrangements in which the Issuer enters into a multi-year services arrangement with the transfer of such assets) of comparable or greater value or usefulness to the business of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries as a whole, as determined in good faith by senior management or the Board of Directors of the Issuer, which in the event of a swap with a Fair Market Value in excess of (1) $10.0 million shall be evidenced by an Officers’ Certificate and (2) $25.0 million shall be set forth in a resolution approved in good faith by at least a majority of the Board of Directors of the Issuer; and

(l) the transfer or sale of the Netcentives Patents by Trilegiant Loyalty Solutions, Inc. (“TLS”) to Affinion Net Patents, Inc. (“ANP”) on substantially the same terms and conditions described in the Offering Circular under the section entitled “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions,” including, among other things, the reciprocal grant by ANP to TLS of a royalty-free license to use the Netcentives Patents in the field described therein; provided , that, any further action taken by the Issuer with respect to the Netcentives Patents after the Issue Date shall not, in any event, be deemed to affect the validity of the original transfer or sale as an exclusion under this clause (l) of the definition of Asset Sale.

“Bank Indebtedness” means any and all amounts payable under or in respect of the Credit Agreement or the other Senior Credit Documents as amended, restated, supplemented, waived, replaced, restructured, repaid, refunded, refinanced or otherwise modified from time to time (including after termination of the Credit Agreement), including principal, premium (if any), interest (including interest accruing on or after the filing of any petition in bankruptcy or for reorganization relating to the Issuer whether or not a claim for post-filing interest is allowed in such proceedings), fees, charges, expenses, reimbursement obligations, guarantees and all other amounts payable thereunder or in respect thereof.

“Board of Directors” means as to any Person, the board of directors or managers, as applicable, of such Person (or, if such Person is a partnership, the board of directors or other governing body of the general partner of such Person) or any duly authorized committee thereof.

“Business Day” means a day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which banking institutions are authorized or required by law to close in New York City.

 

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“Capital Stock” means:

(1) in the case of a corporation or a company, corporate stock or shares;

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

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

(4) 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.

“Capitalized Lease Obligation” means, at the time any determination thereof is to be made, the amount of the liability in respect of a capital lease that would at such time be required to be capitalized and reflected as a liability on a balance sheet (excluding the footnotes thereto) in accordance with GAAP.

“Cash Contribution Amount” means the aggregate amount of cash contributions made to the capital of the Issuer or any Guarantor described in the definition of “Contribution Indebtedness.”

“Cash Equivalents” means:

(1) U.S. dollars, pounds sterling, euros, national currency of any participating member state in the European Union or, in the case of any Foreign Subsidiary that is a Restricted Subsidiary, such local currencies held by it from time to time in the ordinary course of business;

(2) securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the government of the United States or any country that is a member of the European Union or any agency or instrumentality thereof, in each case with maturities not exceeding two years from the date of acquisition;

(3) certificates of deposit, time deposits and eurodollar time deposits with maturities of one year or less from the date of acquisition, bankers’ acceptances, in each case with maturities not exceeding one year and overnight bank deposits, in each case with any commercial bank having capital and surplus in excess of $250 million, or the foreign currency equivalent thereof, and whose long-term debt is rated “A” or the equivalent thereof by Moody’s or S&P (or reasonably equivalent ratings of another internationally recognized ratings agency);

(4) repurchase obligations for underlying securities of the types described in clauses (2) and (3) above entered into with any financial institution meeting the qualifications specified in clause (3) above;

(5) commercial paper issued by a corporation (other than an Affiliate of the Issuer) rated at least “A-1” or the equivalent thereof by Moody’s or S&P (or reasonably

 

-4-


equivalent ratings of another internationally recognized ratings agency) and in each case maturing within one year after the date of acquisition;

(6) readily marketable direct obligations issued by any state of the United States of America or any political subdivision thereof having one of the two highest rating categories obtainable from either Moody’s or S&P (or reasonably equivalent ratings of another internationally recognized ratings agency) in each case with maturities not exceeding two years from the date of acquisition;

(7) Indebtedness issued by Persons (other than Permitted Holders or any of their Affiliates) with a rating of “A” or higher from S&P or “A-2” or higher from Moody’s (or reasonably equivalent ratings of another internationally recognized ratings agency) in each case with maturities not exceeding two years from the date of acquisition; and

(8) investment funds investing at least 95% of their assets in securities of the types described in clauses (1) through (7) above.

“Cendant” means the Cendant Corporation.

“Change of Control” means any of the following events:

(1) the sale, lease or transfer, in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all the assets of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any Person, other than any Permitted Holder;

(2) the Issuer becomes aware (by way of a report or any other filing pursuant to Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, proxy, vote, written notice or otherwise) of the acquisition by any Person or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act, or any successor provision), including any group acting for the purpose of acquiring, holding or disposing of securities (within the meaning of Rule 13d-5(b)(1) under the Exchange Act), other than any of the Permitted Holders in a single transaction or in a related series of transactions, by way of merger, amalgamation, consolidation or other business combination or purchase of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, or any successor provision), of more than 50% of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of the Issuer or any Parent of the Issuer (for purposes of calculating the total voting power of the Voting Stock held by a group, the voting power beneficially owned by a Permitted Holder shall be excluded to the extent such Permitted Holder retains the sole economic rights with respect to the subject Voting Stock); or

(3) (A) prior to the first public offering of common Capital Stock of the Parent or the Issuer, the first day on which the Board of Directors of the Parent or the Issuer shall cease to consist of a majority of directors who (i) were members of the Board of Directors of the Issuer on the Issue Date or (ii) were either (x) nominated for election by the Board of Directors of the Parent or the Issuer, a majority of whom were directors on the Issue Date or whose election or nomination for election was previously approved by a majority of directors nominated for election pursuant to this clause (x) or who were

 

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designated or appointed pursuant to clause (y) below, or (y) designated or appointed by a Permitted Holder (each of the directors selected pursuant to clauses (A)(i) and (A)(ii), a “Continuing Director”) and (B) after the first public offering of common Capital Stock of either Parent or the Issuer, (i) if such public offering is of common Capital Stock of the Parent , the first day on which a majority of the members of the Board of Directors of the Parent are not Continuing Directors or (ii) if such public offering is of common Capital Stock of the Issuer, the first day on which a majority of the members of the Board of Directors of the Issuer are not Continuing Directors.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Specified Merger/Transfer Transaction shall not constitute a Change of Control.

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

“Consolidated Cash Flow” means, with respect to any specified Person for any period, the Consolidated Net Income of such Person for such period (without giving effect to the amount added to Net Income in calculating Consolidated Net Income for the excess of the provision for taxes over cash taxes) plus :

(1) provision for taxes based on income, profits or capital of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, including, without limitation, state franchise and similar taxes, and including an amount equal to the amount of tax distributions actually made to the holders of Capital Stock of such Person or any Parent of such Person in respect of such period in accordance with Section 4.04(b)(xii), which shall be included as though such amounts had been paid as income taxes directly by such Person, in each case, to the extent that such provision for taxes was deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income; plus

(2) Fixed Charges of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, to the extent that any such Fixed Charges were deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income; plus

(3) depreciation, amortization (including amortization of intangibles but excluding amortization of prepaid cash expenses that were paid in a prior period) and other non-cash expenses (excluding any such non-cash expense to the extent that it represents an accrual of or reserve for cash expenses in any future period or amortization of a prepaid cash expense that was paid in a prior period) of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period to the extent that such depreciation, amortization and other non-cash expenses were deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income; plus

(4) the amount of any restructuring charges or expenses (which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall include retention and supplemental bonus payments payable in connection with the Acquisition or otherwise, exit costs, severance payments, systems establishment costs or excess pension charges), to the extent that any such charges or expenses were deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income; plus

 

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(5) the amount of management, monitoring, consulting and advisory fees and related expenses paid to the Permitted Holders (or any accruals relating to such fees and related expenses) during such period; provided that such amount shall not exceed in any four quarter period the greater of (x) $2.5 million or (y) 1.0% of Consolidated Cash Flow (calculated without giving effect to this clause (5)); plus

(6) for any quarter in the four quarter period ended June 30, 2005, all adjustments to net income (or loss) used in connection with the calculation of pro forma “Adjusted EBITDA” for the last twelve months ended June 30, 2005 (as set forth in the Offering Circular under Note (3) to the section entitled “Offering Circular Summary—Summary Historical and Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial and Other Data”) to the extent such adjustments are not fully reflected in the applicable quarter and continue to be applicable; plus

(7) an amount of $3.0 million for each of the four consecutive calendar quarters commencing with the calendar quarter beginning January 1, 2005, representing anticipated cost savings from the 2005 Reorganization (as defined in the Offering Circular); minus

(8) non-cash items increasing such Consolidated Net Income for such period (excluding the recognition of deferred revenue or any non-cash items which represent the reversal of any accrual of, or reserve for, anticipated cash charges in any prior period and any items for which cash was received in any prior period and excluding amounts increasing Consolidated Net Income pursuant to clause (15) of the definition of Consolidated Net Income);

in each case, on a consolidated basis and determined in accordance with GAAP. For purposes of calculating Consolidated Cash Flow, the calculation shall exclude the effects of purchase accounting as a result of the Transactions.

Notwithstanding the preceding, the provision for taxes based on the income or profits of, the Fixed Charges of, the depreciation and amortization and other non-cash expenses or non-cash items of and the restructuring charges or expenses of, a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer shall be added to (or subtracted from, in the case of non-cash items described in clause (8) above) Consolidated Net Income to compute Consolidated Cash Flow of the Issuer (A) in the same proportion that the Net Income of such Restricted Subsidiary was added to compute such Consolidated Net Income of the Issuer and (B) only to the extent that a corresponding amount would be permitted at the date of determination to be dividended or distributed to the Issuer by such Restricted Subsidiary without prior governmental approval (that has not been obtained), and without direct or indirect restriction pursuant to the terms of its charter and all agreements, instruments, judgments, decrees, orders, statutes, rules and governmental regulations applicable to that Subsidiary or its stockholders.

“Consolidated Leverage Ratio” means, with respect to any Person at any date, the ratio of (a) the aggregate amount of all Indebtedness of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries less cash and cash equivalents (excluding restricted cash), in each case, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP as of such date to (b) the Consolidated Cash

 

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Flow of such Person for the four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding such date. In the event that the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries Incurs or redeems any Indebtedness subsequent to the commencement of the period for which the Consolidated Leverage Ratio is being calculated and on or prior to the date on which the event for which the calculation of the Consolidated Leverage Ratio is made, then the Consolidated Leverage Ratio shall be calculated giving pro forma effect to such Incurrence or redemption of Indebtedness as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period. The provisions applicable to pro forma transactions and Indebtedness set forth in the second paragraph of the definition of “Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio” shall apply for purposes of making the computation referred to in this paragraph.

“Consolidated Net Income” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the aggregate of the Net Income of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, on a consolidated basis, plus the amount that the provision for taxes exceeds cash taxes paid by such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries in such period; provided that:

(1) any net after-tax extraordinary or nonrecurring or unusual gains, losses, income, expense or charges (less all fees and expenses relating thereto), including, without limitation, any severance, relocation or other restructuring costs and transition expenses Incurred as a direct result of the transition of the Issuer to an independent operating company in connection with the Transactions and fees, expenses or charges related to any offering of Equity Interests of such Person, any Investment, any acquisition or any offering of Indebtedness permitted to be Incurred by this Indenture (in each case, whether or not successful), including any such fees, expenses or charges related to the Transactions, in each case, shall be excluded;

(2) any increase in amortization or depreciation or any one-time non-cash charges resulting from purchase accounting in connection with any acquisition that is consummated on or after the Issue Date shall be excluded;

(3) the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles during such period shall be excluded;

(4) any net after-tax gains or losses on disposal of discontinued operations shall be excluded;

(5) any net after-tax gains or losses (less all fees and expenses or charges relating thereto) attributable to business dispositions or asset dispositions other than in the ordinary course of business (as determined in good faith by senior management or the Board of Directors of the Issuer) shall be excluded;

(6) any net after-tax gains or losses (less all fees and expenses or charges relating thereto) attributable to the early extinguishment of indebtedness shall be excluded;

(7) the Net Income for such period of any Person that is not a Subsidiary of such Person, or is an Unrestricted Subsidiary, or that is accounted for by the equity method of accounting, shall be included only to the extent of the amount of dividends or

 

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distributions or other payments actually paid in cash (or to the extent converted into cash) to the referent Person or a Restricted Subsidiary thereof in respect of such period;

(8) solely for the purpose of covenant described in Section 4.04 herein the Net Income for such period of any Restricted Subsidiary (other than any Subsidiary Guarantor) shall be excluded to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by such Restricted Subsidiary of its Net Income is not at the date of determination permitted without any prior governmental approval (which has not been obtained) or, directly or indirectly, by the operation of the terms of its charter or any agreement, instrument, judgment, decree, order, statute, rule or governmental regulation applicable to such Restricted Subsidiary or its equity holders, unless such restrictions with respect to the payment of dividends or similar distributions have been legally waived; provided that the Consolidated Net Income of such Person shall be increased by the amount of dividends or other distributions or other payments actually paid in cash (or converted into cash) by any such Restricted Subsidiary to such Person or a Restricted Subsidiary of such Person (subject to the provisions of this clause (8)), to the extent not already included therein;

(9) any non-cash impairment charge or asset write-off resulting from the application of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 142 and 144, and the amortization of intangibles arising pursuant to No. 141, shall be excluded;

(10) any non-cash expenses realized or resulting from employee benefit plans or post-employment benefit plans, grants of stock appreciation or similar rights, stock options or other rights to officers, directors and employees of such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries shall be excluded;

(11) any one-time non-cash compensation charges shall be excluded;

(12) non-cash gains, losses, income and expenses resulting from fair value accounting required by Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 133 and related interpretations shall be excluded;

(13) the effects of purchase accounting as a result of the Transactions shall be excluded;

(14) accruals and reserves that are established within twelve months after the Issue Date and that are so required to be established in accordance with GAAP shall be excluded; and

(15) to the extent not already reflected in Consolidated Net Income, the amount of any accrual, reserve or other charge that reduces Net Income of such Person that was taken in respect of expected or actual Losses by reason of (x) any legal proceedings disclosed in the Offering Circular, including the financial statements included herein, or relating to the same facts and circumstances as disclosed, or (y) a breach or violation of law, in each case, shall be excluded; provided that (as certified in an Officers’ Certificate delivered to the Trustee) the Issuer has (i) a reasonable good faith belief that it is entitled to be indemnified by Cendant pursuant to the Stock Purchase Agreement in respect of

 

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such Losses in an amount greater than or equal to the amount to be excluded from the calculation of Consolidated Net Income pursuant to this clause (15) and (ii) has provided Cendant a notice in respect of the Issuer’s intent to seek indemnity; provided further that (x) if Net Income is increased as a result of any amounts received from Cendant in respect of such an indemnity and the right to be so indemnified was used in a prior period to increase Consolidated Net Income pursuant to this clause (15), such amounts received shall be excluded from Consolidated Net Income and (y) to the extent the actual indemnity received is less than the expected indemnity amount excluded in a prior period pursuant to this clause (15), Consolidated Net Income shall be reduced by the difference in the period in which such lower actual indemnity amounts are received or in which a final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction is made that the Issuer is entitled to no indemnity.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, for the purpose of the covenant described in Section 4.04 herein, there shall be excluded from the calculation of Consolidated Net Income any dividends, repayments of loans or advances or other transfers of assets from Unrestricted Subsidiaries to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer in respect of or that originally constituted Restricted Investments.

“Contingent Obligations” means, with respect to any Person, any obligation of such Person guaranteeing any leases, dividends or other obligations that do not constitute Indebtedness (“primary obligations”) of any other Person (the “primary obligor”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, including, without limitation, any obligation of such Person, whether or not contingent:

(1) to purchase any such primary obligation or any property constituting direct or indirect security therefor;

(2) to advance or supply funds:

(a) for the purchase or payment of any such primary obligation; or

(b) to maintain working capital or equity capital of the primary obligor or otherwise to maintain the net worth or solvency of the primary obligor; or

(3) to purchase property, securities or services primarily for the purpose of assuring the owner of any such primary obligation of the ability of the primary obligor to make payment of such primary obligation against loss in respect thereof.

“Contribution Indebtedness” means Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Guarantor in an aggregate principal amount not greater than twice the aggregate amount of cash contributions (other than Excluded Contributions and amounts applied to make a Restricted Payment in accordance Section 4.04(b)(ii) made to the capital of the Issuer or such Guarantor after the Issue Date (other than any cash contributions in connection with the Transactions); provided , however that: (1) if the aggregate principal amount of such Contribution Indebtedness is greater than the aggregate amount of such cash contributions to the capital of the Issuer or such Guarantor, as applicable, the amount in excess shall be Indebtedness (other than Secured Indebtedness) with a Stated Maturity later than the Stated Maturity of the Notes; (2) such

 

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Contribution Indebtedness (a) is Incurred within 180 days after the making of such cash contributions and (b) is so designated as Contribution Indebtedness pursuant to an Officers’ Certificate on the date of Incurrence thereof; and (3) such cash contribution is not and has not been included in the calculation of permitted Restricted Payments under the covenant described in Section 4.04 herein.

“Credit Agreement” means (i) the credit agreement entered into in connection with, and on or prior to, the consummation of the Transactions, among the Issuer, the financial institutions named therein and Credit Suisse, Cayman Islands Branch (or an affiliate thereof), as administrative agent, as amended, restated, supplemented, waived, replaced (whether or not upon termination, and whether with the original lenders or otherwise), restructured, repaid, refunded, refinanced or otherwise modified from time to time, including any one or more agreements or indentures extending the maturity thereof, refinancing, replacing or otherwise restructuring all or any portion of the Indebtedness under such agreement or agreements or indenture or indentures or any successor or replacement agreement or agreements or indenture or indentures or increasing the amount loaned or issued thereunder or altering the maturity thereof and (ii) whether or not the credit agreement referred to in clause (i) remains outstanding, if designated by the Issuer to be included in the definition of “Credit Agreement,” one or more (A) debt facilities or commercial paper facilities, providing for revolving credit loans, term loans, receivables financing (including through the sale of receivables to lenders or to special purpose entities formed to borrow from lenders against such receivables) or letters of credit, (B) debt securities, indentures or other forms of debt financing (including convertible or exchangeable debt instruments or bank guarantees or bankers’ acceptances), or (C) instruments or agreements evidencing any other Indebtedness, in each case, with the same or different borrowers or issuers and, in each case, as amended, supplemented, modified, extended, restructured, renewed, refinanced, restated, replaced or refunded in whole or in part from time to time.

“Default” means any event that is, or after notice or passage of time or both would be, an Event of Default.

“Designated Non-cash Consideration” means the Fair Market Value of non-cash consideration received by the Issuer or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with an Asset Sale that is so designated as Designated Non-cash Consideration pursuant to an Officers’ Certificate setting forth the basis of such valuation, less the amount of Cash Equivalents received in connection with a subsequent sale of such Designated Non-cash Consideration.

“Designated Preferred Stock” means Preferred Stock of the Issuer or any parent of the Issuer (other than Disqualified Stock), that is issued for cash (other than to the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries or an employee stock ownership plan or trust established by the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries) and is so designated as Designated Preferred Stock, pursuant to an Officers’ Certificate, on the issuance date thereof.

 

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“Disqualified Stock” means, with respect to any Person, any Capital Stock of such Person which, by its terms (or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible or for which it is redeemable, putable or exchangeable), or upon the happening of any event:

(1) matures or is mandatorily redeemable, pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise,

(2) is convertible or exchangeable for Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of such Person, or

(3) is redeemable at the option of the holder thereof, in whole or in part,

in each case prior to 91 days after the maturity date of the Notes;

provided , however , that only the portion of Capital Stock which so matures or is mandatorily redeemable, is so convertible or exchangeable or is so redeemable at the option of the holder thereof prior to such date shall be deemed to be Disqualified Stock; provided further , however , that (x) if such Capital Stock is issued to any employee or to any plan for the benefit of employees of the Issuer or its Subsidiaries or by any such plan to such employees, such Capital Stock shall not constitute Disqualified Stock solely because it may be required to be repurchased by the Issuer in order to satisfy applicable statutory or regulatory obligations or as a result of such employee’s termination, death or disability and (y) such Capital Stock shall not constitute Disqualified Stock if such Capital Stock matures or is mandatorily redeemable or is redeemable at the option of the holders thereof as a result of a change of control or asset sale so long as the relevant asset sale or change of control provisions, taken as a whole, are no more favorable in any material respect to holders of such Capital Stock than the asset sale and change of control provisions applicable to the Notes and any purchase requirement triggered thereby may not become operative until compliance with the asset sale and change of control provisions applicable to the Notes (including the purchase of any Notes tendered pursuant thereto); provided further that any class of Capital Stock of such Person that by its terms authorizes such Person to satisfy its obligations thereunder by delivery of Capital Stock that is not Disqualified Stock shall not be deemed to be Disqualified Stock.

“Equity Interests” means Capital Stock and all warrants, options or other rights to acquire Capital Stock (but excluding any debt security that is convertible into, or exchangeable for, Capital Stock).

“Equity Offering” means any public or private sale after the Issue Date of common stock or Preferred Stock of any Person (other than Disqualified Stock), other than:

(1) public offerings with respect to the Capital Stock of such Person registered on Form S-4 or S-8;

(2) any such public or private sale that constitutes an Excluded Contribution;

(3) an issuance to any Subsidiary; and

(4) any Cash Contribution Amounts.

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.

 

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“Exchange Notes” means the debt securities of the Issuer issued pursuant to this Indenture in exchange for, and in an aggregate principal amount equal to, the Initial Notes and the Additional Notes, if applicable, in compliance with the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement, and includes any Private Exchange Notes.

“Excluded Contributions” means the Cash Equivalents or other assets (valued at their Fair Market Value as determined in good faith by senior management or the Board of Directors of the Issuer) received by the Issuer from:

(1) contributions to its common Capital Stock, and

(2) the sale (other than to a Subsidiary of the Issuer or pursuant to any management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement of the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries) of Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock and Designated Preferred Stock) of the Issuer,

in each case designated as Excluded Contributions pursuant to an Officers’ Certificate executed by an Officer of the Issuer).

“Fair Market Value” means, with respect to any asset or property, the price that could be negotiated in an arm’s-length transaction between a willing seller and a willing and able buyer, neither of whom is under undue pressure or compulsion to complete the transaction.

“Fixed Charges” means, with respect to any specified Person for any period, the sum, without duplication, of:

(1) the consolidated interest expense (net of interest income) to the extent it relates to Indebtedness of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period and to the extent such expense was deducted in computing Consolidated Net Income, whether paid or accrued, including, without limitation, amortization of debt issuance costs and original issue discount, non-cash interest payments, the interest component of any deferred payment obligations, the interest component of all payments associated with Capital Lease Obligations, commissions, discounts and other fees and charges incurred in respect of letter of credit or bankers’ acceptance financings, and net of the effect of all payments made or received pursuant to Hedging Obligations (but excluding the amortization or write-off of deferred financing fees or expenses of any bridge or other financing fee in connection with the Transactions); plus

(2) the consolidated interest of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries that was capitalized during such period; plus

(3) any interest expense on Indebtedness of another Person that is Guaranteed by such Person or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries or secured by a Lien on assets of such Person or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries, whether or not such Guarantee or Lien is called upon; plus

(4) to the extent not included in clause (1) above, the product of (a) all dividends, whether paid or accrued and whether or not in cash, on any series of

 

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Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, other than dividends on Equity Interests payable solely in Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Issuer or to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer, times (b) a fraction, the numerator of which is one and the denominator of which is one minus the then current combined federal, state and local statutory tax rate of such Person, expressed as a decimal,

in each case, on a consolidated basis and in accordance with GAAP.

“Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio” means with respect to any specified Person for any period, the ratio of the Consolidated Cash Flow of such Person for such period to the Fixed Charges of such Person for such period. In the event that the specified Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries Incurs, repays, repurchases or redeems any Indebtedness or issues, repurchases or redeems Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock subsequent to the commencement of the period for which the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is being calculated and on or prior to the date on which the event for which the calculation of the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is made (the “Calculation Date”), then the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio shall be calculated giving pro forma effect to such Incurrence, repayment, repurchase or redemption of Indebtedness, or such issuance, repurchase or redemption of Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, and the use of the proceeds therefrom as if the same had occurred at the beginning of such period.

In addition, for purposes of calculating the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, Investments, acquisitions, dispositions, mergers, consolidations or discontinued operations (as determined in accordance with GAAP) that have been made by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary during the four-quarter reference period or subsequent to such reference period and on or prior to or simultaneously with the Calculation Date shall be calculated on a pro forma basis assuming that all such Investments, acquisitions, dispositions, mergers, consolidations or discontinued operations (including the Transactions) had occurred on the first day of the four-quarter reference period. If since the beginning of such period any Person (that subsequently became a Restricted Subsidiary or was merged with or into the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary since the beginning of such period) shall have made any Investment, acquisition, disposition, merger or consolidation or discontinued any operation that would have required adjustment pursuant to this definition, then the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio shall be calculated giving pro forma effect thereto for such period as if such Investment, acquisition, disposition, merger, consolidation or discontinued operation had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period. For purposes of this definition, whenever pro forma effect is to be given to an Investment, acquisition, disposition, merger, consolidation or discontinued operation (including the Transactions) and the amount of income or earnings relating thereto, the pro forma calculations shall be determined in good faith by a responsible financial or accounting Officer of the Issuer and shall comply with the requirements of Rule 11-02 of Regulation S-X promulgated by the Commission, except that such pro forma calculations may include operating expense reductions for such period resulting from the transaction which is being given pro forma effect that have been realized or for which substantially all the steps necessary for realization have been taken or are reasonably expected to be taken within twelve months following any such transaction, including, but not limited to, the execution or termination of any contracts, the reduction of costs related to administrative functions or the termination of any personnel, as applicable; provided that, in either case, such adjustments are set forth in an Officers’ Certificate

 

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signed by the Issuer’s chief financial officer and another Officer which states (i) the amount of such adjustment or adjustments, (ii) that such adjustment or adjustments are based on the reasonable good faith beliefs of the Officers executing such Officers’ Certificate at the time of such execution and (iii) that any related incurrence of Indebtedness is permitted pursuant to this Indenture. If any Indebtedness bears a floating rate of interest and is being given pro forma effect, the interest on such Indebtedness shall be calculated as if the rate in effect on the Calculation Date had been the applicable rate for the entire period (taking into account any Hedging Obligations applicable to such Indebtedness if the related hedge has a remaining term in excess of twelve months).

Interest on a Capitalized Lease Obligation shall be deemed to accrue at an interest rate reasonably determined by a responsible financial or accounting officer of the Issuer to be the rate of interest implicit in such Capitalized Lease Obligation in accordance with GAAP. For purposes of making the computation referred to above, interest on any Indebtedness under a revolving credit facility computed on a pro forma basis shall be computed based upon the average daily balance of such Indebtedness during the applicable period. Interest on Indebtedness that may optionally be determined at an interest rate based upon a factor of a prime or similar rate, a eurocurrency interbank offered rate, or other rate, shall be deemed to have been based upon the rate actually chosen, or, if none, then based upon such optional rate chosen as the Issuer may designate.

“Flow Through Entity” means an entity that is treated as a partnership not taxable as a corporation, a grantor trust or a disregarded entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes or subject to treatment on a comparable basis for purposes of state, local or foreign tax law.

“Foreign Subsidiary” means a Restricted Subsidiary not organized or existing under the laws of the United States of America or any state or territory thereof or the District of Columbia and any direct or indirect subsidiary of such Restricted Subsidiary.

“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or in such other statements by such other entity as have been approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession, in each case which are in effect on the Issue Date. For the purposes of this Indenture, the term “consolidated” with respect to any Person shall mean such Person consolidated with its Restricted Subsidiaries, and shall not include any Unrestricted Subsidiary, but the interest of such Person in an Unrestricted Subsidiary shall be accounted for as an Investment.

“guarantee” means a guarantee (other than by endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business), direct or indirect, in any manner (including, without limitation, letters of credit and reimbursement agreements in respect thereof), of all or any part of any Indebtedness or other obligations.

“Guarantee” means any guarantee of the obligations of the Issuer under this Indenture and the Notes by any Person in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture.

 

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“Guarantor” means any Person that Incurs a Guarantee provided , that upon the release or discharge of such Person from its Guarantee in accordance with this Indenture, such Person ceases to be a Guarantor.

“Hedging Obligations” means, with respect to any Person, the obligations of such Person under:

(1) currency exchange or interest rate swap agreements, cap agreements and collar agreements; and

(2) other agreements or arrangements designed to manage exposure or protect such Person against fluctuations in currency exchange or interest rates.

“holder” or “noteholder” means the Person in whose name a Note is registered on the registrar’s books.

“Incur” means issue, assume, guarantee, incur or otherwise become liable for; provided , however , that any Indebtedness or Capital Stock of a Person existing at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary (whether by merger, amalgamation, consolidation, acquisition or otherwise) shall be deemed to be Incurred by such Person at the time it becomes a Subsidiary.

“Indebtedness” means, with respect to any Person:

(1) the principal and premium (if any) of any indebtedness of such Person, whether or not contingent, (a) in respect of borrowed money, (b) evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments or letters of credit or bankers’ acceptances (or, without duplication, reimbursement agreements in respect thereof), (c) representing the deferred and unpaid purchase price of any property, except any such balance that constitutes a current account payable, trade payable or similar obligation Incurred, (d) in respect of Capitalized Lease Obligations, or (e) representing any Hedging Obligations, if and to the extent that any of the foregoing indebtedness (other than letters of credit and Hedging Obligations) would appear as a liability on a balance sheet (excluding the footnotes thereto) of such Person prepared in accordance with GAAP;

(2) to the extent not otherwise included, any obligation of such Person to be liable for, or to pay, as obligor, guarantor or otherwise, the Indebtedness of another Person (other than by endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business); and

(3) to the extent not otherwise included, Indebtedness of another Person secured by a Lien on any asset owned by such Person (whether or not such Indebtedness is assumed by such Person); provided , however , that the amount of such Indebtedness will be the lesser of: (a) the Fair Market Value of such asset at such date of determination and (b) the amount of such Indebtedness of such other Person;

provided , however , that notwithstanding the foregoing, Indebtedness shall be deemed not to include (1) Contingent Obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business and not in respect of borrowed money; (2) deferred or prepaid revenues; (3) purchase price holdbacks in respect of

 

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a portion of the purchase price of an asset to satisfy warranty or other unperformed obligations of the respective seller; (4) the Seller Preferred Stock whether or not reflected as a liability of the Issuer, (5) obligations to make payments in respect of money back guarantees offered to customers in the ordinary course of business, (6) obligations to make payments to one or more insurers in respect of premiums collected by the Issuer on behalf of such insurers or in respect profit-sharing arrangements entered into with such insurers, in each case in the ordinary course of business, or (7) the financing of insurance premiums with the carrier of such insurance or take or pay obligations contained in supply agreements, in each case entered into in the ordinary course of business.

Notwithstanding anything in this Indenture, Indebtedness shall not include, and shall be calculated without giving effect to, the effects of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 133 and related interpretations to the extent such effects would otherwise increase or decrease an amount of Indebtedness for any purpose under this Indenture as a result of accounting for any embedded derivatives created by the terms of such Indebtedness; and any such amounts that would have constituted Indebtedness under this Indenture but for the application of this sentence shall not be deemed an Incurrence of Indebtedness under this Indenture.

“Indenture” means this Indenture as amended or supplemented from time to time.

“Independent Financial Advisor” means an accounting, appraisal or investment banking firm or consultant to Persons engaged in a Similar Business, in each case of nationally recognized standing that is, in the good faith determination of the Board of Directors of the Issuer, qualified to perform the task for which it has been engaged.

“Initial Notes” means the 10  1 / 8 % Senior Notes due 2013 issued by the Issuer on the Issue Date.

“Initial Purchasers” means Credit Suisse First Boston LLC, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Banc of America Securities LLC, BNP Paribas Securities Corp. and such other initial purchasers party to the purchase agreement entered into in connection with the offer and sale of the Notes.

“Investment Grade Securities” means:

(1) securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the U.S. government or any agency or instrumentality thereof (other than Cash Equivalents),

(2) securities that have a rating equal to or higher than Baa3 (or equivalent) by Moody’s or BBB- (or equivalent) by S&P, or an equivalent rating by any other Rating Agency, but excluding any debt securities or loans or advances between and among the Issuer and its Subsidiaries,

(3) investments in any fund that invests exclusively in investments of the type described in clauses (1) and (2) which fund may also hold immaterial amounts of cash pending investment and/or distribution, and

 

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(4) corresponding instruments in countries other than the United States customarily utilized for high quality investments and in each case with maturities not exceeding two years from the date of acquisition.

“Investments” means, with respect to any Person, all investments by such Person in other Persons (including Affiliates) in the form of loans (including guarantees), advances or capital contributions (excluding accounts receivable, trade credit and advances to customers and marketing partners and commission, travel and similar advances to officers, employees and consultants, in each case made in the ordinary course of business), purchases or other acquisitions for consideration of Indebtedness, Equity Interests or other securities issued by any other Person and investments that are required by GAAP to be classified on the balance sheet of the Issuer in the same manner as the other investments included in this definition to the extent such transactions involve the transfer of cash or other property. For purposes of the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary” and Section 4.04 herein:

(1) “Investments” shall include the portion (proportionate to the Issuer’s equity interest in such Subsidiary) of the Fair Market Value of the net assets of a Subsidiary of the Issuer at the time that such Subsidiary is designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary; provided , however, that upon a redesignation of such Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary, the Issuer shall be deemed to continue to have a permanent “Investment” in an Unrestricted Subsidiary equal to an amount (if positive) equal to:

(a) the Issuer’s “Investment” in such Subsidiary at the time of such redesignation less

(b) the portion (proportionate to the Issuer’s equity interest in such Subsidiary) of the Fair Market Value of the net assets of such Subsidiary at the time of such redesignation; and

(2) any property transferred to or from an Unrestricted Subsidiary shall be valued at its Fair Market Value at the time of such transfer, in each case as determined in good faith by senior management or the Board of Directors of the Issuer.

“Issue Date” means October 17, 2005, the date on which the Notes are issued.

“Joint Venture” means any Person, other than an individual or a Subsidiary of the Issuer, (i) in which the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer holds or acquires an ownership interest (whether by way of Capital Stock or otherwise) and (ii) which is engaged in a Similar Business.

“Lien” means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien, pledge, charge, security interest or encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset, whether or not filed, recorded or otherwise perfected under applicable law (including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any lease in the nature thereof, any other agreement to give a security interest and, any filing of or agreement to give any financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code or equivalent statutes of any jurisdiction (other than a filing for informational purposes)); provided that in no event shall an operating lease be deemed to constitute a Lien.

 

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“Management Group” means all of the individuals consisting of the directors, executive officers and other management personnel of the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer, as the case may be, on the Issue Date together with (1) any new directors whose election by such boards of directors or whose nomination for election by the shareholders of the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer, as the case may be, as applicable, was approved by (x) a vote of a majority of the directors of the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer as applicable, then still in office who were either directors on the Issue Date or whose election or nomination was previously so approved or (y) the Permitted Holders and (2) executive officers and other management personnel of the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer, as the case may be, as applicable, hired at a time when the directors on the Issue Date together with the directors so approved constituted a majority of the directors of the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer, as the case may be, as applicable.

“Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. or any successor to the rating agency business thereof.

“Netcentives Patent” means the portfolio of patents relating to online award redemption programs which expire on December 14, 2015.

“Net Income” means, with respect to any Person, the net income (loss) of such Person, determined in accordance with GAAP and before any reduction in respect of Preferred Stock dividends, less an amount equal to the amount of tax distributions actually made to the holders of Capital Stock of such Person or any Parent of such Person in respect of a period in accordance with Section 4.04(b)(xii) herein as if such amounts had been paid as income taxes directly by such Person but only to the extent such amounts have not already been accounted for as taxes reducing the net income (loss) of such Person.

“Net Proceeds” means the aggregate cash proceeds received by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of any Asset Sale, including, without limitation, any cash received in respect of or upon the sale or other disposition of any Designated Non-cash Consideration received in any Asset Sale, net of the direct costs relating to such Asset Sale and the sale or disposition of such Designated Non-cash Consideration (including, without limitation, legal, accounting and investment banking fees, and brokerage and sales commissions), and any relocation expenses Incurred as a result thereof, taxes paid or payable as a result thereof (after taking into account any available tax credits or deductions and any tax sharing arrangements related thereto), amounts required to be applied to the repayment of principal, premium (if any) and interest on Indebtedness required other than pursuant to Section 4.06(b) or (c) to be paid as a result of such transaction (including to obtain any consent therefor), any deduction of appropriate amounts to be provided by the Issuer as a reserve in accordance with GAAP against any liabilities associated with the asset disposed of in such transaction and retained by the Issuer after such sale or other disposition thereof, including, without limitation, pension and other post-employment benefit liabilities and liabilities related to environmental matters or against any indemnification obligations associated with such transaction and any distributions and the payments required to be made to minority interest holders in Subsidiaries or Joint Ventures as a result of such Asset Sale; provided that Net Proceeds shall not include proceeds of a Subsidiary Spin-Off to the extent such proceeds are applied to redeem the Notes pursuant to the third

 

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paragraph of Paragraph 5 on the reverse of the Notes regarding redemptions on or prior to October 15, 2008 and any debt securities issued in exchange for, or debt securities issued to refinance, borrowings under the Senior Subordinated Bridge Loan Facility pursuant to provisions similar to those provided for under the third paragraph of Paragraph 5 on the reverse of the Notes regarding redemptions on or prior to October 15, 2008.

“Non-Guarantor Restricted Subsidiary” means any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer that is not a Subsidiary Guarantor.

“Notes” means the Initial Notes and any Additional Notes and Exchange Notes issued pursuant to this Indenture, in each case, in the forms set forth in Appendix A.

“Obligations” means any principal, interest, penalties, fees, indemnifications, reimbursements (including, without limitation, reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit and bankers’ acceptances), damages and other liabilities payable under the documentation governing any Indebtedness; provided that Obligations with respect to the Notes shall not include fees or indemnifications in favor of the Trustee and other third parties other than the holders of the Notes.

“Offering Circular” means the confidential offering circular dated October 3, 2005 relating to the offer and sale by the Affinion Group, Inc. of $270,000,000 principal amount of the Initial Notes.

“Officer” means the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, President, any Executive Vice President, Senior Vice President or Vice President, the Treasurer or the Secretary of the Issuer or any of the Issuer’s Restricted Subsidiaries

“Officers’ Certificate” means a certificate signed on behalf of the Issuer by two Officers of the Issuer or any of the Issuer’s Restricted Subsidiaries, one of whom must be the principal executive officer, the principal financial officer, the treasurer or the principal accounting officer of the Issuer or any of the Issuer’s Restricted Subsidiaries, that meets the requirements set forth in this Indenture.

“Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion from legal counsel who is acceptable to the Trustee. The counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the Issuer or the Trustee.

“Parent” means, with respect to any Person, any direct or indirect parent company of such Person whose only material assets consist of the common Capital Stock of such Person.

“Pari Passu Indebtedness” means:

(1) with respect to the Issuer, the Notes and any Indebtedness which ranks pari passu in right of payment with the Notes; and

(2) with respect to any Guarantor, its Guarantee and any Indebtedness which ranks pari passu in right of payment with such Guarantor’s Guarantee.

 

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“Permitted Holders” means, at any time, (1) the Sponsor and (2) the Management Group. Any Person or group whose acquisition of beneficial ownership constitutes a Change of Control in respect of which a Change of Control Offer is made in accordance with the requirements of this Indenture will thereafter, together with its Affiliates, constitute an additional Permitted Holder.

“Permitted Investment” means:

(1) any Investment in the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary;

(2) any Investment in Cash Equivalents or Investment Grade Securities;

(3) any Investment by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer in a Person if as a result of such Investment (a) such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer, or (b) such Person, in one transaction or a series of related transactions, is merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into, or transfers or conveys all or substantially all of its assets to, or is liquidated into, the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer;

(4) any Investment in securities or other assets not constituting Cash Equivalents and received in connection with an Asset Sale made pursuant to the provisions of Section 4.06 herein or any other disposition of assets not constituting an Asset Sale;

(5) any Investment existing on the Issue Date and any Investments made pursuant to binding commitments in effect on the Issue Date;

(6) advances to employees not in excess of $15 million outstanding at any one time in the aggregate; provided that advances that are forgiven shall continue to be deemed outstanding;

(7) any Investment acquired by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (a) in exchange for any other Investment or accounts receivable held by the Issuer or any such Restricted Subsidiary in connection with or as a result of a bankruptcy, workout, reorganization or recapitalization of the issuer of such other Investment or accounts receivable or (b) as a result of a foreclosure by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries with respect to any secured Investment or other transfer of title with respect to any secured Investment in default;

(8) Hedging Obligations permitted under Section 4.03(b)(x) hereof;

(9) any Investment by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in a Similar Business having an aggregate Fair Market Value, taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (9) that are at that time outstanding (without giving effect to the sale of Investments made pursuant to this clause (9) to the extent the proceeds of such sale received by the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries do not consist of Cash Equivalents), not to exceed the greater of (x) $95 million and (y) 4.0% of Total Assets of the Issuer at the time of such Investment (with the Fair Market Value of each

 

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Investment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value); provided , however , that if any Investment pursuant to this clause (9) is made in any Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer at the date of the making of such Investment and such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer after such date, such Investment shall thereafter be deemed to have been made pursuant to clause (1) above and shall cease to have been made pursuant to this clause (9) for so long as such Person continues to be a Restricted Subsidiary;

(10) additional Investments by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries having an aggregate Fair Market Value, taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (10) that are at that time outstanding (without giving effect to the sale of Investments made pursuant to this clause (10) to the extent the proceeds of such sale received by the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries do not consist of Cash Equivalents), not to exceed the greater of (x) $110 million and (y) 7.5% of Total Assets of the Issuer at the time of such Investment (with the Fair Market Value of each Investment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value);

(11) loans and advances to officers, directors and employees for business-related travel expenses, moving and relocation expenses and other similar expenses, in each case Incurred in the ordinary course of business;

(12) Investments the payment for which consists of Equity Interests of the Issuer or any Parent of the Issuer (other than Disqualified Stock); provided, however, that such Equity Interests shall not increase the amount available for Restricted Payments under the calculation set forth in Section 4.04 (a)(3) hereof until such time as the Investment in such Equity Interests is no longer outstanding;

(13) Investments consisting of the licensing or contribution of intellectual property pursuant to joint marketing arrangements with other Persons;

(14) Investments consisting of purchases and acquisitions of inventory, supplies, materials and equipment or purchases of contract rights or licenses or leases of intellectual property in each case in the ordinary course of business;

(15) Investments of a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer acquired after the Issue Date or of an entity merged into, amalgamated with, or consolidated with a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer in a transaction that is not prohibited by the covenant described under Article 5 hereof after the Issue Date to the extent that such Investments were not made in contemplation of such acquisition, merger, amalgamation or consolidation and were in existence on the date of such acquisition, merger, amalgamation or consolidation;

(16) any Investment in the Notes;

(17) guarantees not prohibited by or required pursuant to, as the case may be, the covenants described in Sections 4.03 and 4.11 hereof; and

 

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(18) any transaction to the extent it constitutes an Investment that is permitted by and made in accordance with the provisions of the second paragraph of the covenant described under Section 4.07(b)(ii), (vi), (vii), (viii), (ix), (xi) and (xvi) hereof.

“Permitted Liens” means, with respect to any Person:

(1) pledges or deposits by such Person under workmen’s compensation laws, unemployment insurance laws or similar legislation, or good faith deposits in connection with bids, tenders, contracts (other than for the payment of Indebtedness) or leases to which such Person is a party, or deposits to secure public or statutory obligations, including those to secure health, safety, insurance and environmental obligations, of such Person or deposits of cash or U.S. government bonds to secure surety or appeal bonds to which such Person is a party, or deposits as security for contested taxes or import duties or for the payment of rent, in each case Incurred in the ordinary course of business;

(2) Liens imposed by law, such as carriers’, warehousemen’s and mechanics’ Liens, in each case for sums not yet due or being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings or other Liens arising out of judgments or awards against such Person with respect to which such Person shall then be proceeding with an appeal or other proceedings for review;

(3) Liens for taxes, assessments or other governmental charges not yet due or payable or subject to penalties for nonpayment or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings;

(4) Liens in favor of issuers of performance and surety bonds or bid bonds or with respect to other regulatory requirements or letters of credit issued at the request of and for the account of such Person in the ordinary course of its business;

(5) minor survey exceptions, minor encumbrances, easements or reservations of, or rights of others for, licenses, rights-of-way, sewers, electric lines, telegraph and telephone lines and other similar purposes, or zoning or other restrictions as to the use of real properties or Liens incidental to the conduct of the business of such Person or to the ownership of its properties which were not Incurred in connection with Indebtedness and which do not in the aggregate materially adversely affect the value of said properties or materially impair their use in the operation of the business of such Person;

(6) (A) Liens securing an aggregate principal amount of Pari Passu Indebtedness not to exceed the greater of (x) the aggregate principal amount of Pari Passu Indebtedness permitted to be Incurred pursuant to Section 4.03(b)(i) herein, and (y) the maximum principal amount of Indebtedness that, as of such date, and after giving effect to the Incurrence of such Indebtedness and the application of the proceeds therefrom on such date, would not cause the Secured Indebtedness Leverage Ratio of the Issuer to exceed 3.00 to 1.00 and (B) Liens securing Indebtedness permitted to be Incurred pursuant to clauses (ii), (iv) (provided that such Liens do not extend to any property or assets that are not property being purchased, leased, constructed or improved with the proceeds of such Indebtedness being Incurred pursuant to clause (iv)), (xii) or (xix)

 

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(provided that, in the case of clause (xix), such Liens do not extend to any property or assets of the Issuer or any Guarantor) of Section 4.03(b) herein;

(7) Liens existing on the Issue Date (other than with respect to Obligations in respect of the Credit Agreement);

(8) Liens on assets, property or shares of stock of a Person at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary; provided, however, that such Liens are not created or Incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such other Person becoming such a Subsidiary; provided, further, however, that such Liens may not extend to any other property owned by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer;

(9) Liens on assets or property at the time the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer acquired the assets or property, including any acquisition by means of a merger, amalgamation or consolidation with or into the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer; provided, however, that such Liens are not created or Incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such acquisition; provided, further, however, that the Liens may not extend to any other assets or property owned by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer;

(10) Liens securing Indebtedness or other obligations of a Restricted Subsidiary owing to the Issuer or another Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer permitted to be Incurred in accordance with Section 4.03 herein;

(11) Liens securing Hedging Obligations permitted to be Incurred Section 4.03(b)(x) herein;

(12) Liens on specific items of inventory or other goods and proceeds of any Person securing such Person’s obligations in respect of bankers’ acceptances issued or created for the account of such Person to facilitate the purchase, shipment or storage of such inventory or other goods;

(13) leases and subleases of real property granted to others in the ordinary course of business that do not (i) materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or (ii) secure any Indebtedness;

(14) Liens arising from Uniform Commercial Code financing statement filings regarding operating leases entered into by the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;

(15) Liens in favor of the Issuer or any Guarantor;

(16) Liens on equipment of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary granted in the ordinary course of business to the Issuer’s customer at the site at which such equipment is located;

(17) Liens securing insurance premiums financing arrangements, provided that such Liens are limited to the applicable unearned insurance premiums;

 

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(18) Liens on the Equity Interests of Unrestricted Subsidiaries;

(19) grants of software and other licenses in the ordinary course of business;

(20) Liens to secure any refinancing, refunding, extension, renewal or replacement (or successive refinancings, refundings, extensions, renewals or replacements) as a whole, or in part, of any Indebtedness secured by any Lien referred to in the foregoing clauses (7), (8) and (9); provided, however, that (x) such new Lien shall be limited to all or part of the same property that secured the original Lien (plus improvements on such property), and (y) the Indebtedness secured by such Lien at such time is not increased to any amount greater than the sum of (A) the outstanding principal amount or, if greater, committed amount of the Indebtedness described under clauses (7), (8) and (9) at the time the original Lien became a Permitted Lien under this Indenture, and (B) an amount necessary to pay any fees and expenses, including premiums, related to such refinancing, refunding, extension, renewal or replacement;

(21) judgment and attachment Liens not giving rise to an Event of Default and notices of lis pendens and associated rights related to litigation being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves have been made;

(22) Liens securing obligations Incurred in the ordinary course of business that do not exceed $15 million at any one time outstanding;

(23) Liens arising out of conditional sale, title retention, consignment or similar arrangements for the sale of goods entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(24) Liens incurred to secure cash management services in the ordinary course of business;

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

(26) deposits made in the ordinary course of business to secure liability to insurance carriers.

“Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, Joint Venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, government or any agency or political subdivision thereof or any other entity.

“Preferred Stock” means any Equity Interest with preferential right of payment of dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up.

“Presumed Tax Rate” means the highest effective marginal statutory combined U.S. federal, state and local income tax rate prescribed for an individual residing in New York City (taking into account (i) the deductibility of state and local income taxes for U.S. federal income tax purposes, assuming the limitation of Section 68(a)(2) of the Code applies and taking into account any impact of Section 68(f) of the Code, and (ii) the character (long-term or short-term capital gain, dividend income or other ordinary income) of the applicable income).

 

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“Rating Agency” means (1) each of Moody’s and S&P and (2) if Moody’s or S&P ceases to rate the Notes for reasons outside of the Issuer’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 Issuer or any Parent of the Issuer as a replacement agency for Moody’s or S&P, as the case may be.

“Restricted Investment” means an Investment other than a Permitted Investment.

“Restricted Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, any Subsidiary of such Person other than an Unrestricted Subsidiary of such Person. Unless otherwise indicated this Indenture all references to Restricted Subsidiaries shall mean Restricted Subsidiaries of the Issuer.

“S&P” means Standard & Poor’s Ratings Group or any successor to the rating agency business thereof.

“Sale/Leaseback Transaction” means an arrangement relating to property now owned or hereafter acquired by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary whereby the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary transfers such property to a Person and the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary leases it from such Person, other than leases between the Issuer and a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer or between Restricted Subsidiaries of the Issuer.

“SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

“Secured Indebtedness” means any Indebtedness secured by a Lien.

“Secured Indebtedness Leverage Ratio” means, with respect to any Person, at any date the ratio of (i) Secured Indebtedness of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of such date of calculation (determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP) to (ii) Consolidated Cash Flow of such Person for the four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding such date on which such additional Indebtedness is Incurred. In the event that the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries Incurs or redeems any Indebtedness subsequent to the commencement of the period for which the Secured Indebtedness Leverage Ratio is being calculated but prior to the event for which the calculation of the Secured Indebtedness Leverage Ratio is made (the “ Secured Leverage Calculation Date ”), then the Secured Indebtedness Leverage Ratio shall be calculated giving pro forma effect to such Incurrence or redemption of Indebtedness as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period. The provisions applicable to pro forma transactions and Indebtedness set forth in the second paragraph of the definition of “Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio” shall apply for purposes of making the computation referred to in this paragraph.

“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.

“Seller Preferred Stock” means the shares of the preferred stock to be issued by the Holdings in the Transactions, or subsequently issued shares issued in respect of payable-in-

 

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kind dividend payments therein or issued upon stock splits or redemptions or otherwise in respect thereof

“Senior Credit Documents” means the collective reference to any Credit Agreement, any notes issued pursuant thereto and the guarantees thereof, and the collateral documents relating thereto, as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

“Senior Subordinated Bridge Loan Facility” means the unsecured senior subordinated bridge loan facility dated October 17, 2005 in an initial aggregate principal amount of approximately $383.6 million entered into in connection with the consummation of the Transactions, among the Issuer, Credit Suisse, Cayman Islands Branch (or an affiliate thereof), as administrative agent, DBSI as syndication agent, Banc of America Bridge LLC and BNPPSC as co-documentation agents, and Credit Suisse and DBSI as joint lead arrangers and joint bookrunners, and other lenders.

“Significant Subsidiary” means any Restricted Subsidiary that would be a “significant subsidiary” of the Issuer within the meaning of Rule 1-02 under Regulation S-X promulgated by the SEC or any successor provision.

“Similar Business” means any business or activity of the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries currently conducted or proposed as of the Issue Date, or any business or activity that is reasonably similar thereto or a reasonable extension, development or expansion thereof, or is complementary, incidental, ancillary or related thereto.

“Sponsor” means Apollo Management L.P., one or more investment funds controlled by Apollo Management, L.P. and any of their respective Affiliates.

“Sponsor Consulting Agreement” means the Consulting Agreement between the Sponsor and the Issuer to be dated the Issue Date.

“Stated Maturity” means, with respect to any security, the date specified in such security as the fixed date on which the final payment of principal of such security is due and payable, including pursuant to any mandatory redemption provision (but excluding any provision providing for the repurchase of such security at the option of the holder thereof upon the happening of any contingency beyond the control of the issuer unless such contingency has occurred).

“Stock Purchase Agreement” means the Purchase Agreement dated as of July 26, 2005, as amended and supplemented on the Issue Date, by and among Cendant, the Issuer and Affinion Group Holdings, Inc. (formerly Affinity Acquisition, Inc.), pursuant to which Cendant agreed to sell to the Issuer all of the equity interests of Affinion Group, LLC (formerly Cendant Marketing Group, LLC) and Affinion International Holdings Limited (formerly Cendant International Holdings Limited).

“Subordinated Indebtedness” means (a) with respect to the Issuer, any Indebtedness of the Issuer which is by its terms subordinated in right of payment to the Notes and (b) with respect to any Guarantor, any Indebtedness of such Guarantor which is by its terms subordinated in right of payment to its Guarantee.

 

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“Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person (1) any corporation, association or other business entity (other than a partnership, joint venture or limited liability company) 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 of determination owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of such Person or a combination thereof, (2) any partnership, joint venture or limited liability company of which (x) more than 50% of the capital accounts, distribution rights, total equity and voting interests or general and limited partnership interests, as applicable, are owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof, whether in the form of membership, general, special or limited partnership interests or otherwise, and (y) such Person or any Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary of such Person is a controlling general partner or otherwise controls such entity and (3) any Person that is consolidated in the consolidated financial statements of the specified Person in accordance with GAAP.

“Subsidiary Guarantor” means each Subsidiary of the Issuer that is a Guarantor.

“Subsidiary Spin-Off” means any public sale after the Issue Date of common stock of any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer in connection with a spin-off or a similar transaction involving the disposition of a business operation, unit or division.

“TIA” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C. Sections 77aaa-77bbbb) as in effect on the date of this Indenture.

“Total Assets” means, with respect to any Person, the total consolidated assets of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries, as shown on the most recent balance sheet

“Transaction Documents” means the Stock Purchase Agreement, the Credit Agreement and, in each case, any other document entered into in connection therewith, in each case as amended, supplemented or modified from time to time

“Transactions” means, collectively, the Acquisition, the entering into of the Credit Agreement and Senior Subordinated Bridge Loan Facility on the Issue Date and the offering of the Initial Notes and the application of the proceeds therefrom.

“Trust Officer” means any officer within the corporate trust department of the Trustee, including any vice president, assistant vice president, assistant secretary, assistant treasurer, trust officer or any other officer of the Trustee, who shall have direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture and, shall also mean, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any officer of the Trustee to whom any corporate trust matter is referred because of such person’s knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.

“Trustee” means the respective party named as such in this Indenture until a successor replaces it and, thereafter, means the successor.

“Uniform Commercial Code” means the New York Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time.

 

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“Unrestricted Subsidiary” means:

(1) initially Affinion Loyalty, LLC;

(2) any Subsidiary of the Issuer that at the time of determination shall be designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary by the Board of Directors of such Person in the manner provided below; and

(3) any Subsidiary of an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

The Board of Directors of the Issuer may designate any Subsidiary of the Issuer (including any newly acquired or newly formed Subsidiary of the Issuer) to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary unless such Subsidiary or any of its Subsidiaries owns any Equity Interests or Indebtedness of, or owns or holds any Lien on any property of, the Issuer or any other Subsidiary of the Issuer (other than any Subsidiary of the Subsidiary to be so designated); provided , however , that the Subsidiary to be so designated and its Subsidiaries do not at the time of designation have and do not thereafter Incur any Indebtedness pursuant to which the lender has recourse to any of the assets of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than Equity Interests of Unrestricted Subsidiaries); provided further , however , that either:

(a) the Subsidiary to be so designated has total consolidated assets of $1,000 or less; or

(b) if such Subsidiary has consolidated assets greater than $1,000, then such designation would be permitted under Section 4.04.

The Board of Directors of the Issuer may designate any Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary; provided , however , that immediately after giving effect to such designation:

(x) (1) the Issuer could Incur $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test under Section 4.03(a) herein or (2) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries would be greater than such ratio for the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries immediately prior to such designation, in each case on a pro forma basis taking into account such designation, and

(y) no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing.

Any such designation by the Board of Directors of the Issuer shall be evidenced to the Trustee by promptly filing with the Trustee a copy of the resolution of the Board of Directors of the Issuer giving effect to such designation and an Officers’ Certificate certifying that such designation complied with the foregoing provisions.

“U.S. Government Obligations” means securities that are:

(1) direct obligations of the United States of America for the timely payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged or

 

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(2) obligations of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States of America the timely payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United States of America, which, in each case, are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, and shall also include a depository receipt issued by a bank (as defined in Section 3(a)(2) of the Securities Act) as custodian with respect to any such U.S. Government Obligations or a specific payment of principal of or interest on any such U.S. Government Obligations held by such custodian for the account of the holder of such depository receipt; provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depository receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the U.S. Government Obligations or the specific payment of principal of or interest on the U.S. Government Obligations evidenced by such depository receipt.

“Voting Stock” of any Person as of any date means the Capital Stock of such Person that is at the time entitled to vote in the election of the Board of Directors of such Person.

“Weighted Average Life to Maturity” means, when applied to any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, as the case may be, at any date, the quotient obtained by dividing (1) the sum of the products of the number of years from the date of determination to the date of each successive scheduled principal payment of such Indebtedness or redemption or similar payment with respect to such Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock multiplied by the amount of such payment, by (2) the sum of all such payments.

“Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary” is any Wholly Owned Subsidiary that is a Restricted Subsidiary.

“Wholly Owned Subsidiary” of any Person means a Subsidiary of such Person 100% of the outstanding Capital Stock or other ownership interests of which (other than directors’ qualifying shares or shares or interests required to be held by foreign nationals) shall at the time be owned by such Person or by one or more Wholly Owned Subsidiaries of such Person and one or more Wholly Owned Subsidiaries of such Person.

SECTION 1.02. Other Definitions .

 

Term

  

Defined in

Section

“Affiliate Transaction”

   4.07

“Asset Sale Offer”

   4.06(c)

“Bankruptcy Law”

   6.01

“Base Currency”

   12.16

“Change of Control Offer”

   4.08(b)

“covenant defeasance option”

   8.01(b)

“Custodian”

   6.01

“Definitive Note”

   Appendix A

“Depository”

   Appendix A

“Event of Default”

   6.01

 

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“Excess Proceeds”

   4.06(c)

“Exchange Offer Registration Statement”

   Appendix A

“Global Notes”

   Appendix A

“Guaranteed Obligations”

   10.01(a)

“IAI”

   Appendix A

“incorporated provision”

   12.01

“Judgment Currency”

   12.16(b)

“legal defeasance option”

   8.01(b)

“Losses”

   4.03(b)

“Notes Custodian”

   Appendix A

“Offer Period”

   4.06(e)

“Paying Agent”

   2.04

“protected purchaser”

   2.08

“Purchase Agreement”

   Appendix A

“Private Exchange”

   Appendix A

“Private Exchange Note”

   Appendix A

“QIB”

   Appendix A

‘Rates of Exchange”

   12.16(b)

“Refinancing Indebtedness”

   4.03(b)

“Refunding Capital Stock”

   4.04(b)

“Registered Exchange Offer”

   Appendix A

“Registrar”

   2.04

“Registration Rights Agreement”

   Appendix A

“Regulation S”

   Appendix A

“Regulation S Global Note”

   Appendix A

“Restricted Payments”

   4.04(a)

“Retired Capital Stock”

   4.04(b)

“Rule 144A”

   Appendix A

“Rule 144A Global Note”

   Appendix A

“Shelf Registration Statement”

   Appendix A

“Specified Merger/Transfer Transaction”

   5.01(a)

“Successor Issuer”

   5.01 (a)

“Successor Guarantor”

   5.01(b)

“Transfer Restricted Notes”

   Appendix A

SECTION 1.03. Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act . This Indenture incorporates by reference certain provisions of the TIA. The following TIA terms have the following meanings:

“Commission” means the SEC.

“indenture securities” means the Notes and the Guarantees.

“indenture security holder” means a Holder.

“indenture to be qualified” means this Indenture.

 

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“indenture trustee” or “institutional trustee” means the Trustee.

“obligor” on the indenture securities means the Issuer, the Guarantors and any other obligor on the Notes.

All other TIA terms used in this Indenture that are defined by the TIA, defined by TIA reference to another statute or defined by SEC rule have the meanings assigned to them by such definitions.

SECTION 1.04. Rules of Construction . Unless the context otherwise requires:

(a) a term has the meaning assigned to it;

(b) an accounting term not otherwise defined has the meaning assigned to it in accordance with GAAP;

(c) “or” is not exclusive;

(d) “including” means including without limitation;

(e) words in the singular include the plural and words in the plural include the singular;

(f) unsecured Indebtedness shall not be deemed to be subordinate or junior to Secured Indebtedness merely by virtue of its nature as unsecured Indebtedness;

(g) the principal amount of any non-interest bearing or other discount security at any date shall be the principal amount thereof that would be shown on a balance sheet of the issuer dated such date prepared in accordance with GAAP;

(h) unless otherwise specified herein, all accounting terms used herein shall be interpreted, all accounting determinations hereunder shall be made, and all financial statements required to be delivered hereunder shall be prepared in accordance with GAAP; and

(i) whenever in this Indenture there is mentioned, in any context, principal, interest or any other amount payable under or with respect to any Notes, such mention shall be deemed to include mention of the payment of additional interest and Additional Amounts, to the extent that, in such context, additional interest or Additional Amounts are, were, or would be payable in respect thereof.

ARTICLE 2

THE NOTES

SECTION 2.01. Amount of Notes; Issuable in Series . The aggregate principal amount of Notes which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture on the Issue Date is $270,000,000. Subject to Section 4.03, the Issuer may issue Additional Notes from time

 

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to time after the Issue Date without notice or the consent of Holders. The Initial Notes, any Exchange Notes and any Additional Notes subsequently issued under this Indenture will be treated as a single class for all purposes hereunder, including, without limitation, waivers, amendments, redemptions and offers to purchase.

SECTION 2.02. Form and Dating . Provisions relating to the Notes are set forth in Appendix A, which is hereby incorporated in and expressly made a part of this Indenture. The (i) Initial Notes and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication and (ii) any Additional Notes (if issued as Transfer Restricted Notes) and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication shall each be substantially in the form set forth in Appendix A, which is hereby incorporated in and expressly made a part of this Indenture. The (i) Exchange Notes and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication and (ii) any Additional Notes issued other than as Transfer Restricted Notes and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication shall each be substantially in the form set forth in Appendix A, which is hereby incorporated in and expressly made a part of this Indenture. The Notes may have notations, legends or endorsements required by law, stock exchange rule, agreements to which the Issuer or any Guarantor is subject, if any, or usage (provided that any such notation, legend or endorsement is in a form acceptable to the Issuer). Each Note shall be dated the date of its authentication. The Notes shall be issuable only in registered form without interest coupons and only in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiples thereof.

SECTION 2.03. Execution and Authentication . (a) The Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery upon a written order of the Issuer signed by one Officer (i) Notes for original issue on the date hereof in an aggregate principal amount of $270,000,000, (ii) subject to the terms of this Indenture, Additional Notes in an aggregate principal amount to be determined at the time of issuance and specified therein and (iii) the Exchange Notes for issue in a Registered Exchange Offer or Private Exchange pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement for a like principal amount of Initial Notes and, if applicable, any Additional Notes. Such order shall specify the amount of the Notes to be authenticated, the date on which the original issue of Notes is to be authenticated and whether the Notes are to be Initial Notes, Additional Notes or Exchange Notes. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture or Appendix A, any issuance of Additional Notes after the Issue Date shall be in a principal amount of at least $1,000.

(b) One duly authorized Officer shall sign the Notes for the Issuer by manual signature.

(c) If an Officer whose signature is on a Note no longer holds that office at the time the Trustee authenticates the Note, the Note shall be valid nevertheless.

(d) A Note shall not be valid until an authorized signatory of the Trustee manually signs the certificate of authentication on the Note. The signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Note has been authenticated under this Indenture.

(e) The Trustee may appoint one or more authenticating agents reasonably acceptable to the Issuer to authenticate the Notes. Any such appointment shall be evidenced by an instrument signed by a Trust Officer, a copy of which shall be furnished to the Issuer. Unless limited by the terms of such appointment, an authenticating agent may authenticate Notes

 

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whenever the Trustee may do so. Each reference in this Indenture to authentication by the Trustee includes authentication by such agent. An authenticating agent has the same rights as any Registrar, Paying Agent or agent for service of notices and demands.

(f) The Trustee is hereby authorized to enter into a letter of representations with the Depository in the form provided by the Issuer and to act in accordance with such letter.

SECTION 2.04. Registrar and Paying Agent . (a) The Issuer shall maintain an office or agency where Notes may be presented for registration of transfer or for exchange (the “Registrar”), and where Notes may be presented for payment (the “Paying Agent”). The Registrar shall keep a register of the Notes and of their transfer and exchange. The Issuer may have one or more co-registrars and one or more additional paying agents. The term “Registrar” includes any co-registrars. The Issuer initially appoints the Trustee as (i) Registrar, and Paying Agent in connection with the Notes and (ii) the Custodian with respect to the Global Notes.

(b) The Issuer shall enter into an appropriate agency agreement with any Registrar or Paying Agent not a party to this Indenture, which shall incorporate the terms of the TIA. The agreement shall implement the provisions of this Indenture that relate to such agent. The Issuer shall notify the Trustee of the name and address of any such agent. If the Issuer fails to maintain a Registrar or Paying Agent, the Trustee shall act as such and shall be entitled to appropriate compensation therefor pursuant to Section 7.07. The Issuer or any of the Issuer’s domestically organized Wholly Owned Subsidiaries may act as Paying Agent or Registrar.

(c) The Issuer may remove any Registrar or Paying Agent upon written notice to such Registrar or Paying Agent and to the Trustee; provided , however , that no such removal shall become effective until (i) if applicable, acceptance of an appointment by a successor as evidenced by an appropriate agreement entered into by the Issuer and such successor Registrar or Paying Agent, as the case may be, and delivered to the Trustee or (ii) notification to the Trustee that the Trustee shall serve as Registrar or Paying Agent until the appointment of a successor in accordance with clause (i) above. The Registrar or Paying Agent may resign at any time upon written notice to the Issuer and the Trustee; provided , however , that the Trustee may resign as Paying Agent or Registrar only if the Trustee also resigns as Trustee in accordance with Section 7.08.

SECTION 2.05. Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust . Prior to each due date of the principal of and interest on any Note, the Issuer shall deposit with each Paying Agent (or if the Issuer or a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Issuer is acting as Paying Agent, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto) a sum sufficient to pay such principal and interest when so becoming due. The Issuer shall require each Paying Agent (other than the Trustee) to agree in writing that a Paying Agent shall hold in trust for the benefit of Holders or the Trustee all money held by a Paying Agent for the payment of principal of and interest on the Notes, and shall notify the Trustee of any default by the Issuer in making any such payment. If the Issuer or a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Issuer acts as Paying Agent, it shall segregate the money held by it as Paying Agent and hold it in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto. The Issuer at any time may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee and to account for any funds disbursed by such Paying Agent. Upon complying with

 

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this Section 2.05, a Paying Agent shall have no further liability for the money delivered to the Trustee.

SECTION 2.06. Holder Lists . The Trustee shall preserve in as current a form as is reasonably practicable the most recent list available to it of the names and addresses of Holders. If the Trustee is not the Registrar, the Issuer shall furnish, or cause the Registrar to furnish, to the Trustee, in writing at least five Business Days before each interest payment date and at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, a list in such form and as of such date as the Trustee may reasonably require of the names and addresses of Holders.

SECTION 2.07. Transfer and Exchange . (a) The Notes shall be issued in registered form and shall be transferable only upon the surrender of a Note for registration of transfer and in compliance with Appendix A. When a Note is presented to the Registrar with a request to register a transfer, the Registrar shall register the transfer as requested if its requirements therefor are met. When Notes are presented to the Registrar with a request to exchange them for an equal principal amount of Notes of the same series of other denominations, the Registrar shall make the exchange as requested if the same requirements are met. To permit registration of transfers and exchanges, the Issuer shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate Notes at the Registrar’s request. The Issuer may require payment of a sum sufficient to pay all taxes, assessments or other governmental charges in connection with any transfer or exchange pursuant to this Section 2.07. The Issuer shall not be required to make, and the Registrar need not register, transfers or exchanges of Notes selected for redemption (except, in the case of Notes to be redeemed in part, the portion thereof not to be redeemed) or of any Notes for a period of 15 days before a selection of Notes to be redeemed.

(b) Prior to the due presentation for registration of transfer of any Note, the Issuer, the Guarantors, the Trustee, each Paying Agent and the Registrar may deem and treat the Person in whose name a Note is registered as the absolute owner of such Note for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of and interest, if any, on such Note and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Note is overdue, and none of the Issuer, any Guarantor, the Trustee, a Paying Agent or the Registrar shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

(c) Any Holder of a beneficial interest in a Global Note shall, by acceptance of such beneficial interest, agree that transfers of beneficial interests in such Global Note may be effected only through a book-entry system maintained by (a) the Holder of such Global Note (or its agent) or (b) any Holder of a beneficial interest in such Global Note, and that ownership of a beneficial interest in such Global Note shall be required to be reflected in a book entry.

(d) All Notes issued upon any transfer or exchange pursuant to the terms of this Indenture shall evidence the same debt and shall be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as the Notes surrendered upon such transfer or exchange.

SECTION 2.08. Replacement Notes . (a) If a mutilated Note is surrendered to the Registrar or if the Holder of a Note claims that the Note has been lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken, the Issuer shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate a replacement Note of the same series if the requirements of Section 8-405 of the Uniform Commercial Code are met, such that the Holder (a) satisfies the Issuer or the Trustee within a reasonable time after such

 

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Holder has notice of such loss, destruction or wrongful taking and the Registrar does not register a transfer prior to receiving such notification, (b) makes such request to the Issuer or the Trustee prior to the Note being acquired by a protected purchaser as defined in Section 8-303 of the Uniform Commercial Code (a “protected purchaser”) and (c) satisfies any other reasonable requirements of the Trustee. If required by the Trustee or the Issuer, such Holder shall furnish an indemnity bond sufficient in the judgment of the Trustee to protect the Issuer, the Trustee, a Paying Agent and the Registrar from any loss that any of them may suffer if a Note is replaced. The Issuer and the Trustee may charge the Holder for their expenses in replacing a Note (including attorneys’ fees and disbursements in replacing such Note). In the event any such mutilated, lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken Note has become or is about to become due and payable, the Issuer in its discretion may pay such Note instead of issuing a new Note in replacement thereof.

(b) Every replacement Note is an additional obligation of the Issuer and the Guarantors.

(c) The provisions of this Section 2.08 are exclusive and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken Notes.

SECTION 2.09. Outstanding Notes . (a) Notes outstanding at any time are all Notes authenticated by the Trustee except for those canceled by it, those delivered to it for cancellation, those redeemed pursuant to Article 3 and those described in this Section 2.09 as not outstanding. Subject to Section 13.06, a Note does not cease to be outstanding because the Issuer, a Guarantor or an Affiliate of the Issuer or a Guarantor holds the Note.

(b) If a Note is replaced pursuant to Section 2.08 (other than a mutilated Note surrendered for replacement), it ceases to be outstanding unless the Trustee and the Issuer receive proof satisfactory to them that the replaced Note is held by a protected purchaser. A mutilated Note ceases to be outstanding upon surrender of such Note and replacement thereof pursuant to Section 2.08.

(c) If a Paying Agent segregates and holds in trust, in accordance with this Indenture, on a redemption date or maturity date money sufficient to pay all principal and interest payable on that date with respect to the Notes (or portions thereof) to be redeemed or maturing, as the case may be, then on and after that date such Notes (or portions thereof) cease to be outstanding and interest on them ceases to accrue.

SECTION 2.10. Temporary Notes . In the event that Definitive Notes are to be issued under the terms of this Indenture, until such Definitive Notes are ready for delivery, the Issuer may prepare and the Trustee shall authenticate temporary Notes. Temporary Notes shall be substantially in the form of Definitive Notes but may have variations that the Issuer consider appropriate for temporary Notes. Without unreasonable delay, the Issuer shall prepare and the Trustee shall authenticate Definitive Notes and make them available for delivery in exchange for temporary Notes upon surrender of such temporary Notes at the office or agency of the Issuer, without charge to the Holder. Until such exchange, temporary Notes shall be entitled to the same rights, benefits and privileges as Definitive Notes.

 

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SECTION 2.11. Cancellation . The Issuer at any time may deliver Notes to the Trustee for cancellation. The Registrar and each Paying Agent shall forward to the Trustee any Notes surrendered to them for registration of transfer, exchange or payment. The Trustee and no one else shall cancel all Notes surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange, payment or cancellation and shall dispose of canceled Notes in accordance with its customary procedures or deliver canceled Notes to the Issuer pursuant to written direction by an Officer. The Issuer may not issue new Notes to replace Notes it has redeemed, paid or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation. The Trustee shall not authenticate Notes in place of canceled Notes other than pursuant to the terms of this Indenture.

SECTION 2.12. Defaulted Interest . If the Issuer defaults in a payment of interest on the Notes, the Issuer shall pay the defaulted interest then borne by the Notes, as the case may be (plus interest on such defaulted interest to the extent lawful), in any lawful manner. The Issuer may pay the defaulted interest to the Persons who are Holders on a subsequent special record date. The Issuer shall fix or cause to be fixed any such special record date and payment date to the reasonable satisfaction of the Trustee and shall promptly mail or electronically transmit or cause to be mailed or electronically transmitted to each affected Holder, with a copy to the Trustee, a notice that states the special record date, the payment date and the amount of defaulted interest to be paid.

SECTION 2.13. CUSIP Numbers, ISINs, etc . The Issuer in issuing the Notes may use CUSIP numbers, ISINs and “Common Code” numbers (if then generally in use) and, if so, the Trustee shall use CUSIP numbers, ISINs and “Common Code” numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders; provided, however, that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers, either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice of a redemption, that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Notes and that any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers. The Issuer shall advise the Trustee of any change in the CUSIP numbers, ISINs and “Common Code” numbers.

SECTION 2.14. Calculation of Principal Amount of Notes . The aggregate principal amount of the Notes, at any date of determination, shall be the principal amount of the Notes outstanding at such date of determination. With respect to any matter requiring consent, waiver, approval or other action of the Holders of a specified percentage of the principal amount of all the Notes then outstanding, such percentage shall be calculated, on the relevant date of determination, by dividing (a) the principal amount, as of such date of determination, of Notes, the Holders of which have so consented by (b) the aggregate principal amount, as of such date of determination, of the Notes then outstanding, in each case, as determined in accordance with the preceding sentence, Section 2.09 and Section 13.06 of this Indenture. Any such calculation made pursuant to this Section 2.14 shall be made by the Issuer and delivered to the Trustee pursuant to an Officers’ Certificate.

 

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ARTICLE 3

REDEMPTION

SECTION 3.01. Redemption . The Notes may be redeemed, in whole, or from time to time in part, subject to the conditions and at the redemption prices set forth in Paragraph 5 of the form of Notes set forth in Appendix A, which are hereby incorporated by reference and made a part of this Indenture, together with accrued and unpaid interest and additional interest, if any, to the redemption date.

SECTION 3.02. Applicability of Article . Redemption of Notes at the election of the Issuer or otherwise, as permitted or required by the Notes or any provision of this Indenture, shall be made in accordance with the Notes, such provision and this Article.

SECTION 3.03. Notices to Trustee . If the Issuer elects to redeem Notes pursuant to the optional redemption provisions of Paragraph 5 of the applicable Note, they shall notify the Trustee in writing of (i) the Section of this Indenture pursuant to which the redemption shall occur, (ii) the redemption date, (iii) the principal amount of Notes to be redeemed and (iv) the redemption price. The Issuer shall give notice to the Trustee provided for in this paragraph at least 40 days but not more than 60 days before a redemption date if the redemption is pursuant to Paragraph 5 of the applicable Note, unless a shorter period is acceptable to the Trustee. Such notice shall be accompanied by an Officers’ Certificate and Opinion of Counsel from the Issuer to the effect that such redemption shall comply with the conditions herein. If fewer than all the Notes are to be redeemed, the record date relating to such redemption shall be selected by the Issuer and given to the Trustee, which record date shall be not fewer than 15 days after the date of notice to the Trustee. Any such notice may be canceled at any time prior to notice of such redemption being mailed or electronically transmitted to any Holder and shall thereby be void and of no effect.

SECTION 3.04. Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed . In the case of any partial redemption, selection of the Notes for redemption shall be made by the Trustee in compliance with the requirements of the principal national securities exchange, if any, on which the Notes are listed, or if the Notes are not so listed, on a pro rata basis, by lot or by such other method as the Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate (and in such manner as complies with applicable legal requirements); provided that no Notes of $1,000 or less shall be redeemed in part. If any Note is to be redeemed in part only, the notice of redemption relating to such Note shall state the portion of the principal amount thereof to be redeemed. A new Note in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion thereof shall be issued in the name of the holder thereof upon cancellation of the original Note. On and after the redemption date, interest shall cease to accrue on Notes or portions thereof called for redemption so long as the Issuer has deposited with the paying agent funds sufficient to pay the principal of, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest (if any) on, the Notes to be redeemed.

SECTION 3.05. Notice of Optional Redemption . (a) At least 30 days but not more than 60 days before a redemption date (or such shorter period as is provided for in a redemption pursuant to Section 3.10), the Issuer shall mail or electronically transmit or cause to

 

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be mailed by first-class mail or electronically transmitted a notice of redemption to each Holder whose Notes are to be redeemed.

Any such notice shall identify the Notes to be redeemed and shall state:

(i) the redemption date;

(ii) the redemption price and the amount of accrued interest to the redemption date;

(iii) the name and address of a Paying Agent;

(iv) that Notes called for redemption must be surrendered to a Paying Agent to collect the redemption price, plus accrued interest;

(v) if fewer than all the outstanding Notes of a series are to be redeemed, the certificate numbers and principal amounts of the particular Notes to be redeemed, the aggregate principal amount of Notes of a series to be redeemed and the aggregate principal amount of Notes of a series to be outstanding after such partial redemption;

(vi) that, unless the Issuer defaults in making such redemption payment, interest on Notes (or portion thereof) called for redemption ceases to accrue on and after the redemption date;

(vii) the CUSIP number, ISIN or “Common Code” number, if any, printed on the Notes being redeemed;

(viii) that no representation is made as to the correctness or accuracy of the CUSIP number or ISIN or “Common Code” number, if any, listed in such notice or printed on the Notes; and

(ix) the applicable provision in this Indenture or the Notes pursuant to which the Issuer is redeeming such Notes.

(b) At the Issuer’s request, the Trustee shall give the notice of redemption in the Issuer’s name and at the Issuer’s expense. In such event, the Issuer shall provide the Trustee with the information required by this Section 3.05 no later than 45 days before the Redemption Date (unless a shorter notice shall be agreed to by the Trustee).

SECTION 3.06. Effect of Notice of Redemption . Once notice of redemption is mailed or electronically transmitted in accordance with Section 3.05, Notes called for redemption become due and payable on the redemption date and at the redemption price stated in the notice. Upon surrender to any Paying Agent, such Notes shall be paid at the redemption price stated in the notice, plus accrued interest to the redemption date; provided, however, that if the redemption date is after a regular record date and on or prior to the interest payment date, the accrued interest shall be payable to the Holder of the redeemed Notes registered on the relevant record date. Failure to give notice or any defect in the notice to any Holder shall not affect the validity of the notice to any other Holder.

 

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SECTION 3.07. Deposit of Redemption Price . With respect to any Notes, prior to 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the redemption date, the Issuer shall deposit with the Paying Agent (or, if the Issuer or a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Issuer is a Paying Agent, shall segregate and hold in trust) money sufficient to pay the redemption price of and accrued interest on all Notes or portions thereof to be redeemed on that date other than Notes or portions of Notes called for redemption that have been delivered by the Issuer to the Trustee for cancellation. On and after the redemption date, interest shall cease to accrue on Notes or portions thereof called for redemption so long as the Issuer has deposited with the Paying Agent funds sufficient to pay the principal of, plus accrued and unpaid interest on, the Notes to be redeemed.

SECTION 3.08. Notes Redeemed in Part . Upon surrender of a Note that is redeemed in part, the Issuer shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate for the Holder (at the Issuer’s expense) a new Note equal in principal amount to the unredeemed portion of the Note surrendered.

ARTICLE 4

COVENANTS

SECTION 4.01. Payment of Notes . (a) The Issuer shall promptly pay the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, on the Notes on the dates and in the manner provided in the Notes and in this Indenture. An installment of principal of or interest on the Notes shall be considered paid on the date it is due if on such date the Trustee or any Paying Agent (other than the Issuer or any of its Affiliates) holds in accordance with this Indenture money sufficient to pay all principal and interest then due.

(b) The Issuer shall pay interest on overdue principal at the rate specified therefor in the Notes and shall pay interest on overdue installments of interest at the same rate borne by the Notes to the extent lawful.

SECTION 4.02. Reports and Other Information . (a) Notwithstanding that the Issuer may not be subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act or otherwise report on an annual and quarterly basis on forms provided for such annual and quarterly reporting pursuant to rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC, the Issuer shall file with the SEC (unless the SEC will not accept such a filing), and provide the Trustee and Holders with copies thereof, without cost to each Holder, within 15 days after it files (or attempts to file) them with the SEC,

(i) within the time periods specified by the Exchange Act, an annual report on Form 10-K (or any successor or comparable form) containing the information required to be contained therein (or required in such successor or comparable form);

(ii) within the time periods specified by the Exchange Act, a quarterly report on Form 10-Q (or any successor or comparable form), it being expressly understood that the first of such quarterly reports to be furnished to the Holders shall be a report for the

 

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quarter ended September 30, 2005, which shall be required to be furnished on or prior to the 75th day following September 30, 2005; and

(iii) all current reports that would be required to be filed with the SEC on Form 8-K.

In addition, the Issuer shall make such information available to prospective investors upon request.

Delivery of such reports, information and documents to the Trustee 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 Issuer’s compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively (subject to Article 7 hereof) on Officers’ Certificates).

(b) For so long as the Notes remain outstanding during any period when the Issuer is not subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, the Issuer shall furnish to the Holders and to prospective investors, upon their request, the information required to be delivered pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act.

(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Issuer shall be deemed to have furnished such reports referred to above to the Trustee and the Holders if it has filed such reports with the SEC via the EDGAR filing system and such reports are publicly available. In addition, such requirements shall be deemed satisfied prior to the commencement of the exchange offer contemplated by the Registration Rights Agreement relating to the Notes or the effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement by the filing with the SEC of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement and/or Shelf Registration Statement in accordance with the provisions of the Registration Rights Agreement, and any amendments thereto, with such financial information that satisfies Regulation S-X of the Securities Act and such registration statement and/or amendments thereto are filed at times that otherwise satisfy the time requirements set forth in Section 4.02(a).

(d) If at any time any Parent of the Issuer becomes a Guarantor (there being no obligation of any Parent to do so), holds no material assets other than cash, Cash Equivalents and the Capital Stock of the Issuer or of any direct or indirect parent corporation of the Issuer (and performs the related incidental activities associated with such ownership) and complies with the requirements of Rule 3-10 of Regulation S-X promulgated by the SEC (or any successor provision), the reports, information and other documents required to be filed and furnished to Holders pursuant to this Section 4.02 may, at the option of the Issuer, be filed by and be those of such Parent rather than the Issuer.

(e) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Issuer shall not be required to furnish any information, certifications or reports required by Items 307 and 308 of Regulation S-K prior to the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or Shelf Registration Statement, as applicable.

SECTION 4.03. Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock . (a) (i) the Issuer shall not, and shall not permit any of

 

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its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, Incur any Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness) or issue any shares of Disqualified Stock; and (ii) the Issuer shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to issue any shares of Preferred Stock; provided, however, that the Issuer and any Restricted Subsidiary may Incur Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness) or issue shares of Disqualified Stock and any Restricted Subsidiary may issue shares of Preferred Stock, in each case if the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Issuer’s most recently ended four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date on which such additional Indebtedness is Incurred or such Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock is issued would have been at least 2.0 to 1.0, determined on a pro forma basis (including a pro forma application of the net proceeds therefrom), as if the additional Indebtedness had been Incurred, or the Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock had been issued, as the case may be, and the application of proceeds therefrom had occurred at the beginning of such four-quarter period.

(b) The limitations set forth in Section 4.03(a) shall not apply to:

(i) the Incurrence by the Issuer or its Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness under any Credit Agreement and the issuance and creation of letters of credit and bankers’ acceptances thereunder (with letters of credit and bankers’ acceptances being deemed to have a principal amount equal to the face amount thereof) up to an aggregate principal amount of $1,020 million outstanding at any one time;

(ii) the Incurrence by the Issuer and the Guarantors of Indebtedness represented by the Notes (excluding any Additional Notes; provided , however that the Issuer may Incur Indebtedness represented by Additional Notes pursuant to this clause (ii) not to exceed $34 million in aggregate principal amount, including any refinancing thereof pursuant to clause (xiv) of this Section 4.03(b)) and the Guarantees, as applicable (and any exchange notes and guarantees thereof);

(iii) Indebtedness of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries existing on the Issue Date (other than Indebtedness described in Section 4.03(b)(i) and (ii)), including, without limitation, the Indebtedness outstanding under the Senior Subordinated Bridge Loan Facility;

(iv) (1) Indebtedness (including Capitalized Lease Obligations) Incurred by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, Disqualified Stock issued by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and Preferred Stock issued by any Restricted Subsidiaries of the Issuer to finance (whether prior to or within 270 days after) the purchase, lease, construction or improvement of property (real or personal) or equipment (whether through the direct purchase of assets or the Capital Stock of any Person owning such assets (but no other material assets)) and (2) Acquired Indebtedness; provided , however , that the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock incurred pursuant to this clause (iv), when aggregated with the principal amount of all other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock then outstanding that was Incurred (or deemed Incurred as provided under clause (xiv) below) pursuant to this clause (iv), does not exceed the greater of (x) $95 million and (y) 4.0% of Total Assets of the Issuer at the time of Incurrence;

 

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(v) Indebtedness Incurred by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries constituting reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit and bank guarantees issued in the ordinary course of business, including without limitation letters of credit in respect of workers’ compensation claims, health, disability or other benefits to employees or former employees or their families or property, casualty or liability insurance or self-insurance, or other Indebtedness with respect to reimbursement type obligations regarding workers’ compensation claims;

(vi) Indebtedness arising from agreements of the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary providing for indemnification, adjustment of purchase price or similar obligations, in each case, Incurred in connection with the Transactions or the disposition of any business, assets or a Subsidiary of the Issuer in accordance with the terms of this Indenture, other than guarantees of Indebtedness Incurred by any Person acquiring all or any portion of such business, assets or Subsidiary for the purpose of financing such acquisition;

(vii) Indebtedness of the Issuer to a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that any such Indebtedness is subordinated in right of payment to the obligations of the Issuer under the Notes; provided , further , that any subsequent issuance or transfer of any Capital Stock or any other event which results in any such Restricted Subsidiary ceasing to be a Restricted Subsidiary or any other subsequent transfer of any such Indebtedness (except to the Issuer or another Restricted Subsidiary) shall be deemed, in each case, to be an Incurrence of such Indebtedness;

(viii) shares of Preferred Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary issued to the Issuer or another Restricted Subsidiary; provided that any subsequent issuance or transfer of any Capital Stock or any other event that results in any Restricted Subsidiary that holds such shares of Preferred Stock of another Restricted Subsidiary ceasing to be a Restricted Subsidiary or any other subsequent transfer of any such shares of Preferred Stock (except to the Issuer or another Restricted Subsidiary) shall be deemed, in each case, to be an issuance of shares of Preferred Stock;

(ix) Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary to the Issuer or another Restricted Subsidiary; provided that if a Guarantor incurs such Indebtedness, and such Indebtedness is owed to a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor, such Indebtedness is subordinated in right of payment to the Guarantee of such Guarantor; provided further that any subsequent issuance or transfer of any Capital Stock or any other event which results in any Restricted Subsidiary holding such Indebtedness ceasing to be a Restricted Subsidiary or any other subsequent transfer of any such Indebtedness (except (x) to the Issuer or another Restricted Subsidiary or (y) a pledge of Indebtedness referred to in this clause (ix) shall be deemed to be held by the pledgor and shall not be deemed a transfer until the pledgee commences actions to foreclose on such Indebtedness) shall be deemed, in each case, to be an Incurrence of such Indebtedness;

(x) Hedging Obligations that are Incurred not for speculative purposes and either (1) for the purpose of fixing or hedging interest rate risk with respect to any Indebtedness that is permitted by the terms of this Indenture to be outstanding or (2) for

 

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the purpose of fixing or hedging currency exchange rate risk with respect to any currency exchanges;

(xi) obligations (including reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit and bank guarantees) in respect of performance, bid, appeal and surety bonds and completion guarantees provided by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary, in each case, reasonably required in the conduct of the business (giving effect to any growth or expansion of such business), including those to secure health, safety, insurance and environmental obligations of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries as conducted in accordance with good and prudent business industry practice;

(xii) Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer and Preferred Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer not otherwise permitted hereunder in an aggregate principal amount which, when aggregated with the principal amount or liquidation preference of all other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock then outstanding and Incurred pursuant to this clause (xii), does not exceed $100 million at any one time outstanding;

(xiii) any guarantee by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness or other obligations of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries so long as the Incurrence of such Indebtedness or other Obligations by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary is permitted under the terms of this Indenture; provided that if such Indebtedness is by its express terms subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or the Guarantee of such Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable, any such guarantee of such guarantor with respect to such Indebtedness shall be subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or such Guarantor’s Guarantee, as applicable, substantially to the same extent as such Indebtedness is subordinated to the Notes or the Guarantee of such Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable;

(xiv) the Incurrence by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer which serves to refund, refinance or defease any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock Incurred as permitted under the first paragraph of this covenant and clauses (ii), (iii), (iv), (xiv), (xv), (xviii) and (xix) of this Section 4.03(b), including any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock Incurred to pay premiums and fees in connection therewith (subject to the following provision, “Refinancing Indebtedness”) prior to its respective maturity; provided , however , that such Refinancing Indebtedness:

(1) has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity at the time such Refinancing Indebtedness is Incurred which is not less than the remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock being refunded or refinanced;

(2) has a Stated Maturity which is no earlier than the earlier of (x) the Stated Maturity of the Indebtedness being refunded or refinanced or (y) at least 91 days later than the maturity date of October 15, 2013;

 

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(3) to the extent such Refinancing Indebtedness refinances (a) Indebtedness junior to the Notes or the Guarantee of such Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable, such Refinancing Indebtedness is junior to the Notes or the Guarantee of such Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable, or (b) Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, such Refinancing Indebtedness is Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock;

(4) is Incurred in an aggregate principal amount (or if issued with original issue discount, an aggregate issue price) that is equal to or less than the aggregate principal amount (or if issued with original issue discount, the aggregate accreted value) then outstanding of the Indebtedness being refinanced plus premium and fees Incurred in connection with such refinancing;

(5) shall not include (x) Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer that is not a Subsidiary Guarantor that refinances Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary that is a Subsidiary Guarantor, or (y) Indebtedness of the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary that refinances Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of an Unrestricted Subsidiary; and

(6) in the case of any Refinancing Indebtedness Incurred to refinance Indebtedness outstanding under Section 4.03(b)(iv) or (xix), shall be deemed to have been Incurred and to be outstanding under such Section 4.03(b)(iv) or (xix), as applicable, and not this Section 4.03(b)(xiv) for purposes of determining amounts outstanding under such Section 4.03(b)(iv) or (xix),

provided further that subclauses (1) and (2) of this Section 4.03(b)(xiv) shall not apply to any refunding, refinancing or defeasance of (A) the Notes or (B) any Secured Indebtedness;

(xv) Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of Persons that are acquired by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or merged or amalgamated into the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary in accordance with the terms of this Indenture; provided , however , that such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock is not Incurred in contemplation of such acquisition, merger or amalgamation; provided further , however , that after giving effect to such acquisition, merger or amalgamation:

(1) the Issuer would be permitted to Incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in Section 4.03(a); or

(2) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Issuer would be greater than or equal to such ratio immediately prior to such acquisition;

(xvi) Indebtedness arising from the honoring by a bank or other financial institution of a check, draft or similar instrument drawn against insufficient funds in the ordinary course of business, provided that such Indebtedness is extinguished within five Business Days of its Incurrence;

 

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(xvii) Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary supported by a letter of credit or bank guarantee issued pursuant to the Credit Agreement, in a principal amount not in excess of the stated amount of such letter of credit or bank guarantee, provided that if (i) the Indebtedness represented by such letter of credit or bank guarantee is incurred under any of the clauses of this Section 4.03(b) and (ii) the Indebtedness incurred under this clause (xvii) is at any time no longer supported by such letter of credit or bank guarantee, then the Indebtedness previously incurred under this clause (xvii) shall be classified under the preceding paragraph or under another available clause in this paragraph and if such Indebtedness may not be so reclassified, then an Event of Default under this Indenture shall be deemed to have occurred;

(xviii) Contribution Indebtedness;

(xix) if the Issuer could not Incur $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to Section 4.03(a) after giving effect to such borrowing, Indebtedness of Non-Guarantor Restricted Subsidiaries Incurred for working capital purposes and any refinancings of such Indebtedness; provided , however , that the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness Incurred under this clause (xix), when aggregated with the principal amount of all other Indebtedness then outstanding and Incurred (or deemed Incurred pursuant to Section 4.03(b)(xiv) above) pursuant to this clause (xix), does not exceed $25 million; and

(xx) Indebtedness Incurred by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to fund losses, damages, liabilities, claims, costs and expenses (including attorney’s fees, interest, penalties, judgments and settlements, collectively, “Losses”), by reason of any litigation disclosed in the Offering Circular, including the financial statements included therein, or relating to the same facts and circumstances as disclosed; provided that (as certified in an Officers’ Certificate delivered to the Trustee) (1) the Issuer has provided to Cendant notice in respect of such Losses and has a reasonable good faith belief it is entitled to be indemnified by Cendant pursuant to the Stock Purchase Agreement in respect of such Losses and (2) the Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to this clause (xx) is in an amount equal to or less than the amount of the Losses for which indemnification is claimed; provided further that (1) after 30 days of the Issuer’s receiving funds in satisfaction of such indemnity or (2) if Cendant gives written notice to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary that it disputes the Issuer’s entitlement to indemnity with respect to any Losses and (A) such dispute is not challenged by the Issuer within 30 days of receipt of such notice or (B) there is a final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction confirming that the Issuer is not entitled to such indemnity which judgment is not discharged, waived or stayed for a period of 60 days, any amounts Incurred pursuant to this clause (xx) in respect of such indemnity that remain outstanding shall no longer be permitted under this clause (xx) and shall be deemed to be Incurred on such date.

(c) For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 4.03, in the event that an item of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock meets the criteria of one or more of the categories of permitted Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock described in Section 4.03(b)(i) through (xx) above or is entitled to be Incurred pursuant to Section 4.03(a), the Issuer shall, in its sole discretion, divide, classify or reclassify, or later

 

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divide, classify or reclassify, such item of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock in any manner that complies with this Section 4.03 and such item of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock shall be treated as having been Incurred pursuant to one or more of such clauses Section 4.03(b)(i) through (xx) or pursuant to Section 4.03(a). Notwithstanding the foregoing, Indebtedness under the Credit Agreement outstanding on the Issue Date shall be deemed to have been incurred on such date in reliance on the exception provided by clause 4.03(b)(i) above and the Issuer shall not be permitted to reclassify all or any portion of such Indebtedness outstanding on the Issue Date. Accrual of interest, the accretion of accreted value, amortization or original issue discount, the payment of interest in the form of additional Indebtedness with the same terms, the payment of dividends on Preferred Stock in the form of additional shares of Preferred Stock of the same class, the accretion of liquidation preference and increases in the amount of Indebtedness outstanding solely as a result of fluctuations in the exchange rate of currencies shall not be deemed to be an Incurrence of Indebtedness for purposes of this Section 4.03. Guarantees of, or obligations in respect of letters of credit relating to, Indebtedness which is otherwise included in the determination of a particular amount of Indebtedness shall not be included in the determination of such amount of Indebtedness; provided that the Incurrence of the Indebtedness represented by such guarantee or letter of credit, as the case may be, was in compliance with this Section 4.03.

(d) For purposes of determining compliance with any U.S. dollar-denominated restriction on the Incurrence of Indebtedness, the U.S. dollar-equivalent principal amount of Indebtedness denominated in a foreign currency shall be calculated based on the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date such Indebtedness was Incurred, in the case of term debt, or first committed or first Incurred (whichever yields the lower U.S. dollar equivalent), in the case of revolving credit debt; provided that if such Indebtedness is Incurred to refinance other Indebtedness denominated in a foreign currency, and such refinancing would cause the applicable U.S. dollar-denominated restriction to be exceeded if calculated at the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date of such refinancing, such U.S. dollar-denominated restriction shall be deemed not to have been exceeded so long as the principal amount of such refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount of such Indebtedness being refinanced.

(e) (i) the Issuer shall not Incur any Indebtedness that is subordinate in right of payment to any other Indebtedness of the Issuer unless it is subordinate in right of payment to the Notes to the same extent and (ii) the Issuer shall not permit any Guarantor to Incur any Indebtedness that is subordinate in right of payment to any other Indebtedness of such Guarantor unless it is subordinate in right of payment to such Guarantor’s Guarantee to the same extent. For purposes of this Section 4.03(e), no Indebtedness shall be deemed to be subordinated in right of payment to any other Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Guarantor, as applicable, solely by reason of any Liens or Guarantees arising or created in respect thereof or by virtue of the fact that the holders of any secured Indebtedness have entered into intercreditor agreements giving one or more of such holders priority over the other holders in the collateral held by them.

 

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SECTION 4.04. Limitation on Restricted Payments . (a) The Issuer shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly:

(i) declare or pay any dividend or make any distribution on account of the Issuer’s or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries’ Equity Interests, including any payment with respect to such Equity Interests made in connection with any merger, amalgamation or consolidation involving the Issuer (other than (A) dividends or distributions by the Issuer payable solely in Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Issuer; or (B) dividends or distributions by a Restricted Subsidiary on its common Equity Interests so long as, in the case of any dividend or distribution payable on or in respect of any class or series of securities issued by a Restricted Subsidiary other than a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary, the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary receives at least its pro rata share of such dividend or distribution in accordance with its Equity Interests in such class or series of securities);

(ii) purchase or otherwise acquire or retire for value any Equity Interests of the Issuer or any Parent of the Issuer, including in connection with any merger, amalgamation or consolidation;

(iii) make any principal payment on, or redeem, repurchase, defease or otherwise acquire or retire for value, in each case prior to any scheduled repayment or scheduled maturity, any Subordinated Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than the payment, redemption, repurchase, defeasance, acquisition or retirement of (A) Subordinated Indebtedness in anticipation of satisfying a sinking fund obligation, principal installment or final maturity, in each case due within one year of the date of such payment, redemption, repurchase, defeasance, acquisition or retirement and (B) Indebtedness permitted under clauses 4.03(b)(vii) and (ix)); or

(iv) make any Restricted Investment

(all such payments and other actions set forth in clauses (i) through (iv) above being collectively referred to as “Restricted Payments”), unless, at the time of such Restricted Payment:

(1) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would occur as a consequence thereof;

(2) immediately after giving effect to such transaction on a pro forma basis as if the Restricted Payment had been made and any Indebtedness Incurred on such date had been Incurred, (i) the Issuer would be permitted to Incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in Section 4.03(a) and (ii) the Consolidated Leverage Ratio of the Issuer would have been less than 5.0 to 1; and

 

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(3) such Restricted Payment, together with the aggregate amount of all other Restricted Payments made by the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries after the Issue Date (including Restricted Payments permitted by clauses (i), (iv) (only to the extent of one-half of the amount paid pursuant to such clause), (vi) and (viii) of Section 4.04(b), but excluding all other Restricted Payments permitted by the next succeeding paragraph), is less than the sum, without duplication, of:

(A) 50% of the Consolidated Net Income of the Issuer for the period (taken as one accounting period) from July 1, 2005 to the end of the Issuer’s most recently ended fiscal quarter for which internal financial statements are available at the time of such Restricted Payment (or, if such Consolidated Net Income for such period is a deficit, less 100% of such deficit); provided , however that, to the extent the Consolidated Leverage Ratio of the Issuer on a pro forma basis as if the Restricted Payment had been made and any Indebtedness Incurred on such date had been Incurred would have been less than 3.0 to 1, then 75% of the Consolidated Net Income of the Issuer for the aforementioned period shall be included pursuant to this clause (3)(A), plus

(B) 100% of the aggregate net proceeds, including cash and the Fair Market Value (as determined in accordance with the next succeeding sentence) of property other than cash, received by the Issuer after the Issue Date from the issue or sale of Equity Interests of the Issuer or any Parent of the Issuer (excluding (without duplication) Excluded Contributions, Refunding Capital Stock, Designated Preferred Stock, Disqualified Stock and the Cash Contribution Amount) including Equity Interests (other than Refunding Capital Stock, Disqualified Stock or Designated Preferred Stock) issued upon conversion of Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock or upon exercise of warrants or options (other than an issuance or sale to a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer or an employee stock ownership plan or trust established by the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries), plus

(C) 100% of the aggregate amount of contributions to the capital of the Issuer received in cash and the Fair Market Value (as determined in accordance with the next succeeding sentence) of property other than cash after the Issue Date (other than Excluded Contributions, Refunding Capital Stock, Designated Preferred Stock, Disqualified Stock, the Cash Contribution Amount and contributions by a Restricted Subsidiary), plus

(D) 100% of the aggregate amount received by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary in cash and the Fair Market Value (as determined in accordance with the next succeeding sentence) of property other than cash received by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary from:

(I) the sale or other disposition (other than to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer) of Restricted Investments made by the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries and from repurchases and redemptions of such Restricted Investments from the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries by any Person (other than the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries) and from repayments of loans or advances which constituted Restricted Investments (other than in each case to the extent that the

 

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Restricted Investment was made pursuant to Section 4.04(b)(vii) or (x)),

(II) the sale (other than to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer) of the Capital Stock of an Unrestricted Subsidiary (other than an Unrestricted Subsidiary to the extent the investments in such Unrestricted Subsidiary was made by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to Section 4.04(b)(vii) or (x) or to the extent such Investment constituted a Permitted Investment) or

(III) a distribution, dividend or other payment from an Unrestricted Subsidiary; plus

(E) in the event any Unrestricted Subsidiary of the Issuer has been redesignated as a Restricted Subsidiary or has been merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into, or transfers or conveys its assets to, or is liquidated into, the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer, the Fair Market Value (as determined in accordance with the next succeeding sentence) of the Investments of the Issuer in such Unrestricted Subsidiary at the time of such redesignation, combination or transfer (or of the assets transferred or conveyed, as applicable) (other than in each case to the extent that the designation of such Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary was made pursuant to clause (b)(vii) or (x) of this Section 4.04 or constituted a Permitted Investment).

The Fair Market Value of property other than cash covered by clauses 3(B), (C), (D) and (E) above shall be determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Issuer and

(x) in the event of property with a Fair Market Value in excess of $10.0 million, shall be set forth in an Officers’ Certificate or

(y) in the event of property with a Fair Market Value in excess of $25.0 million, shall be set forth in a resolution approved by at least a majority of the Board of Directors of the Issuer.

(b) The provisions of Section 4.04(a) shall not prohibit:

(i) the payment of any dividend or distribution within 60 days after the date of declaration thereof, if at the date of declaration such payment would have complied with the provisions of this Indenture;

(ii) (a) the repurchase, retirement or other acquisition of any Equity Interests (“Retired Capital Stock”) of the Issuer or any Parent of the Issuer or Subordinated Indebtedness of the Issuer, any Parent of the Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor in exchange for, or out of the proceeds of, the substantially concurrent sale (other than the Cash Contribution Amount, Excluded Contributions or the sale of any Disqualified Stock or Designated Preferred Stock or any Equity Interests sold to a Subsidiary of the Issuer or

 

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to an employee stock ownership plan or any trust established by the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries) of Equity Interests of the Issuer or any Parent of the Issuer or contributions to the equity capital of the Issuer (collectively, including any such contributions, “Refunding Capital Stock”) and (B) the declaration and payment of accrued dividends on the Retired Capital Stock out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale (other than to a Subsidiary of the Issuer or to an employee stock ownership plan or any trust established by the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries) of Refunding Capital Stock;

(iii) the redemption, repurchase or other acquisition or retirement of Subordinated Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor made by exchange for, or out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale (or as promptly as practicable after giving any requisite notice to the holders of such Subordinated Indebtedness) of, new Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor which is Incurred in accordance with Section 4.03 so long as

(A) the principal amount of such new Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount of the Subordinated Indebtedness being so redeemed, repurchased, acquired or retired for value (plus the amount of any premium required to be paid under the terms of the instrument governing the Subordinated Indebtedness being so redeemed, repurchased, acquired or retired plus any fees incurred in connection therewith),

(B) such Indebtedness is Incurred by the Issuer or by a Subsidiary Guarantor in respect of refinanced Indebtedness of a Subsidiary Guarantor and, in each case, is subordinated to the Notes, or the related Guarantee, as the case may be, at least to the same extent as such Subordinated Indebtedness so purchased, exchanged, redeemed, repurchased, acquired or retired for value,

(C) such Indebtedness has a final scheduled maturity date equal to or later than the earlier of (x) final scheduled maturity date of the Subordinated Indebtedness being so redeemed, repurchased, acquired or retired or (y) at least 91 days later than October 15, 2013, and

(D) such Indebtedness has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity at the time Incurred which is not less than the remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Subordinated Indebtedness being so redeemed, repurchased, acquired or retired;

(iv) the repurchase, retirement or other acquisition for value (or dividends to any Parent of the Issuer to finance any such repurchase, retirement or other acquisition for value) of Equity Interests of the Issuer or any Parent of the Issuer held by any future, present or former employee, director or consultant of the Issuer, any Parent of the Issuer or any Subsidiary of the Issuer pursuant to any management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or other agreement or arrangement; provided , however , that the aggregate amounts paid under this clause (iv) do not exceed $12.5 million in any calendar year (with unused amounts in any calendar year being permitted to be carried over to the following two calendar years subject to a

 

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maximum payment (without giving effect to the following proviso) of $25 million in any calendar year); provided further however, that such amount in any calendar year may be increased by an amount not to exceed:

(A) the cash proceeds received by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries from the sale of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock or Designated Preferred Stock) of the Issuer after the Issue Date to members of management, directors or consultants of the Issuer, any Parent of the Issuer and Restricted Subsidiaries of the Issuer ( provided that the amount of such cash proceeds utilized for any such repurchase, retirement, other acquisition or dividend shall not increase the amount available for Restricted Payments under Section 4.04(b)(iii)(C)); plus

(B) the cash proceeds of key man life insurance policies received by the Issuer, any Parent of the Issuer (to the extent contributed to the Issuer) or the Restricted Subsidiaries of the Issuer after the Issue Date; less

(C) the amount of any Restricted Payments previously made pursuant to Sections 4.04(b)(iv)(A) and (B);

(v) the declaration and payment of dividends or distributions to holders of any class or series of Disqualified Stock of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries issued or incurred in accordance with Section 4.03;

(vi) the declaration and payment of dividends or distributions (a) to holders of any class or series of Designated Preferred Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) issued after the Issue Date and (b) to any Parent of the Issuer, the proceeds of which shall be used to fund the payment of dividends to holders of any class or series of Designated Preferred Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of any Parent of the Issuer issued after the Issue Date; provided , however , that (A) in the case of subclause (a) and (b) of this Section 4.04(b)(vi), for the most recently ended four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date of issuance of such Designated Preferred Stock, after giving effect to such issuance (and the payment of dividends or distributions) on a pro forma basis, the Issuer would be permitted to Incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test under Section 4.03(a) and (B) the aggregate amount of dividends declared and paid pursuant to subclause (a) and (b) of this Section 4.04(b)(vi) does not exceed the net cash proceeds actually received by the Issuer from any such sale of Designated Preferred Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) issued after the Issue Date;

(vii) Investments in Unrestricted Subsidiaries having an aggregate Fair Market Value, taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (vii) that are at that time outstanding, not to exceed $35 million at the time of such Investment (with the Fair Market Value of each Investment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value); provided that the dollar amount of Investments made pursuant to this clause (vii) shall not be reduced by the sale,

 

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disposition or other transfer of such Investments unless the proceeds of such sale, disposition or other transfer are received by the Issuer and/or its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(viii) the payment of dividends on the Issuer’s common Capital Stock (or the payment of dividends to any Parent of the Issuer to fund the payment by such Parent of the Issuer of dividends on such entity’s common Capital Stock) of up to 7.5% per annum of the net cash proceeds received by or contributed to the Issuer from any public offering of common Capital Stock, other than public offerings with respect to common Capital Stock of the Issuer or any Parent of the Issuer registered on Form S-4 or Form S-8 and other than any public sale constituting an Excluded Contribution;

(ix) Investments that are made with Excluded Contributions;

(x) other Restricted Payments in an aggregate amount not to exceed $40 million;

(xi) the distribution, as a dividend or otherwise, of shares of Capital Stock of, or Indebtedness owed to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer by, Unrestricted Subsidiaries (other than to the extent such Investments were made pursuant to clauses (vii) or (x) of this Section 4.04(b) or pursuant to clauses (9) or (10) of the definition of Permitted Investments);

(xii) (a) with respect to each tax year or portion thereof that any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer qualifies as a Flow Through Entity, the distribution by the Issuer to the holders of Capital Stock of such direct or indirect parent of the Issuer of an amount equal to the product of the amount of aggregate net taxable income of the Issuer allocated by the Issuer to the holders of Capital Stock of the Issuer for such period and the Presumed Tax Rate for such period; and (b) with respect to any tax year or portion thereof that any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer does not qualify as a Flow Through Entity, payment of dividends or other distributions to any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer that files a consolidated U.S. federal tax return that includes the Issuer and its subsidiaries in an amount not to exceed the amount that the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries would have been required to pay in respect of federal, state or local taxes, as the case may be, in respect of such year if the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries had paid such taxes directly as a stand-alone taxpayer or stand-alone group;

(xiii) the declaration and payment of dividends to, or the making of loans to, any Parent of the Issuer (a) in amounts required for such entity to pay general corporate overhead expenses (including salaries, bonuses, benefits paid to management and employees of any Parent and professional and administrative expenses) for any direct or indirect parent entity of the Issuer to the extent such expenses are attributable to the ownership or operation of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries and (b) in amounts required for any Parent of the Issuer to pay interest and/or principal on Indebtedness that satisfies each of the following: (i) the proceeds of which were contributed to the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, (ii) that has been guaranteed by, or is otherwise considered Indebtedness of, the Issuer Incurred in accordance with Section 4.03 and (iii)

 

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that was incurred (A) to refund, refinance or defease Indebtedness of such Parent of the Issuer or the Issuer and (B) pursuant to Section 4.04(a) or Section 4.03(b)(xiv);

(xiv) any Restricted Payment used to fund the Transactions and the fees and expenses related thereto or made in connection with the consummation of the Transactions as described in the Offering Circular (including payments made pursuant to or as contemplated by the Transaction Documents, whether payable on the Issue Date or thereafter), or owed by any Parent of the Issuer, the Issuer or Restricted Subsidiaries of the Issuer to Affiliates, in each case to the extent permitted by Section 4.07;

(xv) repurchases of Equity Interests deemed to occur upon exercise of stock options or warrants if such Equity Interests represent a portion of the exercise price of such options or warrants;

(xvi) payments of cash, or dividends, distributions or advances by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary to allow any such entity to make payments of cash, in lieu of the issuance of fractional shares upon the exercise of warrants or upon the conversion or exchange of Capital Stock of any such Person; provided , however , that the aggregate amount of such payments, dividends, distributions or advances does not exceed $4 million;

(xvii) (a) the payment, purchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement of Subordinated Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries and (b) the payment of dividends, distributions and advances to any Parent of the Issuer to allow such Parent to purchase, repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire or retire for value shares of Seller Preferred Stock, in each case pursuant to provisions similar to those of Section 4.08 and 4.06; provided that, prior to such payment, purchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement, the Issuer (or a third party to the extent permitted by this Indenture) has made a Change of Control Offer or Asset Sale Offer, as the case may be, with respect to the Notes as a result of such Change of Control or Asset Sale, as the case may be, and has repurchased all Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn in connection with such Change of Control Offer or Asset Sale Offer, as the case may be; and

(xviii) the repayment of Indebtedness of the Issuer outstanding under the Senior Subordinated Bridge Loan Facility out of the proceeds from the sale by the Issuer of Additional Notes pursuant to Section 4.03(b)(ii) in an amount not to exceed $33.6 million;

provided , however , that at the time of, and after giving effect to, any Restricted Payment permitted under clauses (iv), (v), (vi), (vii), (viii), (x), (xi), (xvii) and (xviii) of this Section 4.04(b), no Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would occur as a consequence thereof.

The amount of all Restricted Payments (other than cash) shall be the Fair Market Value on the date of the Restricted Payment of the asset(s) or securities proposed to be transferred or issued by the Issuer or such Subsidiary, as the case may be, pursuant to the Restricted Payment.

 

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Except as otherwise provided herein, the Fair Market Value of any assets or securities that are required to be valued by this covenant shall be determined in good faith by senior management or the Board of Directors of the Issuer.

(c) As of the Issue Date, all of the Issuer’s Subsidiaries (except for Affinion Loyalty, LLC) shall be Restricted Subsidiaries. The Issuer shall not permit any Unrestricted Subsidiary to become a Restricted Subsidiary except pursuant to the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary.” For purposes of designating any Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, all outstanding Investments by the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries (except to the extent repaid) in the Subsidiary so designated shall be deemed to be Restricted Payments or Permitted Investments in an amount determined as set forth in the last sentence of the definition of “Investments.” Such designation shall only be permitted if Restricted Payments or Permitted Investments in such amount would be permitted at such time and if such Subsidiary otherwise meets the definition of an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

SECTION 4.05. Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Subsidiaries . The Issuer shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create or otherwise cause or suffer to exist or become effective any consensual encumbrance or consensual restriction on the ability of any Restricted Subsidiary to:

(a) pay dividends or make any other distributions to the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (1) on its Capital Stock or (2) with respect to any other interest or participation in, or measured by, its profits; or (ii) pay any Indebtedness owed to the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(b) make loans or advances to the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; or

(c) sell, lease or transfer any of its properties or assets to the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

except in each case for such encumbrances or restrictions existing under or by reason of:

(1) contractual encumbrances or restrictions in effect on the Issue Date, including pursuant to the Credit Agreement, other Senior Credit Documents and the Senior Subordinated Bridge Loan Facility;

(2) this Indenture and the Notes (and any Exchange Notes and Guarantees thereof);

(3) applicable law or any applicable rule, regulation or order;

(4) any agreement or other instrument of a Person acquired by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary which was in existence at the time of such acquisition (but not created in contemplation thereof), which encumbrance or restriction is not applicable to any Person, or the properties or assets of any Person, other than the Person, or the property or assets of the Person, so acquired;

 

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(5) contracts or agreements for the sale of assets, including customary restrictions with respect to a Subsidiary pursuant to an agreement that has been entered into for the sale or disposition of all or substantially all of the Capital Stock or assets of such Subsidiary;

(6) Secured Indebtedness otherwise permitted to be Incurred pursuant to Section 4.03 and 4.12 that limit the right of the debtor to dispose of the assets securing such Indebtedness;

(7) restrictions on cash or other deposits or net worth imposed by customers, suppliers or other vendors under contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(8) customary provisions in joint venture agreements and other similar agreements (including customary provisions in agreements relating to any Joint Venture);

(9) purchase money obligations for property acquired and Capitalized Lease Obligations in the ordinary course of business that impose restrictions of the nature discussed in Section 4.05(c) on the property so acquired;

(10) customary provisions contained in leases, licenses, contracts and other similar agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business that impose restrictions of the type described in Section 4.05(c) on the property subject to such lease;

(11) other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer that is Incurred subsequent to the Issue Date and permitted pursuant to Section 4.03; provided that such encumbrances and restrictions contained in any agreement or instrument shall not materially affect the Issuer’s ability to make anticipated principal or interest payments on the Notes (as determined in good faith by senior management or the Board of Directors of the Issuer); and

(12) any encumbrances or restrictions of the type referred to in clauses (a), (b) and (c) of this Section 4.05 imposed by any amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings of the contracts, instruments or obligations referred to in clauses (1) through (11) above; provided that such amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings are, in the good faith judgment of senior management or the Board of Directors of the Issuer, no more restrictive as a whole with respect to such encumbrances and restrictions than those prior to such amendment, modification, restatement, renewal, increase, supplement, refunding, replacement or refinancing.

For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 4.05, (i) the priority of any Preferred Stock in receiving dividends or liquidating distributions prior to dividends or liquidating distributions being paid on common Capital Stock shall not be deemed a restriction on the ability to make distributions on Capital Stock and (ii) the subordination of loans or advances made to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer to other Indebtedness Incurred by the Issuer or any such Restricted Subsidiary shall not be deemed a restriction on the ability to make loans or advances.

 

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SECTION 4.06. Asset Sales . (a) The Issuer shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, cause or make an Asset Sale, unless (x) the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, as the case may be, receives consideration at the time of such Asset Sale at least equal to the Fair Market Value (as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Issuer) of the assets sold or otherwise disposed of and (y) at least 75% of the consideration therefor received by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, is in the form of Cash Equivalents; provided that the amount of:

(i) any liabilities (as shown on the Issuer’s or such Restricted Subsidiary’s most recent balance sheet) of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer (other than liabilities that are by their terms subordinated to the Notes) that are assumed by the transferee of any such assets,

(ii) any notes or other obligations or other securities or assets received by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer from such transferee that are converted by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer into cash within 180 days of the receipt thereof (to the extent of the cash received), and

(iii) any Designated Non-cash Consideration received by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in such Asset Sale having an aggregate Fair Market Value (as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Issuer), taken together with all other Designated Non-cash Consideration received pursuant to this clause (iii) that is at that time outstanding, not to exceed the greater of $50 million or 2.5% of Total Assets of the Issuer at the time of the receipt of such Designated Non-cash Consideration (with the Fair Market Value of each item of Designated Non-cash Consideration being measured at the time received and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value)

shall be deemed to be Cash Equivalents for the purposes of this Section 4.06(a).

(b) Within 365 days after the receipt by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer of the Net Proceeds of any Asset Sale, the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer may apply the Net Proceeds from such Asset Sale, at its option:

(i) to repay Secured Indebtedness, including Indebtedness under the Credit Agreement and, if the Indebtedness repaid is revolving credit Indebtedness, to correspondingly reduce commitments with respect thereto or Pari Passu Indebtedness (provided that if the Issuer or any Guarantor shall so reduce Obligations under Pari Passu Indebtedness (other than Pari Passu Indebtedness that is Secured Indebtedness), the Issuer shall equally and ratably reduce Obligations under the Notes if the Notes are then prepayable or, if the Notes may not then be prepaid, by making an offer (in accordance with the procedures set forth below for an Asset Sale Offer) to all holders to purchase at a purchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, the pro rata principal amount of Notes that would otherwise be prepaid) or Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor, in each case other than Indebtedness owed to the Issuer or an Affiliate of the Issuer; or

 

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(ii) to make an investment in any one or more businesses ( provided that if such investment is in the form of the acquisition of Capital Stock of a Person, such acquisition results in such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer), or capital expenditures or assets, in each case used or useful in a Similar Business, and/or

(iii) to make an investment in any one or more businesses ( provided that if such investment is in the form of the acquisition of Capital Stock of a Person, such acquisition results in such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer), properties or assets that replace the properties and assets that are the subject of such Asset Sale or Event of Loss;

provided that in the case of this Section 4.06(b)(ii) and (iii), a binding commitment shall be treated as a permitted application of the Net Proceeds from the date of such commitment so long as to purchase (x) such purchase is consummated within 545 days after the receipt by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Net Proceeds of any Asset Sale and (y) if such purchase is not consummated within the period set forth in subclause (x), the Net Proceeds not so applied shall be deemed to be Excess Proceeds (as defined below).

(c) Pending the final application of any Net Proceeds from an Asset Sale, the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer may temporarily reduce Indebtedness under a revolving credit facility, if any, or otherwise invest such Net Proceeds in Cash Equivalents or Investment Grade Securities. Any Net Proceeds from any Asset Sale that are not applied as provided and within the time period set forth in clause (b) of this Section 4.06 (it being understood that any portion of such Net Proceeds used to make an offer to purchase the Notes, as described in Section 4.06(b)(i), shall be deemed to have been invested whether or not such offer is accepted) shall be deemed to constitute “Excess Proceeds.”

When the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds exceeds $25 million, the Issuer shall make an offer to all holders of Notes (and, at the option of the Issuer, to holders of any Pari Passu Indebtedness) (an “Asset Sale Offer”) to purchase the maximum principal amount of Notes (and such Pari Passu Indebtedness) that is an integral multiple of $1,000 that may be purchased out of the Excess Proceeds at an offer price in cash in an amount equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof (or, in the event such Pari Passu Indebtedness was issued with significant original issue discount, 100% of the accreted value thereof), plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any (or, in respect of such Pari Passu Indebtedness, such lesser price, if any, as may be provided for by the terms of such Pari Passu Indebtedness), to the date fixed for the closing of such offer, in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Indenture.

The Issuer shall commence an Asset Sale Offer with respect to Excess Proceeds within ten Business Days after the date that Excess Proceeds exceed $25 million by mailing or electronically transmitting the notice required pursuant to the terms of this Indenture, with a copy to the Trustee. To the extent that the aggregate amount of Notes (and such Pari Passu Indebtedness) tendered pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer is less than the Excess Proceeds, the Issuer may use any remaining Excess Proceeds for any purpose that is not prohibited by this Indenture. If the aggregate principal amount of Notes surrendered by holders thereof exceeds the amount of Excess Proceeds, the Trustee shall select the Notes (and such Pari Passu Indebtedness)

 

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to be purchased in accordance with Section 4.06(g). Upon completion of any such Asset Sale Offer, the amount of Excess Proceeds shall be reset at zero.

(d) The Issuer shall comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations to the extent such laws or regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of the Notes pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the provisions of this Indenture, the Issuer shall comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and shall not be deemed to have breached its obligations described in this Indenture by virtue thereof.

(e) Not later than the date upon which written notice of an Asset Sale Offer is delivered to the Trustee as provided above, the Issuer shall deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate as to (i) the amount of the Excess Proceeds, (ii) the allocation of the Net Proceeds from the Asset Sales pursuant to which such Asset Sale Offer is being made and (iii) the compliance of such allocation with the provisions of Sections 4.06(b) and (c). On such date, the Issuer shall also irrevocably deposit with the Trustee or with a paying agent (or, if a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer is acting as a Paying Agent, segregate and hold in trust) an amount equal to the Excess Proceeds to be invested in Cash Equivalents, as directed in writing by the Issuer, and to be held for payment in accordance with the provisions of this Section 4.06. Upon the expiration of the period for which the Asset Sale Offer remains open (the “Offer Period”), the Issuer shall deliver to the Trustee for cancellation the Notes or portions thereof that have been properly tendered to and are to be accepted by the Issuer. The Trustee (or a Paying Agent, if not the Trustee) shall, on the date of purchase, mail or deliver payment to each tendering Holder in the amount of the purchase price. In the event that the Excess Proceeds delivered by the Issuer to the Trustee is greater than the purchase price of the Notes tendered, the Trustee shall deliver the excess to the Issuer immediately after the expiration of the Offer Period for application in accordance with Section 4.06.

(f) Holders electing to have a Note purchased shall be required to surrender the Note, with an appropriate form duly completed, to the Issuer at the address specified in the notice at least three Business Days prior to the purchase date. Holders shall be entitled to withdraw their election if the Trustee or the Issuer receive not later than one Business Day prior to the Purchase Date, a telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of the Holder, the principal amount of the Note which was delivered by the Holder for purchase and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing his election to have such Note purchased. If at the end of the Offer Period more Notes (and Pari Passu Indebtedness) are tendered pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer than the Issuer is required to purchase, the principal amount of the Notes (and Pari Passu Indebtedness) to be purchased shall be determined pro rata based on the principal amounts so tendered and the selection of the actual Notes for purchase shall be made by the Trustee on a pro rata basis to the extent practicable; provided , however , that no Notes (or Pari Passu Indebtedness) of $1,000 or less shall be purchased in part.

(g) Notices of an Asset Sale Offer shall be mailed by first class mail, postage prepaid or electronically transmitted, at least 30 but not more than 60 days before the purchase date to each Holder at such Holder’s registered address. If any Note is to be purchased in part only, any notice of purchase that relates to such Note shall state the portion of the principal amount thereof that is to be purchased.

 

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(h) A new Note of the same series in principal amount equal to the unpurchased portion of any Note purchased in part shall be issued in the name of the Holder thereof upon cancellation of the original Note. On and after the purchase date, unless the Issuer defaults in payment of the purchase price, interest shall cease to accrue on Notes or portions thereof purchased.

SECTION 4.07. Transactions with Affiliates . (a) The Issuer shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, make any payment to, or sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of its properties or assets to, or purchase any property or assets from, or enter into or make or amend any transaction or series of transactions, contract, agreement, understanding, loan, advance or guarantee with or for the benefit of, any Affiliate of the Issuer (each of the foregoing, an “Affiliate Transaction”) involving aggregate consideration in excess of $5 million, unless:

(i) such Affiliate Transaction is on terms that are not less favorable to the Issuer or the relevant Restricted Subsidiary than those that could have been obtained in a comparable transaction by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary with an unrelated Person; and

(ii) with respect to any Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions involving aggregate consideration in excess of $20 million, the Issuer delivers to the Trustee a resolution adopted in good faith by the majority of the Board of Directors of the Issuer approving such Affiliate Transaction and set forth in an Officers’ Certificate certifying that such Affiliate Transaction complies with Section 4.07(a)(i).

(b) The provisions of Section 4.07(a) shall not apply to the following:

(i) transactions between or among the Issuer and/or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(ii) Restricted Payments permitted by the provisions of Section 4.04 and under the definition of “Permitted Investments;”

(iii) the entering into of any agreement (and any amendments or modifications to such agreements) to pay, and the payment of, (i) management, consulting, monitoring and advisory fees and expenses to the Sponsor in an aggregate amount in any fiscal year not to exceed the greater of (x) $5 million and (y) 2% of Consolidated Cash Flow, and expense reimbursement, in each case made pursuant to any agreement, or any agreement contemplated by such agreement, each as described under the caption “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions” in the Offering Circular and (ii) the termination fees pursuant to the Sponsor Consulting Agreement not to exceed the amount set forth in the Sponsor Consulting Agreement as in effect on the Issue Date;

(iv) the payment of reasonable and customary fees to, and indemnity provided on behalf of officers, directors, employees or consultants of the Issuer, any Parent of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer;

 

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(v) payments by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to the Sponsor made for any financial advisory, financing, underwriting or placement services or in respect of other investment banking activities, including, without limitation, in connection with acquisitions or divestitures, which payments are (x) approved by a majority of the Board of Directors of the Issuer in good faith or (y) made pursuant to any agreement, or any agreement contemplated by such agreement, each as described under the caption “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions” in the Offering Circular;

(vi) transactions in which the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, as the case may be, delivers to the Trustee a letter from an Independent Financial Advisor stating that such transaction is fair to the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary from a financial point of view or meets the requirements of Section 4.07(a);

(vii) payments or loans (or cancellation of loans) to employees or consultants that are (x) approved by a majority of the Board of Directors of the Issuer in good faith, (y) made in compliance with applicable law and (z) otherwise permitted under this Indenture;

(viii) any agreement as in effect as of the Issue Date and any amendment thereto (so long as any such agreement together with all amendments thereto, taken as a whole, is not more disadvantageous to the holders of the Notes in any material respect than the original agreement as in effect on the Issue Date) or any transaction contemplated thereby as determined in good faith by senior management or the Board of Directors of the Issuer;

(ix) the existence of, or the performance by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of its obligations under the terms of, the Transaction Documents and any amendment thereto or similar agreements which it may enter into thereafter; provided , however , that the existence of, or the performance by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of its obligations under, any future amendment to any such existing agreement or under any similar agreement entered into after the Issue Date shall only be permitted by this clause (ix) to the extent that the terms of any such existing agreement together with all amendments thereto, taken as a whole, or new agreement are not otherwise more disadvantageous to the holders of the Notes in any material respect than the original agreement as in effect on the Issue Date;

(x) transactions to effect the Transactions and the payment of all fees and expenses related to the Transactions, as described in the Offering Circular or contemplated by the Transaction Documents;

(xi) transactions with customers, clients, suppliers, or purchasers or sellers of goods or services, in each case in the ordinary course of business and otherwise in compliance with the terms of this Indenture that are fair to the Issuer or the Restricted Subsidiaries, in the reasonable determination of the members of the Board of Directors or the senior management of the Issuer, or are on terms at least as favorable as would reasonably have been entered into at such time with an unaffiliated party;

 

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(xii) if otherwise permitted under this Indenture, the issuance of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Issuer to any Permitted Holder or to any director, officer, employee or consultant of the Issuer or any Parent of the Issuer;

(xiii) the issuances of securities or other payments, awards or grants in cash, securities or otherwise pursuant to, or the funding of, employment arrangements, stock option and stock ownership plans or similar employee benefit plans approved by the Board of Directors of the Issuer or of a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer, as appropriate, in good faith;

(xiv) the entering into of any tax sharing agreement or arrangement and any payment permitted by Section 4.04(b)(12);

(xv) any contribution to the capital of the Issuer;

(xvi) transactions between the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and any Person, a director of which is also a director of the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer; provided , however , that such director abstains from voting as a director of the Issuer or such direct or indirect parent company, as the case may be, on any matter involving such other Person;

(xvii) pledges of Equity Interests of Unrestricted Subsidiaries; and

(xviii) any employment agreements entered into by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business.

SECTION 4.08. Change of Control . (a) Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, each holder shall have the right to require the Issuer to repurchase all or any part of such holder’s Notes at a purchase price in cash equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of repurchase (subject to the right of holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date), except to the extent the Issuer has previously elected to redeem Notes pursuant to Paragraph 5 on the reverse of the Notes.

(b) Within 30 days following any Change of Control, except to the extent that the Issuer has exercised its right to redeem the Notes pursuant to Paragraph 5 on the reverse of the Notes or except to the extent all of the conditions set forth in the following paragraph are met, the Issuer shall mail or electronically transmit a notice (a “Change of Control Offer”) to each holder with a copy to the Trustee stating:

(i) that a Change of Control has occurred and that such holder has the right to require the Issuer to purchase such holder’s Notes at a purchase price in cash equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, to the date of purchase (subject to the right of holders of record on a record date to receive interest on the relevant interest payment date);

(ii) the circumstances and relevant facts and financial information regarding such Change of Control;

 

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(iii) the repurchase date (which shall be no earlier than 30 days nor later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed); and

(iv) the instructions determined by the Issuer, consistent with this covenant, that a holder must follow in order to have its Notes purchased.

The Issuer shall not be required to make a Change of Control Offer upon a Change of Control if all of the following conditions are met:

(i) on a pro forma basis after giving effect to such Change of Control transaction, the Issuer’s Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio would not be lower than its Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio on the date immediately prior to the consummation of the Change of Control transaction;

(ii) on a pro forma basis after giving effect to such Change of Control transaction, and immediately prior to the public announcement of such Change of Control transaction, the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Issuer is or would be, as applicable, equal to or higher than the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Issuer on the Issue Date;

(iii) on a pro forma basis after giving effect to such Change of Control transaction, the Issuer is permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in the first paragraph of Section 4.03 herein; and

(iv) at the time such Change of Control is consummated, no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would occur as a result thereof.

In addition, the Issuer shall not be required to make a Change of Control Offer upon a Change of Control if a third party makes the Change of Control Offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements set forth in this Indenture applicable to a Change of Control Offer made by the Issuer and purchases all Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn under such Change of Control Offer.

A Change of Control Offer may be made in advance of a Change of Control, and conditioned upon such Change of Control, if a definitive agreement is in place for the Change of Control at the time of making of the Change of Control Offer.

(c) Holders electing to have a Note purchased shall be required to surrender the Note, with an appropriate form duly completed, to the Issuer at the address specified in the notice at least three Business Days prior to the purchase date. The Holders shall be entitled to withdraw their election if the Trustee or the Issuer receive not later than one Business Day prior to the purchase date a telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of the Holder, the principal amount of the Note which was delivered for purchase by the Holder and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing his election to have such Note purchased. Holders whose Notes are purchased only in part shall be issued new Notes equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered.

 

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(d) On the purchase date, all Notes purchased by the Issuer under this Section shall be delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, and the Issuer shall pay the purchase price plus accrued and unpaid interest to the Holders entitled thereto.

(e) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section, the Issuer shall be deemed to have made a Change of Control Offer upon a Change of Control if a third party makes the Change of Control Offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements set forth in Section 4.08(b) applicable to a Change of Control Offer made by the Issuer and purchases all Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn under such Change of Control Offer.

(f) At the time the Issuer delivers Notes to the Trustee which are to be accepted for purchase, the Issuer shall also deliver an Officers’ Certificate stating that such Notes are to be accepted by the Issuer pursuant to and in accordance with the terms of this Section 4.08. A Note shall be deemed to have been accepted for purchase at the time the Trustee, directly or through an agent, mails or delivers payment therefor to the surrendering Holder.

(g) Prior to any Change of Control Offer, the Issuer shall deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that all conditions precedent contained herein to the right of the Issuer to make such offer have been complied with.

(h) The Issuer shall comply, to the extent applicable, with the requirements of Section 14(e) of the Exchange Act and any other securities laws or regulations in connection with the repurchase of Notes pursuant to this Section 4.08. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with provisions of this Section 4.08, the Issuer shall comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and shall not be deemed to have breached its obligations under this paragraph by virtue thereof.

SECTION 4.09. Compliance Certificate . (a) The Issuer shall deliver to the Trustee within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Issuer an Officers’ Certificate stating that in the course of the performance by the signers of their duties as Officers of the Issuer they would normally have knowledge of any Default and whether or not the signers know of any Default that occurred during such period. If they do, the certificate shall describe the Default, its status and what action the Issuer is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto. The Issuer also shall comply with Section 314(a)(4) of the TIA.

(b) When any Default has occurred and is continuing under this Indenture, the Issuer shall deliver to the Trustee, within 30 days after the occurrence thereof by registered or certified mail or facsimile transmission, an Officer’s Certificate specifying such event, notice or other action or inaction, its status and what action the Issuer is taking or proposes to take in respect thereto.

SECTION 4.10. Further Instruments and Acts . Upon request of the Trustee, the Issuer shall execute and deliver such further instruments and do such further acts as may be reasonably necessary or proper to carry out more effectively the purpose of this Indenture.

SECTION 4.11. Future Guarantors . (a) The Issuer shall cause each Restricted Subsidiary that Guarantees any Indebtedness of the Issuer or any of the Guarantors (excluding a

 

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Guarantee of Indebtedness of a Non-Guarantor Restricted Subsidiary issued by a Non-Guarantor Restricted Subsidiary) to execute and deliver to the Trustee a Supplemental Indenture pursuant to which such Restricted Subsidiary shall unconditionally Guarantee, on a joint and several basis, the full and prompt payment of the principal of, premium, if any and interest on the Notes on a senior or pari passu basis and all other obligations under this Indenture.

(b) Notwithstanding Section 4.11(a), in the event any Guarantor is released and discharged in full from all of its obligations under Guarantees of (1) each Credit Agreement and (2) all other Indebtedness of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries, then the Guarantee of such Guarantor shall be automatically and unconditionally released or discharged; provided that such Restricted Subsidiary has not incurred any Indebtedness or issued any Preferred Stock in reliance on its status as a Guarantor under Section 4.03 unless such Guarantor’s obligations under such Indebtedness or Preferred Stock, as the case may be, so incurred are satisfied in full and discharged or are otherwise permitted under one of the exceptions available at the time of such release to Restricted Subsidiaries under Section 4.03(b).

(c) Each Guarantee shall be limited to an amount not to exceed the maximum amount that can be guaranteed by that Restricted Subsidiary without rendering the Guarantee, as it relates to such Restricted Subsidiary, voidable under applicable law relating to fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer or similar laws affecting the rights of creditors generally.

Each Guarantee shall be released in accordance with Article Ten of this Indenture.

SECTION 4.12. Liens . The Issuer shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, create, incur, assume or otherwise cause or suffer to exist or become effective any Lien of any kind (other than Permitted Liens) upon any of their property or assets, now owned or hereafter acquired, unless all payments due under this Indenture with respect to the Notes and the Notes are secured on an equal and ratable basis with the obligations so secured (or, in the case of Indebtedness subordinated to the Notes or the related Guarantees, prior or senior thereto, with the same relative priority as the Notes shall have with respect to such subordinated Indebtedness) until such time as such obligations are no longer secured by a Lien.

SECTION 4.13. Maintenance of Office or Agency .

(a) The Issuer shall maintain an office or agency (which may be an office of the Trustee or an affiliate of the Trustee or Registrar) where Notes may be surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Issuer in respect of the Notes and this Indenture may be served. The Issuer shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency. If at any time the Issuer shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the corporate trust office of the Trustee as set forth in Section 13.02.

(b) The Issuer may also from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies where the Notes may be presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations; provided , however , that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Issuer of its obligation to maintain an office or agency

 

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in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York for such purposes. The Issuer shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the location of any such other office or agency.

(c) The Issuer hereby designate the corporate trust office of the Trustee or its Agent, as such office or agency of the Issuer in accordance with Section 2.04.

ARTICLE 5

MERGER, CONSOLIDATION OR SALE OF ALL

OR SUBSTANTIALLY ALL ASSETS

SECTION 5.01. Merger, Consolidation or Sale of All or Substantially All Assets . (a) The Issuer may not consolidate, amalgamate or merge with or into or wind up into (whether or not the Issuer is the surviving corporation), or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties or assets in one or more related transactions to, any Person unless:

(i) the Issuer is a surviving Person or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation, amalgamation or merger (if other than the Issuer) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition has been made is a corporation, partnership or limited liability company organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, the District of Columbia or any territory thereof (the Issuer or such Person, as the case may be, being herein called the “Successor Issuer”);

(ii) the Successor Issuer (if other than the Issuer) expressly assumes all the obligations of the Issuer under this Indenture and the Notes pursuant to supplemental indentures or other documents or instruments in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee;

(iii) immediately after giving effect to such transaction no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing;

(iv) immediately after giving pro forma effect to such transaction, as if such transaction had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period (and treating any Indebtedness which becomes an obligation of the Successor Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries as a result of such transaction as having been Incurred by the Successor Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary at the time of such transaction), either

(A) the Successor Issuer would be permitted to Incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in Section 4.03(a); or

(B) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Successor Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries would be greater than or equal to such ratio for the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries immediately prior to such transaction;

 

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(v) each Guarantor, unless it is the other party to the transactions described above, shall have by supplemental indenture confirmed that its Guarantee shall apply to such Person’s obligations under this Indenture and the Notes;

(vi) if the Successor Issuer is not organized as a corporation after such transaction, a successor corporation which is a Subsidiary of the Successor Issuer shall continue to be co-obligor of the Notes and shall have by supplemental indenture confirmed its obligations under this Indenture and the Notes; and

(vii) the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, amalgamation, merger or transfer and such supplemental indentures (if any) comply with this Indenture.

The Successor Issuer (if other than the Issuer) shall succeed to, and be substituted for, the Issuer under this Indenture and the Notes, and the Issuer shall automatically be released and discharged from its obligations under this Indenture and the Notes, but in the case of a lease of all or substantially all of its assets, the Issuer shall not be released from the obligations to pay the principal of and interest on the Notes. Notwithstanding the foregoing Section 5.01(a)(iii) and (iv), (a) any Restricted Subsidiary may consolidate or amalgamate with, merge into, sell, assign or transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or part of its properties and assets to the Issuer or to another Restricted Subsidiary and (b) the Issuer may merge, amalgamate or consolidate with an Affiliate incorporated or organized solely for the purpose of incorporating or organizing the Issuer in another state of the United States, the District of Columbia or any territory of the United States so long as the amount of Indebtedness of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries is not increased thereby (any transaction described in this sentence a “Specified Merger/Transfer Transaction”). This Section 5.01(a) shall not apply to a sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of assets between or among the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries.

For purposes of this Section 5.01, the sale, lease, conveyance, assignment, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of one or more Subsidiaries of the Issuer, which properties and assets, if held by the Issuer instead of such Subsidiaries, would constitute all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Issuer on a consolidated basis, shall be deemed to be the transfer of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Issuer.

(b) Subject to Section 10.02(b), each Subsidiary Guarantor shall not, and the Issuer shall not permit any Subsidiary Guarantor to, consolidate, amalgamate or merge with or into or wind up into (whether or not such Subsidiary Guarantor is the surviving Person), or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties or assets in one or more related transactions to, any Person unless:

(i) either

(A) such Subsidiary Guarantor is a surviving Person or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation, amalgamation or merger (if other than such Subsidiary Guarantor) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease,

 

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conveyance or other disposition is made is a corporation, partnership or limited liability company organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, the District of Columbia or any territory thereof (such Subsidiary Guarantor or such Person, as the case may be, being herein called the “Successor Guarantor”) and the Successor Guarantor (if other than such Subsidiary Guarantor) expressly assumes all the obligations of such Subsidiary Guarantor under this Indenture and such Subsidiary Guarantor’s Guarantee pursuant to a supplemental indenture or other documents or instruments in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee; or

(B) such sale or other disposition or consolidation or merger complies with Section 4.06;

(ii) immediately after giving effect to such transaction (and treating any Indebtedness which becomes an obligation of the Successor Guarantor or any of its Subsidiaries as a result of such transaction as having been Incurred by the Successor Guarantor or such Subsidiary at the time of such transaction), no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing; and

(iii) any Successor Guarantor (if other than such Subsidiary Guarantor) shall have delivered or caused to be delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, amalgamation, merger or transfer and such supplemental indenture (if any) comply with this Indenture.

The Successor Guarantor shall succeed to, and be substituted for, such Subsidiary Guarantor under this Indenture and such Subsidiary Guarantor’s Guarantee, and such Subsidiary Guarantor shall automatically be released and discharged from its obligations under this Indenture and such Subsidiary Guarantor’s guarantee. Notwithstanding Section 5.01(b)(ii), (i) a Subsidiary Guarantor may merge, amalgamate or consolidate with an Affiliate incorporated or organized solely for the purpose of incorporating or organizing such Subsidiary Guarantor in another state of the United States, the District of Columbia or any territory of the United States, so long as the amount of Indebtedness of the Subsidiary Guarantor is not increased thereby and (ii) a Subsidiary Guarantor may merge, amalgamate or consolidate with another Subsidiary Guarantor or the Issuer.

ARTICLE 6

DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

SECTION 6.01. Events of Default . An “Event of Default” with respect to all of the Notes occurs if:

(a) a default in any payment of interest on, or Additional Interest with respect to, the Notes when due that continues for 30 days;

(b) a default in the payment of principal or premium, if any, of the Notes when due at its Stated Maturity, upon optional redemption, upon required repurchase, upon declaration or otherwise;

 

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(c) the failure by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to comply with the provisions set forth in Article Five of this Indenture;

(d) the failure by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to comply for 30 days after notice with any of its obligations under Article Four of this Indenture (other than a failure to purchase Notes);

(e) the failure by the Issuer or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries of the Issuer to comply for 60 days after notice with its other agreements contained in the Notes or this Indenture,

(f) the failure by the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary to pay any Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness owing to a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer) within any applicable grace period after final maturity or the acceleration of any such Indebtedness by the holders thereof because of a default, in each case, if the total amount of such Indebtedness unpaid or accelerated exceeds $30 million or its foreign currency equivalent (the “cross-acceleration provision”),

(g) the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law:

(i) commences a voluntary case;

(ii) consents to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary case;

(iii) consents to the appointment of a Custodian of it or for any substantial part of its property; or

(iv) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors

(v) or takes any comparable action under any foreign laws relating to insolvency,

(h) a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law that:

(i) is for relief against the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary in an involuntary case;

(ii) appoints a Custodian of the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary or for any substantial part of its property; or

(iii) orders the winding up or liquidation of the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary;

 

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or any similar relief is granted under any foreign laws and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60 days, (the provisions under 6.01(g) and (h) are collectively referred to herein as the “bankruptcy provisions”);

(i) failure by the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary to pay final judgments aggregating in excess of $30 million or its foreign currency equivalent (net of any amounts which are covered by enforceable insurance policies issued by solvent carriers), which judgments are not discharged, waived or stayed for a period of 60 days (the “judgment default provision”), or

(j) any Guarantee of a Significant Subsidiary ceases to be in full force and effect (except as contemplated by the terms thereof) or any Guarantor that qualifies as a Significant Subsidiary denies or disaffirms its obligations under this Indenture or any Guarantee and such Default continues for 10 days.

The foregoing shall constitute Events of Default whatever the reason for any such Event of Default and whether it is voluntary or involuntary or is effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body.

The term “Bankruptcy Law” means Title 11, United States Code, or any similar Federal or state law for the relief of debtors. The term “Custodian” means any receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator, custodian or similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.

A default under Section 5.01(d) and (e) shall not constitute an Event of Default until the Trustee or the Holders of 25% in principal amount of the Notes outstanding notify the Issuer of the default and the Issuer does not cure such default within the time specified in Section 5.01(d) and (e) hereof after receipt of such notice.

SECTION 6.02. Acceleration . If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(g) or (h)) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Notes outstanding by notice to the Issuer may declare the principal of, premium, if any, and accrued but unpaid interest on all the Notes to be due and payable. Upon such a declaration, such principal and interest shall be due and payable immediately.

If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(g) or (h) occurs, the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on all the Notes shall become immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holders.

In the event of any Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(f) occurs, such Event of Default and all consequences thereof (excluding, however, any resulting payment default) shall be annulled, waived and rescinded, automatically and without any action by the Trustee or the Holders of the Notes, if within 20 days after such Event of Default arose the Issuer delivers an Officers’ Certificate to the Trustee stating that (x) the Indebtedness or guarantee that is the basis for such Event of Default has been discharged or (y) the holders thereof have rescinded or waived the acceleration, notice or action (as the case may be) giving rise to such Event of Default or (z) the default that is the basis for such Event of Default has been cured, it

 

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being understood that in no event shall an acceleration of the principal amount of the Notes be annulled, waived or rescinded upon the happening of any such events.

The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes by notice to the Trustee may rescind an acceleration and its consequences if the rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree and if all existing Events of Default have been cured or waived except nonpayment of principal or interest that has become due solely because of acceleration; provided , however , that if the Notes were accelerated as a result of an Event of Default described in clause (a) or (b) of Section 6.01, Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes must also agree to rescind such acceleration and its consequences. No such rescission shall affect any subsequent Default or impair any right consequent thereto.

Section 6.03. Other Remedies . If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may pursue any available remedy at law or in equity to collect the payment of principal of or interest on the Notes or to enforce the performance of any provision of the Notes or this Indenture.

The Trustee may maintain a proceeding even if it does not possess any of the Notes or does not produce any of them in the proceeding. A delay or omission by the Trustee or any Holder in exercising any right or remedy accruing upon an Event of Default shall not impair the right or remedy or constitute a waiver of or acquiescence in the Event of Default. No remedy is exclusive of any other remedy. All available remedies are cumulative.

SECTION 6.04. Waiver of Past Defaults . When a Default is waived, it is deemed cured and the Issuer, the Trustee and the Holders shall be restored to their former positions and rights under this Indenture, but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or impair any consequent right.

SECTION 6.05. Control by Majority . The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or of exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee. However, the Trustee may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or this Indenture or, subject to Section 7.01, that the Trustee determines is unduly prejudicial to the rights of any other Holder or that would involve the Trustee in personal liability; provided, however, that the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee that is not inconsistent with such direction. Prior to taking any action under this Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to indemnification satisfactory to it in its sole discretion against all losses and expenses caused by taking or not taking such action.

SECTION 6.06. Limitation on Suits . (a) Except to enforce the right to receive payment of principal, premium (if any) or interest when due, no Holder may pursue any remedy with respect to this Indenture or the Notes unless:

(i) such Holder has previously given the Trustee notice that an Event of Default is continuing,

(ii) Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Notes outstanding have requested the Trustee to pursue the remedy,

 

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(iii) such Holders have offered the Trustee reasonable security or indemnity against any loss, liability or expense,

(iv) the Trustee has not complied with such request within 60 days after the receipt of the request and the offer of security or indemnity, and

(v) the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes have not given the Trustee a direction inconsistent with such request within such 60-day period.

(b) A Holder may not use this Indenture to prejudice the rights of another Holder or to obtain a preference or priority over another Holder.

SECTION 6.07. Rights of the Holders to Receive Payment . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, the right of any Holder to receive payment of principal of and interest on the Notes held by such Holder, on or after the respective due dates expressed or provided for in the Notes, or to bring suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates, shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such Holder.

SECTION 6.08. Collection Suit by Trustee . If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01 (a) or (b) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may recover judgment in its own name and as trustee of an express trust against the Issuer or any other obligor on the Notes for the whole amount then due and owing (together with interest on overdue principal and (to the extent lawful) on any unpaid interest at the rate provided for in the Notes) and the amounts provided for in Section 7.07.

SECTION 6.09. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim . The Trustee may file such proofs of claim and other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for reasonable compensation, expenses disbursements and advances of the Trustee (including counsel, accountants, experts or such other professionals as the Trustee deems necessary, advisable or appropriate)) and the Holders allowed in any judicial proceedings relative to the Issuer or any Guarantor, their creditors or their property, shall be entitled to participate as a member, voting or otherwise, of any official committee of creditors appointed in such matters and, unless prohibited by law or applicable regulations, may vote on behalf of the Holders in any election of a trustee in bankruptcy or other Person performing similar functions, and any Custodian in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make payments to the Trustee and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and its counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.07.

SECTION 6.10. Priorities . If the Trustee collects any money or property pursuant to this Article 6, it shall pay out the money or property in the following order:

FIRST: to the Trustee for amounts due under Section 7.07;

 

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SECOND: to Holders for amounts due and unpaid on the Notes for principal, premium, if any, and interest, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on the Notes for principal and interest, respectively; and

THIRD: to the Issuer or, to the extent the Trustee collects any amount for any Guarantor, to such Guarantor.

The Trustee may fix a record date and payment date for any payment to the Holders pursuant to this Section. At least 15 days before such record date, the Trustee shall mail or electronically transmit to each Holder and the Issuer a notice that states the record date, the payment date and amount to be paid.

SECTION 6.11. Undertaking for Costs . In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as Trustee, a court in its discretion may require the filing by any party litigant in the suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of the suit, and the court in its discretion may assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, against any party litigant in the suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by the party litigant. This Section does not apply to a suit by the Trustee, a suit by a Holder pursuant to Section 6.07 or a suit by Holders of more than 10% in principal amount of the Notes.

SECTION 6.12. Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws . Neither the Issuer nor any Guarantor (to the extent it may lawfully do so) shall at any time insist upon, or plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay or extension law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, which may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and the Issuer and each Guarantor (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waive all benefit or advantage of any such law, and shall not hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but shall suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law had been enacted.

ARTICLE 7

TRUSTEE

SECTION 7.01. Duties of Trustee . (a) If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall exercise the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture and use the same degree of care and skill in its exercise as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of such person’s own affairs.

(b) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default:

(i) the Trustee undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and

(ii) in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements

 

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of this Indenture. However, in the case of certificates or opinions required by any provision hereof to be provided to it, the Trustee shall examine the certificates and opinions to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture.

(c) The Trustee may not be relieved from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act or its own willful misconduct, except that:

(i) this paragraph does not limit the effect of paragraph (b) of this Section;

(ii) the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Trust Officer unless it is proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts;

(iii) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in accordance with a direction received by it pursuant to Section 6.05; and

(iv) no provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers.

(d) Every provision of this Indenture that in any way relates to the Trustee is subject to paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of this Section.

(e) The Trustee shall not be liable for interest on any money received by it except as the Trustee may agree in writing with the Issuer.

(f) Money held in trust by the Trustee need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

(g) Every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of this Section and to the provisions of the TIA.

SECTION 7.02. Rights of Trustee . (a) The Trustee may conclusively rely on any document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper person. The Trustee need not investigate any fact or matter stated in the document.

(b) Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may require an Officers’ Certificate and/or an Opinion of Counsel. The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on the Officers’ Certificate or Opinion of Counsel.

(c) The Trustee may act through agents and shall not be responsible for the misconduct or negligence of any agent appointed with due care.

(d) The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith which it believes to be authorized or within its rights or powers; provided , however , that the Trustee’s conduct does not constitute willful misconduct or negligence.

 

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(e) The Trustee may consult with counsel of its own selection and the advice or opinion of counsel with respect to legal matters relating to this Indenture and the Notes shall be full and complete authorization and protection from liability in respect of any action taken, omitted or suffered by it hereunder in good faith and in accordance with the advice or opinion of such counsel.

(f) The Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, approval, bond, debenture, note or other paper or document unless requested in writing to do so by the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Notes at the time outstanding, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit, and, if the Trustee shall determine to make such further inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled to examine the books, records and premises of the Issuer, personally or by agent or attorney, at the expense of the Issuer and shall incur no liability of any kind by reason of making or not making such inquiry or investigation.

(g) The Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders pursuant to this Indenture, unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction.

(h) The rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder, and each agent, custodian and other Person employed to act hereunder.

SECTION 7.03. Individual Rights of Trustee . The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee of Notes and may otherwise deal with the Issuer or its Affiliates with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. Any Paying Agent or Registrar may do the same with like rights. However, the Trustee must comply with Sections 7.10 and 7.11.

SECTION 7.04. Trustee’s Disclaimer . The Trustee shall not be responsible for and makes no representation as to the validity or adequacy of this Indenture, any Guarantee or the Notes, it shall not be accountable for the Issuer’s use of the proceeds from the Notes, and it shall not be responsible for any statement of the Issuer or any Guarantor in this Indenture or in any document issued in connection with the sale of the Notes or in the Notes other than the Trustee’s certificate of authentication. The Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of any Default or Event of Default under Sections 6.01(c), (d), (e), (f), (i) or (j) or of the identity of any Significant Subsidiary unless either (a) a Trust Officer shall have actual knowledge thereof or (b) the Trustee shall have received notice thereof in accordance with Section 13.02 hereof from the Issuer, any Guarantor or any Holder.

SECTION 7.05. Notice of Defaults . If a Default occurs and is continuing with respect to the Notes and if it is actually known to the Trustee, the Trustee shall mail or electronically transmit to each Holder of the Notes notice of the Default within the earlier of 90

 

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days after it occurs or 30 days after it is actually known to a Trust Officer or written notice of it is received by the Trustee. Except in the case of a Default in the payment of principal of, premium (if any) or interest on the Notes, the Trustee may withhold the notice if and so long as a committee of its Trust Officers in good faith determines that withholding the notice is in the interests of the Holders.

SECTION 7.06. Reports by Trustee to the Holders . As promptly as practicable after each August 1 beginning with the August 1 following the date of this Indenture, and in any event prior to September 1 in each year, the Trustee shall mail to each Holder a brief report dated as of such August 1 that complies with Section 313(a) of the TIA if and to the extent required thereby. The Trustee shall also comply with Section 313(b) of the TIA.

A copy of each report at the time of its mailing to the Holders shall be filed with the SEC and each stock exchange (if any) on which the Notes are listed. The Issuer agrees to notify promptly the Trustee whenever the Notes become listed on any stock exchange and of any delisting thereof.

SECTION 7.07. Compensation and Indemnity . The Issuer shall pay to the Trustee from time to time reasonable compensation for its services. The Trustee’s compensation shall not be limited by any law on compensation of a trustee of an express trust. The Issuer shall reimburse the Trustee upon request for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred or made by it, including costs of collection, in addition to the compensation for its services. Such expenses shall include the reasonable compensation and expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee’s agents, counsel, accountants and experts. The Issuer and each Guarantor, jointly and severally shall indemnify the Trustee against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage or expense (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses) incurred by or in connection with the acceptance or administration of this trust and the performance of its duties hereunder, including the costs and expenses of enforcing this Indenture or Guarantee against the Issuer or a Guarantor (including this Section 7.07) and defending itself against or investigating any claim (whether asserted by the Issuer, any Guarantor, any Holder or any other Person). The Trustee shall notify the Issuer of any claim for which it may seek indemnity promptly upon obtaining actual knowledge thereof; provided, however, that any failure so to notify the Issuer shall not relieve the Issuer or any Guarantor of its indemnity obligations hereunder. The Issuer shall defend the claim and the indemnified party shall provide reasonable cooperation at the Issuer’s expense in the defense. Such indemnified parties may have separate counsel and the Issuer and the Guarantors, as applicable shall pay the fees and expenses of such counsel; provided, however, that the Issuer shall not be required to pay such fees and expenses if it assumes such indemnified parties’ defense and, in such indemnified parties’ reasonable judgment, there is no conflict of interest between the Issuer and the Guarantors, as applicable, and such parties in connection with such defense. The Issuer need not reimburse any expense or indemnify against any loss, liability or expense incurred by an indemnified party through such party’s own willful misconduct, negligence or bad faith.

To secure the Issuer’s and the Guarantors’ payment obligations in this Section, the Trustee shall have a Lien prior to the Notes on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee other than money or property held in trust to pay principal of and interest on particular Notes.

 

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The Issuer’s and the Guarantors’ payment obligations pursuant to this Section shall survive the satisfaction or discharge of this Indenture, any rejection or termination of this Indenture under any bankruptcy law or the resignation or removal of the Trustee. Without prejudice to any other rights available to the Trustee under applicable law, when the Trustee incurs expenses after the occurrence of a Default specified in Section 6.01(g) or (h) with respect to the Issuer, the expenses are intended to constitute expenses of administration under the Bankruptcy Law.

SECTION 7.08. Replacement of Trustee . (a) The Trustee may resign at any time by so notifying the Issuer. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes may remove the Trustee by so notifying the Trustee and may appoint a successor Trustee. The Issuer shall remove the Trustee if:

(i) the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10;

(ii) the Trustee is adjudged bankrupt or insolvent;

(iii) a receiver or other public officer takes charge of the Trustee or its property; or

(iv) the Trustee otherwise becomes incapable of acting.

(b) If the Trustee resigns, is removed by the Issuer or by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes and such Holders do not reasonably promptly appoint a successor Trustee, or if a vacancy exists in the office of Trustee for any reason (the Trustee in such event being referred to herein as the retiring Trustee), the Issuer shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee.

(c) A successor Trustee shall deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Issuer. Thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective, and the successor Trustee shall have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee under this Indenture. The successor Trustee shall mail a notice of its succession to the Holders. The retiring Trustee shall promptly transfer all property held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee, subject to the Lien provided for in Section 7.07.

(d) If a successor Trustee does not take office within 60 days after the retiring Trustee resigns or is removed, the retiring Trustee or the Holders of 10% in principal amount of the Notes may petition at the expense of the Issuer any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee.

(e) If the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10, unless the Trustee’s duty to resign is stayed as provided in Section 310(b) of the TIA, any Holder who has been a bona fide holder of a Note for at least six months may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee.

(f) Notwithstanding the replacement of the Trustee pursuant to this Section, the Issuer’s obligations under Section 7.07 shall continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee.

 

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SECTION 7.09. Successor Trustee by Merger . If the Trustee consolidates with, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all its corporate trust business or assets to, another corporation or banking association, the resulting, surviving or transferee corporation without any further act shall be the successor Trustee.

In case at the time such successor or successors by merger, conversion or consolidation to the Trustee shall succeed to the trusts created by this Indenture any of the Notes shall have been authenticated but not delivered, any such successor to the Trustee may adopt the certificate of authentication of any predecessor trustee, and deliver such Notes so authenticated; and in case at that time any of the Notes shall not have been authenticated, any successor to the Trustee may authenticate such Notes either in the name of any predecessor hereunder or in the name of the successor to the Trustee; and in all such cases such certificates shall have the full force which it is anywhere in the Notes or in this Indenture provided that the certificate of the Trustee shall have.

SECTION 7.10. Eligibility; Disqualification . The Trustee shall at all times satisfy the requirements of Section 310(a) of the TIA. The Trustee shall have a combined capital and surplus of at least $100,000,000 as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition. The Trustee shall comply with Section 310(b) of the TIA, subject to its right to apply for a stay of its duty to resign under the penultimate paragraph of Section 310(b) of the TIA; provided, however, that there shall be excluded from the operation of Section 310(b)(1) of the TIA any series of securities issued under this Indenture and any indenture or indentures under which other securities or certificates of interest or participation in other securities of the Issuer is outstanding if the requirements for such exclusion set forth in Section 310(b)(1) of the TIA are met.

SECTION 7.11. Preferential Collection of Claims Against Issuer . The Trustee shall comply with Section 311 (a) of the TIA, excluding any creditor relationship listed in Section 311(b) of the TIA. A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to Section 311 (a) of the TIA to the extent indicated.

ARTICLE 8

DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE; DEFEASANCE

SECTION 8.01. Discharge of Liability on Notes; Defeasance . (a) This Indenture shall be discharged and shall cease to be of further effect (except as to surviving rights of registration or transfer or exchange of Notes, as expressly provided for in this Indenture) as to all outstanding Notes and the obligations under this Indenture with respect to the Holders of the Notes when:

(i) either (a) all the Notes theretofore authenticated under this Indenture and delivered (except lost, stolen or destroyed Notes which have been replaced or paid and Notes for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Issuer and thereafter repaid to the Issuer or discharged from such trust) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation or (b) all of the Notes under this Indenture (i) have become due and payable, (ii) shall become due and payable at their

 

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Stated Maturity within one year or (iii) if redeemable at the option of the Issuer, have been called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Issuer, and the Issuer has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee funds in an amount sufficient to pay and discharge the entire Indebtedness on the Notes not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes to the date of deposit together with irrevocable instructions from the Issuer directing the Trustee to apply such funds to the payment thereof at maturity or redemption, as the case may be;

(ii) the Issuer has and/or the Guarantors have paid all other sums payable under this Indenture; and

(iii) the Issuer has delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that all conditions precedent under this Indenture relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture have been complied with.

(b) Subject to Sections 8.01(c) and 8.02, the Issuer at any time may terminate (i) all of its obligations under the Notes and this Indenture with respect to the Notes (“legal defeasance option”) or (ii) its obligations under Sections 4.02, 4.03, 4.04, 4.05, 4.06, 4.07, 4.08, 4.11 and 4.12 for the benefit of the Notes and the operation of Section 5.01 and Sections 6.01(d), 6.01(f), 6.01(g) (with respect to Significant Subsidiaries only), 6.01(h) (with respect to Significant Subsidiaries only) and 6.01(i) for the benefit of the Notes (“covenant defeasance option”).

In the event that the Issuer terminates its obligations under the Notes and this Indenture by exercising its legal defeasance option or its covenant defeasance option, the obligations of each Guarantor under its Guarantee shall be terminated simultaneously with the termination of such obligations.

The Issuer may exercise its legal defeasance option notwithstanding its prior exercise of its covenant defeasance option.

If the Issuer exercises its legal defeasance option, payment of the Notes so defeased may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default with respect thereto. If the Issuer exercises its covenant defeasance option, payment of the Notes so defeased may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(c), 6.01(d), 6.01(e), 6.01(f), 6.01(g) (with respect to Significant Subsidiaries only), 6.01(h) (with respect to Significant Subsidiaries only), 6.01(i) or 6.01(j) or because of the failure of the Issuer to comply with Section 4.08. Any exercise of the Issuer’s covenant defeasance option or legal defeasance option shall not have any effect on the Notes and their rights under this Indenture or on the obligations of the Issuer and the Guarantors with respect to the Notes.

Upon satisfaction of the conditions set forth herein and upon request of the Issuer, the Trustee shall acknowledge in writing the discharge of those obligations that the Issuer terminate.

 

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(c) Notwithstanding clauses (a) and (b) above, the Issuer’s obligations in Sections 2.04, 2.05, 2.06, 2.07, 2.08, 2.09, 4.01, 7.07, 7.08 and in this Article 8 shall survive until all the Notes have been paid in full. Thereafter, the Issuer’s obligations in Sections 7.07, 8.05 and 8.06 shall survive such satisfaction and discharge.

SECTION 8.02. Conditions to Defeasance . (a) The Issuer may exercise its legal defeasance option or its covenant defeasance option only if:

(i) the Issuer irrevocably deposits in trust with the Trustee in respect of cash in U.S. Dollars, U.S. Government Obligations or a combination thereof in an amount sufficient or U.S. Government Obligations, the principal of and the interest on which shall be sufficient, or a combination thereof sufficient, to pay the principal of, and premium (if any) and interest on the Notes when due at maturity or redemption, as the case may be, including interest thereon to maturity or such redemption date;

(ii) the Issuer deliver to the Trustee a certificate from a nationally recognized firm of independent accountants expressing their opinion that the payments of principal and interest when due and without reinvestment on the deposited U.S. Government Obligations plus any deposited money without investment shall provide cash at such times and in such amounts as shall be sufficient to pay principal, premium, if any, and interest when due on all the Notes to maturity or redemption, as the case may be;

(iii) 123 days pass after the deposit is made and during the 123-day period no Default specified in Section 6.01(g) or (h) with respect to the Issuer occurs which is continuing at the end of the period;

(iv) the deposit does not constitute a default under any other agreement binding on the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(v) the Issuer deliver to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the trust resulting from the deposit does not constitute, or is qualified as, a regulated investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940;

(vi) in the case of the legal defeasance option, the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel stating that (1) the Issuer has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or (2) since the date of this Indenture there has been a change in the applicable Federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel shall confirm that, the Holders will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit and defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amount and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit and defeasance had not occurred. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Opinion of Counsel required with respect to a legal defeasance need not be delivered if all of the Notes not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation (x) have become due and payable or (y) will become due and payable at their Stated Maturity within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Issuer;

 

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(vii) in the case of the covenant defeasance option, the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the Holders will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit and defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amount and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit and defeasance had not occurred; and

(viii) the Issuer deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent to the defeasance and discharge of the Notes to be so defeased and discharged as contemplated by this Article 8 have been complied with.

(b) Before or after a deposit, the Issuer may make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the redemption of such Notes at a future date in accordance with Article 3.

SECTION 8.03. Application of Trust Money . The Trustee shall hold in trust money or Government Obligations (including proceeds thereof) deposited with it pursuant to this Article 8. It shall apply the deposited money and the money from Government Obligations through each Paying Agent and in accordance with this Indenture to the payment of principal of and interest on the Notes so discharged or defeased.

SECTION 8.04. Repayment to the Issuer . Each of the Trustee and each Paying Agent shall promptly turn over to the Issuer upon request any money or Government Obligations held by it as provided in this Article which, in the written opinion of nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants delivered to the Trustee (which delivery shall only be required if Government Obligations have been so deposited), are in excess of the amount thereof which would then be required to be deposited to effect an equivalent discharge or defeasance in accordance with this Article.

Subject to any applicable abandoned property law, the Trustee and each Paying Agent shall pay to the Issuer upon written request any money held by them for the payment of principal or interest that remains unclaimed for two years, and, thereafter, Holders entitled to the money must look to the Issuer for payment as general creditors, and the Trustee and each Paying Agent shall have no further liability with respect to such monies.

SECTION 8.05. Indemnity for Government Obligations . The Issuer shall pay and shall indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against deposited Government Obligations or the principal and interest received on such Government Obligations.

SECTION 8.06. Reinstatement . If the Trustee or any Paying Agent is unable to apply any money or Government Obligations in accordance with this Article 8 by reason of any legal proceeding or by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, the Issuer’s and the Guarantors’ obligations under this Indenture and the Notes so discharged or defeased shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to this Article 8 until such time as the Trustee or any Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money or Government Obligations in

 

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accordance with this Article 8; provided, however, that, if the Issuer has made any payment of principal of or interest on, any such Notes because of the reinstatement of its obligations, the Issuer shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Notes to receive such payment from the money or Government Obligations held by the Trustee or any Paying Agent.

ARTICLE 9

AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS

SECTION 9.01. Without Consent of the Holders . The Issuer, the Guarantors and the Trustee may amend this Indenture or the Notes without notice to or consent of any Holder:

(i) to cure any ambiguity, omission, defect or inconsistency;

(ii) to provide for the assumption by a Successor Issuer of the obligations of the Issuer under this Indenture and the Notes in compliance with Article 5;

(iii) to provide for the assumption by a Successor Guarantor of the obligations of a Subsidiary Guarantor under this Indenture and its Guarantee in compliance with Article 5 of this Indenture;

(iv) to provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated Notes (provided that the uncertificated Notes are issued in registered form for purposes of Section 163(f) of the Code, or in a manner such that the uncertificated Notes are described in Section 163(f)(2)(B) of the Code);

(v) to add Guarantees with respect to the Notes or to secure the Notes;

(vi) to add to the covenants of the Issuer for the benefit of the Holders or to surrender any right or power conferred upon the Issuer;

(vii) to comply with any requirement of the SEC in connection with the qualification of this Indenture under the TIA;

(viii) to make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of any Holder;

(ix) to effect any provision of this Indenture; or

(x) to make certain changes to this Indenture to provide for the issuance of Additional Notes.

After an amendment under this Section 9.01 becomes effective, the Issuer shall mail to Holders a notice briefly describing such amendment. The failure to give such notice to all Holders, or any defect therein, shall not impair or affect the validity of an amendment under this Section 9.01.

 

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SECTION 9.02. With Consent of the Holders . (a) The Issuer and the Trustee may amend this Indenture or the Notes with the written consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding voting as a single class (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange for the Notes) and any past default or compliance with any provisions may be waived with the consent of the holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding voting as a single class (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange for the Notes). However, without the consent of each Holder of an outstanding Note affected, an amendment may not:

(i) reduce the amount of Notes whose Holders must consent to an amendment,

(ii) reduce the rate of or extend the time for payment of interest on any Note,

(iii) reduce the principal of or change the Stated Maturity of any Note,

(iv) reduce the premium payable upon the redemption of any Note or change the time when any Note may be redeemed in accordance with Article 3 of this Indenture or Paragraph 5 of Appendix A of this Indenture,

(v) make any Note payable in money other than that stated in such Note,

(vi) impair the right of any holder to receive payment of principal of, premium, if any, and interest on such Holder’s Notes on or after the due dates therefor or to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or with respect to such Holder’s Notes,

(vii) make any change in the amendment provisions which require each Holder’s consent or in the waiver provisions,

(viii) expressly subordinate the Notes or any Guarantee thereof to any other Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Guarantor, or

(ix) modify the Guarantees in any manner adverse to the Holders.

It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Holders under this Section 9.02 to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment, but it shall be sufficient if such consent approves the substance thereof.

(b) After an amendment under this Section 9.02 becomes effective, the Issuer shall mail to the Holders a notice briefly describing such amendment. The failure to give such notice to all Holders, or any defect therein, shall not impair or affect the validity of an amendment under this Section 9.02.

SECTION 9.03. Compliance with Trust Indenture Act . From the date on which this Indenture is qualified under the TIA, every amendment, waiver or supplement to this Indenture or the Notes shall comply with the TIA as then in effect.

 

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SECTION 9.04. Revocation and Effect of Consents and Waivers . (a) A consent to an amendment or a waiver by a Holder of a Note shall bind the Holder and every subsequent Holder of that Note or portion of the Note that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Note, even if notation of the consent or waiver is not made on the Note. However, any such Holder or subsequent Holder may revoke the consent or waiver as to such Holder’s Note or portion of the Note if the Trustee receives the notice of revocation before the date on which the Trustee receives an Officers’ Certificate from the Issuer certifying that the requisite principal amount of Notes have consented. After an amendment or waiver becomes effective, it shall bind every Holder. An amendment or waiver becomes effective upon the (i) receipt by the Issuer or the Trustee of consents by the Holders of the requisite principal amount of securities, (ii) satisfaction of conditions to effectiveness as set forth in this Indenture and any indenture supplemental hereto containing such amendment or waiver and (iii) execution of such amendment or waiver (or supplemental indenture) by the Issuer and the Trustee.

(b) The Issuer may, but shall not be obligated to, fix a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders entitled to give their consent or take any other action described above or required or permitted to be taken pursuant to this Indenture. If a record date is fixed, then notwithstanding the immediately preceding paragraph, those Persons who were Holders at such record date (or their duly designated proxies), and only those Persons, shall be entitled to give such consent or to revoke any consent previously given or to take any such action, whether or not such Persons continue to be Holders after such record date. No such consent shall be valid or effective for more than 120 days after such record date.

SECTION 9.05. Notation on or Exchange of Notes . If an amendment, supplement or waiver changes the terms of a Note, the Issuer may require the Holder of the Note to deliver it to the Trustee. The Trustee may place an appropriate notation on the Note regarding the changed terms and return it to the Holder. Alternatively, if the Issuer or the Trustee so determines, the Issuer in exchange for the Note shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate a new Note that reflects the changed terms. Failure to make the appropriate notation or to issue a new Note shall not affect the validity of such amendment, supplement or waiver.

SECTION 9.06. Trustee to Sign Amendments . The Trustee shall sign any amendment, supplement or waiver authorized pursuant to this Article 9 if the amendment does not adversely affect the rights, duties, liabilities or immunities of the Trustee. If it does, the Trustee may but need not sign it. In signing such amendment, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it and shall be provided with, and (subject to Section 7.01) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that such amendment, supplement or waiver is authorized or permitted by this Indenture and that such amendment, supplement or waiver is the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Issuer and the Guarantors, enforceable against them in accordance with its terms, subject to customary exceptions, and complies with the provisions hereof (including Section 9.03).

SECTION 9.07. Payment for Consent . The Issuer shall not, and shall not permit any of the Subsidiaries of the Issuer to, directly or indirectly, pay or cause to be paid any consideration to or for the benefit of any Holder for or as an inducement to any consent, waiver or amendment of any of the terms or provisions of this Indentures or the Notes unless such consideration is offered to be paid and is paid to all Holders that consent, waive or agree to

 

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amend in the time frame set forth in the solicitation documents relating to such consent, waiver or agreement.

SECTION 9.08. Additional Voting Terms; Calculation of Principal Amount . Except as expressly provided in this Indenture, including under Section 9.02, all Notes issued under this Indenture shall vote and consent together on all matters (as to which any of such Notes may vote) as one class. Determinations as to whether Holders of the requisite aggregate principal amount of Notes have concurred in any direction, waiver or consent shall be made in accordance with this Article Nine and Section 2.14.

ARTICLE 10

GUARANTEES

SECTION 10.01. Guarantees . (a) Each Guarantor hereby jointly and severally, irrevocably and unconditionally guarantees, as a primary obligor and not merely as a surety on a senior basis, to each Holder and to the Trustee and its successors and assigns (i) the full and punctual payment when due, whether at Stated Maturity, by acceleration, by redemption or otherwise, of all obligations of the Issuer under this Indenture (including obligations to the Trustee) and the Notes, whether for payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on in respect of the Notes and all other monetary obligations of the Issuer under this Indenture and the Notes and (ii) the full and punctual performance within applicable grace periods of all other obligations of the Issuer whether for fees, expenses, indemnification or otherwise under this Indenture and the Notes (all the foregoing being hereinafter collectively called the “Guaranteed Obligations”). Each Guarantor further agrees that the Guaranteed Obligations may be extended or renewed, in whole or in part, without notice or further assent from each such Guarantor, and that each such Guarantor shall remain bound under this Article 10 notwithstanding any extension or renewal of any Guaranteed Obligation.

(b) Each Guarantor waives presentation to, demand of payment from and protest to the Issuer of any of the Guaranteed Obligations and also waives notice of protest for nonpayment. Each Guarantor waives notice of any default under the Notes or the Guaranteed Obligations. The obligations of each Guarantor hereunder shall not be affected by (i) the failure of any Holder or the Trustee to assert any claim or demand or to enforce any right or remedy against the Issuer or any other Person under this Indenture, the Notes, any Security Document, or any other agreement or otherwise; (ii) any extension or renewal of this Indenture, the Notes, any Security Document or any other agreement; (iii) any rescission, waiver, amendment or modification of any of the terms or provisions of this Indenture, the Notes, any Security Document or any other agreement; (iv) the release of any security held by any Holder or the Trustee for the Guaranteed Obligations or any Guarantor; (v) the failure of any Holder or Trustee to exercise any right or remedy against any other guarantor of the Guaranteed Obligations; or (vi) any change in the ownership of such Guarantor, except as provided in Section 10.02(b).

(c) Each Guarantor hereby waives any right to which it may be entitled to have its obligations hereunder divided among the Guarantors, such that such Guarantor’s obligations would be less than the full amount claimed. Each Guarantor hereby waives any right to which it may be entitled to have the assets of the Issuer or any other Guarantor first be used

 

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and depleted as payment of the Issuer’s or such Guarantor’s obligations hereunder prior to any amounts being claimed from or paid by such Guarantor hereunder. Each Guarantor hereby waives any right to which it may be entitled to require that the Issuer be sued prior to an action being initiated against such Guarantor.

(d) Each Guarantor further agrees that its Guarantee herein constitutes a guarantee of payment, performance and compliance when due (and not a guarantee of collection) and waives any right to require that any resort be had by any Holder or the Trustee to any security held for payment of the Guaranteed Obligations.

(e) Except as expressly set forth in Sections 8.01(b), 10.02 and 10.06, the obligations of each Guarantor hereunder shall not be subject to any reduction, limitation, impairment or termination for any reason, including any claim of waiver, release, surrender, alteration or compromise, and shall not be subject to any defense of setoff, counterclaim, recoupment or termination whatsoever or by reason of the invalidity, illegality or unenforceability of the Guaranteed Obligations or otherwise. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the obligations of each Guarantor herein shall not be discharged or impaired or otherwise affected by the failure of any Holder or the Trustee to assert any claim or demand or to enforce any remedy under this Indenture, the Notes, any Security Document or any other agreement, by any waiver or modification of any thereof, by any default, failure or delay, willful or otherwise, in the performance of the obligations, or by any other act or thing or omission or delay to do any other act or thing which may or might in any manner or to any extent vary the risk of any Guarantor or would otherwise operate as a discharge of any Guarantor as a matter of law or equity.

(f) Each Guarantor agrees that its Guarantee shall remain in full force and effect until payment in full of all the Guaranteed Obligations. Each Guarantor further agrees that its Guarantee herein shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment, or any part thereof, of principal of or interest on any Guaranteed Obligation is rescinded or must otherwise be restored by any Holder or the Trustee upon the bankruptcy or reorganization of the Issuer or otherwise.

(g) In furtherance of the foregoing and not in limitation of any other right which any Holder or the Trustee has at law or in equity against any Guarantor by virtue hereof, upon the failure of the Issuer to pay the principal of or interest on any Guaranteed Obligation when and as the same shall become due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, by redemption or otherwise, or to perform or comply with any other Guaranteed Obligation, each Guarantor hereby promises to and shall, upon receipt of written demand by the Trustee, forthwith pay, or cause to be paid, in cash, to the Holders or the Trustee an amount equal to the sum of (i) the unpaid principal amount of such Guaranteed Obligations, (ii) accrued and unpaid interest on such Guaranteed Obligations (but only to the extent not prohibited by applicable law) and (iii) all other monetary obligations of the Issuer to the Holders and the Trustee.

(h) Each Guarantor agrees that it shall not be entitled to any right of subrogation in relation to the Holders in respect of any Guaranteed Obligations guaranteed hereby until payment in full of all Guaranteed Obligations. Each Guarantor further agrees that, as between it, on the one hand, and the Holders and the Trustee, on the other hand, (i) the

 

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maturity of the Guaranteed Obligations guaranteed hereby may be accelerated as provided in Article 6 for the purposes of any Guarantee herein, notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such acceleration in respect of the Guaranteed Obligations guaranteed hereby, and (ii) in the event of any declaration of acceleration of such Guaranteed Obligations as provided in Article 6, such Guaranteed Obligations (whether or not due and payable) shall forthwith become due and payable by such Guarantor for the purposes of this Section 10.01.

(i) Each Guarantor also agrees to pay any and all costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses) incurred by the Trustee or any Holder in enforcing any rights under this Section 10.01.

(j) Upon request of the Trustee, each Guarantor shall execute and deliver such further instruments and do such further acts as may be reasonably necessary or proper to carry out more effectively the purpose of this Indenture.

Section 10.02. Limitation on Liability; Release . (a) Any term or provision of this Indenture to the contrary notwithstanding, the maximum aggregate amount of the Guaranteed Obligations guaranteed hereunder by any Guarantor shall not exceed the maximum amount that can be hereby guaranteed without rendering this Indenture, as it relates to such Guarantor, voidable under applicable laws relating to fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer or similar laws affecting the rights of creditors generally.

(b) A Guarantee as to any Restricted Subsidiary shall terminate and be of no further force or effect and such Subsidiary Guarantor shall be deemed to be released from all obligations under this Article 10 upon:

(i)

(A) the sale, disposition or other transfer (including through merger, amalgamation or consolidation) of the Capital Stock of the applicable Subsidiary Guarantor, following which such Subsidiary Guarantor is no longer a Restricted Subsidiary, if such sale, disposition or other transfer is made in compliance with this Indenture;

(B) the Issuer designating a Subsidiary Guarantor to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary in accordance with the provisions set forth under Section 4.04 and the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary”;

(C) in the case of any Restricted Subsidiary which after the Issue Date, is required to guarantee the Notes pursuant to Section 4.11, the release or discharge of the guarantee by such Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary or the repayment of the Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock, in each case, which resulted in the obligation to guarantee the Notes; or

 

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(D) the Issuer’s exercise of the legal defeasance option under Section 8.01(b) or if the Issuer’s obligations under this Indenture are otherwise discharged in accordance with Section 8.01(a); and

(ii) in the case of Section 10.02(b)(i)(A), such Guarantor is released from its guarantees, if any, of, and all pledges and security, if any, granted in connection with, the Credit Agreement and any other Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer.

A Guarantee shall also be automatically released upon the applicable Subsidiary ceasing to be a Subsidiary as a result of any foreclosure of any pledge or security interest securing Bank Indebtedness or other exercise of remedies in respect thereof.

SECTION 10.03. Successors and Assigns . This Article 10 shall be binding upon each Guarantor and its successors and assigns and shall inure to the benefit of the successors and assigns of the Trustee and the Holders and, in the event of any transfer or assignment of rights by any Holder or the Trustee, the rights and privileges conferred upon that party in this Indenture and in the Notes shall automatically extend to and be vested in such transferee or assignee, all subject to the terms and conditions of this Indenture.

SECTION 10.04. No Waiver . Neither a failure nor a delay on the part of either the Trustee or the Holders in exercising any right, power or privilege under this Article 10 shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall a single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise of any right, power or privilege. The rights, remedies and benefits of the Trustee and the Holders herein expressly specified are cumulative and not exclusive of any other rights, remedies or benefits which either may have under this Article 10 at law, in equity, by statute or otherwise.

SECTION 10.05. Modification . No modification, amendment or waiver of any provision of this Article 10, nor the consent to any departure by any Guarantor therefrom, shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the Trustee, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for which given. No notice to or demand on any Guarantor in any case shall entitle such Guarantor to any other or further notice or demand in the same, similar or other circumstances.

SECTION 10.06. Execution of Supplemental Indenture for Future Guarantors . Each Person which is required to become a Guarantor after the Issue Date pursuant to Section 4.11 shall promptly execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture in the form of Appendix B hereto pursuant to which such Person shall become a Guarantor under this Article 10 and shall guarantee the Guaranteed Obligations. Concurrently with the execution and delivery of such supplemental indenture, the Issuer shall deliver to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel and an Officers’ Certificate to the effect that such supplemental indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by such Person and that, subject to the application of bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance or transfer and other similar laws relating to creditors’ rights generally and to the principles of equity, whether considered in a proceeding at law or in equity, the Guarantee of such Guarantor is a legal, valid and binding

 

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obligation of such Guarantor, enforceable against such Guarantor in accordance with its terms and/or to such other matters as the Trustee may reasonably request.

ARTICLE 11

[INTENTIONALLY OMITTED]

ARTICLE 12

[INTENTIONALLY OMITTED]

ARTICLE 13

MISCELLANEOUS

SECTION 13.01. Trust Indenture Act Controls . If and to the extent that any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by, or with another provision (an “incorporated provision”) included in this Indenture by operation of, Sections 310 to 318 of the TIA, inclusive, such imposed duties or incorporated provision shall control.

SECTION 13.02. Notices . (a) Any notice or communication required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing and delivered in person, via facsimile, electronically transmitted or mailed by first-class mail addressed as follows:

if to the Issuer or a Guarantor:

Affinion Group, Inc.

100 Connecticut Avenue

Norwalk, CT 06850

Attention of: General Counsel

Facsimile: (203) 956-1206

if to the Trustee:

Wells Fargo Bank, National Association

Sixth and Marquette

Mac N9303-120

Minneapolis, MN 55479

Attention of: Corporate Trust Services

Facsimile: 612-667-9825

The Issuer or the Trustee by notice to the other may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.

(b) Any notice or communication mailed to a Holder shall be mailed, first class mail or electronically transmitted, to the Holder at the Holder’s address as it appears on the

 

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registration books of the Registrar and shall be sufficiently given if so mailed or electronically transmitted within the time prescribed.

(c) Failure to mail or electronically transmit a notice or communication to a Holder or any defect in it shall not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Holders. If a notice or communication is mailed or electronically transmitted in the manner provided above, it is duly given, whether or not the addressee receives it, except that notices to the Trustee are effective only if received.

SECTION 13.03. Communication by the Holders with Other Holders . The Holders may communicate pursuant to Section 312(b) of the TIA with other Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or the Notes. The Issuer, the Trustee, the Registrar and other Persons shall have the protection of Section 312(c) of the TIA.

SECTION 13.04. Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent . Upon any request or application by the Issuer to the Trustee to take or refrain from taking any action under this Indenture, the Issuer shall furnish to the Trustee at the request of the Trustee:

(a) an Officers’ Certificate in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee stating that, in the opinion of the signers, all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with; and

(b) an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent have been complied with.

SECTION 13.05. Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion . Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a covenant or condition provided for in this Indenture (other than pursuant to Section 4.09) shall include:

(a) a statement that the individual making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition;

(b) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based;

(c) a statement that, in the opinion of such individual, he has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and

(d) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such individual, such covenant or condition has been complied with; provided , however , that with respect to matters of fact an Opinion of Counsel may rely on an Officers’ Certificate or certificates of public officials.

SECTION 13.06. When Notes Disregarded . In determining whether the Holders of the required principal amount of Notes have concurred in any direction, waiver or consent,

 

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Notes owned by the Issuer, any Guarantor or by any Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Issuer or any Guarantor shall be disregarded and deemed not to be outstanding, except that, for the purpose of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such direction, waiver or consent, only Notes which the Trustee knows are so owned shall be so disregarded. Subject to the foregoing, only Notes outstanding at the time shall be considered in any such determination.

SECTION 13.07. Rules by Trustee, Paying Agent and Registrar . The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or a meeting of the Holders. The Registrar and a Paying Agent may make reasonable rules for their functions.

SECTION 13.08. Legal Holidays . If a payment date is not a Business Day, payment shall be made on the next succeeding day that is a Business Day, and no interest shall accrue on any amount that would have been otherwise payable on such payment date if it were a Business Day for the intervening period. If a regular record date is not a Business Day, the record date shall not be affected.

SECTION 13.09. GOVERNING LAW . THIS INDENTURE AND THE NOTES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

SECTION 13.10. No Recourse Against Others . No director, officer, employee, incorporator or holder of any Equity Interests in the Issuer, as such, shall have any liability for any obligations of the Issuer under the Notes or this Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each holder of Notes by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes. The waiver may not be effective to waive liabilities under the federal securities laws.

SECTION 13.11. Successors . All agreements of the Issuer and each Guarantor in this Indenture and the Notes shall bind its successors. All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture shall bind its successors.

SECTION 13.12. Multiple Originals . The parties may sign any number of copies of this Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement. One signed copy is enough to prove this Indenture.

SECTION 13.13. Table of Contents; Headings . The table of contents, cross-reference sheet and headings of the Articles and Sections of this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not intended to be considered a part hereof and shall not modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.

SECTION 13.14. Indenture Controls . If and to the extent that any provision of the Notes limits, qualifies or conflicts with a provision of this Indenture, such provision of this Indenture shall control.

SECTION 13.15. Severability . In case any provision in this Indenture shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining

 

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provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and such provision shall be ineffective only to the extent of such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability.

SECTION 13.16. Currency of Account; Conversion of Currency; Foreign Exchange Restrictions . (a) U.S. Dollars are the sole currency of account and payment for all sums payable by the Issuer and the Guarantors under or in connection with the Notes, the Guarantees and this Indenture, including damages related thereto. Any amount received or recovered in a currency other than U.S. Dollars by a Holder (whether as a result of, or of the enforcement of, a judgment or order of a court of any jurisdiction, in the winding-up or dissolution of the Issuer or otherwise) in respect of any sum expressed to be due to it from the Issuer or a Guarantor shall only constitute a discharge to the Issuer or any such Guarantor to the extent of the U.S. Dollar amount, which the recipient is able to purchase with the amount so received or recovered in that other currency on the date of that receipt or recovery (or, if it is not practicable to make that purchase on that date, on the first date on which it is practicable to do so). If that U.S. Dollar amount is less than the U.S. Dollar amount expressed to be due to the recipient under the Notes, the Issuer and the Guarantors shall indemnify it against any loss sustained by it as a result as set forth in Section 13.16(b). In any event, the Issuer and the Guarantors shall indemnify the recipient against the cost of making any such purchase. For the purposes of this Section 13.16, it shall be sufficient for the Holder of a Note to certify in a satisfactory manner (indicating sources of information used) that it would have suffered a loss had an actual purchase of U.S. Dollars been made with the amount so received in that other currency on the date of receipt or recovery (or, if a purchase of U.S. Dollars on such date had not been practicable, on the first date on which it would have been practicable, it being required that the need for a change of date be certified in the manner mentioned above).

(b) The Issuer and the Guarantors, jointly and severally, covenant and agree that the following provisions shall apply to conversion of currency in the case of the Notes, the Guarantees and this Indenture:

(1) (A) If for the purpose of obtaining judgment in, or enforcing the judgment of, any court in any country, it becomes necessary to convert into a currency (the “Judgment Currency”) an amount due in any other currency (the “Base Currency”), then the conversion shall be made at the rate of exchange prevailing on the Business Day before the day on which the judgment is given or the order of enforcement is made, as the case may be (unless a court shall otherwise determine).

(B) If there is a change in the rate of exchange prevailing between the Business Day before the day on which the judgment is given or an order of enforcement is made, as the case may be (or such other date as a court shall determine), and the date of receipt of the amount due, the Issuer and the Guarantors shall pay such additional (or, as the case may be, such lesser) amount, if any, as may be necessary so that the amount paid in the Judgment Currency when converted at the rate of exchange prevailing on the date of receipt will produce the amount in the Base Currency originally due.

(2) In the event of the winding-up of the Issuer or any Guarantor at any time while any amount or damages owing under the Notes, the Guarantees and this Indenture,

 

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or any judgment or order rendered in respect thereof, shall remain outstanding, the Issuer and the Guarantors shall indemnify and hold the Holders and the Trustee harmless against any deficiency arising or resulting from any variation in rates of exchange between (i) the date as of which the foreign currency equivalent of the amount due or contingently due under the Notes, the Guarantees and this Indenture (other than under this subsection (b)(2)) is calculated for the purposes of such winding-up and (ii) the final date for the filing of proofs of claim in such winding-up. For the purpose of this subsection (b)(2), the final date for the filing of proofs of claim in the winding-up of the Issuer or any Guarantor shall be the date fixed by the liquidator or otherwise in accordance with the relevant provisions of applicable law as being the latest practicable date as at which liabilities of the Issuer or such Guarantor may be ascertained for such winding-up prior to payment by the liquidator or otherwise in respect thereto.

(A) The obligations contained in subsections (a), (b)(1)(B) and (b)(2) of this Section 13.16 shall constitute separate and independent obligations from the other obligations of the Issuer and the Guarantors under this Indenture, shall give rise to separate and independent causes of action against the Issuer and the Guarantors, shall apply irrespective of any waiver or extension granted by any Holder or the Trustee or either of them from time to time and shall continue in full force and effect notwithstanding any judgment or order or the filing of any proof of claim in the winding-up of the Issuer or any Guarantor for a liquidated sum in respect of amounts due hereunder (other than under subsection (b)(2) above) or under any such judgment or order. Any such deficiency as aforesaid shall be deemed to constitute a loss suffered by the Holders or the Trustee, as the case may be, and no proof or evidence of any actual loss shall be required by the Issuer or any Guarantor or the liquidator or otherwise or any of them. In the case of subsection (b)(2) above, the amount of such deficiency shall not be deemed to be reduced by any variation in rates of exchange occurring between the said final date and the date of any liquidating distribution.

(B) The term “rate(s) of exchange” shall mean the rate of exchange quoted by Reuters at 10:00 a.m. (New York time) for spot purchases of the Base Currency with the Judgment Currency other than the Base Currency referred to in subsections (b)(1) and (b)(2) above and includes any premiums and costs of exchange payable.

 

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

 

AFFINION GROUP, INC.,

By:   /s/ Nathaniel J. Lipman
 

Name:

 

Nathaniel J. Lipman

 

Title:

 

President and Chief Executive Officer

AFFINION AUTO SERVICES, INC.

AFFINION DATA SERVICES, INC.

AFFINION GROUP, LLC

AFFINION MEMBERSHIP SERVICES HOLDINGS SUBSIDIARY LLC

AFFINION PUBLISHING, INC.

BENEFIT CONSULTANTS MEMBERSHIP, INC.

CARDWELL AGENCY, INC.

COMP-U-CARD SERVICES LLC

CREDENTIALS SERVICES INTERNATIONAL, INC.

LONG TERM PREFERRED CARE, INC.

MCM GROUP, LTD.

NGI HOLDINGS, INC.

PREFERRED CARE AGENCY, INC.

PROGENY MARKETING INNOVATIONS OF KENTUCKY, INC.

PROGENY MARKETING INNOVATIONS INC.

SAFECARD SERVICES, INCORPORATED

TRAVELERS ADVANTAGE SERVICES, INC.

TRILEGIANT AUTO SERVICES, INC.

TRILEGIANT CORPORATION

TRILEGIANT INSURANCE SERVICES, INC.

TRILEGIANT LOYALTY SOLUTIONS, INC.

TRILEGIANT MARKETING SERVICES, INC.

TRILEGIANT RETAIL SERVICES, INC.

TRL GROUP, INC.

UNITED BANK CLUB ASSOCIATION, INC.

By:   /s/ Nathaniel J. Lipman
 

Name:

 

Nathaniel J. Lipman

 

Title:

 

Chief Executive Officer

CUC ASIA HOLDINGS

  By:  

Comp-U-Card Services LLC, its General Partner

  By:  

/s/ Nathaniel J. Lipman

 

Name:

 

Nathaniel J. Lipman

 

Title:

 

Chief Executive Officer

 

S-1


WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, As Trustee
By:   /s/ Jane Y. Schweiger
 

Name:

 

Jane Y. Schweiger

 

Title:

 

Vice President

 

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APPENDIX A

(Rule 144A/REGULATION S/IAI APPENDIX)

PROVISIONS RELATING TO INITIAL NOTES,

PRIVATE EXCHANGE NOTES AND EXCHANGE NOTES

 

1. Definitions

1.1 Definitions

For the purposes of this Appendix the following terms shall have the meanings indicated below:

“Applicable Procedures” means, with respect to any transfer or transaction involving a Temporary Regulation S Global Note or beneficial interest therein, the rules and procedures of the Depository for such a Temporary Regulation S Global Note, to the extent applicable to such transaction and as in effect from time to time.

“Definitive Note” means a certificated Initial Note or Exchange Note or Private Exchange Note bearing, if required, the appropriate restricted notes legend set forth in Section 2.3(e).

“Depository” means The Depository Trust Company, its nominees and their respective successors.

“Distribution Compliance Period”, with respect to any Notes, means the period of 40 consecutive days beginning on and including the later of (i) the day on which such Notes are first offered to Persons other than distributors (as defined in Regulation S under the Securities Act) in reliance on Regulation S and (ii) the issue date with respect to such Notes.

“Exchange Notes” means the notes issued pursuant to this Indenture in connection with the Registered Exchange Offer pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement.

“Exchange Offer Registration Statement” means the registration statement to be filed with the SEC pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement with respect to a proposed offer to exchange the Initial Notes, and Additional Notes, if applicable, for Exchange Notes.

“IAI” means an institutional “accredited investor”, as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) and (7) of Regulation D under the Securities Act.

“Initial Purchasers” means (a) with respect to the Initial Notes issued on the Issue Date, Credit Suisse First Boston LLC, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Banc of America Securities LLC and BNP Paribas Securities Corp. and (b) with respect to each issuance of Additional Notes, the Persons purchasing or underwriting such Additional Notes under the related Purchase Agreement.

“Initial Notes” means the initial $270,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of 10  1 / 8 % Senior Notes due 2013 issued on the Issue Date.


“Notes” means the Initial Notes, the Exchange Notes and the Private Exchange Notes treated as a single class.

“Notes Custodian” means the custodian with respect to a Global Note (as appointed by the Depository), or any successor Person thereto, and shall initially be the Trustee.

“Private Exchange” means the offer by the Issuer, pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, to the Initial Purchasers to issue and deliver to each such Initial Purchaser, in exchange for the Initial Notes held by such Initial Purchaser as part of the initial distribution of such Initial Notes, a like aggregate principal amount of Private Exchange Notes.

“Private Exchange Notes” means any Notes issued in connection with a Private Exchange.

“Purchase Agreement” means (a) with respect to the Initial Notes issued on the Issue Date, the Purchase Agreement dated October 3, 2005, among the Issuer, the Guarantors and the Initial Purchasers and (b) with respect to each issuance of Additional Notes, the purchase agreement or underwriting agreement among the Issuer, the Guarantors and the Persons purchasing or underwriting such Additional Notes.

“QIB” means a “qualified institutional buyer” as defined in Rule 144A.

“Registered Exchange Offer” means the offer by the Issuer, pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, to certain Holders of Initial Notes, to issue and deliver to such Holders, in exchange for the Initial Notes, a like aggregate principal amount of Exchange Notes registered under the Securities Act.

“Registration Rights Agreement” means (1) with respect to the Initial Notes issued on the Issue Date, the Registration Rights Agreement dated October 17, 2005, among the Issuer, the Guarantors and the Initial Purchasers and (2) with respect to each issuance of Additional Notes issued in a transaction exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, the registration rights agreement, if any, among the Issuer and the Persons purchasing such Additional Notes under the related Purchase Agreement.

“Rule 144A Notes” means all Notes offered and sold to QIBs in reliance on Rule 144A.

“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

“Shelf Registration Statement” means the registration statement issued by the Issuer in connection with the offer and sale of Initial Notes or Private Exchange Notes pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement.

“Transfer Restricted Notes” means Notes that bear or are required to bear a legend relating to restrictions on transfer relating to the Securities Act set forth in Section 2.3(e).

 

2


1.2 Other Definitions

 

Term

   Defined in
Section:
 

“Agent Members”

   2.1 (b)

“Global Note”

   2.1 (a)

“IAI Global Note”

   2.1 (a)

“Permanent Regulation S Global Note”

   2.1 (a)

“Regulation S”

   2.1 (a)

“Regulation S Global Note”

   2.1 (a)

“Rule 144A”

   2.1 (a)

“Rule 144A Global Note”

   2.1 (a)

“Temporary Regulation S Global Note”

   2.1 (a)

 

2. The Notes

2.1 (a)  Form and Dating . The Initial Notes shall be offered and sold by the Issuer pursuant to the Purchase Agreement. The Initial Notes shall be resold initially only to (i) QIBs in reliance on Rule 144A under the Securities Act (“Rule 144A”) and (ii) Persons other than U.S. Persons (as defined in Regulation S) in reliance on Regulation S under the Securities Act (“Regulation S”). Initial Notes may thereafter be transferred to, among others, QIBs, IAIs and purchasers in reliance on Regulation S, subject to the restrictions on transfer set forth herein. Initial Notes initially resold pursuant to Rule 144A shall be issued initially in the form of one or more permanent global Notes in definitive, fully registered form (collectively, the “Rule 144A Global Note”); Initial Notes initially resold to IAIs shall be issued initially in the form of one or more permanent global Notes in definitive, fully registered form (collectively, the “IAI Global Note”); and Initial Notes initially resold pursuant to Regulation S shall be issued initially in the form of one or more temporary global notes in fully registered form (collectively, the “Temporary Regulation S Global Note”), in each case without interest coupons and with the global notes legend and the applicable restricted notes legend set forth in Exhibit 1 hereto, which shall be deposited on behalf of the purchasers of the Initial Notes represented thereby with the Notes Custodian and registered in the name of the Depository or a nominee of the Depository, duly executed by the Issuer and authenticated by the Trustee as provided in this Indenture. Except as set forth in this Section 2.1(a), beneficial ownership interests in the Temporary Regulation S Global Note shall not be exchangeable for interests in the Rule 144A Global Note, the IAI Global Note, a permanent global note (the “Permanent Regulation S Global Note”, and together with the Temporary Regulation S Global Note, the “Regulation S Global Note”) or any other Note prior to the expiration of the Distribution Compliance Period and then, after the expiration of the Distribution Compliance Period, may be exchanged for interests in a Rule 144A Global Note, an IAI Global Note or the Permanent Regulation S Global Note only upon certification in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee that (i) beneficial ownership interests in such Temporary Regulation S Global Note are owned either by non-U.S. persons or U.S. persons who purchased such interests in a transaction that did not require registration under the Securities Act and (ii) in the case of an exchange for an IAI Global Note, certification that the interest in the Temporary Regulation S Global Note is being transferred to an institutional “accredited investor” under the Securities Act that is an institutional accredited investor acquiring the Notes for its own account or for the account of an institutional accredited investor.

 

3


Beneficial interests in Temporary Regulation S Global Notes (after the expiration of the Distribution Compliance Period) or IAI Global Notes may be exchanged for interests in Rule 144A Global Notes if (1) such exchange occurs in connection with a transfer of Notes in compliance with Rule 144A and (2) the transferor of the beneficial interest in the Temporary Regulation S Global Note or the IAI Global Note, as applicable, first delivers to the Trustee a written certificate (in a form satisfactory to the Trustee) to the effect that the beneficial interest in the Temporary Regulation S Global Note or the IAI Global Note, as applicable, is being transferred to a Person (a) who the transferor reasonably believes to be a QIB, (b) purchasing for its own account or the account of a QIB in a transaction meeting the requirements of Rule 144A, and (c) in accordance with all applicable laws of the States of the United States and other jurisdictions.

Beneficial interests in Temporary Regulation S Global Notes (after the expiration of the Distribution Compliance Period) and Rule 144A Global Notes may be exchanged for an interest in IAI Global Notes if (1) such exchange occurs in connection with a transfer of the Notes in compliance with an exemption under the Securities Act and (2) the transferor of the Regulation S Global Note or Rule 144A Global Note, as applicable, first delivers to the trustee a written certificate (substantially in the form of Exhibit 2) to the effect that (A) the Regulation S Global Note or Rule 144A Global Note, as applicable, is being transferred (a) to an “accredited investor” within the meaning of 501(a)(1),(2),(3) and (7) under the Securities Act that is an institutional investor acquiring the Notes for its own account or for the account of such an institutional accredited investor, in each case in a minimum principal amount of the Notes of $250,000, for investment purposes and not with a view to or for offer or sale in connection with any distribution in violation of the Securities Act and (B) in accordance with all applicable securities laws of the States of the United States and other jurisdictions.

Beneficial interests in a Rule 144A Global Note or an IAI Global Note may be transferred to a Person who takes delivery in the form of an interest in a Regulation S Global Note, whether before or after the expiration of the Distribution Compliance Period, only if the transferor first delivers to the Trustee a written certificate (in the form provided in this Indenture) to the effect that such transfer is being made in accordance with Rule 903 or 904 of Regulation S or Rule 144 (if applicable).

The Rule 144A Global Note, the IAI Global Note, the Temporary Regulation S Global Note and the Permanent Regulation S Global Note are collectively referred to herein as “Global Notes”. The aggregate principal amount of the Global Notes may from time to time be increased or decreased by adjustments made on the records of the Trustee and the Depository or its nominee as hereinafter provided.

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

The Issuer shall execute and the Trustee shall, in accordance with this Section 2.1(b), authenticate and deliver initially one or more Global Notes that (a) shall be registered in the name of the Depository for such Global Note or Global Notes or the nominee of such Depository and (b) shall be delivered by the Trustee to such Depository or pursuant to such Depository’s instructions or held by the Trustee as custodian for the Depository.

 

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Members of, or participants in, the Depository (“Agent Members”) shall have no rights under this Indenture with respect to any Global Note held on their behalf by the Depository or by the Trustee as the custodian of the Depository or under such Global Note, and the Issuer, the Trustee and any agent of the Issuer, the Guarantors or the Trustee shall be entitled to treat the Depository as the absolute owner of such Global Note for all purposes whatsoever. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall prevent the Issuer, the Guarantors, the Trustee or any agent of the Issuer, the Guarantors or the Trustee from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by the Depository or impair, as between the Depository and its Agent Members, the operation of customary practices of such Depository governing the exercise of the rights of a holder of a beneficial interest in any Global Note.

(c) Definitive Notes . Except as provided in this Section 2.1 or Section 2.3 or 2.4, owners of beneficial interests in Global Notes shall not be entitled to receive physical delivery of Definitive Notes.

2.2 Authentication

The Trustee shall authenticate and deliver: (1) on the Issue Date, an aggregate principal amount of $270,000,000 of Initial Notes, (2) any Additional Notes for an original issue in an aggregate principal amount specified in the written order of the Issuer pursuant to Section 2.03 of this Indenture and (3) Exchange Notes or Private Exchange Notes for issue only in a Registered Exchange Offer or a Private Exchange, respectively, pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, for a like principal amount of Initial Notes, in each case upon a written order of the Issuer signed by one Officer. Such order shall specify the amount of the Notes to be authenticated and the date on which the original issue of Notes is to be authenticated and, in the case of any issuance and Additional Notes pursuant to Section 2.01 of this Indenture, shall certify that such issuance is in compliance with Section 4.03 of this Indenture.

2.3 Transfer and Exchange

(a) Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Notes . When Definitive Notes are presented to the Registrar with a request:

 

  (x) to register the transfer of such Definitive Notes; or

 

  (y) to exchange such Definitive Notes for an equal principal amount of Definitive Notes of other authorized denominations,

the Registrar shall register the transfer or make the exchange as requested if its reasonable requirements for such transaction are met; provided , however , that the Definitive Notes surrendered for transfer or exchange:

(i) shall be duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form reasonably satisfactory to the Issuer and the Registrar, duly executed by the Holder thereof or its attorney duly authorized in writing; and

(ii) if such Definitive Notes are required to bear a restricted notes legend, they are being transferred or exchanged pursuant to an effective registration statement under

 

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the Securities Act, pursuant to Section 2.3(b) or pursuant to clause (A), (B) or (C) below, and are accompanied by the following additional information and documents, as applicable:

(A) if such Definitive Notes are being delivered to the Registrar by a Holder for registration in the name of such Holder, without transfer, a certification from such Holder to that effect; or

(B) if such Definitive Notes are being transferred to the Issuer, a certification to that effect; or

(C) if such Definitive Notes are being transferred (x) pursuant to an exemption from registration in accordance with Rule 144A, Regulation S or Rule 144 under the Securities Act; or (y) in reliance upon another exemption from the requirements of the Securities Act: (i) a certification to that effect (in the form set forth on the reverse of the Note) and (ii) if the Issuer so requests, an opinion of counsel or other evidence reasonably satisfactory to it as to the compliance with the restrictions set forth in the legend set forth in Section 2.3(e)(i).

(b) Restrictions on Transfer of a Definitive Note for a Beneficial Interest in a Global Note . A Definitive Note may not be exchanged for a beneficial interest in a Rule 144A Global Note, an IAI Global Note or a Permanent Regulation S Global Note except upon satisfaction of the requirements set forth below. Upon receipt by the Trustee of a Definitive Note, duly endorsed or accompanied by appropriate instruments of transfer, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, together with:

(i) certification, in the form set forth on the reverse of the Note, that such Definitive Note is either (A) being transferred to a QIB in accordance with Rule 144A, (B) being transferred to an IAI or (C) being transferred after expiration of the Distribution Compliance Period by a Person who initially purchased such Note in reliance on Regulation S to a buyer who elects to hold its interest in such Note in the form of a beneficial interest in the Permanent Regulation S Global Note;

(ii) written instructions directing the Trustee to make, or to direct the Notes Custodian to make, an adjustment on its books and records with respect to such Rule 144A Global Note (in the case of a transfer pursuant to clause (b)(i)(A)), IAI Global Note (in the case of a transfer pursuant to clause (b)(i)(B) or Permanent Regulation S Global Note (in the case of a transfer pursuant to clause (b)(i)(C)) to reflect an increase in the aggregate principal amount of the Notes represented by the Rule 144A Global Note, IAI Global Note or Permanent Regulation S Global Note, as applicable, such instructions to contain information regarding the Depository account to be credited with such increase, and

(iii) if the Registrar or the Issuer so requests or if the Applicable Procedures so require, an opinion of counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Registrar and the Issuer to the effect that such exchange or transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act

 

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and that the restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the applicable restricted notes legend is no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act,

then the Trustee shall cancel such Definitive Note and cause, or direct the Notes Custodian to cause, in accordance with the standing instructions and procedures existing between the Depository and the Notes Custodian, the aggregate principal amount of Notes represented by the Rule 144A Global Note, IAI Global Note or Permanent Regulation S Global Note, as applicable, to be increased by the aggregate principal amount of the Definitive Note to be exchanged and shall credit or cause to be credited to the account of the Person specified in such instructions a beneficial interest in the Rule 144A Global Note, IAI Global Note or Permanent Regulation S Global Note, as applicable, equal to the principal amount of the Definitive Note so canceled. If no Rule 144A Global Notes, IAI Global Notes or Permanent Regulation S Global Notes, as applicable, are then outstanding, the Issuer shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate, upon written order of the Issuer in the form of an Officers’ Certificate of the Issuer, a new Rule 144A Global Note, IAI Global Note or Permanent Regulation S Global Note, as applicable, in the appropriate principal amount.

(c) Transfer and Exchange of Global Notes .

(i) The transfer and exchange of Global Notes or beneficial interests therein shall be effected through the Depository, in accordance with this Indenture (including applicable restrictions on transfer set forth herein, if any) and the procedures of the Depository therefor. A transferor of a beneficial interest in a Global Note shall deliver to the Registrar a written order given in accordance with the Depository’s procedures containing information regarding the participant account of the Depository to be credited with a beneficial interest in the Global Note. The Registrar shall, in accordance with such instructions, instruct the Depository to credit to the account of the Person specified in such instructions a beneficial interest in the Global Note and to debit the account of the Person making the transfer the beneficial interest in the Global Note being transferred.

(ii) If the proposed transfer is a transfer of a beneficial interest in one Global Note to a beneficial interest in another Global Note, the Registrar shall reflect on its books and records the date and an increase in the principal amount of the Global Note to which such interest is being transferred in an amount equal to the principal amount of the interest to be so transferred, and the Registrar shall reflect on its books and records the date and a corresponding decrease in the principal amount of the Global Note from which such interest is being transferred.

(iii) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Appendix (other than the provisions set forth in Section 2.4), a Global Note may not be transferred as a whole except by the Depository to a nominee of the Depository or by a nominee of the Depository to the Depository or another nominee of the Depository or by the Depository or any such nominee to a successor Depository or a nominee of such successor Depository.

(iv) In the event that a Global Note is exchanged for Definitive Notes pursuant to Section 2.4 of this Appendix, prior to the consummation of a Registered Exchange

 

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Offer or the effectiveness of a Shelf Registration Statement with respect to such Notes, such Notes may be exchanged only in accordance with such procedures as are substantially consistent with the provisions of this Section 2.3 (including the certification requirements set forth on the reverse of the Initial Notes intended to ensure that such transfers comply with Rule 144A, Regulation S or another applicable exemption under the Securities Act, as the case may be) and such other procedures as may from time to time be adopted by the Issuer.

(v) In the event that a Transfer Restricted Note represented by a Global Note is exchanged for an unrestricted Global Note pursuant to this Section 2.3, prior to the consummation of a Registered Exchange Offer or the effectiveness of a Shelf Registration Statement with respect to such Notes, such Notes may be exchanged only in accordance with such procedures as are substantially consistent with the provisions hereof (including the certification requirements set forth on the reverse of the Initial Notes intended to ensure that such transfers comply with Rule 144A, Regulation S or another applicable exemption under the Securities Act, as the case may be) and such other procedures as may from time to time be adopted by the Issuer.

(d) Restrictions on Transfer of Temporary Regulation S Global Notes . During the Distribution Compliance Period, beneficial ownership interests in Temporary Regulation S Global Notes may only be sold, pledged or transferred in accordance with the Applicable Procedures and only (i) to the Issuer, (ii) in an offshore transaction in accordance with Regulation S (other than a transaction resulting in an exchange for an interest in a Permanent Regulation S Global Note), (iii) pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, in each case in accordance with any applicable securities laws of any State of the United States.

(e) Legend .

(i) Except as permitted by the following paragraphs (ii), (iii) and (iv), each Note certificate evidencing the Global Notes (and all Notes issued in exchange therefor or in substitution thereof), in the case of Notes offered otherwise than in reliance on Regulation S, shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:

THIS NOTE (OR ITS PREDECESSOR) WAS ORIGINALLY ISSUED IN A TRANSACTION EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND THIS NOTE MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR AN APPLICABLE EXEMPTION THEREFROM. EACH PURCHASER OF THIS NOTE IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE SELLER OF THIS NOTE MAY BE RELYING ON THE EXEMPTION FROM THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 5 OF THE SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED BY RULE 144A THEREUNDER.

THE HOLDER OF THIS NOTE AGREES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMPANY THAT (A) THIS NOTE MAY BE OFFERED, RESOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED, ONLY (I) TO THE ISSUER, (II) IN THE UNITED STATES TO A

 

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PERSON WHOM THE SELLER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A, (III) OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 904 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (IV) TO AN “ACCREDITED INVESTOR” (AS DEFINED IN RULE 501(A)(1), (2), (3) OR (7) OF REGULATION D UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) THAT, PRIOR TO SUCH TRANSFER, FURNISHES THE TRUSTEE WITH A SIGNED LETTER CONTAINING CERTAIN REPRESENTATIONS AND AGREEMENTS RELATING TO THE TRANSFER OF THIS NOTE (THE FORM OF WHICH CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE TRUSTEE) AND, IF SUCH TRANSFER IS IN RESPECT OF AN AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF NOTES LESS THAN $250,000, AN OPINION OF COUNSEL ACCEPTABLE TO THE COMPANY THAT SUCH TRANSFER IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT, (V) PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED BY RULE 144 THEREUNDER (IF AVAILABLE) OR (VI) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, IN EACH OF CASES (I) THROUGH (VI) IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANY APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES, AND (B) THE HOLDER SHALL, AND EACH SUBSEQUENT HOLDER IS REQUIRED TO, NOTIFY ANY PURCHASER OF THIS NOTE FROM IT OF THE RESALE RESTRICTIONS REFERRED TO IN (A) ABOVE.

Each certificate evidencing a Note offered in reliance on Regulation S shall, in lieu of the foregoing, bear a legend in substantially the following form:

THIS NOTE (OR ITS PREDECESSOR) WAS ORIGINALLY ISSUED IN A TRANSACTION ORIGINALLY EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED IN THE UNITED STATES OR TO, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OR BENEFIT OF, ANY U.S. PERSON EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND ALL APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. TERMS USED ABOVE HAVE THE MEANINGS GIVEN TO THEM IN REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.

Each Definitive Note shall also bear the following additional legend:

IN CONNECTION WITH ANY TRANSFER, THE HOLDER SHALL DELIVER TO THE REGISTRAR AND TRANSFER AGENT SUCH CERTIFICATES AND OTHER INFORMATION AS SUCH TRANSFER AGENT MAY REASONABLY REQUIRE TO CONFIRM THAT THE TRANSFER COMPLIES WITH THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS.

(ii) Upon any sale or transfer of a Transfer Restricted Note (including any Transfer Restricted Note represented by a Global Note) pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act, the Registrar shall permit the transferee thereof to exchange such Transfer

 

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Restricted Note for a certificated Note that does not bear the legend set forth above and rescind any restriction on the transfer of such Transfer Restricted Note, if the transferor thereof certifies in writing to the Registrar that such sale or transfer was made in reliance on Rule 144 (such certification to be in the form set forth on the reverse of the Note).

(iii) After a transfer of any Initial Notes or Private Exchange Notes pursuant to and during the period of the effectiveness of a Shelf Registration Statement with respect to such Initial Notes or Private Exchange Notes, as the case may be, all requirements pertaining to legends on such Initial Note or such Private Exchange Note shall cease to apply, the requirements requiring any such Initial Note or such Private Exchange Note issued to certain Holders be issued in global form shall cease to apply, and a certificated Initial Note or Private Exchange Note or an Initial Note or Private Exchange Note in global form, in each case without restrictive transfer legends, shall be available to the transferee of the Holder of such Initial Notes or Private Exchange Notes upon exchange of such transferring Holder’s certificated Initial Note or Private Exchange Note or directions to transfer such Holder’s interest in the Global Note, as applicable.

(iv) Upon the consummation of a Registered Exchange Offer with respect to the Initial Notes, all requirements pertaining to such Initial Notes that Initial Notes issued to certain Holders be issued in global form shall still apply with respect to Holders of such Initial Notes that do not exchange their Initial Notes, and Exchange Notes in certificated or global form, in each case without the restricted notes legend set forth in Exhibit 1 hereto, shall be available to Holders that exchange such Initial Notes in such Registered Exchange Offer.

(v) Upon the consummation of a Private Exchange with respect to the Initial Notes, all requirements pertaining to such Initial Notes that Initial Notes issued to certain Holders be issued in global form shall still apply with respect to Holders of such Initial Notes that do not exchange their Initial Notes, and Private Exchange Notes in global form with the global notes legend and the applicable restricted notes legend set forth in Exhibit 1 hereto shall be available to Holders that exchange such Initial Notes in such Private Exchange.

(f) Cancellation or Adjustment of Global Note . At such time as all beneficial interests in a Global Note have either been exchanged for Definitive Notes, redeemed, purchased or canceled, such Global Note shall be returned to the Depository for cancellation or retained and canceled by the Trustee. At any time prior to such cancellation, if any beneficial interest in a Global Note is exchanged for certificated Notes, redeemed, purchased or canceled, the principal amount of Notes represented by such Global Note shall be reduced and an adjustment shall be made on the books and records of the Trustee (if it is then the Notes Custodian for such Global Note) with respect to such Global Note, by the Trustee or the Notes Custodian, to reflect such reduction.

(g) No Obligation of the Trustee .

(i) The Trustee shall have no responsibility or obligation to any beneficial owner of a Global Note, a member of, or a participant in the Depository or other Person

 

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with respect to the accuracy of the records of the Depository or its nominee or of any participant or member thereof, with respect to any ownership interest in the Notes or with respect to the delivery to any participant, member, beneficial owner or other Person (other than the Depository) of any notice (including any notice of redemption) or the payment of any amount, under or with respect to such Notes. All notices and communications to be given to the Holders and all payments to be made to Holders under the Notes shall be given or made only to or upon the order of the registered Holders (which shall be the Depository or its nominee in the case of a Global Note). The rights of beneficial owners in any Global Note shall be exercised only through the Depository subject to the applicable rules and procedures of the Depository. The Trustee may rely and shall be fully protected in relying upon information furnished by the Depository with respect to its members, participants and any beneficial owners.

(ii) The Trustee shall have no obligation or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any restrictions on transfer imposed under this Indenture or under applicable law with respect to any transfer of any interest in any Note (including any transfers between or among Depository participants, members or beneficial owners in any Global Note) other than to require delivery of such certificates and other documentation or evidence as are expressly required by, and to do so if and when expressly required by, the terms of this Indenture, and to examine the same to determine substantial compliance as to form with the express requirements hereof.

2.4 Certificated Notes

(a) A Global Note deposited with the Depository or with the Trustee as Notes Custodian for the Depository pursuant to Section 2.1 shall be transferred to the beneficial owners thereof in the form of Definitive Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such Global Note, in exchange for such Global Note, only if such transfer complies with Section 2.3 hereof and (i) the Depository notifies the Issuer that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depository for such Global Note and the Depository fails to appoint a successor depositary or if at any time such Depository ceases to be a “clearing agency” registered under the Exchange Act and, in either case, a successor Depository is not appointed by the Issuer within 90 days of such notice, or (ii) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or (iii) the Issuer, in its sole discretion, notifies the Trustee in writing that it elects to cause the issuance of Definitive Notes under this Indenture.

(b) Any Global Note that is transferable to the beneficial owners thereof pursuant to this Section 2.4 shall be surrendered by the Depository to the Trustee located at its principal corporate trust office, to be so transferred, in whole or from time to time in part, without charge, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, upon such transfer of each portion of such Global Note, an equal aggregate principal amount of Definitive Notes of authorized denominations. Any portion of a Global Note transferred pursuant to this Section 2.4 shall be executed, authenticated and delivered only in denominations of $1,000 principal amount and any integral multiple thereof and registered in such names as the Depository shall direct. Any Definitive Note delivered in exchange for an interest in the Transfer Restricted Note shall, except as otherwise provided by Section 2.3(e) hereof, bear the applicable restricted notes legend and definitive note legend set forth in Exhibit 1 hereto.

 

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(c) Subject to the provisions of Section 2.4(b) hereof, the registered Holder of a Global Note shall be entitled to grant proxies and otherwise authorize any Person, including Agent Members and Persons that may hold interests through Agent Members, to take any action which a Holder is entitled to take under this Indenture or the Notes.

(d) In the event of the occurrence of one of the events specified in Section 2.4(a) hereof, the Issuer shall promptly make available to the Trustee a reasonable supply of Definitive Notes in definitive, fully registered form without interest coupons. In the event that such Definitive Notes are not issued, the Issuer expressly acknowledges, with respect to the right of any Holder to pursue a remedy pursuant to Section 6.06 of this Indenture, the right of any beneficial owner of Notes to pursue such remedy with respect to the portion of the Global Note that represents such beneficial owner’s Notes as if such Definitive Notes had been issued.

 

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EXHIBIT 1 to APPENDIX A (Rule 144A/Regulation S/IAI APPENDIX)

[FORM OF FACE OF INITIAL NOTE]

[Global Notes Legend]

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 IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO., OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS 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.

TRANSFERS OF THIS GLOBAL NOTE SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS IN WHOLE, BUT NOT IN PART, TO NOMINEES OF DTC OR TO A SUCCESSOR THEREOF OR SUCH SUCCESSOR’S NOMINEE AND TRANSFERS OF PORTIONS OF THIS GLOBAL NOTE SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN THE INDENTURE REFERRED TO ON THE REVERSE HEREOF.

[[FOR REGULATION S GLOBAL NOTE ONLY] UNTIL 40 DAYS AFTER THE LATER OF COMMENCEMENT OR COMPLETION OF THE OFFERING, AN OFFER OR SALE OF NOTES WITHIN THE UNITED STATES BY A DEALER (AS DEFINED IN THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”)) MAY VIOLATE THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT IF SUCH OFFER OR SALE IS MADE OTHERWISE THAN IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 144A THEREUNDER.]

[Restricted Notes Legend for Notes Offered Otherwise than in Reliance

on Regulation S]

THIS NOTE (OR ITS PREDECESSOR) WAS ORIGINALLY ISSUED IN A TRANSACTION EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND THIS NOTE MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR AN APPLICABLE EXEMPTION THEREFROM. EACH PURCHASER OF THIS NOTE IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE SELLER OF THIS NOTE MAY BE RELYING ON THE EXEMPTION FROM THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 5 OF THE SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED BY RULE 144A THEREUNDER.

THE HOLDER OF THIS NOTE AGREES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE ISSUER THAT (A) THIS NOTE MAY BE OFFERED, RESOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED, ONLY (I) TO THE ISSUER, (II) WITHIN THE UNITED


STATES TO A PERSON WHOM THE SELLER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A, (III) TO AN INSTITUTIONAL “ACCREDITED INVESTOR” WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE 501(A)(1), (2), (3) OR (7) UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT, PRIOR TO SUCH TRANSFER, FURNISHES THE TRUSTEE A SIGNED LETTER CONTAINING CERTAIN REPRESENTATIONS AND AGREEMENTS RELATING TO THE TRANSFER OF THIS NOTE (THE FORM OF WHICH CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE TRUSTEE) AND, IF SUCH TRANSFER IS IN RESPECT OF AN AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF NOTES LESS THAN $250,000, AN OPINION OF COUNSEL ACCEPTABLE TO THE ISSUER THAT SUCH TRANSFER IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT, (IV) OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 904 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (V) PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED BY RULE 144 THEREUNDER (IF AVAILABLE) OR (VI) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, IN EACH OF CASES (I) THROUGH (VI) IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANY APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES, AND (B) THE HOLDER SHALL, AND EACH SUBSEQUENT HOLDER IS REQUIRED TO, NOTIFY ANY PURCHASER OF THIS NOTE FROM IT OF THE RESALE RESTRICTIONS REFERRED TO IN (A) ABOVE.

[Restricted Notes Legend for Notes Offered in Reliance on Regulation S]

THIS NOTE (OR ITS PREDECESSOR) WAS ORIGINALLY ISSUED IN A TRANSACTION ORIGINALLY EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, AND MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED IN THE UNITED STATES OR TO, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OR BENEFIT OF, ANY U.S. PERSON EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND ALL APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. TERMS USED ABOVE HAVE THE MEANINGS GIVEN TO THEM IN REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.

[Temporary Regulation S Global Note Legend]

EXCEPT AS SET FORTH BELOW, BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP INTERESTS IN THIS TEMPORARY REGULATION S GLOBAL NOTE SHALL NOT BE EXCHANGEABLE FOR INTERESTS IN THE PERMANENT REGULATION S GLOBAL NOTE OR ANY OTHER NOTE REPRESENTING AN INTEREST IN THE NOTES REPRESENTED HEREBY WHICH DO NOT CONTAIN A LEGEND CONTAINING RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER, UNTIL THE EXPIRATION OF THE “40-DAY DISTRIBUTION COMPLIANCE PERIOD” (WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE 903(b)(2) OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) AND THEN ONLY UPON CERTIFICATION IN FORM REASONABLY SATISFACTORY TO THE TRUSTEE THAT SUCH BENEFICIAL INTERESTS ARE OWNED EITHER BY NON-U.S. PERSONS OR U.S. PERSONS WHO PURCHASED SUCH INTERESTS IN A TRANSACTION THAT DID NOT REQUIRE REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT. DURING SUCH 40-DAY DISTRIBUTION COMPLIANCE PERIOD, BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP INTERESTS IN

 

2


THIS TEMPORARY REGULATION S GLOBAL NOTE MAY ONLY BE SOLD, PLEDGED OR TRANSFERRED (I) TO THE ISSUER, (II) OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES IN A TRANSACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 904 OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, OR (III) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, IN EACH OF CASES (I) THROUGH (III) IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANY APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES. HOLDERS OF INTERESTS IN THIS TEMPORARY REGULATION S GLOBAL NOTE SHALL NOTIFY ANY PURCHASER OF THIS NOTE OF THE RESALE RESTRICTIONS REFERRED TO ABOVE, IF THEN APPLICABLE.

AFTER THE EXPIRATION OF THE DISTRIBUTION COMPLIANCE PERIOD, BENEFICIAL INTERESTS IN THIS TEMPORARY REGULATION S GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE EXCHANGED FOR INTERESTS IN A RULE 144A GLOBAL NOTE ONLY IF (1) SUCH EXCHANGE OCCURS IN CONNECTION WITH A TRANSFER OF THE NOTES IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 144A AND (2) THE TRANSFEROR OF THE REGULATION S GLOBAL NOTE FIRST DELIVERS TO THE TRUSTEE A WRITTEN CERTIFICATE (IN THE FORM ATTACHED TO THIS CERTIFICATE) TO THE EFFECT THAT THE REGULATION S GLOBAL NOTE IS BEING TRANSFERRED (A) TO A PERSON WHO THE TRANSFEROR REASONABLY BELIEVES TO BE A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE 144A, (B) TO A PERSON WHO IS PURCHASING FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A, AND (C) IN ACCORDANCE WITH ALL APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF THE STATES OF THE UNITED STATES AND OTHER JURISDICTIONS.

AFTER THE EXPIRATION OF THE DISTRIBUTION COMPLIANCE PERIOD, BENEFICIAL INTERESTS IN THIS TEMPORARY REGULATION S GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE EXCHANGED FOR INTERESTS IN AN IAI GLOBAL NOTE ONLY IF (1) SUCH EXCHANGE OCCURS IN CONNECTION WITH A TRANSFER OF THE NOTES IN COMPLIANCE WITH AN EXEMPTION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AND (2) THE TRANSFEROR OF THE REGULATION S GLOBAL NOTE FIRST DELIVERS TO THE TRUSTEE A WRITTEN CERTIFICATE (IN THE FORM ATTACHED TO THIS CERTIFICATE) TO THE EFFECT THAT THE REGULATION S GLOBAL NOTE IS BEING TRANSFERRED (A) TO AN INSTITUTIONAL “ACCREDITED INVESTOR” WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE 501(A)(1),(2),(3) OR (7) UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT, PRIOR TO SUCH TRANSFER, FURNISHES THE TRUSTEE A SIGNED LETTER CONTAINING CERTAIN REPRESENTATIONS AND AGREEMENTS RELATING TO THE TRANSFER OF THIS NOTE (THE FORM OF WHICH CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE TRUSTEE) AND, IF SUCH TRANSFER IS IN RESPECT OF AN AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF NOTES LESS THAN $250,000, AN OPINION OF COUNSEL ACCEPTABLE TO THE ISSUER THAT SUCH TRANSFER IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT AND (B) IN ACCORDANCE WITH ALL APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF THE STATES OF THE UNITED STATES AND OTHER JURISDICTIONS.

BENEFICIAL INTERESTS IN A RULE 144A GLOBAL NOTE OR AN IAI GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE TRANSFERRED TO A PERSON WHO TAKES DELIVERY IN THE FORM OF AN INTEREST IN THE REGULATION S GLOBAL NOTE, WHETHER

 

3


BEFORE OR AFTER THE EXPIRATION OF THE 40-DAY DISTRIBUTION COMPLIANCE PERIOD, ONLY IF THE TRANSFEROR FIRST DELIVERS TO THE TRUSTEE A WRITTEN CERTIFICATE (IN THE FORM ATTACHED TO THIS CERTIFICATE) TO THE EFFECT THAT SUCH TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 903 OR 904 OF REGULATION S OR RULE 144 (IF AVAILABLE).

[Definitive Notes Legend]

IN CONNECTION WITH ANY TRANSFER, THE HOLDER SHALL DELIVER TO THE REGISTRAR AND TRANSFER AGENT SUCH CERTIFICATES AND OTHER INFORMATION AS SUCH TRANSFER AGENT MAY REASONABLY REQUIRE TO CONFIRM THAT THE TRANSFER COMPLIES WITH THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS.

 

4


AFFINION GROUP, INC.

10  1 / 8 % Senior Notes due 2013

[144A CUSIP No. 00828D AA 9

and ISIN No. US00828DAA90]

[REG S CUSIP No. U00831 AA 2

and ISIN No. USU00831AA22]

 

No. [    ]    $ [    ]

AFFINION GROUP, INC., a Delaware corporation, promises to pay to CEDE & CO., or its registered assigns, the principal sum of [    ] Dollars ($[    ]) on October 15, 2013.

Interest Payment Dates: April 15, and October 15

Record Dates: April 1 and October 1

Additional provisions of this Note are set forth on the other side of this Note.

Dated: October 17, 2005

SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS

 

5


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

Dated: October 17, 2005

 

AFFINION GROUP, INC.

By     
 

Name:

 

Title:

TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Trustee, certifies that this is one of the Notes referred to in the Indenture.

By     
  Authorized Signatory

 

6


[FORM OF REVERSE SIDE OF INITIAL NOTE]

10  1 / 8 % Senior Notes due 2013

 

1. Interest

Affinion Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (such Person, and its respective successors and assigns under the Indenture hereinafter referred to, being herein called the “Issuer”) promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this Note at a rate per annum of 10  1 / 8 %; provided , however , that if a Registration Default (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) occurs, additional interest shall accrue on this Note at a rate of 0.25% per annum (increasing by an additional 0.25% per annum after each consecutive 90-day period that occurs after the date on which such Registration Default occurs up to a maximum additional interest rate of 1.00%) from and including the date on which any such Registration Default shall occur to but excluding the date on which all Registration Defaults have been cured. The Issuer shall pay interest semiannually in arrears to the holders of the Notes on April 15 and October 15 of each year, commencing April 15, 2006. Interest on the Notes shall accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from the Issue Date. Interest shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. The Issuer shall pay interest on overdue principal at the rate borne by this Note plus 1.0% per annum, and it shall pay interest on overdue installments of interest at the same rate to the extent lawful.

 

2. Method of Payment

The Issuer shall pay interest on the Notes (except defaulted interest) to the Persons who are registered holders of Notes at the close of business on the April 1 or October 1 next preceding the interest payment date even if Notes are canceled after the record date and on or before the interest payment date. Holders must surrender Notes to a Paying Agent to collect principal payments. The Issuer shall pay principal and interest in money of the United States that at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts. Payments in respect of the Notes represented by a Global Note (including principal, premium and interest) shall be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the accounts specified by the Depository. The Issuer shall make all payments in respect of a certificated Note (including principal, premium and interest) by mailing a check to the registered address of each Holder thereof; provided , however , that payments on a certificated Note shall be made by wire transfer to a U.S. dollar account maintained by the payee with a bank in the United States if such Holder elects payment by wire transfer by giving written notice to the Trustee or the Paying Agent to such effect designating such account no later than 30 days immediately preceding the relevant due date for payment (or such other date as the Trustee may accept in its discretion).

 

3. Paving Agent and Registrar

Initially, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association (the “Trustee”), shall act as Paying Agent and Registrar. The Issuer may appoint and change any Paying Agent, Registrar or co-registrar without notice. The Issuer or any of its domestically incorporated Wholly Owned Subsidiaries may act as Paying Agent, Registrar or co-registrar.

 

7


4. Indenture

The Issuer issued the Notes under an Indenture dated as of October 17, 2005 (the “Indenture”), among the Issuer, the Guarantors and the Trustee. The terms of the Notes include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C. §§ 77aaa-77bbbb) (the “Act”). Terms defined in the Indenture and not defined herein have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Indenture. The Notes are subject to all such terms, and Holders are referred to the Indenture and the Act for a statement of those terms.

The Notes are unsecured obligations of the Issuer and consist of the 10  1 / 8 % Senior Notes due 2013 and any Additional Notes that may be issued after the Issue Date. The Indenture contains covenants that, among other things, limit the ability of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries to incur additional indebtedness; pay dividends or distributions on, or redeem or repurchase capital stock; make investments; engage in transactions with affiliates; create liens on assets to secure indebtedness; transfer or sell assets; guarantee indebtedness; restrict dividends or other payments of subsidiaries; consolidate, merge or transfer all or substantially all of its assets; and engage in sale/leaseback transactions. These covenants are subject to important exceptions and qualifications contained in the Indenture.

 

5. Optional Redemption

Except as set forth below, the Issuer shall not be entitled to redeem the Notes.

On and after October 15, 2009, the Issuer may redeem the Notes, at its option, in whole at any time or in part from time to time, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice mailed by first-class mail to each Holder’s registered address, at the following redemption prices (expressed as a percentage of principal amount), plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, to the redemption date (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date), if redeemed during the 12-month period commencing on October 15 of the years set forth below:

 

Year

   Redemption
Price
 

2009

   105.063 %

2010

   102.531 %

2011 and thereafter

   100.00 %

Notwithstanding the foregoing, at any time and from time to time on or prior to October 15, 2008, the Issuer may redeem in the aggregate up to 35% of the original aggregate principal amount of the Notes (calculated after giving effect to any issuance of Additional Notes) with the net cash proceeds of one or more (a) Equity Offerings by the Issuer, (b) Equity Offerings by any Parent of the Issuer, to the extent the net cash proceeds thereof are contributed to the common equity capital of the Issuer or used to purchase Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Issuer from it, or (c) Subsidiary Spin-Offs, at a redemption price equal

 

8


to 110.125% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, to the redemption date (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date); provided , however , that at least 65% of the original aggregate principal amount of the Notes (calculated after giving effect to any issuance of Additional Notes) must remain outstanding after each such redemption; provided , further , that such redemption shall occur within 90 days after the date on which any such Equity Offering is consummated upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ notice mailed to each Holder being redeemed and otherwise in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Indenture.

Notice of any redemption upon any Equity Offering may be given prior to the completion thereof, and any such redemption or notice may, at the Issuer’s discretion, be subject to one or more conditions precedent, including, but not limited to, completion of the related Equity Offering.

 

6. [Intentionally omitted]

 

7. Notice of Redemption

Notice of redemption shall be mailed by first-class mail or electronically transmitted at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each Holder of Notes to be redeemed at his registered address. Notes in denominations larger than $1,000 principal amount may be redeemed in part but only in whole multiples of $1,000. If money sufficient to pay the redemption price of and accrued interest on all Notes (or portions thereof) to be redeemed on the redemption date is deposited with the Paying Agent on or before the redemption date and certain other conditions are satisfied, on and after such date interest ceases to accrue on such Notes (or such portions thereof) called for redemption.

 

8. Put Provisions

Except as set forth in the Indenture, the occurrence of any Change of Control shall constitute an Event of Default under the Indenture unless the Issuer (i)(A) makes an offer within 30 days following such Change of Control to all holders of the Notes to purchase all the Notes properly tendered (a “Change of Control Offer”) at a purchase price (the “Change of Control Purchase Price”) equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest (if any) to the date of repurchase (subject to the right of holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date); and (B) purchase all the Notes properly tendered in accordance with the Change of Control Offer or (ii) exercises its right, within 30 days following such Change of Control, to redeem all the Notes as described under Paragraph 5 of this Note.

 

9. Guarantee

The payment by the Issuer of the principal of, and premium and interest on, the Notes is fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a joint and several basis by each of the Guarantors to the extent set forth in the Indenture.

 

9


10. [Intentionally omitted]

 

11. Denominations; Transfer; Exchange

The Notes are in registered form without coupons in denominations of $1,000 principal amount and whole multiples of $1,000. A Holder may transfer or exchange Notes in accordance with the Indenture. The Registrar may require a Holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements or transfer documents and to pay any taxes and fees required by law or permitted by the Indenture. The Registrar need not register the transfer of or exchange any Notes selected for redemption (except, in the case of a Note to be redeemed in part, the portion of the Note not to be redeemed) or any Notes for a period of 15 days before a selection of Notes to be redeemed or 15 days before an interest payment date.

 

12. Persons Deemed Owners

The registered Holder of this Note may be treated as the owner of it for all purposes.

 

13. Unclaimed Money

If money for the payment of principal or interest remains unclaimed for two years, the Trustee or Paying Agent shall pay the money back to the Issuer at its request unless an abandoned property law designates another Person. After any such payment, Holders entitled to the money must look only to the Issuer and not to the Trustee for payment.

 

14. Discharge and Defeasance

Subject to certain conditions set forth in the Indenture, the Issuer at any time shall be entitled to terminate some or all of its and the Guarantors’ obligations under the Notes and the Indenture if the Issuer deposit with the Trustee money or, in certain cases, U.S. Government Obligations for the payment of principal and interest on the Notes to redemption or maturity, as the case may be.

 

15. Amendment, Waiver

Subject to certain exceptions set forth in the Indenture, (a) the Indenture and the Notes may be amended with the written consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount outstanding of the Notes and (b) any default or noncompliance with any provision may be waived with the written consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount outstanding of the Notes. Subject to certain exceptions set forth in the Indenture, without the consent of any Holder, the Issuer, the Guarantors and the Trustee shall be entitled to amend the Indenture or the Notes to cure any ambiguity, omission, defect or inconsistency, to provide for the assumption by a Successor Issuer of the obligations of the Issuer under the Indenture and hereunder, to provide for the assumption by a Successor Guarantor of the obligations of a Subsidiary Guarantor under the Indenture and its Guarantee, to provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated Notes, to add Guarantees with respect to the Notes, to secure the Notes, to add to the covenants of the Issuer for the benefit of Holders or to surrender any right or power conferred upon the Issuer, to make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of any Holder to

 

10


comply with any requirements of the SEC in connection with the qualification of the Indenture under the Act, or to effect any provision of the Indenture or to make certain changes to the Indenture to provide for the issuance of Additional Notes.

 

16. Defaults and Remedies

Under the Indenture, Events of Default include (1) a default in any payment of interest on, or Additional Interest with respect to, any Note when due that continues for 30 days, (2) a default in the payment of principal or premium, if any, of any Note when due at its Stated Maturity, upon optional redemption, upon required repurchase, upon declaration or otherwise, (3) the failure by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to comply with the provisions described under Article 5 of the Indenture (4) the failure by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to comply for 30 days after notice with any of its obligations under Article Four of the Indenture (other than a failure to purchase Notes), (5) the failure by the Issuer or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries of the Issuer to comply for 60 days after notice with its other agreements contained in the Notes or the Indenture, (6) the failure by the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary to pay any Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness owing to a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer) within any applicable grace period after final maturity or the acceleration of any such Indebtedness by the holders thereof because of a default, in each case, if the total amount of such Indebtedness unpaid or accelerated exceeds $30 million or its foreign currency equivalent, (7) certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of the Issuer or a Significant Subsidiary, (8) the failure by the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary to pay final judgments aggregating in excess of $30 million or its foreign currency equivalent (net of any amounts which are covered by enforceable insurance policies issued by solvent carriers), which judgments are not discharged, waived or stayed for a period of 60 days and (9) any Guarantee of a Significant Subsidiary ceases to be in full force and effect (except as contemplated by the terms thereof) or any Guarantor that qualifies as a Significant Subsidiary denies or disaffirms its obligations under the Indenture or any Guarantee and such Default continues for 10 days. If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Notes may declare all such Notes to be due and payable immediately, subject to certain conditions set forth in the Indenture. Certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency are Events of Default which shall result in the Notes being due and payable immediately upon the occurrence of such Events of Default.

Holders may not enforce the Indenture or the Notes except as provided in the Indenture. The Trustee may refuse to enforce the Indenture or the Notes unless it receives indemnity or security reasonably satisfactory to it. Subject to certain limitations, Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes may direct the Trustee in its exercise of any trust or power. The Trustee may withhold from Holders notice of any continuing Default (except a Default in payment of principal or interest) if it determines that withholding notice is in the interest of the Holders.

 

17. Trustee Dealings with the Issuer

Subject to certain limitations imposed by the Act, the Trustee under the Indenture, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Notes and may otherwise deal with and collect obligations owed to it by the Issuer or its Affiliates and may

 

11


otherwise deal with the Issuer or its Affiliates with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee.

 

18. No Recourse Against Others

A director, officer, employee or stockholder, as such, of the Issuer or the Trustee shall not have any liability for any obligations of the Issuer under the Notes or the Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of such obligations or their creation; provided , however , the foregoing shall not affect or limit any liability of any Guarantor under the Indenture or its Guarantee. By accepting a Note, each Holder waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issue of the Notes.

 

19. Authentication

This Note shall not be valid until an authorized signatory of the Trustee (or an authenticating agent) manually signs the certificate of authentication on the other side of this Note.

 

20. Abbreviations

Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a Holder or an assignee, such as TEN COM (=tenants in common), TEN ENT (=tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (=joint tenants with rights of survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUST (=custodian), and U/G/M/A (=Uniform Gift to Minors Act).

 

21. CUSIP Numbers

Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures the Issuer has caused CUSIP numbers to be printed on the Notes and has directed the Trustee to use CUSIP numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders. No representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice of redemption and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers placed thereon.

 

22. Holders’ Compliance with Registration Rights Agreement

Each Holder of a Note, by acceptance hereof, acknowledges and agrees to the provisions of the Registration Rights Agreement, including the obligations of the Holders with respect to a registration and the indemnification of the Issuer to the extent provided therein.

 

23. Governing Law

THIS NOTE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

12


The Issuer shall furnish to any Holder upon written request and without charge to the Holder a copy of the Indenture which has in it the text of this Note in larger type. Requests may be made to:

Affinion Group, Inc.

100 Connecticut Avenue

Norwalk, CT 06850

Attention: General Counsel

 

13


ASSIGNMENT FORM

To assign this Note, fill in the form below:

I or we assign and transfer this Note to

(Print or type assignee’s name, address and zip code)

(Insert assignee’s soc. sec. or tax I.D. No.)

and irrevocably appoint                      agent to transfer this Note on the books of the Issuer. The agent may substitute another to act for him.

 


 

Date:                      Your Signature:                                                      

 


Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Note.

In connection with any transfer of any of the Notes evidenced by this certificate occurring prior to the expiration of the period referred to in Rule 144(k) under the Securities Act after the later of the date of original issuance of such Notes and the last date, if any, on which such Notes were owned by the Issuer or any Affiliate of the Issuer, the undersigned confirms that such Notes are being transferred in accordance with its terms:

CHECK ONE BOX BELOW

 

¨ to the Issuer; or

 

(1)

   ¨    pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933; or

(2)

  

¨

   inside the United States to a “qualified institutional buyer” (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933) that purchases for its own account or for the account of a qualified institutional buyer to whom notice is given that such transfer is being made in reliance on Rule 144A, in each case pursuant to and in compliance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933; or

(3)

  

¨

   outside the United States in an offshore transaction within the meaning of Regulation S under the Securities Act in compliance with Rule 904 under the Securities Act of 1933; or

(4)

  

¨

   pursuant to the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144 under the Securities Act of 1933; or

 

1


(5)

   ¨    to an institutional “accredited investor” (as defined in Rule 501(a)(1),(2),(3) or (7) under the Securities Act of 1933) that has furnished to the Trustee a signed letter containing certain representations and agreements.

Unless one of the boxes is checked, the Trustee shall refuse to register any of the Notes evidenced by this certificate in the name of any person other than the registered holder thereof; provided , however , that if box (3), (4) or (5) is checked, the Trustee shall be entitled to require, prior to registering any such transfer of the Notes, such legal opinions, certifications and other information as the Issuer has reasonably requested to confirm that such transfer is being made pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, such as the exemption provided by Rule 144 under such Act.

 

    

Signature

Signature Guarantee:

 

 
       

Signature must be guaranteed

 

Signature

Signatures must be guaranteed by an “eligible guarantor institution” meeting the requirements of the Registrar, which requirements include membership or participation in the Security Transfer Agent Medallion Program (“STAMP”) or such other “signature guarantee program” as may be determined by the Registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

2


TO BE COMPLETED BY PURCHASER IF (2) ABOVE IS CHECKED.

The undersigned represents and warrants that it is purchasing this Note for its own account or an account with respect to which it exercises sole investment discretion and that it and any such account is a “qualified institutional buyer” within the meaning of Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, and is aware that the sale to it is being made in reliance on Rule 144A and acknowledges that it has received such information regarding the Issuer as the undersigned has requested pursuant to Rule 144A or has determined not to request such information and that it is aware that the transferor is relying upon the undersigned’s foregoing representations in order to claim the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144A.

Dated:                                                                                                                                        

                                                                 Notice:     To be executed by

                                                                                    an executive officer

 

3


[TO BE ATTACHED TO GLOBAL NOTES]

SCHEDULE OF INCREASES OR DECREASES IN GLOBAL NOTE

The following increases or decreases in this Global Note have been made:

 

Date of
Exchange

   Amount of decrease in
Principal amount of this
Global Note
   Amount of increase in
Principal amount of this
Global Note
   Principal amount of this
Global Note following
such decrease or increase
   Signature of authorized
officer of Trustee or
Notes Custodian
           
           
           
           
           
           

 

4


OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE

If you want to elect to have this Note purchased by the Issuer pursuant to Section 4.06 or 4.08 of the Indenture, check the box:

¨

If you want to elect to have only part of this Note purchased by the Issuer pursuant to Section 4.06 or 4.08 of the Indenture, state the amount in principal amount: $                     

 

Dated:         

Your Signature:

    
        (Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Note.)
Signature Guarantee:              
        (Signature must be guaranteed)

Signatures must be guaranteed by an “eligible guarantor institution” meeting the requirements of the Registrar, which requirements include membership or participation in the Security Transfer Agent Medallion Program (“STAMP”) or such other “signature guarantee program” as may be determined by the Registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

5


EXHIBIT A

FORM OF FACE OF EXCHANGE NOTE

OR PRIVATE EXCHANGE NOTE*/**/

 


*/ If the Note is to be used in global form add the Global Notes Legend from Exhibit 1 to Appendix A and the attachment from such Exhibit 1 captioned “[TO BE ATTACHED TO GLOBAL NOTES] - SCHEDULE OF INCREASES OR DECREASES IN GLOBAL NOTE”.

 

**/ If the Note is a Private Exchange Note issued in a Private Exchange to an Initial Purchaser holding an unsold portion of its initial allotment, add the Restricted Notes Legend from Exhibit 1 to Appendix A and replace the Assignment Form included in this Exhibit A with the Assignment Form included in such Exhibit 1.


AFFINION GROUP, INC.

10  1 / 8 % Senior Notes due 2013

[144A CUSIP No. 00828D AA 9

and ISIN No. US00828DAA90]

[REG S CUSIP No. U00831 AA 2

and ISIN No. USU00831AA22]

 

No.[    ]

$[            ]

AFFINION GROUP, INC., a Delaware corporation promises to pay to CEDE & CO., or its registered assigns, the principal sum of [    ] Dollars ($[            ]) on October 15, 2013.

Interest Payment Dates: April 15 and October 15

Record Dates: April 1 to October 1

Additional provisions of this Note are set forth on the other side of this Note.

Dated:

[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

 

2


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

 

Dated:

AFFINION GROUP, INC.

By     
 

Name:

 
 

Title:

 

TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee, certifies that this is one of the Notes referred to in the Indenture.

By     
  Authorized Signatory

 

3


EXHIBIT A

[FORM OF REVERSE SIDE OF EXCHANGE NOTE

OR PRIVATE EXCHANGE NOTE]

10  1 / 8 % Senior Notes due 2013

[The form of the Notes should be substantially the same (other than the restrictive legends), whether they are the Initial Notes, Exchange Notes or Private Exchange Notes.]

 

1. Interest

Affinion Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (such Person, and its respective successors and assigns under the Indenture hereinafter referred to, being herein called the “Issuer”) promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this Note at a rate per annum of 10  1 / 8 % [; provided , however , that if a Registration Default (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) occurs, additional interest shall accrue on this Note at a rate of 0.25% per annum (increasing by an additional 0.25% per annum after each consecutive 90-day period that occurs after the date on which such Registration Default occurs up to a maximum additional interest rate of 1.00%) from and including the date on which any such Registration Default shall occur to but excluding the date on which all Registration Defaults have been cured.] 1 The Issuer shall pay interest semiannually in arrears to the holders of the Notes on April 15 and October 15 of each year, commencing April 15, 2006. Interest on the Notes shall accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from the Issue Date. Interest shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. The Issuer shall pay interest on overdue principal at the rate borne by this Note plus 1.0% per annum, and it shall pay interest on overdue installments of interest at the same rate to the extent lawful.

 

2. Method of Payment

The Issuer shall pay interest on the Notes (except defaulted interest) to the Persons who are registered holders of Notes at the close of business on the April 1 or October 1 next preceding the interest payment date even if Notes are canceled after the record date and on or before the interest payment date. Holders must surrender Notes to a Paying Agent to collect principal payments. The Issuer shall pay principal and interest in money of the United States that at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts. Payments in respect of the Notes represented by a Global Note (including principal, premium and interest) shall be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the accounts specified by the Depository. The Issuer shall make all payments in respect of a certificated Note (including principal, premium and interest) by mailing a check to the registered address of each Holder thereof; provided , however , that payments on a certificated Note shall be made by wire transfer to a U.S. dollar account maintained by the payee with a bank in the United States if such Holder elects payment by wire transfer by giving written notice to the Trustee or the Paying Agent to


1 Insert if at the date of issuance of the Exchange Note or Private Exchange Note (as the case may be) any Registration Default has occurred with respect to the related Initial Notes during the interest period in which such date of issuance occurs.


such effect designating such account no later than 30 days immediately preceding the relevant due date for payment (or such other date as the Trustee may accept in its discretion).

 

3. Paying Agent and Registrar

Initially, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association (the “Trustee”), shall act as Paying Agent and Registrar. The Issuer may appoint and change any Paying Agent, Registrar or co-registrar without notice. The Issuer or any of its domestically incorporated Wholly Owned Subsidiaries may act as Paying Agent, Registrar or co-registrar.

 

4. Indenture

The Issuer issued the Notes under an Indenture dated as of October 17, 2005 (the “Indenture”), among the Issuer, the Guarantors and the Trustee. The terms of the Notes include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C. §§ 77aaa-77bbbb) (the “Act”). Terms defined in the Indenture and not defined herein have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Indenture. The Notes are subject to all such terms, and Holders are referred to the Indenture and the Act for a statement of those terms.

The Notes are unsecured obligations of the Issuer and consist of the 10  1 / 8 % Senior Notes due 2013 and any Additional Notes that may be issued after the Issue Date. The Indenture contains covenants that, among other things, limit the ability of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries to incur additional indebtedness; pay dividends or distributions on, or redeem or repurchase capital stock; make investments; engage in transactions with affiliates; create liens on assets to secure indebtedness; transfer or sell assets; guarantee indebtedness; restrict dividends or other payments of subsidiaries; consolidate, merge or transfer all or substantially all of its assets; and engage in sale/leaseback transactions. These covenants are subject to important exceptions and qualifications contained in the Indenture.

 

5. Optional Redemption

Except as set forth below, the Issuer shall not be entitled to redeem the Notes.

On and after October 15, 2009, the Issuer may redeem the Notes, at its option, in whole at any time or in part from time to time, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice mailed by first-class mail to each Holder’s registered address, at the following redemption prices (expressed as a percentage of principal amount), plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, to the redemption date (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date), if redeemed during the 12-month period commencing on October 15 of the years set forth below:

 

Year

   Redemption
Price
 

2009

   105.063 %

2010

   102.531 %

2011 and thereafter

   100.00 %

 

2


Notwithstanding the foregoing, at any time and from time to time on or prior to October 15, 2008, the Issuer may redeem in the aggregate up to 35% of the original aggregate principal amount of the Notes (calculated after giving effect to any issuance of Additional Notes) with the net cash proceeds of one or more (a) Equity Offerings by the Issuer, (b) Equity Offerings by any Parent of the Issuer, to the extent the net cash proceeds thereof are contributed to the common equity capital of the Issuer or used to purchase Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Issuer from it, or (c) Subsidiary Spin-Offs, at a redemption price equal to 110.125% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, to the redemption date (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date); provided , however , that at least 65% of the original aggregate principal amount of the Notes (calculated after giving effect to any issuance of Additional Notes) must remain outstanding after each such redemption; provided , further , that such redemption shall occur within 90 days after the date on which any such Equity Offering is consummated upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ notice mailed to each Holder being redeemed and otherwise in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Indenture.

Notice of any redemption upon any Equity Offering may be given prior to the completion thereof, and any such redemption or notice may, at the Issuer’s discretion, be subject to one or more conditions precedent, including, but not limited to, completion of the related Equity Offering

 

6. [Intentionally omitted].

 

7. Notice of Redemption

Notice of redemption shall be mailed by first-class mail or electronically transmitted at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each Holder of Notes to be redeemed at his registered address. Notes in denominations larger than $1,000 principal amount may be redeemed in part but only in whole multiples of $1,000. If money sufficient to pay the redemption price of and accrued interest on all Notes (or portions thereof) to be redeemed on the redemption date is deposited with the Paying Agent on or before the redemption date and certain other conditions are satisfied, on and after such date interest ceases to accrue on such Notes (or such portions thereof) called for redemption.

 

8. Put Provisions

Except as set forth in the Indenture, the occurrence of any Change of Control shall constitute an Event of Default under the Indenture unless the Issuer (i)(A) makes an offer within 30 days following such Change of Control to all holders of the Notes to purchase all the Notes properly tendered (a “Change of Control Offer”) at a purchase price (the “Change of Control Purchase Price”) equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest (if any) to the date of repurchase (subject to the right of holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date); and (B) purchase all the Notes

 

3


properly tendered in accordance with the Change of Control Offer or (ii) exercises its right, within 30 days following such Change of Control, to redeem all the Notes as described under Paragraph 5 of this Note.

 

9. Guarantee

The payment by the Issuer of the principal of, and premium and interest on, the Notes is fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a joint and several basis by each of the Guarantors to the extent set forth in the Indenture.

 

10. [Intentionally omitted]

 

11. Denominations; Transfer; Exchange

The Notes are in registered form without coupons in denominations of $1,000 principal amount and whole multiples of $1,000. A Holder may transfer or exchange Notes in accordance with the Indenture. The Registrar may require a Holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements or transfer documents and to pay any taxes and fees required by law or permitted by the Indenture. The Registrar need not register the transfer of or exchange any Notes selected for redemption (except, in the case of a Note to be redeemed in part, the portion of the Note not to be redeemed) or any Notes for a period of 15 days before a selection of Notes to be redeemed or 15 days before an interest payment date.

 

12. Persons Deemed Owners

The registered Holder of this Note may be treated as the owner of it for all purposes.

 

13. Unclaimed Money

If money for the payment of principal or interest remains unclaimed for two years, the Trustee or Paying Agent shall pay the money back to the Issuer at its request unless an abandoned property law designates another Person. After any such payment, Holders entitled to the money must look only to the Issuer and not to the Trustee for payment.

 

14. Discharge and Defeasance

Subject to certain conditions set forth in the Indenture, the Issuer at any time shall be entitled to terminate some or all of its and the Guarantors’ obligations under the Notes and the Indenture if the Issuer deposit with the Trustee money or, in certain cases, U.S. Government Obligations for the payment of principal and interest on the Notes to redemption or maturity, as the case may be.

 

15. Amendment, Waiver

Subject to certain exceptions set forth in the Indenture, (a) the Indenture and the Notes may be amended with the written consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount outstanding of the Notes and (b) any default or noncompliance with any provision may

 

4


be waived with the written consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount outstanding of the Notes. Subject to certain exceptions set forth in the Indenture, without the consent of any Holder, the Issuer, the Guarantors and the Trustee shall be entitled to amend the Indenture or the Notes to cure any ambiguity, omission, defect or inconsistency, to provide for the assumption by a Successor Issuer of the obligations of the Issuer under the Indenture and hereunder, to provide for the assumption by a Successor Guarantor of the obligations of a Subsidiary Guarantor under the Indenture and its Guarantee, to provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated Notes, to add Guarantees with respect to the Notes, to secure the Notes, to add to the covenants of the Issuer for the benefit of Holders or to surrender any right or power conferred upon the Issuer, to make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of any Holder to comply with any requirements of the SEC in connection with the qualification of the Indenture under the Act, or to effect any provision of the Indenture or to make certain changes to the Indenture to provide for the issuance of Additional Notes.

 

16. Defaults and Remedies

Under the Indenture, Events of Default include (1) a default in any payment of interest on, or Additional Interest with respect to, any Note when due that continues for 30 days, (2) a default in the payment of principal or premium, if any, of any Note when due at its Stated Maturity, upon optional redemption, upon required repurchase, upon declaration or otherwise, (3) the failure by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to comply with the provisions described under Article 5 of the Indenture (4) the failure by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to comply for 30 days after notice with any of its obligations under Article Four of the Indenture (other than a failure to purchase Notes), (5) the failure by the Issuer or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries of the Issuer to comply for 60 days after notice with its other agreements contained in the Notes or the Indenture, (6) the failure by the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary to pay any Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness owing to a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer) within any applicable grace period after final maturity or the acceleration of any such Indebtedness by the holders thereof because of a default, in each case, if the total amount of such Indebtedness unpaid or accelerated exceeds $30 million or its foreign currency equivalent, (7) certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of the Issuer or a Significant Subsidiary, (8) the failure by the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary to pay final judgments aggregating in excess of $30 million or its foreign currency equivalent (net of any amounts which are covered by enforceable insurance policies issued by solvent carriers), which judgments are not discharged, waived or stayed for a period of 60 days and (9) any Guarantee of a Significant Subsidiary ceases to be in full force and effect (except as contemplated by the terms thereof) or any Guarantor that qualifies as a Significant Subsidiary denies or disaffirms its obligations under the Indenture or any Guarantee and such Default continues for 10 days. If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Notes may declare all such Notes to be due and payable immediately, subject to certain conditions set forth in the Indenture. Certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency are Events of Default which shall result in the Notes being due and payable immediately upon the occurrence of such Events of Default.

Holders may not enforce the Indenture or the Notes except as provided in the Indenture. The Trustee may refuse to enforce the Indenture or the Notes unless it receives indemnity or security reasonably satisfactory to it. Subject to certain limitations, Holders of a

 

5


majority in principal amount of the Notes may direct the Trustee in its exercise of any trust or power. The Trustee may withhold from Holders notice of any continuing Default (except a Default in payment of principal or interest) if it determines that withholding notice is in the interest of the Holders.

 

17. Trustee Dealings with the Issuer

Subject to certain limitations imposed by the Act, the Trustee under the Indenture, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Notes and may otherwise deal with and collect obligations owed to it by the Issuer or its Affiliates and may otherwise deal with the Issuer or its Affiliates with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee.

 

18. No Recourse Against Others

A director, officer, employee or stockholder, as such, of the Issuer or the Trustee shall not have any liability for any obligations of the Issuer under the Notes or the Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of such obligations or their creation; provided , however , the foregoing shall not affect or limit any liability of any Guarantor under the Indenture or its Guarantee. By accepting a Note, each Holder waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issue of the Notes.

 

19. Authentication

This Note shall not be valid until an authorized signatory of the Trustee (or an authenticating agent) manually signs the certificate of authentication on the other side of this Note.

 

20. Abbreviations

Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a Holder or an assignee, such as TEN COM (=tenants in common), TEN ENT (=tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (=joint tenants with rights of survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUST (=custodian), and U/G/M/A (=Uniform Gift to Minors Act).

 

21. CUSIP Numbers

Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures the Issuer has caused CUSIP numbers to be printed on the Notes and has directed the Trustee to use CUSIP numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders. No representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice of redemption and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers placed thereon.

 

6


[22. Holders’ Compliance with Registration Rights Agreement

Each Holder of a Note, by acceptance hereof, acknowledges and agrees to the provisions of the Registration Rights Agreement, including the obligations of the Holders with respect to a registration and the indemnification of the Issuer to the extent provided therein.] 2

 

23. Governing Law

THIS NOTE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

The Issuer shall furnish to any Holder upon written request and without charge to the Holder a copy of the Indenture which has in it the text of this Note in larger type. Requests may be made to:

Affinion Group, Inc.

100 Connecticut Avenue

Norwalk, CT 06850

Attention: General Counsel


2 Delete if this Note is not being issued in exchange for an Initial Note.

 

7


ASSIGNMENT FORM

To assign this Note, fill in the form below:

I or we assign and transfer this Note to

(Print or type assignee’s name, address and zip code)

(Insert assignee’s soc. sec. or tax I.D. No.)

and irrevocably appoint                      agent to transfer this Note on the books of the Issuer. The agent may substitute another to act for him.

 


 

Date:         

Your Signature:

    

Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Note.

 

8


OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE

If you want to elect to have this Note purchased by the Issuer pursuant to Section 4.06 or 4.08 of the Indenture, check the box:

¨

If you want to elect to have only part of this Note purchased by the Issuer pursuant to Section 4.06 or 4.08 of the Indenture, state the amount in principal amount: $                     

 

Dated:          Your Signature:     
        (Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Note.)

 

Signature Guarantee:     
  (Signature must be guaranteed)

Signatures must be guaranteed by an “eligible guarantor institution” meeting the requirements of the Registrar, which requirements include membership or participation in the Security Transfer Agent Medallion Program (“STAMP”) or such other “signature guarantee program” as may be determined by the Registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

9


EXHIBIT 2 to Rule 144A/REGULATION S/IAI APPENDIX

Form of

Transferee Letter of Representation

Affinion Group, Inc.

In care of

[            ]

[            ]

[            ]

Ladies and Gentlemen:

This certificate is delivered to request a transfer of $[ ] principal amount of the 10  1 / 8 % Senior Notes due 2013 (the “Notes”) of Affinion Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Issuer”).

Upon transfer, the Notes would be registered in the name of the new beneficial owner as follows:

 

Name:     

Address:

    

Taxpayer ID Number:

    

The undersigned represents and warrants to you that:

1. We are an institutional “accredited investor” (as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”)), purchasing for our own account or for the account of such an institutional “accredited investor” at least $250,000 principal amount of the Notes, and we are acquiring the Notes not with a view to, or for offer or sale in connection with, any distribution in violation of the Securities Act. We have such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters as to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of our investment in the Notes, and we invest in or purchase notes similar to the Notes in the normal course of our business. We, and any accounts for which we are acting, are each able to bear the economic risk of our or its investment.

2. We understand that the Notes have not been registered under the Securities Act and, unless so registered, may not be sold except as permitted in the following sentence. We agree on our own behalf and on behalf of any investor account for which we are purchasing Notes to offer, sell or otherwise transfer such Notes prior to the date that is two years after the later of the date of original issue and the last date on which the Issuer or any affiliate of the Issuer was the owner of such Notes (or any predecessor thereto) (the “Resale Restriction Termination Date”) only (i) to the Issuer, (ii) in the United States to a person whom the seller


reasonably believes is a qualified institutional buyer in a transaction meeting the requirements of Rule 144A, (iii) to an institutional “accredited investor” within the meaning of Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act that is an institutional accredited investor purchasing for its own account or for the account of an institutional accredited investor, in each case in a minimum principal amount of the Notes of $250,000, (iv) outside the United States in a transaction complying with the provisions of Rule 904 under the Securities Act, (v) pursuant to an exemption from registration under the Securities Act provided by Rule 144 (if available) or (vi) pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, in each of cases (i) through (vi) subject to any requirement of law that the disposition of our property or the property of such investor account or accounts be at all times within our or their control and in compliance with any applicable state securities laws. The foregoing restrictions on resale shall not apply subsequent to the Resale Restriction Termination Date. If any resale or other transfer of the Notes is proposed to be made pursuant to clause (iii) above prior to the Resale Restriction Termination Date, the transferor shall deliver a letter from the transferee substantially in the form of this letter to the Issuer and the Trustee, which shall provide, among other things, that the transferee is an institutional “accredited investor” within the meaning of Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act and that it is acquiring such Notes for investment purposes and not for distribution in violation of the Securities Act. Each purchaser acknowledges that the Issuer and the Trustee reserve the right prior to the offer, sale or other transfer prior to the Resale Restriction Termination Date of the Notes pursuant to clause (iii), (iv) or (v) above to require the delivery of an opinion of counsel, certifications or other information satisfactory to the Issuer and the Trustee.

 

TRANSFEREE:        ,

by:

         

 

2


APPENDIX B

[FORM OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE TO BE

DELIVERED BY ADDITIONAL SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS]

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE (this “Supplemental Indenture”), dated as of [ ] among [ ] (the “Additional Subsidiary Guarantor”), a [ ] corporation and a [direct] [indirect] subsidiary of Affinion Group, Inc. (or its permitted successor) (“Holdings”), Affinion Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Issuer”), and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Trustee under the Indenture (the “Trustee”).

WITNESSETH:

WHEREAS the Issuer and the Subsidiary Guarantors have heretofore executed and delivered to the Trustee an Indenture (the “Indenture”), dated as of October [ ], 2005, providing for the issuance of Senior Notes (the “Notes”);

WHEREAS, Section 4.11 and Section 10.06 of the Indenture provide that under certain circumstances the Issuer shall cause the Additional Subsidiary Guarantor to execute and deliver to the Trustee a guaranty agreement pursuant to which the Additional Subsidiary Guarantor shall Guarantee payment of the Notes on the same terms and conditions as those set forth in Article 10 of the Indenture; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 9.01(iv) of the Indenture, the Trustee and the Issuer is authorized to execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture.

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the Issuer, the Additional Subsidiary Guarantor and the Trustee mutually covenant and agree for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the Notes as follows:

SECTION 1. Capitalized Terms . Capitalized terms used herein but not defined shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

SECTION 2. Guarantees . The Additional Subsidiary Guarantor hereby agrees, jointly and severally with all other Guarantors, to guarantee the Issuer’s obligations under the Notes on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in Article 10 of the Indenture and to be bound by all other applicable provisions of the Indenture (including Article 11).

SECTION 3. Ratification of Indenture; Supplemental Indentures Part of Indenture . Except as expressly amended hereby, the Indenture is in all respects ratified and confirmed and all the terms, conditions and provisions thereof shall remain in full force and effect. This Supplemental Indenture shall form a part of the Indenture for all purposes, and every holder of Notes heretofore or hereafter authenticated and delivered shall be bound hereby.

SECTION 4. Governing Law . THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.


SECTION 5. Trustee Makes No Representation . The Trustee makes no representation as to the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture.

SECTION 6. Counterparts . The parties may sign any number of copies of this Supplemental Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement.

SECTION 7. Effect of Headings . The Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not effect the construction of this Supplemental Indenture.

 

2


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

 

AFFINION GROUP, INC.,

by     
 

Name:

 

Title:

[ADDITIONAL SUBSIDIARY GUARANTOR],

by     
 

Name:

 

Title:

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
by     
 

Name:

 

Title:

 

3

Exhibit 4.2

 


AFFINION GROUP, INC.

as Issuer

the GUARANTORS named herein

11  1 / 2 % SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES DUE 2015

 


INDENTURE

Dated as of April 26, 2006

 


WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Trustee

 



TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         Page
ARTICLE 1
DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

SECTION 1.01.

 

Definitions

   1

SECTION 1.02.

 

Other Definitions

   31

SECTION 1.03.

 

Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act

   32

SECTION 1.04.

 

Rules of Construction

   32
ARTICLE 2
THE NOTES

SECTION 2.01.

 

Amount of Notes; Issuable in Series

   33

SECTION 2.02.

 

Form and Dating

   33

SECTION 2.03.

 

Execution and Authentication

   33

SECTION 2.04.

 

Registrar and Paying Agent

   34

SECTION 2.05.

 

Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust

   35

SECTION 2.06.

 

Holder Lists

   35

SECTION 2.07.

 

Transfer and Exchange

   35

SECTION 2.08.

 

Replacement Notes

   36

SECTION 2.09.

 

Outstanding Notes

   36

SECTION 2.10.

 

Temporary Notes

   37

SECTION 2.11.

 

Cancellation

   37

SECTION 2.12.

 

Defaulted Interest

   37

SECTION 2.13.

 

CUSIP Numbers, ISINs, etc.

   37

SECTION 2.14.

 

Calculation of Principal Amount of Notes

   38
ARTICLE 3
REDEMPTION

SECTION 3.01.

 

Redemption

   38

SECTION 3.02.

 

Applicability of Article

   38

SECTION 3.03.

 

Notices to Trustee

   38

SECTION 3.04.

 

Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed

   39

SECTION 3.05.

 

Notice of Optional Redemption

   39

SECTION 3.06.

 

Effect of Notice of Redemption

   40

SECTION 3.07.

 

Deposit of Redemption Price

   40

SECTION 3.08.

 

Notes Redeemed in Part

   40

 

i


ARTICLE 4
COVENANTS

SECTION 4.01.

  Payment of Notes    40

SECTION 4.02.

  Reports and Other Information    41

SECTION 4.03.

  Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock    42

SECTION 4.04.

  Limitation on Restricted Payments    48

SECTION 4.05.

  Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Subsidiaries    55

SECTION 4.06.

  Asset Sales    57

SECTION 4.07.

  Transactions with Affiliates    60

SECTION 4.08.

  Change of Control    62

SECTION 4.09.

  Compliance Certificate    64

SECTION 4.10.

  Further Instruments and Acts    65

SECTION 4.11.

  Future Guarantors    65

SECTION 4.12.

  Liens    65

SECTION 4.13.

  Maintenance of Office or Agency    66

SECTION 4.14.

  Limitation on Other Senior Subordinated Indebtedness    66
ARTICLE 5
MERGER, CONSOLIDATION OR SALE OF ALL
OR SUBSTANTIALLY ALL ASSETS

SECTION 5.01.

  Merger, Consolidation or Sale of All or Substantially All Assets    66
ARTICLE 6
DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

SECTION 6.01.

  Events of Default    69

SECTION 6.02.

  Acceleration    71

SECTION 6.03.

  Other Remedies    72

SECTION 6.04.

  Waiver of Past Defaults    72

SECTION 6.05.

  Control by Majority    72

SECTION 6.06.

  Limitation on Suits    72

SECTION 6.07.

  Rights of the Holders to Receive Payment    73

SECTION 6.08.

  Collection Suit by Trustee    73

SECTION 6.09.

  Trustee May File Proofs of Claim    73

SECTION 6.10.

  Priorities    73

SECTION 6.11.

  Undertaking for Costs    74

SECTION 6.12.

  Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws    74
ARTICLE 7
TRUSTEE

SECTION 7.01.

  Duties of Trustee    74

SECTION 7.02.

  Rights of Trustee    75

SECTION 7.03.

  Individual Rights of Trustee    76

 

ii


SECTION 7.04.

  Trustee’s Disclaimer    76

SECTION 7.05.

  Notice of Defaults    76

SECTION 7.06.

  Reports by Trustee to the Holders    76

SECTION 7.07.

  Compensation and Indemnity    77

SECTION 7.08.

  Replacement of Trustee    77

SECTION 7.09.

  Successor Trustee by Merger    78

SECTION 7.10.

  Eligibility; Disqualification    79

SECTION 7.11.

  Preferential Collection of Claims Against Issuer    79
ARTICLE 8
DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE; DEFEASANCE

SECTION 8.01.

 

Discharge of Liability on Notes; Defeasance

   79

SECTION 8.02.

  Conditions to Defeasance    81

SECTION 8.03.

  Application of Trust Money    82

SECTION 8.04.

  Repayment to the Issuer    82

SECTION 8.05.

  Indemnity for Government Obligations    82

SECTION 8.06.

  Reinstatement    82
ARTICLE 9
AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS

SECTION 9.01.

  Without Consent of the Holders    83

SECTION 9.02.

  With Consent of the Holders    84

SECTION 9.03.

  Compliance with Trust Indenture Act    84

SECTION 9.04.

  Revocation and Effect of Consents and Waivers    85

SECTION 9.05.

  Notation on or Exchange of Notes    85

SECTION 9.06.

  Trustee to Sign Amendments    85

SECTION 9.07.

  Payment for Consent    85

SECTION 9.08.

  Additional Voting Terms; Calculation of Principal Amount    86
ARTICLE 10
GUARANTEES

SECTION 10.01.

  Guarantees    86

SECTION 10.02.

  Limitation on Liability; Release    88

SECTION 10.03.

  Successors and Assigns    89

SECTION 10.04.

  No Waiver    89

SECTION 10.05.

  Modification    89

SECTION 10.06.

  Execution of Supplemental Indenture for Future Guarantors    89
ARTICLE 11
[INTENTIONALLY OMITTED]

 

iii


ARTICLE 12
SUBORDINATION OF NOTES

SECTION 12.01.

  

Agreement to Subordinate

   90

SECTION 12.02.

  

Liquidation; Dissolution; Bankruptcy

   90

SECTION 12.03.

  

Default on Designated Senior Debt

   90

SECTION 12.04.

  

Subordination of Guarantee

   91

SECTION 12.05.

  

Acceleration of Securities

   91

SECTION 12.06.

  

When Distribution Must Be Paid Over

   91

SECTION 12.07.

  

Notice by the Issuer

   92

SECTION 12.08.

  

Subrogation

   92

SECTION 12.09.

  

Relative Rights

   92

SECTION 12.10.

  

Subordination May Not Be Impaired by the Issuer

   93

SECTION 12.11.

  

Distribution or Notice to Representative

   93

SECTION 12.12.

  

Rights of Trustee and Paying Agent

   93

SECTION 12.13.

  

Authorization to Effect Subordination

   93
ARTICLE 13
MISCELLANEOUS

SECTION 13.01.

  

Trust Indenture Act Controls

   94

SECTION 13.02.

  

Notices

   94

SECTION 13.03.

  

Communication by the Holders with Other Holders

   95

SECTION 13.04.

  

Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent

   95

SECTION 13.05.

  

Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion

   95

SECTION 13.06.

  

When Notes Disregarded

   95

SECTION 13.07.

  

Rules by Trustee, Paying Agent and Registrar

   96

SECTION 13.08.

  

Legal Holidays

   96

SECTION 13.09.

  

GOVERNING LAW

   96

SECTION 13.10.

  

No Recourse Against Others

   96

SECTION 13.11.

  

Successors

   96

SECTION 13.12.

  

Multiple Originals

   96

SECTION 13.13.

  

Table of Contents; Headings

   96

SECTION 13.14.

  

Indenture Controls

   96

SECTION 13.15.

  

Severability

   96

SECTION 13.16.

  

Currency of Account; Conversion of Currency; Foreign Exchange Restrictions

   96

Appendix A – Rule 144A/Regulation S/IAI Appendix

Exhibit 1 – Form of Initial Note

Exhibit A – Form of Exchange Note or Private Exchange Note

Exhibit 2 – Form of Letter of Representation

Appendix B – Form of Supplemental Indenture for Future Guarantors

 

iv


CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE

 

TIA
Section

       Indenture
Section

310

  (a)(1)    7.10
  (a)(2)    7.10
  (a)(3)    N.A.
  (a)(4)    N.A.
  (b)    7.08; 7.10
  (c)    N.A.

311

  (a)    7.11
  (b)    7.11
  (c)    N.A.

312

  (a)    2.06
  (b)    13.03
  (c)    13.03

313

  (a)    7.06
  (b)(1)    N.A.
  (b)(2)    7.06
  (c)    7.06
  (d)    7.06

314

  (a)    4.02; 4.09
  (b)    N.A.
  (c)(1)    13.04
  (c)(2)    13.04
  (c)(3)    N.A.
  (d)    N.A.
  (e)    N.A.
  (f)    4.10

315

  (a)    7.01
  (b)    7.05
  (c)    7.01
  (d)    7.01
  (e)    6.11

316

  (a) (last sentence)    13.06
  (a)(1)(A)    6.05
  (a)(1)(B)    6.04
  (a)(2)    N.A.
  (b)    6.07

317

  (a)(1)    6.08
  (a)(2)    6.09
  (b)    2.05

318

  (a)    13.01

N.A. means Not Applicable.

Note: This Cross-Reference Table shall not, for any purposes, be deemed to be part of this Indenture.

 

v


INDENTURE dated as of April 26, 2006 among Affinion Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Issuer ”), the Subsidiary Guarantors (as defined herein) and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee (the “ Trustee ”).

Each party agrees as follows for the benefit of the other parties and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of Notes issued under this Indenture.

ARTICLE 1

DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

SECTION 1.01. Definitions .

“Acquired Indebtedness” means, with respect to any specified Person:

(1) Indebtedness of any other Person existing at the time such other Person is merged or consolidated with or into or becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of such specified Person, and

(2) Indebtedness secured by a Lien encumbering any asset acquired by such specified Person,

in each case, other than Indebtedness Incurred as consideration in, in contemplation of, or to provide all or any portion of the funds or credit support utilized to consummate, the transaction or series of related transactions pursuant to which such Restricted Subsidiary became a Restricted Subsidiary or was otherwise acquired by such Person, or such asset was acquired by such Person, as applicable.

“Acquisition” means the purchase by the Issuer on October 17, 2005 pursuant to the Stock Purchase Agreement of all the equity interests of Affinion Group, LLC and all of the share capital of Affinion International Holdings Limited.

“Additional Interest” means all additional interest owing on the Notes pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement.

“Additional Notes” means the 11  1 / 2 % Senior Subordinated Notes due 2015 issued by the Issuer from time to time after the Issue Date.

“Affiliate” of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For purposes of this definition, “control” (including, with correlative meanings, the terms “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under common control with”), as used with respect to any Person, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by agreement or otherwise. For purposes of this Indenture, Cendant Corporation and its Affiliates shall not be not deemed Affiliates of the Issuer so long as (1) such entities would be Affiliates of the Issuer only by virtue of their beneficial ownership of Capital Stock of the Issuer and (2) such entities beneficially own, as a group, less of the voting power of the Issuer than is beneficially owned by the Sponsor.


“Asset Sale” means:

(1) the sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition (whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions) of property or assets (including by way of a Sale/Leaseback Transaction) of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer (each referred to in this definition as a “disposition”) or

(2) the issuance or sale of Equity Interests (other than directors’ qualifying shares or shares or interests required to be held by foreign nationals) of any Restricted Subsidiary (other than to the Issuer or another Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer) (whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions),

in each case other than:

(a) a disposition of Cash Equivalents or Investment Grade Securities or obsolete, damaged or worn out property or equipment in the ordinary course of business;

(b) the disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Issuer in a manner permitted pursuant to the provisions described above under Section 5.01 herein or any disposition that constitutes a Change of Control;

(c) for purposes of Section 4.06 only, any Restricted Payment or Permitted Investment (other than a Permitted Investment to the extent such transaction results in the receipt of Cash Equivalents or Investment Grade Securities by the Issuer or its Restricted Subsidiaries) that is permitted to be made, and is made, under Section 4.04 herein.

(d) any disposition of assets or issuance or sale of Equity Interests of any Restricted Subsidiary in any transaction or series of related transactions with an aggregate Fair Market Value of less than $7.5 million;

(e) any disposition of property or assets or the issuance of securities by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer to the Issuer or by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer to a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer;

(f) any foreclosures on assets or property of the Issuer or its Subsidiaries;

(g) any sale of Equity Interests in, or Indebtedness or other securities of, an Unrestricted Subsidiary;

(h) any sale of inventory, equipment or other assets in the ordinary course of business;

(i) any grant in the ordinary course of business of any license of patents, trademarks, know-how and any other intellectual property;

 

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(j) any exchange of assets for assets (including a combination of assets and Cash Equivalents) related to a Similar Business of comparable or greater market value or usefulness to the business of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries as a whole, as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Issuer, which in the event of an exchange of assets with a Fair Market Value in excess of (1) $10.0 million shall be evidenced by an Officers’ Certificate, and (2) $25.0 million shall be set forth in a resolution approved in good faith by at least a majority of the Board of Directors of the Issuer; and

(k) in the ordinary course of business, any swap of assets, or lease, assignment or sublease of any real or personal property, in exchange for services (including in connection with any outsourcing arrangements in which the Issuer enters into a multi-year services arrangement with the transfer of such assets) of comparable or greater value or usefulness to the business of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries as a whole, as determined in good faith by senior management or the Board of Directors of the Issuer, which in the event of a swap with a Fair Market Value in excess of (1) $10.0 million shall be evidenced by an Officers’ Certificate and (2) $25.0 million shall be set forth in a resolution approved in good faith by at least a majority of the Board of Directors of the Issuer.

“Bank Indebtedness” means any and all amounts payable under or in respect of the Credit Agreement or the other Senior Credit Documents as amended, restated, supplemented, waived, replaced, restructured, repaid, refunded, refinanced or otherwise modified from time to time (including after termination of the Credit Agreement), including principal, premium (if any), interest (including interest accruing on or after the filing of any petition in bankruptcy or for reorganization relating to the Issuer whether or not a claim for post-filing interest is allowed in such proceedings), fees, charges, expenses, reimbursement obligations, guarantees and all other amounts payable thereunder or in respect thereof.

“Board of Directors” means as to any Person, the board of directors or managers, as applicable, of such Person (or, if such Person is a partnership, the board of directors or other governing body of the general partner of such Person) or any duly authorized committee thereof.

“Business Day” means a day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which banking institutions are authorized or required by law to close in New York City or in the city in which the Corporate Trust Office or Paying Agent are located.

“Capital Stock” means:

(1) in the case of a corporation or a company, corporate stock or shares;

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

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

 

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(4) 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.

“Capitalized Lease Obligation” means, at the time any determination thereof is to be made, the amount of the liability in respect of a capital lease that would at such time be required to be capitalized and reflected as a liability on a balance sheet (excluding the footnotes thereto) in accordance with GAAP.

“Cash Contribution Amount” means the aggregate amount of cash contributions made to the capital of the Issuer or any Guarantor described in the definition of “Contribution Indebtedness.”

“Cash Equivalents” means:

(1) U.S. dollars, pounds sterling, euros, national currency of any participating member state in the European Union or, in the case of any Foreign Subsidiary that is a Restricted Subsidiary, such local currencies held by it from time to time in the ordinary course of business;

(2) securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the government of the United States or any country that is a member of the European Union or any agency or instrumentality thereof, in each case with maturities not exceeding two years from the date of acquisition;

(3) certificates of deposit, time deposits and eurodollar time deposits with maturities of one year or less from the date of acquisition, bankers’ acceptances, in each case with maturities not exceeding one year and overnight bank deposits, in each case with any commercial bank having capital and surplus in excess of $250 million, or the foreign currency equivalent thereof, and whose long-term debt is rated “A” or the equivalent thereof by Moody’s or S&P (or reasonably equivalent ratings of another internationally recognized ratings agency);

(4) repurchase obligations for underlying securities of the types described in clauses (2) and (3) above entered into with any financial institution meeting the qualifications specified in clause (3) above;

(5) commercial paper issued by a corporation (other than an Affiliate of the Issuer) rated at least “A-1” or the equivalent thereof by Moody’s or S&P (or reasonably equivalent ratings of another internationally recognized ratings agency) and in each case maturing within one year after the date of acquisition;

(6) readily marketable direct obligations issued by any state of the United States of America or any political subdivision thereof having one of the two highest rating categories obtainable from either Moody’s or S&P (or reasonably equivalent ratings of another internationally recognized ratings agency) in each case with maturities not exceeding two years from the date of acquisition;

 

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(7) Indebtedness issued by Persons (other than Permitted Holders or any of their Affiliates) with a rating of “A” or higher from S&P or “A-2” or higher from Moody’s (or reasonably equivalent ratings of another internationally recognized ratings agency) in each case with maturities not exceeding two years from the date of acquisition; and

(8) investment funds investing at least 95% of their assets in securities of the types described in clauses (1) through (7) above.

“Cendant” means the Cendant Corporation.

“Change of Control” means any of the following events:

(1) the sale, lease or transfer, in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all the assets of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any Person, other than any Permitted Holder;

(2) the Issuer becomes aware (by way of a report or any other filing pursuant to Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, proxy, vote, written notice or otherwise) of the acquisition by any Person or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act, or any successor provision), including any group acting for the purpose of acquiring, holding or disposing of securities (within the meaning of Rule 13d-5(b)(1) under the Exchange Act), other than any of the Permitted Holders in a single transaction or in a related series of transactions, by way of merger, amalgamation, consolidation or other business combination or purchase of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, or any successor provision), of more than 50% of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of the Issuer or any Parent of the Issuer (for purposes of calculating the total voting power of the Voting Stock held by a group, the voting power beneficially owned by a Permitted Holder shall be excluded to the extent such Permitted Holder retains the sole economic rights with respect to the subject Voting Stock); or

(3) (A) prior to the first public offering of common Capital Stock of the Parent or the Issuer, the first day on which the Board of Directors of the Parent or the Issuer shall cease to consist of a majority of directors who(i) were members of the Board of Directors of the Issuer on the Issue Date or (ii) were either (x) nominated for election by the Board of Directors of the Parent or the Issuer, a majority of whom were directors on the Issue Date or whose election or nomination for election was previously approved by a majority of directors nominated for election pursuant to this clause (x) or who were designated or appointed pursuant to clause (y) below, or (y) designated or appointed by a Permitted Holder (each of the directors selected pursuant to clauses (A)(i) and (A)(ii), a “ Continuing Director ”) and (B) after the first public offering of common Capital Stock of either Parent or the Issuer, (i) if such public offering is of common Capital Stock of the Parent , the first day on which a majority of the members of the Board of Directors of the Parent are not Continuing Directors or (ii) if such public offering is of common Capital Stock of the Issuer, the first day on which a majority of the members of the Board of Directors of the Issuer are not Continuing Directors.

 

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Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Specified Merger/Transfer Transaction shall not constitute a Change of Control.

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

“Consolidated Cash Flow” means, with respect to any specified Person for any period, the Consolidated Net Income of such Person for such period (without giving effect to the amount added to Net Income in calculating Consolidated Net Income for the excess of the provision for taxes over cash taxes) plus :

(1) provision for taxes based on income, profits or capital of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, including, without limitation, state franchise and similar taxes, and including an amount equal to the amount of tax distributions actually made to the holders of Capital Stock of such Person or any Parent of such Person in respect of such period in accordance with Section 4.04(b)(xii), which shall be included as though such amounts had been paid as income taxes directly by such Person, in each case, to the extent that such provision for taxes was deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income; plus

(2) Fixed Charges of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, to the extent that any such Fixed Charges were deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income; plus

(3) depreciation, amortization (including amortization of intangibles but excluding amortization of prepaid cash expenses that were paid in a prior period) and other non-cash expenses (excluding any such non-cash expense to the extent that it represents an accrual of or reserve for cash expenses in any future period or amortization of a prepaid cash expense that was paid in a prior period) of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period to the extent that such depreciation, amortization and other non-cash expenses were deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income; plus

(4) the amount of any restructuring charges or expenses (which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall include retention and supplemental bonus payments payable in connection with the Acquisition or otherwise, exit costs, severance payments, systems establishment costs or excess pension charges), to the extent that any such charges or expenses were deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income; plus

(5) the amount of management, monitoring, consulting and advisory fees and related expenses paid to the Permitted Holders (or any accruals relating to such fees and related expenses) during such period; provided that such amount shall not exceed in any four quarter period the greater of (x) $2.5 million or (y) 1.0% of Consolidated Cash Flow (calculated without giving effect to this clause (5)); plus

(6) for any quarter in the four quarter period ended December 31, 2005, all adjustments to net income (or loss) used in connection with the calculation of pro forma “Adjusted EBITDA” for the last twelve months ended December 31, 2005 (as set forth in the Offering Circular under Note (4) to the section entitled “Offering Circular

 

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Summary—Summary Historical and Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated and Combined Financial and Other Data”) to the extent such adjustments are not fully reflected in the applicable quarter and continue to be applicable; plus

(7) an amount of $3.0 million for each of the four consecutive calendar quarters commencing with the calendar quarter beginning January 1, 2005, representing anticipated cost savings from the 2005 Reorganization (as defined in the Offering Circular); minus

(8) non-cash items increasing such Consolidated Net Income for such period (excluding the recognition of deferred revenue or any non-cash items which represent the reversal of any accrual of, or reserve for, anticipated cash charges in any prior period and any items for which cash was received in any prior period and excluding amounts increasing Consolidated Net Income pursuant to clause (15) of the definition of Consolidated Net Income);

in each case, on a consolidated basis and determined in accordance with GAAP. For purposes of calculating Consolidated Cash Flow, the calculation shall exclude the effects of purchase accounting as a result of the Transactions.

Notwithstanding the preceding, the provision for taxes based on the income or profits of, the Fixed Charges of, the depreciation and amortization and other non-cash expenses or non-cash items of and the restructuring charges or expenses of, a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer shall be added to (or subtracted from, in the case of non-cash items described in clause (8) above) Consolidated Net Income to compute Consolidated Cash Flow of the Issuer (A) in the same proportion that the Net Income of such Restricted Subsidiary was added to compute such Consolidated Net Income of the Issuer and (B) only to the extent that a corresponding amount would be permitted at the date of determination to be dividended or distributed to the Issuer by such Restricted Subsidiary without prior governmental approval (that has not been obtained), and without direct or indirect restriction pursuant to the terms of its charter and all agreements, instruments, judgments, decrees, orders, statutes, rules and governmental regulations applicable to that Subsidiary or its stockholders.

“Consolidated Leverage Ratio” means, with respect to any Person at any date, the ratio of (a) the aggregate amount of all Indebtedness of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries less cash and cash equivalents (excluding restricted cash), in each case, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP as of such date to (b) the Consolidated Cash Flow of such Person for the four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding such date. In the event that the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries Incurs or redeems any Indebtedness subsequent to the commencement of the period for which the Consolidated Leverage Ratio is being calculated and on or prior to the date on which the event for which the calculation of the Consolidated Leverage Ratio is made, then the Consolidated Leverage Ratio shall be calculated giving pro forma effect to such Incurrence or redemption of Indebtedness as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period. The provisions applicable to pro forma transactions and Indebtedness set forth in the second paragraph of the definition of “Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio” shall apply for purposes of making the computation referred to in this paragraph.

 

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“Consolidated Net Income” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the aggregate of the Net Income of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, on a consolidated basis, plus the amount that the provision for taxes exceeds cash taxes paid by such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries in such period; provided that:

(1) any net after-tax extraordinary or nonrecurring or unusual gains, losses, income, expense or charges (less all fees and expenses relating thereto), including, without limitation, any severance, relocation or other restructuring costs and transition expenses Incurred as a direct result of the transition of the Issuer to an independent operating company in connection with the Transactions and fees, expenses or charges related to any offering of Equity Interests of such Person, any Investment, any acquisition or any offering of Indebtedness permitted to be Incurred by this Indenture (in each case, whether or not successful), including any such fees, expenses or charges related to the Transactions, in each case, shall be excluded;

(2) any increase in amortization or depreciation or any one-time non-cash charges resulting from purchase accounting in connection with any acquisition that is consummated on or after October 17, 2005 shall be excluded;

(3) the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles during such period shall be excluded;

(4) any net after-tax gains or losses on disposal of discontinued operations shall be excluded;

(5) any net after-tax gains or losses (less all fees and expenses or charges relating thereto) attributable to business dispositions or asset dispositions other than in the ordinary course of business (as determined in good faith by senior management or the Board of Directors of the Issuer) shall be excluded;

(6) any net after-tax gains or losses (less all fees and expenses or charges relating thereto) attributable to the early extinguishment of indebtedness shall be excluded;

(7) the Net Income for such period of any Person that is not a Subsidiary of such Person, or is an Unrestricted Subsidiary, or that is accounted for by the equity method of accounting, shall be included only to the extent of the amount of dividends or distributions or other payments actually paid in cash (or to the extent converted into cash) to the referent Person or a Restricted Subsidiary thereof in respect of such period;

(8) solely for the purpose of covenant described in Section 4.04 herein the Net Income for such period of any Restricted Subsidiary (other than any Subsidiary Guarantor) shall be excluded to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by such Restricted Subsidiary of its Net Income is not at the date of determination permitted without any prior governmental approval (which has not been obtained) or, directly or indirectly, by the operation of the terms of its charter or any agreement, instrument, judgment, decree, order, statute, rule or governmental regulation applicable to such Restricted Subsidiary or its equity holders, unless such restrictions

 

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with respect to the payment of dividends or similar distributions have been legally waived; provided that the Consolidated Net Income of such Person shall be increased by the amount of dividends or other distributions or other payments actually paid in cash (or converted into cash) by any such Restricted Subsidiary to such Person or a Restricted Subsidiary of such Person (subject to the provisions of this clause (8)), to the extent not already included therein;

(9) any non-cash impairment charge or asset write-off resulting from the application of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 142 and 144, and the amortization of intangibles arising pursuant to No. 141, shall be excluded;

(10) any non-cash expenses realized or resulting from employee benefit plans or post-employment benefit plans, grants of stock appreciation or similar rights, stock options or other rights to officers, directors and employees of such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries shall be excluded;

(11) any one-time non-cash compensation charges shall be excluded;

(12) non-cash gains, losses, income and expenses resulting from fair value accounting required by Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 133 and related interpretations shall be excluded;

(13) the effects of purchase accounting as a result of the Transactions shall be excluded;

(14) accruals and reserves that are established within twelve months after October 17, 2005 and that are so required to be established in accordance with GAAP shall be excluded; and

(15) to the extent not already reflected in Consolidated Net Income, the amount of any accrual, reserve or other charge that reduces Net Income of such Person that was taken in respect of expected or actual Losses by reason of (x) any legal proceedings disclosed in the Offering Circular, including the financial statements included herein, or relating to the same facts and circumstances as disclosed, or (y) a breach or violation of law, in each case, shall be excluded; provided that (as certified in an Officers’ Certificate delivered to the Trustee) the Issuer has (i) a reasonable good faith belief that it is entitled to be indemnified by Cendant pursuant to the Stock Purchase Agreement in respect of such Losses in an amount greater than or equal to the amount to be excluded from the calculation of Consolidated Net Income pursuant to this clause (15) and (ii) has provided Cendant a notice in respect of the Issuer’s intent to seek indemnity; provided further that (x) if Net Income is increased as a result of any amounts received from Cendant in respect of such an indemnity and the right to be so indemnified was used in a prior period to increase Consolidated Net Income pursuant to this clause (15), such amounts received shall be excluded from Consolidated Net Income and (y) to the extent the actual indemnity received is less than the expected indemnity amount excluded in a prior period pursuant to this clause (15), Consolidated Net Income shall be reduced by the difference in the period in which such lower actual indemnity amounts are received or in which a final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction is made that the Issuer is entitled to no indemnity.

 

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Notwithstanding the foregoing, for the purpose of the covenant described in Section 4.04 herein, there shall be excluded from the calculation of Consolidated Net Income any dividends, repayments of loans or advances or other transfers of assets from Unrestricted Subsidiaries to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer in respect of or that originally constituted Restricted Investments.

“Contingent Obligations” means, with respect to any Person, any obligation of such Person guaranteeing any leases, dividends or other obligations that do not constitute Indebtedness (“primary obligations”) of any other Person (the “primary obligor”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, including, without limitation, any obligation of such Person, whether or not contingent:

(1) to purchase any such primary obligation or any property constituting direct or indirect security therefor;

(2) to advance or supply funds:

(a) for the purchase or payment of any such primary obligation; or

(b) to maintain working capital or equity capital of the primary obligor or otherwise to maintain the net worth or solvency of the primary obligor; or

(3) to purchase property, securities or services primarily for the purpose of assuring the owner of any such primary obligation of the ability of the primary obligor to make payment of such primary obligation against loss in respect thereof.

“Contribution Indebtedness” means Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Guarantor in an aggregate principal amount not greater than twice the aggregate amount of cash contributions (other than Excluded Contributions and amounts applied to make a Restricted Payment in accordance Section 4.04(b)(ii) made to the capital of the Issuer or such Guarantor after October 17, 2005 (other than any cash contributions in connection with the Transactions); provided , however that: (1) if the aggregate principal amount of such Contribution Indebtedness is greater than the aggregate amount of such cash contributions to the capital of the Issuer or such Guarantor, as applicable, the amount in excess shall be Indebtedness (other than Secured Indebtedness) with a Stated Maturity later than the Stated Maturity of the Notes; (2) such Contribution Indebtedness (a) is Incurred within 180 days after the making of such cash contributions and (b) is so designated as Contribution Indebtedness pursuant to an Officers’ Certificate on the date of Incurrence thereof; and (3) such cash contribution is not and has not been included in the calculation of permitted Restricted Payments under the covenant described in Section 4.04 herein.

“Credit Agreement” means (i) the credit agreement dated as of October 17, 2005, among the Issuer, the financial institutions named therein and Credit Suisse, Cayman Islands Branch (or an affiliate thereof), as administrative agent (“Administrative Agent”), as amended, restated, supplemented, waived, replaced (whether or not upon termination, and whether with the

 

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original lenders or otherwise), restructured, repaid, refunded, refinanced or otherwise modified from time to time, including any one or more agreements or indentures extending the maturity thereof, refinancing, replacing or otherwise restructuring all or any portion of the Indebtedness under such agreement or agreements or indenture or indentures or any successor or replacement agreement or agreements or indenture or indentures or increasing the amount loaned or issued thereunder or altering the maturity thereof and (ii) whether or not the credit agreement referred to in clause (i) remains outstanding, if designated by the Issuer to be included in the definition of “Credit Agreement,” one or more (A) debt facilities or commercial paper facilities, providing for revolving credit loans, term loans, receivables financing (including through the sale of receivables to lenders or to special purpose entities formed to borrow from lenders against such receivables) or letters of credit, (B) debt securities, indentures or other forms of debt financing (including convertible or exchangeable debt instruments or bank guarantees or bankers’ acceptances), or (C) instruments or agreements evidencing any other Indebtedness, in each case, with the same or different borrowers or issuers and, in each case, as amended, supplemented, modified, extended, restructured, renewed, refinanced, restated, replaced or refunded in whole or in part from time to time.

“Default” means any event that is, or after notice or passage of time or both would be, an Event of Default.

“Designated Non-cash Consideration” means the Fair Market Value of non-cash consideration received by the Issuer or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with an Asset Sale that is so designated as Designated Non-cash Consideration pursuant to an Officers’ Certificate setting forth the basis of such valuation, less the amount of Cash Equivalents received in connection with a subsequent sale of such Designated Non-cash Consideration.

“Designated Preferred Stock” means Preferred Stock of the Issuer or any parent of the Issuer (other than Disqualified Stock), that is issued for cash (other than to the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries or an employee stock ownership plan or trust established by the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries) and is so designated as Designated Preferred Stock, pursuant to an Officers’ Certificate, on the issuance date thereof.

“Designated Senior Debt” means:

(1) any Indebtedness outstanding under the Credit Agreement; and

(2) to the extent permitted under the Credit Agreement, any other Senior Debt permitted under this Indenture, the aggregate principal amount of which is $50.0 million or more and that has been designated by the Issuer as “Designated Senior Debt.”

“Disqualified Stock” means, with respect to any Person, any Capital Stock of such Person which, by its terms (or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible or for which it is redeemable, putable or exchangeable), or upon the happening of any event:

(1) matures or is mandatorily redeemable, pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise,

 

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(2) is convertible or exchangeable for Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of such Person, or

(3) is redeemable at the option of the holder thereof, in whole or in part,

in each case prior to 91 days after the maturity date of the Notes;

provided , however , that only the portion of Capital Stock which so matures or is mandatorily redeemable, is so convertible or exchangeable or is so redeemable at the option of the holder thereof prior to such date shall be deemed to be Disqualified Stock; provided further , however , that (x) if such Capital Stock is issued to any employee or to any plan for the benefit of employees of the Issuer or its Subsidiaries or by any such plan to such employees, such Capital Stock shall not constitute Disqualified Stock solely because it may be required to be repurchased by the Issuer in order to satisfy applicable statutory or regulatory obligations or as a result of such employee’s termination, death or disability and (y) such Capital Stock shall not constitute Disqualified Stock if such Capital Stock matures or is mandatorily redeemable or is redeemable at the option of the holders thereof as a result of a change of control or asset sale so long as the relevant asset sale or change of control provisions, taken as a whole, are no more favorable in any material respect to holders of such Capital Stock than the asset sale and change of control provisions applicable to the Notes and any purchase requirement triggered thereby may not become operative until compliance with the asset sale and change of control provisions applicable to the Notes (including the purchase of any Notes tendered pursuant thereto); provided further that any class of Capital Stock of such Person that by its terms authorizes such Person to satisfy its obligations thereunder by delivery of Capital Stock that is not Disqualified Stock shall not be deemed to be Disqualified Stock.

“Equity Interests” means Capital Stock and all warrants, options or other rights to acquire Capital Stock (but excluding any debt security that is convertible into, or exchangeable for, Capital Stock).

“Equity Offering” means any public or private sale after the Issue Date of common stock or Preferred Stock of any Person (other than Disqualified Stock), other than:

(1) public offerings with respect to the Capital Stock of such Person registered on Form S-4 or S-8;

(2) any such public or private sale that constitutes an Excluded Contribution;

(3) an issuance to any Subsidiary; and

(4) any Cash Contribution Amounts.

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.

“Exchange Notes” means the debt securities of the Issuer issued pursuant to this Indenture in exchange for, and in an aggregate principal amount equal to, the Initial Notes and the Additional Notes, if applicable, in compliance with the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement, and includes any Private Exchange Notes.

 

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“Excluded Contributions” means the Cash Equivalents or other assets (valued at their Fair Market Value as determined in good faith by senior management or the Board of Directors of the Issuer) received by the Issuer from:

(1) contributions to its common Capital Stock, and

(2) the sale (other than to a Subsidiary of the Issuer or pursuant to any management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement of the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries) of Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock and Designated Preferred Stock) of the Issuer,

in each case designated as Excluded Contributions pursuant to an Officers’ Certificate executed by an Officer of the Issuer).

“Fair Market Value” means, with respect to any asset or property, the price that could be negotiated in an arm’s-length transaction between a willing seller and a willing and able buyer, neither of whom is under undue pressure or compulsion to complete the transaction.

“Fixed Charges” means, with respect to any specified Person for any period, the sum, without duplication, of:

(1) the consolidated interest expense (net of interest income) to the extent it relates to Indebtedness of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period and to the extent such expense was deducted in computing Consolidated Net Income, whether paid or accrued, including, without limitation, amortization of debt issuance costs and original issue discount, non-cash interest payments, the interest component of any deferred payment obligations, the interest component of all payments associated with Capital Lease Obligations, commissions, discounts and other fees and charges incurred in respect of letter of credit or bankers’ acceptance financings, and net of the effect of all payments made or received pursuant to Hedging Obligations (but excluding the amortization or write-off of deferred financing fees or expenses of any bridge or other financing fee in connection with the Transactions); plus

(2) the consolidated interest of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries that was capitalized during such period; plus

(3) any interest expense on Indebtedness of another Person that is Guaranteed by such Person or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries or secured by a Lien on assets of such Person or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries, whether or not such Guarantee or Lien is called upon; plus

(4) to the extent not included in clause (1) above, the product of (a) all dividends, whether paid or accrued and whether or not in cash, on any series of Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, other than dividends on Equity Interests payable solely in Equity Interests (other than

 

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Disqualified Stock) of the Issuer or to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer, times (b) a fraction, the numerator of which is one and the denominator of which is one minus the then current combined federal, state and local statutory tax rate of such Person, expressed as a decimal,

in each case, on a consolidated basis and in accordance with GAAP.

“Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio” means with respect to any specified Person for any period, the ratio of the Consolidated Cash Flow of such Person for such period to the Fixed Charges of such Person for such period. In the event that the specified Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries Incurs, repays, repurchases or redeems any Indebtedness or issues, repurchases or redeems Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock subsequent to the commencement of the period for which the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is being calculated and on or prior to the date on which the event for which the calculation of the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is made (the “Calculation Date”), then the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio shall be calculated giving pro forma effect to such Incurrence, repayment, repurchase or redemption of Indebtedness, or such issuance, repurchase or redemption of Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, and the use of the proceeds therefrom as if the same had occurred at the beginning of such period.

In addition, for purposes of calculating the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, Investments, acquisitions, dispositions, mergers, consolidations or discontinued operations (as determined in accordance with GAAP) that have been made by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary during the four-quarter reference period or subsequent to such reference period and on or prior to or simultaneously with the Calculation Date shall be calculated on a pro forma basis assuming that all such Investments, acquisitions, dispositions, mergers, consolidations or discontinued operations (including the Transactions) had occurred on the first day of the four-quarter reference period. If since the beginning of such period any Person (that subsequently became a Restricted Subsidiary or was merged with or into the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary since the beginning of such period) shall have made any Investment, acquisition, disposition, merger or consolidation or discontinued any operation that would have required adjustment pursuant to this definition, then the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio shall be calculated giving pro forma effect thereto for such period as if such Investment, acquisition, disposition, merger, consolidation or discontinued operation had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period. For purposes of this definition, whenever pro forma effect is to be given to an Investment, acquisition, disposition, merger, consolidation or discontinued operation (including the Transactions) and the amount of income or earnings relating thereto, the pro forma calculations shall be determined in good faith by a responsible financial or accounting Officer of the Issuer and shall comply with the requirements of Rule 11-02 of Regulation S-X promulgated by the Commission, except that such pro forma calculations may include operating expense reductions for such period resulting from the transaction which is being given pro forma effect that have been realized or for which substantially all the steps necessary for realization have been taken or are reasonably expected to be taken within twelve months following any such transaction, including, but not limited to, the execution or termination of any contracts, the reduction of costs related to administrative functions or the termination of any personnel, as applicable; provided that, in either case, such adjustments are set forth in an Officers’ Certificate signed by the Issuer’s chief financial officer and another Officer which states (i) the amount of such adjustment or adjustments, (ii) that such adjustment or adjustments are based on the

 

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reasonable good faith beliefs of the Officers executing such Officers’ Certificate at the time of such execution and (iii) that any related incurrence of Indebtedness is permitted pursuant to this Indenture. If any Indebtedness bears a floating rate of interest and is being given pro forma effect, the interest on such Indebtedness shall be calculated as if the rate in effect on the Calculation Date had been the applicable rate for the entire period (taking into account any Hedging Obligations applicable to such Indebtedness if the related hedge has a remaining term in excess of twelve months).

Interest on a Capitalized Lease Obligation shall be deemed to accrue at an interest rate reasonably determined by a responsible financial or accounting officer of the Issuer to be the rate of interest implicit in such Capitalized Lease Obligation in accordance with GAAP. For purposes of making the computation referred to above, interest on any Indebtedness under a revolving credit facility computed on a pro forma basis shall be computed based upon the average daily balance of such Indebtedness during the applicable period. Interest on Indebtedness that may optionally be determined at an interest rate based upon a factor of a prime or similar rate, a eurocurrency interbank offered rate, or other rate, shall be deemed to have been based upon the rate actually chosen, or, if none, then based upon such optional rate chosen as the Issuer may designate.

“Flow Through Entity” means an entity that is treated as a partnership not taxable as a corporation, a grantor trust or a disregarded entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes or subject to treatment on a comparable basis for purposes of state, local or foreign tax law.

“Foreign Subsidiary” means a Restricted Subsidiary not organized or existing under the laws of the United States of America or any state or territory thereof or the District of Columbia and any direct or indirect subsidiary of such Restricted Subsidiary.

“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or in such other statements by such other entity as have been approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession, in each case which are in effect on the Issue Date. For the purposes of this Indenture, the term “consolidated” with respect to any Person shall mean such Person consolidated with its Restricted Subsidiaries, and shall not include any Unrestricted Subsidiary, but the interest of such Person in an Unrestricted Subsidiary shall be accounted for as an Investment.

“guarantee” means a guarantee (other than by endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business), direct or indirect, in any manner (including, without limitation, letters of credit and reimbursement agreements in respect thereof), of all or any part of any Indebtedness or other obligations.

“Guarantee” means any guarantee of the obligations of the Issuer under this Indenture and the Notes by any Person in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture.

 

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“Guarantor” means any Person that Incurs a Guarantee provided , that upon the release or discharge of such Person from its Guarantee in accordance with this Indenture, such Person ceases to be a Guarantor.

“Hedging Obligations” means, with respect to any Person, the obligations of such Person under:

(1) currency exchange or interest rate swap agreements, cap agreements and collar agreements; and

(2) other agreements or arrangements designed to manage exposure or protect such Person against fluctuations in currency exchange or interest rates.

“holder” or “noteholder” means the Person in whose name a Note is registered on the registrar’s books.

“Incur” means issue, assume, guarantee, incur or otherwise become liable for; provided , however , that any Indebtedness or Capital Stock of a Person existing at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary (whether by merger, amalgamation, consolidation, acquisition or otherwise) shall be deemed to be Incurred by such Person at the time it becomes a Subsidiary.

“Indebtedness” means, with respect to any Person:

(1) the principal and premium (if any) of any indebtedness of such Person, whether or not contingent, (a) in respect of borrowed money, (b) evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments or letters of credit or bankers’ acceptances (or, without duplication, reimbursement agreements in respect thereof), (c) representing the deferred and unpaid purchase price of any property, except any such balance that constitutes a current account payable, trade payable or similar obligation Incurred, (d) in respect of Capitalized Lease Obligations, or (e) representing any Hedging Obligations, if and to the extent that any of the foregoing indebtedness (other than letters of credit and Hedging Obligations) would appear as a liability on a balance sheet (excluding the footnotes thereto) of such Person prepared in accordance with GAAP;

(2) to the extent not otherwise included, any obligation of such Person to be liable for, or to pay, as obligor, guarantor or otherwise, the Indebtedness of another Person (other than by endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business); and

(3) to the extent not otherwise included, Indebtedness of another Person secured by a Lien on any asset owned by such Person (whether or not such Indebtedness is assumed by such Person); provided , however , that the amount of such Indebtedness will be the lesser of: (a) the Fair Market Value of such asset at such date of determination and (b) the amount of such Indebtedness of such other Person;

provided , however , that notwithstanding the foregoing, Indebtedness shall be deemed not to include (1) Contingent Obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business and not in respect of borrowed money; (2) deferred or prepaid revenues; (3) purchase price holdbacks in respect of

 

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a portion of the purchase price of an asset to satisfy warranty or other unperformed obligations of the respective seller; (4) the Seller Preferred Stock whether or not reflected as a liability of the Issuer, (5) obligations to make payments in respect of money back guarantees offered to customers in the ordinary course of business, (6) obligations to make payments to one or more insurers in respect of premiums collected by the Issuer on behalf of such insurers or in respect profit-sharing arrangements entered into with such insurers, in each case in the ordinary course of business, or (7) the financing of insurance premiums with the carrier of such insurance or take or pay obligations contained in supply agreements, in each case entered into in the ordinary course of business.

Notwithstanding anything in this Indenture, Indebtedness shall not include, and shall be calculated without giving effect to, the effects of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 133 and related interpretations to the extent such effects would otherwise increase or decrease an amount of Indebtedness for any purpose under this Indenture as a result of accounting for any embedded derivatives created by the terms of such Indebtedness; and any such amounts that would have constituted Indebtedness under this Indenture but for the application of this sentence shall not be deemed an Incurrence of Indebtedness under this Indenture.

“Indenture” means this Indenture as amended or supplemented from time to time.

“Independent Financial Advisor” means an accounting, appraisal or investment banking firm or consultant to Persons engaged in a Similar Business, in each case of nationally recognized standing that is, in the good faith determination of the Board of Directors of the Issuer, qualified to perform the task for which it has been engaged.

“Initial Notes” means the $355.5 million aggregate principal amount of 11½% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2015 issued by the Issuer on the Issue Date.

“Initial Purchasers” means Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Banc of America Securities LLC, BNP Paribas Securities Corp. and such other initial purchasers party to the purchase agreement entered into in connection with the offer and sale of the Notes.

“Initial Senior Notes” means the $270 million aggregate principal amount of 10  1 / 8 % Senior Notes due 2013 issued by the Issuer on October 17, 2005 under the Senior Notes Indenture.

“Investment Grade Securities” means:

(1) securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the U.S. government or any agency or instrumentality thereof (other than Cash Equivalents),

(2) securities that have a rating equal to or higher than Baa3 (or equivalent) by Moody’s or BBB- (or equivalent) by S&P, or an equivalent rating by any other Rating Agency, but excluding any debt securities or loans or advances between and among the Issuer and its Subsidiaries,

 

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(3) investments in any fund that invests exclusively in investments of the type described in clauses (1) and (2) which fund may also hold immaterial amounts of cash pending investment and/or distribution, and

(4) corresponding instruments in countries other than the United States customarily utilized for high quality investments and in each case with maturities not exceeding two years from the date of acquisition.

“Investments” means, with respect to any Person, all investments by such Person in other Persons (including Affiliates) in the form of loans (including guarantees), advances or capital contributions (excluding accounts receivable, trade credit and advances to customers and marketing partners and commission, travel and similar advances to officers, employees and consultants, in each case made in the ordinary course of business), purchases or other acquisitions for consideration of Indebtedness, Equity Interests or other securities issued by any other Person and investments that are required by GAAP to be classified on the balance sheet of the Issuer in the same manner as the other investments included in this definition to the extent such transactions involve the transfer of cash or other property. For purposes of the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary” and Section 4.04 herein:

(1) “Investments” shall include the portion (proportionate to the Issuer’s equity interest in such Subsidiary) of the Fair Market Value of the net assets of a Subsidiary of the Issuer at the time that such Subsidiary is designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary; provided , however, that upon a redesignation of such Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary, the Issuer shall be deemed to continue to have a permanent “Investment” in an Unrestricted Subsidiary equal to an amount (if positive) equal to:

(a) the Issuer’s “Investment” in such Subsidiary at the time of such redesignation less

(b) the portion (proportionate to the Issuer’s equity interest in such Subsidiary) of the Fair Market Value of the net assets of such Subsidiary at the time of such redesignation; and

(2) any property transferred to or from an Unrestricted Subsidiary shall be valued at its Fair Market Value at the time of such transfer, in each case as determined in good faith by senior management or the Board of Directors of the Issuer.

“Issue Date” means April 26, 2006, the date on which the Notes are issued.

“Joint Venture” means any Person, other than an individual or a Subsidiary of the Issuer, (i) in which the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer holds or acquires an ownership interest (whether by way of Capital Stock or otherwise) and (ii) which is engaged in a Similar Business.

“Lien” means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien, pledge, charge, security interest or encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset, whether or not filed, recorded or otherwise perfected under applicable law (including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any lease in the nature thereof, any other agreement to give a security

 

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interest and, any filing of or agreement to give any financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code or equivalent statutes of any jurisdiction (other than a filing for informational purposes)); provided that in no event shall an operating lease be deemed to constitute a Lien.

“Management Group” means all of the individuals consisting of the directors, executive officers and other management personnel of the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer, as the case may be, on the Issue Date together with (1) any new directors whose election by such boards of directors or whose nomination for election by the shareholders of the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer, as the case may be, as applicable, was approved by (x) a vote of a majority of the directors of the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer as applicable, then still in office who were either directors on the Issue Date or whose election or nomination was previously so approved or (y) the Permitted Holders and (2) executive officers and other management personnel of the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer, as the case may be, as applicable, hired at a time when the directors on the Issue Date together with the directors so approved constituted a majority of the directors of the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer, as the case may be, as applicable.

“Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. or any successor to the rating agency business thereof.

“Net Income” means, with respect to any Person, the net income (loss) of such Person, determined in accordance with GAAP and before any reduction in respect of Preferred Stock dividends, less an amount equal to the amount of tax distributions actually made to the holders of Capital Stock of such Person or any Parent of such Person in respect of a period in accordance with Section 4.04(b)(xii) herein as if such amounts had been paid as income taxes directly by such Person but only to the extent such amounts have not already been accounted for as taxes reducing the net income (loss) of such Person.

“Net Proceeds” means the aggregate cash proceeds received by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of any Asset Sale, including, without limitation, any cash received in respect of or upon the sale or other disposition of any Designated Non-cash Consideration received in any Asset Sale, net of the direct costs relating to such Asset Sale and the sale or disposition of such Designated Non-cash Consideration (including, without limitation, legal, accounting and investment banking fees, and brokerage and sales commissions), and any relocation expenses Incurred as a result thereof, taxes paid or payable as a result thereof (after taking into account any available tax credits or deductions and any tax sharing arrangements related thereto), amounts required to be applied to the repayment of principal, premium (if any) and interest on Indebtedness required other than pursuant to Section 4.06(b) or (c) to be paid as a result of such transaction (including to obtain any consent therefor), any deduction of appropriate amounts to be provided by the Issuer as a reserve in accordance with GAAP against any liabilities associated with the asset disposed of in such transaction and retained by the Issuer after such sale or other disposition thereof, including, without limitation, pension and other post-employment benefit liabilities and liabilities related to environmental matters or against any indemnification obligations associated with such transaction and any distributions and the payments required to be made to minority interest holders in Subsidiaries or Joint Ventures as a result of such Asset Sale; provided that Net Proceeds shall not include proceeds of a Subsidiary

 

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Spin-Off to the extent such proceeds are applied to redeem the Notes pursuant to the third paragraph of Paragraph 5 on the reverse of the Notes regarding redemptions on or prior to October 15, 2008 and any debt securities issued in exchange for, or debt securities issued to refinance, borrowings under the Senior Subordinated Bridge Loan Facility pursuant to provisions similar to those provided for under the third paragraph of Paragraph 5 on the reverse of the Notes regarding redemptions on or prior to October 15, 2008 or to redeem the Senior Notes to the extent such proceeds are applied to redeem the Senior Notes pursuant to the third paragraph of Paragraph 5 on the reverse of the Senior Notes regarding redemptions on or prior to October 15, 2008.

“Non-Guarantor Restricted Subsidiary” means any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer that is not a Subsidiary Guarantor.

“Notes” means the Initial Notes and any Additional Notes and Exchange Notes issued pursuant to this Indenture, in each case, in the forms set forth in Appendix A.

“Obligations” means any principal, interest, penalties, fees, indemnifications, reimbursements (including, without limitation, reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit and bankers’ acceptances), damages and other liabilities payable under the documentation governing any Indebtedness; provided that Obligations with respect to the Notes shall not include fees or indemnifications in favor of the Trustee and other third parties other than the holders of the Notes.

“Offering Circular” means the confidential offering circular dated April 21, 2006, relating to the offer and sale by the Issuer of $355,500,000 principal amount of the Initial Notes.

“Officer” means the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, President, any Executive Vice President, Senior Vice President or Vice President, the Treasurer or the Secretary of the Issuer or any of the Issuer’s Restricted Subsidiaries

“Officers’ Certificate” means a certificate signed on behalf of the Issuer by two Officers of the Issuer or any of the Issuer’s Restricted Subsidiaries, one of whom must be the principal executive officer, the principal financial officer, the treasurer or the principal accounting officer of the Issuer or any of the Issuer’s Restricted Subsidiaries, that meets the requirements set forth in this Indenture.

“Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion from legal counsel who is acceptable to the Trustee. The counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the Issuer or the Trustee.

“Parent” means, with respect to any Person, any direct or indirect parent company of such Person whose only material assets consist of the common Capital Stock of such Person.

“Pari Passu Indebtedness” means:

(1) with respect to the Issuer, the Notes and any Indebtedness which ranks pari passu in right of payment with the Notes; and

 

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(2) with respect to any Guarantor, its Guarantee and any Indebtedness which ranks pari passu in right of payment with such Guarantor’s Guarantee.

“Permitted Holders” means, at any time, (1) the Sponsor and (2) the Management Group. Any Person or group whose acquisition of beneficial ownership constitutes a Change of Control in respect of which a Change of Control Offer is made in accordance with the requirements of this Indenture will thereafter, together with its Affiliates, constitute an additional Permitted Holder.

“Permitted Investment” means:

(1) any Investment in the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary;

(2) any Investment in Cash Equivalents or Investment Grade Securities;

(3) any Investment by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer in a Person if as a result of such Investment (a) such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer, or (b) such Person, in one transaction or a series of related transactions, is merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into, or transfers or conveys all or substantially all of its assets to, or is liquidated into, the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer;

(4) any Investment in securities or other assets not constituting Cash Equivalents and received in connection with an Asset Sale made pursuant to the provisions of Section 4.06 herein or any other disposition of assets not constituting an Asset Sale;

(5) any Investment existing on the Issue Date and any Investments made pursuant to binding commitments in effect on the Issue Date;

(6) advances to employees not in excess of $15 million outstanding at any one time in the aggregate; provided that advances that are forgiven shall continue to be deemed outstanding;

(7) any Investment acquired by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (a) in exchange for any other Investment or accounts receivable held by the Issuer or any such Restricted Subsidiary in connection with or as a result of a bankruptcy, workout, reorganization or recapitalization of the issuer of such other Investment or accounts receivable or (b) as a result of a foreclosure by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries with respect to any secured Investment or other transfer of title with respect to any secured Investment in default;

(8) Hedging Obligations permitted under Section 4.03(b)(x) hereof;

(9) any Investment by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in a Similar Business having an aggregate Fair Market Value, taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (9) that are at that time outstanding (without giving effect to the sale of Investments made pursuant to this clause (9) to the extent the

 

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proceeds of such sale received by the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries do not consist of Cash Equivalents), not to exceed the greater of (x) $95 million and (y) 4.0% of Total Assets of the Issuer at the time of such Investment (with the Fair Market Value of each Investment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value); provided , however , that if any Investment pursuant to this clause (9) is made in any Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer at the date of the making of such Investment and such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer after such date, such Investment shall thereafter be deemed to have been made pursuant to clause (1) above and shall cease to have been made pursuant to this clause (9) for so long as such Person continues to be a Restricted Subsidiary;

(10) additional Investments by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries having an aggregate Fair Market Value, taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (10) that are at that time outstanding (without giving effect to the sale of Investments made pursuant to this clause (10) to the extent the proceeds of such sale received by the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries do not consist of Cash Equivalents), not to exceed the greater of (x) $110 million and (y) 7.5% of Total Assets of the Issuer at the time of such Investment (with the Fair Market Value of each Investment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value);

(11) loans and advances to officers, directors and employees for business-related travel expenses, moving and relocation expenses and other similar expenses, in each case Incurred in the ordinary course of business;

(12) Investments the payment for which consists of Equity Interests of the Issuer or any Parent of the Issuer (other than Disqualified Stock); provided, however, that such Equity Interests shall not increase the amount available for Restricted Payments under the calculation set forth in Section 4.04(a)(3) hereof until such time as the Investment in such Equity Interests is no longer outstanding;

(13) Investments consisting of the licensing or contribution of intellectual property pursuant to joint marketing arrangements with other Persons;

(14) Investments consisting of purchases and acquisitions of inventory, supplies, materials and equipment or purchases of contract rights or licenses or leases of intellectual property in each case in the ordinary course of business;

(15) Investments of a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer acquired after the Issue Date or of an entity merged into, amalgamated with, or consolidated with a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer in a transaction that is not prohibited by the covenant described under Article 5 hereof after the Issue Date to the extent that such Investments were not made in contemplation of such acquisition, merger, amalgamation or consolidation and were in existence on the date of such acquisition, merger, amalgamation or consolidation;

(16) any Investment in the Notes;

 

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(17) guarantees not prohibited by or required pursuant to, as the case may be, the covenants described in Sections 4.03 and 4.11 hereof; and

(18) any transaction to the extent it constitutes an Investment that is permitted by and made in accordance with the provisions of the second paragraph of the covenant described under Section 4.07(b)(ii), (vi), (vii), (viii), (ix), (xi) and (xvi) hereof.

“Permitted Junior Securities” means:

(1) Equity Interests in the Issuer or any other business entity provided for by a plan of reorganization; and

(2) debt securities of the Issuer or any Guarantor or any other business entity provided for by a plan of reorganization that are subordinated to all Senior Debt and any debt securities issued in exchange for Senior Debt to the same extent as, or to a greater extent than, the Notes and the Guarantees are subordinated to Senior Debt under this Indenture.

“Permitted Liens” means, with respect to any Person:

(1) pledges or deposits by such Person under workmen’s compensation laws, unemployment insurance laws or similar legislation, or good faith deposits in connection with bids, tenders, contracts (other than for the payment of Indebtedness) or leases to which such Person is a party, or deposits to secure public or statutory obligations, including those to secure health, safety, insurance and environmental obligations, of such Person or deposits of cash or U.S. government bonds to secure surety or appeal bonds to which such Person is a party, or deposits as security for contested taxes or import duties or for the payment of rent, in each case Incurred in the ordinary course of business;

(2) Liens imposed by law, such as carriers’, warehousemen’s and mechanics’ Liens, in each case for sums not yet due or being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings or other Liens arising out of judgments or awards against such Person with respect to which such Person shall then be proceeding with an appeal or other proceedings for review;

(3) Liens for taxes, assessments or other governmental charges not yet due or payable or subject to penalties for nonpayment or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings;

(4) Liens in favor of issuers of performance and surety bonds or bid bonds or with respect to other regulatory requirements or letters of credit issued at the request of and for the account of such Person in the ordinary course of its business;

(5) Liens existing on the Issue Date;

(6) Liens on assets, property or shares of stock of a Person at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary; provided, however, that such Liens are not created or Incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such other Person becoming such a Subsidiary; provided, further, however, that such Liens may not extend to any other property owned by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer;

 

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(7) Liens on assets or property at the time the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer acquired the assets or property, including any acquisition by means of a merger, amalgamation or consolidation with or into the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer; provided, however, that such Liens are not created or Incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such acquisition; provided, further, however, that the Liens may not extend to any other assets or property owned by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer;

(8) Liens securing Indebtedness or other obligations of a Restricted Subsidiary owing to the Issuer or another Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer permitted to be Incurred in accordance with Section 4.03 herein;

(9) Liens securing Hedging Obligations permitted to be Incurred in accordance with Section 4.03(b)(x) herein;

(10) Liens on specific items of inventory or other goods and proceeds of any Person securing such Person’s obligations in respect of bankers’ acceptances issued or created for the account of such Person to facilitate the purchase, shipment or storage of such inventory or other goods;

(11) Liens in favor of the Issuer or any Guarantor;

(12) Liens securing insurance premiums financing arrangements, provided that such Liens are limited to the applicable unearned insurance premiums;

(13) Liens on the Equity Interests of Unrestricted Subsidiaries;

(14) Liens to secure any refinancing, refunding, extension, renewal or replacement (or successive refinancings, refundings, extensions, renewals or replacements) as a whole, or in part, of any Indebtedness secured by any Lien referred to in the foregoing clauses (5), (6) and (7); provided, however, that (x) such new Lien shall be limited to all or part of the same property that secured the original Lien (plus improvements on such property), and (y) the Indebtedness secured by such Lien at such time is not increased to any amount greater than the sum of (A) the outstanding principal amount or, if greater, committed amount of the Indebtedness described under clauses (5), (6) and (7) at the time the original Lien became a Permitted Lien under this Indenture, and (B) an amount necessary to pay any fees and expenses, including premiums, related to such refinancing, refunding, extension, renewal or replacement;

(15) judgment and attachment Liens not giving rise to an Event of Default and notices of lis pendens and associated rights related to litigation being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves have been made;

(16) Liens securing obligations Incurred in the ordinary course of business that do not exceed $15 million at any one time outstanding;

 

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(17) Liens arising out of conditional sale, title retention, consignment or similar arrangements for the sale of goods entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(18) Liens incurred to secure cash management services in the ordinary course of business;

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

(20) deposits made in the ordinary course of business to secure liability to insurance carriers.

“Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, Joint Venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, government or any agency or political subdivision thereof or any other entity.

“Preferred Stock” means any Equity Interest with preferential right of payment of dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up.

“Presumed Tax Rate” means the highest effective marginal statutory combined U.S. federal, state and local income tax rate prescribed for an individual residing in New York City (taking into account (i) the deductibility of state and local income taxes for U.S. federal income tax purposes, assuming the limitation of Section 68(a)(2) of the Code applies and taking into account any impact of Section 68(f) of the Code, and (ii) the character (long-term or short-term capital gain, dividend income or other ordinary income) of the applicable income).

“Rating Agency” means (1) each of Moody’s and S&P and (2) if Moody’s or S&P ceases to rate the Notes for reasons outside of the Issuer’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 Issuer or any Parent of the Issuer as a replacement agency for Moody’s or S&P, as the case may be.

“Representative” means, with respect to any holder of Senior Debt, the trustee, agent or other representative of such Senior Debt.

“Restricted Investment” means an Investment other than a Permitted Investment.

“Restricted Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, any Subsidiary of such Person other than an Unrestricted Subsidiary of such Person. Unless otherwise indicated this Indenture all references to Restricted Subsidiaries shall mean Restricted Subsidiaries of the Issuer.

“S&P” means Standard & Poor’s Ratings Group or any successor to the rating agency business thereof.

“Sale/Leaseback Transaction” means an arrangement relating to property now owned or hereafter acquired by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary whereby the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary transfers such property to a Person and the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary leases it from such Person, other than leases between the Issuer and a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer or between Restricted Subsidiaries of the Issuer.

 

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“SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.

“Seller Preferred Stock” means the shares of the preferred stock issued by Holdings in the Transactions, or subsequently issued shares issued in respect of payable-in-kind dividend payments therein or issued upon stock splits or redemptions or otherwise in respect thereof

“Senior Credit Documents” means the collective reference to any Credit Agreement, any notes issued pursuant thereto and the guarantees thereof, and the collateral documents relating thereto, as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

“Senior Debt” of any Person means:

(1) all Indebtedness of such Person outstanding under the Credit Agreement, the Senior Notes Indenture and all Hedging Obligations with respect thereto, whether outstanding on the Issue Date or Incurred thereafter;

(2) any other Indebtedness of such Person permitted to be Incurred under the terms of this Indenture, unless the instrument under which such Indebtedness is Incurred expressly provides that it is on a parity with or subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or any Guarantee; and

(3) all Obligations with respect to the items listed in the preceding clauses (1) and (2) (including any interest accruing subsequent to the filing of a petition of bankruptcy at the rate provided for in the documentation with respect thereto, whether or not such interest is an allowed claim under applicable law).

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the preceding paragraph, Senior Debt will not include:

(a) any liability for federal, state, local or other taxes owed or owing by the Issuer or any Guarantor;

(b) any Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Guarantor to any of their Subsidiaries;

(c) any trade payables;

(d) the portion of any Indebtedness that is Incurred in violation of this Indenture; provided that, for purposes of this clause (d), a good faith determination by the Board of Directors of the Issuer evidenced by a Board Resolution, or a good faith determination by the Chief Financial Officer of the Issuer evidenced by an officer’s

 

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certificate, that any Indebtedness being incurred under the Credit Agreement is permitted by this Indenture will be conclusive as to whether any Indebtedness is Incurred in violation of this Indenture;

(e) any Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Guarantor that, when Incurred, was without recourse to the Issuer or such Guarantor;

(f) any repurchase, redemption or other obligation in respect of Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock; or

(g) any Indebtedness owed to any employee of the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries.

Indebtedness of the Company and the Guarantors outstanding under the Senior Subordinated Bridge Loan Facility is on parity in right of payment with the Notes and Guarantees thereof, and as a result is not Senior Debt.

“Senior Notes” means the $270 million aggregate principal amount of 10  1 / 8 % Senior Notes due 2013 issued by the Issuer under the Senior Notes Indenture on October 17, 2005 and additional 10  1 / 8 % Senior Notes due 2013 issued by the Issuer on or after the Issue Date under such Senior Notes Indenture.

“Senior Notes Guarantees” means the guarantees of the Senior Notes issued by the Guarantors in accordance with the provisions of the Senior Notes Indenture.

“Senior Notes Indenture” means the Indenture dated as of October 17, 2005 among the Issuer, the Guarantors named therein and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee, as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

“Senior Subordinated Bridge Loan Facility” means the unsecured senior subordinated bridge loan facility dated as of October 17, 2005 , in an initial aggregate principal amount of approximately $383.6 million entered into in connection with the consummation of the Transactions, among the Issuer, Credit Suisse, Cayman Islands Branch (or an affiliate thereof), as administrative agent, DBSI as syndication agent, Banc of America Bridge LLC and BNPPSC as co-documentation agents, and Credit Suisse and DBSI as joint lead arrangers and joint bookrunners, and other lenders.

“Significant Subsidiary” means any Restricted Subsidiary that would be a “significant subsidiary” of the Issuer within the meaning of Rule 1-02 under Regulation S-X promulgated by the SEC or any successor provision.

“Similar Business” means any business or activity of the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries currently conducted or proposed as of the Issue Date, or any business or activity that is reasonably similar thereto or a reasonable extension, development or expansion thereof, or is complementary, incidental, ancillary or related thereto.

“Sponsor” means Apollo Management L.P., one or more investment funds controlled by Apollo Management, L.P. and any of their respective Affiliates.

 

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“Sponsor Consulting Agreement” means the Consulting Agreement between the Sponsor and the Issuer dated as of October 17, 2005.

“Stated Maturity” means, with respect to any security, the date specified in such security as the fixed date on which the final payment of principal of such security is due and payable, including pursuant to any mandatory redemption provision (but excluding any provision providing for the repurchase of such security at the option of the holder thereof upon the happening of any contingency beyond the control of the issuer unless such contingency has occurred).

“Stock Purchase Agreement” means the Purchase Agreement dated as of July 26, 2005, as amended and supplemented on October 17, 2005, by and among Cendant, the Issuer and Affinion Group Holdings, Inc. (formerly Affinity Acquisition, Inc.), pursuant to which Cendant agreed to sell to the Issuer all of the equity interests of Affinion Group, LLC (formerly Cendant Marketing Group, LLC) and Affinion International Holdings Limited (formerly Cendant International Holdings Limited).

“Subordinated Indebtedness” means (a) with respect to the Issuer, any Indebtedness of the Issuer which is by its terms subordinated in right of payment to the Notes and (b) with respect to any Guarantor, any Indebtedness of such Guarantor which is by its terms subordinated in right of payment to its Guarantee.

“Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person (1) any corporation, association or other business entity (other than a partnership, joint venture or limited liability company) 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 of determination owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of such Person or a combination thereof, (2) any partnership, joint venture or limited liability company of which (x) more than 50% of the capital accounts, distribution rights, total equity and voting interests or general and limited partnership interests, as applicable, are owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof, whether in the form of membership, general, special or limited partnership interests or otherwise, and (y) such Person or any Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary of such Person is a controlling general partner or otherwise controls such entity and (3) any Person that is consolidated in the consolidated financial statements of the specified Person in accordance with GAAP.

“Subsidiary Guarantor” means each Subsidiary of the Issuer that is a Guarantor.

“Subsidiary Spin-Off” means any public sale after the Issue Date of common stock of any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer in connection with a spin-off or a similar transaction involving the disposition of a business operation, unit or division.

“TIA” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C. Sections 77aaa-77bbbb) as in effect on the date of this Indenture.

“Total Assets” means, with respect to any Person, the total consolidated assets of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries, as shown on the most recent balance sheet

 

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“Transaction Documents” means the Stock Purchase Agreement, the Credit Agreement and, in each case, any other document entered into in connection therewith, in each case as amended, supplemented or modified from time to time

“Transactions” means, collectively, the Acquisition, the entering into of the Credit Agreement and the Senior Subordinated Bridge Loan Facility and the offering, and issuance on October 17, 2005, of the Senior Notes and the application of the proceeds therefrom.

“Trust Officer” means any officer within the corporate trust department of the Trustee, including any vice president, assistant vice president, assistant secretary, assistant treasurer, trust officer or any other officer of the Trustee, who shall have direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture and, shall also mean, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any officer of the Trustee to whom any corporate trust matter is referred because of such person’s knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.

“Trustee” means the respective party named as such in this Indenture until a successor replaces it and, thereafter, means the successor.

“Uniform Commercial Code” means the New York Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time.

“Unrestricted Subsidiary” means:

(1) initially Affinion Loyalty, LLC;

(2) any Subsidiary of the Issuer that at the time of determination shall be designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary by the Board of Directors of such Person in the manner provided below; and

(3) any Subsidiary of an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

The Board of Directors of the Issuer may designate any Subsidiary of the Issuer (including any newly acquired or newly formed Subsidiary of the Issuer) to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary unless such Subsidiary or any of its Subsidiaries owns any Equity Interests or Indebtedness of, or owns or holds any Lien on any property of, the Issuer or any other Subsidiary of the Issuer (other than any Subsidiary of the Subsidiary to be so designated); provided , however , that the Subsidiary to be so designated and its Subsidiaries do not at the time of designation have and do not thereafter Incur any Indebtedness pursuant to which the lender has recourse to any of the assets of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than Equity Interests of Unrestricted Subsidiaries); provided further , however , that either:

(a) the Subsidiary to be so designated has total consolidated assets of $1,000 or less; or

(b) if such Subsidiary has consolidated assets greater than $1,000, then such designation would be permitted under Section 4.04.

 

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The Board of Directors of the Issuer may designate any Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary; provided , however , that immediately after giving effect to such designation:

(x) (1) the Issuer could Incur $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test under Section 4.03(a) herein or (2) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries would be greater than such ratio for the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries immediately prior to such designation, in each case on a pro forma basis taking into account such designation, and

(y) no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing.

Any such designation by the Board of Directors of the Issuer shall be evidenced to the Trustee by promptly filing with the Trustee a copy of the resolution of the Board of Directors of the Issuer giving effect to such designation and an Officers’ Certificate certifying that such designation complied with the foregoing provisions.

“U.S. Government Obligations” means securities that are:

(1) direct obligations of the United States of America for the timely payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged or

(2) obligations of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States of America the timely payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United States of America, which, in each case, are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, and shall also include a depository receipt issued by a bank (as defined in Section 3(a)(2) of the Securities Act) as custodian with respect to any such U.S. Government Obligations or a specific payment of principal of or interest on any such U.S. Government Obligations held by such custodian for the account of the holder of such depository receipt; provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depository receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the U.S. Government Obligations or the specific payment of principal of or interest on the U.S. Government Obligations evidenced by such depository receipt.

“Voting Stock” of any Person as of any date means the Capital Stock of such Person that is at the time entitled to vote in the election of the Board of Directors of such Person.

“Weighted Average Life to Maturity” means, when applied to any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, as the case may be, at any date, the quotient obtained by dividing (1) the sum of the products of the number of years from the date of determination to the date of each successive scheduled principal payment of such Indebtedness or redemption or similar payment with respect to such Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock multiplied by the amount of such payment, by (2) the sum of all such payments.

“Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary” is any Wholly Owned Subsidiary that is a Restricted Subsidiary.

 

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“Wholly Owned Subsidiary” of any Person means a Subsidiary of such Person 100% of the outstanding Capital Stock or other ownership interests of which (other than directors’ qualifying shares or shares or interests required to be held by foreign nationals) shall at the time be owned by such Person or by one or more Wholly Owned Subsidiaries of such Person and one or more Wholly Owned Subsidiaries of such Person.

SECTION 1.02. Other Definitions .

 

Term

  

Defined in

Section

“Affiliate Transaction”

   4.07

“Asset Sale Offer”

   4.06(c)

“Bankruptcy Law”

   6.01

“Base Currency”

   12.16

“Change of Control Offer”

   4.08(b)

“covenant defeasance option”

   8.01(b)

“Custodian”

   6.01

“Definitive Note”

   Appendix A

“Defeasance Trust”

   8.02(a)(i)

“Depository”

   Appendix A

“Discharge Trust”

   8.01(a)(i)

“Event of Default”

   6.01

“Excess Proceeds”

   4.06(c)

“Exchange Offer Registration Statement”

   Appendix A

“Global Notes”

   Appendix A

“Guaranteed Obligations”

   10.01(a)

“IAI”

   Appendix A

“incorporated provision”

   12.01

“Judgment Currency”

   12.16(b)

“legal defeasance option”

   8.01(b)

“Losses”

   4.03(b)

“Notes Custodian”

   Appendix A

“Offer Period”

   4.06(e)

“Paying Agent”

   2.04

“protected purchaser”

   2.08

“Purchase Agreement”

   Appendix A

“Private Exchange”

   Appendix A

“Private Exchange Note”

   Appendix A

“QIB”

   Appendix A

‘Rates of Exchange”

   12.16(b)

“Refinancing Indebtedness”

   4.03(b)

“Refunding Capital Stock”

   4.04(b)

“Registered Exchange Offer”

   Appendix A

“Registrar”

   2.04

“Registration Rights Agreement”

   Appendix A

“Regulation S”

   Appendix A

 

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“Regulation S Global Note”    Appendix A
“Restricted Payments”    4.04(a)
“Retired Capital Stock”    4.04(b)
“Rule 144A”    Appendix A
“Rule 144A Global Note”    Appendix A
“Shelf Registration Statement”    Appendix A
“Specified Merger/Transfer Transaction”    5.01(a)
“Successor Issuer”    5.01 (a)
“Successor Guarantor”    5.01(b)
“Transfer Restricted Notes”    Appendix A

SECTION 1.03. Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act . This Indenture incorporates by reference certain provisions of the TIA. The following TIA terms have the following meanings:

“Commission” means the SEC.

“indenture securities” means the Notes and the Guarantees.

“indenture security holder” means a Holder.

“indenture to be qualified” means this Indenture.

“indenture trustee” or “institutional trustee” means the Trustee.

“obligor” on the indenture securities means the Issuer, the Guarantors and any other obligor on the Notes.

All other TIA terms used in this Indenture that are defined by the TIA, defined by TIA reference to another statute or defined by SEC rule have the meanings assigned to them by such definitions.

SECTION 1.04. Rules of Construction . Unless the context otherwise requires:

(a) a term has the meaning assigned to it;

(b) an accounting term not otherwise defined has the meaning assigned to it in accordance with GAAP;

(c) “or” is not exclusive;

(d) “including” means including without limitation;

(e) words in the singular include the plural and words in the plural include the singular;

(f) unsecured Indebtedness shall not be deemed to be subordinate or junior to Secured Indebtedness merely by virtue of its nature as unsecured Indebtedness;

 

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(g) the principal amount of any non-interest bearing or other discount security at any date shall be the principal amount thereof that would be shown on a balance sheet of the issuer dated such date prepared in accordance with GAAP;

(h) unless otherwise specified herein, all accounting terms used herein shall be interpreted, all accounting determinations hereunder shall be made, and all financial statements required to be delivered hereunder shall be prepared in accordance with GAAP; and

(i) whenever in this Indenture there is mentioned, in any context, principal, interest or any other amount payable under or with respect to any Notes, such mention shall be deemed to include mention of the payment of additional interest and Additional Amounts, to the extent that, in such context, additional interest or Additional Amounts are, were, or would be payable in respect thereof.

ARTICLE 2

THE NOTES

SECTION 2.01. Amount of Notes; Issuable in Series . The aggregate principal amount of Notes which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture on the Issue Date is $355,500,000. Subject to Section 4.03, the Issuer may issue Additional Notes from time to time after the Issue Date without notice or the consent of Holders. The Initial Notes, any Exchange Notes and any Additional Notes subsequently issued under this Indenture will be treated as a single class for all purposes hereunder, including, without limitation, waivers, amendments, redemptions and offers to purchase.

SECTION 2.02. Form and Dating . Provisions relating to the Notes are set forth in Appendix A, which is hereby incorporated in and expressly made a part of this Indenture. The (i) Initial Notes and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication and (ii) any Additional Notes (if issued as Transfer Restricted Notes) and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication shall each be substantially in the form set forth in Appendix A, which is hereby incorporated in and expressly made a part of this Indenture. The (i) Exchange Notes and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication and (ii) any Additional Notes issued other than as Transfer Restricted Notes and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication shall each be substantially in the form set forth in Appendix A, which is hereby incorporated in and expressly made a part of this Indenture. The Notes may have notations, legends or endorsements required by law, stock exchange rule, agreements to which the Issuer or any Guarantor is subject, if any, or usage (provided that any such notation, legend or endorsement is in a form acceptable to the Issuer). Each Note shall be dated the date of its authentication. The Notes shall be issuable only in registered form without interest coupons and only in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiples thereof.

SECTION 2.03. Execution and Authentication . (a) The Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery upon a written order of the Issuer signed by one Officer (i) Notes for original issue on the date hereof in an aggregate principal amount of $355,500,000, (ii) subject to the terms of this Indenture, Additional Notes in an aggregate principal amount to be determined at the time of issuance and specified therein and (iii) the

 

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Exchange Notes for issue in a Registered Exchange Offer or Private Exchange pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement for a like principal amount of Initial Notes and, if applicable, any Additional Notes. Such order shall specify the amount of the Notes to be authenticated, the date on which the original issue of Notes is to be authenticated and whether the Notes are to be Initial Notes, Additional Notes or Exchange Notes. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture or Appendix A, any issuance of Additional Notes after the Issue Date shall be in a principal amount of at least $1,000.

(b) One duly authorized Officer shall sign the Notes for the Issuer by manual or facsimile signature.

(c) If an Officer whose signature is on a Note no longer holds that office at the time the Trustee authenticates the Note, the Note shall be valid nevertheless.

(d) A Note shall not be valid until an authorized signatory of the Trustee manually signs the certificate of authentication on the Note. The signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Note has been authenticated under this Indenture.

(e) The Trustee may appoint one or more authenticating agents reasonably acceptable to the Issuer to authenticate the Notes. Any such appointment shall be evidenced by an instrument signed by a Trust Officer, a copy of which shall be furnished to the Issuer. Unless limited by the terms of such appointment, an authenticating agent may authenticate Notes whenever the Trustee may do so. Each reference in this Indenture to authentication by the Trustee includes authentication by such agent. An authenticating agent has the same rights as any Registrar, Paying Agent or agent for service of notices and demands.

(f) The Trustee is hereby authorized to enter into a letter of representations with the Depository in the form provided by the Issuer and to act in accordance with such letter.

SECTION 2.04. Registrar and Paying Agent . (a) The Issuer shall maintain an office or agency where Notes may be presented for registration of transfer or for exchange (the “Registrar”), and where Notes may be presented for payment (the “Paying Agent”). The Registrar shall keep a register of the Notes and of their transfer and exchange. The Issuer may have one or more co-registrars and one or more additional paying agents. The term “Registrar” includes any co-registrars. The Issuer initially appoints the Trustee as (i) Registrar, and Paying Agent in connection with the Notes and (ii) the Custodian with respect to the Global Notes.

(b) The Issuer shall enter into an appropriate agency agreement with any Registrar or Paying Agent not a party to this Indenture, which shall incorporate the terms of the TIA. The agreement shall implement the provisions of this Indenture that relate to such agent. The Issuer shall notify the Trustee of the name and address of any such agent. If the Issuer fails to maintain a Registrar or Paying Agent, the Trustee shall act as such and shall be entitled to appropriate compensation therefor pursuant to Section 7.07. The Issuer or any of the Issuer’s domestically organized Wholly Owned Subsidiaries may act as Paying Agent or Registrar.

(c) The Issuer may remove any Registrar or Paying Agent upon written notice to such Registrar or Paying Agent and to the Trustee; provided , however , that no such removal shall become effective until (i) if applicable, acceptance of an appointment by a successor as

 

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evidenced by an appropriate agreement entered into by the Issuer and such successor Registrar or Paying Agent, as the case may be, and delivered to the Trustee or (ii) notification to the Trustee that the Trustee shall serve as Registrar or Paying Agent until the appointment of a successor in accordance with clause (i) above. The Registrar or Paying Agent may resign at any time upon written notice to the Issuer and the Trustee; provided , however , that the Trustee may resign as Paying Agent or Registrar only if the Trustee also resigns as Trustee in accordance with Section 7.08.

SECTION 2.05. Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust . Prior to each due date of the principal of and interest on any Note, the Issuer shall deposit with each Paying Agent (or if the Issuer or a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Issuer is acting as Paying Agent, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto) a sum sufficient to pay such principal and interest when so becoming due. The Issuer shall require each Paying Agent (other than the Trustee) to agree in writing that a Paying Agent shall hold in trust for the benefit of Holders or the Trustee all money held by a Paying Agent for the payment of principal of and interest on the Notes, and shall notify the Trustee of any default by the Issuer in making any such payment. If the Issuer or a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Issuer acts as Paying Agent, it shall segregate the money held by it as Paying Agent and hold it in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto. The Issuer at any time may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee and to account for any funds disbursed by such Paying Agent. Upon complying with this Section 2.05, a Paying Agent shall have no further liability for the money delivered to the Trustee.

SECTION 2.06. Holder Lists . The Trustee shall preserve in as current a form as is reasonably practicable the most recent list available to it of the names and addresses of Holders. If the Trustee is not the Registrar, the Issuer shall furnish, or cause the Registrar to furnish, to the Trustee, in writing at least five Business Days before each interest payment date and at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, a list in such form and as of such date as the Trustee may reasonably require of the names and addresses of Holders.

SECTION 2.07. Transfer and Exchange . (a) The Notes shall be issued in registered form and shall be transferable only upon the surrender of a Note for registration of transfer and in compliance with Appendix A. When a Note is presented to the Registrar with a request to register a transfer, the Registrar shall register the transfer as requested if its requirements therefor are met. When Notes are presented to the Registrar with a request to exchange them for an equal principal amount of Notes of the same series of other denominations, the Registrar shall make the exchange as requested if the same requirements are met. To permit registration of transfers and exchanges, the Issuer shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate Notes at the Registrar’s request. The Issuer may require payment of a sum sufficient to pay all taxes, assessments or other governmental charges in connection with any transfer or exchange pursuant to this Section 2.07. The Issuer shall not be required to make, and the Registrar need not register, transfers or exchanges of Notes selected for redemption (except, in the case of Notes to be redeemed in part, the portion thereof not to be redeemed) or of any Notes for a period of 15 days before a selection of Notes to be redeemed.

(b) Prior to the due presentation for registration of transfer of any Note, the Issuer, the Guarantors, the Trustee, each Paying Agent and the Registrar may deem and treat the

 

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Person in whose name a Note is registered as the absolute owner of such Note for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of and interest, if any, on such Note and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Note is overdue, and none of the Issuer, any Guarantor, the Trustee, a Paying Agent or the Registrar shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

(c) Any Holder of a beneficial interest in a Global Note shall, by acceptance of such beneficial interest, agree that transfers of beneficial interests in such Global Note may be effected only through a book-entry system maintained by (a) the Holder of such Global Note (or its agent) or (b) any Holder of a beneficial interest in such Global Note, and that ownership of a beneficial interest in such Global Note shall be required to be reflected in a book entry.

(d) All Notes issued upon any transfer or exchange pursuant to the terms of this Indenture shall evidence the same debt and shall be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as the Notes surrendered upon such transfer or exchange.

SECTION 2.08. Replacement Notes . (a) If a mutilated Note is surrendered to the Registrar or if the Holder of a Note claims that the Note has been lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken, the Issuer shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate a replacement Note of the same series if the requirements of Section 8-405 of the Uniform Commercial Code are met, such that the Holder (a) satisfies the Issuer or the Trustee within a reasonable time after such Holder has notice of such loss, destruction or wrongful taking and the Registrar does not register a transfer prior to receiving such notification, (b) makes such request to the Issuer or the Trustee prior to the Note being acquired by a protected purchaser as defined in Section 8-303 of the Uniform Commercial Code (a “protected purchaser”) and (c) satisfies any other reasonable requirements of the Trustee. If required by the Trustee or the Issuer, such Holder shall furnish an indemnity bond sufficient in the judgment of the Trustee to protect the Issuer, the Trustee, a Paying Agent and the Registrar from any loss that any of them may suffer if a Note is replaced. The Issuer and the Trustee may charge the Holder for their expenses in replacing a Note (including attorneys’ fees and disbursements in replacing such Note). In the event any such mutilated, lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken Note has become or is about to become due and payable, the Issuer in its discretion may pay such Note instead of issuing a new Note in replacement thereof.

(b) Every replacement Note is an additional obligation of the Issuer and the Guarantors.

(c) The provisions of this Section 2.08 are exclusive and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken Notes.

SECTION 2.09. Outstanding Notes . (a) Notes outstanding at any time are all Notes authenticated by the Trustee except for those canceled by it, those delivered to it for cancellation, those redeemed pursuant to Article 3 and those described in this Section 2.09 as not outstanding. Subject to Section 13.06, a Note does not cease to be outstanding because the Issuer, a Guarantor or an Affiliate of the Issuer or a Guarantor holds the Note.

 

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(b) If a Note is replaced pursuant to Section 2.08 (other than a mutilated Note surrendered for replacement), it ceases to be outstanding unless the Trustee and the Issuer receive proof satisfactory to them that the replaced Note is held by a protected purchaser. A mutilated Note ceases to be outstanding upon surrender of such Note and replacement thereof pursuant to Section 2.08.

(c) If a Paying Agent segregates and holds in trust, in accordance with this Indenture, on a redemption date or maturity date money sufficient to pay all principal and interest payable on that date with respect to the Notes (or portions thereof) to be redeemed or maturing, as the case may be, then on and after that date such Notes (or portions thereof) cease to be outstanding and interest on them ceases to accrue.

SECTION 2.10. Temporary Notes . In the event that Definitive Notes are to be issued under the terms of this Indenture, until such Definitive Notes are ready for delivery, the Issuer may prepare and the Trustee shall authenticate temporary Notes. Temporary Notes shall be substantially in the form of Definitive Notes but may have variations that the Issuer consider appropriate for temporary Notes. Without unreasonable delay, the Issuer shall prepare and the Trustee shall authenticate Definitive Notes and make them available for delivery in exchange for temporary Notes upon surrender of such temporary Notes at the office or agency of the Issuer, without charge to the Holder. Until such exchange, temporary Notes shall be entitled to the same rights, benefits and privileges as Definitive Notes.

SECTION 2.11. Cancellation . The Issuer at any time may deliver Notes to the Trustee for cancellation. The Registrar and each Paying Agent shall forward to the Trustee any Notes surrendered to them for registration of transfer, exchange or payment. The Trustee and no one else shall cancel all Notes surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange, payment or cancellation and shall dispose of canceled Notes in accordance with its customary procedures or deliver canceled Notes to the Issuer pursuant to written direction by an Officer. The Issuer may not issue new Notes to replace Notes it has redeemed, paid or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation. The Trustee shall not authenticate Notes in place of canceled Notes other than pursuant to the terms of this Indenture.

SECTION 2.12. Defaulted Interest . If the Issuer defaults in a payment of interest on the Notes, the Issuer shall pay the defaulted interest then borne by the Notes, as the case may be (plus interest on such defaulted interest to the extent lawful), in any lawful manner. The Issuer may pay the defaulted interest to the Persons who are Holders on a subsequent special record date. The Issuer shall fix or cause to be fixed any such special record date and payment date to the reasonable satisfaction of the Trustee and shall promptly mail or electronically transmit or cause to be mailed or electronically transmitted to each affected Holder, with a copy to the Trustee, a notice that states the special record date, the payment date and the amount of defaulted interest to be paid.

SECTION 2.13. CUSIP Numbers, ISINs, etc . The Issuer in issuing the Notes may use CUSIP numbers, ISINs and “Common Code” numbers (if then generally in use) and, if so, the Trustee shall use CUSIP numbers, ISINs and “Common Code” numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders; provided, however, that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers, either as printed on the Notes or

 

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as contained in any notice of a redemption, that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Notes and that any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers. The Issuer shall advise the Trustee of any change in the CUSIP numbers, ISINs and “Common Code” numbers.

SECTION 2.14. Calculation of Principal Amount of Notes . The aggregate principal amount of the Notes, at any date of determination, shall be the principal amount of the Notes outstanding at such date of determination. With respect to any matter requiring consent, waiver, approval or other action of the Holders of a specified percentage of the principal amount of all the Notes then outstanding, such percentage shall be calculated, on the relevant date of determination, by dividing (a) the principal amount, as of such date of determination, of Notes, the Holders of which have so consented by (b) the aggregate principal amount, as of such date of determination, of the Notes then outstanding, in each case, as determined in accordance with the preceding sentence, Section 2.09 and Section 13.06 of this Indenture. Any such calculation made pursuant to this Section 2.14 shall be made by the Issuer and delivered to the Trustee pursuant to an Officers’ Certificate.

ARTICLE 3

REDEMPTION

SECTION 3.01. Redemption . The Notes may be redeemed, in whole, or from time to time in part, subject to the conditions and at the redemption prices set forth in Paragraph 5 of the form of Notes set forth in Appendix A, which are hereby incorporated by reference and made a part of this Indenture, together with accrued and unpaid interest and additional interest, if any, to the redemption date.

SECTION 3.02. Applicability of Article . Redemption of Notes at the election of the Issuer or otherwise, as permitted or required by the Notes or any provision of this Indenture, shall be made in accordance with the Notes, such provision and this Article.

SECTION 3.03. Notices to Trustee . If the Issuer elects to redeem Notes pursuant to the optional redemption provisions of Paragraph 5 of the applicable Note, they shall notify the Trustee in writing of (i) the Section of this Indenture pursuant to which the redemption shall occur, (ii) the redemption date, (iii) the principal amount of Notes to be redeemed and (iv) the redemption price. The Issuer shall give notice to the Trustee provided for in this paragraph at least 40 days but not more than 60 days before a redemption date if the redemption is pursuant to Paragraph 5 of the applicable Note, unless a shorter period is acceptable to the Trustee. Such notice shall be accompanied by an Officers’ Certificate and Opinion of Counsel from the Issuer to the effect that such redemption shall comply with the conditions herein. If fewer than all the Notes are to be redeemed, the record date relating to such redemption shall be selected by the Issuer and given to the Trustee, which record date shall be not fewer than 15 days after the date of notice to the Trustee. Any such notice may be canceled at any time prior to notice of such redemption being mailed or electronically transmitted to any Holder and shall thereby be void and of no effect.

 

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SECTION 3.04. Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed . In the case of any partial redemption, selection of the Notes for redemption shall be made by the Trustee in compliance with the requirements of the principal national securities exchange, if any, on which the Notes are listed, or if the Notes are not so listed, on a pro rata basis, by lot or by such other method as the Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate (and in such manner as complies with applicable legal requirements); provided that no Notes of $1,000 or less shall be redeemed in part. If any Note is to be redeemed in part only, the notice of redemption relating to such Note shall state the portion of the principal amount thereof to be redeemed. A new Note in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion thereof shall be issued in the name of the holder thereof upon cancellation of the original Note. On and after the redemption date, interest shall cease to accrue on Notes or portions thereof called for redemption so long as the Issuer has deposited with the paying agent funds sufficient to pay the principal of, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest (if any) on, the Notes to be redeemed.

SECTION 3.05. Notice of Optional Redemption . (a) At least 30 days but not more than 60 days before a redemption date, the Issuer shall mail or electronically transmit or cause to be mailed by first-class mail or electronically transmitted a notice of redemption to each Holder whose Notes are to be redeemed.

Any such notice shall identify the Notes to be redeemed and shall state:

(i) the redemption date;

(ii) the redemption price and the amount of accrued interest to the redemption date;

(iii) the name and address of a Paying Agent;

(iv) that Notes called for redemption must be surrendered to a Paying Agent to collect the redemption price, plus accrued interest;

(v) if fewer than all the outstanding Notes of a series are to be redeemed, the certificate numbers and principal amounts of the particular Notes to be redeemed, the aggregate principal amount of Notes of a series to be redeemed and the aggregate principal amount of Notes of a series to be outstanding after such partial redemption;

(vi) that, unless the Issuer defaults in making such redemption payment, interest on Notes (or portion thereof) called for redemption ceases to accrue on and after the redemption date;

(vii) the CUSIP number, ISIN or “Common Code” number, if any, printed on the Notes being redeemed;

(viii) that no representation is made as to the correctness or accuracy of the CUSIP number or ISIN or “Common Code” number, if any, listed in such notice or printed on the Notes; and

 

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(ix) the applicable provision in this Indenture or the Notes pursuant to which the Issuer is redeeming such Notes.

(b) At the Issuer’s request, the Trustee shall give the notice of redemption in the Issuer’s name and at the Issuer’s expense. In such event, the Issuer shall provide the Trustee with the information required by this Section 3.05 no later than 45 days before the Redemption Date (unless a shorter notice shall be agreed to by the Trustee).

SECTION 3.06. Effect of Notice of Redemption . Once notice of redemption is mailed or electronically transmitted in accordance with Section 3.05, Notes called for redemption become due and payable on the redemption date and at the redemption price stated in the notice. Upon surrender to any Paying Agent, such Notes shall be paid at the redemption price stated in the notice, plus accrued interest to the redemption date; provided, however, that if the redemption date is after a regular record date and on or prior to the interest payment date, the accrued interest shall be payable to the Holder of the redeemed Notes registered on the relevant record date. Failure to give notice or any defect in the notice to any Holder shall not affect the validity of the notice to any other Holder.

SECTION 3.07. Deposit of Redemption Price . With respect to any Notes, prior to 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the redemption date, the Issuer shall deposit with the Paying Agent (or, if the Issuer or a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Issuer is a Paying Agent, shall segregate and hold in trust) money sufficient to pay the redemption price of and accrued interest on all Notes or portions thereof to be redeemed on that date other than Notes or portions of Notes called for redemption that have been delivered by the Issuer to the Trustee for cancellation. On and after the redemption date, interest shall cease to accrue on Notes or portions thereof called for redemption so long as the Issuer has deposited with the Paying Agent funds sufficient to pay the principal of, plus accrued and unpaid interest on, the Notes to be redeemed.

SECTION 3.08. Notes Redeemed in Part . Upon surrender of a Note that is redeemed in part, the Issuer shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate for the Holder (at the Issuer’s expense) a new Note equal in principal amount to the unredeemed portion of the Note surrendered.

ARTICLE 4

COVENANTS

SECTION 4.01. Payment of Notes . (a) The Issuer shall promptly pay the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, on the Notes on the dates and in the manner provided in the Notes and in this Indenture. An installment of principal of or interest on the Notes shall be considered paid on the date it is due if on such date the Trustee or any Paying Agent (other than the Issuer or any of its Affiliates) holds in accordance with this Indenture money sufficient to pay all principal and interest then due.

 

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(b) The Issuer shall pay interest on overdue principal at the rate specified therefor in the Notes and shall pay interest on overdue installments of interest at the same rate borne by the Notes to the extent lawful.

SECTION 4.02. Reports and Other Information . (a) Notwithstanding that the Issuer may not be subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act or otherwise report on an annual and quarterly basis on forms provided for such annual and quarterly reporting pursuant to rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC, the Issuer shall file with the SEC (unless the SEC will not accept such a filing), and provide the Trustee and Holders with copies thereof, without cost to each Holder, within 15 days after it files (or attempts to file) them with the SEC,

(i) within the time periods specified by the Exchange Act, an annual report on Form 10-K (or any successor or comparable form) containing the information required to be contained therein (or required in such successor or comparable form);

(ii) within the time periods specified by the Exchange Act, a quarterly report on Form 10-Q (or any successor or comparable form); and

(iii) all current reports that would be required to be filed with the SEC on Form 8-K.

In addition, the Issuer shall make such information available to prospective investors upon request.

Delivery of such reports, information and documents to the Trustee 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 Issuer’s compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively (subject to Article 7 hereof) on Officers’ Certificates).

(b) For so long as the Notes remain outstanding during any period when the Issuer is not subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, the Issuer shall furnish to the Holders and to prospective investors, upon their request, the information required to be delivered pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act.

(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Issuer shall be deemed to have furnished such reports referred to above to the Trustee and the Holders if it has filed such reports with the SEC via the EDGAR filing system and such reports are publicly available. In addition, such requirements shall be deemed satisfied prior to the commencement of the exchange offer contemplated by the Registration Rights Agreement relating to the Notes or the effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement by the filing with the SEC of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement and/or Shelf Registration Statement in accordance with the provisions of the Registration Rights Agreement, and any amendments thereto, with such financial information that satisfies Regulation S-X of the Securities Act and such registration statement and/or amendments thereto are filed at times that otherwise satisfy the time requirements set forth in Section 4.02(a).

 

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(d) If at any time any Parent of the Issuer becomes a Guarantor (there being no obligation of any Parent to do so), holds no material assets other than cash, Cash Equivalents and the Capital Stock of the Issuer or of any direct or indirect parent corporation of the Issuer (and performs the related incidental activities associated with such ownership) and complies with the requirements of Rule 3-10 of Regulation S-X promulgated by the SEC (or any successor provision), the reports, information and other documents required to be filed and furnished to Holders pursuant to this Section 4.02 may, at the option of the Issuer, be filed by and be those of such Parent rather than the Issuer.

(e) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Issuer shall not be required to furnish any information, certifications or reports required by Items 307 and 308 of Regulation S-K prior to the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or Shelf Registration Statement, as applicable.

SECTION 4.03. Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock . (a) (i) the Issuer shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, Incur any Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness) or issue any shares of Disqualified Stock; and (ii) the Issuer shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to issue any shares of Preferred Stock; provided, however, that the Issuer and any Restricted Subsidiary may Incur Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness) or issue shares of Disqualified Stock and any Restricted Subsidiary may issue shares of Preferred Stock, in each case if the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Issuer’s most recently ended four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date on which such additional Indebtedness is Incurred or such Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock is issued would have been at least 2.0 to 1.0, determined on a pro forma basis (including a pro forma application of the net proceeds therefrom), as if the additional Indebtedness had been Incurred, or the Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock had been issued, as the case may be, and the application of proceeds therefrom had occurred at the beginning of such four-quarter period.

(b) The limitations set forth in Section 4.03(a) shall not apply to:

(i) the Incurrence by the Issuer or its Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness under any Credit Agreement and the issuance and creation of letters of credit and bankers’ acceptances thereunder (with letters of credit and bankers’ acceptances being deemed to have a principal amount equal to the face amount thereof) up to an aggregate principal amount of $1,020 million outstanding at any one time;

(ii) the Incurrence by the Issuer and the Guarantors of Indebtedness represented by (A) the Initial Senior Notes (excluding any additional Senior Notes; provided , however , that the Issuer may Incur Indebtedness represented by additional Senior Notes pursuant to this clause (ii) not to exceed $34 million in aggregate principal amount, including any refinancing thereof pursuant to clause (xiv) of this Section 4.03(b)) and the Senior Notes Guarantees and (B) the Notes (excluding any Additional Notes) and the Guarantees, as applicable, and in the case of each of sub-clauses (A) and (B), any exchange notes and guarantees thereof;

 

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(iii) Indebtedness of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries existing on the Issue Date (other than Indebtedness described in Section 4.03(b)(i) and (ii)), including, without limitation, the Indebtedness outstanding under the Senior Subordinated Bridge Loan Facility;

(iv) (1) Indebtedness (including Capitalized Lease Obligations) Incurred by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, Disqualified Stock issued by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and Preferred Stock issued by any Restricted Subsidiaries of the Issuer to finance (whether prior to or within 270 days after) the purchase, lease, construction or improvement of property (real or personal) or equipment (whether through the direct purchase of assets or the Capital Stock of any Person owning such assets (but no other material assets)) and (2) Acquired Indebtedness; provided , however , that the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock incurred pursuant to this clause (iv), when aggregated with the principal amount of all other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock then outstanding that was Incurred (or deemed Incurred as provided under clause (xiv) below) pursuant to this clause (iv), does not exceed the greater of (x) $95 million and (y) 4.0% of Total Assets of the Issuer at the time of Incurrence;

(v) Indebtedness Incurred by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries constituting reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit and bank guarantees issued in the ordinary course of business, including without limitation letters of credit in respect of workers’ compensation claims, health, disability or other benefits to employees or former employees or their families or property, casualty or liability insurance or self-insurance, or other Indebtedness with respect to reimbursement type obligations regarding workers’ compensation claims;

(vi) Indebtedness arising from agreements of the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary providing for indemnification, adjustment of purchase price or similar obligations, in each case, Incurred in connection with the Transactions or the disposition of any business, assets or a Subsidiary of the Issuer in accordance with the terms of this Indenture, other than guarantees of Indebtedness Incurred by any Person acquiring all or any portion of such business, assets or Subsidiary for the purpose of financing such acquisition;

(vii) Indebtedness of the Issuer to a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that any such Indebtedness is subordinated in right of payment to the obligations of the Issuer under the Notes; provided , further , that any subsequent issuance or transfer of any Capital Stock or any other event which results in any such Restricted Subsidiary ceasing to be a Restricted Subsidiary or any other subsequent transfer of any such Indebtedness (except to the Issuer or another Restricted Subsidiary) shall be deemed, in each case, to be an Incurrence of such Indebtedness;

(viii) shares of Preferred Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary issued to the Issuer or another Restricted Subsidiary; provided that any subsequent issuance or transfer of any Capital Stock or any other event that results in any Restricted Subsidiary that holds such shares of Preferred Stock of another Restricted Subsidiary ceasing to be a Restricted

 

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Subsidiary or any other subsequent transfer of any such shares of Preferred Stock (except to the Issuer or another Restricted Subsidiary) shall be deemed, in each case, to be an issuance of shares of Preferred Stock;

(ix) Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary to the Issuer or another Restricted Subsidiary; provided that if a Guarantor incurs such Indebtedness, and such Indebtedness is owed to a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor, such Indebtedness is subordinated in right of payment to the Guarantee of such Guarantor; provided further that any subsequent issuance or transfer of any Capital Stock or any other event which results in any Restricted Subsidiary holding such Indebtedness ceasing to be a Restricted Subsidiary or any other subsequent transfer of any such Indebtedness (except (x) to the Issuer or another Restricted Subsidiary or (y) a pledge of Indebtedness referred to in this clause (ix) shall be deemed to be held by the pledgor and shall not be deemed a transfer until the pledgee commences actions to foreclose on such Indebtedness) shall be deemed, in each case, to be an Incurrence of such Indebtedness;

(x) Hedging Obligations that are Incurred not for speculative purposes and either (1) for the purpose of fixing or hedging interest rate risk with respect to any Indebtedness that is permitted by the terms of this Indenture to be outstanding or (2) for the purpose of fixing or hedging currency exchange rate risk with respect to any currency exchanges;

(xi) obligations (including reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit and bank guarantees) in respect of performance, bid, appeal and surety bonds and completion guarantees provided by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary, in each case, reasonably required in the conduct of the business (giving effect to any growth or expansion of such business), including those to secure health, safety, insurance and environmental obligations of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries as conducted in accordance with good and prudent business industry practice;

(xii) Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer and Preferred Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer not otherwise permitted hereunder in an aggregate principal amount which, when aggregated with the principal amount or liquidation preference of all other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock then outstanding and Incurred pursuant to this clause (xii), does not exceed $100 million at any one time outstanding;

(xiii) any guarantee by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness or other obligations of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries so long as the Incurrence of such Indebtedness or other Obligations by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary is permitted under the terms of this Indenture; provided that if such Indebtedness is by its express terms subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or the Guarantee of such Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable, any such guarantee of such guarantor with respect to such Indebtedness shall be subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or such Guarantor’s Guarantee, as applicable, substantially to the same extent as such Indebtedness is subordinated to the Notes or the Guarantee of such Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable;

 

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(xiv) the Incurrence by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer which serves to refund, refinance or defease any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock Incurred as permitted under the first paragraph of this covenant and clauses (ii), (iii), (iv), (xiv), (xv), (xviii) and (xix) of this Section 4.03(b), including any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock Incurred to pay premiums and fees in connection therewith (subject to the following provision, “Refinancing Indebtedness”) prior to its respective maturity; provided , however , that such Refinancing Indebtedness:

(1) has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity at the time such Refinancing Indebtedness is Incurred which is not less than the remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock being refunded or refinanced;

(2) has a Stated Maturity which is no earlier than the earlier of (x) the Stated Maturity of the Indebtedness being refunded or refinanced or (y) at least 91 days later than the maturity date of the Notes;

(3) to the extent such Refinancing Indebtedness refinances (a) Indebtedness junior to the Notes or the Guarantee of such Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable, such Refinancing Indebtedness is junior to the Notes or the Guarantee of such Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable, or (b) Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, such Refinancing Indebtedness is Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock;

(4) is Incurred in an aggregate principal amount (or if issued with original issue discount, an aggregate issue price) that is equal to or less than the aggregate principal amount (or if issued with original issue discount, the aggregate accreted value) then outstanding of the Indebtedness being refinanced plus premium and fees Incurred in connection with such refinancing;

(5) shall not include (x) Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer that is not a Subsidiary Guarantor that refinances Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary that is a Subsidiary Guarantor, or (y) Indebtedness of the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary that refinances Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of an Unrestricted Subsidiary; and

(6) in the case of any Refinancing Indebtedness Incurred to refinance Indebtedness outstanding under Section 4.03(b)(iv) or (xix), shall be deemed to have been Incurred and to be outstanding under such Section 4.03(b)(iv) or (xix), as applicable, and not this Section 4.03(b)(xiv) for purposes of determining amounts outstanding under such Section 4.03(b)(iv) or (xix),

provided further that subclauses (1) and (2) of this Section 4.03(b)(xiv) shall not apply to any refunding, refinancing or defeasance of (A) the Notes or (B) any Secured Indebtedness;

 

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(xv) Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of Persons that are acquired by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or merged or amalgamated into the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary in accordance with the terms of this Indenture; provided , however , that such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock is not Incurred in contemplation of such acquisition, merger or amalgamation; provided further , however , that after giving effect to such acquisition, merger or amalgamation:

(1) the Issuer would be permitted to Incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in Section 4.03(a); or

(2) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Issuer would be greater than or equal to such ratio immediately prior to such acquisition;

(xvi) Indebtedness arising from the honoring by a bank or other financial institution of a check, draft or similar instrument drawn against insufficient funds in the ordinary course of business, provided that such Indebtedness is extinguished within five Business Days of its Incurrence;

(xvii) Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary supported by a letter of credit or bank guarantee issued pursuant to the Credit Agreement, in a principal amount not in excess of the stated amount of such letter of credit or bank guarantee, provided that if (i) the Indebtedness represented by such letter of credit or bank guarantee is incurred under any of the clauses of this Section 4.03(b) and (ii) the Indebtedness incurred under this clause (xvii) is at any time no longer supported by such letter of credit or bank guarantee, then the Indebtedness previously incurred under this clause (xvii) shall be classified under the preceding paragraph or under another available clause in this paragraph and if such Indebtedness may not be so reclassified, then an Event of Default under this Indenture shall be deemed to have occurred;

(xviii) Contribution Indebtedness;

(xix) if the Issuer could not Incur $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to Section 4.03(a) after giving effect to such borrowing, Indebtedness of Non-Guarantor Restricted Subsidiaries Incurred for working capital purposes and any refinancings of such Indebtedness; provided , however , that the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness Incurred under this clause (xix), when aggregated with the principal amount of all other Indebtedness then outstanding and Incurred (or deemed Incurred pursuant to Section 4.03(b)(xiv) above) pursuant to this clause (xix), does not exceed $25 million; and

(xx) Indebtedness Incurred by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to fund losses, damages, liabilities, claims, costs and expenses (including attorney’s fees, interest, penalties, judgments and settlements, collectively, “Losses”), by reason of any litigation disclosed in the Offering Circular, including the financial statements included therein, or relating to the same facts and circumstances as disclosed; provided that (as certified in an Officers’ Certificate delivered to the Trustee) (1) the Issuer has provided to

 

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Cendant notice in respect of such Losses and has a reasonable good faith belief it is entitled to be indemnified by Cendant pursuant to the Stock Purchase Agreement in respect of such Losses and (2) the Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to this clause (xx) is in an amount equal to or less than the amount of the Losses for which indemnification is claimed; provided further that (1) after 30 days of the Issuer’s receiving funds in satisfaction of such indemnity or (2) if Cendant gives written notice to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary that it disputes the Issuer’s entitlement to indemnity with respect to any Losses and (A) such dispute is not challenged by the Issuer within 30 days of receipt of such notice or (B) there is a final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction confirming that the Issuer is not entitled to such indemnity which judgment is not discharged, waived or stayed for a period of 60 days, any amounts Incurred pursuant to this clause (xx) in respect of such indemnity that remain outstanding shall no longer be permitted under this clause (xx) and shall be deemed to be Incurred on such date.

(c) For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 4.03, in the event that an item of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock meets the criteria of one or more of the categories of permitted Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock described in Section 4.03(b)(i) through (xx) above or is entitled to be Incurred pursuant to Section 4.03(a), the Issuer shall, in its sole discretion, divide, classify or reclassify, or later divide, classify or reclassify, such item of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock in any manner that complies with this Section 4.03 and such item of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock shall be treated as having been Incurred pursuant to one or more of such clauses Section 4.03(b)(i) through (xx) or pursuant to Section 4.03(a). Notwithstanding the foregoing, Indebtedness under the Credit Agreement outstanding on October 17, 2005 shall be deemed to have been incurred on such date in reliance on the exception provided by clause 4.03(b)(i) above and the Issuer shall not be permitted to reclassify all or any portion of such Indebtedness outstanding on October 17, 2005. Accrual of interest, the accretion of accreted value, amortization or original issue discount, the payment of interest in the form of additional Indebtedness with the same terms, the payment of dividends on Preferred Stock in the form of additional shares of Preferred Stock of the same class, the accretion of liquidation preference and increases in the amount of Indebtedness outstanding solely as a result of fluctuations in the exchange rate of currencies shall not be deemed to be an Incurrence of Indebtedness for purposes of this Section 4.03. Guarantees of, or obligations in respect of letters of credit relating to, Indebtedness which is otherwise included in the determination of a particular amount of Indebtedness shall not be included in the determination of such amount of Indebtedness; provided that the Incurrence of the Indebtedness represented by such guarantee or letter of credit, as the case may be, was in compliance with this Section 4.03.

(d) For purposes of determining compliance with any U.S. dollar-denominated restriction on the Incurrence of Indebtedness, the U.S. dollar-equivalent principal amount of Indebtedness denominated in a foreign currency shall be calculated based on the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date such Indebtedness was Incurred, in the case of term debt, or first committed or first Incurred (whichever yields the lower U.S. dollar equivalent), in the case of revolving credit debt; provided that if such Indebtedness is Incurred to refinance other Indebtedness denominated in a foreign currency, and such refinancing would cause the applicable U.S. dollar-denominated restriction to be exceeded if calculated at the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date of such refinancing, such U.S. dollar-

 

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denominated restriction shall be deemed not to have been exceeded so long as the principal amount of such refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount of such Indebtedness being refinanced.

SECTION 4.04. Limitation on Restricted Payments . (a) The Issuer shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly:

(i) declare or pay any dividend or make any distribution on account of the Issuer’s or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries’ Equity Interests, including any payment with respect to such Equity Interests made in connection with any merger, amalgamation or consolidation involving the Issuer (other than (A) dividends or distributions by the Issuer payable solely in Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Issuer; or (B) dividends or distributions by a Restricted Subsidiary on its common Equity Interests so long as, in the case of any dividend or distribution payable on or in respect of any class or series of securities issued by a Restricted Subsidiary other than a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary, the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary receives at least its pro rata share of such dividend or distribution in accordance with its Equity Interests in such class or series of securities);

(ii) purchase or otherwise acquire or retire for value any Equity Interests of the Issuer or any Parent of the Issuer, including in connection with any merger, amalgamation or consolidation;

(iii) make any principal payment on, or redeem, repurchase, defease or otherwise acquire or retire for value, in each case prior to any scheduled repayment or scheduled maturity, any Subordinated Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than the payment, redemption, repurchase, defeasance, acquisition or retirement of (A) Subordinated Indebtedness in anticipation of satisfying a sinking fund obligation, principal installment or final maturity, in each case due within one year of the date of such payment, redemption, repurchase, defeasance, acquisition or retirement and (B) Indebtedness permitted under clauses 4.03(b)(vii) and (ix)); or

(iv) make any Restricted Investment

(all such payments and other actions set forth in clauses (i) through (iv) above being collectively referred to as “Restricted Payments”), unless, at the time of such Restricted Payment:

(1) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would occur as a consequence thereof;

(2) immediately after giving effect to such transaction on a pro forma basis as if the Restricted Payment had been made and any Indebtedness Incurred on such date had been Incurred, (i) the Issuer would be permitted to Incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in Section 4.03(a) and (ii) the Consolidated Leverage Ratio of the Issuer would have been less than 5.0 to 1; and

 

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(3) such Restricted Payment, together with the aggregate amount of all other Restricted Payments made by the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries after October 17, 2005 (including Restricted Payments permitted by clauses (i), (iv) (only to the extent of one-half of the amount paid pursuant to such clause), (vi) and (viii) of Section 4.04(b), but excluding all other Restricted Payments permitted by the next succeeding paragraph), is less than the sum, without duplication, of:

(A) 50% of the Consolidated Net Income of the Issuer for the period (taken as one accounting period) from July 1, 2005 to the end of the Issuer’s most recently ended fiscal quarter for which internal financial statements are available at the time of such Restricted Payment (or, if such Consolidated Net Income for such period is a deficit, less 100% of such deficit); provided , however that, to the extent the Consolidated Leverage Ratio of the Issuer on a pro forma basis as if the Restricted Payment had been made and any Indebtedness Incurred on such date had been Incurred would have been less than 3.0 to 1, then 75% of the Consolidated Net Income of the Issuer for the aforementioned period shall be included pursuant to this clause (3)(A), plus

(B) 100% of the aggregate net proceeds, including cash and the Fair Market Value (as determined in accordance with the next succeeding sentence) of property other than cash, received by the Issuer after October 17, 2005 from the issue or sale of Equity Interests of the Issuer or any Parent of the Issuer (excluding (without duplication) Excluded Contributions, Refunding Capital Stock, Designated Preferred Stock, Disqualified Stock and the Cash Contribution Amount) including Equity Interests (other than Refunding Capital Stock, Disqualified Stock or Designated Preferred Stock) issued upon conversion of Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock or upon exercise of warrants or options (other than an issuance or sale to a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer or an employee stock ownership plan or trust established by the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries), plus

(C) 100% of the aggregate amount of contributions to the capital of the Issuer received in cash and the Fair Market Value (as determined in accordance with the next succeeding sentence) of property other than cash after October 17, 2005 (other than Excluded Contributions, Refunding Capital Stock, Designated Preferred Stock, Disqualified Stock, the Cash Contribution Amount and contributions by a Restricted Subsidiary), plus

(D) 100% of the aggregate amount received by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary after October 17, 2005 in cash and the Fair Market Value (as determined in accordance with the next succeeding sentence) of property other than cash received by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary after October 17, 2005 from:

 

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(I) the sale or other disposition (other than to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer) of Restricted Investments made by the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries and from repurchases and redemptions of such Restricted Investments from the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries by any Person (other than the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries) and from repayments of loans or advances which constituted Restricted Investments (other than in each case to the extent that the Restricted Investment was made pursuant to Section 4.04(b)(vii) or (x)),

(II) the sale (other than to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer) of the Capital Stock of an Unrestricted Subsidiary (other than an Unrestricted Subsidiary to the extent the investments in such Unrestricted Subsidiary was made by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to Section 4.04(b)(vii) or (x) or to the extent such Investment constituted a Permitted Investment), or

(III) a distribution, dividend or other payment from an Unrestricted Subsidiary; plus

(E) in the event any Unrestricted Subsidiary of the Issuer has been redesignated as a Restricted Subsidiary or has been merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into, or transfers or conveys its assets to, or is liquidated into, the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer after October 17, 2005, the Fair Market Value (as determined in accordance with the next succeeding sentence) of the Investments of the Issuer in such Unrestricted Subsidiary at the time of such redesignation, combination or transfer (or of the assets transferred or conveyed, as applicable) (other than in each case to the extent that the designation of such Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary was made pursuant to clause (b)(vii) or (x) of this Section 4.04 or constituted a Permitted Investment).

The Fair Market Value of property other than cash covered by clauses 3(B), (C), (D) and (E) above shall be determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Issuer and

(x) in the event of property with a Fair Market Value in excess of $10.0 million, shall be set forth in an Officers’ Certificate or

(y) in the event of property with a Fair Market Value in excess of $25.0 million, shall be set forth in a resolution approved by at least a majority of the Board of Directors of the Issuer.

 

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(b) The provisions of Section 4.04(a) shall not prohibit:

(i) the payment of any dividend or distribution within 60 days after the date of declaration thereof, if at the date of declaration such payment would have complied with the provisions of this Indenture;

(ii) (a) the repurchase, retirement or other acquisition of any Equity Interests (“Retired Capital Stock”) of the Issuer or any Parent of the Issuer or Subordinated Indebtedness of the Issuer, any Parent of the Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor in exchange for, or out of the proceeds of, the substantially concurrent sale (other than the Cash Contribution Amount, Excluded Contributions or the sale of any Disqualified Stock or Designated Preferred Stock or any Equity Interests sold to a Subsidiary of the Issuer or to an employee stock ownership plan or any trust established by the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries) of Equity Interests of the Issuer or any Parent of the Issuer or contributions to the equity capital of the Issuer (collectively, including any such contributions, “Refunding Capital Stock”) and (B) the declaration and payment of accrued dividends on the Retired Capital Stock out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale (other than to a Subsidiary of the Issuer or to an employee stock ownership plan or any trust established by the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries) of Refunding Capital Stock;

(iii) the redemption, repurchase or other acquisition or retirement of Subordinated Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor made by exchange for, or out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale (or as promptly as practicable after giving any requisite notice to the holders of such Subordinated Indebtedness) of, new Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Subsidiary Guarantor which is Incurred in accordance with Section 4.03 so long as

(A) the principal amount of such new Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount of the Subordinated Indebtedness being so redeemed, repurchased, acquired or retired for value (plus the amount of any premium required to be paid under the terms of the instrument governing the Subordinated Indebtedness being so redeemed, repurchased, acquired or retired plus any fees incurred in connection therewith),

(B) such Indebtedness is Incurred by the Issuer or by a Subsidiary Guarantor in respect of refinanced Indebtedness of a Subsidiary Guarantor and, in each case, is subordinated to the Notes, or the related Guarantee, as the case may be, at least to the same extent as such Subordinated Indebtedness so purchased, exchanged, redeemed, repurchased, acquired or retired for value,

(C) such Indebtedness has a final scheduled maturity date equal to or later than the earlier of (x) final scheduled maturity date of the Subordinated Indebtedness being so redeemed, repurchased, acquired or retired or (y) at least 91 days later than the Notes, and

(D) such Indebtedness has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity at the time Incurred which is not less than the remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Subordinated Indebtedness being so redeemed, repurchased, acquired or retired;

 

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(iv) the repurchase, retirement or other acquisition for value (or dividends to any Parent of the Issuer to finance any such repurchase, retirement or other acquisition for value) of Equity Interests of the Issuer or any Parent of the Issuer held by any future, present or former employee, director or consultant of the Issuer, any Parent of the Issuer or any Subsidiary of the Issuer pursuant to any management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or other agreement or arrangement made after October 17, 2005; provided , however , that the aggregate amounts paid under this clause (iv) do not exceed $12.5 million in any calendar year commencing with 2005 (with unused amounts in any calendar year being permitted to be carried over to the following two calendar years subject to a maximum payment (without giving effect to the following proviso) of $25 million in any calendar year); provided further however , that such amount in any calendar year may be increased by an amount not to exceed:

(A) the cash proceeds received by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries from the sale of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock or Designated Preferred Stock) of the Issuer after the Issue Date to members of management, directors or consultants of the Issuer, any Parent of the Issuer and Restricted Subsidiaries of the Issuer ( provided that the amount of such cash proceeds utilized for any such repurchase, retirement, other acquisition or dividend shall not increase the amount available for Restricted Payments under Section 4.04(b)(iii)(C)); plus

(B) the cash proceeds of key man life insurance policies received by the Issuer, any Parent of the Issuer (to the extent contributed to the Issuer) or the Restricted Subsidiaries of the Issuer after October 17, 2005; less

(C) the amount of any Restricted Payments previously made pursuant to Sections 4.04(b)(iv)(A) and (B);

(v) the declaration and payment of dividends or distributions to holders of any class or series of Disqualified Stock of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries issued or incurred in accordance with Section 4.03;

(vi) the declaration and payment of dividends or distributions (a) to holders of any class or series of Designated Preferred Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) issued after the Issue Date and (b) to any Parent of the Issuer, the proceeds of which shall be used to fund the payment of dividends to holders of any class or series of Designated Preferred Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of any Parent of the Issuer issued after the Issue Date; provided , however , that (A) in the case of subclause (a) and (b) of this Section 4.04(b)(vi), for the most recently ended four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date of issuance of such Designated Preferred Stock, after giving effect to such issuance (and the payment of dividends or distributions) on a pro forma basis, the Issuer would be permitted to Incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test

 

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under Section 4.03(a) and (B) the aggregate amount of dividends declared and paid pursuant to subclause (a) and (b) of this Section 4.04(b)(vi) does not exceed the net cash proceeds actually received by the Issuer from any such sale of Designated Preferred Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) issued after the Issue Date;

(vii) Investments in Unrestricted Subsidiaries having an aggregate Fair Market Value, taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (vii) that are at that time outstanding, not to exceed $35 million at the time of such Investment (with the Fair Market Value of each Investment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value); provided that the dollar amount of Investments made pursuant to this clause (vii) shall not be reduced by the sale, disposition or other transfer of such Investments unless the proceeds of such sale, disposition or other transfer are received by the Issuer and/or its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(viii) the payment of dividends on the Issuer’s common Capital Stock (or the payment of dividends to any Parent of the Issuer to fund the payment by such Parent of the Issuer of dividends on such entity’s common Capital Stock) of up to 7.5% per annum of the net cash proceeds received by or contributed to the Issuer from any public offering of common Capital Stock, other than public offerings with respect to common Capital Stock of the Issuer or any Parent of the Issuer registered on Form S-4 or Form S-8 and other than any public sale constituting an Excluded Contribution;

(ix) Investments that are made with Excluded Contributions;

(x) other Restricted Payments in an aggregate amount not to exceed $40 million;

(xi) the distribution, as a dividend or otherwise, of shares of Capital Stock of, or Indebtedness owed to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer by, Unrestricted Subsidiaries (other than to the extent such Investments were made pursuant to clauses (vii) or (x) of this Section 4.04(b) or pursuant to clauses (9) or (10) of the definition of Permitted Investments);

(xii) (a) with respect to each tax year or portion thereof that any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer qualifies as a Flow Through Entity, the distribution by the Issuer to the holders of Capital Stock of such direct or indirect parent of the Issuer of an amount equal to the product of the amount of aggregate net taxable income of the Issuer allocated by the Issuer to the holders of Capital Stock of the Issuer for such period and the Presumed Tax Rate for such period; and (b) with respect to any tax year or portion thereof that any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer does not qualify as a Flow Through Entity, payment of dividends or other distributions to any direct or indirect parent of the Issuer that files a consolidated U.S. federal tax return that includes the Issuer and its subsidiaries in an amount not to exceed the amount that the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries would have been required to pay in respect of federal, state or local taxes, as the case may be, in respect of such year if the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries had paid such taxes directly as a stand-alone taxpayer or stand-alone group;

 

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(xiii) the declaration and payment of dividends to, or the making of loans to, any Parent of the Issuer (a) in amounts required for such entity to pay general corporate overhead expenses (including salaries, bonuses, benefits paid to management and employees of any Parent and professional and administrative expenses) for any direct or indirect parent entity of the Issuer to the extent such expenses are attributable to the ownership or operation of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries and (b) in amounts required for any Parent of the Issuer to pay interest and/or principal on Indebtedness that satisfies each of the following: (i) the proceeds of which were contributed to the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, (ii) that has been guaranteed by, or is otherwise considered Indebtedness of, the Issuer Incurred in accordance with Section 4.03 and (iii) that was incurred (A) to refund, refinance or defease Indebtedness of such Parent of the Issuer or the Issuer and (B) pursuant to Section 4.04(a) or Section 4.03(b)(xiv);

(xiv) any Restricted Payment used to fund the Transactions and the fees and expenses related thereto or made in connection with the consummation of the Transactions as described in the Offering Circular (including payments made pursuant to or as contemplated by the Transaction Documents, whether payable on October 17, 2005, or owed by any Parent of the Issuer, the Issuer or Restricted Subsidiaries of the Issuer to Affiliates, in each case to the extent permitted by Section 4.07;

(xv) repurchases of Equity Interests deemed to occur upon exercise of stock options or warrants if such Equity Interests represent a portion of the exercise price of such options or warrants;

(xvi) payments of cash, or dividends, distributions or advances by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary to allow any such entity to make payments of cash, in lieu of the issuance of fractional shares upon the exercise of warrants or upon the conversion or exchange of Capital Stock of any such Person; provided , however , that the aggregate amount of such payments, dividends, distributions or advances does not exceed $4 million;

(xvii) (a) the payment, purchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement of Subordinated Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries and (b) the payment of dividends, distributions and advances to any Parent of the Issuer to allow such Parent to purchase, repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire or retire for value shares of Seller Preferred Stock, in each case pursuant to provisions similar to those of Section 4.08 and 4.06; provided that, prior to such payment, purchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement, the Issuer (or a third party to the extent permitted by this Indenture) has made a Change of Control Offer or Asset Sale Offer, as the case may be, with respect to the Notes as a result of such Change of Control or Asset Sale, as the case may be, and has repurchased all Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn in connection with such Change of Control Offer or Asset Sale Offer, as the case may be; and

(xviii) the repayment of Indebtedness of the Issuer outstanding under the Senior Subordinated Bridge Loan Facility out of the proceeds from the sale by the Issuer of Additional Senior Notes pursuant to Section 4.03(b)(ii) in an amount not to exceed $33.6 million;

 

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provided , however , that at the time of, and after giving effect to, any Restricted Payment permitted under clauses (iv), (v), (vi), (vii), (viii), (x), (xi), (xvii) and (xviii) of this Section 4.04(b), no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would occur as a consequence thereof.

The amount of all Restricted Payments (other than cash) shall be the Fair Market Value on the date of the Restricted Payment of the asset(s) or securities proposed to be transferred or issued by the Issuer or such Subsidiary, as the case may be, pursuant to the Restricted Payment. Except as otherwise provided herein, the Fair Market Value of any assets or securities that are required to be valued by this covenant shall be determined in good faith by senior management or the Board of Directors of the Issuer.

(c) As of the Issue Date, all of the Issuer’s Subsidiaries (except for Affinion Loyalty, LLC) shall be Restricted Subsidiaries. The Issuer shall not permit any Unrestricted Subsidiary to become a Restricted Subsidiary except pursuant to the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary.” For purposes of designating any Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, all outstanding Investments by the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries (except to the extent repaid) in the Subsidiary so designated shall be deemed to be Restricted Payments or Permitted Investments in an amount determined as set forth in the last sentence of the definition of “Investments.” Such designation shall only be permitted if Restricted Payments or Permitted Investments in such amount would be permitted at such time and if such Subsidiary otherwise meets the definition of an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

SECTION 4.05. Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Subsidiaries . The Issuer shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create or otherwise cause or suffer to exist or become effective any consensual encumbrance or consensual restriction on the ability of any Restricted Subsidiary to:

(a) pay dividends or make any other distributions to the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (1) on its Capital Stock or (2) with respect to any other interest or participation in, or measured by, its profits; or (ii) pay any Indebtedness owed to the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(b) make loans or advances to the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; or

(c) sell, lease or transfer any of its properties or assets to the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

except in each case for such encumbrances or restrictions existing under or by reason of:

(1) contractual encumbrances or restrictions in effect on the Issue Date, including pursuant to the Credit Agreement, the other Senior Credit Documents, the Senior Subordinated Bridge Loan Facility, the Senior Notes Indenture and the Senior Notes (and any exchange notes and guarantees thereof);

 

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(2) this Indenture and the Notes (and any Exchange Notes and Guarantees thereof);

(3) applicable law or any applicable rule, regulation or order;

(4) any agreement or other instrument of a Person acquired by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary which was in existence at the time of such acquisition (but not created in contemplation thereof), which encumbrance or restriction is not applicable to any Person, or the properties or assets of any Person, other than the Person, or the property or assets of the Person, so acquired;

(5) contracts or agreements for the sale of assets, including customary restrictions with respect to a Subsidiary pursuant to an agreement that has been entered into for the sale or disposition of all or substantially all of the Capital Stock or assets of such Subsidiary;

(6) Secured Indebtedness otherwise permitted to be Incurred pursuant to Section 4.03 and 4.12 that limit the right of the debtor to dispose of the assets securing such Indebtedness;

(7) restrictions on cash or other deposits or net worth imposed by customers, suppliers or other vendors under contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(8) customary provisions in joint venture agreements and other similar agreements (including customary provisions in agreements relating to any Joint Venture);

(9) purchase money obligations for property acquired and Capitalized Lease Obligations in the ordinary course of business that impose restrictions of the nature discussed in Section 4.05(c) on the property so acquired;

(10) customary provisions contained in leases, licenses, contracts and other similar agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business that impose restrictions of the type described in Section 4.05(c) on the property subject to such lease;

(11) other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer that is Incurred subsequent to the Issue Date and permitted pursuant to Section 4.03; provided that such encumbrances and restrictions contained in any agreement or instrument shall not materially affect the Issuer’s ability to make anticipated principal or interest payments on the Notes (as determined in good faith by senior management or the Board of Directors of the Issuer); and

(12) any encumbrances or restrictions of the type referred to in clauses (a), (b) and (c) of this Section 4.05 imposed by any amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings of the contracts, instruments or obligations referred to in clauses (1) through (11) above; provided that such amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings are, in the good faith judgment of senior management or the Board of Directors of the Issuer, no more restrictive as a whole

 

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with respect to such encumbrances and restrictions than those prior to such amendment, modification, restatement, renewal, increase, supplement, refunding, replacement or refinancing.

For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 4.05, (i) the priority of any Preferred Stock in receiving dividends or liquidating distributions prior to dividends or liquidating distributions being paid on common Capital Stock shall not be deemed a restriction on the ability to make distributions on Capital Stock and (ii) the subordination of loans or advances made to the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer to other Indebtedness Incurred by the Issuer or any such Restricted Subsidiary shall not be deemed a restriction on the ability to make loans or advances.

SECTION 4.06. Asset Sales . (a) The Issuer shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, cause or make an Asset Sale, unless (x) the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, as the case may be, receives consideration at the time of such Asset Sale at least equal to the Fair Market Value (as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Issuer) of the assets sold or otherwise disposed of and (y) at least 75% of the consideration therefor received by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, is in the form of Cash Equivalents; provided that the amount of:

(i) any liabilities (as shown on the Issuer’s or such Restricted Subsidiary’s most recent balance sheet) of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer (other than liabilities that are by their terms subordinated to the Notes) that are assumed by the transferee of any such assets,

(ii) any notes or other obligations or other securities or assets received by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer from such transferee that are converted by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer into cash within 180 days of the receipt thereof (to the extent of the cash received), and

(iii) any Designated Non-cash Consideration received by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in such Asset Sale having an aggregate Fair Market Value (as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Issuer), taken together with all other Designated Non-cash Consideration received pursuant to this clause (iii) that is at that time outstanding, not to exceed the greater of $50 million or 2.5% of Total Assets of the Issuer at the time of the receipt of such Designated Non-cash Consideration (with the Fair Market Value of each item of Designated Non-cash Consideration being measured at the time received and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value)

shall be deemed to be Cash Equivalents for the purposes of this Section 4.06(a).

(b) Within 365 days after the receipt by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer of the Net Proceeds of any Asset Sale, the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer may apply the Net Proceeds from such Asset Sale, at its option:

(i) to permanently reduce Obligations under Senior Debt and, if the Senior Debt repaid is revolving credit Indebtedness, to correspondingly reduce commitments with respect thereto or Pari Passu Indebtedness ( provided that if the Issuer or any

 

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Guarantor shall so reduce Obligations under Pari Passu Indebtedness (other than Pari Passu Indebtedness that is Secured Indebtedness), the Issuer will equally and ratably reduce Obligations under the Notes if the Notes are then prepayable or, if the Notes may not then be prepaid, by making an offer (in accordance with the procedures set forth below for an Asset Sale Offer) to all holders to purchase at a purchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, the pro rata principal amount of Notes that would otherwise be prepaid) or Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor, in each case other than Indebtedness owed to the Issuer or an Affiliate of the Issuer,

(ii) to make an investment in any one or more businesses ( provided that if such investment is in the form of the acquisition of Capital Stock of a Person, such acquisition results in such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer), or capital expenditures or assets, in each case used or useful in a Similar Business, and/or

(iii) to make an investment in any one or more businesses ( provided that if such investment is in the form of the acquisition of Capital Stock of a Person, such acquisition results in such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer), properties or assets that replace the properties and assets that are the subject of such Asset Sale or Event of Loss;

provided that in the case of this Section 4.06(b)(ii) and (iii), a binding commitment shall be treated as a permitted application of the Net Proceeds from the date of such commitment so long as to purchase (x) such purchase is consummated within 545 days after the receipt by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Net Proceeds of any Asset Sale and (y) if such purchase is not consummated within the period set forth in subclause (x), the Net Proceeds not so applied shall be deemed to be Excess Proceeds (as defined below).

(c) Pending the final application of any Net Proceeds from an Asset Sale, the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer may temporarily reduce Indebtedness under a revolving credit facility, if any, or otherwise invest such Net Proceeds in Cash Equivalents or Investment Grade Securities. Any Net Proceeds from any Asset Sale that are not applied as provided and within the time period set forth in clause (b) of this Section 4.06 (it being understood that any portion of such Net Proceeds used to make an offer to purchase the Notes, as described in Section 4.06(b)(i), shall be deemed to have been invested whether or not such offer is accepted) shall be deemed to constitute “Excess Proceeds.”

When the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds exceeds $25 million, the Issuer shall make an offer to all holders of Notes (and, at the option of the Issuer, to holders of any Pari Passu Indebtedness) (an “Asset Sale Offer”) to purchase the maximum principal amount of Notes (and such Pari Passu Indebtedness) that is an integral multiple of $1,000 that may be purchased out of the Excess Proceeds at an offer price in cash in an amount equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof (or, in the event such Pari Passu Indebtedness was issued with significant original issue discount, 100% of the accreted value thereof), plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any (or, in respect of such Pari Passu Indebtedness, such lesser price, if any, as may be provided for by the terms of such Pari Passu Indebtedness), to the date fixed for the closing of such offer, in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Indenture.

 

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The Issuer shall commence an Asset Sale Offer with respect to Excess Proceeds within ten Business Days after the date that Excess Proceeds exceed $25 million by mailing or electronically transmitting the notice required pursuant to the terms of this Indenture, with a copy to the Trustee. To the extent that the aggregate amount of Notes (and such Pari Passu Indebtedness) tendered pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer is less than the Excess Proceeds, the Issuer may use any remaining Excess Proceeds for any purpose that is not prohibited by this Indenture. If the aggregate principal amount of Notes surrendered by holders thereof exceeds the amount of Excess Proceeds, the Trustee shall select the Notes (and such Pari Passu Indebtedness) to be purchased in accordance with Section 4.06(g). Upon completion of any such Asset Sale Offer, the amount of Excess Proceeds shall be reset at zero.

(d) The Issuer shall comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations to the extent such laws or regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of the Notes pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the provisions of this Indenture, the Issuer shall comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and shall not be deemed to have breached its obligations described in this Indenture by virtue thereof.

(e) Not later than the date upon which written notice of an Asset Sale Offer is delivered to the Trustee as provided above, the Issuer shall deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate as to (i) the amount of the Excess Proceeds, (ii) the allocation of the Net Proceeds from the Asset Sales pursuant to which such Asset Sale Offer is being made and (iii) the compliance of such allocation with the provisions of Sections 4.06(b) and (c). On such date, the Issuer shall also irrevocably deposit with the Trustee or with a paying agent (or, if a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer is acting as a Paying Agent, segregate and hold in trust) an amount equal to the Excess Proceeds to be invested in Cash Equivalents, as directed in writing by the Issuer, and to be held for payment in accordance with the provisions of this Section 4.06. Upon the expiration of the period for which the Asset Sale Offer remains open (the “Offer Period”), the Issuer shall deliver to the Trustee for cancellation the Notes or portions thereof that have been properly tendered to and are to be accepted by the Issuer. The Trustee (or a Paying Agent, if not the Trustee) shall, on the date of purchase, mail or deliver payment to each tendering Holder in the amount of the purchase price. In the event that the Excess Proceeds delivered by the Issuer to the Trustee is greater than the purchase price of the Notes tendered, the Trustee shall deliver the excess to the Issuer immediately after the expiration of the Offer Period for application in accordance with Section 4.06.

(f) Holders electing to have a Note purchased shall be required to surrender the Note, with an appropriate form duly completed, to the Issuer at the address specified in the notice at least three Business Days prior to the purchase date. Holders shall be entitled to withdraw their election if the Trustee or the Issuer receive not later than one Business Day prior to the Purchase Date, a telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of the Holder, the principal amount of the Note which was delivered by the Holder for purchase and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing his election to have such Note purchased. If at the end of the Offer Period more Notes (and Pari Passu Indebtedness) are tendered pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer than the Issuer is required to purchase, the principal amount of the Notes (and Pari Passu Indebtedness) to be purchased shall be determined pro rata based on the principal amounts so tendered and the selection of the actual Notes for purchase shall be made by the Trustee on a pro rata basis to the extent practicable; provided , however , that no Notes (or Pari Passu Indebtedness) of $1,000 or less shall be purchased in part.

 

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(g) Notices of an Asset Sale Offer shall be mailed by first-class mail, postage prepaid or electronically transmitted at least 30 but not more than 60 days before the purchase date to each Holder at such Holder’s registered address. If any Note is to be purchased in part only, any notice of purchase that relates to such Note shall state the portion of the principal amount thereof that is to be purchased.

(h) A new Note of the same series in principal amount equal to the unpurchased portion of any Note purchased in part shall be issued in the name of the Holder thereof upon cancellation of the original Note. On and after the purchase date, unless the Issuer defaults in payment of the purchase price, interest shall cease to accrue on Notes or portions thereof purchased.

SECTION 4.07. Transactions with Affiliates . (a) The Issuer shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, make any payment to, or sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of its properties or assets to, or purchase any property or assets from, or enter into or make or amend any transaction or series of transactions, contract, agreement, understanding, loan, advance or guarantee with or for the benefit of, any Affiliate of the Issuer (each of the foregoing, an “Affiliate Transaction”) involving aggregate consideration in excess of $5 million, unless:

(i) such Affiliate Transaction is on terms that are not less favorable to the Issuer or the relevant Restricted Subsidiary than those that could have been obtained in a comparable transaction by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary with an unrelated Person; and

(ii) with respect to any Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions involving aggregate consideration in excess of $20 million, the Issuer delivers to the Trustee a resolution adopted in good faith by the majority of the Board of Directors of the Issuer approving such Affiliate Transaction and set forth in an Officers’ Certificate certifying that such Affiliate Transaction complies with Section 4.07(a)(i).

(b) The provisions of Section 4.07(a) shall not apply to the following:

(i) transactions between or among the Issuer and/or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(ii) Restricted Payments permitted by the provisions of Section 4.04 and Investments under the definition of “Permitted Investments;”

(iii) the entering into of any agreement (and any amendments or modifications to such agreements) to pay, and the payment of, (i) management, consulting, monitoring and advisory fees and expenses to the Sponsor in an aggregate amount in any fiscal year not to exceed the greater of (x) $5 million and (y) 2% of Consolidated Cash Flow, and expense reimbursement, in each case made pursuant to any agreement, or any agreement contemplated by such agreement, each as described under the caption “Certain

 

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Relationships and Related Party Transactions” in the Offering Circular and (ii) the termination fees pursuant to the Sponsor Consulting Agreement not to exceed the amount set forth in the Sponsor Consulting Agreement as in effect on October 17, 2005;

(iv) the payment of reasonable and customary fees to, and indemnity provided on behalf of officers, directors, employees or consultants of the Issuer, any Parent of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer;

(v) payments by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to the Sponsor made for any financial advisory, financing, underwriting or placement services or in respect of other investment banking activities, including, without limitation, in connection with acquisitions or divestitures, which payments are (x) approved by a majority of the Board of Directors of the Issuer in good faith or (y) made pursuant to any agreement, or any agreement contemplated by such agreement, each as described under the caption “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions” in the Offering Circular;

(vi) transactions in which the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, as the case may be, delivers to the Trustee a letter from an Independent Financial Advisor stating that such transaction is fair to the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary from a financial point of view or meets the requirements of Section 4.07(a);

(vii) payments or loans (or cancellation of loans) to employees or consultants that are (x) approved by a majority of the Board of Directors of the Issuer in good faith, (y) made in compliance with applicable law and (z) otherwise permitted under this Indenture;

(viii) any agreement as in effect as of the Issue Date and any amendment thereto (so long as any such agreement together with all amendments thereto, taken as a whole, is not more disadvantageous to the holders of the Notes in any material respect than the original agreement as in effect on the Issue Date) or any transaction contemplated thereby as determined in good faith by senior management or the Board of Directors of the Issuer;

(ix) the existence of, or the performance by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of its obligations under the terms of, the Transaction Documents and any amendment thereto or similar agreements which it may enter into thereafter; provided , however , that the existence of, or the performance by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of its obligations under, any future amendment to any such existing agreement or under any similar agreement entered into after the Issue Date shall only be permitted by this clause (ix) to the extent that the terms of any such existing agreement together with all amendments thereto, taken as a whole, or new agreement are not otherwise more disadvantageous to the holders of the Notes in any material respect than the original agreement as in effect on the Issue Date;

 

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(x) transactions to effect the Transactions and the payment of all fees and expenses related to the Transactions, as described in the Offering Circular or contemplated by the Transaction Documents;

(xi) transactions with customers, clients, suppliers, or purchasers or sellers of goods or services, in each case in the ordinary course of business and otherwise in compliance with the terms of this Indenture that are fair to the Issuer or the Restricted Subsidiaries, in the reasonable determination of the members of the Board of Directors or the senior management of the Issuer, or are on terms at least as favorable as would reasonably have been entered into at such time with an unaffiliated party;

(xii) if otherwise permitted under this Indenture, the issuance of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Issuer to any Permitted Holder or to any director, officer, employee or consultant of the Issuer or any Parent of the Issuer;

(xiii) the issuances of securities or other payments, awards or grants in cash, securities or otherwise pursuant to, or the funding of, employment arrangements, stock option and stock ownership plans or similar employee benefit plans approved by the Board of Directors of the Issuer or of a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer, as appropriate, in good faith;

(xiv) the entering into of any tax sharing agreement or arrangement and any payment permitted by Section 4.04(b)(12);

(xv) any contribution to the capital of the Issuer;

(xvi) transactions between the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and any Person, a director of which is also a director of the Issuer or any direct or indirect parent company of the Issuer; provided , however , that such director abstains from voting as a director of the Issuer or such direct or indirect parent company, as the case may be, on any matter involving such other Person;

(xvii) pledges of Equity Interests of Unrestricted Subsidiaries; and

(xviii) any employment agreements entered into by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business.

SECTION 4.08. Change of Control . (a) Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, each holder shall have the right to require the Issuer to repurchase all or any part of such holder’s Notes at a purchase price in cash equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of repurchase (subject to the right of holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date), except to the extent the Issuer has previously elected to redeem Notes pursuant to Paragraph 5 on the reverse of the Notes.

(b) Within 30 days following any Change of Control, except to the extent that the Issuer has exercised its right to redeem the Notes pursuant to Paragraph 5 on the reverse of the Notes or except to the extent all of the conditions set forth in the following paragraph are

 

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met, the Issuer shall mail or electronically transmit a notice (a “Change of Control Offer”) to each holder with a copy to the Trustee stating:

(i) that a Change of Control has occurred and that such holder has the right to require the Issuer to purchase such holder’s Notes at a purchase price in cash equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, to the date of purchase (subject to the right of holders of record on a record date to receive interest on the relevant interest payment date);

(ii) the circumstances and relevant facts and financial information regarding such Change of Control;

(iii) the repurchase date (which shall be no earlier than 30 days nor later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed); and

(iv) the instructions determined by the Issuer, consistent with this covenant, that a holder must follow in order to have its Notes purchased.

The Issuer shall not be required to make a Change of Control Offer upon a Change of Control if all of the following conditions are met:

(i) on a pro forma basis after giving effect to such Change of Control transaction, the Issuer’s Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio would not be lower than its Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio on the date immediately prior to the consummation of the Change of Control transaction;

(ii) on a pro forma basis after giving effect to such Change of Control transaction, and immediately prior to the public announcement of such Change of Control transaction, the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Issuer is or would be, as applicable, equal to or higher than the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Issuer on the Issue Date;

(iii) on a pro forma basis after giving effect to such Change of Control transaction, the Issuer is permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in the first paragraph of Section 4.03 herein; and

(iv) at the time such Change of Control is consummated, no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would occur as a result thereof.

In addition, the Issuer shall not be required to make a Change of Control Offer upon a Change of Control if a third party makes the Change of Control Offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements set forth in this Indenture applicable to a Change of Control Offer made by the Issuer and purchases all Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn under such Change of Control Offer.

A Change of Control Offer may be made in advance of a Change of Control, and conditioned upon such Change of Control, if a definitive agreement is in place for the Change of Control at the time of making of the Change of Control Offer.

 

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(c) Holders electing to have a Note purchased shall be required to surrender the Note, with an appropriate form duly completed, to the Issuer at the address specified in the notice at least three Business Days prior to the purchase date. The Holders shall be entitled to withdraw their election if the Trustee or the Issuer receive not later than one Business Day prior to the purchase date a telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of the Holder, the principal amount of the Note which was delivered for purchase by the Holder and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing his election to have such Note purchased. Holders whose Notes are purchased only in part shall be issued new Notes equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered.

(d) On the purchase date, all Notes purchased by the Issuer under this Section shall be delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, and the Issuer shall pay the purchase price plus accrued and unpaid interest to the Holders entitled thereto.

(e) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section, the Issuer shall be deemed to have made a Change of Control Offer upon a Change of Control if a third party makes the Change of Control Offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements set forth in Section 4.08(b) applicable to a Change of Control Offer made by the Issuer and purchases all Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn under such Change of Control Offer.

(f) At the time the Issuer delivers Notes to the Trustee which are to be accepted for purchase, the Issuer shall also deliver an Officers’ Certificate stating that such Notes are to be accepted by the Issuer pursuant to and in accordance with the terms of this Section 4.08. A Note shall be deemed to have been accepted for purchase at the time the Trustee, directly or through an agent, mails or delivers payment therefor to the surrendering Holder.

(g) Prior to any Change of Control Offer, the Issuer shall deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that all conditions precedent contained herein to the right of the Issuer to make such offer have been complied with.

(h) The Issuer shall comply, to the extent applicable, with the requirements of Section 14(e) of the Exchange Act and any other securities laws or regulations in connection with the repurchase of Notes pursuant to this Section 4.08. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with provisions of this Section 4.08, the Issuer shall comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and shall not be deemed to have breached its obligations under this paragraph by virtue thereof.

SECTION 4.09. Compliance Certificate . (a) The Issuer shall deliver to the Trustee within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Issuer an Officers’ Certificate stating that in the course of the performance by the signers of their duties as Officers of the Issuer they would normally have knowledge of any Default and whether or not the signers know of any Default that occurred during such period. If they do, the certificate shall describe the Default, its status and what action the Issuer is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto. The Issuer also shall comply with Section 314(a)(4) of the TIA.

 

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(b) When any Default has occurred and is continuing under this Indenture, the Issuer shall deliver to the Trustee, within 30 days after the occurrence thereof by registered or certified mail or facsimile transmission, an Officer’s Certificate specifying such event, notice or other action or inaction, its status and what action the Issuer is taking or proposes to take in respect thereto.

SECTION 4.10. Further Instruments and Acts . Upon request of the Trustee, the Issuer shall execute and deliver such further instruments and do such further acts as may be reasonably necessary or proper to carry out more effectively the purpose of this Indenture.

SECTION 4.11. Future Guarantors . (a) The Issuer shall cause each Restricted Subsidiary that Guarantees any Indebtedness of the Issuer or any of the Guarantors (excluding a Guarantee of Indebtedness of a Non-Guarantor Restricted Subsidiary issued by a Non-Guarantor Restricted Subsidiary) to execute and deliver to the Trustee a Supplemental Indenture pursuant to which such Restricted Subsidiary shall unconditionally Guarantee, on a joint and several basis, the full and prompt payment of the principal of, premium, if any and interest on the Notes on a senior or pari passu basis and all other obligations under this Indenture, unless such other Indebtedness is Senior Debt, in which case the Guarantee may be subordinated to the guarantee of such Senior Debt to the same extent as the Notes are subordinated to such Senior Debt.

(b) Notwithstanding Section 4.11(a), in the event any Guarantor is released and discharged in full from all of its obligations under Guarantees of (1) each Credit Agreement and (2) all other Indebtedness of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries, then the Guarantee of such Guarantor shall be automatically and unconditionally released or discharged; provided that such Restricted Subsidiary has not incurred any Indebtedness or issued any Preferred Stock in reliance on its status as a Guarantor under Section 4.03 unless such Guarantor’s obligations under such Indebtedness or Preferred Stock, as the case may be, so incurred are satisfied in full and discharged or are otherwise permitted under one of the exceptions available at the time of such release to Restricted Subsidiaries under Section 4.03(b).

(c) Each Guarantee shall be limited to an amount not to exceed the maximum amount that can be guaranteed by that Restricted Subsidiary without rendering the Guarantee, as it relates to such Restricted Subsidiary, voidable under applicable law relating to fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer or similar laws affecting the rights of creditors generally.

Each Guarantee shall be released in accordance with Article Ten of this Indenture.

SECTION 4.12. Liens . The Issuer shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, create, incur, assume or otherwise cause or suffer to exist or become effective any Lien of any kind securing Indebtedness which is pari passu or junior to the Notes or the Guarantees (other than Permitted Liens) upon any of their property or assets, now owned or hereafter acquired, unless all payments due under this Indenture with respect to the Notes and the Notes are secured on an equal and ratable basis with the obligations so secured (or, in the case of Indebtedness subordinated to the Notes or the related Guarantees, prior or senior thereto, with the same relative priority as the Notes shall have with respect to such subordinated Indebtedness) until such time as such obligations are no longer secured by a Lien.

 

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SECTION 4.13. Maintenance of Office or Agency .

(a) The Issuer shall maintain an office or agency (which may be an office of the Trustee or an affiliate of the Trustee or Registrar) where Notes may be surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Issuer in respect of the Notes and this Indenture may be served. The Issuer shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency. If at any time the Issuer shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the corporate trust office of the Trustee as set forth in Section 13.02.

(b) The Issuer may also from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies where the Notes may be presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations; provided , however , that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Issuer of its obligation to maintain an office or agency in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York for such purposes. The Issuer shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the location of any such other office or agency.

(c) The Issuer hereby designate the corporate trust office of the Trustee or its Agent, as such office or agency of the Issuer in accordance with Section 2.04.

SECTION 4.14. Limitation on Other Senior Subordinated Indebtedness . The Issuer shall not Incur any Indebtedness that is subordinate in right of payment to any Senior Debt of the Issuer unless it is pari passu or subordinate in right of payment to the Notes. No Guarantor shall Incur any Indebtedness that is subordinate or junior in right of payment to the Senior Debt of such Guarantor unless it is pari passu or subordinate in right of payment to such Guarantor’s Notes Guarantee. For purposes of the foregoing, no Indebtedness shall be deemed to be subordinated in right of payment to any other Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Guarantor, as applicable, solely by reason of any Liens or Guarantees arising or created in respect of such other Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Guarantor or by virtue of the fact that the holders of any secured Indebtedness have entered into intercreditor agreements giving one or more of such holders priority over the other holders in the collateral held by them.

ARTICLE 5

MERGER, CONSOLIDATION OR SALE OF ALL

OR SUBSTANTIALLY ALL ASSETS

SECTION 5.01. Merger, Consolidation or Sale of All or Substantially All Assets . (a) The Issuer may not consolidate, amalgamate or merge with or into or wind up into (whether or not the Issuer is the surviving corporation), or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties or assets in one or more related transactions to, any Person unless:

(i) the Issuer is a surviving Person or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation, amalgamation or merger (if other than the Issuer) or to which such

 

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sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition has been made is a corporation, partnership or limited liability company organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, the District of Columbia or any territory thereof (the Issuer or such Person, as the case may be, being herein called the “Successor Issuer”);

(ii) the Successor Issuer (if other than the Issuer) expressly assumes all the obligations of the Issuer under this Indenture and the Notes pursuant to supplemental indentures or other documents or instruments in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee;

(iii) immediately after giving effect to such transaction no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing;

(iv) immediately after giving pro forma effect to such transaction, as if such transaction had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period (and treating any Indebtedness which becomes an obligation of the Successor Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries as a result of such transaction as having been Incurred by the Successor Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary at the time of such transaction), either

(A) the Successor Issuer would be permitted to Incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in Section 4.03(a); or

(B) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Successor Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries would be greater than or equal to such ratio for the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries immediately prior to such transaction;

(v) each Guarantor, unless it is the other party to the transactions described above, shall have by supplemental indenture confirmed that its Guarantee shall apply to such Person’s obligations under this Indenture and the Notes;

(vi) if the Successor Issuer is not organized as a corporation after such transaction, a successor corporation which is a Subsidiary of the Successor Issuer shall continue to be co-obligor of the Notes and shall have by supplemental indenture confirmed its obligations under this Indenture and the Notes; and

(vii) the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, amalgamation, merger or transfer and such supplemental indentures (if any) comply with this Indenture.

The Successor Issuer (if other than the Issuer) shall succeed to, and be substituted for, the Issuer under this Indenture and the Notes, and the Issuer shall automatically be released and discharged from its obligations under this Indenture and the Notes, but in the case of a lease of all or substantially all of its assets, the Issuer shall not be released from the obligations to pay the principal of and interest on the Notes. Notwithstanding the foregoing Section 5.01(a)(iii) and (iv), (a) any Restricted Subsidiary may consolidate or amalgamate with, merge into, sell, assign or transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or part of its properties and assets to the

 

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Issuer or to another Restricted Subsidiary and (b) the Issuer may merge, amalgamate or consolidate with an Affiliate incorporated or organized solely for the purpose of incorporating or organizing the Issuer in another state of the United States, the District of Columbia or any territory of the United States so long as the amount of Indebtedness of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries is not increased thereby (any transaction described in this sentence a “Specified Merger/Transfer Transaction”). This Section 5.01(a) shall not apply to a sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of assets between or among the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries.

For purposes of this Section 5.01, the sale, lease, conveyance, assignment, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of one or more Subsidiaries of the Issuer, which properties and assets, if held by the Issuer instead of such Subsidiaries, would constitute all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Issuer on a consolidated basis, shall be deemed to be the transfer of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Issuer.

(b) Subject to Section 10.02(b), each Subsidiary Guarantor shall not, and the Issuer shall not permit any Subsidiary Guarantor to, consolidate, amalgamate or merge with or into or wind up into (whether or not such Subsidiary Guarantor is the surviving Person), or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties or assets in one or more related transactions to, any Person unless:

(i) either

(A) such Subsidiary Guarantor is a surviving Person or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation, amalgamation or merger (if other than such Subsidiary Guarantor) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition is made is a corporation, partnership or limited liability company organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, the District of Columbia or any territory thereof (such Subsidiary Guarantor or such Person, as the case may be, being herein called the “Successor Guarantor”) and the Successor Guarantor (if other than such Subsidiary Guarantor) expressly assumes all the obligations of such Subsidiary Guarantor under this Indenture and such Subsidiary Guarantor’s Guarantee pursuant to a supplemental indenture or other documents or instruments in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee; or

(B) such sale or other disposition or consolidation or merger complies with Section 4.06;

(ii) immediately after giving effect to such transaction (and treating any Indebtedness which becomes an obligation of the Successor Guarantor or any of its Subsidiaries as a result of such transaction as having been Incurred by the Successor Guarantor or such Subsidiary at the time of such transaction), no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing; and

 

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(iii) any Successor Guarantor (if other than such Subsidiary Guarantor) shall have delivered or caused to be delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, amalgamation, merger or transfer and such supplemental indenture (if any) comply with this Indenture.

The Successor Guarantor shall succeed to, and be substituted for, such Subsidiary Guarantor under this Indenture and such Subsidiary Guarantor’s Guarantee, and such Subsidiary Guarantor shall automatically be released and discharged from its obligations under this Indenture and such Subsidiary Guarantor’s guarantee. Notwithstanding Section 5.01(b)(ii), (i) a Subsidiary Guarantor may merge, amalgamate or consolidate with an Affiliate incorporated or organized solely for the purpose of incorporating or organizing such Subsidiary Guarantor in another state of the United States, the District of Columbia or any territory of the United States, so long as the amount of Indebtedness of the Subsidiary Guarantor is not increased thereby and (ii) a Subsidiary Guarantor may merge, amalgamate or consolidate with another Subsidiary Guarantor or the Issuer.

ARTICLE 6

DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

SECTION 6.01. Events of Default . An “Event of Default” with respect to all of the Notes occurs if:

(a) a default in any payment of interest on, or Additional Interest with respect to, the Notes when due that continues for 30 days, whether or not such payment is prohibited by the subordination provisions of this Indenture;

(b) a default in the payment of principal or premium, if any, of the Notes when due at its Stated Maturity, upon optional redemption, upon required repurchase, upon declaration or otherwise, whether or not such payment is prohibited by the subordination provisions of this Indenture;

(c) the failure by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to comply with the provisions set forth in Article Five of this Indenture;

(d) the failure by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to comply for 30 days after notice with any of its obligations under Article Four of this Indenture (other than a failure to purchase Notes);

(e) the failure by the Issuer or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries of the Issuer to comply for 60 days after notice with its other agreements contained in the Notes or this Indenture;

(f) the failure by the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary to pay any Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness owing to a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer) within any applicable grace period after final maturity or the acceleration of any such Indebtedness by the holders thereof because of a default, in each case, if the total amount of such Indebtedness unpaid or accelerated exceeds $30 million or its foreign currency equivalent (the “cross-acceleration provision”);

 

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(g) the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law:

(i) commences a voluntary case;

(ii) consents to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary case;

(iii) consents to the appointment of a Custodian of it or for any substantial part of its property;

(iv) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors; or

(v) takes any comparable action under any foreign laws relating to insolvency;

(h) a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law that:

(i) is for relief against the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary in an involuntary case;

(ii) appoints a Custodian of the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary or for any substantial part of its property; or

(iii) orders the winding up or liquidation of the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary;

or any similar relief is granted under any foreign laws and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60 days, (the provisions under 6.01(g) and (h) are collectively referred to herein as the “bankruptcy provisions”);

(i) failure by the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary to pay final judgments aggregating in excess of $30 million or its foreign currency equivalent (net of any amounts which are covered by enforceable insurance policies issued by solvent carriers), which judgments are not discharged, waived or stayed for a period of 60 days (the “judgment default provision”); or

(j) any Guarantee of a Significant Subsidiary ceases to be in full force and effect (except as contemplated by the terms thereof) or any Guarantor that qualifies as a Significant Subsidiary denies or disaffirms its obligations under this Indenture or any Guarantee and such Default continues for 10 days.

The foregoing shall constitute Events of Default whatever the reason for any such Event of Default and whether it is voluntary or involuntary or is effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body.

 

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The term “Bankruptcy Law” means Title 11, United States Code, or any similar Federal or state law for the relief of debtors. The term “Custodian” means any receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator, custodian or similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.

A default under Section 5.01(d) and (e) shall not constitute an Event of Default until the Trustee or the Holders of 25% in principal amount of the Notes outstanding notify the Issuer of the default and the Issuer does not cure such default within the time specified in Section 5.01(d) and (e) hereof after receipt of such notice; provided , however , that so long as any Indebtedness permitted to be Incurred pursuant to the Credit Agreement will be outstanding, that acceleration of the Notes will not be effective until the earlier of: (1) an acceleration of Indebtedness under the Credit Agreement; or (2) five Business Days after receipt by the Issuer and the Administrative Agent under the Credit Agreement of written notice of the acceleration of the Notes.

SECTION 6.02. Acceleration . If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(g) or (h)) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Notes outstanding by notice to the Issuer may declare the principal of, premium, if any, and accrued but unpaid interest on all the Notes to be due and payable. Upon such a declaration, such principal and interest shall be due and payable immediately.

If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(g) or (h) occurs, the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on all the Notes shall become immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holders.

In the event of any Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(f) occurs, such Event of Default and all consequences thereof (excluding, however, any resulting payment default) shall be annulled, waived and rescinded, automatically and without any action by the Trustee or the Holders of the Notes, if within 20 days after such Event of Default arose the Issuer delivers an Officers’ Certificate to the Trustee stating that (x) the Indebtedness or guarantee that is the basis for such Event of Default has been discharged or (y) the holders thereof have rescinded or waived the acceleration, notice or action (as the case may be) giving rise to such Event of Default or (z) the default that is the basis for such Event of Default has been cured, it being understood that in no event shall an acceleration of the principal amount of the Notes be annulled, waived or rescinded upon the happening of any such events.

The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes by notice to the Trustee may rescind an acceleration and its consequences if the rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree and if all existing Events of Default have been cured or waived except nonpayment of principal or interest that has become due solely because of acceleration; provided , however , that if the Notes were accelerated as a result of an Event of Default described in clause (a) or (b) of Section 6.01, Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes must also agree to rescind such acceleration and its consequences. No such rescission shall affect any subsequent Default or impair any right consequent thereto.

 

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SECTION 6.03. Other Remedies . If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may pursue any available remedy at law or in equity to collect the payment of principal of or interest on the Notes or to enforce the performance of any provision of the Notes or this Indenture.

The Trustee may maintain a proceeding even if it does not possess any of the Notes or does not produce any of them in the proceeding. A delay or omission by the Trustee or any Holder in exercising any right or remedy accruing upon an Event of Default shall not impair the right or remedy or constitute a waiver of or acquiescence in the Event of Default. No remedy is exclusive of any other remedy. All available remedies are cumulative.

SECTION 6.04. Waiver of Past Defaults . When a Default is waived, it is deemed cured and the Issuer, the Trustee and the Holders shall be restored to their former positions and rights under this Indenture, but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or impair any consequent right.

SECTION 6.05. Control by Majority . The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or of exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee. However, the Trustee may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or this Indenture or, subject to Section 7.01, that the Trustee determines is unduly prejudicial to the rights of any other Holder or that would involve the Trustee in personal liability; provided, however, that the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee that is not inconsistent with such direction. Prior to taking any action under this Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to indemnification satisfactory to it in its sole discretion against all losses and expenses caused by taking or not taking such action.

SECTION 6.06. Limitation on Suits . (a) Except to enforce the right to receive payment of principal, premium (if any) or interest when due, no Holder may pursue any remedy with respect to this Indenture or the Notes unless:

(i) such Holder has previously given the Trustee notice that an Event of Default is continuing,

(ii) Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Notes outstanding have requested the Trustee to pursue the remedy,

(iii) such Holders have offered the Trustee reasonable security or indemnity against any loss, liability or expense,

(iv) the Trustee has not complied with such request within 60 days after the receipt of the request and the offer of security or indemnity, and

(v) the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes have not given the Trustee a direction inconsistent with such request within such 60-day period.

 

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(b) A Holder may not use this Indenture to prejudice the rights of another Holder or to obtain a preference or priority over another Holder.

SECTION 6.07. Rights of the Holders to Receive Payment . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, the right of any Holder to receive payment of principal of and interest on the Notes held by such Holder, on or after the respective due dates expressed or provided for in the Notes, or to bring suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates, shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such Holder.

SECTION 6.08. Collection Suit by Trustee . If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01 (a) or (b) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may recover judgment in its own name and as trustee of an express trust against the Issuer or any other obligor on the Notes for the whole amount then due and owing (together with interest on overdue principal and (to the extent lawful) on any unpaid interest at the rate provided for in the Notes) and the amounts provided for in Section 7.07.

SECTION 6.09. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim . The Trustee may file such proofs of claim and other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for reasonable compensation, expenses disbursements and advances of the Trustee (including counsel, accountants, experts or such other professionals as the Trustee deems necessary, advisable or appropriate)) and the Holders allowed in any judicial proceedings relative to the Issuer or any Guarantor, their creditors or their property, shall be entitled to participate as a member, voting or otherwise, of any official committee of creditors appointed in such matters and, unless prohibited by law or applicable regulations, may vote on behalf of the Holders in any election of a trustee in bankruptcy or other Person performing similar functions, and any Custodian in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make payments to the Trustee and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and its counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.07.

SECTION 6.10. Priorities . If the Trustee collects any money or property pursuant to this Article 6, it shall pay out the money or property in the following order:

FIRST: to the Trustee for amounts due under Section 7.07;

SECOND: to Holders for amounts due and unpaid on the Notes for principal, premium, if any, and interest, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on the Notes for principal and interest, respectively; and

THIRD: to the Issuer or, to the extent the Trustee collects any amount for any Guarantor, to such Guarantor.

The Trustee may fix a record date and payment date for any payment to the Holders pursuant to this Section. At least 15 days before such record date, the Trustee shall mail or electronically transmit to each Holder and the Issuer a notice that states the record date, the payment date and amount to be paid.

 

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SECTION 6.11. Undertaking for Costs . In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as Trustee, a court in its discretion may require the filing by any party litigant in the suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of the suit, and the court in its discretion may assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, against any party litigant in the suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by the party litigant. This Section does not apply to a suit by the Trustee, a suit by a Holder pursuant to Section 6.07 or a suit by Holders of more than 10% in principal amount of the Notes.

SECTION 6.12. Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws . Neither the Issuer nor any Guarantor (to the extent it may lawfully do so) shall at any time insist upon, or plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay or extension law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, which may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and the Issuer and each Guarantor (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waive all benefit or advantage of any such law, and shall not hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but shall suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law had been enacted.

ARTICLE 7

TRUSTEE

SECTION 7.01. Duties of Trustee . (a) If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall exercise the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture and use the same degree of care and skill in its exercise as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of such person’s own affairs.

(b) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default:

(i) the Trustee undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and

(ii) in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture. However, in the case of certificates or opinions required by any provision hereof to be provided to it, the Trustee shall examine the certificates and opinions to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture.

(c) The Trustee may not be relieved from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act or its own willful misconduct, except that:

(i) this paragraph does not limit the effect of paragraph (b) of this Section;

(ii) the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Trust Officer unless it is proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts;

 

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(iii) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in accordance with a direction received by it pursuant to Section 6.05; and

(iv) no provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers.

(d) Every provision of this Indenture that in any way relates to the Trustee is subject to paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of this Section.

(e) The Trustee shall not be liable for interest on any money received by it except as the Trustee may agree in writing with the Issuer.

(f) Money held in trust by the Trustee need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

(g) Every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of this Section and to the provisions of the TIA.

SECTION 7.02. Rights of Trustee . (a) The Trustee may conclusively rely on any document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper person. The Trustee need not investigate any fact or matter stated in the document.

(b) Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may require an Officers’ Certificate and/or an Opinion of Counsel. The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on the Officers’ Certificate or Opinion of Counsel.

(c) The Trustee may act through agents and shall not be responsible for the misconduct or negligence of any agent appointed with due care.

(d) The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith which it believes to be authorized or within its rights or powers; provided , however , that the Trustee’s conduct does not constitute willful misconduct or negligence.

(e) The Trustee may consult with counsel of its own selection and the advice or opinion of counsel with respect to legal matters relating to this Indenture and the Notes shall be full and complete authorization and protection from liability in respect of any action taken, omitted or suffered by it hereunder in good faith and in accordance with the advice or opinion of such counsel.

(f) The Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, approval, bond, debenture, note or other paper or document unless requested in writing to do so by the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Notes at the time outstanding, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit, and, if the Trustee shall determine to

 

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make such further inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled to examine the books, records and premises of the Issuer, personally or by agent or attorney, at the expense of the Issuer and shall incur no liability of any kind by reason of making or not making such inquiry or investigation.

(g) The Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders pursuant to this Indenture, unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction.

(h) The rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder, and each agent, custodian and other Person employed to act hereunder.

SECTION 7.03. Individual Rights of Trustee . The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee of Notes and may otherwise deal with the Issuer or its Affiliates with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. Any Paying Agent or Registrar may do the same with like rights. However, the Trustee must comply with Sections 7.10 and 7.11.

SECTION 7.04. Trustee’s Disclaimer . The Trustee shall not be responsible for and makes no representation as to the validity or adequacy of this Indenture, any Guarantee or the Notes, it shall not be accountable for the Issuer’s use of the proceeds from the Notes, and it shall not be responsible for any statement of the Issuer or any Guarantor in this Indenture or in any document issued in connection with the sale of the Notes or in the Notes other than the Trustee’s certificate of authentication. The Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of any Default or Event of Default under Sections 6.01(c), (d), (e), (f), (i) or (j) or of the identity of any Significant Subsidiary unless either (a) a Trust Officer shall have actual knowledge thereof or (b) the Trustee shall have received notice thereof in accordance with Section 13.02 hereof from the Issuer, any Guarantor or any Holder.

SECTION 7.05. Notice of Defaults . If a Default occurs and is continuing with respect to the Notes and if it is actually known to the Trustee, the Trustee shall mail or electronically transmit to each Holder of the Notes notice of the Default within the earlier of 90 days after it occurs or 30 days after it is actually known to a Trust Officer or written notice of it is received by the Trustee. Except in the case of a Default in the payment of principal of, premium (if any) or interest on the Notes, the Trustee may withhold the notice if and so long as a committee of its Trust Officers in good faith determines that withholding the notice is in the interests of the Holders.

SECTION 7.06. Reports by Trustee to the Holders . As promptly as practicable after each August 1 beginning with the August 1 following the date of this Indenture, and in any event prior to September 1 in each year, the Trustee shall mail to each Holder a brief report dated as of such August 1 that complies with Section 313(a) of the TIA if and to the extent required thereby. The Trustee shall also comply with Section 313(b) of the TIA.

 

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A copy of each report at the time of its mailing to the Holders shall be filed with the SEC and each stock exchange (if any) on which the Notes are listed. The Issuer agrees to notify promptly the Trustee whenever the Notes become listed on any stock exchange and of any delisting thereof.

SECTION 7.07. Compensation and Indemnity . The Issuer shall pay to the Trustee from time to time reasonable compensation for its services. The Trustee’s compensation shall not be limited by any law on compensation of a trustee of an express trust. The Issuer shall reimburse the Trustee upon request for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred or made by it, including costs of collection, in addition to the compensation for its services. Such expenses shall include the reasonable compensation and expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee’s agents, counsel, accountants and experts. The Issuer and each Guarantor, jointly and severally shall indemnify the Trustee against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage or expense (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses) incurred by or in connection with the acceptance or administration of this trust and the performance of its duties hereunder, including the costs and expenses of enforcing this Indenture or Guarantee against the Issuer or a Guarantor (including this Section 7.07) and defending itself against or investigating any claim (whether asserted by the Issuer, any Guarantor, any Holder or any other Person). The Trustee shall notify the Issuer of any claim for which it may seek indemnity promptly upon obtaining actual knowledge thereof; provided, however, that any failure so to notify the Issuer shall not relieve the Issuer or any Guarantor of its indemnity obligations hereunder. The Issuer shall defend the claim and the indemnified party shall provide reasonable cooperation at the Issuer’s expense in the defense. Such indemnified parties may have separate counsel and the Issuer and the Guarantors, as applicable shall pay the fees and expenses of such counsel; provided, however, that the Issuer shall not be required to pay such fees and expenses if it assumes such indemnified parties’ defense and, in such indemnified parties’ reasonable judgment, there is no conflict of interest between the Issuer and the Guarantors, as applicable, and such parties in connection with such defense. The Issuer need not reimburse any expense or indemnify against any loss, liability or expense incurred by an indemnified party through such party’s own willful misconduct, negligence or bad faith.

To secure the Issuer’s and the Guarantors’ payment obligations in this Section, the Trustee shall have a Lien prior to the Notes on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee other than money or property held in trust to pay principal of and interest on particular Notes.

The Issuer’s and the Guarantors’ payment obligations pursuant to this Section shall survive the satisfaction or discharge of this Indenture, any rejection or termination of this Indenture under any bankruptcy law or the resignation or removal of the Trustee. Without prejudice to any other rights available to the Trustee under applicable law, when the Trustee incurs expenses after the occurrence of a Default specified in Section 6.01(g) or (h) with respect to the Issuer, the expenses are intended to constitute expenses of administration under the Bankruptcy Law.

SECTION 7.08. Replacement of Trustee . (a) The Trustee may resign at any time by so notifying the Issuer. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes may remove the Trustee by so notifying the Trustee and may appoint a successor Trustee. The Issuer shall remove the Trustee if:

(i) the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10;

 

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(ii) the Trustee is adjudged bankrupt or insolvent;

(iii) a receiver or other public officer takes charge of the Trustee or its property; or

(iv) the Trustee otherwise becomes incapable of acting.

(b) If the Trustee resigns, is removed by the Issuer or by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes and such Holders do not reasonably promptly appoint a successor Trustee, or if a vacancy exists in the office of Trustee for any reason (the Trustee in such event being referred to herein as the retiring Trustee), the Issuer shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee.

(c) A successor Trustee shall deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Issuer. Thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective, and the successor Trustee shall have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee under this Indenture. The successor Trustee shall mail a notice of its succession to the Holders. The retiring Trustee shall promptly transfer all property held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee, subject to the Lien provided for in Section 7.07.

(d) If a successor Trustee does not take office within 60 days after the retiring Trustee resigns or is removed, the retiring Trustee or the Holders of 10% in principal amount of the Notes may petition at the expense of the Issuer any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee.

(e) If the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10, unless the Trustee’s duty to resign is stayed as provided in Section 310(b) of the TIA, any Holder who has been a bona fide holder of a Note for at least six months may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee.

(f) Notwithstanding the replacement of the Trustee pursuant to this Section, the Issuer’s obligations under Section 7.07 shall continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee.

SECTION 7.09. Successor Trustee by Merger . If the Trustee consolidates with, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all its corporate trust business or assets to, another corporation or banking association, the resulting, surviving or transferee corporation without any further act shall be the successor Trustee.

In case at the time such successor or successors by merger, conversion or consolidation to the Trustee shall succeed to the trusts created by this Indenture any of the Notes shall have been authenticated but not delivered, any such successor to the Trustee may adopt the certificate of authentication of any predecessor trustee, and deliver such Notes so authenticated; and in case at that time any of the Notes shall not have been authenticated, any successor to the

 

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Trustee may authenticate such Notes either in the name of any predecessor hereunder or in the name of the successor to the Trustee; and in all such cases such certificates shall have the full force which it is anywhere in the Notes or in this Indenture provided that the certificate of the Trustee shall have.

SECTION 7.10. Eligibility; Disqualification . The Trustee shall at all times satisfy the requirements of Section 310(a) of the TIA. The Trustee shall have a combined capital and surplus of at least $100,000,000 as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition. The Trustee shall comply with Section 310(b) of the TIA, subject to its right to apply for a stay of its duty to resign under the penultimate paragraph of Section 310(b) of the TIA; provided, however, that there shall be excluded from the operation of Section 310(b)(1) of the TIA any series of securities issued under this Indenture and any indenture or indentures under which other securities or certificates of interest or participation in other securities of the Issuer is outstanding if the requirements for such exclusion set forth in Section 310(b)(1) of the TIA are met.

SECTION 7.11. Preferential Collection of Claims Against Issuer . The Trustee shall comply with Section 311 (a) of the TIA, excluding any creditor relationship listed in Section 311(b) of the TIA. A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to Section 311 (a) of the TIA to the extent indicated.

ARTICLE 8

DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE; DEFEASANCE

SECTION 8.01. Discharge of Liability on Notes; Defeasance . (a) This Indenture shall be discharged and shall cease to be of further effect (except as to surviving rights of registration or transfer or exchange of Notes, as expressly provided for in this Indenture) as to all outstanding Notes and the obligations under this Indenture with respect to the Holders of the Notes when:

(i) either (a) all the Notes theretofore authenticated under this Indenture and delivered (except lost, stolen or destroyed Notes which have been replaced or paid and Notes for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Issuer and thereafter repaid to the Issuer or discharged from such trust) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation or (b) all of the Notes under this Indenture (i) have become due and payable, (ii) shall become due and payable at their Stated Maturity within one year or (iii) if redeemable at the option of the Issuer, have been called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Issuer, and the Issuer has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee (the “Discharge Trust”) funds in an amount sufficient to pay and discharge the entire Indebtedness on the Notes not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes to the date of deposit together with irrevocable instructions from the Issuer directing the Trustee to apply such funds to the payment thereof at maturity or redemption, as the case may be; provided that, in order to discharge the Indenture pursuant to clause (b) of this paragraph (i), the Issuer shall

 

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have received any consents necessary from holders of Senior Debt to amend, and the Issuer shall have amended in accordance with the provisions of Article 9 hereof, the provisions of Sections 12.02, 12.03(a), 12.03(e) and 12.06 of this Indenture to except payments made from the Discharge Trust from the subordination provisions contained in Article Twelve of this Indenture;

(ii) the Issuer has and/or the Guarantors have paid all other sums payable under this Indenture; and

(iii) the Issuer has delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that all conditions precedent under this Indenture relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture have been complied with.

(b) Subject to Sections 8.01(c) and 8.02, the Issuer at any time may terminate (i) all of its obligations under the Notes and this Indenture with respect to the Notes (“legal defeasance option”) or (ii) its obligations under Sections 4.02, 4.03, 4.04, 4.05, 4.06, 4.07, 4.08, 4.11, 4.12 and 4.14 for the benefit of the Notes and the operation of Section 5.01 and Sections 6.01(d), 6.01(f), 6.01(g) (with respect to Significant Subsidiaries only), 6.01(h) (with respect to Significant Subsidiaries only) and 6.01(i) for the benefit of the Notes (“covenant defeasance option”).

In the event that the Issuer terminates its obligations under the Notes and this Indenture by exercising its legal defeasance option or its covenant defeasance option, the obligations of each Guarantor under its Guarantee shall be terminated simultaneously with the termination of such obligations.

The Issuer may exercise its legal defeasance option notwithstanding its prior exercise of its covenant defeasance option.

If the Issuer exercises its legal defeasance option, payment of the Notes so defeased may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default with respect thereto. If the Issuer exercises its covenant defeasance option, payment of the Notes so defeased may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(c), 6.01(d), 6.01(e), 6.01(f), 6.01(g) (with respect to Significant Subsidiaries only), 6.01(h) (with respect to Significant Subsidiaries only), 6.01(i) or 6.01(j) or because of the failure of the Issuer to comply with Section 4.08. Any exercise of the Issuer’s covenant defeasance option or legal defeasance option shall not have any effect on the Notes and their rights under this Indenture or on the obligations of the Issuer and the Guarantors with respect to the Notes.

Upon satisfaction of the conditions set forth herein and upon request of the Issuer, the Trustee shall acknowledge in writing the discharge of those obligations that the Issuer terminate.

(c) Notwithstanding clauses (a) and (b) above, the Issuer’s obligations in Sections 2.04, 2.05, 2.06, 2.07, 2.08, 2.09, 4.01, 7.07, 7.08 and in this Article 8 shall survive until all the Notes have been paid in full. Thereafter, the Issuer’s obligations in Sections 7.07, 8.05 and 8.06 shall survive such satisfaction and discharge.

 

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SECTION 8.02. Conditions to Defeasance . (a) The Issuer may exercise its legal defeasance option or its covenant defeasance option only if:

(i) the Issuer irrevocably deposits in trust (the “Defeasance Trust”) with the Trustee in respect of cash in U.S. Dollars, U.S. Government Obligations or a combination thereof in an amount sufficient or U.S. Government Obligations, the principal of and the interest on which shall be sufficient, or a combination thereof sufficient, to pay the principal of, and premium (if any) and interest on the Notes when due at maturity or redemption, as the case may be, including interest thereon to maturity or such redemption date;

(ii) the Issuer delivers to the Trustee a certificate from a nationally recognized firm of independent accountants expressing their opinion that the payments of principal and interest when due and without reinvestment on the deposited U.S. Government Obligations plus any deposited money without investment shall provide cash at such times and in such amounts as shall be sufficient to pay principal, premium, if any, and interest when due on all the Notes to maturity or redemption, as the case may be;

(iii) 123 days pass after the deposit is made and during the 123-day period no Default specified in Section 6.01(g) or (h) with respect to the Issuer occurs which is continuing at the end of the period;

(iv) the deposit does not constitute a default under any other agreement binding on the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(v) the Issuer deliver to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the trust resulting from the deposit does not constitute, or is qualified as, a regulated investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940;

(vi) in the case of the legal defeasance option, the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel stating that (1) the Issuer has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or (2) since the date of this Indenture there has been a change in the applicable Federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel shall confirm that, the Holders will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit and defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amount and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit and defeasance had not occurred. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Opinion of Counsel required with respect to a legal defeasance need not be delivered if all of the Notes not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation (x) have become due and payable or (y) will become due and payable at their Stated Maturity within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Issuer;

(vii) in the case of the covenant defeasance option, the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the Holders will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit

 

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and defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amount and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit and defeasance had not occurred;

(viii) the Issuer has received any consents necessary from holders of Senior Debt to amend, and the Issuer shall have amended in accordance with the provisions of Article 9 hereof, the provisions of Sections 12.02, 12.03(a), 12.03(e) and 12.06 of this Indenture to except payments made from the Defeasance Trust from the subordination provisions contained in Article Twelve of this Indenture; and

(ix) the Issuer deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent to the defeasance and discharge of the Notes to be so defeased and discharged as contemplated by this Article 8 have been complied with.

(b) Before or after a deposit, the Issuer may make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the redemption of such Notes at a future date in accordance with Article 3.

SECTION 8.03. Application of Trust Money . The Trustee shall hold in trust money or Government Obligations (including proceeds thereof) deposited with it pursuant to this Article 8. It shall apply the deposited money and the money from Government Obligations through each Paying Agent and in accordance with this Indenture to the payment of principal of and interest on the Notes so discharged or defeased.

SECTION 8.04. Repayment to the Issuer . Each of the Trustee and each Paying Agent shall promptly turn over to the Issuer upon request any money or Government Obligations held by it as provided in this Article which, in the written opinion of nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants delivered to the Trustee (which delivery shall only be required if Government Obligations have been so deposited), are in excess of the amount thereof which would then be required to be deposited to effect an equivalent discharge or defeasance in accordance with this Article.

Subject to any applicable abandoned property law, the Trustee and each Paying Agent shall pay to the Issuer upon written request any money held by them for the payment of principal or interest that remains unclaimed for two years, and, thereafter, Holders entitled to the money must look to the Issuer for payment as general creditors, and the Trustee and each Paying Agent shall have no further liability with respect to such monies.

SECTION 8.05. Indemnity for Government Obligations . The Issuer shall pay and shall indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against deposited Government Obligations or the principal and interest received on such Government Obligations.

SECTION 8.06. Reinstatement . If the Trustee or any Paying Agent is unable to apply any money or Government Obligations in accordance with this Article 8 by reason of any legal proceeding or by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, the Issuer’s and the Guarantors’ obligations under this Indenture and the Notes so discharged or defeased shall be revived and

 

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reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to this Article 8 until such time as the Trustee or any Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money or Government Obligations in accordance with this Article 8; provided, however, that, if the Issuer has made any payment of principal of or interest on, any such Notes because of the reinstatement of its obligations, the Issuer shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Notes to receive such payment from the money or Government Obligations held by the Trustee or any Paying Agent.

ARTICLE 9

AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS

SECTION 9.01. Without Consent of the Holders . The Issuer, the Guarantors and the Trustee may amend this Indenture or the Notes without notice to or consent of any Holder:

(i) to cure any ambiguity, omission, defect or inconsistency;

(ii) to provide for the assumption by a Successor Issuer of the obligations of the Issuer under this Indenture and the Notes in compliance with Article 5;

(iii) to provide for the assumption by a Successor Guarantor of the obligations of a Subsidiary Guarantor under this Indenture and its Guarantee in compliance with Article 5 of this Indenture;

(iv) to provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated Notes (provided that the uncertificated Notes are issued in registered form for purposes of Section 163(f) of the Code, or in a manner such that the uncertificated Notes are described in Section 163(f)(2)(B) of the Code);

(v) to add Guarantees with respect to the Notes or to secure the Notes;

(vi) to add to the covenants of the Issuer for the benefit of the Holders or to surrender any right or power conferred upon the Issuer;

(vii) to comply with any requirement of the SEC in connection with the qualification of this Indenture under the TIA;

(viii) to make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of any Holder;

(ix) to effect any provision of this Indenture; or

(x) to make certain changes to this Indenture to provide for the issuance of Additional Notes.

After an amendment under this Section 9.01 becomes effective, the Issuer shall mail to Holders a notice briefly describing such amendment. The failure to give such notice to all Holders, or any defect therein, shall not impair or affect the validity of an amendment under this Section 9.01.

 

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SECTION 9.02. With Consent of the Holders . (a) The Issuer and the Trustee may amend this Indenture or the Notes with the written consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding voting as a single class (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange for the Notes) and any past default or compliance with any provisions may be waived with the consent of the holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding voting as a single class (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange for the Notes). However, without the consent of each Holder of an outstanding Note affected, an amendment may not:

(i) reduce the amount of Notes whose Holders must consent to an amendment,

(ii) reduce the rate of or extend the time for payment of interest on any Note,

(iii) reduce the principal of or change the Stated Maturity of any Note,

(iv) reduce the premium payable upon the redemption of any Note or change the time when any Note may be redeemed in accordance with Article 3 of this Indenture or Paragraph 5 of Appendix A of this Indenture,

(v) make any Note payable in money other than that stated in such Note,

(vi) impair the right of any holder to receive payment of principal of, premium, if any, and interest on such Holder’s Notes on or after the due dates therefor or to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or with respect to such Holder’s Notes,

(vii) make any change in the amendment provisions which require each Holder’s consent or in the waiver provisions,

(viii) amend or modify any of the subordination provisions of this Indenture or the related definitions in any manner adverse to the Holders of the Notes or any Guarantee thereof, or

(ix) modify the Guarantees in any manner adverse to the Holders.

It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Holders under this Section 9.02 to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment, but it shall be sufficient if such consent approves the substance thereof.

(b) After an amendment under this Section 9.02 becomes effective, the Issuer shall mail to the Holders a notice briefly describing such amendment. The failure to give such notice to all Holders, or any defect therein, shall not impair or affect the validity of an amendment under this Section 9.02.

SECTION 9.03. Compliance with Trust Indenture Act . From the date on which this Indenture is qualified under the TIA, every amendment, waiver or supplement to this Indenture or the Notes shall comply with the TIA as then in effect.

 

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SECTION 9.04. Revocation and Effect of Consents and Waivers . (a) A consent to an amendment or a waiver by a Holder of a Note shall bind the Holder and every subsequent Holder of that Note or portion of the Note that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Note, even if notation of the consent or waiver is not made on the Note. However, any such Holder or subsequent Holder may revoke the consent or waiver as to such Holder’s Note or portion of the Note if the Trustee receives the notice of revocation before the date on which the Trustee receives an Officers’ Certificate from the Issuer certifying that the requisite principal amount of Notes have consented. After an amendment or waiver becomes effective, it shall bind every Holder. An amendment or waiver becomes effective upon the (i) receipt by the Issuer or the Trustee of consents by the Holders of the requisite principal amount of securities, (ii) satisfaction of conditions to effectiveness as set forth in this Indenture and any indenture supplemental hereto containing such amendment or waiver and (iii) execution of such amendment or waiver (or supplemental indenture) by the Issuer and the Trustee.

(b) The Issuer may, but shall not be obligated to, fix a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders entitled to give their consent or take any other action described above or required or permitted to be taken pursuant to this Indenture. If a record date is fixed, then notwithstanding the immediately preceding paragraph, those Persons who were Holders at such record date (or their duly designated proxies), and only those Persons, shall be entitled to give such consent or to revoke any consent previously given or to take any such action, whether or not such Persons continue to be Holders after such record date. No such consent shall be valid or effective for more than 120 days after such record date.

SECTION 9.05. Notation on or Exchange of Notes . If an amendment, supplement or waiver changes the terms of a Note, the Issuer may require the Holder of the Note to deliver it to the Trustee. The Trustee may place an appropriate notation on the Note regarding the changed terms and return it to the Holder. Alternatively, if the Issuer or the Trustee so determines, the Issuer in exchange for the Note shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate a new Note that reflects the changed terms. Failure to make the appropriate notation or to issue a new Note shall not affect the validity of such amendment, supplement or waiver.

SECTION 9.06. Trustee to Sign Amendments . The Trustee shall sign any amendment, supplement or waiver authorized pursuant to this Article 9 if the amendment does not adversely affect the rights, duties, liabilities or immunities of the Trustee. If it does, the Trustee may but need not sign it. In signing such amendment, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it and shall be provided with, and (subject to Section 7.01) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that such amendment, supplement or waiver is authorized or permitted by this Indenture and that such amendment, supplement or waiver is the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Issuer and the Guarantors, enforceable against them in accordance with its terms, subject to customary exceptions, and complies with the provisions hereof (including Section 9.03).

SECTION 9.07. Payment for Consent . The Issuer shall not, and shall not permit any of the Subsidiaries of the Issuer to, directly or indirectly, pay or cause to be paid any consideration to or for the benefit of any Holder for or as an inducement to any consent, waiver or amendment of any of the terms or provisions of this Indentures or the Notes unless such consideration is offered to be paid and is paid to all Holders that consent, waive or agree to amend in the time frame set forth in the solicitation documents relating to such consent, waiver or agreement.

 

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SECTION 9.08. Additional Voting Terms; Calculation of Principal Amount . Except as expressly provided in this Indenture, including under Section 9.02, all Notes issued under this Indenture shall vote and consent together on all matters (as to which any of such Notes may vote) as one class. Determinations as to whether Holders of the requisite aggregate principal amount of Notes have concurred in any direction, waiver or consent shall be made in accordance with this Article Nine and Section 2.14.

ARTICLE 10

GUARANTEES

SECTION 10.01. Guarantees . (a) Each Guarantor hereby jointly and severally, irrevocably and unconditionally guarantees, as a primary obligor and not merely as a surety on a senior basis, to each Holder and to the Trustee and its successors and assigns (i) the full and punctual payment when due, whether at Stated Maturity, by acceleration, by redemption or otherwise, of all obligations of the Issuer under this Indenture (including obligations to the Trustee) and the Notes, whether for payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on in respect of the Notes and all other monetary obligations of the Issuer under this Indenture and the Notes and (ii) the full and punctual performance within applicable grace periods of all other obligations of the Issuer whether for fees, expenses, indemnification or otherwise under this Indenture and the Notes (all the foregoing being hereinafter collectively called the “Guaranteed Obligations”). Each Guarantor further agrees that the Guaranteed Obligations may be extended or renewed, in whole or in part, without notice or further assent from each such Guarantor, and that each such Guarantor shall remain bound under this Article 10 notwithstanding any extension or renewal of any Guaranteed Obligation.

(b) Each Guarantor waives presentation to, demand of payment from and protest to the Issuer of any of the Guaranteed Obligations and also waives notice of protest for nonpayment. Each Guarantor waives notice of any default under the Notes or the Guaranteed Obligations. The obligations of each Guarantor hereunder shall not be affected by (i) the failure of any Holder or the Trustee to assert any claim or demand or to enforce any right or remedy against the Issuer or any other Person under this Indenture, the Notes, any Security Document, or any other agreement or otherwise; (ii) any extension or renewal of this Indenture, the Notes, any Security Document or any other agreement; (iii) any rescission, waiver, amendment or modification of any of the terms or provisions of this Indenture, the Notes, any Security Document or any other agreement; (iv) the release of any security held by any Holder or the Trustee for the Guaranteed Obligations or any Guarantor; (v) the failure of any Holder or Trustee to exercise any right or remedy against any other guarantor of the Guaranteed Obligations; or (vi) any change in the ownership of such Guarantor, except as provided in Section 10.02(b).

(c) Each Guarantor hereby waives any right to which it may be entitled to have its obligations hereunder divided among the Guarantors, such that such Guarantor’s obligations would be less than the full amount claimed. Each Guarantor hereby waives any right to which it may be entitled to have the assets of the Issuer or any other Guarantor first be used

 

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and depleted as payment of the Issuer’s or such Guarantor’s obligations hereunder prior to any amounts being claimed from or paid by such Guarantor hereunder. Each Guarantor hereby waives any right to which it may be entitled to require that the Issuer be sued prior to an action being initiated against such Guarantor.

(d) Each Guarantor further agrees that its Guarantee herein constitutes a guarantee of payment, performance and compliance when due (and not a guarantee of collection) and waives any right to require that any resort be had by any Holder or the Trustee to any security held for payment of the Guaranteed Obligations.

(e) Except as expressly set forth in Sections 8.01(b), 10.02, 10.06 and 12.04, the obligations of each Guarantor hereunder shall not be subject to any reduction, limitation, impairment or termination for any reason, including any claim of waiver, release, surrender, alteration or compromise, and shall not be subject to any defense of setoff, counterclaim, recoupment or termination whatsoever or by reason of the invalidity, illegality or unenforceability of the Guaranteed Obligations or otherwise. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the obligations of each Guarantor herein shall not be discharged or impaired or otherwise affected by the failure of any Holder or the Trustee to assert any claim or demand or to enforce any remedy under this Indenture, the Notes, any Security Document or any other agreement, by any waiver or modification of any thereof, by any default, failure or delay, willful or otherwise, in the performance of the obligations, or by any other act or thing or omission or delay to do any other act or thing which may or might in any manner or to any extent vary the risk of any Guarantor or would otherwise operate as a discharge of any Guarantor as a matter of law or equity.

(f) Each Guarantor agrees that its Guarantee shall remain in full force and effect until payment in full of all the Guaranteed Obligations. Each Guarantor further agrees that its Guarantee herein shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment, or any part thereof, of principal of or interest on any Guaranteed Obligation is rescinded or must otherwise be restored by any Holder or the Trustee upon the bankruptcy or reorganization of the Issuer or otherwise.

(g) In furtherance of the foregoing and not in limitation of any other right which any Holder or the Trustee has at law or in equity against any Guarantor by virtue hereof, upon the failure of the Issuer to pay the principal of or interest on any Guaranteed Obligation when and as the same shall become due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, by redemption or otherwise, or to perform or comply with any other Guaranteed Obligation, each Guarantor hereby promises to and shall, upon receipt of written demand by the Trustee, forthwith pay, or cause to be paid, in cash, to the Holders or the Trustee an amount equal to the sum of: (i) the unpaid principal amount of such Guaranteed Obligations, (ii) accrued and unpaid interest on such Guaranteed Obligations (but only to the extent not prohibited by applicable law) and (iii) all other monetary obligations of the Issuer to the Holders and the Trustee.

(h) Each Guarantor agrees that it shall not be entitled to any right of subrogation in relation to the Holders in respect of any Guaranteed Obligations guaranteed hereby until payment in full of all Guaranteed Obligations. Each Guarantor further agrees that, as between it, on the one hand, and the Holders and the Trustee, on the other hand, (i) the

 

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maturity of the Guaranteed Obligations guaranteed hereby may be accelerated as provided in Article 6 for the purposes of any Guarantee herein, notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such acceleration in respect of the Guaranteed Obligations guaranteed hereby, and (ii) in the event of any declaration of acceleration of such Guaranteed Obligations as provided in Article 6, such Guaranteed Obligations (whether or not due and payable) shall forthwith become due and payable by such Guarantor for the purposes of this Section 10.01.

(i) Each Guarantor also agrees to pay any and all costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses) incurred by the Trustee or any Holder in enforcing any rights under this Section 10.01.

(j) Upon request of the Trustee, each Guarantor shall execute and deliver such further instruments and do such further acts as may be reasonably necessary or proper to carry out more effectively the purpose of this Indenture.

SECTION 10.02. Limitation on Liability; Release . (a) Any term or provision of this Indenture to the contrary notwithstanding, the maximum aggregate amount of the Guaranteed Obligations guaranteed hereunder by any Guarantor shall not exceed the maximum amount that can be hereby guaranteed without rendering this Indenture, as it relates to such Guarantor, voidable under applicable laws relating to fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer or similar laws affecting the rights of creditors generally.

(b) A Guarantee as to any Restricted Subsidiary shall terminate and be of no further force or effect and such Subsidiary Guarantor shall be deemed to be released from all obligations under this Article 10 upon:

(i)

(A) the sale, disposition or other transfer (including through merger, amalgamation or consolidation) of the Capital Stock of the applicable Subsidiary Guarantor, following which such Subsidiary Guarantor is no longer a Restricted Subsidiary, if such sale, disposition or other transfer is made in compliance with this Indenture;

(B) the Issuer designating a Subsidiary Guarantor to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary in accordance with the provisions set forth under Section 4.04 and the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary;”

(C) in the case of any Restricted Subsidiary which after the Issue Date, is required to guarantee the Notes pursuant to Section 4.11, the release or discharge of the guarantee by such Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary or the repayment of the Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock, in each case, which resulted in the obligation to guarantee the Notes; or

 

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(D) the Issuer’s exercise of the legal defeasance option under Section 8.01(b) or if the Issuer’s obligations under this Indenture are otherwise discharged in accordance with Section 8.01(a); and

(ii) in the case of Section 10.02(b)(i)(A), such Guarantor is released from its guarantees, if any, of, and all pledges and security, if any, granted in connection with, the Credit Agreement and any other Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer.

A Guarantee shall also be automatically released upon the applicable Subsidiary ceasing to be a Subsidiary as a result of any foreclosure of any pledge or security interest securing Bank Indebtedness or other exercise of remedies in respect thereof.

SECTION 10.03. Successors and Assigns . This Article 10 shall be binding upon each Guarantor and its successors and assigns and shall inure to the benefit of the successors and assigns of the Trustee and the Holders and, in the event of any transfer or assignment of rights by any Holder or the Trustee, the rights and privileges conferred upon that party in this Indenture and in the Notes shall automatically extend to and be vested in such transferee or assignee, all subject to the terms and conditions of this Indenture.

SECTION 10.04. No Waiver . Neither a failure nor a delay on the part of either the Trustee or the Holders in exercising any right, power or privilege under this Article 10 shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall a single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise of any right, power or privilege. The rights, remedies and benefits of the Trustee and the Holders herein expressly specified are cumulative and not exclusive of any other rights, remedies or benefits which either may have under this Article 10 at law, in equity, by statute or otherwise.

SECTION 10.05. Modification . No modification, amendment or waiver of any provision of this Article 10, nor the consent to any departure by any Guarantor therefrom, shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the Trustee, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for which given. No notice to or demand on any Guarantor in any case shall entitle such Guarantor to any other or further notice or demand in the same, similar or other circumstances.

SECTION 10.06. Execution of Supplemental Indenture for Future Guarantors . Each Person which is required to become a Guarantor after the Issue Date pursuant to Section 4.11 shall promptly execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture in the form of Appendix B hereto pursuant to which such Person shall become a Guarantor under this Article 10 and shall guarantee the Guaranteed Obligations. Concurrently with the execution and delivery of such supplemental indenture, the Issuer shall deliver to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel and an Officers’ Certificate to the effect that such supplemental indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by such Person and that, subject to the application of bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance or transfer and other similar laws relating to creditors’ rights generally and to the principles of equity, whether considered in a proceeding at law or in equity, the Guarantee of such Guarantor is a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Guarantor, enforceable against such Guarantor in accordance with its terms and/or to such other matters as the Trustee may reasonably request.

 

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ARTICLE 11

[INTENTIONALLY OMITTED]

ARTICLE 12

SUBORDINATION OF NOTES

SECTION 12.01. Agreement to Subordinate . The Issuer and the Guarantors agree, and each Holder by accepting a Note agrees, that the Indebtedness evidenced by the Notes is subordinated in right of payment, to the extent and in the manner provided in this Article Twelve, to the prior payment in full in cash of all Senior Debt of the Issuer, including the Indebtedness of the Issuer under the Credit Agreement, the Indebtedness represented by the Senior Notes and Senior Debt of the Issuer Incurred after the Issue Date.

SECTION 12.02. Liquidation; Dissolution; Bankruptcy . The holders of Senior Debt of the Issuer shall be entitled to receive payment in full in cash of all Obligations due in respect of Senior Debt of the Issuer (including interest after the commencement of any bankruptcy proceeding at the rate specified in the documentation for the applicable Senior Debt of the Issuer) before the Holders shall be entitled to receive any payment with respect to the Notes (except that Holders may receive and retain Permitted Junior Securities), in the event of any distribution to creditors of the Issuer in connection with: (a) any liquidation or dissolution of the Issuer; (b) any bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, receivership or similar proceeding relating to the Issuer or its property; (c) any assignment by the Issuer for the benefit of its creditors; or (d) any marshaling of the Issuer’s assets and liabilities.

SECTION 12.03. Default on Designated Senior Debt . (a) The Issuer shall not make any payment in respect of the Notes (except in Permitted Junior Securities) if:

(i) a default (a “payment default”) in the payment of principal, premium or interest on Designated Senior Debt of the Issuer occurs and is continuing; or

(ii) any other default (a “nonpayment default”) occurs and is continuing on any series of Designated Senior Debt of the Issuer that permits holders of that series of Designated Senior Debt of the Issuer to accelerate its maturity and the Trustee receives (with a copy to the Issuer) a written notice of such default (a “Payment Blockage Notice”) from a Representative of the holders of such Designated Senior Debt.

(b) Payments on the Notes may and shall be resumed:

(i) in the case of a payment default on Designated Senior Debt of the Issuer, upon the date on which such default is cured or waived; and

(ii) in the case of a nonpayment default on Designated Senior Debt of the Issuer, the earlier of (x) the date on which such default is cured or waived, (y) 179 days

 

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after the date on which the applicable Payment Blockage Notice is received and (z) the date the Trustee receives notice from the Representative for such Designated Senior Debt rescinding the Payment Blockage Notice, unless, in each case, the maturity of such Designated Senior Debt of the Issuer has been accelerated.

(c) No new Payment Blockage Notice may be delivered unless and until:

(i) 360 days have elapsed since the delivery of the immediately prior Payment Blockage Notice; and

(ii) all scheduled payments of principal, interest and premium and Additional Interest, if any, on the Notes that have come due have been paid in full in Cash Equivalents.

(d) No nonpayment default that existed or was continuing on the date of delivery of any Payment Blockage Notice to the Trustee will be, or be made, the basis for a subsequent Payment Blockage Notice unless such default has been cured or waived for a period of not less than 90 days.

(e) If the Trustee or any Holder receives a payment in respect of the Notes (except in Permitted Junior Securities) when (i) the payment is prohibited by this Article Twelve and (ii) the Trustee or the Holder has actual knowledge that the payment is prohibited (provided that such actual knowledge shall not be required in the case of any payment default on Designated Senior Debt) the Trustee or the Holder, as the case may be, shall hold the payment in trust for the benefit of the holders of Senior Debt of the Issuer. Upon the written request from the applicable Representative of such Senior Debt of the Issuer or if there is any payment default on any Designated Senior Debt, the Trustee or the Holder, as the case may be, shall deliver the amounts in trust to the Representatives of the Senior Debt of the Issuer pursuant to Section 12.11.

SECTION 12.04. Subordination of Guarantee . Each Holder, by accepting a Note, agrees that payments under the Guarantees shall be subordinated to the prior payment in full of all Senior Debt of such Guarantor, including Senior Debt of such Guarantor Incurred after the date of this Indenture, on the same basis as the payments by the Issuer on the Notes are subordinated to the prior payment in full of Senior Debt of the Issuer. For the purposes of the foregoing sentence, the Trustee and the Holders shall have the right to receive and/or retain payments by any of the Guarantors only at such times as they may receive and/or retain payments in respect of the Notes pursuant to this Indenture.

SECTION 12.05. Acceleration of Securities . If payment of the Notes is accelerated because of an Event of Default, the Issuer shall promptly notify the holders of Senior Debt of the Issuer of the acceleration.

SECTION 12.06. When Distribution Must Be Paid Over . In the event that the Trustee or any Holder receives any payment of any Obligations with respect to the Notes (except in Permitted Junior Securities) at a time when (1) such payment is prohibited by this Article Twelve and (2) the Trustee or such Holder, as applicable, has actual knowledge that such payment is prohibited by this Article Twelve ( provided that such actual knowledge will not be

 

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required in the case of any payment default on Designated Senior Debt), the Trustee or the Holder, as the case may be, shall hold the payment in trust for the benefit of the holders of Senior Debt of the Issuer. Upon the written request from the Representatives of such Senior Debt of the Issuer or if there is any payment default on any Designated Senior Debt, the Trustee or the Holder, as the case may be, will deliver the amounts in trust to the Representatives of the Senior Debt of the Issuer, pursuant to Section 12.11, for application to the payment of all Obligations with respect to such Senior Debt remaining unpaid to the extent necessary to pay such Obligations in full in accordance with their terms, after giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution to or for the holders of such Senior Debt.

With respect to the holders of Senior Debt of the Issuer, the Trustee undertakes to perform only such obligations on the part of the Trustee as are specifically set forth in this Article Twelve, and no implied covenants or obligations with respect to the holders of such Senior Debt shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee. The Trustee shall not be deemed to owe any fiduciary duty to the holders of Senior Debt of the Issuer, and shall not be liable to any such holders if the Trustee shall pay over or distribute to or on behalf of Holders or the Issuer or any other Person money or assets to which any holders of such Senior Debt shall be entitled by virtue of this Article Twelve, except if such payment is made as a result of the willful misconduct or gross negligence of the Trustee.

SECTION 12.07. Notice by the Issuer . The Issuer shall promptly notify the Trustee and the Paying Agent in writing of any facts known to the Issuer that would cause a payment of any Obligations with respect to the Notes to violate this Article Twelve, but failure to give such notice shall not affect the subordination of the Notes to the Senior Debt of the Issuer as provided in this Article Twelve.

SECTION 12.08. Subrogation . After all Senior Debt of the Issuer is paid in full and until the Notes are paid in full, Holders shall be subrogated (equally and ratably with all other Indebtedness pari passu with the Notes) to the rights of holders of such Senior Debt to receive distributions applicable to such Senior Debt to the extent that distributions otherwise payable to the Holders have been applied to the payment of such Senior Debt. A distribution made under this Article Twelve to holders of Senior Debt of the Issuer that otherwise would have been made to Holders is not, as between the Issuer and Holders, a payment by the Issuer on the Notes.

SECTION 12.09. Relative Rights . This Article Twelve defines the relative rights of Holders and holders of Senior Debt of the Issuer. Nothing in this Indenture shall:

(a) impair, as between the Issuer and Holders, the obligation of the Issuer, which is absolute and unconditional, to make payments on the Notes in accordance with the terms under the Notes and this Indenture;

(b) affect the relative rights of Holders and creditors of the Issuer other than their rights in relation to holders of Senior Debt of the Issuer; or

 

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(c) prevent the Trustee or any Holder of Notes from exercising its available remedies upon a Default or Event of Default, subject to the rights of holders and owners of Senior Debt of the Issuer to receive distributions and payments otherwise payable to Holders.

If the Issuer fails because of this Article Twelve to make a payment on the Notes in accordance with the terms under the Notes and this Indenture, the failure is still a Default or Event of Default.

SECTION 12.10. Subordination May Not Be Impaired by the Issuer . No right of any holder of Senior Debt of the Issuer to enforce the subordination of the Indebtedness evidenced by the Notes shall be impaired by any act or failure to act by the Issuer or any Holder or by the failure of the Issuer or any Holder to comply with this Indenture.

SECTION 12.11. Distribution or Notice to Representative . Whenever a distribution is to be made or a notice is to be given to holders of Senior Debt of the Issuer, the distribution may be made and the notice may be given to their Representative (if any).

Upon any payment or distribution of assets of the Issuer referred to in this Article Twelve, the Trustee and the Holders shall be entitled to rely upon any order or decree made by any court of competent jurisdiction or upon any certificate of such Representative or of the liquidating trustee or agent or other Person making any distribution to the Trustee or to the Holders for the purpose of ascertaining the Persons entitled to participate in such distribution, the holders of the Senior Debt of the Issuer and other Indebtedness of the Issuer, the amount thereof or payable thereon, the amount or amounts paid or distributed thereon and all other facts pertinent thereto or to this Article Twelve.

SECTION 12.12. Rights of Trustee and Paying Agent . Notwithstanding this Article Twelve or any other provision of this Indenture, the Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of the existence of any facts that would prohibit the making of any payment or distribution by the Trustee, and the Trustee and the Paying Agent may continue to make payments on the Notes, unless the Trustee shall have received at its Corporate Trust Office at least five Business Days prior to the date of such payment written notice of facts that would cause the payment of any Obligations with respect to the Notes to violate this Article Twelve. Only the Issuer or a Representative may give the notice. Nothing in this Article Twelve shall impair the claims of, or payments to, the Trustee under or pursuant to Section 7.07.

The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may hold Senior Debt of the Issuer with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. Any Agent may do the same with like rights.

SECTION 12.13. Authorization to Effect Subordination . Each Holder of Notes, by the Holder’s acceptance thereof, authorizes and directs the Trustee on such Holder’s behalf to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate the subordination as provided in this Article Twelve, and appoints the Trustee to act as such Holder’s attorney-in-fact for any and all such purposes. If the Trustee does not file a proper proof of claim or proof of debt in the form required in any proceeding referred to in Section 6.09 at least 30 days before the expiration of the time to file such claim, the lenders under the Credit Agreement are hereby authorized to file an appropriate claim for and on behalf of the Holders of the Notes.

 

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ARTICLE 13

MISCELLANEOUS

SECTION 13.01. Trust Indenture Act Controls . If and to the extent that any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by, or with another provision (an “incorporated provision”) included in this Indenture by operation of, Sections 310 to 318 of the TIA, inclusive, such imposed duties or incorporated provision shall control.

SECTION 13.02. Notices . (a) Any notice or communication required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing and delivered in person, via facsimile, electronically transmitted or mailed by first-class mail addressed as follows:

if to the Issuer or a Guarantor:

Affinion Group, Inc.

100 Connecticut Avenue

Norwalk, CT 06850

Attention of: General Counsel

Facsimile: (203) 956-1206

if to the Trustee:

Wells Fargo Bank, National Association

Sixth and Marquette

Mac N9303-120

Minneapolis, MN 55479

Attention of: Affinion Administrator

Facsimile: 612-667-9825

The Issuer or the Trustee by notice to the other may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.

(b) Any notice or communication mailed to a Holder shall be mailed, first class mail, or electronically transmitted, to the Holder at the Holder’s address as it appears on the registration books of the Registrar and shall be sufficiently given if so mailed or electronically transmitted within the time prescribed.

(c) Failure to mail or electronically transmit a notice or communication to a Holder or any defect in it shall not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Holders. If a notice or communication is mailed or electronically transmitted in the manner provided above, it is duly given, whether or not the addressee receives it, except that notices to the Trustee are effective only if received.

 

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SECTION 13.03. Communication by the Holders with Other Holders . The Holders may communicate pursuant to Section 312(b) of the TIA with other Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or the Notes. The Issuer, the Trustee, the Registrar and other Persons shall have the protection of Section 312(c) of the TIA.

SECTION 13.04. Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent . Upon any request or application by the Issuer to the Trustee to take or refrain from taking any action under this Indenture, the Issuer shall furnish to the Trustee at the request of the Trustee:

(a) an Officers’ Certificate in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee stating that, in the opinion of the signers, all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with; and

(b) an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent have been complied with.

SECTION 13.05. Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion . Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a covenant or condition provided for in this Indenture (other than pursuant to Section 4.09) shall include:

(a) a statement that the individual making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition;

(b) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based;

(c) a statement that, in the opinion of such individual, he has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and

(d) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such individual, such covenant or condition has been complied with; provided , however , that with respect to matters of fact an Opinion of Counsel may rely on an Officers’ Certificate or certificates of public officials.

SECTION 13.06. When Notes Disregarded . In determining whether the Holders of the required principal amount of Notes have concurred in any direction, waiver or consent, Notes owned by the Issuer, any Guarantor or by any Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Issuer or any Guarantor shall be disregarded and deemed not to be outstanding, except that, for the purpose of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such direction, waiver or consent, only Notes which the Trustee knows are so owned shall be so disregarded. Subject to the foregoing, only Notes outstanding at the time shall be considered in any such determination.

 

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SECTION 13.07. Rules by Trustee, Paying Agent and Registrar . The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or a meeting of the Holders. The Registrar and a Paying Agent may make reasonable rules for their functions.

SECTION 13.08. Legal Holidays . If a payment date is not a Business Day, payment shall be made on the next succeeding day that is a Business Day, and no interest shall accrue on any amount that would have been otherwise payable on such payment date if it were a Business Day for the intervening period. If a regular record date is not a Business Day, the record date shall not be affected.

SECTION 13.09. GOVERNING LAW . THIS INDENTURE AND THE NOTES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

SECTION 13.10. No Recourse Against Others . No director, officer, employee, incorporator or holder of any Equity Interests in the Issuer, as such, shall have any liability for any obligations of the Issuer under the Notes or this Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each holder of Notes by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes. The waiver may not be effective to waive liabilities under the federal securities laws.

SECTION 13.11. Successors . All agreements of the Issuer and each Guarantor in this Indenture and the Notes shall bind its successors. All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture shall bind its successors.

SECTION 13.12. Multiple Originals . The parties may sign any number of copies of this Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement. One signed copy is enough to prove this Indenture.

SECTION 13.13. Table of Contents; Headings . The table of contents, cross-reference sheet and headings of the Articles and Sections of this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not intended to be considered a part hereof and shall not modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.

SECTION 13.14. Indenture Controls . If and to the extent that any provision of the Notes limits, qualifies or conflicts with a provision of this Indenture, such provision of this Indenture shall control.

SECTION 13.15. Severability . In case any provision in this Indenture 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 such provision shall be ineffective only to the extent of such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability.

SECTION 13.16. Currency of Account; Conversion of Currency; Foreign Exchange Restrictions . (a) U.S. Dollars are the sole currency of account and payment for all sums payable by the Issuer and the Guarantors under or in connection with the Notes, the Guarantees and this Indenture, including damages related thereto. Any amount received or

 

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recovered in a currency other than U.S. Dollars by a Holder (whether as a result of, or of the enforcement of, a judgment or order of a court of any jurisdiction, in the winding-up or dissolution of the Issuer or otherwise) in respect of any sum expressed to be due to it from the Issuer or a Guarantor shall only constitute a discharge to the Issuer or any such Guarantor to the extent of the U.S. Dollar amount, which the recipient is able to purchase with the amount so received or recovered in that other currency on the date of that receipt or recovery (or, if it is not practicable to make that purchase on that date, on the first date on which it is practicable to do so). If that U.S. Dollar amount is less than the U.S. Dollar amount expressed to be due to the recipient under the Notes, the Issuer and the Guarantors shall indemnify it against any loss sustained by it as a result as set forth in Section 13.16(b). In any event, the Issuer and the Guarantors shall indemnify the recipient against the cost of making any such purchase. For the purposes of this Section 13.16, it shall be sufficient for the Holder of a Note to certify in a satisfactory manner (indicating sources of information used) that it would have suffered a loss had an actual purchase of U.S. Dollars been made with the amount so received in that other currency on the date of receipt or recovery (or, if a purchase of U.S. Dollars on such date had not been practicable, on the first date on which it would have been practicable, it being required that the need for a change of date be certified in the manner mentioned above).

(b) The Issuer and the Guarantors, jointly and severally, covenant and agree that the following provisions shall apply to conversion of currency in the case of the Notes, the Guarantees and this Indenture:

(1) (A) If for the purpose of obtaining judgment in, or enforcing the judgment of, any court in any country, it becomes necessary to convert into a currency (the “Judgment Currency”) an amount due in any other currency (the “Base Currency”), then the conversion shall be made at the rate of exchange prevailing on the Business Day before the day on which the judgment is given or the order of enforcement is made, as the case may be (unless a court shall otherwise determine).

(B) If there is a change in the rate of exchange prevailing between the Business Day before the day on which the judgment is given or an order of enforcement is made, as the case may be (or such other date as a court shall determine), and the date of receipt of the amount due, the Issuer and the Guarantors shall pay such additional (or, as the case may be, such lesser) amount, if any, as may be necessary so that the amount paid in the Judgment Currency when converted at the rate of exchange prevailing on the date of receipt will produce the amount in the Base Currency originally due.

(2) In the event of the winding-up of the Issuer or any Guarantor at any time while any amount or damages owing under the Notes, the Guarantees and this Indenture, or any judgment or order rendered in respect thereof, shall remain outstanding, the Issuer and the Guarantors shall indemnify and hold the Holders and the Trustee harmless against any deficiency arising or resulting from any variation in rates of exchange between (i) the date as of which the foreign currency equivalent of the amount due or contingently due under the Notes, the Guarantees and this Indenture (other than under this subsection (b)(2)) is calculated for the purposes of such winding-up and (ii) the final date for the filing of proofs of claim in such winding-up. For the purpose of this subsection (b)(2), the final date for the filing of proofs of claim in the winding-up of the

 

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Issuer or any Guarantor shall be the date fixed by the liquidator or otherwise in accordance with the relevant provisions of applicable law as being the latest practicable date as at which liabilities of the Issuer or such Guarantor may be ascertained for such winding-up prior to payment by the liquidator or otherwise in respect thereto.

(A) The obligations contained in subsections (a), (b)(1)(B) and (b)(2) of this Section 13.16 shall constitute separate and independent obligations from the other obligations of the Issuer and the Guarantors under this Indenture, shall give rise to separate and independent causes of action against the Issuer and the Guarantors, shall apply irrespective of any waiver or extension granted by any Holder or the Trustee or either of them from time to time and shall continue in full force and effect notwithstanding any judgment or order or the filing of any proof of claim in the winding-up of the Issuer or any Guarantor for a liquidated sum in respect of amounts due hereunder (other than under subsection (b)(2) above) or under any such judgment or order. Any such deficiency as aforesaid shall be deemed to constitute a loss suffered by the Holders or the Trustee, as the case may be, and no proof or evidence of any actual loss shall be required by the Issuer or any Guarantor or the liquidator or otherwise or any of them. In the case of subsection (b)(2) above, the amount of such deficiency shall not be deemed to be reduced by any variation in rates of exchange occurring between the said final date and the date of any liquidating distribution.

(B) The term “rate(s) of exchange” shall mean the rate of exchange quoted by Reuters at 10:00 a.m. (New York time) for spot purchases of the Base Currency with the Judgment Currency other than the Base Currency referred to in subsections (b)(1) and (b)(2) above and includes any premiums and costs of exchange payable.

 

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

 

AFFINION GROUP, INC.,
By:  

/s/ Nathaniel J. Lipman

Name:   Nathaniel J. Lipman
Title:   Chief Executive Officer
AFFINION BENEFITS GROUP, INC.
AFFINION DATA SERVICES, INC.
AFFINION GROUP, LLC
AFFINION LOYALTY GROUP, LLC
AFFINION PUBLISHING, LLC
CARDWELL AGENCY, INC.
LONG TERM PREFERRED CARE, INC.
TRAVELERS ADVANTAGE SERVICES, INC.
TRILEGIANT AUTO SERVICES, INC.
TRILEGIANT CORPORATION
TRILEGIANT INSURANCE SERVICES, INC.
TRILEGIANT RETAIL SERVICES, INC.
By:  

/s/ Nathaniel J. Lipman

Name:   Nathaniel J. Lipman
Title:   Chief Executive Officer
CUC ASIA HOLDINGS, by its partners:
  TRILEGIANT CORPORATION
  By:  

/s/ Nathaniel J. Lipman

  Name:   Nathaniel J. Lipman
  Title:   Chief Executive Officer
  and  
  TRILEGIANT RETAIL SERVICES, INC.
  By:  

/s/ Nathaniel J. Lipman

  Name:   Nathaniel J. Lipman
  Title:   Chief Executive Officer

 

S-1


WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE
By:  

/s/ Lynn M. Steiner

Name:   Lynn M. Steiner
Title:   Vice President

 

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APPENDIX A

(Rule 144A/REGULATION S/IAI APPENDIX)

PROVISIONS RELATING TO INITIAL NOTES,

PRIVATE EXCHANGE NOTES AND EXCHANGE NOTES

1. Definitions

1.1 Definitions

For the purposes of this Appendix the following terms shall have the meanings indicated below:

“Applicable Procedures” means, with respect to any transfer or transaction involving a Temporary Regulation S Global Note or beneficial interest therein, the rules and procedures of the Depository for such a Temporary Regulation S Global Note, to the extent applicable to such transaction and as in effect from time to time.

“Definitive Note” means a certificated Initial Note or Exchange Note or Private Exchange Note bearing, if required, the appropriate restricted notes legend set forth in Section 2.3(e).

“Depository” means The Depository Trust Company, its nominees and their respective successors.

“Distribution Compliance Period”, with respect to any Notes, means the period of 40 consecutive days beginning on and including the later of (i) the day on which such Notes are first offered to Persons other than distributors (as defined in Regulation S under the Securities Act) in reliance on Regulation S and (ii) the issue date with respect to such Notes.

“Exchange Notes” means the notes issued pursuant to this Indenture in connection with the Registered Exchange Offer pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement.

“Exchange Offer Registration Statement” means the registration statement to be filed with the SEC pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement with respect to a proposed offer to exchange the Initial Notes, and Additional Notes, if applicable, for Exchange Notes.

“IAI” means an institutional “accredited investor”, as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) and (7) of Regulation D under the Securities Act.

“Initial Purchasers” means (a) with respect to the Initial Notes issued on the Issue Date, Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Banc of America Securities LLC and BNP Paribas Securities Corp. and (b) with respect to each issuance of Additional Notes, the Persons purchasing or underwriting such Additional Notes under the related Purchase Agreement.

“Initial Notes” means the initial $355,500,000 in aggregate principal amount of 11  1 / 2 % Senior Subordinated Notes due 2015 issued on the Issue Date.


“Notes” means the Initial Notes, the Exchange Notes and the Private Exchange Notes treated as a single class.

“Notes Custodian” means the custodian with respect to a Global Note (as appointed by the Depository), or any successor Person thereto, and shall initially be the Trustee.

“Private Exchange” means the offer by the Issuer, pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, to the Initial Purchasers to issue and deliver to each such Initial Purchaser, in exchange for the Initial Notes held by such Initial Purchaser as part of the initial distribution of such Initial Notes, a like aggregate principal amount of Private Exchange Notes.

“Private Exchange Notes” means any Notes issued in connection with a Private Exchange.

“Purchase Agreement” means (a) with respect to the Initial Notes issued on the Issue Date, the Purchase Agreement dated April 21, 2006, among the Issuer, the Guarantors and the Initial Purchasers and (b) with respect to each issuance of Additional Notes, the purchase agreement or underwriting agreement among the Issuer, the Guarantors and the Persons purchasing or underwriting such Additional Notes.

“QIB” means a “qualified institutional buyer” as defined in Rule 144A.

“Registered Exchange Offer” means the offer by the Issuer, pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, to certain Holders of Initial Notes, to issue and deliver to such Holders, in exchange for the Initial Notes, a like aggregate principal amount of Exchange Notes registered under the Securities Act.

“Registration Rights Agreement” means (1) with respect to the Initial Notes issued on the Issue Date, the Registration Rights Agreement dated April 26, 2006, among the Issuer, the Guarantors and the Initial Purchasers and (2) with respect to each issuance of Additional Notes issued in a transaction exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, the registration rights agreement, if any, among the Issuer and the Persons purchasing such Additional Notes under the related Purchase Agreement.

“Rule 144A Notes” means all Notes offered and sold to QIBs in reliance on Rule 144A.

“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

“Shelf Registration Statement” means the registration statement issued by the Issuer in connection with the offer and sale of Initial Notes or Private Exchange Notes pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement.

“Transfer Restricted Notes” means Notes that bear or are required to bear a legend relating to restrictions on transfer relating to the Securities Act set forth in Section 2.3(e).

 

2


1.2 Other Definitions

 

Term

   Defined in
Section:
 

“Agent Members”

   2.1 (b)

“Global Note”

   2.1  (a)

“IAI Global Note”

   2.1  (a)

“Permanent Regulation S Global Note”

   2.1  (a)

“Regulation S”

   2.1  (a)

“Regulation S Global Note”

   2.1  (a)

“Rule 144A”

   2.1  (a)

“Rule 144A Global Note”

   2.1  (a)

“Temporary Regulation S Global Note”

   2.1  (a)

2. The Notes

2.1 (a)  Form and Dating . The Initial Notes shall be offered and sold by the Issuer pursuant to the Purchase Agreement. The Initial Notes shall be resold initially only to (i) QIBs in reliance on Rule 144A under the Securities Act (“Rule 144A”) and (ii) Persons other than U.S. Persons (as defined in Regulation S) in reliance on Regulation S under the Securities Act (“Regulation S”). Initial Notes may thereafter be transferred to, among others, QIBs, IAIs and purchasers in reliance on Regulation S, subject to the restrictions on transfer set forth herein. Initial Notes initially resold pursuant to Rule 144A shall be issued initially in the form of one or more permanent global Notes in definitive, fully registered form (collectively, the “Rule 144A Global Note”); Initial Notes initially resold to IAIs shall be issued initially in the form of one or more permanent global Notes in definitive, fully registered form (collectively, the “IAI Global Note”); and Initial Notes initially resold pursuant to Regulation S shall be issued initially in the form of one or more temporary global notes in fully registered form (collectively, the “Temporary Regulation S Global Note”), in each case without interest coupons and with the global notes legend and the applicable restricted notes legend set forth in Exhibit 1 hereto, which shall be deposited on behalf of the purchasers of the Initial Notes represented thereby with the Notes Custodian and registered in the name of the Depository or a nominee of the Depository, duly executed by the Issuer and authenticated by the Trustee as provided in this Indenture. Except as set forth in this Section 2.1(a), beneficial ownership interests in the Temporary Regulation S Global Note shall not be exchangeable for interests in the Rule 144A Global Note, the IAI Global Note, a permanent global note (the “Permanent Regulation S Global Note”, and together with the Temporary Regulation S Global Note, the “Regulation S Global Note”) or any other Note prior to the expiration of the Distribution Compliance Period and then, after the expiration of the Distribution Compliance Period, may be exchanged for interests in a Rule 144A Global Note, an IAI Global Note or the Permanent Regulation S Global Note only upon certification in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee that (i) beneficial ownership interests in such Temporary Regulation S Global Note are owned either by non-U.S. persons or U.S. persons who purchased such interests in a transaction that did not require registration under the Securities Act and (ii) in the case of an exchange for an IAI Global Note, certification that the interest in the Temporary Regulation S Global Note is being transferred to an institutional “accredited investor” under the Securities Act that is an institutional accredited investor acquiring the Notes for its own account or for the account of an institutional accredited investor.

 

3


Beneficial interests in Temporary Regulation S Global Notes (after the expiration of the Distribution Compliance Period) or IAI Global Notes may be exchanged for interests in Rule 144A Global Notes if (1) such exchange occurs in connection with a transfer of Notes in compliance with Rule 144A and (2) the transferor of the beneficial interest in the Temporary Regulation S Global Note or the IAI Global Note, as applicable, first delivers to the Trustee a written certificate (in a form satisfactory to the Trustee) to the effect that the beneficial interest in the Temporary Regulation S Global Note or the IAI Global Note, as applicable, is being transferred to a Person (a) who the transferor reasonably believes to be a QIB, (b) purchasing for its own account or the account of a QIB in a transaction meeting the requirements of Rule 144A, and (c) in accordance with all applicable laws of the States of the United States and other jurisdictions.

Beneficial interests in Temporary Regulation S Global Notes (after the expiration of the Distribution Compliance Period) and Rule 144A Global Notes may be exchanged for an interest in IAI Global Notes if (1) such exchange occurs in connection with a transfer of the Notes in compliance with an exemption under the Securities Act and (2) the transferor of the Regulation S Global Note or Rule 144A Global Note, as applicable, first delivers to the trustee a written certificate (substantially in the form of Exhibit 2) to the effect that (A) the Regulation S Global Note or Rule 144A Global Note, as applicable, is being transferred (a) to an “accredited investor” within the meaning of 501(a)(1),(2),(3) and (7) under the Securities Act that is an institutional investor acquiring the Notes for its own account or for the account of such an institutional accredited investor, in each case in a minimum principal amount of the Notes of $250,000, for investment purposes and not with a view to or for offer or sale in connection with any distribution in violation of the Securities Act and (B) in accordance with all applicable securities laws of the States of the United States and other jurisdictions.

Beneficial interests in a Rule 144A Global Note or an IAI Global Note may be transferred to a Person who takes delivery in the form of an interest in a Regulation S Global Note, whether before or after the expiration of the Distribution Compliance Period, only if the transferor first delivers to the Trustee a written certificate (in the form provided in this Indenture) to the effect that such transfer is being made in accordance with Rule 903 or 904 of Regulation S or Rule 144 (if applicable).

The Rule 144A Global Note, the IAI Global Note, the Temporary Regulation S Global Note and the Permanent Regulation S Global Note are collectively referred to herein as “Global Notes.” The aggregate principal amount of the Global Notes may from time to time be increased or decreased by adjustments made on the records of the Trustee and the Depository or its nominee as hereinafter provided.

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

The Issuer shall execute and the Trustee shall, in accordance with this Section 2.1(b), authenticate and deliver initially one or more Global Notes that (a) shall be registered in the name of the Depository for such Global Note or Global Notes or the nominee of such Depository and (b) shall be delivered by the Trustee to such Depository or pursuant to such Depository’s instructions or held by the Trustee as custodian for the Depository.

 

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Members of, or participants in, the Depository (“Agent Members”) shall have no rights under this Indenture with respect to any Global Note held on their behalf by the Depository or by the Trustee as the custodian of the Depository or under such Global Note, and the Issuer, the Trustee and any agent of the Issuer, the Guarantors or the Trustee shall be entitled to treat the Depository as the absolute owner of such Global Note for all purposes whatsoever. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall prevent the Issuer, the Guarantors, the Trustee or any agent of the Issuer, the Guarantors or the Trustee from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by the Depository or impair, as between the Depository and its Agent Members, the operation of customary practices of such Depository governing the exercise of the rights of a holder of a beneficial interest in any Global Note.

(c) Definitive Notes . Except as provided in this Section 2.1 or Section 2.3 or 2.4, owners of beneficial interests in Global Notes shall not be entitled to receive physical delivery of Definitive Notes.

2.2 Authentication

The Trustee shall authenticate and deliver: (1) on the Issue Date, an aggregate principal amount of $355,500,000 of Initial Notes; (2) any Additional Notes for an original issue in an aggregate principal amount specified in the written order of the Issuer pursuant to Section 2.03 of this Indenture; and (3) Exchange Notes or Private Exchange Notes for issue only in a Registered Exchange Offer or a Private Exchange, respectively, pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, for a like principal amount of Initial Notes, in each case upon a written order of the Issuer signed by one Officer. Such order shall specify the amount of the Notes to be authenticated and the date on which the original issue of Notes is to be authenticated and, in the case of any issuance and Additional Notes pursuant to Section 2.01 of this Indenture, shall certify that such issuance is in compliance with Section 4.03 of this Indenture.

2.3 Transfer and Exchange

(a) Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Notes . When Definitive Notes are presented to the Registrar with a request:

 

  (x) to register the transfer of such Definitive Notes; or

 

  (y) to exchange such Definitive Notes for an equal principal amount of Definitive Notes of other authorized denominations,

the Registrar shall register the transfer or make the exchange as requested if its reasonable requirements for such transaction are met; provided , however , that the Definitive Notes surrendered for transfer or exchange:

(i) shall be duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form reasonably satisfactory to the Issuer and the Registrar, duly executed by the Holder thereof or its attorney duly authorized in writing; and

(ii) if such Definitive Notes are required to bear a restricted notes legend, they are being transferred or exchanged pursuant to an effective registration statement under

 

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the Securities Act, pursuant to Section 2.3(b) or pursuant to clause (A), (B) or (C) below, and are accompanied by the following additional information and documents, as applicable:

(A) if such Definitive Notes are being delivered to the Registrar by a Holder for registration in the name of such Holder, without transfer, a certification from such Holder to that effect; or

(B) if such Definitive Notes are being transferred to the Issuer, a certification to that effect; or

(C) if such Definitive Notes are being transferred (x) pursuant to an exemption from registration in accordance with Rule 144A, Regulation S or Rule 144 under the Securities Act; or (y) in reliance upon another exemption from the requirements of the Securities Act: (i) a certification to that effect (in the form set forth on the reverse of the Note) and (ii) if the Issuer so requests, an opinion of counsel or other evidence reasonably satisfactory to it as to the compliance with the restrictions set forth in the legend set forth in Section 2.3(e)(i).

(b) Restrictions on Transfer of a Definitive Note for a Beneficial Interest in a Global Note . A Definitive Note may not be exchanged for a beneficial interest in a Rule 144A Global Note, an IAI Global Note or a Permanent Regulation S Global Note except upon satisfaction of the requirements set forth below. Upon receipt by the Trustee of a Definitive Note, duly endorsed or accompanied by appropriate instruments of transfer, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, together with:

(i) certification, in the form set forth on the reverse of the Note, that such Definitive Note is either (A) being transferred to a QIB in accordance with Rule 144A, (B) being transferred to an IAI or (C) being transferred after expiration of the Distribution Compliance Period by a Person who initially purchased such Note in reliance on Regulation S to a buyer who elects to hold its interest in such Note in the form of a beneficial interest in the Permanent Regulation S Global Note;

(ii) written instructions directing the Trustee to make, or to direct the Notes Custodian to make, an adjustment on its books and records with respect to such Rule 144A Global Note (in the case of a transfer pursuant to clause (b)(i)(A)), IAI Global Note (in the case of a transfer pursuant to clause (b)(i)(B) or Permanent Regulation S Global Note (in the case of a transfer pursuant to clause (b)(i)(C)) to reflect an increase in the aggregate principal amount of the Notes represented by the Rule 144A Global Note, IAI Global Note or Permanent Regulation S Global Note, as applicable, such instructions to contain information regarding the Depository account to be credited with such increase, and

(iii) if the Registrar or the Issuer so requests or if the Applicable Procedures so require, an opinion of counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Registrar and the Issuer to the effect that such exchange or transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and that the restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the applicable restricted notes legend is no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act,

 

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then the Trustee shall cancel such Definitive Note and cause, or direct the Notes Custodian to cause, in accordance with the standing instructions and procedures existing between the Depository and the Notes Custodian, the aggregate principal amount of Notes represented by the Rule 144A Global Note, IAI Global Note or Permanent Regulation S Global Note, as applicable, to be increased by the aggregate principal amount of the Definitive Note to be exchanged and shall credit or cause to be credited to the account of the Person specified in such instructions a beneficial interest in the Rule 144A Global Note, IAI Global Note or Permanent Regulation S Global Note, as applicable, equal to the principal amount of the Definitive Note so canceled. If no Rule 144A Global Notes, IAI Global Notes or Permanent Regulation S Global Notes, as applicable, are then outstanding, the Issuer shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate, upon written order of the Issuer in the form of an Officers’ Certificate of the Issuer, a new Rule 144A Global Note, IAI Global Note or Permanent Regulation S Global Note, as applicable, in the appropriate principal amount.

(c) Transfer and Exchange of Global Notes .

(i) The transfer and exchange of Global Notes or beneficial interests therein shall be effected through the Depository, in accordance with this Indenture (including applicable restrictions on transfer set forth herein, if any) and the procedures of the Depository therefor. A transferor of a beneficial interest in a Global Note shall deliver to the Registrar a written order given in accordance with the Depository’s procedures containing information regarding the participant account of the Depository to be credited with a beneficial interest in the Global Note. The Registrar shall, in accordance with such instructions, instruct the Depository to credit to the account of the Person specified in such instructions a beneficial interest in the Global Note and to debit the account of the Person making the transfer the beneficial interest in the Global Note being transferred.

(ii) If the proposed transfer is a transfer of a beneficial interest in one Global Note to a beneficial interest in another Global Note, the Registrar shall reflect on its books and records the date and an increase in the principal amount of the Global Note to which such interest is being transferred in an amount equal to the principal amount of the interest to be so transferred, and the Registrar shall reflect on its books and records the date and a corresponding decrease in the principal amount of the Global Note from which such interest is being transferred.

(iii) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Appendix (other than the provisions set forth in Section 2.4), a Global Note may not be transferred as a whole except by the Depository to a nominee of the Depository or by a nominee of the Depository to the Depository or another nominee of the Depository or by the Depository or any such nominee to a successor Depository or a nominee of such successor Depository.

(iv) In the event that a Global Note is exchanged for Definitive Notes pursuant to Section 2.4 of this Appendix, prior to the consummation of a Registered Exchange

 

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Offer or the effectiveness of a Shelf Registration Statement with respect to such Notes, such Notes may be exchanged only in accordance with such procedures as are substantially consistent with the provisions of this Section 2.3 (including the certification requirements set forth on the reverse of the Initial Notes intended to ensure that such transfers comply with Rule 144A, Regulation S or another applicable exemption under the Securities Act, as the case may be) and such other procedures as may from time to time be adopted by the Issuer.

(v) In the event that a Transfer Restricted Note represented by a Global Note is exchanged for an unrestricted Global Note pursuant to this Section 2.3, prior to the consummation of a Registered Exchange Offer or the effectiveness of a Shelf Registration Statement with respect to such Notes, such Notes may be exchanged only in accordance with such procedures as are substantially consistent with the provisions hereof (including the certification requirements set forth on the reverse of the Initial Notes intended to ensure that such transfers comply with Rule 144A, Regulation S or another applicable exemption under the Securities Act, as the case may be) and such other procedures as may from time to time be adopted by the Issuer.

(d) Restrictions on Transfer of Temporary Regulation S Global Notes . During the Distribution Compliance Period, beneficial ownership interests in Temporary Regulation S Global Notes may only be sold, pledged or transferred in accordance with the Applicable Procedures and only (i) to the Issuer, (ii) in an offshore transaction in accordance with Regulation S (other than a transaction resulting in an exchange for an interest in a Permanent Regulation S Global Note), (iii) pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, in each case in accordance with any applicable securities laws of any State of the United States.

(e) Legend .

(i) Except as permitted by the following paragraphs (ii), (iii) and (iv), each Note certificate evidencing the Global Notes (and all Notes issued in exchange therefor or in substitution thereof), in the case of Notes offered otherwise than in reliance on Regulation S, shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:

THIS NOTE (OR ITS PREDECESSOR) WAS ORIGINALLY ISSUED IN A TRANSACTION EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND THIS NOTE MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR AN APPLICABLE EXEMPTION THEREFROM. EACH PURCHASER OF THIS NOTE IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE SELLER OF THIS NOTE MAY BE RELYING ON THE EXEMPTION FROM THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 5 OF THE SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED BY RULE 144A THEREUNDER.

THE HOLDER OF THIS NOTE AGREES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMPANY THAT (A) THIS NOTE MAY BE OFFERED, RESOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED, ONLY (I) TO THE ISSUER, (II) IN THE UNITED STATES TO A

 

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PERSON WHOM THE SELLER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A, (III) OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 904 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (IV) TO AN “ACCREDITED INVESTOR” (AS DEFINED IN RULE 501(A)(1), (2), (3) OR (7) OF REGULATION D UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) THAT, PRIOR TO SUCH TRANSFER, FURNISHES THE TRUSTEE WITH A SIGNED LETTER CONTAINING CERTAIN REPRESENTATIONS AND AGREEMENTS RELATING TO THE TRANSFER OF THIS NOTE (THE FORM OF WHICH CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE TRUSTEE) AND, IF SUCH TRANSFER IS IN RESPECT OF AN AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF NOTES LESS THAN $250,000, AN OPINION OF COUNSEL ACCEPTABLE TO THE COMPANY THAT SUCH TRANSFER IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT, (V) PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED BY RULE 144 THEREUNDER (IF AVAILABLE) OR (VI) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, IN EACH OF CASES (I) THROUGH (VI) IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANY APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES, AND (B) THE HOLDER SHALL, AND EACH SUBSEQUENT HOLDER IS REQUIRED TO, NOTIFY ANY PURCHASER OF THIS NOTE FROM IT OF THE RESALE RESTRICTIONS REFERRED TO IN (A) ABOVE.

Each certificate evidencing a Note offered in reliance on Regulation S shall, in lieu of the foregoing, bear a legend in substantially the following form:

THIS NOTE (OR ITS PREDECESSOR) WAS ORIGINALLY ISSUED IN A TRANSACTION ORIGINALLY EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED IN THE UNITED STATES OR TO, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OR BENEFIT OF, ANY U.S. PERSON EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND ALL APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. TERMS USED ABOVE HAVE THE MEANINGS GIVEN TO THEM IN REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.

Each Definitive Note shall also bear the following additional legend:

IN CONNECTION WITH ANY TRANSFER, THE HOLDER SHALL DELIVER TO THE REGISTRAR AND TRANSFER AGENT SUCH CERTIFICATES AND OTHER INFORMATION AS SUCH TRANSFER AGENT MAY REASONABLY REQUIRE TO CONFIRM THAT THE TRANSFER COMPLIES WITH THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS.

(ii) Upon any sale or transfer of a Transfer Restricted Note (including any Transfer Restricted Note represented by a Global Note) pursuant to Rule 144 under the

 

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Securities Act, the Registrar shall permit the transferee thereof to exchange such Transfer Restricted Note for a certificated Note that does not bear the legend set forth above and rescind any restriction on the transfer of such Transfer Restricted Note, if the transferor thereof certifies in writing to the Registrar that such sale or transfer was made in reliance on Rule 144 (such certification to be in the form set forth on the reverse of the Note).

(iii) After a transfer of any Initial Notes or Private Exchange Notes pursuant to and during the period of the effectiveness of a Shelf Registration Statement with respect to such Initial Notes or Private Exchange Notes, as the case may be, all requirements pertaining to legends on such Initial Note or such Private Exchange Note shall cease to apply, the requirements requiring any such Initial Note or such Private Exchange Note issued to certain Holders be issued in global form shall cease to apply, and a certificated Initial Note or Private Exchange Note or an Initial Note or Private Exchange Note in global form, in each case without restrictive transfer legends, shall be available to the transferee of the Holder of such Initial Notes or Private Exchange Notes upon exchange of such transferring Holder’s certificated Initial Note or Private Exchange Note or directions to transfer such Holder’s interest in the Global Note, as applicable.

(iv) Upon the consummation of a Registered Exchange Offer with respect to the Initial Notes, all requirements pertaining to such Initial Notes that Initial Notes issued to certain Holders be issued in global form shall still apply with respect to Holders of such Initial Notes that do not exchange their Initial Notes, and Exchange Notes in certificated or global form, in each case without the restricted notes legend set forth in Exhibit 1 hereto, shall be available to Holders that exchange such Initial Notes in such Registered Exchange Offer.

(v) Upon the consummation of a Private Exchange with respect to the Initial Notes, all requirements pertaining to such Initial Notes that Initial Notes issued to certain Holders be issued in global form shall still apply with respect to Holders of such Initial Notes that do not exchange their Initial Notes, and Private Exchange Notes in global form with the global notes legend and the applicable restricted notes legend set forth in Exhibit 1 hereto shall be available to Holders that exchange such Initial Notes in such Private Exchange.

(f) Cancellation or Adjustment of Global Note . At such time as all beneficial interests in a Global Note have either been exchanged for Definitive Notes, redeemed, purchased or canceled, such Global Note shall be returned to the Depository for cancellation or retained and canceled by the Trustee. At any time prior to such cancellation, if any beneficial interest in a Global Note is exchanged for certificated Notes, redeemed, purchased or canceled, the principal amount of Notes represented by such Global Note shall be reduced and an adjustment shall be made on the books and records of the Trustee (if it is then the Notes Custodian for such Global Note) with respect to such Global Note, by the Trustee or the Notes Custodian, to reflect such reduction.

 

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(g) No Obligation of the Trustee .

(i) The Trustee shall have no responsibility or obligation to any beneficial owner of a Global Note, a member of, or a participant in the Depository or other Person with respect to the accuracy of the records of the Depository or its nominee or of any participant or member thereof, with respect to any ownership interest in the Notes or with respect to the delivery to any participant, member, beneficial owner or other Person (other than the Depository) of any notice (including any notice of redemption) or the payment of any amount, under or with respect to such Notes. All notices and communications to be given to the Holders and all payments to be made to Holders under the Notes shall be given or made only to or upon the order of the registered Holders (which shall be the Depository or its nominee in the case of a Global Note). The rights of beneficial owners in any Global Note shall be exercised only through the Depository subject to the applicable rules and procedures of the Depository. The Trustee may rely and shall be fully protected in relying upon information furnished by the Depository with respect to its members, participants and any beneficial owners.

(ii) The Trustee shall have no obligation or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any restrictions on transfer imposed under this Indenture or under applicable law with respect to any transfer of any interest in any Note (including any transfers between or among Depository participants, members or beneficial owners in any Global Note) other than to require delivery of such certificates and other documentation or evidence as are expressly required by, and to do so if and when expressly required by, the terms of this Indenture, and to examine the same to determine substantial compliance as to form with the express requirements hereof.

2.4 Certificated Notes

(a) A Global Note deposited with the Depository or with the Trustee as Notes Custodian for the Depository pursuant to Section 2.1 shall be transferred to the beneficial owners thereof in the form of Definitive Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such Global Note, in exchange for such Global Note, only if such transfer complies with Section 2.3 hereof and (i) the Depository notifies the Issuer that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depository for such Global Note and the Depository fails to appoint a successor depositary or if at any time such Depository ceases to be a “clearing agency” registered under the Exchange Act and, in either case, a successor Depository is not appointed by the Issuer within 90 days of such notice, or (ii) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or (iii) the Issuer, in its sole discretion, notifies the Trustee in writing that it elects to cause the issuance of Definitive Notes under this Indenture.

(b) Any Global Note that is transferable to the beneficial owners thereof pursuant to this Section 2.4 shall be surrendered by the Depository to the Trustee located at its principal corporate trust office, to be so transferred, in whole or from time to time in part, without charge, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, upon such transfer of each portion of such Global Note, an equal aggregate principal amount of Definitive Notes of authorized denominations. Any portion of a Global Note transferred pursuant to this Section 2.4 shall be executed, authenticated and delivered only in denominations of $1,000 principal amount and any

 

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integral multiple thereof and registered in such names as the Depository shall direct. Any Definitive Note delivered in exchange for an interest in the Transfer Restricted Note shall, except as otherwise provided by Section 2.3(e) hereof, bear the applicable restricted notes legend and definitive note legend set forth in Exhibit 1 hereto.

(c) Subject to the provisions of Section 2.4(b) hereof, the registered Holder of a Global Note shall be entitled to grant proxies and otherwise authorize any Person, including Agent Members and Persons that may hold interests through Agent Members, to take any action which a Holder is entitled to take under this Indenture or the Notes.

(d) In the event of the occurrence of one of the events specified in Section 2.4(a) hereof, the Issuer shall promptly make available to the Trustee a reasonable supply of Definitive Notes in definitive, fully registered form without interest coupons. In the event that such Definitive Notes are not issued, the Issuer expressly acknowledges, with respect to the right of any Holder to pursue a remedy pursuant to Section 6.06 of this Indenture, the right of any beneficial owner of Notes to pursue such remedy with respect to the portion of the Global Note that represents such beneficial owner’s Notes as if such Definitive Notes had been issued.

 

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EXHIBIT 1 to APPENDIX A (Rule 144A/Regulation S/IAI APPENDIX)

[FORM OF FACE OF INITIAL NOTE]

[Global Notes Legend]

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 IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO., OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS 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.

TRANSFERS OF THIS GLOBAL NOTE SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS IN WHOLE, BUT NOT IN PART, TO NOMINEES OF DTC OR TO A SUCCESSOR THEREOF OR SUCH SUCCESSOR’S NOMINEE AND TRANSFERS OF PORTIONS OF THIS GLOBAL NOTE SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN THE INDENTURE REFERRED TO ON THE REVERSE HEREOF.

[[FOR REGULATION S GLOBAL NOTE ONLY] UNTIL 40 DAYS AFTER THE LATER OF COMMENCEMENT OR COMPLETION OF THE OFFERING, AN OFFER OR SALE OF NOTES WITHIN THE UNITED STATES BY A DEALER (AS DEFINED IN THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”)) MAY VIOLATE THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT IF SUCH OFFER OR SALE IS MADE OTHERWISE THAN IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 144A THEREUNDER.]

[Restricted Notes Legend for Notes Offered Otherwise than in Reliance

on Regulation S]

THIS NOTE (OR ITS PREDECESSOR) WAS ORIGINALLY ISSUED IN A TRANSACTION EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND THIS NOTE MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR AN APPLICABLE EXEMPTION THEREFROM. EACH PURCHASER OF THIS NOTE IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE SELLER OF THIS NOTE MAY BE RELYING ON THE EXEMPTION FROM THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 5 OF THE SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED BY RULE 144A THEREUNDER.

THE HOLDER OF THIS NOTE AGREES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE ISSUER THAT (A) THIS NOTE MAY BE OFFERED, RESOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED, ONLY (I) TO THE ISSUER, (II) WITHIN THE UNITED


STATES TO A PERSON WHOM THE SELLER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A, (III) TO AN INSTITUTIONAL “ACCREDITED INVESTOR” WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE 501(A)(1), (2), (3) OR (7) UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT, PRIOR TO SUCH TRANSFER, FURNISHES THE TRUSTEE A SIGNED LETTER CONTAINING CERTAIN REPRESENTATIONS AND AGREEMENTS RELATING TO THE TRANSFER OF THIS NOTE (THE FORM OF WHICH CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE TRUSTEE) AND, IF SUCH TRANSFER IS IN RESPECT OF AN AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF NOTES LESS THAN $250,000, AN OPINION OF COUNSEL ACCEPTABLE TO THE ISSUER THAT SUCH TRANSFER IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT, (IV) OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 904 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (V) PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED BY RULE 144 THEREUNDER (IF AVAILABLE) OR (VI) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, IN EACH OF CASES (I) THROUGH (VI) IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANY APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES, AND (B) THE HOLDER SHALL, AND EACH SUBSEQUENT HOLDER IS REQUIRED TO, NOTIFY ANY PURCHASER OF THIS NOTE FROM IT OF THE RESALE RESTRICTIONS REFERRED TO IN (A) ABOVE.

[Restricted Notes Legend for Notes Offered in Reliance on Regulation S]

THIS NOTE (OR ITS PREDECESSOR) WAS ORIGINALLY ISSUED IN A TRANSACTION ORIGINALLY EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, AND MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED IN THE UNITED STATES OR TO, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OR BENEFIT OF, ANY U.S. PERSON EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND ALL APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. TERMS USED ABOVE HAVE THE MEANINGS GIVEN TO THEM IN REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.

[Temporary Regulation S Global Note Legend]

EXCEPT AS SET FORTH BELOW, BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP INTERESTS IN THIS TEMPORARY REGULATION S GLOBAL NOTE SHALL NOT BE EXCHANGEABLE FOR INTERESTS IN THE PERMANENT REGULATION S GLOBAL NOTE OR ANY OTHER NOTE REPRESENTING AN INTEREST IN THE NOTES REPRESENTED HEREBY WHICH DO NOT CONTAIN A LEGEND CONTAINING RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER, UNTIL THE EXPIRATION OF THE “40-DAY DISTRIBUTION COMPLIANCE PERIOD” (WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE 903(B)(2) OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) AND THEN ONLY UPON CERTIFICATION IN FORM REASONABLY SATISFACTORY TO THE TRUSTEE THAT SUCH BENEFICIAL INTERESTS ARE OWNED EITHER BY NON-U.S. PERSONS OR U.S. PERSONS WHO PURCHASED SUCH INTERESTS IN A TRANSACTION THAT DID NOT REQUIRE REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT. DURING SUCH 40-DAY DISTRIBUTION COMPLIANCE PERIOD, BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP INTERESTS IN

 

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THIS TEMPORARY REGULATION S GLOBAL NOTE MAY ONLY BE SOLD, PLEDGED OR TRANSFERRED (I) TO THE ISSUER, (II) OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES IN A TRANSACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 904 OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, OR (III) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, IN EACH OF CASES (I) THROUGH (III) IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANY APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES. HOLDERS OF INTERESTS IN THIS TEMPORARY REGULATION S GLOBAL NOTE SHALL NOTIFY ANY PURCHASER OF THIS NOTE OF THE RESALE RESTRICTIONS REFERRED TO ABOVE, IF THEN APPLICABLE.

AFTER THE EXPIRATION OF THE DISTRIBUTION COMPLIANCE PERIOD, BENEFICIAL INTERESTS IN THIS TEMPORARY REGULATION S GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE EXCHANGED FOR INTERESTS IN A RULE 144A GLOBAL NOTE ONLY IF (1) SUCH EXCHANGE OCCURS IN CONNECTION WITH A TRANSFER OF THE NOTES IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 144A AND (2) THE TRANSFEROR OF THE REGULATION S GLOBAL NOTE FIRST DELIVERS TO THE TRUSTEE A WRITTEN CERTIFICATE (IN THE FORM ATTACHED TO THIS CERTIFICATE) TO THE EFFECT THAT THE REGULATION S GLOBAL NOTE IS BEING TRANSFERRED (A) TO A PERSON WHO THE TRANSFEROR REASONABLY BELIEVES TO BE A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE 144A, (B) TO A PERSON WHO IS PURCHASING FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A, AND (C) IN ACCORDANCE WITH ALL APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF THE STATES OF THE UNITED STATES AND OTHER JURISDICTIONS.

AFTER THE EXPIRATION OF THE DISTRIBUTION COMPLIANCE PERIOD, BENEFICIAL INTERESTS IN THIS TEMPORARY REGULATION S GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE EXCHANGED FOR INTERESTS IN AN IAI GLOBAL NOTE ONLY IF (1) SUCH EXCHANGE OCCURS IN CONNECTION WITH A TRANSFER OF THE NOTES IN COMPLIANCE WITH AN EXEMPTION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AND (2) THE TRANSFEROR OF THE REGULATION S GLOBAL NOTE FIRST DELIVERS TO THE TRUSTEE A WRITTEN CERTIFICATE (IN THE FORM ATTACHED TO THIS CERTIFICATE) TO THE EFFECT THAT THE REGULATION S GLOBAL NOTE IS BEING TRANSFERRED (A) TO AN INSTITUTIONAL “ACCREDITED INVESTOR” WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE 501(A)(1),(2),(3) OR (7) UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT, PRIOR TO SUCH TRANSFER, FURNISHES THE TRUSTEE A SIGNED LETTER CONTAINING CERTAIN REPRESENTATIONS AND AGREEMENTS RELATING TO THE TRANSFER OF THIS NOTE (THE FORM OF WHICH CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE TRUSTEE) AND, IF SUCH TRANSFER IS IN RESPECT OF AN AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF NOTES LESS THAN $250,000, AN OPINION OF COUNSEL ACCEPTABLE TO THE ISSUER THAT SUCH TRANSFER IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT AND (B) IN ACCORDANCE WITH ALL APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF THE STATES OF THE UNITED STATES AND OTHER JURISDICTIONS.

BENEFICIAL INTERESTS IN A RULE 144A GLOBAL NOTE OR AN IAI GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE TRANSFERRED TO A PERSON WHO TAKES DELIVERY IN THE FORM OF AN INTEREST IN THE REGULATION S GLOBAL NOTE, WHETHER

 

3


BEFORE OR AFTER THE EXPIRATION OF THE 40-DAY DISTRIBUTION COMPLIANCE PERIOD, ONLY IF THE TRANSFEROR FIRST DELIVERS TO THE TRUSTEE A WRITTEN CERTIFICATE (IN THE FORM ATTACHED TO THIS CERTIFICATE) TO THE EFFECT THAT SUCH TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 903 OR 904 OF REGULATION S OR RULE 144 (IF AVAILABLE).

[Definitive Notes Legend]

IN CONNECTION WITH ANY TRANSFER, THE HOLDER SHALL DELIVER TO THE REGISTRAR AND TRANSFER AGENT SUCH CERTIFICATES AND OTHER INFORMATION AS SUCH TRANSFER AGENT MAY REASONABLY REQUIRE TO CONFIRM THAT THE TRANSFER COMPLIES WITH THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS.

 

4


AFFINION GROUP, INC.

11  1 / 2 % SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES DUE 2015

[144A NOTE - CUSIP No. 00828D AG 6

and ISIN No. US008238DAG60]

[Reg. S NOTE - CUSIP No. U00831 AC 8

and ISIN No. USU00831AC87]

No. [    ]

  $ [    ]

AFFINION GROUP, INC., a Delaware corporation, promises to pay to [    ], or its registered assigns, the principal sum of [    ] Dollars ($[    ]) on October 15, 2015.

Interest Payment Dates: April 15 and October 15

Record Dates: April 1 and October 1

Additional provisions of this Note are set forth on the other side of this Note.

Dated: April 26, 2006

SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS

 

5


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

Dated: April 26, 2006

 

  AFFINION GROUP, INC.
  By  

 

  Name:  
  Title:  

TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

 

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

as Trustee, certifies that this is one of the Notes referred to in the Indenture.

By:  

 

  Authorized Signatory

 

6


[FORM OF REVERSE SIDE OF INITIAL NOTE]

11  1 / 2 % Senior Subordinated Notes due 2015

1. Interest

Affinion Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (such Person, and its respective successors and assigns under the Indenture hereinafter referred to, being herein called the “Issuer”) promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this Note at a rate per annum of 11  1 / 2 %; provided , however , that if a Registration Default (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) occurs, additional interest shall accrue on this Note at a rate of 0.25% per annum (increasing by an additional 0.25% per annum after each consecutive 90-day period that occurs after the date on which such Registration Default occurs up to a maximum additional interest rate of 1.00%) from and including the date on which any such Registration Default shall occur to but excluding the date on which all Registration Defaults have been cured. The Issuer shall pay interest semiannually in arrears to the holders of the Notes on April 15 and October 15 of each year, commencing October 15, 2006. Interest on the Notes shall accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from the Issue Date. Interest shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. The Issuer shall pay interest on overdue principal at the rate borne by this Note plus 1.0% per annum, and it shall pay interest on overdue installments of interest at the same rate to the extent lawful.

2. Method of Payment

The Issuer shall pay interest on the Notes (except defaulted interest) to the Persons who are registered holders of Notes at the close of business on the April 1 or October 1 next preceding the interest payment date even if Notes are canceled after the record date and on or before the interest payment date. Holders must surrender Notes to a Paying Agent to collect principal payments. The Issuer shall pay principal and interest in money of the United States that at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts. Payments in respect of the Notes represented by a Global Note (including principal, premium and interest) shall be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the accounts specified by the Depository. The Issuer shall make all payments in respect of a certificated Note (including principal, premium and interest) by mailing a check to the registered address of each Holder thereof; provided , however , that payments on a certificated Note shall be made by wire transfer to a U.S. dollar account maintained by the payee with a bank in the United States if such Holder elects payment by wire transfer by giving written notice to the Trustee or the Paying Agent to such effect designating such account no later than 30 days immediately preceding the relevant due date for payment (or such other date as the Trustee may accept in its discretion).

3. Paying Agent and Registrar

Initially, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association (the “Trustee”), shall act as Paying Agent and Registrar. The Issuer may appoint and change any Paying Agent, Registrar or co-registrar without notice. The Issuer or any of its domestically incorporated Wholly Owned Subsidiaries may act as Paying Agent, Registrar or co-registrar.

 

7


4. Indenture

The Issuer issued the Notes under an Indenture dated as of April 26, 2006 (the “Indenture”), among the Issuer, the Guarantors and the Trustee. The terms of the Notes include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C. §§ 77aaa-77bbbb) (the “Act”). Terms defined in the Indenture and not defined herein have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Indenture. The Notes are subject to all such terms, and Holders are referred to the Indenture and the Act for a statement of those terms.

The Notes are unsecured subordinated obligations of the Issuer and consist of the 11  1 / 2 % Senior Subordinated Notes due 2015 and any Additional Notes that may be issued after the Issue Date. The Indenture contains covenants that, among other things, limit the ability of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries to incur additional indebtedness; pay dividends or distributions on, or redeem or repurchase capital stock; make investments; engage in transactions with affiliates; create liens on assets to secure indebtedness; transfer or sell assets; guarantee indebtedness; restrict dividends or other payments of subsidiaries; consolidate, merge or transfer all or substantially all of its assets; engage in sale/leaseback transactions; and incur other senior subordinated indebtedness. These covenants are subject to important exceptions and qualifications contained in the Indenture.

5. Optional Redemption

Except as set forth below, the Issuer shall not be entitled to redeem the Notes.

On and after October 15, 2010, the Issuer may redeem the Notes, at its option, in whole at any time or in part from time to time, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice mailed by first-class mail to each Holder’s registered address, at the following redemption prices (expressed as a percentage of principal amount), plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, to the redemption date (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date), if redeemed during the 12-month period commencing on October 15 of the years set forth below:

 

Year

   Redemption
Price
 

2010

   105.750 %

2011

   103.833 %

2012

   101.917 %

2013 and thereafter

   100.000 %

Notwithstanding the foregoing, at any time and from time to time on or prior to October 15, 2008, the Issuer may redeem in the aggregate up to 35% of the original aggregate principal amount of the Notes (calculated after giving effect to any issuance of Additional Notes) with the net cash proceeds of one or more (a) Equity Offerings by the Issuer, (b) Equity

 

8


Offerings by any Parent of the Issuer, to the extent the net cash proceeds thereof are contributed to the common equity capital of the Issuer or used to purchase Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Issuer from it, or (c) Subsidiary Spin-Offs, at a redemption price equal to 111.500% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, to the redemption date (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date); provided , however , that at least 65% of the original aggregate principal amount of the Notes (calculated after giving effect to any issuance of Additional Notes) must remain outstanding after each such redemption; provided , further , that such redemption shall occur within 90 days after the date on which any such Equity Offering is consummated upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ notice mailed to each Holder being redeemed and otherwise in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Indenture.

Notice of any redemption upon any Equity Offering may be given prior to the completion thereof, and any such redemption or notice may, at the Issuer’s discretion, be subject to one or more conditions precedent, including, but not limited to, completion of the related Equity Offering.

6. Subordination

The Notes and the Guarantees are general senior subordinated unsecured obligations of the Issuer and the Guarantors, subordinated in right of payment to the prior payment in full in cash of all Obligations due in respect of existing or future Senior Debt of the Issuer or a Guarantor, as applicable, as set forth in Article 12 of the Indenture. Each Holder by its acceptance hereof agrees to be bound by such provisions and authorizes and expressly directs the Trustee, on its behalf, to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate the subordination provided for in the Indenture and appoints the Trustee its attorney-in-fact for such purposes.

7. Notice of Redemption

Notice of redemption shall be mailed by first-class mail or electronically transmitted at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each Holder of Notes to be redeemed at his registered address. Notes in denominations larger than $1,000 principal amount may be redeemed in part but only in whole multiples of $1,000. If money sufficient to pay the redemption price of and accrued interest on all Notes (or portions thereof) to be redeemed on the redemption date is deposited with the Paying Agent on or before the redemption date and certain other conditions are satisfied, on and after such date interest ceases to accrue on such Notes (or such portions thereof) called for redemption.

8. Put Provisions

Except as set forth in the Indenture, the occurrence of any Change of Control shall constitute an Event of Default under the Indenture unless the Issuer (i)(A) makes an offer within 30 days following such Change of Control to all holders of the Notes to purchase all the Notes properly tendered (a “Change of Control Offer”) at a purchase price (the “Change of Control Purchase Price”) equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest

 

9


(if any) to the date of repurchase (subject to the right of holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date); and (B) purchase all the Notes properly tendered in accordance with the Change of Control Offer or (ii) exercises its right, within 30 days following such Change of Control, to redeem all the Notes as described under Paragraph 5 of this Note.

9. Guarantee

The payment by the Issuer of the principal of, and premium and interest on, the Notes is fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a joint and several basis by each of the Guarantors to the extent set forth in the Indenture.

10. [Intentionally omitted]

11. Denominations; Transfer; Exchange

The Notes are in registered form without coupons in denominations of $1,000 principal amount and whole multiples of $1,000. A Holder may transfer or exchange Notes in accordance with the Indenture. The Registrar may require a Holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements or transfer documents and to pay any taxes and fees required by law or permitted by the Indenture. The Registrar need not register the transfer of or exchange any Notes selected for redemption (except, in the case of a Note to be redeemed in part, the portion of the Note not to be redeemed) or any Notes for a period of 15 days before a selection of Notes to be redeemed or 15 days before an interest payment date.

12. Persons Deemed Owners

The registered Holder of this Note may be treated as the owner of it for all purposes.

13. Unclaimed Money

If money for the payment of principal or interest remains unclaimed for two years, the Trustee or Paying Agent shall pay the money back to the Issuer at its request unless an abandoned property law designates another Person. After any such payment, Holders entitled to the money must look only to the Issuer and not to the Trustee for payment.

14. Discharge and Defeasance

Subject to certain conditions set forth in the Indenture, the Issuer at any time shall be entitled to terminate some or all of its and the Guarantors’ obligations under the Notes and the Indenture if the Issuer deposit with the Trustee money or, in certain cases, U.S. Government Obligations for the payment of principal and interest on the Notes to redemption or maturity, as the case may be.

 

10


15. Amendment, Waiver

Subject to certain exceptions set forth in the Indenture, (a) the Indenture and the Notes may be amended with the written consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount outstanding of the Notes and (b) any default or noncompliance with any provision may be waived with the written consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount outstanding of the Notes. Subject to certain exceptions set forth in the Indenture, without the consent of any Holder, the Issuer, the Guarantors and the Trustee shall be entitled to amend the Indenture or the Notes to cure any ambiguity, omission, defect or inconsistency, to provide for the assumption by a Successor Issuer of the obligations of the Issuer under the Indenture and hereunder, to provide for the assumption by a Successor Guarantor of the obligations of a Subsidiary Guarantor under the Indenture and its Guarantee, to provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated Notes, to add Guarantees with respect to the Notes, to secure the Notes, to add to the covenants of the Issuer for the benefit of Holders or to surrender any right or power conferred upon the Issuer, to make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of any Holder, to comply with any requirements of the SEC in connection with the qualification of the Indenture under the Act, to effect any provision of the Indenture or to make certain changes to the Indenture to provide for the issuance of Additional Notes.

16. Defaults and Remedies

Under the Indenture, Events of Default include (1) a default in any payment of interest on, or Additional Interest with respect to, any Note when due that continues for 30 days, whether or not such payment is prohibited by the subordination provisions of the Indenture, (2) a default in the payment of principal or premium, if any, of any Note when due at its Stated Maturity, upon optional redemption, upon required repurchase, upon declaration or otherwise, whether or not such payment is prohibited by the subordination provisions of the Indenture, (3) the failure by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to comply with the provisions described under Article 5 of the Indenture (4) the failure by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to comply for 30 days after notice with any of its obligations under Article Four of the Indenture (other than a failure to purchase Notes), (5) the failure by the Issuer or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries of the Issuer to comply for 60 days after notice with its other agreements contained in the Notes or the Indenture, (6) the failure by the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary to pay any Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness owing to a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer) within any applicable grace period after final maturity or the acceleration of any such Indebtedness by the holders thereof because of a default, in each case, if the total amount of such Indebtedness unpaid or accelerated exceeds $30 million or its foreign currency equivalent, (7) certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of the Issuer or a Significant Subsidiary, (8) the failure by the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary to pay final judgments aggregating in excess of $30 million or its foreign currency equivalent (net of any amounts which are covered by enforceable insurance policies issued by solvent carriers), which judgments are not discharged, waived or stayed for a period of 60 days and (9) any Guarantee of a Significant Subsidiary ceases to be in full force and effect (except as contemplated by the terms thereof) or any Guarantor that qualifies as a Significant Subsidiary denies or disaffirms its obligations under the Indenture or any Guarantee and such Default continues for 10 days. If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Notes may declare all such Notes to be due and payable immediately, subject to certain conditions set forth in the Indenture. Certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency are Events of Default which shall result in the Notes being due and payable immediately upon the occurrence of such Events of Default.

 

11


Holders may not enforce the Indenture or the Notes except as provided in the Indenture. The Trustee may refuse to enforce the Indenture or the Notes unless it receives indemnity or security reasonably satisfactory to it. Subject to certain limitations, Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes may direct the Trustee in its exercise of any trust or power. The Trustee may withhold from Holders notice of any continuing Default (except a Default in payment of principal or interest) if it determines that withholding notice is in the interest of the Holders.

17. Trustee Dealings with the Issuer

Subject to certain limitations imposed by the Act, the Trustee under the Indenture, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Notes and may otherwise deal with and collect obligations owed to it by the Issuer or its Affiliates and may otherwise deal with the Issuer or its Affiliates with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee.

18. No Recourse Against Others

A director, officer, employee or stockholder, as such, of the Issuer or the Trustee shall not have any liability for any obligations of the Issuer under the Notes or the Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of such obligations or their creation; provided , however , the foregoing shall not affect or limit any liability of any Guarantor under the Indenture or its Guarantee. By accepting a Note, each Holder waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issue of the Notes.

19. Authentication

This Note shall not be valid until an authorized signatory of the Trustee (or an authenticating agent) manually signs the certificate of authentication on the other side of this Note.

20. Abbreviations

Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a Holder or an assignee, such as TEN COM (=tenants in common), TEN ENT (=tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (=joint tenants with rights of survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUST (=custodian), and U/G/M/A (=Uniform Gift to Minors Act).

21. CUSIP Numbers

Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures the Issuer has caused CUSIP numbers to be printed on the Notes and has directed the Trustee to use CUSIP numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders. No representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice of redemption and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers placed thereon.

 

12


22. Holders’ Compliance with Registration Rights Agreement

Each Holder of a Note, by acceptance hereof, acknowledges and agrees to the provisions of the Registration Rights Agreement, including the obligations of the Holders with respect to a registration and the indemnification of the Issuer to the extent provided therein.

23. Governing Law

THIS NOTE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

The Issuer shall furnish to any Holder upon written request and without charge to the Holder a copy of the Indenture which has in it the text of this Note in larger type. Requests may be made to:

Affinion Group, Inc.

100 Connecticut Avenue

Norwalk, CT 06850

Attention: General Counsel

 

13


ASSIGNMENT FORM

To assign this Note, fill in the form below:

I or we assign and transfer this Note to

(Print or type assignee’s name, address and zip code)

(Insert assignee’s soc. sec. or tax I.D. No.)

and irrevocably appoint                      agent to transfer this Note on the books of the Issuer. The agent may substitute another to act for him.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

Date:                          Your Signature:                                                                                                   

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Note.

In connection with any transfer of any of the Notes evidenced by this certificate occurring prior to the expiration of the period referred to in Rule 144(k) under the Securities Act after the later of the date of original issuance of such Notes and the last date, if any, on which such Notes were owned by the Issuer or any Affiliate of the Issuer, the undersigned confirms that such Notes are being transferred in accordance with its terms:

CHECK ONE BOX BELOW

 

¨   to the Issuer; or
  (1)   ¨   pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933; or
  (2)   ¨   inside the United States to a “qualified institutional buyer” (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933) that purchases for its own account or for the account of a qualified institutional buyer to whom notice is given that such transfer is being made in reliance on Rule 144A, in each case pursuant to and in compliance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933; or
  (3)   ¨   outside the United States in an offshore transaction within the meaning of Regulation S under the Securities Act in compliance with Rule 904 under the Securities Act of 1933; or
  (4)   ¨   pursuant to the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144 under the Securities Act of 1933; or

 

1


  (5)    ¨    to an institutional “accredited investor” (as defined in Rule 501(a)(1),(2),(3) or (7) under the Securities Act of 1933) that has furnished to the Trustee a signed letter containing certain representations and agreements.

Unless one of the boxes is checked, the Trustee shall refuse to register any of the Notes evidenced by this certificate in the name of any person other than the registered holder thereof; provided , however , that if box (3), (4) or (5) is checked, the Trustee shall be entitled to require, prior to registering any such transfer of the Notes, such legal opinions, certifications and other information as the Issuer has reasonably requested to confirm that such transfer is being made pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, such as the exemption provided by Rule 144 under such Act.

 

 

Signature

Signature Guarantee:

 

 

Signature must be guaranteed

   

 

Signature

Signatures must be guaranteed by an “eligible guarantor institution” meeting the requirements of the Registrar, which requirements include membership or participation in the Security Transfer Agent Medallion Program (“STAMP”) or such other “signature guarantee program” as may be determined by the Registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

2


TO BE COMPLETED BY PURCHASER IF (2) ABOVE IS CHECKED.

The undersigned represents and warrants that it is purchasing this Note for its own account or an account with respect to which it exercises sole investment discretion and that it and any such account is a “qualified institutional buyer” within the meaning of Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, and is aware that the sale to it is being made in reliance on Rule 144A and acknowledges that it has received such information regarding the Issuer as the undersigned has requested pursuant to Rule 144A or has determined not to request such information and that it is aware that the transferor is relying upon the undersigned’s foregoing representations in order to claim the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144A.

 

Dated:                         

 

    Notice:   To be executed by
      an executive officer

 

3


[TO BE ATTACHED TO GLOBAL NOTES]

SCHEDULE OF INCREASES OR DECREASES IN GLOBAL NOTE

The following increases or decreases in this Global Note have been made:

 

Date of Exchange

 

Amount of decrease in

Principal amount of this

Global Note

 

Amount of increase in

Principal amount of this

Global Note

 

Principal amount of this

Global Note following

such decrease or increase

 

Signature of authorized

officer of Trustee or

Notes Custodian

 

4


OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE

If you want to elect to have this Note purchased by the Issuer pursuant to Section 4.06 or 4.08 of the Indenture, check the box:

¨

If you want to elect to have only part of this Note purchased by the Issuer pursuant to Section 4.06 or 4.08 of the Indenture, state the amount in principal amount:

$             

 

Dated:                        Your Signature:  

 

    (Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Note.)

 

Signature Guarantee:

 

 

  (Signature must be guaranteed)

Signatures must be guaranteed by an “eligible guarantor institution” meeting the requirements of the Registrar, which requirements include membership or participation in the Security Transfer Agent Medallion Program (“STAMP”) or such other “signature guarantee program” as may be determined by the Registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

5


EXHIBIT A

FORM OF FACE OF EXCHANGE NOTE

OR PRIVATE EXCHANGE NOTE*/**/

 

*/ If the Note is to be used in global form add the Global Notes Legend from Exhibit 1 to Appendix A and the attachment from such Exhibit 1 captioned “[TO BE ATTACHED TO GLOBAL NOTES] - SCHEDULE OF INCREASES OR DECREASES IN GLOBAL NOTE”.
**/ If the Note is a Private Exchange Note issued in a Private Exchange to an Initial Purchaser holding an unsold portion of its initial allotment, add the Restricted Notes Legend from Exhibit 1 to Appendix A and replace the Assignment Form included in this Exhibit A with the Assignment Form included in such Exhibit 1.


AFFINION GROUP, INC.

11  1 / 2 % SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES DUE 2015

[144A NOTE - CUSIP No. 00828D AG 6

and ISIN No. US00828DAG60]

[Reg. S NOTE - CUSIP No. U00831 AC 8

and ISIN No. USU00831AC87]

No.[    ]

  $[    ]

AFFINION GROUP, INC., a Delaware corporation promises to pay to [    ], or its registered assigns, the principal sum of [    ] Dollars ($[    ]) on October 15, 2015.

Interest Payment Dates: April 15 and October 15

Record Dates: April 1 and October 1

Additional provisions of this Note are set forth on the other side of this Note.

Dated:

[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

 

2


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

Dated:

 

  AFFINION GROUP, INC.
  By:  

 

  Name:  
  Title:  

TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

 

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

as Trustee, certifies that this is one of the Notes referred to in the Indenture.

By:  

 

  Authorized Signatory

 

3


EXHIBIT A

[FORM OF REVERSE SIDE OF EXCHANGE NOTE

OR PRIVATE EXCHANGE NOTE]

11  1 / 2 % Senior Subordinated Notes due 2015

[The form of the Notes should be substantially the same (other than the restrictive legends),

whether they are the Initial Notes, Exchange Notes or Private Exchange Notes.]

1. Interest

Affinion Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (such Person, and its successors and assigns under the Indenture hereinafter referred to, being herein called the “Issuer”) promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this Note at a rate per annum of 11  1 / 2 % [; provided , however , that if a Registration Default (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) occurs, additional interest shall accrue on this Note at a rate of 0.25% per annum (increasing by an additional 0.25% per annum after each consecutive 90-day period that occurs after the date on which such Registration Default occurs up to a maximum additional interest rate of 1.00%) from and including the date on which any such Registration Default shall occur to but excluding the date on which all Registration Defaults have been cured.] 1 The Issuer shall pay interest semiannually in arrears to the holders of the Notes on April 15 and October 15 of each year, commencing October 15, 2006. Interest on the Notes shall accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from the Issue Date. Interest shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. The Issuer shall pay interest on overdue principal at the rate borne by this Note plus 1.0% per annum, and it shall pay interest on overdue installments of interest at the same rate to the extent lawful.

2. Method of Payment

The Issuer shall pay interest on the Notes (except defaulted interest) to the Persons who are registered holders of Notes at the close of business on the April 1 or October 1 next preceding the interest payment date even if Notes are canceled after the record date and on or before the interest payment date. Holders must surrender Notes to a Paying Agent to collect principal payments. The Issuer shall pay principal and interest in money of the United States that at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts. Payments in respect of the Notes represented by a Global Note (including principal, premium and interest) shall be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the accounts specified by the Depository. The Issuer shall make all payments in respect of a certificated Note (including principal, premium and interest) by mailing a check to the registered address of each Holder thereof, provided , however , that payments on a certificated Note shall be made by wire transfer to a U.S. dollar account maintained by the payee with a bank in the United States if such Holder elects payment by wire transfer by giving written notice to the Trustee or the Paying Agent to such effect designating such account no later than 30 days immediately preceding the relevant due date for payment (or such other date as the Trustee may accept in its discretion).

 


1 Insert if at the date of issuance of the Private Exchange Note any Registration Default has occurred with respect to the related Initial Notes during the interest period in which such date of issuance occurs.


3. Paying Agent and Registrar

Initially, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association (the “Trustee”), shall act as Paying Agent and Registrar. The Issuer may appoint and change any Paying Agent, Registrar or co-registrar without notice. The Issuer or any of its domestically incorporated Wholly Owned Subsidiaries may act as Paying Agent, Registrar or co-registrar.

4. Indenture

The Issuer issued the Notes under an Indenture dated as of April 26, 2006 (the “Indenture”), among the Issuer, the Guarantors and the Trustee. The terms of the Notes include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C. §§ 77aaa-77bbbb) (the “Act”). Terms defined in the Indenture and not defined herein have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Indenture. The Notes are subject to all such terms, and Holders are referred to the Indenture and the Act for a statement of those terms.

The Notes are unsecured subordinated obligations of the Issuer and consist of 11  1 / 2 % Senior Subordinated Notes due 2015 and any Additional Notes that may be issued after the Issue Date. The Indenture contains covenants that, among other things, limit the ability of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries to incur additional indebtedness; pay dividends or distributions on, or redeem or repurchase capital stock; make investments; engage in transactions with affiliates; create liens on assets to secure indebtedness; transfer or sell assets; guarantee indebtedness; restrict dividends or other payments of subsidiaries; consolidate, merge or transfer all or substantially all of its assets; engage in sale/leaseback transactions; and incur other senior subordinated indebtedness. These covenants are subject to important exceptions and qualifications contained in the Indenture.

5. Optional Redemption

Except as set forth below, the Issuer shall not be entitled to redeem the Notes.

On and after October 15, 2010, the Issuer may redeem the Notes, at its option, in whole at any time or in part from time to time, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice mailed by first class mail to each Holder’s registered address, at the following redemption prices (expressed as a percentage of principal amount), plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, to the redemption date (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date), if redeemed during the 12-month period commencing on October 15 of the years set forth below:

 

Year

   Redemption
Price
 

2010

   105.750 %

2011

   103.833 %

2012

   101.917 %

2013 and thereafter

   100.000 %

 

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Notwithstanding the foregoing, at any time and from time to time on or prior to October 15, 2008, the Issuer may redeem in the aggregate up to 35% of the original aggregate principal amount of the Notes (calculated after giving effect to any issuance of Additional Notes) with the net cash proceeds of one or more (a) Equity Offerings by the Issuer, (b) Equity Offerings by any Parent of the Issuer, to the extent the net cash proceeds thereof are contributed to the common equity capital of the Issuer or used to purchase Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Issuer from it, or (c) Subsidiary Spin-Offs, at a redemption price equal to 111.50% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, to the redemption date (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date); provided , however , that at least 65% of the original aggregate principal amount of the Notes (calculated after giving effect to any issuance of Additional Notes) must remain outstanding after each such redemption; provided , further , that such redemption shall occur within 90 days after the date on which any such Equity Offering is consummated upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ notice mailed to each Holder being redeemed and otherwise in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Indenture.

Notice of any redemption upon any Equity Offering may be given prior to the completion thereof, and any such redemption or notice may, at the Issuer’s discretion, be subject to one or more conditions precedent, including, but not limited to, completion of the related Equity Offering.

6. Subordination

The Notes and the Guarantees are general senior subordinated unsecured obligations of the Issuer and the Guarantors, subordinated in right of payment to the prior payment in full in cash of all Obligations due in respect of existing or future Senior Debt of the Issuer or a Guarantor, as applicable, as set forth in Article 12 of the Indenture. Each Holder by its acceptance hereof agrees to be bound by such provisions and authorizes and expressly directs the Trustee, on its behalf, to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate the subordination provided for in the Indenture and appoints the Trustee its attorney-in-fact for such purposes.

7. Notice of Redemption

Notice of redemption shall be mailed by first-class mail or electronically transmitted at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each Holder of Notes to be redeemed at his registered address. Notes in denominations larger than $1,000 principal amount may be redeemed in part but only in whole multiples of $1,000. If money sufficient to pay the redemption price of and accrued interest on all Notes (or portions thereof) to

 

3


be redeemed on the redemption date is deposited with the Paying Agent on or before the redemption date and certain other conditions are satisfied, on and after such date interest ceases to accrue on such Notes (or such portions thereof) called for redemption.

8. Put Provisions

Except as set forth in the Indenture, the occurrence of any Change of Control shall constitute an Event of Default under the Indenture unless the Issuer (i)(A) makes an offer within 30 days following such Change of Control to all holders of the Notes to purchase all the Notes properly tendered (a “Change of Control Offer”) at a purchase price (the “Change of Control Purchase Price”) equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest (if any) to the date of repurchase (subject to the right of holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date); and (B) purchase all the Notes properly tendered in accordance with the Change of Control Offer or (ii) exercises its right, within 30 days following such Change of Control, to redeem all the Notes as described under Paragraph 5 of this Note.

9. Guarantee

The payment by the Issuer of the principal of, and premium and interest on, the Notes is fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a joint and several basis by each of the Guarantors to the extent set forth in the Indenture.

10. [Intentionally omitted]

11. Denominations; Transfer; Exchange

The Notes are in registered form without coupons in denominations of $1,000 principal amount and whole multiples of $1,000. A Holder may transfer or exchange Notes in accordance with the Indenture. The Registrar may require a Holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements or transfer documents and to pay any taxes and fees required by law or permitted by the Indenture. The Registrar need not register the transfer of or exchange any Notes selected for redemption (except, in the case of a Note to be redeemed in part, the portion of the Note not to be redeemed) or any Notes for a period of 15 days before a selection of Notes to be redeemed or 15 days before an interest payment date.

12. Persons Deemed Owners

The registered Holder of this Note may be treated as the owner of it for all purposes.

13. Unclaimed Money

If money for the payment of principal or interest remains unclaimed for two years, the Trustee or Paying Agent shall pay the money back to the Issuer at its request unless an abandoned property law designates another Person. After any such payment, Holders entitled to the money must look only to the Issuer and not to the Trustee for payment.

 

4


14. Discharge and Defeasance

Subject to certain conditions set forth in the Indenture, the Issuer at any time shall be entitled to terminate some or all of its and the Guarantors’ obligations under the Notes and the Indenture if the Issuer deposit with the Trustee money or, in certain cases, U.S. Government Obligations for the payment of principal and interest on the Notes to redemption or maturity, as the case may be.

15. Amendment, Waiver

Subject to certain exceptions set forth in the Indenture, (a) the Indenture and the Notes may be amended with the written consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount outstanding of the Notes and (b) any default or noncompliance with any provision may be waived with the written consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount outstanding of the Notes. Subject to certain exceptions set forth in the Indenture, without the consent of any Holder, the Issuer, the Guarantors and the Trustee shall be entitled to amend the Indenture or the Notes to cure any ambiguity, omission, defect or inconsistency, to provide for the assumption by a Successor Issuer of the obligations of the Issuer under the Indenture and hereunder, to provide for the assumption by a Successor Guarantor of the obligations of a Subsidiary Guarantor under the Indenture and its Guarantee, or to provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated Notes, to add Guarantees with respect to the Notes, to secure the Notes, to add to the covenants of the Issuer for the benefit of Holders or to surrender any right or power conferred upon the Issuer, to make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of any Holder, to comply with any requirements of the SEC in connection with the qualification of the Indenture under the Act, to effect any provision of the Indenture or to make certain changes to the Indenture to provide for the issuance of Additional Notes.

16. Defaults and Remedies

Under the Indenture, Events of Default include (1) a default in any payment of interest on, or Additional Interest with respect to, any Note when due that continues for 30 days, whether or not such payment is prohibited by the subordination provisions of the Indenture, (2) a default in the payment of principal or premium, if any, of any Note when due at its Stated Maturity, upon optional redemption, upon required repurchase, upon declaration or otherwise, whether or not such payment is prohibited by the subordination provisions of the Indenture, (3) the failure by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to comply with the provisions described under Article 5 of the Indenture, (4) the failure by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to comply for 30 days after notice with any of its obligations under Article Four of the Indenture (other than a failure to purchase Notes), (5) the failure by the Issuer or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries of the Issuer to comply for 60 days after notice with its other agreements contained in the Notes or the Indenture, (6) the failure by the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary to pay any Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness owing to a Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuer) within any applicable grace period after final maturity or the acceleration of any such Indebtedness by the holders thereof because of a default, in each case, if the total amount of such Indebtedness unpaid or accelerated exceeds $30 million or its foreign currency equivalent, (7) certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of the Issuer or a Significant Subsidiary, (8) the failure by the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary to pay final judgments

 

5


aggregating in excess of $30 million or its foreign currency equivalent (net of any amounts which are covered by enforceable insurance policies issued by solvent carriers), which judgments are not discharged, waived or stayed for a period of 60 days and (9) any Guarantee of a Significant Subsidiary ceases to be in full force and effect (except as contemplated by the terms thereof) or any Guarantor that qualifies as a Significant Subsidiary denies or disaffirms its obligations under the Indenture or any Guarantee and such Default continues for 10 days. If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Notes may declare all such Notes to be due and payable immediately, subject to certain conditions set forth in the Indenture. Certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency are Events of Default which shall result in the Notes being due and payable immediately upon the occurrence of such Events of Default.

Holders may not enforce the Indenture or the Notes except as provided in the Indenture. The Trustee may refuse to enforce the Indenture or the Notes unless it receives indemnity or security reasonably satisfactory to it. Subject to certain limitations, Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes may direct the Trustee in its exercise of any trust or power. The Trustee may withhold from Holders notice of any continuing Default (except a Default in payment of principal or interest) if it determines that withholding notice is in the interest of the Holders.

17. Trustee Dealings with the Issuer

Subject to certain limitations imposed by the Act, the Trustee under the Indenture, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Notes and may otherwise deal with and collect obligations owed to it by the Issuer or its Affiliates and may otherwise deal with the Issuer or its Affiliates with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee.

18. No Recourse Against Others

A director, officer, employee or stockholder, as such, of the Issuer or the Trustee shall not have any liability for any obligations of the Issuer under the Notes or the Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of such obligations or their creation; provided , however , the foregoing shall not affect or limit any liability of any Guarantor under the Indenture or its Guarantee. By accepting a Note, each Holder waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issue of the Notes.

19. Authentication

This Note shall not be valid until an authorized signatory of the Trustee (or an authenticating agent) manually signs the certificate of authentication on the other side of this Note.

20. Abbreviations

Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a Holder or an assignee, such as TEN COM (=tenants in common), TEN ENT (=tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (=joint tenants with rights of survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUST (=custodian), and U/G/M/A (=Uniform Gift to Minors Act).

 

6


21. CUSIP Numbers

Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures the Issuer has caused CUSIP numbers to be printed on the Notes and has directed the Trustee to use CUSIP numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders. No representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice of redemption and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers placed thereon.

22. Holders’ Compliance with Registration Rights Agreement

[Each Holder of a Note, by acceptance hereof, acknowledges and agrees to the provisions of the Registration Rights Agreement, including the obligations of the Holders with respect to a registration and the indemnification of the Issuer to the extent provided therein.] 2

23. Governing Law

THIS NOTE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

The Issuer shall furnish to any Holder upon written request and without charge to the Holder a copy of the Indenture which has in it the text of this Note in larger type. Requests may be made to:

Affinion Group, Inc.

100 Connecticut Avenue

Norwalk, CT 06850

Attention: General Counsel

 


2 Delete if this Note is not being issued in exchange for an Initial Note.

 

7


ASSIGNMENT FORM

To assign this Note, fill in the form below:

I or we assign and transfer this Note to

(Print or type assignee’s name, address and zip code)

(Insert assignee’s soc. sec. or tax I.D. No.)

and irrevocably appoint                      agent to transfer this Note on the books of the Issuer. The agent may substitute another to act for him.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

Date:                          Your Signature:                                                                                                   

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Note.

 

8


OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE

If you want to elect to have this Note purchased by the Issuer pursuant to Section 4.06 or 4.08 of the Indenture, check the box:

¨

If you want to elect to have only part of this Note purchased by the Issuer pursuant to Section 4.06 or 4.08 of the Indenture, state the amount in principal amount:

$             

 

Dated:                        Your Signature:  

 

    (Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Note.)

 

Signature Guarantee:

 

 

  (Signature must be guaranteed)

Signatures must be guaranteed by an “eligible guarantor institution” meeting the requirements of the Registrar, which requirements include membership or participation in the Security Transfer Agent Medallion Program (“STAMP”) or such other “signature guarantee program” as may be determined by the Registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

9


EXHIBIT 2 to Rule 144A/REGULATION S/IAI APPENDIX

Form of

Transferee Letter of Representation

Affinion Group, Inc.

In care of

[            ]

[            ]

[            ]

Ladies and Gentlemen:

This certificate is delivered to request a transfer of $[    ] principal amount of the 11  1 / 2 % Senior Subordinated Notes due 2015 (the “Notes”) of Affinion Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Issuer”).

Upon transfer, the Notes would be registered in the name of the new beneficial owner as follows:

 

Name:

 

 

Address:  

 

Taxpayer ID Number:  

 

The undersigned represents and warrants to you that:

1. We are an institutional “accredited investor” (as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”)), purchasing for our own account or for the account of such an institutional “accredited investor” at least $250,000 principal amount of the Notes, and we are acquiring the Notes not with a view to, or for offer or sale in connection with, any distribution in violation of the Securities Act. We have such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters as to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of our investment in the Notes, and we invest in or purchase notes similar to the Notes in the normal course of our business. We, and any accounts for which we are acting, are each able to bear the economic risk of our or its investment.

2. We understand that the Notes have not been registered under the Securities Act and, unless so registered, may not be sold except as permitted in the following sentence. We agree on our own behalf and on behalf of any investor account for which we are purchasing Notes to offer, sell or otherwise transfer such Notes prior to the date that is two years after the later of the date of original issue and the last date on which the Issuer or any affiliate of the Issuer was the owner of such Notes (or any predecessor thereto) (the “Resale Restriction Termination Date”) only (i) to the Issuer, (ii) in the United States to a person whom the seller


reasonably believes is a qualified institutional buyer in a transaction meeting the requirements of Rule 144A, (iii) to an institutional “accredited investor” within the meaning of Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act that is an institutional accredited investor purchasing for its own account or for the account of an institutional accredited investor, in each case in a minimum principal amount of the Notes of $250,000, (iv) outside the United States in a transaction complying with the provisions of Rule 904 under the Securities Act, (v) pursuant to an exemption from registration under the Securities Act provided by Rule 144 (if available) or (vi) pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, in each of cases (i) through (vi) subject to any requirement of law that the disposition of our property or the property of such investor account or accounts be at all times within our or their control and in compliance with any applicable state securities laws. The foregoing restrictions on resale shall not apply subsequent to the Resale Restriction Termination Date. If any resale or other transfer of the Notes is proposed to be made pursuant to clause (iii) above prior to the Resale Restriction Termination Date, the transferor shall deliver a letter from the transferee substantially in the form of this letter to the Issuer and the Trustee, which shall provide, among other things, that the transferee is an institutional “accredited investor” within the meaning of Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act and that it is acquiring such Notes for investment purposes and not for distribution in violation of the Securities Act. Each purchaser acknowledges that the Issuer and the Trustee reserve the right prior to the offer, sale or other transfer prior to the Resale Restriction Termination Date of the Notes pursuant to clause (iii), (iv) or (v) above to require the delivery of an opinion of counsel, certifications or other information satisfactory to the Issuer and the Trustee.

 

TRANSFEREE:  

 

  ,
by:  

 

 

2


APPENDIX B

[FORM OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE TO BE

DELIVERED BY ADDITIONAL SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS]

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE (this “Supplemental Indenture”), dated as of [    ] among [    ] (the “Additional Subsidiary Guarantor”), a [    ] corporation and a [direct] [indirect] subsidiary of Affinion Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (or its permitted successor) (the “Issuer”), and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Trustee under the Indenture (the “Trustee”).

WITNESSETH:

WHEREAS the Issuer and the Subsidiary Guarantors have heretofore executed and delivered to the Trustee an Indenture (the “Indenture”), dated as of April 26, 2006, providing for the issuance of Senior Subordinated Notes (the “Notes”);

WHEREAS, Section 4.11 and Section 10.06 of the Indenture provide that under certain circumstances the Issuer shall cause the Additional Subsidiary Guarantor to execute and deliver to the Trustee a guaranty agreement pursuant to which the Additional Subsidiary Guarantor shall Guarantee payment of the Notes on the same terms and conditions as those set forth in Article 10 of the Indenture; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 9.01(iv) of the Indenture, the Trustee and the Issuer is authorized to execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture.

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the Issuer, the Additional Subsidiary Guarantor and the Trustee mutually covenant and agree for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the Notes as follows:

SECTION 1. Capitalized Terms . Capitalized terms used herein but not defined shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

SECTION 2. Guarantees . The Additional Subsidiary Guarantor hereby agrees, jointly and severally with all other Guarantors, to guarantee the Issuer’s obligations under the Notes on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in Article 10 of the Indenture and to be bound by all other applicable provisions of the Indenture (including Article 11).

SECTION 3. Ratification of Indenture; Supplemental Indentures Part of Indenture . Except as expressly amended hereby, the Indenture is in all respects ratified and confirmed and all the terms, conditions and provisions thereof shall remain in full force and effect. This Supplemental Indenture shall form a part of the Indenture for all purposes, and every holder of Notes heretofore or hereafter authenticated and delivered shall be bound hereby.

SECTION 4. Governing Law . THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.


SECTION 5. Trustee Makes No Representation . The Trustee makes no representation as to the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture.

SECTION 6. Counterparts . The parties may sign any number of copies of this Supplemental Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement.

SECTION 7. Effect of Headings . The Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not effect the construction of this Supplemental Indenture.

 

2


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

 

AFFINION GROUP, INC.,
by  

 

Name:  
Title:  
[ADDITIONAL SUBSIDIARY GUARANTOR],
by  

 

Name:  
Title:  
WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
by  

 

Name:  
Title:  

 

3

Exhibit 4.3

AFFINION GROUP, INC.

$ 270,000,000 10  1 / 8 % SENIOR NOTES DUE 2013

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

October 17, 2005

C REDIT S UISSE F IRST B OSTON LLC

D EUTSCHE B ANK S ECURITIES I NC .

        As Representatives of the Several Initial Purchasers,

            Eleven Madison Avenue,

                New York, New York 10010-3629

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Affinion Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the Company ), proposes to issue and sell to Credit Suisse First Boston LLC, Deutsche Bank Securities LLC, Banc of America Securities LLC and BNP Paribas Securities Corp. (collectively, the Initial Purchasers” ), upon the terms set forth in a purchase agreement dated October 3, 2005 (the Purchase Agreement” ), $270,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 10  1 / 8 % Senior Notes due 2013 (the Initial Securities ). The Initial Securities will be unconditionally guaranteed (the Senior Guarantees ) on a senior basis by the guarantors listed on Schedule B to the Purchase Agreement (the Guarantors ). The Initial Securities will be issued pursuant to an Indenture, dated as of the date hereof, (the Indenture ), among the Company, the Guarantors and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee (the Trustee ).

As an inducement to the Initial Purchasers to enter into the Purchase Agreement, the Company and the Guarantors agree with the Initial Purchasers, for the benefit of the Initial Purchasers and the holders of the Securities (as defined below) (collectively the Holders” ), as follows:

1. Registered Exchange Offer . Unless not permitted by applicable law or Commission (as defined below) policy, the Company and the Guarantors shall prepare and use commercially reasonable efforts to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the Commission” ) on or prior to the 180 th day after the date of original issue of the Initial Securities (the “Issue Date”) a registration statement (the Exchange Offer Registration Statement” ) on an appropriate form under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act” ), with respect to a proposed offer (the Registered Exchange Offer” ) to the Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities (as defined in Section 6 hereof), who are not prohibited by any law or policy of the Commission from participating in the Registered Exchange Offer, to issue and deliver to such Holders, in exchange for the Initial Securities, a like aggregate principal amount of debt securities of the Company issued under the Indenture, substantially identical in all material respects to the Initial Securities (except for the transfer restrictions relating to the Initial Securities and the provisions relating to the matters described in Section 6 hereof) and registered under the Securities Act (the Exchange Securities” ). Unless not permitted by applicable law or Commission policy, the Company and the Guarantors shall use commercially reasonable efforts (i) to cause such Exchange Offer Registration Statement to become effective under the Securities Act on or prior to the 300 th day after the Issue Date and (ii) keep the Exchange Offer Registration Statement effective for not less than 20 Business Days (or longer, if required by applicable law) after the date notice of the Registered Exchange Offer is mailed to the Holders (such period being called the Exchange Offer Registration Period” ). For purposes of this Agreement, Business Day ” shall mean a day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which banking institutions are authorized or required by law to close in New York City.


If the Company and the Guarantors commence the Registered Exchange Offer, the Company and the Guarantors (i) will be entitled to consummate the Registered Exchange Offer 20 Business Days after such commencement (provided that the Company has accepted all the Initial Securities theretofore validly tendered in accordance with the terms of the Registered Exchange Offer) and (ii) will be required to consummate the Registered Exchange Offer no later than 30 Business Days after the date on which the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is declared effective (such 30th Business Day being the Consummation Deadline” ).

Following the declaration of the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, unless not permitted by applicable law or Commission policy, the Company and the Guarantors shall, as soon as practicable, commence the Registered Exchange Offer, it being the objective of such Registered Exchange Offer to enable each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities (as defined in Section 6 hereof) electing to exchange the Initial Securities for Exchange Securities (assuming that such Holder is not an affiliate of the Company or any Guarantor within the meaning of the Securities Act, acquires the Exchange Securities in the ordinary course of such Holder’s business and has no arrangements with any person to participate in the distribution of the Exchange Securities and is not prohibited by any law or policy of the Commission from participating in the Registered Exchange Offer) to trade such Exchange Securities from and after their receipt without any limitations or restrictions under the Securities Act and without material restrictions under the securities laws of the several states of the United States.

The Company and the Guarantors acknowledge that, pursuant to current interpretations by the Commission’s staff of Section 5 of the Securities Act, in the absence of an applicable exemption therefrom, (i) each Holder which is a broker-dealer electing to exchange Initial Securities, acquired for its own account as a result of market making activities or other trading activities, for Exchange Securities (an Exchanging Dealer” ), is required to deliver a prospectus containing the information set forth in (a) Annex A hereto on the cover, (b) Annex B hereto in the “Exchange Offer Procedures” section and the “Purpose of the Exchange Offer” section, and (c) Annex C hereto in the “Plan of Distribution” section of such prospectus in connection with a sale of any such Exchange Securities received by such Exchanging Dealer pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer and (ii) an Initial Purchaser that elects to sell Securities (as defined below) acquired in exchange for Initial Securities constituting any portion of an unsold allotment is required to deliver a prospectus containing the information required by Items 507 or 508 of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act, as applicable, in connection with such sale.

The Company and the Guarantors shall keep the Exchange Offer Registration Statement effective and shall amend and supplement the prospectus contained therein, in order to permit such prospectus to be lawfully delivered by all persons subject to the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act for such period of time as such persons must comply with such requirements in order to resell the Exchange Securities; provided , however , that (i) in the case where such prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto must be delivered by an Exchanging Dealer or an Initial Purchaser, such period shall be the lesser of 180 days and the date on which all Exchanging Dealers and the Initial Purchasers have sold all Exchange Securities held by them (unless such period is extended pursuant to Section 3(j) below) and (ii) the Company shall make such prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto available to any broker-dealer for use in connection with any resale of any Exchange Securities for a period of not less than 180 days after the consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer (or such shorter period during which such persons are required by applicable law to deliver such prospectus).

If, upon consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer, any Initial Purchaser holds Initial Securities acquired by it as part of its initial distribution, the Company, simultaneously with the delivery of the Exchange Securities pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer, shall issue and deliver to such Initial Purchaser upon the written request of such Initial Purchaser, in exchange (the Private Exchange” ) for the Initial Securities held by such Initial Purchaser, a like principal amount of debt securities of the Company issued under the Indenture and identical in all material respects (including the existence of restrictions on transfer under the Securities Act and the securities laws of the several states of the United States, but excluding provisions relating to the matters described in Section 6 hereof) to the Initial Securities (the

 

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Private Exchange Securities” ). The Initial Securities, the Exchange Securities and the Private Exchange Securities are herein collectively called the Securities” .

In connection with the Registered Exchange Offer, the Company shall:

(a) mail to each Holder a copy of the prospectus forming part of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, together with an appropriate letter of transmittal and related documents;

(b) keep the Registered Exchange Offer open for not less than 20 Business Days (or longer, if required by applicable law) after the date notice thereof is mailed to the Holders;

(c) utilize the services of a depositary for the Registered Exchange Offer, which may be the Trustee or an affiliate of the Trustee;

(d) permit Holders to withdraw tendered Securities at any time prior to the close of business, New York time, on the last Business Day on which the Registered Exchange Offer shall remain open; and

(e) otherwise comply in all material respects with all applicable laws.

As soon as practicable after the close of the Registered Exchange Offer or the Private Exchange, as the case may be, the Company shall:

(x) accept for exchange all the Securities validly tendered and not withdrawn pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer and the Private Exchange;

(y) deliver to the Trustee for cancellation all the Initial Securities so accepted for exchange; and

(z) cause the Trustee to authenticate and deliver promptly to each Holder of the Initial Securities, Exchange Securities or Private Exchange Securities, as the case may be, equal in principal amount to the Initial Securities of such Holder so accepted for exchange.

The Indenture will provide that the Exchange Securities will not be subject to the transfer restrictions set forth in the Indenture and that all the Initial Securities will vote and consent together on all matters as one class and that none of the Initial Securities will have the right to vote or consent as a class separate from one another on any matter.

Interest on each Exchange Security and Private Exchange Security issued pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer and in the Private Exchange will accrue from the last interest payment date on which interest was paid on the Initial Securities surrendered in exchange therefor or, if no interest has been paid on the Initial Securities, from the date of original issue of the Initial Securities.

Each Holder participating in the Registered Exchange Offer shall be required to represent in writing (which may be contained in the applicable letter of transmittal) to the Company that at the time of the consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer (i) any Exchange Securities received by such Holder will be acquired in the ordinary course of business, (ii) such Holder will have no arrangements or understanding with any person to participate in the distribution of the Securities or the Exchange Securities within the meaning of the Securities Act, (iii) such Holder is not an “affiliate,” as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act, of the Company or if it is an affiliate, such Holder will comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act to the extent applicable, (iv) if such Holder is not a broker-dealer, that it is not engaged in, and does not intend to engage in, the distribution of the Exchange Securities and (v) if such Holder is a broker-dealer, that it will receive Exchange Securities for its own account in exchange for Initial Securities that were acquired as a result of market-making activities or other

 

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trading activities and that it will be required to acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities.

Notwithstanding any other provisions hereof, the Company will ensure that (i) any Exchange Offer Registration Statement and any amendment thereto and any prospectus forming part thereof and any supplement thereto complies as to form in all material respects with the Securities Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, (ii) any Exchange Offer Registration Statement and any amendment thereto does not, when it becomes effective, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading and (iii) any prospectus forming part of any Exchange Offer Registration Statement, and any supplement to such prospectus, does not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

2. Shelf Registration . If, (i) the Company and the Guarantors are not permitted to consummate a Registered Exchange Offer because the Registered Exchange Offer is not permitted by applicable law or Commission policy, as contemplated by Section 1 hereof, (ii) the Registered Exchange Offer is not consummated within 30 Business Days of the 300 th day after the Issue Date, (iii) any Holder notifies the Company in writing on or prior to the 60 th day after the consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer that (A) such Holder is prohibited by applicable law or Commission policy from participating in the Registered Exchange Offer, or (B) such Holder may not resell the Exchange Securities acquired by it in the Registered Exchange Offer to the public without delivering a prospectus and that the prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is not appropriate or available for such resales by such Holder, or (C) such Holders is a broker-dealer, and holds Initial Securities acquired directly from the Company or one of its affiliates, the Company and the Guarantors shall take the following actions (the date on which any of the conditions described in the foregoing clauses (i) through (iii) occur, including in the case of clause (iii) the receipt of the required notice, being a Trigger Date” ):

(a) The Company and the Guarantors shall, at their cost, file with the Commission on or prior to the 180th day after a Trigger Date and thereafter use commercially reasonable efforts to cause to be declared effective on or prior to the 300 th day after the Trigger Date (such 300 th day, the Effectiveness Deadline ) a registration statement (the Shelf Registration Statement” and, together with the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, a Registration Statement” ) on an appropriate form under the Securities Act relating to the offer and sale of the Transfer Restricted Securities by the Holders thereof from time to time in accordance with the methods of distribution set forth in the Shelf Registration Statement and Rule 415 under the Securities Act (hereinafter, the Shelf Registration” ); provided , however , that no Holder (other than an Initial Purchaser) shall be entitled to have the Securities held by it covered by such Shelf Registration Statement unless such Holder agrees in writing to be bound by all the provisions of this Agreement applicable to such Holder.

(b) The Company and the Guarantors shall use commercially reasonable efforts to keep the Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective in order to permit the prospectus included therein to be lawfully delivered by the Holders of the relevant Securities, for a period of two years (or for such longer period if extended pursuant to Section 3(j) below) from the date of its effectiveness or such shorter period that will terminate when all the Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement (i) have been sold pursuant thereto or (ii) can be sold pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act, without any limitations under clauses (c), (e), (f) and (h) thereof).

(c) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement to the contrary, the Company shall cause the Shelf Registration Statement and the related prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, as of the effective date of the Shelf Registration Statement, amendment or supplement, (i) to comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission and (ii) not to contain any untrue

 

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statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

3. Registration Procedures . In connection with any Shelf Registration contemplated by Section 2 hereof and, to the extent applicable, any Registered Exchange Offer contemplated by Section 1 hereof, the following provisions shall apply:

(a) The Company shall (i) furnish to each Initial Purchaser, prior to the filing thereof with the Commission, a copy of the Registration Statement and each amendment thereof and each supplement, if any, to the prospectus included therein and, in the event that an Initial Purchaser (with respect to any portion of an unsold allotment from the original offering) is participating in the Registered Exchange Offer or the Shelf Registration Statement, the Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to reflect in each such document, when so filed with the Commission, such comments as such Initial Purchaser reasonably may propose; (ii) include the information set forth in Annex A hereto on the cover, in Annex B hereto in the “Exchange Offer Procedures” section and the “Purpose of the Exchange Offer” section and in Annex C hereto in the “Plan of Distribution” section of the prospectus forming a part of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement and include the information set forth in Annex D hereto in the Letter of Transmittal delivered pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer; (iii) if requested by an Initial Purchaser in writing, include the information required by Items 507 or 508 of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act, as applicable, in the prospectus forming a part of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement; (iv) include within the prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement a section entitled “Plan of Distribution,” reasonably acceptable to the Initial Purchasers, which shall contain a summary statement of the positions taken or policies made by the staff of the Commission with respect to the potential “underwriter” status of any broker-dealer that is the beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) of Exchange Securities received by such broker-dealer in the Registered Exchange Offer (a Participating Broker-Dealer” ), whether such positions or policies have been publicly disseminated by the staff of the Commission or such positions or policies, in the reasonable judgment of the Initial Purchasers based upon advice of counsel (which may be in-house counsel), represent the prevailing views of the staff of the Commission; and (v) in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, include the names of the Holders who propose to sell Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement as selling securityholders.

(b) The Company shall give written notice to the Initial Purchasers, any Participating Broker-Dealer from whom the Company has received prior written notice that it will be a Participating Broker-Dealer in the Registered Exchange Offer and, in the case of a Shelf Registration only, each Holder of the Securities (which notice pursuant to clauses (ii)-(v) hereof shall be accompanied by an instruction to suspend the use of the prospectus until the requisite changes have been made):

(i) when the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto has become effective;

(ii) of any request by the Commission after the Registration Statement has become effective for amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or the prospectus included therein or for additional information;

(iii) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose;

 

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(iv) of the receipt by the Company or its legal counsel of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose; and

(v) of the happening of any event during the period that the Registration Statement is effective that requires the Company to make changes in the Registration Statement or the prospectus in order that the Registration Statement or the prospectus do not contain an untrue statement of a material fact nor omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of the prospectus, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading.

(c) The Company shall make every reasonable effort to obtain the withdrawal at the earliest possible time, of any order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement.

(d) The Company shall furnish to each Holder of Securities included within the coverage of the Shelf Registration, without charge, at least one copy of the Shelf Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, including financial statements and schedules, and, if the Holder so requests in writing, all exhibits thereto (including those, if any, incorporated by reference).

(e) The Company shall deliver to each Exchanging Dealer and each Initial Purchaser, and to any other Holder who so requests, without charge, at least one copy of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, including financial statements and schedules, and, if any Initial Purchaser or any such Holder requests, all exhibits thereto (including those incorporated by reference).

(f) The Company shall, during the Shelf Registration Period, deliver to each Holder of Securities included within the coverage of the Shelf Registration, without charge, as many copies of the prospectus (including each preliminary prospectus) included in the Shelf Registration Statement and any amendment or supplement thereto as such person may reasonably request. The Company consents, subject to the provisions of this Agreement, to the use of the prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto by each of the selling Holders of the Securities in connection with the offering and sale of the Securities covered by the prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, included in the Shelf Registration Statement.

(g) The Company shall deliver to each Initial Purchaser, any Exchanging Dealer, any Participating Broker-Dealer and such other persons required to deliver a prospectus following the Registered Exchange Offer, without charge, as many copies of the final prospectus included in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement and any amendment or supplement thereto as such persons may reasonably request. The Company consents, subject to the provisions of this Agreement, to the use of the prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto by any Initial Purchaser, if necessary, any Participating Broker-Dealer and such other persons required to deliver a prospectus following the Registered Exchange Offer in connection with the offering and sale of the Exchange Securities covered by the prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, included in such Exchange Offer Registration Statement.

(h) Prior to any public offering of the Securities pursuant to any Registration Statement the Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to register or qualify or cooperate with the Holders of the Securities included therein and their respective counsel in connection with the registration or qualification of the Securities for offer and sale under the securities or “blue sky” laws of such states of the United States as any Holder of the Securities reasonably requests in writing and do any and all other acts or things necessary or advisable to enable the offer and sale in such jurisdictions of the Securities covered by such Registration Statement; provided , however , that the Company shall not be required to (i) qualify generally to do business or as a dealer in

 

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securities in any jurisdiction where it is not then so qualified or (ii) take any action which would subject it to general service of process or to taxation in any jurisdiction where it is not then so subject.

(i) The Company shall cooperate with the Holders of the Securities to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing the Securities to be sold pursuant to any Registration Statement free of any restrictive legends and in such denominations and registered in such names as the Holders may request a reasonable period of time prior to sales of the Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement.

(j) Upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by paragraphs (ii) through (v) of Section 3(b) above during the period for which the Company is required to maintain an effective Registration Statement, the Company shall promptly prepare and file a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or a supplement to the related prospectus and any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered to Holders of the Securities or purchasers of Securities, the prospectus will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. If the Company notifies the Initial Purchasers, the Holders of the Securities and any known Participating Broker-Dealer in accordance with paragraphs (ii) through (v) of Section 3(b) above to suspend the use of the prospectus until the requisite changes to the prospectus have been made, then the Initial Purchasers, the Holders of the Securities and any such Participating Broker-Dealers shall suspend use of such prospectus; notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not be required to amend or supplement a Registration Statement or any related prospectus if (i) an event occurs and is continuing as a result of which the Shelf Registration or any related prospectus would, in the Company’s good faith judgment, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading (with respect to such prospectus only, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) and (ii) (a) the Company determines in its good faith judgment that the disclosure of such event at such time would have a material adverse effect on its business, operations or prospects or (b) the disclosure otherwise relates to a pending material business transaction that has not yet been publicly disclosed; and the period of effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement provided for in Section 2(b) above and the Exchange Offer Registration Statement provided for in Section 1 above shall each be extended by the number of days from and including the date of the giving of such notice to and including the date when the Initial Purchasers, the Holders of the Securities and any known Participating Broker-Dealer shall have received such amended or supplemented prospectus pursuant to this Section 3(j).

(k) Not later than the effective date of the applicable Registration Statement, the Company will provide a CUSIP number for the Initial Securities, the Exchange Securities or the Private Exchange Securities, as the case may be.

(l) The Company and the Guarantors will comply with all rules and regulations of the Commission to the extent and so long as they are applicable to the Registered Exchange Offer or the Shelf Registration and will make generally available to their security holders (or otherwise provide in accordance with Section 11(a) of the Securities Act) an earnings statement satisfying the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act, no later than 45 days after the end of a 12-month period (or 90 days, if such period is a fiscal year) beginning with the first month of Company’s first fiscal quarter commencing after the effective date of the Registration Statement, which statement shall cover such 12-month period.

(m) The Company shall cause the Indenture to be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, in a timely manner and containing such changes, if any, as shall be necessary for such qualification. In the event that such qualification would require the appointment of a new

 

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trustee under the Indenture, the Company shall appoint a new trustee thereunder pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Indenture.

(n) The Company may require each Holder of Securities to be sold pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement to furnish to the Company such information regarding the Holder and the distribution of the Securities as the Company may from time to time reasonably require for inclusion in the Shelf Registration Statement, and the Company may exclude from such registration the Securities of any Holder that fails to furnish such information within a reasonable time after receiving such request.

(o) In the case of an offering of Securities to an underwriter or underwriters for reoffering to the public (an “Underwritten Offering”) pursuant to any Shelf Registration, the Company shall enter into such customary agreements (including, if requested, an underwriting agreement in customary form) and take all such other action, if any, as any Holder of the Securities shall reasonably request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Securities pursuant to any Shelf Registration.

(p) In the case of any Shelf Registration, the Company shall (i) make reasonably available for inspection by the Holders of the Securities, any underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement and any attorney, accountant or other agent retained by the Holders of the Securities or any such underwriter, at reasonable times and in a reasonable manner, all relevant financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company and (ii) cause the Company’s officers, directors, employees, accountants and auditors to supply all relevant information reasonably requested by the Holders of the Securities or any such underwriter, attorney, accountant or agent in connection with the Shelf Registration Statement, in each case, as shall be reasonably necessary to enable such persons, to conduct a reasonable investigation within the meaning of Section 11 of the Securities Act; provided however that the foregoing inspection and information gathering shall be coordinated on behalf of the Initial Purchasers by you and on behalf of the other parties, by one counsel designated by and on behalf of such other parties as described in Section 4 hereof; and provided further that each such Holder, underwriter, attorney, accountant or agent shall agree in writing that it will keep such information confidential and that it will not disclose any of the information that the Company determines, in good faith, to be confidential and notifies them in writing is confidential unless (A) the disclosure of such information is necessary to avoid or correct a material misstatement or material omission in such Registration Statement or prospectus, (B) the release of such information is ordered pursuant to a subpoena or other order from a court of competent jurisdiction, or is reasonably necessary in order to establish a “due diligence” defense pursuant to Section 11 of the Securities Act, or (C) the information has been made generally available to the public other than by any of such persons or their respective affiliates; provided , however , that prior notice shall be provided as soon as practicable to the Company of the potential disclosure of any information by such person pursuant to clause (A) or (B) of this sentence in order to permit the Company to obtain a protective order (or to waive the provisions of this paragraph (p)).

(q) In the case of an Underwritten Offering pursuant to any Shelf Registration, the Company, if requested by any Holder of Securities covered thereby, shall cause (i) its counsel to deliver an opinion and updates thereof relating to the Securities in customary form and covering matters customarily covered in opinions delivered in connection with such transactions and addressed to such Holders and the managing underwriters, if any, thereof and dated, in the case of the initial opinion, the effective date of such Shelf Registration Statement; (ii) its officers to execute and deliver all customary documents and certificates and updates thereof requested by any underwriters of the applicable Securities and (iii) its independent public accountants to provide to the selling Holders of the applicable Securities and any underwriter therefor a comfort letter in customary form and covering matters of the type customarily covered in comfort letters in connection with primary underwritten offerings, subject to receipt of appropriate documentation as contemplated, and only if permitted, by Statement of Auditing Standards No. 72.

 

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(r) If a Registered Exchange Offer or a Private Exchange is to be consummated, upon delivery of the Initial Securities by Holders to the Company (or to such other Person as directed by the Company) in exchange for the Exchange Securities or the Private Exchange Securities, as the case may be, the Company shall mark, or caused to be marked, on the Initial Securities so exchanged that such Initial Securities are being canceled in exchange for the Exchange Securities or the Private Exchange Securities, as the case may be; in no event shall the Initial Securities be marked as paid or otherwise satisfied.

(s) The Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to (a) if the Initial Securities have been rated prior to the initial sale of such Initial Securities, confirm such ratings will apply to the Securities covered by a Registration Statement, or (b) if the Initial Securities were not previously rated, cause the Securities covered by a Registration Statement to be rated with the appropriate rating agencies, if so requested by Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of Securities covered by such Registration Statement, or by the managing underwriters, if any.

(t) In the event that any broker-dealer registered under the Exchange Act shall underwrite any Securities or participate as a member of an underwriting syndicate or selling group or “assist in the distribution” (within the meaning of the Conduct Rules (the Rules” ) of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the NASD” )) thereof, whether as a Holder of such Securities or as an underwriter, a placement or sales agent or a broker or dealer in respect thereof, or otherwise, the Company will cooperate with such broker-dealer in complying with the requirements of such Rules, including, without limitation, by (i) if such Rules, including Rule 2720, shall so require, at the expense of the Holders, engaging a “qualified independent underwriter” (as defined in Rule 2720) to participate in the preparation of the Registration Statement relating to such Securities, to exercise usual standards of due diligence in respect thereto and, if any portion of the offering contemplated by such Registration Statement is an underwritten offering or is made through a placement or sales agent, to recommend the yield of such Securities, (ii) indemnifying any such qualified independent underwriter to the extent of the indemnification of underwriters provided in Section 5 hereof and (iii) providing such information to such broker-dealer as may be required in order for such broker-dealer to comply with the requirements of the Rules.

4. Registration Expenses . All expenses incident to the Company’s performance of and compliance with this Agreement will be borne by the Company, regardless of whether a Registration Statement is ever filed or becomes effective, including without limitation;

(a) all registration and filing fees and expenses;

(b) all fees and expenses of compliance with federal securities and state “blue sky” or securities laws;

(c) all expenses of printing (including printing of prospectuses), messenger and delivery services and telephone;

(d) all fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company; and

(e) all fees and disbursements of independent certified public accountants of the Company (including the expenses of any special audit and comfort letters required by or incident to such performance).

The Company will bear their internal expenses (including, without limitation, all salaries and expenses of its officers and employees performing legal or accounting duties), the expenses of any annual audit and the fees and expenses of any person, including special experts, retained by the Company. Each Holder shall pay all underwriting discounts and commissions, and the fees of any

 

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counsel retained by or on behalf of the underwriters, and transfer taxes, if any, related to the sale or disposition of a Holder’s Securities pursuant to any Shelf Registration Statement.

5. Indemnification.

(a) The Company and the Guarantors agree to indemnify and hold harmless each Holder of the Securities, any Participating Broker-Dealer and each person, if any, who controls such Holder or such Participating Broker-Dealer within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act (each Holder, any Participating Broker-Dealer and such controlling persons are referred to collectively as the Indemnified Parties” ) from and against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, or any actions in respect thereof (including, but not limited to, any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or actions relating to purchases and sales of the Securities) to which each Indemnified Party may become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or actions arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in a Registration Statement or prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any preliminary prospectus relating to a Shelf Registration, 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 shall reimburse, as incurred, the Indemnified Parties for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action in respect thereof; provided , however , that (i) the Company and the Guarantors shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in a Registration Statement or prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any preliminary prospectus relating to a Shelf Registration in reliance upon and in conformity with written information pertaining to such Indemnified Party and furnished to the Company by or on behalf of such Indemnified Party specifically for inclusion therein and (ii) with respect to any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in any preliminary prospectus relating to a Shelf Registration Statement, the indemnity agreement contained in this subsection (a) shall not inure to the benefit of any Holder or Participating Broker-Dealer from whom the person asserting any such losses, claims, damages or liabilities purchased the Securities concerned, to the extent that a prospectus relating to such Securities was required to be delivered by such Holder or Participating Broker-Dealer under the Securities Act in connection with such purchase and any such loss, claim, damage or liability of such Holder or Participating Broker-Dealer results from the fact that there was not sent or given to such person, at or prior to the written confirmation of the sale of such Securities to such person, a copy of the final prospectus if the Company had previously furnished copies thereof to such Holder or Participating Broker-Dealer; provided further , however , that this indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise have to such Indemnified Party. The Company and the Guarantors shall also indemnify underwriters, their officers and directors and each person who controls such underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act to the same extent as provided above with respect to the indemnification of the Holders of the Securities if requested by such Holders.

(b) Each Holder of the Securities, severally and not jointly, will indemnify and hold harmless the Company and the Guarantors and each person, if any, who controls the Company and the Guarantors within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act from and against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities or any actions in respect thereof, to which the Company or the Guarantors or any such controlling person may become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or actions arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in a Registration Statement or prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any preliminary prospectus relating to a Shelf Registration, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact necessary to make the statements

 

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therein not misleading, but in each case only to the extent that the untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information pertaining to such Holder and furnished to the Company or the Guarantors by or on behalf of such Holder specifically for inclusion therein; and, subject to the limitation set forth immediately preceding this clause, shall reimburse, as incurred, the Company and the Guarantors for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Company and the Guarantors or any such controlling person in connection with investigating or defending any loss, claim, damage, liability or action in respect thereof. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which such Holder may otherwise have to the Company and the Guarantors or any of its controlling persons.

(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 5 of notice of the commencement of any action or proceeding (including a governmental investigation), such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under this Section 5, notify the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof; but the failure to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve the indemnifying party from any liability that it may have under subsection (a) or (b) above except to the extent that it has been materially prejudiced (through the forfeiture of substantive rights or defenses) by such failure; and provided further that the failure to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have to an indemnified party otherwise than under subsection (a) or (b) above. In case any such action is brought against any indemnified party, and it notifies the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party will be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it may wish, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party (who shall not, except with the consent of the indemnified party, be counsel to the indemnifying party), and after notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its election so to assume the defense thereof the indemnifying party will not be liable to such indemnified party under this Section 5 for any legal or other expenses, other than reasonable costs of investigation, subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof. In any such proceeding, any indemnified party shall have the right to retain its own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such indemnified party unless (i) the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have mutually agreed to the contrary; (ii) the indemnifying party has failed within a reasonable time to retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party; (iii) the indemnified party shall have reasonably concluded that there may be legal defenses available to it that are different from or in addition to those available to the indemnifying party; or (iv) the named parties in any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the indemnifying party and the indemnified party and representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them. It is understood and agreed that the indemnifying party shall not, in connection with any proceeding or related proceeding in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the fees and expenses or more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for all indemnified parties, and that all such fees and expenses shall be reimbursed as they are incurred. Any such separate firm for any Initial Purchaser, its affiliates, directors and officers and any control persons of such Initial Purchaser shall be designated in writing by CSFB and any such separate firm for the Company and the Guarantors, and their respective directors and officers and any control persons of the Company and the Guarantors shall be designated in writing by the Company. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party; provided that such consent is not unreasonably withheld or delayed, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened action in respect of which any indemnified party is or could have been a party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified party unless such settlement (i) includes an unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability on any claims that are the subject matter of such action, 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.

 

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(d) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 5 is unavailable or insufficient (although applicable in accordance with its terms) to hold harmless an indemnified party under subsections (a) or (b) above, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) referred to in subsection (a) or (b) above (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the indemnifying party or parties on the one hand and the indemnified party on the other from the issuance and sale by the Company and the Guarantors of the Initial Securities to the Initial Purchasers pursuant to the Purchase Agreement (which in the case of the Company shall be deemed to be equal to the total net proceeds from the Initial Placement received by the Company and the Guarantors), or (ii) if the allocation provided by the foregoing clause (i) is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the indemnifying party or parties on the one hand and the indemnified party on the other in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the parties shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company on the one hand or such Holder or such other indemnified party, as the case may be, on the other, and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The amount paid by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to in the first sentence of this subsection (d) shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any action or claim which is the subject of this subsection (d). Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 5(d), the Holders of the Securities shall not be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the net proceeds received by such Holders from the sale of the Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement exceeds the amount of damages which such Holders have otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. For purposes of this paragraph (d), each person, if any, who controls such indemnified party within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as such indemnified party and each person, if any, who controls the Company or the Guarantors within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company and the Guarantors.

(e) The agreements contained in this Section 5 shall survive the sale of the Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement and shall remain in full force and effect, regardless of any termination or cancellation of this Agreement or any investigation made by or on behalf of any indemnified party.

6. Additional Interest Under Certain Circumstances.

(a) Additional interest (the Additional Interest” ) with respect to the Securities shall be assessed as follows if any of the following events occur (each such event in clauses (i) through (v) below being herein called a Registration Default” ):

(i) any Registration Statement required by this Agreement is not filed with the Commission on or prior to the date specified for such filing in this Agreement;

(ii) any of such Registration Statements is not declared effective by the Commission on or prior to the date specified for such effectiveness in this Agreement (the Effectiveness Target Date ”);

 

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(iii) the Registered Exchange Offer is not consummated on or prior to the 30 th Business Day after the Effectiveness Target Date;

(iv) if after either the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or the Shelf Registration Statement, as the case may be, is declared effective (A) such Registration Statement thereafter ceases to be effective; or (B) such Registration Statement or the related prospectus ceases to be usable (except as permitted in paragraph (b)) in connection with resales or exchanges of Transfer Restricted Securities during the periods specified herein because either (1) any event occurs as a result of which the related prospectus forming part of such Registration Statement 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 not misleading or (2) it shall be necessary to amend such Registration Statement or supplement the related prospectus, to comply with the Securities Act or the Exchange Act or the respective rules thereunder.

Each of the foregoing will constitute a Registration Default whatever the reason for any such event and whether it is voluntary or involuntary or is beyond the control of the Company or pursuant to operation of law or as a result of any action or inaction by the Commission.

Additional Interest shall accrue on the principal amount of the Securities over and above the interest set forth in the title of the Securities from and including the date on which any such Registration Default shall occur to but excluding the date on which all such Registration Defaults have been cured, at a rate of 0.25% per annum (the Additional Interest Rate” ) for the first 90-day period immediately following the occurrence of such Registration Default. The Additional Interest Rate shall increase by an additional 0.25% per annum with respect to each subsequent 90-day period until all Registration Defaults have been cured, up to a maximum Additional Interest Rate of 1.0% per annum. In no event shall the Company be obligated to pay Additional Interest for all Registration Defaults under more than one of the clauses in this Section 6(a) at any one time and, in the case of a Shelf Registration, it is expressly understood that Additional Interest should be payable only with respect to Securities so requested to be registered pursuant to Section 2 hereof.

(b) A Registration Default referred to in Section 6(a)(v) hereof shall be deemed not to have occurred and be continuing in relation to a Shelf Registration Statement or the related prospectus if (i) such Registration Default has occurred solely as a result of (x) the filing of a post-effective amendment to such Shelf Registration Statement to incorporate annual audited financial information with respect to the Company where such post-effective amendment is not yet effective and needs to be declared effective to permit Holders to use the related prospectus, (y) other material events with respect to the Company or the Guarantors that would need to be described in such Shelf Registration Statement or the related prospectus or (z) the suspension of the effectiveness of such Registration Statement because the Company does not wish to disclose publicly a pending material business transaction that has not yet been publicly disclosed, and (ii) in the case of clause (y), the Company is proceeding promptly and in good faith to amend or supplement such Shelf Registration Statement and related prospectus to describe such events; provided , however , that if (A) in the case of a Registration Default described in clause 6(b)(i)(x), such Registration Default occurs for a continuous period in excess of 30 days and (B) in the case of a Registration Default described in clause 6(b)(i)(y) or 6(b)(i)(z), such Registration Default occurs for a period of more than 45 days in any three-month period or more than an aggregate of 90 days in any 12-month period, then Additional Interest shall be payable in accordance with the above paragraph from the day such Registration Default occurs until such Registration Default is cured.

(c) Any amounts of Additional Interest due pursuant to Section 6(a) will be payable in cash as provided in the Initial Securities on the regular interest payment dates with respect to the

 

13


Securities. The amount of Additional Interest will be determined by multiplying the applicable Additional Interest Rate by the principal amount of the Securities and further multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days such Additional Interest Rate was applicable during such period (determined on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months), and the denominator of which is 360.

(d) Transfer Restricted Securities” means each Security until (i) the date on which such Security has been exchanged by a person other than a broker-dealer for a freely transferable Exchange Security in the Registered Exchange Offer, (ii) following the exchange by a broker-dealer in the Registered Exchange Offer of an Initial Security for an Exchange Security, the date on which such Exchange Security is sold to a purchaser who receives from such broker-dealer on or prior to the date of such sale a copy of the prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, (iii) the date on which such Security has been effectively registered under the Securities Act and disposed of in accordance with the Shelf Registration Statement or (iv) the date on which such Security is distributed to the public pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act or is saleable pursuant to Rule 144(k) under the Securities Act.

7. Agreement to Provide Information . The Company will provide a copy of this Agreement to prospective purchasers of Initial Securities identified to the Company by the Initial Purchasers upon request. Upon the request of any Holder of Initial Securities, the Company shall deliver to such Holder a written statement as to whether it has complied with such requirements. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Section 7 shall be deemed to require the Company to register any of its securities pursuant to the Exchange Act.

8. Underwritten Registrations . If any of the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by any Shelf Registration are to be sold in an Underwritten Offering, the investment banker or investment bankers and manager or managers that will administer the offering ( Managing Underwriters” ) will be selected by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of such Transfer Restricted Securities to be included in such offering.

No person may participate in any Underwritten Offering hereunder unless such person (i) agrees to sell such person’s Transfer Restricted Securities on the basis reasonably provided in any underwriting arrangements approved by the persons entitled hereunder to approve such arrangements and (ii) completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements and other documents reasonably required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements.

9. Miscellaneous .

(a) Remedies . The Company and the Guarantors acknowledge and agree that any failure by the Company or the Guarantors to comply with their obligations under Section 1 and 2 hereof may result in material irreparable injury to the Initial Purchasers or the Holders for which there is no adequate remedy at law, that it will not be possible to measure damages for such injuries precisely and that, in the event of any such failure, the Initial Purchasers or any Holder may obtain such relief as may be required to specifically enforce the Company’s and the Guarantors’ obligations under Sections 1 and 2 hereof. The Company and the Guarantors further agree to waive the defense in any action for specific performance that a remedy at law would be adequate.

(b) No Inconsistent Agreements . Neither the Company nor the Guarantors will on or after the date of this Agreement enter into any agreement with respect to the Company’s securities that is inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders in this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof. The rights granted to the Holders hereunder do not in any way conflict with and are not inconsistent with the rights granted to the holders of the Company’s securities under any agreement in effect on the date hereof.

 

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(c) Amendments and Waivers . The provisions of this Agreement may not be amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from the provisions hereof may not be given, except by the Company and the written consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities affected by such amendment, modification, supplement, waiver or consents. Without the consent of the Holder of each Security, however, no modification may change the provisions relating to the payment of Additional Interest. Subject to the foregoing sentence, a waiver or consent to depart from the provisions hereof with respect to a matter that relates exclusively to the rights of Holders of Securities whose Securities are being sold pursuant to a Registration Statement and that does not directly or indirectly affect, impair, limit or compromise the rights of other Holders of Securities may be given by Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities being sold pursuant to such Registration Statement.

(d) Notices . All notices and other communications provided for or permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand delivery, first-class mail, facsimile transmission, or air courier which guarantees overnight delivery:

(1) if to a Holder of the Securities, at the most current address given by such Holder to the Company.

(2) if to the Initial Purchasers;

c/o Credit Suisse First Boston LLC

Eleven Madison Avenue

New York, NY 10010-3629

Fax No.: (212) 325-8278

Attention: Transactions Advisory Group

with a copy to:

Shearman & Sterling LLP

599 Lexington Avenue

New York, N.Y. 10022

Fax No.: (212) 848-4000

Attention: Robert Evans III

(3) if to the Company or the Guarantors :

Affinion Group. Inc.

100 Connecticut Avenue

Norwalk, CT 06850

Attention: General Counsel

with a copy to:

O’Melveny & Myers LLP

Times Square Tower

7 Times Square

New York, NY 10036

Fax No.: (212) 326-2061

Attention: Rosa A. Testani

All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; three Business Days after being deposited in the

 

15


mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when receipt is acknowledged by recipient’s facsimile machine operator, if sent by facsimile transmission; and on the day delivered, if sent by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery.

(e) Third Party Beneficiaries. The Holders shall be third party beneficiaries to the agreements made hereunder between the Company, on the one hand, and the Initial Purchasers, on the other hand, and shall have the right to enforce such agreements directly to the extent they may deem such enforcement necessary or advisable to protect their rights or the rights of Holders hereunder.

(f) Successors and Assigns . This Agreement shall be binding upon the Company and the Guarantors and their successors and assigns.

(g) Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by the 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.

(h) Headings . The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.

(i) Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAWS.

(j) Severability . If any one or more of the provisions contained herein, or the application thereof in any circumstance, is held invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of any such provision in every other respect and of the remaining provisions contained herein shall not be affected or impaired thereby.

(k) Securities Held by the Company . Whenever the consent or approval of Holders of a specified percentage of principal amount of Securities is required hereunder, Securities held by the Company or its affiliates (other than subsequent Holders of Securities if such subsequent Holders are deemed to be affiliates solely by reason of their holdings of such Securities) shall not be counted in determining whether such consent or approval was given by the Holders of such required percentage.

 

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If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, please sign and return to the Company a counterpart hereof, whereupon this instrument, along with all counterparts, will become a binding agreement among the several Initial Purchasers, the Company and the Guarantors in accordance with its terms.

 

Very truly yours,

AFFINION GROUP, INC.,

  by   /s/ Nathaniel J. Lipman
   

Name:

  Nathaniel J. Lipman
   

Title:

  Chief Executive Officer

AFFINION AUTO SERVICES, INC.

AFFINION DATA SERVICES, INC.

AFFINION GROUP, LLC

AFFINION MEMBERSHIP SERVICES HOLDINGS SUBSIDIARY LLC

AFFINION PUBLISHING, INC.

BENEFIT CONSULTANTS MEMBERSHIP, INC.

CARDWELL AGENCY, INC.

COMP-U-CARD SERVICES LLC

CREDENTIALS SERVICES INTERNATIONAL, INC.

LONG TERM PREFERRED CARE, INC.

MCM GROUP, LTD.

NGI HOLDINGS, INC.

PREFERRED CARE AGENCY, INC.

PROGENY MARKETING INNOVATIONS OF KENTUCKY, INC.

PROGENY MARKETING INNOVATIONS INC.

SAFECARD SERVICES, INCORPORATED

TRAVELERS ADVANTAGE SERVICES, INC.

TRILEGIANT AUTO SERVICES, INC.

TRILEGIANT CORPORATION

TRILEGIANT INSURANCE SERVICES, INC.

TRILEGIANT LOYALTY SOLUTIONS, INC.

TRILEGIANT MARKETING SERVICES, INC.

TRILEGIANT RETAIL SERVICES, INC.

TRL GROUP, INC.

UNITED BANK CLUB ASSOCIATION, INC.

By:  

/s/ Nathaniel J. Lipman

 

Name:

 

Nathaniel J. Lipman

 

Title:

 

Chief Executive Officer

CUC ASIA HOLDINGS
By:   Comp-U-Card Services LLC, its General Partner
  By:   /s/ Nathaniel J. Lipman
   

Name:

 

Nathaniel J. Lipman

   

Title:

 

Chief Executive Officer

 

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

Acting on behalf of themselves and as the Representatives of the several Initial Purchasers.

 

C REDIT S UISSE F IRST B OSTON LLC
D EUTSCHE B ANK S ECURITIES I NC .
By   C REDIT S UISSE F IRST B OSTON LLC
By   /s/ Malcolm Price
Name:   Malcolm Price
Title:   Managing Director
By   D EUTSCHE B ANK S ECURITIES I NC .
By   /s/ Thomas Krauss
Name:   Thomas Krauss
Title:   Director
By   /s/ John Eydenberg
Name:   John Eydenberg
Title:   Managing Director

 

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ANNEX A

Each broker-dealer that receives Exchange Securities for its own account pursuant to the Exchange Offer must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities. The Letter of Transmittal states that by so acknowledging and by delivering a prospectus, a broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act. This prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, may be used by a broker-dealer in connection with resales of Exchange Securities received in exchange for Initial Securities where such Initial Securities were acquired by such broker-dealer as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities. The Company has agreed that, for a period of 180 days after the Expiration Date (as defined herein), it will make this prospectus available to any broker-dealer for use in connection with any such resale. See “Plan of Distribution.”


ANNEX B

Each broker-dealer that receives Exchange Securities for its own account in exchange for Initial Securities, where such Initial Securities were acquired by such broker-dealer as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities, must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities. See “Plan of Distribution.”


ANNEX C

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

Each broker-dealer that receives Exchange Securities for its own account pursuant to the Exchange Offer must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities. This Prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, may be used by a broker-dealer in connection with resales of Exchange Securities received in exchange for Initial Securities where such Initial Securities were acquired as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities. The Company has agreed that, for a period of 180 days after the Expiration Date, it will make this prospectus, as amended or supplemented, available to any broker-dealer for use in connection with any such resale. In addition, until [            ] , 200_ , all dealers effecting transactions in the Exchange Securities may be required to deliver a prospectus. 1

The Company will not receive any proceeds from any sale of Exchange Securities by broker-dealers. Exchange Securities received by broker-dealers for their own account pursuant to the Exchange Offer may be sold from time to time in one or more transactions in the over-the-counter market, in negotiated transactions, through the writing of options on the Exchange Securities or a combination of such methods of resale, at market prices prevailing at the time of resale, at prices related to such prevailing market prices or negotiated prices. Any such resale may be made directly to purchasers or to or through brokers or dealers who may receive compensation in the form of commissions or concessions from any such broker-dealer or the purchasers of any such Exchange Securities. Any broker-dealer that resells Exchange Securities that were received by it for its own account pursuant to the Exchange Offer and any broker or dealer that participates in a distribution of such Exchange Securities may be deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act and any profit on any such resale of Exchange Securities and any commission or concessions received by any such persons may be deemed to be underwriting compensation under the Securities Act. The Letter of Transmittal states that, by acknowledging that it will deliver and by delivering a prospectus, a broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act.

For a period of 180 days after the Expiration Date the Company will promptly send additional copies of this prospectus and any amendment or supplement to this prospectus to any broker-dealer that requests such documents in the Letter of Transmittal. The Company has agreed to pay all expenses incident to the Exchange Offer (including the expenses of one counsel for the Holders of the Securities) other than commissions or concessions of any brokers or dealers and will indemnify the Holders of the Securities (including any broker-dealers) against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.


1 In addition, the legend required by Item 502(e) of Regulation S-K will appear on the inside front cover page of the Exchange Offer prospectus below the Table of Contents.


ANNEX D

¨ CHECK HERE IF YOU ARE A BROKER-DEALER AND WISH TO RECEIVE 10 ADDITIONAL COPIES OF THE PROSPECTUS AND 10 COPIES OF ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS THERETO.

                    Name:                                         

                    Address:                                         

If the undersigned is not a broker-dealer, the undersigned represents that it is not engaged in, and does not intend to engage in, a distribution of Exchange Securities. If the undersigned is a broker-dealer that will receive Exchange Securities for its own account in exchange for Initial Securities that were acquired as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities, it acknowledges that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities; however, by so acknowledging and by delivering a prospectus, the undersigned will not be deemed to admit that it is an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act.

Exhibit 4.4

AFFINION GROUP, INC.

$ 355,500,000 11  1 / 2 % SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES DUE 2015

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

April 26, 2006

C REDIT S UISSE SECURITIES (USA) LLC

D EUTSCHE B ANK S ECURITIES I NC .

As Representatives of the Several Initial Purchasers,

  Eleven Madison Avenue,

New York, New York 10010-3629

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Affinion Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), proposes to issue and sell to Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Deutsche Bank Securities LLC, Banc of America Securities LLC and BNP Paribas Securities Corp. (collectively, the “ Initial Purchasers ”), upon the terms set forth in a purchase agreement dated April 21, 2006 (the “ Purchase Agreement ”), $355,500,000 aggregate principal amount of its 11  1 / 2 % Senior Subordinated Notes due 2015 (the “ Initial Securities ”). The Initial Securities will be unconditionally guaranteed (the “ Senior Subordinated Guarantees ”) on a senior subordinated basis by the guarantors listed on Schedule B to the Purchase Agreement (the “ Guarantors ”). The Initial Securities will be issued pursuant to an Indenture, dated as of the date hereof, (the “ Indenture ”), among the Company, the Guarantors and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee (the “ Trustee ”).

As an inducement to the Initial Purchasers to enter into the Purchase Agreement, the Company and the Guarantors agree with the Initial Purchasers, for the benefit of the Initial Purchasers and the holders of the Securities (as defined below) (collectively the “ Holders ”), as follows:

1. Registered Exchange Offer . Unless not permitted by applicable law or Commission (as defined below) policy, the Company and the Guarantors shall prepare and use commercially reasonable efforts to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ Commission ”) on or prior to the 180 th day after the date of original issue of the Initial Securities (the “Issue Date”) a registration statement (the “ Exchange Offer Registration Statement ”) on an appropriate form under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”), with respect to a proposed offer (the “ Registered Exchange Offer ”) to the Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities (as defined in Section 6 hereof), who are not prohibited by any law or policy of the Commission from participating in the Registered Exchange Offer, to issue and deliver to such Holders, in exchange for the Initial Securities, a like aggregate principal amount of debt securities of the Company issued under the Indenture, substantially identical in all material respects to the Initial Securities (except for the transfer restrictions relating to the Initial Securities and the provisions relating to the matters described in Section 6 hereof) and registered under the Securities Act (the “ Exchange Securities ”). Unless not permitted by applicable law or Commission policy, the Company and the Guarantors shall use commercially reasonable efforts (i) to cause such Exchange Offer Registration Statement to become effective under the Securities Act on or prior to the 300 th day after the Issue Date and (ii) keep the Exchange Offer Registration Statement effective for not less than 20 Business Days (or longer, if required by applicable law) after the date notice of the Registered Exchange Offer is mailed to the Holders (such period being called the “ Exchange Offer Registration Period ”). For purposes of this Agreement, “ Business Day ” shall mean a day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which banking institutions are authorized or required by law to close in New York City.

If the Company and the Guarantors commence the Registered Exchange Offer, the Company and the Guarantors (i) will be entitled to consummate the Registered Exchange Offer 20 Business Days after such


commencement (provided that the Company has accepted all the Initial Securities theretofore validly tendered in accordance with the terms of the Registered Exchange Offer) and (ii) will be required to consummate the Registered Exchange Offer no later than 30 Business Days after the date on which the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is declared effective (such 30th Business Day being the “ Consummation Deadline ”).

Following the declaration of the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, unless not permitted by applicable law or Commission policy, the Company and the Guarantors shall, as soon as practicable, commence the Registered Exchange Offer, it being the objective of such Registered Exchange Offer to enable each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities (as defined in Section 6 hereof) electing to exchange the Initial Securities for Exchange Securities (assuming that such Holder is not an affiliate of the Company or any Guarantor within the meaning of the Securities Act, acquires the Exchange Securities in the ordinary course of such Holder’s business and has no arrangements with any person to participate in the distribution of the Exchange Securities and is not prohibited by any law or policy of the Commission from participating in the Registered Exchange Offer) to trade such Exchange Securities from and after their receipt without any limitations or restrictions under the Securities Act and without material restrictions under the securities laws of the several states of the United States.

The Company and the Guarantors acknowledge that, pursuant to current interpretations by the Commission’s staff of Section 5 of the Securities Act, in the absence of an applicable exemption therefrom, (i) each Holder which is a broker-dealer electing to exchange Initial Securities, acquired for its own account as a result of market making activities or other trading activities, for Exchange Securities (an “ Exchanging Dealer ”), is required to deliver a prospectus containing the information set forth in (a) Annex A hereto on the cover, (b) Annex B hereto in the “Exchange Offer Procedures” section and the “Purpose of the Exchange Offer” section, and (c) Annex C hereto in the “Plan of Distribution” section of such prospectus in connection with a sale of any such Exchange Securities received by such Exchanging Dealer pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer and (ii) an Initial Purchaser that elects to sell Securities (as defined below) acquired in exchange for Initial Securities constituting any portion of an unsold allotment is required to deliver a prospectus containing the information required by Items 507 or 508 of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act, as applicable, in connection with such sale.

The Company and the Guarantors shall keep the Exchange Offer Registration Statement effective and shall amend and supplement the prospectus contained therein, in order to permit such prospectus to be lawfully delivered by all persons subject to the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act for such period of time as such persons must comply with such requirements in order to resell the Exchange Securities; provided , however , that (i) in the case where such prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto must be delivered by an Exchanging Dealer or an Initial Purchaser, such period shall be the lesser of 180 days and the date on which all Exchanging Dealers and the Initial Purchasers have sold all Exchange Securities held by them (unless such period is extended pursuant to Section 3(j) below) and (ii) the Company shall make such prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto available to any broker-dealer for use in connection with any resale of any Exchange Securities for a period of not less than 180 days after the consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer (or such shorter period during which such persons are required by applicable law to deliver such prospectus).

If, upon consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer, any Initial Purchaser holds Initial Securities acquired by it as part of its initial distribution, the Company, simultaneously with the delivery of the Exchange Securities pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer, shall issue and deliver to such Initial Purchaser upon the written request of such Initial Purchaser, in exchange (the “ Private Exchange ”) for the Initial Securities held by such Initial Purchaser, a like principal amount of debt securities of the Company issued under the Indenture and identical in all material respects (including the existence of restrictions on transfer under the Securities Act and the securities laws of the several states of the United States, but excluding provisions relating to the matters described in Section 6 hereof) to the Initial Securities (the “ Private Exchange Securities ”). The Initial Securities, the Exchange Securities and the Private Exchange Securities are herein collectively called the “ Securities ”.

In connection with the Registered Exchange Offer, the Company shall:

(a) mail to each Holder a copy of the prospectus forming part of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, together with an appropriate letter of transmittal and related documents;

 

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(b) keep the Registered Exchange Offer open for not less than 20 Business Days (or longer, if required by applicable law) after the date notice thereof is mailed to the Holders;

(c) utilize the services of a depositary for the Registered Exchange Offer, which may be the Trustee or an affiliate of the Trustee;

(d) permit Holders to withdraw tendered Securities at any time prior to the close of business, New York time, on the last Business Day on which the Registered Exchange Offer shall remain open; and

(e) otherwise comply in all material respects with all applicable laws.

As soon as practicable after the close of the Registered Exchange Offer or the Private Exchange, as the case may be, the Company shall:

(x) accept for exchange all the Initial Securities validly tendered and not withdrawn pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer and the Private Exchange;

(y) deliver to the Trustee for cancellation all the Initial Securities so accepted for exchange; and

(z) cause the Trustee to authenticate and deliver promptly to each Holder of the Initial Securities, Exchange Securities or Private Exchange Securities, as the case may be, equal in principal amount to the Initial Securities of such Holder so accepted for exchange.

The Indenture will provide that the Exchange Securities will not be subject to the transfer restrictions set forth in the Indenture and that all the Initial Securities will vote and consent together on all matters as one class and that none of the Initial Securities will have the right to vote or consent as a class separate from one another on any matter.

Interest on each Exchange Security and Private Exchange Security issued pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer and in the Private Exchange will accrue from the last interest payment date on which interest was paid on the Initial Securities surrendered in exchange therefor or, if no interest has been paid on the Initial Securities, from the date of original issue of the Initial Securities.

Each Holder participating in the Registered Exchange Offer shall be required to represent in writing (which may be contained in the applicable letter of transmittal) to the Company that at the time of the consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer (i) any Exchange Securities received by such Holder will be acquired in the ordinary course of business, (ii) such Holder will have no arrangements or understanding with any person to participate in the distribution of the Securities or the Exchange Securities within the meaning of the Securities Act, (iii) such Holder is not an “affiliate,” as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act, of the Company or if it is an affiliate, such Holder will comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act to the extent applicable, (iv) if such Holder is not a broker-dealer, that it is not engaged in, and does not intend to engage in, the distribution of the Exchange Securities and (v) if such Holder is a broker-dealer, that it will receive Exchange Securities for its own account in exchange for Initial Securities that were acquired as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities and that it will be required to acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities.

Notwithstanding any other provisions hereof, the Company will ensure that (i) any Exchange Offer Registration Statement and any amendment thereto and any prospectus forming part thereof and any supplement thereto complies as to form in all material respects with the Securities Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, (ii) any Exchange Offer Registration Statement and any amendment thereto does not, when it becomes effective, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading and (iii) any prospectus forming part of any Exchange Offer Registration Statement, and any supplement to such prospectus, does not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

 

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2. Shelf Registration . If, (i) the Company and the Guarantors are not permitted to consummate a Registered Exchange Offer because the Registered Exchange Offer is not permitted by applicable law or Commission policy, as contemplated by Section 1 hereof, (ii) the Registered Exchange Offer is not consummated within 30 Business Days of the 300 th day after the Issue Date, (iii) any Holder notifies the Company in writing on or prior to the 60 th day after the consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer that (A) such Holder is prohibited by applicable law or Commission policy from participating in the Registered Exchange Offer, or (B) such Holder may not resell the Exchange Securities acquired by it in the Registered Exchange Offer to the public without delivering a prospectus and that the prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is not appropriate or available for such resales by such Holder, or (C) such Holders is a broker-dealer, and holds Initial Securities acquired directly from the Company or one of its affiliates, the Company and the Guarantors shall take the following actions (the date on which any of the conditions described in the foregoing clauses (i) through (iii) occur, including in the case of clause (iii) the receipt of the required notice, being a “ Trigger Date ”):

(a) The Company and the Guarantors shall, at their cost, file with the Commission on or prior to the 180th day after a Trigger Date and thereafter use commercially reasonable efforts to cause to be declared effective on or prior to the 300 th day after the Trigger Date (such 300 th day, the “ Effectiveness Deadline ”) (unless it becomes effective automatically upon filing) a registration statement (the “ Shelf Registration Statement ” and, together with the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, a “ Registration Statement ”) on an appropriate form under the Securities Act relating to the offer and sale of the Transfer Restricted Securities by the Holders thereof from time to time in accordance with the methods of distribution set forth in the Shelf Registration Statement and Rule 415 under the Securities Act (hereinafter, the “ Shelf Registration ”); provided , however , that no Holder (other than an Initial Purchaser) shall be entitled to have the Securities held by it covered by such Shelf Registration Statement unless such Holder agrees in writing to be bound by all the provisions of this Agreement applicable to such Holder.

(b) The Company and the Guarantors shall use commercially reasonable efforts to keep the Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective in order to permit the prospectus included therein to be lawfully delivered by the Holders of the relevant Securities, for a period of two years (or for such longer period if extended pursuant to Section 3(j) below) from the date of its effectiveness or such shorter period that will terminate when all the Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement (i) have been sold pursuant thereto or (ii) can be sold pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act, without any limitations under clauses (c), (e), (f) and (h) thereof).

(c) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement to the contrary, the Company shall cause the Shelf Registration Statement and the related prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, as of the effective date of the Shelf Registration Statement, amendment or supplement, (i) to comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission and (ii) not to contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

3. Registration Procedures . In connection with any Shelf Registration contemplated by Section 2 hereof and, to the extent applicable, any Registered Exchange Offer contemplated by Section 1 hereof, the following provisions shall apply:

(a) The Company shall (i) furnish to each Initial Purchaser, prior to the filing thereof with the Commission, a copy of the Registration Statement and each amendment thereof and each supplement, if any, to the prospectus included therein and, in the event that an Initial Purchaser (with respect to any portion of an unsold allotment from the original offering) is participating in the Registered Exchange Offer or the Shelf Registration Statement, the Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to reflect in each such document, when so filed with the Commission, such comments as such Initial Purchaser reasonably may propose; (ii) include the information set forth in Annex A hereto on the cover, in Annex B hereto in the “Exchange Offer Procedures” section and the “Purpose of the Exchange Offer” section and in Annex C hereto in the “Plan of Distribution” section of the prospectus forming a part of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement and include the information set forth in Annex D hereto in the Letter of Transmittal delivered pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer; (iii) if requested by an Initial Purchaser in

 

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writing, include the information required by Items 507 or 508 of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act, as applicable, in the prospectus forming a part of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement; (iv) include within the prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement a section entitled “Plan of Distribution,” reasonably acceptable to the Initial Purchasers, which shall contain a summary statement of the positions taken or policies made by the staff of the Commission with respect to the potential “underwriter” status of any broker-dealer that is the beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) of Exchange Securities received by such broker-dealer in the Registered Exchange Offer (a “ Participating Broker-Dealer ”), whether such positions or policies have been publicly disseminated by the staff of the Commission or such positions or policies, in the reasonable judgment of the Initial Purchasers based upon advice of counsel (which may be in-house counsel), represent the prevailing views of the staff of the Commission; and (v) in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, include in the prospectus included in the Shelf Registration Statement (or if permitted by Commission Rule 430B(b), in a prospectus supplement that becomes part thereof pursuant to Commission Rule 430B(f) that is delivered to any Holder pursuant to Section 3(d) and (f)) the names of the Holders who propose to sell Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement as selling securityholders.

(b) The Company shall give written notice to the Initial Purchasers, any Participating Broker-Dealer from whom the Company has received prior written notice that it will be a Participating Broker-Dealer in the Registered Exchange Offer and, in the case of a Shelf Registration only, each Holder of the Securities (which notice pursuant to clauses (ii)-(v) hereof shall be accompanied by an instruction to suspend the use of the prospectus until the requisite changes have been made):

(i) when the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto has become effective;

(ii) of any request by the Commission after the Registration Statement has become effective for amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or the prospectus included therein or for additional information;

(iii) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose, or the issuance by the Commission of a notification of objection to the use of the form on which the Registration Statement has been filed and of the happening of any event that causes the Company to become an “ineligible issuer” as defined in Commission Rule 405;

(iv) of the receipt by the Company or its legal counsel of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose; and

(v) of the happening of any event during the period that the Registration Statement is effective that requires the Company to make changes in the Registration Statement or the prospectus in order that the Registration Statement or the prospectus do not contain an untrue statement of a material fact nor omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of the prospectus, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading.

(c) The Company shall make every reasonable effort to obtain the withdrawal at the earliest possible time, of any order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement.

(d) The Company shall furnish to each Holder of Securities included within the coverage of the Shelf Registration, without charge, at least one copy of the Shelf Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment or supplement thereto, including financial statements and schedules, and, if the Holder so requests in writing, all exhibits thereto (including those, if any, incorporated by reference). The Company shall not, without the prior written consent of the Initial Purchasers, make any offer relating to

 

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the Securities included in the Shelf Registration Statement that would constitute a “free writing prospectus” as defined in Commission Rule 405.

(e) The Company shall deliver to each Exchanging Dealer and each Initial Purchaser, and to any other Holder who so requests, without charge, at least one copy of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, including financial statements and schedules, and, if any Initial Purchaser or any such Holder requests, all exhibits thereto (including those incorporated by reference).

(f) The Company shall, during the Shelf Registration Period, deliver to each Holder of Securities included within the coverage of the Shelf Registration, without charge, as many copies of the prospectus (including each preliminary prospectus) included in the Shelf Registration Statement and any amendment or supplement thereto as such person may reasonably request. The Company consents, subject to the provisions of this Agreement, to the use of the prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto by each of the selling Holders of the Securities in connection with the offering and sale of the Securities covered by the prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, included in the Shelf Registration Statement.

(g) The Company shall deliver to each Initial Purchaser, any Exchanging Dealer, any Participating Broker-Dealer and such other persons required to deliver a prospectus following the Registered Exchange Offer, without charge, as many copies of the final prospectus included in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement and any amendment or supplement thereto as such persons may reasonably request. The Company consents, subject to the provisions of this Agreement, to the use of the prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto by any Initial Purchaser, if necessary, any Participating Broker-Dealer and such other persons required to deliver a prospectus following the Registered Exchange Offer in connection with the offering and sale of the Exchange Securities covered by the prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, included in such Exchange Offer Registration Statement.

(h) Prior to any public offering of the Securities pursuant to any Registration Statement the Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to register or qualify or cooperate with the Holders of the Securities included therein and their respective counsel in connection with the registration or qualification of the Securities for offer and sale under the securities or “blue sky” laws of such states of the United States as any Holder of the Securities reasonably requests in writing and do any and all other acts or things necessary or advisable to enable the offer and sale in such jurisdictions of the Securities covered by such Registration Statement; provided , however , that the Company shall not be required to (i) qualify generally to do business or as a dealer in securities in any jurisdiction where it is not then so qualified or (ii) take any action which would subject it to general service of process or to taxation in any jurisdiction where it is not then so subject.

(i) The Company shall cooperate with the Holders of the Securities to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing the Securities to be sold pursuant to any Registration Statement free of any restrictive legends and in such denominations and registered in such names as the Holders may request a reasonable period of time prior to sales of the Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement.

(j) Upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by paragraphs (ii) through (v) of Section 3(b) above during the period for which the Company is required to maintain an effective Registration Statement, the Company shall promptly prepare and file a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or a supplement to the related prospectus and any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered to Holders of the Securities or purchasers of Securities, the prospectus will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. If the Company notifies the Initial Purchasers, the Holders of the Securities and any known Participating Broker-Dealer in accordance with paragraphs (ii) through (v) of Section 3(b) above to suspend the use of the prospectus until the requisite changes to the prospectus have been made, then the Initial Purchasers, the Holders of the Securities and any such Participating Broker-Dealers shall suspend use of such prospectus; notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not be required to amend or supplement a Registration

 

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Statement or any related prospectus if (i) an event occurs and is continuing as a result of which the Shelf Registration or any related prospectus would, in the Company’s good faith judgment, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading (with respect to such prospectus only, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) and (ii) (a) the Company determines in its good faith judgment that the disclosure of such event at such time would have a material adverse effect on its business, operations or prospects or (b) the disclosure otherwise relates to a pending material business transaction that has not yet been publicly disclosed; and the period of effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement provided for in Section 2(b) above and the Exchange Offer Registration Statement provided for in Section 1 above shall each be extended by the number of days from and including the date of the giving of such notice to and including the date when the Initial Purchasers, the Holders of the Securities and any known Participating Broker-Dealer shall have received such amended or supplemented prospectus pursuant to this Section 3(j). During the period during which the Company is required to maintain an effective Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to this Agreement, the Company will, prior to the two-year expiration of that Shelf Registration Statement, file and use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause to be declared effective (unless it becomes effective automatically upon filing) within a period that avoids any interruption in the ability of Holders of Securities covered by the expiring Shelf Registration Statement to make registered dispositions, a new registration statement relating to the Securities which shall be deemed the “Shelf Registration Statement” for purposes of this Agreement.

(k) Not later than the effective date of the applicable Registration Statement, the Company will provide a CUSIP number for the Initial Securities, the Exchange Securities or the Private Exchange Securities, as the case may be.

(l) The Company and the Guarantors will comply with all rules and regulations of the Commission to the extent and so long as they are applicable to the Registered Exchange Offer or the Shelf Registration and will make generally available to their security holders (or otherwise provide in accordance with Section 11(a) of the Securities Act) an earnings statement satisfying the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act, no later than 45 days after the end of a 12-month period (or 90 days, if such period is a fiscal year) beginning with the first month of Company’s first fiscal quarter commencing after the effective date of the Registration Statement, which statement shall cover such 12-month period.

(m) The Company shall cause the Indenture to be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, in a timely manner and containing such changes, if any, as shall be necessary for such qualification. In the event that such qualification would require the appointment of a new trustee under the Indenture, the Company shall appoint a new trustee thereunder pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Indenture.

(n) The Company may require each Holder of Securities to be sold pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement to furnish to the Company such information regarding the Holder and the distribution of the Securities as the Company may from time to time reasonably require for inclusion in the Shelf Registration Statement, and the Company may exclude from such registration the Securities of any Holder that fails to furnish such information within a reasonable time after receiving such request.

(o) In the case of an offering of Securities to an underwriter or underwriters for reoffering to the public (an “ Underwritten Offering ”) pursuant to any Shelf Registration, the Company shall enter into such customary agreements (including, if requested, an underwriting agreement in customary form) and take all such other action, if any, as any Holder of the Securities shall reasonably request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Securities pursuant to any Shelf Registration.

(p) In the case of any Shelf Registration, the Company shall (i) make reasonably available for inspection by the Holders of the Securities, any underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement and any attorney, accountant or other agent retained by the Holders of the Securities or any such underwriter, at reasonable times and in a reasonable manner, all relevant financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company and (ii) cause the Company’s officers, directors, employees, accountants and auditors to supply all relevant information

 

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reasonably requested by the Holders of the Securities or any such underwriter, attorney, accountant or agent in connection with the Shelf Registration Statement, in each case, as shall be reasonably necessary to enable such persons, to conduct a reasonable investigation within the meaning of Section 11 of the Securities Act; provided , however , that the foregoing inspection and information gathering shall be coordinated on behalf of the Initial Purchasers by you and on behalf of the other parties, by one counsel designated by and on behalf of such other parties as described in Section 4 hereof; and provided further that each such Holder, underwriter, attorney, accountant or agent shall agree in writing that it will keep such information confidential and that it will not disclose any of the information that the Company determines, in good faith, to be confidential and notifies them in writing is confidential unless (A) the disclosure of such information is necessary to avoid or correct a material misstatement or material omission in such Registration Statement or prospectus, (B) the release of such information is ordered pursuant to a subpoena or other order from a court of competent jurisdiction, or is reasonably necessary in order to establish a “due diligence” defense pursuant to Section 11 of the Securities Act, or (C) the information has been made generally available to the public other than by any of such persons or their respective affiliates; provided , however , that prior notice shall be provided as soon as practicable to the Company of the potential disclosure of any information by such person pursuant to clause (A) or (B) of this sentence in order to permit the Company to obtain a protective order (or to waive the provisions of this paragraph (p)).

(q) In the case of an Underwritten Offering pursuant to any Shelf Registration, the Company, if requested by any Holder of Securities covered thereby, shall cause (i) its counsel to deliver an opinion and updates thereof relating to the Securities in customary form and covering matters customarily covered in opinions delivered in connection with such transactions and addressed to such Holders and the managing underwriters, if any, thereof and dated, in the case of the initial opinion, the effective date of such Shelf Registration Statement; (ii) its officers to execute and deliver all customary documents and certificates and updates thereof requested by any underwriters of the applicable Securities; and (iii) its independent public accountants to provide to the selling Holders of the applicable Securities and any underwriter therefor a comfort letter in customary form and covering matters of the type customarily covered in comfort letters in connection with primary underwritten offerings, subject to receipt of appropriate documentation as contemplated, and only if permitted, by Statement of Auditing Standards No. 72.

(r) If a Registered Exchange Offer or a Private Exchange is to be consummated, upon delivery of the Initial Securities by Holders to the Company (or to such other Person as directed by the Company) in exchange for the Exchange Securities or the Private Exchange Securities, as the case may be, the Company shall mark, or caused to be marked, on the Initial Securities so exchanged that such Initial Securities are being canceled in exchange for the Exchange Securities or the Private Exchange Securities, as the case may be; in no event shall the Initial Securities be marked as paid or otherwise satisfied.

(s) The Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to (a) if the Initial Securities have been rated prior to the initial sale of such Initial Securities, confirm such ratings will apply to the Securities covered by a Registration Statement, or (b) if the Initial Securities were not previously rated, cause the Securities covered by a Registration Statement to be rated with the appropriate rating agencies, if so requested by Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of Securities covered by such Registration Statement, or by the managing underwriters, if any.

(t) In the event that any broker-dealer registered under the Exchange Act shall underwrite any Securities or participate as a member of an underwriting syndicate or selling group or “assist in the distribution” (within the meaning of the Conduct Rules (the “ Rules ”) of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the “ NASD ”)) thereof, whether as a Holder of such Securities or as an underwriter, a placement or sales agent or a broker or dealer in respect thereof, or otherwise, the Company will cooperate with such broker-dealer in complying with the requirements of such Rules, including, without limitation, by (i) if such Rules, including Rule 2720, shall so require, at the expense of the Holders, engaging a “qualified independent underwriter” (as defined in Rule 2720) to participate in the preparation of the Registration Statement relating to such Securities, to exercise usual standards of due diligence in respect thereto and, if any portion of the offering contemplated by such Registration Statement is an underwritten offering or is made through a placement or sales agent, to recommend the yield of such Securities, (ii) indemnifying any such qualified independent underwriter to the extent of the

 

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indemnification of underwriters provided in Section 5 hereof and (iii) providing such information to such broker-dealer as may be required in order for such broker-dealer to comply with the requirements of the Rules.

4. Registration Expenses . All expenses incident to the Company’s performance of and compliance with this Agreement will be borne by the Company, regardless of whether a Registration Statement is ever filed or becomes effective, including without limitation;

(a) all registration and filing fees and expenses;

(b) all fees and expenses of compliance with federal securities and state “blue sky” or securities laws;

(c) all expenses of printing (including printing of prospectuses), messenger and delivery services and telephone;

(d) all fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company; and

(e) all fees and disbursements of independent certified public accountants of the Company (including the expenses of any special audit and comfort letters required by or incident to such performance).

The Company will bear their internal expenses (including, without limitation, all salaries and expenses of its officers and employees performing legal or accounting duties), the expenses of any annual audit and the fees and expenses of any person, including special experts, retained by the Company. Each Holder shall pay all underwriting discounts and commissions, and the fees of any counsel retained by or on behalf of the underwriters, and transfer taxes, if any, related to the sale or disposition of a Holder’s Securities pursuant to any Shelf Registration Statement.

5. Indemnification.

(a) The Company and the Guarantors agree to indemnify and hold harmless each Holder of the Securities, any Participating Broker-Dealer and each person, if any, who controls such Holder or such Participating Broker-Dealer within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act (each Holder, any Participating Broker-Dealer and such controlling persons are referred to collectively as the “ Indemnified Parties ”) from and against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, or any actions in respect thereof (including, but not limited to, any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or actions relating to purchases and sales of the Securities) to which each Indemnified Party may become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or actions arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in a Registration Statement or prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any preliminary prospectus or “issuer free writing prospectus” as defined in Commission Rule 433 (“ Issuer FWP ”), relating to a Shelf Registration, 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 shall reimburse, as incurred, the Indemnified Parties for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action in respect thereof; provided , however , that the Company and the Guarantors shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in a Registration Statement or prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any preliminary prospectus or Issuer FWP relating to a Shelf Registration in reliance upon and in conformity with written information pertaining to such Indemnified Party and furnished to the Company by or on behalf of such Indemnified Party specifically for inclusion therein, provided further , however , that this indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise have to such Indemnified Party. The Company and the Guarantors shall also indemnify underwriters, their officers and directors and each person who

 

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controls such underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act to the same extent as provided above with respect to the indemnification of the Holders of the Securities if requested by such Holders.

(b) Each Holder of the Securities, severally and not jointly, will indemnify and hold harmless the Company and the Guarantors and each person, if any, who controls the Company and the Guarantors within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act from and against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities or any actions in respect thereof, to which the Company or the Guarantors or any such controlling person may become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or actions arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in a Registration Statement or prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any preliminary prospectus or Issuer FWP relating to a Shelf Registration, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, but in each case only to the extent that the untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information pertaining to such Holder and furnished to the Company or the Guarantors by or on behalf of such Holder specifically for inclusion therein; and, subject to the limitation set forth immediately preceding this clause, shall reimburse, as incurred, the Company and the Guarantors for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Company and the Guarantors or any such controlling person in connection with investigating or defending any loss, claim, damage, liability or action in respect thereof. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which such Holder may otherwise have to the Company and the Guarantors or any of its controlling persons.

(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 5 of notice of the commencement of any action or proceeding (including a governmental investigation), such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under this Section 5, notify the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof; but the failure to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve the indemnifying party from any liability that it may have under subsection (a) or (b) above except to the extent that it has been materially prejudiced (through the forfeiture of substantive rights or defenses) by such failure; and provided further that the failure to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have to an indemnified party otherwise than under subsection (a) or (b) above. In case any such action is brought against any indemnified party, and it notifies the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party will be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it may wish, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party (who shall not, except with the consent of the indemnified party, be counsel to the indemnifying party), and after notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its election so to assume the defense thereof the indemnifying party will not be liable to such indemnified party under this Section 5 for any legal or other expenses, other than reasonable costs of investigation, subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof. In any such proceeding, any indemnified party shall have the right to retain its own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such indemnified party unless (i) the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have mutually agreed to the contrary; (ii) the indemnifying party has failed within a reasonable time to retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party; (iii) the indemnified party shall have reasonably concluded that there may be legal defenses available to it that are different from or in addition to those available to the indemnifying party; or (iv) the named parties in any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the indemnifying party and the indemnified party and representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them. It is understood and agreed that the indemnifying party shall not, in connection with any proceeding or related proceeding in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the fees and expenses or more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for all indemnified parties, and that all such fees and expenses shall be reimbursed as they are incurred. Any such separate firm for any Initial Purchaser, its affiliates, directors and officers and any control persons of such Initial Purchaser shall be designated in writing by CSFB and any such separate firm for the Company and the Guarantors, and their respective directors and officers and any control persons of the Company and the Guarantors shall be designated in writing by the Company. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party; provided that such

 

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consent is not unreasonably withheld or delayed, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened action in respect of which any indemnified party is or could have been a party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified party unless such settlement (i) includes an unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability on any claims that are the subject matter of such action, 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) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 5 is unavailable or insufficient (although applicable in accordance with its terms) to hold harmless an indemnified party under subsections (a) or (b) above, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) referred to in subsection (a) or (b) above (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the indemnifying party or parties on the one hand and the indemnified party on the other from the issuance and sale by the Company and the Guarantors of the Initial Securities to the Initial Purchasers pursuant to the Purchase Agreement (which in the case of the Company shall be deemed to be equal to the total net proceeds from the Initial Placement received by the Company and the Guarantors), or (ii) if the allocation provided by the foregoing clause (i) is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the indemnifying party or parties on the one hand and the indemnified party on the other in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the parties shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company on the one hand or such Holder or such other indemnified party, as the case may be, on the other, and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The amount paid by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to in the first sentence of this subsection (d) shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any action or claim which is the subject of this subsection (d). Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 5(d), the Holders of the Securities shall not be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the net proceeds received by such Holders from the sale of the Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement exceeds the amount of damages which such Holders have otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. For purposes of this paragraph (d), each person, if any, who controls such indemnified party within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as such indemnified party and each person, if any, who controls the Company or the Guarantors within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company and the Guarantors.

(e) The agreements contained in this Section 5 shall survive the sale of the Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement and shall remain in full force and effect, regardless of any termination or cancellation of this Agreement or any investigation made by or on behalf of any indemnified party.

6. Additional Interest Under Certain Circumstances.

(a) Additional interest (the “ Additional Interest ”) with respect to the Securities shall be assessed as follows if any of the following events occur (each such event in clauses (i) through (v) below being herein called a “ Registration Default ”):

(i) any Registration Statement required by this Agreement is not filed with the Commission on or prior to the date specified for such filing in this Agreement;

 

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(ii) any of such Registration Statements is not declared effective by the Commission on or prior to the date specified for such effectiveness in this Agreement (the “ Effectiveness Target Date ”);

(iii) the Registered Exchange Offer is not consummated on or prior to the 30 th Business Day after the Effectiveness Target Date;

(iv) if after either the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or the Shelf Registration Statement, as the case may be, is declared (or becomes automatically) effective (A) such Registration Statement thereafter ceases to be effective; or (B) such Registration Statement or the related prospectus ceases to be usable (except as permitted in paragraph (b)) in connection with resales or exchanges of Transfer Restricted Securities during the periods specified herein because either (1) any event occurs as a result of which the related prospectus forming part of such Registration Statement 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 not misleading, (2) it shall be necessary to amend such Registration Statement or supplement the related prospectus, to comply with the Securities Act or the Exchange Act or the respective rules thereunder or (3) such Registration Statement is a Shelf Registration Statement that has expired before a replacement Shelf Registration Statement has become effective.

Each of the foregoing will constitute a Registration Default whatever the reason for any such event and whether it is voluntary or involuntary or is beyond the control of the Company or pursuant to operation of law or as a result of any action or inaction by the Commission.

Additional Interest shall accrue on the principal amount of the Securities over and above the interest set forth in the title of the Securities from and including the date on which any such Registration Default shall occur to but excluding the date on which all such Registration Defaults have been cured, at a rate of 0.25% per annum (the “ Additional Interest Rate ”) for the first 90-day period immediately following the occurrence of such Registration Default. The Additional Interest Rate shall increase by an additional 0.25% per annum with respect to each subsequent 90-day period until all Registration Defaults have been cured, up to a maximum Additional Interest Rate of 1.0% per annum. In no event shall the Company be obligated to pay Additional Interest for all Registration Defaults under more than one of the clauses in this Section 6(a) at any one time and, in the case of a Shelf Registration, it is expressly understood that Additional Interest should be payable only with respect to Securities so requested to be registered pursuant to Section 2 hereof.

(b) A Registration Default referred to in Section 6(a)(v) hereof shall be deemed not to have occurred and be continuing in relation to a Shelf Registration Statement or the related prospectus if (i) such Registration Default has occurred solely as a result of (x) the filing of a post-effective amendment to such Shelf Registration Statement to incorporate annual audited financial information with respect to the Company where such post-effective amendment is not yet effective and needs to be declared effective to permit Holders to use the related prospectus, (y) other material events with respect to the Company or the Guarantors that would need to be described in such Shelf Registration Statement or the related prospectus or (z) the suspension of the effectiveness of such Registration Statement because the Company does not wish to disclose publicly a pending material business transaction that has not yet been publicly disclosed, and (ii) in the case of clause (y), the Company is proceeding promptly and in good faith to amend or supplement such Shelf Registration Statement and related prospectus to describe such events; provided , however , that if (A) in the case of a Registration Default described in clause 6(b)(i)(x), such Registration Default occurs for a continuous period in excess of 30 days and (B) in the case of a Registration Default described in clause 6(b)(i)(y) or 6(b)(i)(z), such Registration Default occurs for a period of more than 45 days in any three-month period or more than an aggregate of 90 days in any 12-month period, then Additional Interest shall be payable in accordance with the above paragraph from the day such Registration Default occurs until such Registration Default is cured.

(c) Any amounts of Additional Interest due pursuant to Section 6(a) will be payable in cash as provided in the Initial Securities on the regular interest payment dates with respect to the Securities. The

 

12


amount of Additional Interest will be determined by multiplying the applicable Additional Interest Rate by the principal amount of the Securities and further multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days such Additional Interest Rate was applicable during such period (determined on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months), and the denominator of which is 360.

(d) “ Transfer Restricted Securities ” means each Security until (i) the date on which such Security has been exchanged by a person other than a broker-dealer for a freely transferable Exchange Security in the Registered Exchange Offer, (ii) following the exchange by a broker-dealer in the Registered Exchange Offer of an Initial Security for an Exchange Security, the date on which such Exchange Security is sold to a purchaser who receives from such broker-dealer on or prior to the date of such sale a copy of the prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, (iii) the date on which such Security has been effectively registered under the Securities Act and disposed of in accordance with the Shelf Registration Statement or (iv) the date on which such Security is distributed to the public pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act or is saleable pursuant to Rule 144(k) under the Securities Act.

7. Agreement to Provide Information . The Company will provide a copy of this Agreement to prospective purchasers of Initial Securities identified to the Company by the Initial Purchasers upon request. Upon the request of any Holder of Initial Securities, the Company shall deliver to such Holder a written statement as to whether it has complied with such requirements. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Section 7 shall be deemed to require the Company to register any of its securities pursuant to the Exchange Act.

8. Underwritten Registrations . If any of the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by any Shelf Registration are to be sold in an Underwritten Offering, the investment banker or investment bankers and manager or managers that will administer the offering (“ Managing Underwriters ”) will be selected by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of such Transfer Restricted Securities to be included in such offering.

No person may participate in any Underwritten Offering hereunder unless such person (i) agrees to sell such person’s Transfer Restricted Securities on the basis reasonably provided in any underwriting arrangements approved by the persons entitled hereunder to approve such arrangements and (ii) completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements and other documents reasonably required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements.

9. Miscellaneous .

(a) Remedies . The Company and the Guarantors acknowledge and agree that any failure by the Company or the Guarantors to comply with their obligations under Section 1 and 2 hereof may result in material irreparable injury to the Initial Purchasers or the Holders for which there is no adequate remedy at law, that it will not be possible to measure damages for such injuries precisely and that, in the event of any such failure, the Initial Purchasers or any Holder may obtain such relief as may be required to specifically enforce the Company’s and the Guarantors’ obligations under Sections 1 and 2 hereof. The Company and the Guarantors further agree to waive the defense in any action for specific performance that a remedy at law would be adequate.

(b) No Inconsistent Agreements . Neither the Company nor the Guarantors will on or after the date of this Agreement enter into any agreement with respect to the Company’s securities that is inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders in this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof. The rights granted to the Holders hereunder do not in any way conflict with and are not inconsistent with the rights granted to the holders of the Company’s securities under any agreement in effect on the date hereof.

(c) Amendments and Waivers . The provisions of this Agreement may not be amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from the provisions hereof may not be given, except by the Company and the written consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities affected by such amendment, modification, supplement, waiver or consents. Without the consent of the Holder of each Security, however, no modification may change the provisions relating to the payment of Additional Interest. Subject to the foregoing sentence, a waiver or consent to depart from the

 

13


provisions hereof with respect to a matter that relates exclusively to the rights of Holders of Securities whose Securities are being sold pursuant to a Registration Statement and that does not directly or indirectly affect, impair, limit or compromise the rights of other Holders of Securities may be given by Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities being sold pursuant to such Registration Statement.

(d) Notices . All notices and other communications provided for or permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand delivery, first-class mail, facsimile transmission, or air courier which guarantees overnight delivery:

(1) if to a Holder of the Securities, at the most current address given by such Holder to the Company.

(2) if to the Initial Purchasers:

c/o Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC

Eleven Madison Avenue

New York, NY 10010-3629

Fax No.: (212) 325-8278

Attention: Transactions Advisory Group

with a copy to:

Shearman & Sterling LLP

599 Lexington Avenue

New York, NY 10022

Fax No.: (212) 848-4000

Attention: Robert Evans III

(3) if to the Company or the Guarantors:

Affinion Group. Inc.

100 Connecticut Avenue

Norwalk, CT 06850

Attention: General Counsel

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

Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP

590 Madison Avenue

New York, NY 10022

Fax No.: (212) 872-1002

Attention: Rosa A. Testani

All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; three Business Days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when receipt is acknowledged by recipient’s facsimile machine operator, if sent by facsimile transmission; and on the day delivered, if sent by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery.

(e) Third Party Beneficiaries. The Holders shall be third party beneficiaries to the agreements made hereunder between the Company, on the one hand, and the Initial Purchasers, on the other hand, and shall have the right to enforce such agreements directly to the extent they may deem such enforcement necessary or advisable to protect their rights or the rights of Holders hereunder.

 

14


(f) Successors and Assigns . This Agreement shall be binding upon the Company and the Guarantors and their successors and assigns.

(g) Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by the 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.

(h) Headings . The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.

(i) Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAWS.

(j) Severability . If any one or more of the provisions contained herein, or the application thereof in any circumstance, is held invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of any such provision in every other respect and of the remaining provisions contained herein shall not be affected or impaired thereby.

(k) Securities Held by the Company . Whenever the consent or approval of Holders of a specified percentage of principal amount of Securities is required hereunder, Securities held by the Company or its affiliates (other than subsequent Holders of Securities if such subsequent Holders are deemed to be affiliates solely by reason of their holdings of such Securities) shall not be counted in determining whether such consent or approval was given by the Holders of such required percentage.

[Signature Page follows]

 

15


If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, please sign and return to the Company a counterpart hereof, whereupon this instrument, along with all counterparts, will become a binding agreement among the several Initial Purchasers, the Company and the Guarantors in accordance with its terms.

 

Very truly yours,

COMPANY:

AFFINION GROUP, INC.

By

 

/s/ Nathaniel J. Lipman

 

Name:

 

Nathaniel J. Lipman

 

Title:

 

Chief Executive Officer

GUARANTORS:

AFFINION BENEFITS GROUP, INC.

AFFINION DATA SERVICES, INC.

AFFINION GROUP, LLC

AFFINION LOYALTY GROUP, INC.

AFFINION PUBLISHING, LLC

CARDWELL AGENCY, INC.

LONG TERM PREFERRED CARE, INC.

TRAVELERS ADVANTAGE SERVICES, INC.

TRILEGIANT AUTO SERVICES, INC.

TRILEGIANT CORPORATION

TRILEGIANT INSURANCE SERVICES, INC.

TRILEGIANT RETAIL SERVICES, INC.

By:

 

/s/ Nathaniel J. Lipman

 

Name:

 

Nathaniel J. Lipman

 

Title:

 

Chief Executive Officer

CUC ASIA HOLDINGS, by its partners:

Trilegiant Corporation

 

By:

 

/s/ Nathaniel J. Lipman

   

Name:

 

Nathaniel J. Lipman

   

Title:

 

Chief Executive Officer

Trilegiant Retail Services, Inc.

 

By:

 

/s/ Nathaniel J. Lipman

   

Name:

 

Nathaniel J. Lipman

   

Title:

 

Chief Executive Officer


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

Acting on behalf of themselves and as the Representatives of the several Initial Purchasers.

 

C REDIT S UISSE SECURITIES (USA) LLC

D EUTSCHE B ANK S ECURITIES I NC .

 

By C REDIT S UISSE SECURITIES (USA) LLC

 

By  

/s/ Malcolm Price

 

Name: Malcolm Price

Title: Managing Director

 

By D EUTSCHE B ANK S ECURITIES I NC .

 

By

 

/s/ Michael Henry

 

Name: Michael Henry

Title: Managing Director

 

By  

/s/ Stephen A Bishop

 

Name: Stephen A. Bishop

Title: Director


ANNEX A

Each broker-dealer that receives Exchange Securities for its own account pursuant to the Exchange Offer must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities. The Letter of Transmittal states that by so acknowledging and by delivering a prospectus, a broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act. This prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, may be used by a broker-dealer in connection with resales of Exchange Securities received in exchange for Initial Securities where such Initial Securities were acquired by such broker-dealer as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities. The Company has agreed that, for a period of 180 days after the Expiration Date (as defined herein), it will make this prospectus available to any broker-dealer for use in connection with any such resale. See “Plan of Distribution.”


ANNEX B

Each broker-dealer that receives Exchange Securities for its own account in exchange for Initial Securities, where such Initial Securities were acquired by such broker-dealer as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities, must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities. See “Plan of Distribution.”


ANNEX C

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

Each broker-dealer that receives Exchange Securities for its own account pursuant to the Exchange Offer must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities. This Prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, may be used by a broker-dealer in connection with resales of Exchange Securities received in exchange for Initial Securities where such Initial Securities were acquired as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities. The Company has agreed that, for a period of 180 days after the Expiration Date, it will make this prospectus, as amended or supplemented, available to any broker-dealer for use in connection with any such resale. In addition, until [              ], 200_ , all dealers effecting transactions in the Exchange Securities may be required to deliver a prospectus. 1

The Company will not receive any proceeds from any sale of Exchange Securities by broker-dealers. Exchange Securities received by broker-dealers for their own account pursuant to the Exchange Offer may be sold from time to time in one or more transactions in the over-the-counter market, in negotiated transactions, through the writing of options on the Exchange Securities or a combination of such methods of resale, at market prices prevailing at the time of resale, at prices related to such prevailing market prices or negotiated prices. Any such resale may be made directly to purchasers or to or through brokers or dealers who may receive compensation in the form of commissions or concessions from any such broker-dealer or the purchasers of any such Exchange Securities. Any broker-dealer that resells Exchange Securities that were received by it for its own account pursuant to the Exchange Offer and any broker or dealer that participates in a distribution of such Exchange Securities may be deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act and any profit on any such resale of Exchange Securities and any commission or concessions received by any such persons may be deemed to be underwriting compensation under the Securities Act. The Letter of Transmittal states that, by acknowledging that it will deliver and by delivering a prospectus, a broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act.

For a period of 180 days after the Expiration Date the Company will promptly send additional copies of this prospectus and any amendment or supplement to this prospectus to any broker-dealer that requests such documents in the Letter of Transmittal. The Company has agreed to pay all expenses incident to the Exchange Offer (including the expenses of one counsel for the Holders of the Securities) other than commissions or concessions of any brokers or dealers and will indemnify the Holders of the Securities (including any broker-dealers) against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.

 


1 In addition, the legend required by Item 502(b) of Regulation S-K will appear on the inside front cover page of the Exchange Offer prospectus below the Table of Contents.


ANNEX D

¨  CHECK HERE IF YOU ARE A BROKER-DEALER AND WISH TO RECEIVE 10 ADDITIONAL COPIES OF THE PROSPECTUS AND 10 COPIES OF ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS THERETO.

Name: _____________________________________

Address: ___________________________________

If the undersigned is not a broker-dealer, the undersigned represents that it is not engaged in, and does not intend to engage in, a distribution of Exchange Securities. If the undersigned is a broker-dealer that will receive Exchange Securities for its own account in exchange for Initial Securities that were acquired as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities, it acknowledges that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities; however, by so acknowledging and by delivering a prospectus, the undersigned will not be deemed to admit that it is an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act.

Exhibit 4.5

AFFINION GROUP, INC.

$34,000,000 10  1 / 8 % SENIOR NOTES DUE 2013

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

May 3, 2006

C REDIT S UISSE SECURITIES (USA) LLC

D EUTSCHE B ANK S ECURITIES I NC .

As Representatives of the Several Initial Purchasers,

  Eleven Madison Avenue,

    New York, New York 10010-3629

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Affinion Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), proposes to issue and sell to Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Deutsche Bank Securities LLC, Banc of America Securities LLC and BNP Paribas Securities Corp. (collectively, the “ Initial Purchasers ”), upon the terms set forth in a purchase agreement dated April 28, 2006 (the “ Purchase Agreement ”), $34,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 10  1 / 8 % Senior Notes due 2013 (the “ Initial Securities ”). The Initial Securities will be unconditionally guaranteed (the “ Senior Guarantees ”) on a senior basis by the guarantors listed on Schedule B to the Purchase Agreement (the “ Guarantors ”). The Initial Securities will be issued pursuant to the Indenture, dated as of October 17, 2005, (the “ Indenture ”), among the Company, the Guarantors and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee (the “ Trustee ”).

As an inducement to the Initial Purchasers to enter into the Purchase Agreement, the Company and the Guarantors agree with the Initial Purchasers, for the benefit of the Initial Purchasers and the holders of the Securities (as defined below) (collectively the “ Holders ”), as follows:

1. Registered Exchange Offer . Unless not permitted by applicable law or Commission (as defined below) policy, the Company and the Guarantors shall prepare and use commercially reasonable efforts to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ Commission ”) on or prior to the 180 th day after the date of original issue of the Initial Securities (the “ Issue Date ”) a registration statement (the “ Exchange Offer Registration Statement ”) on an appropriate form under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”), with respect to a proposed offer (the “ Registered Exchange Offer ”) to the Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities (as defined in Section 6 hereof), who are not prohibited by any law or policy of the Commission from participating in the Registered Exchange Offer, to issue and deliver to such Holders, in exchange for the Initial Securities, a like aggregate principal amount of debt securities of the Company issued under the Indenture, substantially identical in all material respects to the Initial Securities (except for the transfer restrictions relating to the Initial Securities and the provisions relating to the matters described in Section 6 hereof) and registered under the Securities Act (the “ Exchange Securities ”). Unless not permitted by applicable law or Commission policy, the Company and the Guarantors shall use commercially reasonable efforts (i) to cause such Exchange Offer Registration Statement to become effective under the Securities Act on or prior to the 300 th day after the Issue Date and (ii) keep the Exchange Offer Registration Statement effective for not less than 20 Business Days (or longer, if required by applicable law) after the date notice of the Registered Exchange Offer is mailed to the Holders (such period being called the “ Exchange Offer Registration Period ”). For purposes of this Agreement, “ Business Day ” shall mean a day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which banking institutions are authorized or required by law to close in New York City.

If the Company and the Guarantors commence the Registered Exchange Offer, the Company and the Guarantors (i) will be entitled to consummate the Registered Exchange Offer 20 Business Days after such commencement (provided that the Company has accepted all the Initial Securities theretofore validly tendered in accordance with the terms of the Registered Exchange Offer) and (ii) will be required to consummate the Registered


Exchange Offer no later than 30 Business Days after the date on which the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is declared effective (such 30th Business Day being the “ Consummation Deadline ”).

Following the declaration of the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, unless not permitted by applicable law or Commission policy, the Company and the Guarantors shall, as soon as practicable, commence the Registered Exchange Offer, it being the objective of such Registered Exchange Offer to enable each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities (as defined in Section 6 hereof) electing to exchange the Initial Securities for Exchange Securities (assuming that such Holder is not an affiliate of the Company or any Guarantor within the meaning of the Securities Act, acquires the Exchange Securities in the ordinary course of such Holder’s business and has no arrangements with any person to participate in the distribution of the Exchange Securities and is not prohibited by any law or policy of the Commission from participating in the Registered Exchange Offer) to trade such Exchange Securities from and after their receipt without any limitations or restrictions under the Securities Act and without material restrictions under the securities laws of the several states of the United States.

The Company and the Guarantors acknowledge that, pursuant to current interpretations by the Commission’s staff of Section 5 of the Securities Act, in the absence of an applicable exemption therefrom, (i) each Holder which is a broker-dealer electing to exchange Initial Securities, acquired for its own account as a result of market making activities or other trading activities, for Exchange Securities (an “ Exchanging Dealer ”), is required to deliver a prospectus containing the information set forth in (a) Annex A hereto on the cover, (b) Annex B hereto in the “Exchange Offer Procedures” section and the “Purpose of the Exchange Offer” section, and (c) Annex C hereto in the “Plan of Distribution” section of such prospectus in connection with a sale of any such Exchange Securities received by such Exchanging Dealer pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer and (ii) an Initial Purchaser that elects to sell Securities (as defined below) acquired in exchange for Initial Securities constituting any portion of an unsold allotment is required to deliver a prospectus containing the information required by Items 507 or 508 of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act, as applicable, in connection with such sale.

The Company and the Guarantors shall keep the Exchange Offer Registration Statement effective and shall amend and supplement the prospectus contained therein, in order to permit such prospectus to be lawfully delivered by all persons subject to the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act for such period of time as such persons must comply with such requirements in order to resell the Exchange Securities; provided , however , that (i) in the case where such prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto must be delivered by an Exchanging Dealer or an Initial Purchaser, such period shall be the lesser of 180 days and the date on which all Exchanging Dealers and the Initial Purchasers have sold all Exchange Securities held by them (unless such period is extended pursuant to Section 3(j) below) and (ii) the Company shall make such prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto available to any broker-dealer for use in connection with any resale of any Exchange Securities for a period of not less than 180 days after the consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer (or such shorter period during which such persons are required by applicable law to deliver such prospectus).

If, upon consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer, any Initial Purchaser holds Initial Securities acquired by it as part of its initial distribution, the Company, simultaneously with the delivery of the Exchange Securities pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer, shall issue and deliver to such Initial Purchaser upon the written request of such Initial Purchaser, in exchange (the “ Private Exchange ”) for the Initial Securities held by such Initial Purchaser, a like principal amount of debt securities of the Company issued under the Indenture and identical in all material respects (including the existence of restrictions on transfer under the Securities Act and the securities laws of the several states of the United States, but excluding provisions relating to the matters described in Section 6 hereof) to the Initial Securities (the “ Private Exchange Securities ”). The Initial Securities, the Exchange Securities and the Private Exchange Securities are herein collectively called the “ Securities ”.

In connection with the Registered Exchange Offer, the Company shall:

(a) mail to each Holder a copy of the prospectus forming part of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, together with an appropriate letter of transmittal and related documents;

(b) keep the Registered Exchange Offer open for not less than 20 Business Days (or longer, if required by applicable law) after the date notice thereof is mailed to the Holders;

 

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(c) utilize the services of a depositary for the Registered Exchange Offer, which may be the Trustee or an affiliate of the Trustee;

(d) permit Holders to withdraw tendered Securities at any time prior to the close of business, New York time, on the last Business Day on which the Registered Exchange Offer shall remain open; and

(e) otherwise comply in all material respects with all applicable laws.

As soon as practicable after the close of the Registered Exchange Offer or the Private Exchange, as the case may be, the Company shall:

(x) accept for exchange all the Initial Securities validly tendered and not withdrawn pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer and the Private Exchange;

(y) deliver to the Trustee for cancellation all the Initial Securities so accepted for exchange; and

(z) cause the Trustee to authenticate and deliver promptly to each Holder of the Initial Securities, Exchange Securities or Private Exchange Securities, as the case may be, equal in principal amount to the Initial Securities of such Holder so accepted for exchange.

The Indenture will provide that the Exchange Securities will not be subject to the transfer restrictions set forth in the Indenture and that all the Initial Securities will vote and consent together on all matters as one class and that none of the Initial Securities will have the right to vote or consent as a class separate from one another on any matter.

Interest on each Exchange Security and Private Exchange Security issued pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer and in the Private Exchange will accrue from the last interest payment date on which interest was paid on the Initial Securities surrendered in exchange therefor or, if no interest has been paid on the Initial Securities, from the date of original issue of the Initial Securities.

Each Holder participating in the Registered Exchange Offer shall be required to represent in writing (which may be contained in the applicable letter of transmittal) to the Company that at the time of the consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer (i) any Exchange Securities received by such Holder will be acquired in the ordinary course of business, (ii) such Holder will have no arrangements or understanding with any person to participate in the distribution of the Securities or the Exchange Securities within the meaning of the Securities Act, (iii) such Holder is not an “affiliate,” as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act, of the Company or if it is an affiliate, such Holder will comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act to the extent applicable, (iv) if such Holder is not a broker-dealer, that it is not engaged in, and does not intend to engage in, the distribution of the Exchange Securities and (v) if such Holder is a broker-dealer, that it will receive Exchange Securities for its own account in exchange for Initial Securities that were acquired as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities and that it will be required to acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities.

Notwithstanding any other provisions hereof, the Company will ensure that (i) any Exchange Offer Registration Statement and any amendment thereto and any prospectus forming part thereof and any supplement thereto complies as to form in all material respects with the Securities Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, (ii) any Exchange Offer Registration Statement and any amendment thereto does not, when it becomes effective, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading and (iii) any prospectus forming part of any Exchange Offer Registration Statement, and any supplement to such prospectus, does not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

2. Shelf Registration . If, (i) the Company and the Guarantors are not permitted to consummate a Registered Exchange Offer because the Registered Exchange Offer is not permitted by applicable law or

 

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Commission policy, as contemplated by Section 1 hereof, (ii) the Registered Exchange Offer is not consummated within 30 Business Days of the 300 th day after the Issue Date, (iii) any Holder notifies the Company in writing on or prior to the 60 th day after the consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer that (A) such Holder is prohibited by applicable law or Commission policy from participating in the Registered Exchange Offer, or (B) such Holder may not resell the Exchange Securities acquired by it in the Registered Exchange Offer to the public without delivering a prospectus and that the prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is not appropriate or available for such resales by such Holder, or (C) such Holders is a broker-dealer, and holds Initial Securities acquired directly from the Company or one of its affiliates, the Company and the Guarantors shall take the following actions (the date on which any of the conditions described in the foregoing clauses (i) through (iii) occur, including in the case of clause (iii) the receipt of the required notice, being a “ Trigger Date ”):

(a) The Company and the Guarantors shall, at their cost, file with the Commission on or prior to the 180th day after a Trigger Date and thereafter use commercially reasonable efforts to cause to be declared effective on or prior to the 300 th day after the Trigger Date (such 300 th day, the “ Effectiveness Deadline ”) (unless it becomes effective automatically upon filing) a registration statement (the “ Shelf Registration Statement ” and, together with the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, a “ Registration Statement ”) on an appropriate form under the Securities Act relating to the offer and sale of the Transfer Restricted Securities by the Holders thereof from time to time in accordance with the methods of distribution set forth in the Shelf Registration Statement and Rule 415 under the Securities Act (hereinafter, the “ Shelf Registration ”); provided , however , that no Holder (other than an Initial Purchaser) shall be entitled to have the Securities held by it covered by such Shelf Registration Statement unless such Holder agrees in writing to be bound by all the provisions of this Agreement applicable to such Holder.

(b) The Company and the Guarantors shall use commercially reasonable efforts to keep the Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective in order to permit the prospectus included therein to be lawfully delivered by the Holders of the relevant Securities, for a period of two years (or for such longer period if extended pursuant to Section 3(j) below) from the date of its effectiveness or such shorter period that will terminate when all the Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement (i) have been sold pursuant thereto or (ii) can be sold pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act, without any limitations under clauses (c), (e), (f) and (h) thereof).

(c) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement to the contrary, the Company shall cause the Shelf Registration Statement and the related prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, as of the effective date of the Shelf Registration Statement, amendment or supplement, (i) to comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission and (ii) not to contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

3. Registration Procedures . In connection with any Shelf Registration contemplated by Section 2 hereof and, to the extent applicable, any Registered Exchange Offer contemplated by Section 1 hereof, the following provisions shall apply:

(a) The Company shall (i) furnish to each Initial Purchaser, prior to the filing thereof with the Commission, a copy of the Registration Statement and each amendment thereof and each supplement, if any, to the prospectus included therein and, in the event that an Initial Purchaser (with respect to any portion of an unsold allotment from the original offering) is participating in the Registered Exchange Offer or the Shelf Registration Statement, the Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to reflect in each such document, when so filed with the Commission, such comments as such Initial Purchaser reasonably may propose; (ii) include the information set forth in Annex A hereto on the cover, in Annex B hereto in the “Exchange Offer Procedures” section and the “Purpose of the Exchange Offer” section and in Annex C hereto in the “Plan of Distribution” section of the prospectus forming a part of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement and include the information set forth in Annex D hereto in the Letter of Transmittal delivered pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer; (iii) if requested by an Initial Purchaser in writing, include the information required by Items 507 or 508 of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act, as applicable, in the prospectus forming a part of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement; (iv) include

 

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within the prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement a section entitled “Plan of Distribution,” reasonably acceptable to the Initial Purchasers, which shall contain a summary statement of the positions taken or policies made by the staff of the Commission with respect to the potential “underwriter” status of any broker-dealer that is the beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) of Exchange Securities received by such broker-dealer in the Registered Exchange Offer (a “ Participating Broker-Dealer ”), whether such positions or policies have been publicly disseminated by the staff of the Commission or such positions or policies, in the reasonable judgment of the Initial Purchasers based upon advice of counsel (which may be in-house counsel), represent the prevailing views of the staff of the Commission; and (v) in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, include in the prospectus included in the Shelf Registration Statement (or if permitted by Commission Rule 430B(b), in a prospectus supplement that becomes part thereof pursuant to Commission Rule 430B(f) that is delivered to any Holder pursuant to Section 3(d) and (f)) the names of the Holders who propose to sell Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement as selling securityholders.

(b) The Company shall give written notice to the Initial Purchasers, any Participating Broker-Dealer from whom the Company has received prior written notice that it will be a Participating Broker-Dealer in the Registered Exchange Offer and, in the case of a Shelf Registration only, each Holder of the Securities (which notice pursuant to clauses (ii)-(v) hereof shall be accompanied by an instruction to suspend the use of the prospectus until the requisite changes have been made):

(i) when the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto has become effective;

(ii) of any request by the Commission after the Registration Statement has become effective for amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or the prospectus included therein or for additional information;

(iii) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose, or the issuance by the Commission of a notification of objection to the use of the form on which the Registration Statement has been filed and of the happening of any event that causes the Company to become an “ineligible issuer” as defined in Commission Rule 405;

(iv) of the receipt by the Company or its legal counsel of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose; and

(v) of the happening of any event during the period that the Registration Statement is effective that requires the Company to make changes in the Registration Statement or the prospectus in order that the Registration Statement or the prospectus do not contain an untrue statement of a material fact nor omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of the prospectus, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading.

(c) The Company shall make every reasonable effort to obtain the withdrawal at the earliest possible time, of any order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement.

(d) The Company shall furnish to each Holder of Securities included within the coverage of the Shelf Registration, without charge, at least one copy of the Shelf Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment or supplement thereto, including financial statements and schedules, and, if the Holder so requests in writing, all exhibits thereto (including those, if any, incorporated by reference). The Company shall not, without the prior written consent of the Initial Purchasers, make any offer relating to the Securities included in the Shelf Registration Statement that would constitute a “free writing prospectus” as defined in Commission Rule 405.

 

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(e) The Company shall deliver to each Exchanging Dealer and each Initial Purchaser, and to any other Holder who so requests, without charge, at least one copy of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, including financial statements and schedules, and, if any Initial Purchaser or any such Holder requests, all exhibits thereto (including those incorporated by reference).

(f) The Company shall, during the Shelf Registration Period, deliver to each Holder of Securities included within the coverage of the Shelf Registration, without charge, as many copies of the prospectus (including each preliminary prospectus) included in the Shelf Registration Statement and any amendment or supplement thereto as such person may reasonably request. The Company consents, subject to the provisions of this Agreement, to the use of the prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto by each of the selling Holders of the Securities in connection with the offering and sale of the Securities covered by the prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, included in the Shelf Registration Statement.

(g) The Company shall deliver to each Initial Purchaser, any Exchanging Dealer, any Participating Broker-Dealer and such other persons required to deliver a prospectus following the Registered Exchange Offer, without charge, as many copies of the final prospectus included in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement and any amendment or supplement thereto as such persons may reasonably request. The Company consents, subject to the provisions of this Agreement, to the use of the prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto by any Initial Purchaser, if necessary, any Participating Broker-Dealer and such other persons required to deliver a prospectus following the Registered Exchange Offer in connection with the offering and sale of the Exchange Securities covered by the prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, included in such Exchange Offer Registration Statement.

(h) Prior to any public offering of the Securities pursuant to any Registration Statement the Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to register or qualify or cooperate with the Holders of the Securities included therein and their respective counsel in connection with the registration or qualification of the Securities for offer and sale under the securities or “blue sky” laws of such states of the United States as any Holder of the Securities reasonably requests in writing and do any and all other acts or things necessary or advisable to enable the offer and sale in such jurisdictions of the Securities covered by such Registration Statement; provided , however , that the Company shall not be required to (i) qualify generally to do business or as a dealer in securities in any jurisdiction where it is not then so qualified or (ii) take any action which would subject it to general service of process or to taxation in any jurisdiction where it is not then so subject.

(i) The Company shall cooperate with the Holders of the Securities to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing the Securities to be sold pursuant to any Registration Statement free of any restrictive legends and in such denominations and registered in such names as the Holders may request a reasonable period of time prior to sales of the Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement.

(j) Upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by paragraphs (ii) through (v) of Section 3(b) above during the period for which the Company is required to maintain an effective Registration Statement, the Company shall promptly prepare and file a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or a supplement to the related prospectus and any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered to Holders of the Securities or purchasers of Securities, the prospectus will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. If the Company notifies the Initial Purchasers, the Holders of the Securities and any known Participating Broker-Dealer in accordance with paragraphs (ii) through (v) of Section 3(b) above to suspend the use of the prospectus until the requisite changes to the prospectus have been made, then the Initial Purchasers, the Holders of the Securities and any such Participating Broker-Dealers shall suspend use of such prospectus; notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not be required to amend or supplement a Registration Statement or any related prospectus if (i) an event occurs and is continuing as a result of which the Shelf Registration or any related prospectus would, in the Company’s good faith judgment, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein

 

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not misleading (with respect to such prospectus only, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) and (ii) (a) the Company determines in its good faith judgment that the disclosure of such event at such time would have a material adverse effect on its business, operations or prospects or (b) the disclosure otherwise relates to a pending material business transaction that has not yet been publicly disclosed; and the period of effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement provided for in Section 2(b) above and the Exchange Offer Registration Statement provided for in Section 1 above shall each be extended by the number of days from and including the date of the giving of such notice to and including the date when the Initial Purchasers, the Holders of the Securities and any known Participating Broker-Dealer shall have received such amended or supplemented prospectus pursuant to this Section 3(j). During the period during which the Company is required to maintain an effective Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to this Agreement, the Company will, prior to the two-year expiration of that Shelf Registration Statement, file and use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause to be declared effective (unless it becomes effective automatically upon filing) within a period that avoids any interruption in the ability of Holders of Securities covered by the expiring Shelf Registration Statement to make registered dispositions, a new registration statement relating to the Securities which shall be deemed the “Shelf Registration Statement” for purposes of this Agreement.

(k) Not later than the effective date of the applicable Registration Statement, the Company will provide a CUSIP number for the Initial Securities, the Exchange Securities or the Private Exchange Securities, as the case may be.

(l) The Company and the Guarantors will comply with all rules and regulations of the Commission to the extent and so long as they are applicable to the Registered Exchange Offer or the Shelf Registration and will make generally available to their security holders (or otherwise provide in accordance with Section 11(a) of the Securities Act) an earnings statement satisfying the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act, no later than 45 days after the end of a 12-month period (or 90 days, if such period is a fiscal year) beginning with the first month of Company’s first fiscal quarter commencing after the effective date of the Registration Statement, which statement shall cover such 12-month period.

(m) The Company shall cause the Indenture to be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, in a timely manner and containing such changes, if any, as shall be necessary for such qualification. In the event that such qualification would require the appointment of a new trustee under the Indenture, the Company shall appoint a new trustee thereunder pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Indenture.

(n) The Company may require each Holder of Securities to be sold pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement to furnish to the Company such information regarding the Holder and the distribution of the Securities as the Company may from time to time reasonably require for inclusion in the Shelf Registration Statement, and the Company may exclude from such registration the Securities of any Holder that fails to furnish such information within a reasonable time after receiving such request.

(o) In the case of an offering of Securities to an underwriter or underwriters for reoffering to the public (an “ Underwritten Offering ”) pursuant to any Shelf Registration, the Company shall enter into such customary agreements (including, if requested, an underwriting agreement in customary form) and take all such other action, if any, as any Holder of the Securities shall reasonably request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Securities pursuant to any Shelf Registration.

(p) In the case of any Shelf Registration, the Company shall (i) make reasonably available for inspection by the Holders of the Securities, any underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement and any attorney, accountant or other agent retained by the Holders of the Securities or any such underwriter, at reasonable times and in a reasonable manner, all relevant financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company and (ii) cause the Company’s officers, directors, employees, accountants and auditors to supply all relevant information reasonably requested by the Holders of the Securities or any such underwriter, attorney, accountant or agent in connection with the Shelf Registration Statement, in each case, as shall be reasonably necessary to enable such persons, to conduct a reasonable investigation within the meaning of Section 11 of the

 

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Securities Act; provided , however , that the foregoing inspection and information gathering shall be coordinated on behalf of the Initial Purchasers by you and on behalf of the other parties, by one counsel designated by and on behalf of such other parties as described in Section 4 hereof; and provided further that each such Holder, underwriter, attorney, accountant or agent shall agree in writing that it will keep such information confidential and that it will not disclose any of the information that the Company determines, in good faith, to be confidential and notifies them in writing is confidential unless (A) the disclosure of such information is necessary to avoid or correct a material misstatement or material omission in such Registration Statement or prospectus, (B) the release of such information is ordered pursuant to a subpoena or other order from a court of competent jurisdiction, or is reasonably necessary in order to establish a “due diligence” defense pursuant to Section 11 of the Securities Act, or (C) the information has been made generally available to the public other than by any of such persons or their respective affiliates; provided , however , that prior notice shall be provided as soon as practicable to the Company of the potential disclosure of any information by such person pursuant to clause (A) or (B) of this sentence in order to permit the Company to obtain a protective order (or to waive the provisions of this paragraph (p)).

(q) In the case of an Underwritten Offering pursuant to any Shelf Registration, the Company, if requested by any Holder of Securities covered thereby, shall cause (i) its counsel to deliver an opinion and updates thereof relating to the Securities in customary form and covering matters customarily covered in opinions delivered in connection with such transactions and addressed to such Holders and the managing underwriters, if any, thereof and dated, in the case of the initial opinion, the effective date of such Shelf Registration Statement; (ii) its officers to execute and deliver all customary documents and certificates and updates thereof requested by any underwriters of the applicable Securities; and (iii) its independent public accountants to provide to the selling Holders of the applicable Securities and any underwriter therefor a comfort letter in customary form and covering matters of the type customarily covered in comfort letters in connection with primary underwritten offerings, subject to receipt of appropriate documentation as contemplated, and only if permitted, by Statement of Auditing Standards No. 72.

(r) If a Registered Exchange Offer or a Private Exchange is to be consummated, upon delivery of the Initial Securities by Holders to the Company (or to such other Person as directed by the Company) in exchange for the Exchange Securities or the Private Exchange Securities, as the case may be, the Company shall mark, or caused to be marked, on the Initial Securities so exchanged that such Initial Securities are being canceled in exchange for the Exchange Securities or the Private Exchange Securities, as the case may be; in no event shall the Initial Securities be marked as paid or otherwise satisfied.

(s) The Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to (a) if the Initial Securities have been rated prior to the initial sale of such Initial Securities, confirm such ratings will apply to the Securities covered by a Registration Statement, or (b) if the Initial Securities were not previously rated, cause the Securities covered by a Registration Statement to be rated with the appropriate rating agencies, if so requested by Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of Securities covered by such Registration Statement, or by the managing underwriters, if any.

(t) In the event that any broker-dealer registered under the Exchange Act shall underwrite any Securities or participate as a member of an underwriting syndicate or selling group or “assist in the distribution” (within the meaning of the Conduct Rules (the “ Rules ”) of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the “ NASD ”)) thereof, whether as a Holder of such Securities or as an underwriter, a placement or sales agent or a broker or dealer in respect thereof, or otherwise, the Company will cooperate with such broker-dealer in complying with the requirements of such Rules, including, without limitation, by (i) if such Rules, including Rule 2720, shall so require, at the expense of the Holders, engaging a “qualified independent underwriter” (as defined in Rule 2720) to participate in the preparation of the Registration Statement relating to such Securities, to exercise usual standards of due diligence in respect thereto and, if any portion of the offering contemplated by such Registration Statement is an underwritten offering or is made through a placement or sales agent, to recommend the yield of such Securities, (ii) indemnifying any such qualified independent underwriter to the extent of the indemnification of underwriters provided in Section 5 hereof and (iii) providing such information to such broker-dealer as may be required in order for such broker-dealer to comply with the requirements of the Rules.

 

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4. Registration Expenses . All expenses incident to the Company’s performance of and compliance with this Agreement will be borne by the Company, regardless of whether a Registration Statement is ever filed or becomes effective, including without limitation;

(a) all registration and filing fees and expenses;

(b) all fees and expenses of compliance with federal securities and state “blue sky” or securities laws;

(c) all expenses of printing (including printing of prospectuses), messenger and delivery services and telephone;

(d) all fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company; and

(e) all fees and disbursements of independent certified public accountants of the Company (including the expenses of any special audit and comfort letters required by or incident to such performance).

The Company will bear their internal expenses (including, without limitation, all salaries and expenses of its officers and employees performing legal or accounting duties), the expenses of any annual audit and the fees and expenses of any person, including special experts, retained by the Company. Each Holder shall pay all underwriting discounts and commissions, and the fees of any counsel retained by or on behalf of the underwriters, and transfer taxes, if any, related to the sale or disposition of a Holder’s Securities pursuant to any Shelf Registration Statement.

5. Indemnification.

(a) The Company and the Guarantors agree to indemnify and hold harmless each Holder of the Securities, any Participating Broker-Dealer and each person, if any, who controls such Holder or such Participating Broker-Dealer within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act (each Holder, any Participating Broker-Dealer and such controlling persons are referred to collectively as the “ Indemnified Parties ”) from and against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, or any actions in respect thereof (including, but not limited to, any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or actions relating to purchases and sales of the Securities) to which each Indemnified Party may become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or actions arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in a Registration Statement or prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any preliminary prospectus or “issuer free writing prospectus” as defined in Commission Rule 433 (“ Issuer FWP ”), relating to a Shelf Registration, 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 shall reimburse, as incurred, the Indemnified Parties for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action in respect thereof; provided , however , that the Company and the Guarantors shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in a Registration Statement or prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any preliminary prospectus or Issuer FWP relating to a Shelf Registration in reliance upon and in conformity with written information pertaining to such Indemnified Party and furnished to the Company by or on behalf of such Indemnified Party specifically for inclusion therein, provided further , however , that this indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise have to such Indemnified Party. The Company and the Guarantors shall also indemnify underwriters, their officers and directors and each person who controls such underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act to the same extent as provided above with respect to the indemnification of the Holders of the Securities if requested by such Holders.

 

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(b) Each Holder of the Securities, severally and not jointly, will indemnify and hold harmless the Company and the Guarantors and each person, if any, who controls the Company and the Guarantors within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act from and against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities or any actions in respect thereof, to which the Company or the Guarantors or any such controlling person may become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or actions arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in a Registration Statement or prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any preliminary prospectus or Issuer FWP relating to a Shelf Registration, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, but in each case only to the extent that the untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information pertaining to such Holder and furnished to the Company or the Guarantors by or on behalf of such Holder specifically for inclusion therein; and, subject to the limitation set forth immediately preceding this clause, shall reimburse, as incurred, the Company and the Guarantors for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Company and the Guarantors or any such controlling person in connection with investigating or defending any loss, claim, damage, liability or action in respect thereof. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which such Holder may otherwise have to the Company and the Guarantors or any of its controlling persons.

(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 5 of notice of the commencement of any action or proceeding (including a governmental investigation), such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under this Section 5, notify the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof; but the failure to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve the indemnifying party from any liability that it may have under subsection (a) or (b) above except to the extent that it has been materially prejudiced (through the forfeiture of substantive rights or defenses) by such failure; and provided further that the failure to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have to an indemnified party otherwise than under subsection (a) or (b) above. In case any such action is brought against any indemnified party, and it notifies the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party will be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it may wish, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party (who shall not, except with the consent of the indemnified party, be counsel to the indemnifying party), and after notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its election so to assume the defense thereof the indemnifying party will not be liable to such indemnified party under this Section 5 for any legal or other expenses, other than reasonable costs of investigation, subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof. In any such proceeding, any indemnified party shall have the right to retain its own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such indemnified party unless (i) the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have mutually agreed to the contrary; (ii) the indemnifying party has failed within a reasonable time to retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party; (iii) the indemnified party shall have reasonably concluded that there may be legal defenses available to it that are different from or in addition to those available to the indemnifying party; or (iv) the named parties in any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the indemnifying party and the indemnified party and representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them. It is understood and agreed that the indemnifying party shall not, in connection with any proceeding or related proceeding in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the fees and expenses or more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for all indemnified parties, and that all such fees and expenses shall be reimbursed as they are incurred. Any such separate firm for any Initial Purchaser, its affiliates, directors and officers and any control persons of such Initial Purchaser shall be designated in writing by CSFB and any such separate firm for the Company and the Guarantors, and their respective directors and officers and any control persons of the Company and the Guarantors shall be designated in writing by the Company. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party; provided that such consent is not unreasonably withheld or delayed, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened action in respect of which any indemnified party is or could have been a party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified party unless such settlement (i) includes an unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability on any claims that are the subject matter of such action, and

 

10


(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) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 5 is unavailable or insufficient (although applicable in accordance with its terms) to hold harmless an indemnified party under subsections (a) or (b) above, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) referred to in subsection (a) or (b) above (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the indemnifying party or parties on the one hand and the indemnified party on the other from the issuance and sale by the Company and the Guarantors of the Initial Securities to the Initial Purchasers pursuant to the Purchase Agreement (which in the case of the Company shall be deemed to be equal to the total net proceeds from the Initial Placement received by the Company and the Guarantors), or (ii) if the allocation provided by the foregoing clause (i) is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the indemnifying party or parties on the one hand and the indemnified party on the other in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the parties shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company on the one hand or such Holder or such other indemnified party, as the case may be, on the other, and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The amount paid by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to in the first sentence of this subsection (d) shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any action or claim which is the subject of this subsection (d). Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 5(d), the Holders of the Securities shall not be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the net proceeds received by such Holders from the sale of the Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement exceeds the amount of damages which such Holders have otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. For purposes of this paragraph (d), each person, if any, who controls such indemnified party within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as such indemnified party and each person, if any, who controls the Company or the Guarantors within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company and the Guarantors.

(e) The agreements contained in this Section 5 shall survive the sale of the Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement and shall remain in full force and effect, regardless of any termination or cancellation of this Agreement or any investigation made by or on behalf of any indemnified party.

6. Additional Interest Under Certain Circumstances.

(a) Additional interest (the “ Additional Interest ”) with respect to the Securities shall be assessed as follows if any of the following events occur (each such event in clauses (i) through (v) below being herein called a “ Registration Default ”):

(i) any Registration Statement required by this Agreement is not filed with the Commission on or prior to the date specified for such filing in this Agreement;

(ii) any of such Registration Statements is not declared effective by the Commission on or prior to the date specified for such effectiveness in this Agreement (the “ Effectiveness Target Date ”);

(iii) the Registered Exchange Offer is not consummated on or prior to the 30 th Business Day after the Effectiveness Target Date;

 

11


(iv) if after either the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or the Shelf Registration Statement, as the case may be, is declared (or becomes automatically) effective (A) such Registration Statement thereafter ceases to be effective; or (B) such Registration Statement or the related prospectus ceases to be usable (except as permitted in paragraph (b)) in connection with resales or exchanges of Transfer Restricted Securities during the periods specified herein because either (1) any event occurs as a result of which the related prospectus forming part of such Registration Statement 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 not misleading, (2) it shall be necessary to amend such Registration Statement or supplement the related prospectus, to comply with the Securities Act or the Exchange Act or the respective rules thereunder or (3) such Registration Statement is a Shelf Registration Statement that has expired before a replacement Shelf Registration Statement has become effective.

Each of the foregoing will constitute a Registration Default whatever the reason for any such event and whether it is voluntary or involuntary or is beyond the control of the Company or pursuant to operation of law or as a result of any action or inaction by the Commission.

Additional Interest shall accrue on the principal amount of the Securities over and above the interest set forth in the title of the Securities from and including the date on which any such Registration Default shall occur to but excluding the date on which all such Registration Defaults have been cured, at a rate of 0.25% per annum (the “ Additional Interest Rate ”) for the first 90-day period immediately following the occurrence of such Registration Default. The Additional Interest Rate shall increase by an additional 0.25% per annum with respect to each subsequent 90-day period until all Registration Defaults have been cured, up to a maximum Additional Interest Rate of 1.0% per annum. In no event shall the Company be obligated to pay Additional Interest for all Registration Defaults under more than one of the clauses in this Section 6(a) at any one time and, in the case of a Shelf Registration, it is expressly understood that Additional Interest should be payable only with respect to Securities so requested to be registered pursuant to Section 2 hereof.

(b) A Registration Default referred to in Section 6(a)(v) hereof shall be deemed not to have occurred and be continuing in relation to a Shelf Registration Statement or the related prospectus if (i) such Registration Default has occurred solely as a result of (x) the filing of a post-effective amendment to such Shelf Registration Statement to incorporate annual audited financial information with respect to the Company where such post-effective amendment is not yet effective and needs to be declared effective to permit Holders to use the related prospectus, (y) other material events with respect to the Company or the Guarantors that would need to be described in such Shelf Registration Statement or the related prospectus or (z) the suspension of the effectiveness of such Registration Statement because the Company does not wish to disclose publicly a pending material business transaction that has not yet been publicly disclosed, and (ii) in the case of clause (y), the Company is proceeding promptly and in good faith to amend or supplement such Shelf Registration Statement and related prospectus to describe such events; provided , however , that if (A) in the case of a Registration Default described in clause 6(b)(i)(x), such Registration Default occurs for a continuous period in excess of 30 days and (B) in the case of a Registration Default described in clause 6(b)(i)(y) or 6(b)(i)(z), such Registration Default occurs for a period of more than 45 days in any three-month period or more than an aggregate of 90 days in any 12-month period, then Additional Interest shall be payable in accordance with the above paragraph from the day such Registration Default occurs until such Registration Default is cured.

(c) Any amounts of Additional Interest due pursuant to Section 6(a) will be payable in cash as provided in the Initial Securities on the regular interest payment dates with respect to the Securities. The amount of Additional Interest will be determined by multiplying the applicable Additional Interest Rate by the principal amount of the Securities and further multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days such Additional Interest Rate was applicable during such period (determined on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months), and the denominator of which is 360.

(d) “ Transfer Restricted Securities ” means each Security until (i) the date on which such Security has been exchanged by a person other than a broker-dealer for a freely transferable Exchange

 

12


Security in the Registered Exchange Offer, (ii) following the exchange by a broker-dealer in the Registered Exchange Offer of an Initial Security for an Exchange Security, the date on which such Exchange Security is sold to a purchaser who receives from such broker-dealer on or prior to the date of such sale a copy of the prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, (iii) the date on which such Security has been effectively registered under the Securities Act and disposed of in accordance with the Shelf Registration Statement or (iv) the date on which such Security is distributed to the public pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act or is saleable pursuant to Rule 144(k) under the Securities Act.

7. Agreement to Provide Information . The Company will provide a copy of this Agreement to prospective purchasers of Initial Securities identified to the Company by the Initial Purchasers upon request. Upon the request of any Holder of Initial Securities, the Company shall deliver to such Holder a written statement as to whether it has complied with such requirements. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Section 7 shall be deemed to require the Company to register any of its securities pursuant to the Exchange Act.

8. Underwritten Registrations . If any of the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by any Shelf Registration are to be sold in an Underwritten Offering, the investment banker or investment bankers and manager or managers that will administer the offering (“ Managing Underwriters ”) will be selected by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of such Transfer Restricted Securities to be included in such offering.

No person may participate in any Underwritten Offering hereunder unless such person (i) agrees to sell such person’s Transfer Restricted Securities on the basis reasonably provided in any underwriting arrangements approved by the persons entitled hereunder to approve such arrangements and (ii) completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements and other documents reasonably required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements.

9. Miscellaneous .

(a) Remedies . The Company and the Guarantors acknowledge and agree that any failure by the Company or the Guarantors to comply with their obligations under Section 1 and 2 hereof may result in material irreparable injury to the Initial Purchasers or the Holders for which there is no adequate remedy at law, that it will not be possible to measure damages for such injuries precisely and that, in the event of any such failure, the Initial Purchasers or any Holder may obtain such relief as may be required to specifically enforce the Company’s and the Guarantors’ obligations under Sections 1 and 2 hereof. The Company and the Guarantors further agree to waive the defense in any action for specific performance that a remedy at law would be adequate.

(b) No Inconsistent Agreements . Neither the Company nor the Guarantors will on or after the date of this Agreement enter into any agreement with respect to the Company’s securities that is inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders in this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof. The rights granted to the Holders hereunder do not in any way conflict with and are not inconsistent with the rights granted to the holders of the Company’s securities under any agreement in effect on the date hereof.

(c) Amendments and Waivers . The provisions of this Agreement may not be amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from the provisions hereof may not be given, except by the Company and the written consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities affected by such amendment, modification, supplement, waiver or consents. Without the consent of the Holder of each Security, however, no modification may change the provisions relating to the payment of Additional Interest. Subject to the foregoing sentence, a waiver or consent to depart from the provisions hereof with respect to a matter that relates exclusively to the rights of Holders of Securities whose Securities are being sold pursuant to a Registration Statement and that does not directly or indirectly affect, impair, limit or compromise the rights of other Holders of Securities may be given by Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities being sold pursuant to such Registration Statement.

 

13


(d) Notices . All notices and other communications provided for or permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand delivery, first-class mail, facsimile transmission, or air courier which guarantees overnight delivery:

(1) if to a Holder of the Securities, at the most current address given by such Holder to the Company.

(2) if to the Initial Purchasers:

c/o Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC

Eleven Madison Avenue

New York, NY 10010-3629

Fax No.: (212) 325-8278

Attention: Transactions Advisory Group

with a copy to:

Shearman & Sterling LLP

599 Lexington Avenue

New York, NY 10022

Fax No.: (212) 848-4000

Attention: Robert Evans III

(3) if to the Company or the Guarantors:

Affinion Group. Inc.

100 Connecticut Avenue

Norwalk, CT 06850

Attention: General Counsel

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

Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP

590 Madison Avenue

New York, NY 10022

Fax No.: (212) 872-1002

Attention: Rosa A. Testani

All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; three Business Days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when receipt is acknowledged by recipient’s facsimile machine operator, if sent by facsimile transmission; and on the day delivered, if sent by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery.

(e) Third Party Beneficiaries. The Holders shall be third party beneficiaries to the agreements made hereunder between the Company, on the one hand, and the Initial Purchasers, on the other hand, and shall have the right to enforce such agreements directly to the extent they may deem such enforcement necessary or advisable to protect their rights or the rights of Holders hereunder.

(f) Successors and Assigns . This Agreement shall be binding upon the Company and the Guarantors and their successors and assigns.

(g) Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by the 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.

 

14


(h) Headings . The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.

(i) Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAWS.

(j) Severability . If any one or more of the provisions contained herein, or the application thereof in any circumstance, is held invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of any such provision in every other respect and of the remaining provisions contained herein shall not be affected or impaired thereby.

(k) Securities Held by the Company . Whenever the consent or approval of Holders of a specified percentage of principal amount of Securities is required hereunder, Securities held by the Company or its affiliates (other than subsequent Holders of Securities if such subsequent Holders are deemed to be affiliates solely by reason of their holdings of such Securities) shall not be counted in determining whether such consent or approval was given by the Holders of such required percentage.

[Signature Page follows]

 

15


If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, please sign and return to the Company a counterpart hereof, whereupon this instrument, along with all counterparts, will become a binding agreement among the several Initial Purchasers, the Company and the Guarantors in accordance with its terms.

 

Very truly yours,

COMPANY:
AFFINION GROUP, INC.,
  By   /s/ Nathaniel J. Lipman
   

Name:  Nathaniel J. Lipman

   

Title:    Chief Executive Officer

GUARANTORS:

AFFINION BENEFITS GROUP, INC.

AFFINION DATA SERVICES, INC.

AFFINION GROUP, LLC

AFFINION LOYALTY GROUP, INC.

AFFINION PUBLISHING, LLC

CARDWELL AGENCY, INC.

LONG TERM PREFERRED CARE, INC.

TRAVELERS ADVANTAGE SERVICES, INC.

TRILEGIANT AUTO SERVICES, INC.

TRILEGIANT CORPORATION

TRILEGIANT INSURANCE SERVICES, INC.

TRILEGIANT RETAIL SERVICES, INC.

By:   /s/ Nathaniel J. Lipman
  Name:   Nathaniel J. Lipman
  Title:   Chief Executive Officer

CUC ASIA HOLDINGS, by its partners:

 

    Trilegiant Corporation

  By:   /s/ Nathaniel J. Lipman
   

Name:  Nathaniel J. Lipman

   

Title:    Chief Executive Officer

    Trilegiant Retail Services, Inc.
  By:   /s/ Nathaniel J. Lipman
   

Name:  Nathaniel J. Lipman

   

Title:    Chief Executive Officer


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

Acting on behalf of themselves and as the Representatives of the several Initial Purchasers.

C REDIT S UISSE SECURITIES (USA) LLC

D EUTSCHE B ANK S ECURITIES I NC .

By C REDIT S UISSE SECURITIES (USA) LLC

 

By  

/s/ Malcolm Price

 

Name:  Malcolm Price

Title:    Managing Director

By D EUTSCHE B ANK S ECURITIES I NC .
By   /s/ John Eydenberg
 

Name:  John Eydenberg

 

Title:    Managing Director

By  

/s/ Thomas Krauss

 

Name:  Thomas Krauss

 

Title:    Director


ANNEX A

Each broker-dealer that receives Exchange Securities for its own account pursuant to the Exchange Offer must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities. The Letter of Transmittal states that by so acknowledging and by delivering a prospectus, a broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act. This prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, may be used by a broker-dealer in connection with resales of Exchange Securities received in exchange for Initial Securities where such Initial Securities were acquired by such broker-dealer as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities. The Company has agreed that, for a period of 180 days after the Expiration Date (as defined herein), it will make this prospectus available to any broker-dealer for use in connection with any such resale. See “Plan of Distribution.”


ANNEX B

Each broker-dealer that receives Exchange Securities for its own account in exchange for Initial Securities, where such Initial Securities were acquired by such broker-dealer as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities, must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities. See “Plan of Distribution.”


ANNEX C

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

Each broker-dealer that receives Exchange Securities for its own account pursuant to the Exchange Offer must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities. This Prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, may be used by a broker-dealer in connection with resales of Exchange Securities received in exchange for Initial Securities where such Initial Securities were acquired as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities. The Company has agreed that, for a period of 180 days after the Expiration Date, it will make this prospectus, as amended or supplemented, available to any broker-dealer for use in connection with any such resale. In addition, until [              ] , 200_ , all dealers effecting transactions in the Exchange Securities may be required to deliver a prospectus. 1

The Company will not receive any proceeds from any sale of Exchange Securities by broker-dealers. Exchange Securities received by broker-dealers for their own account pursuant to the Exchange Offer may be sold from time to time in one or more transactions in the over-the-counter market, in negotiated transactions, through the writing of options on the Exchange Securities or a combination of such methods of resale, at market prices prevailing at the time of resale, at prices related to such prevailing market prices or negotiated prices. Any such resale may be made directly to purchasers or to or through brokers or dealers who may receive compensation in the form of commissions or concessions from any such broker-dealer or the purchasers of any such Exchange Securities. Any broker-dealer that resells Exchange Securities that were received by it for its own account pursuant to the Exchange Offer and any broker or dealer that participates in a distribution of such Exchange Securities may be deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act and any profit on any such resale of Exchange Securities and any commission or concessions received by any such persons may be deemed to be underwriting compensation under the Securities Act. The Letter of Transmittal states that, by acknowledging that it will deliver and by delivering a prospectus, a broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act.

For a period of 180 days after the Expiration Date the Company will promptly send additional copies of this prospectus and any amendment or supplement to this prospectus to any broker-dealer that requests such documents in the Letter of Transmittal. The Company has agreed to pay all expenses incident to the Exchange Offer (including the expenses of one counsel for the Holders of the Securities) other than commissions or concessions of any brokers or dealers and will indemnify the Holders of the Securities (including any broker-dealers) against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.

 


1 In addition, the legend required by Item 502(b) of Regulation S-K will appear on the inside front cover page of the Exchange Offer prospectus below the Table of Contents.


ANNEX D

 

¨ CHECK HERE IF YOU ARE A BROKER-DEALER AND WISH TO RECEIVE 10 ADDITIONAL COPIES OF THE PROSPECTUS AND 10 COPIES OF ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS THERETO.

Name:                                                                                                 

Address:                                                                                               

If the undersigned is not a broker-dealer, the undersigned represents that it is not engaged in, and does not intend to engage in, a distribution of Exchange Securities. If the undersigned is a broker-dealer that will receive Exchange Securities for its own account in exchange for Initial Securities that were acquired as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities, it acknowledges that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities; however, by so acknowledging and by delivering a prospectus, the undersigned will not be deemed to admit that it is an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act.

Table of Contents

Exhibit 10.1

 


$960,000,000

CREDIT AGREEMENT

Dated as of October 17, 2005,

Among

AFFINION GROUP HOLDINGS, INC.,

AFFINION GROUP, INC.,

as Borrower,

THE LENDERS PARTY HERETO,

CREDIT SUISSE, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH,

as Administrative Agent,

DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC.,

as Syndication Agent,

and

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,

and

BNP PARIBAS SECURITIES CORP.,

as Documentation Agents

 


CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON LLC,

as Joint Lead Arranger and Joint Bookrunner

and

DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC.,

as Joint Lead Arranger and Joint Bookrunner

 



Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

ARTICLE I   
Definitions   

SECTION 1.01. Defined Terms

   1

SECTION 1.02. Terms Generally

   51

SECTION 1.03. Effectuation of Transfers

   51

SECTION 1.04. Currency Translation

   51
ARTICLE II   
The Credits   

SECTION 2.01. Commitments

   52

SECTION 2.02. Loans and Borrowings

   52

SECTION 2.03. Requests for Borrowings

   53

SECTION 2.04. Swingline Loans

   54

SECTION 2.05. Letters of Credit

   55

SECTION 2.06. Funding of Borrowings

   60

SECTION 2.07. Interest Elections

   60

SECTION 2.08. Termination and Reduction of Commitments

   62

SECTION 2.09. Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Debt

   62

SECTION 2.10. Repayment of Term Loans and Revolving Facility Loans

   63

SECTION 2.11. Prepayment of Loans

   65

SECTION 2.12. Fees

   66

SECTION 2.13. Interest

   67

SECTION 2.14. Alternate Rate of Interest

   68

SECTION 2.15. Increased Costs

   68

SECTION 2.16. Break Funding Payments

   70

SECTION 2.17. Taxes

   70

SECTION 2.18. Payments Generally; Pro Rata Treatment; Sharing of Set-offs

   71

SECTION 2.19. Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders

   73

SECTION 2.20. Incremental Commitments

   75

SECTION 2.21. Illegality

   77
ARTICLE III   
Representations and Warranties   

SECTION 3.01. Organization; Powers

   77

SECTION 3.02. Authorization

   77

SECTION 3.03. Enforceability

   78

SECTION 3.04. Governmental Approvals

   78

SECTION 3.05. Financial Statements

   78

SECTION 3.06. No Material Adverse Change or Material Adverse Effect

   79

SECTION 3.07. Title to Properties; Possession Under Leases

   80

SECTION 3.08. Subsidiaries

   80

 

i


Table of Contents

SECTION 3.09. Litigation; Compliance with Laws

   81

SECTION 3.10. Federal Reserve Regulations

   81

SECTION 3.11. Investment Company Act; Public Utility Holding Company Act

   81

SECTION 3.12. Use of Proceeds

   82

SECTION 3.13. Tax Returns

   82

SECTION 3.14. No Material Misstatements

   82

SECTION 3.15. Employee Benefit Plans

   83

SECTION 3.16. Environmental Matters

   84

SECTION 3.17. Security Documents

   84

SECTION 3.18. Location of Real Property

   86

SECTION 3.19. Solvency

   86

SECTION 3.20. Labor Matters

   86

SECTION 3.21. Insurance

   87

SECTION 3.22. Representations and Warranties in Purchase Agreement

   87

SECTION 3.23. Senior Debt

   87

SECTION 3.24. No Violation

   87

SECTION 3.25. Holdings Indebtedness

   87
ARTICLE IV   
Conditions of Lending   

SECTION 4.01. All Credit Events

   88

SECTION 4.02. First Credit Event

   89
ARTICLE V   
Affirmative Covenants   

SECTION 5.01. Existence; Businesses and Properties

   92

SECTION 5.02. Insurance

   93

SECTION 5.03. Taxes

   94

SECTION 5.04. Financial Statements, Reports, etc.

   94

SECTION 5.05. Litigation and Other Notices

   97

SECTION 5.06. Compliance with Laws

   97

SECTION 5.07. Maintaining Records; Access to Properties and Inspections

   97

SECTION 5.08. Payment of Obligations

   97

SECTION 5.09. Use of Proceeds

   98

SECTION 5.10. Compliance with Environmental Laws

   98

SECTION 5.11. Further Assurances; Additional Security

   98

SECTION 5.12. Fiscal Year; Accounting

   100

SECTION 5.13. Rating

   100

SECTION 5.14. Lender Meetings

   100

SECTION 5.15. Compliance with Material Contracts

   101
ARTICLE VI   
Negative Covenants   

SECTION 6.01. Indebtedness

   101

 

ii


Table of Contents

SECTION 6.02. Liens

   105

SECTION 6.03. Sale and Lease-Back Transactions

   110

SECTION 6.04. Investments, Loans and Advances

   110

SECTION 6.05. Mergers, Consolidations, Sales of Assets and Acquisitions

   113

SECTION 6.06. Dividends and Distributions

   115

SECTION 6.07. Transactions with Affiliates

   118

SECTION 6.08. Business of Holdings, the Borrower and the Subsidiaries

   121

SECTION 6.09. Limitation on Modifications and Payments of Indebtedness; Modifications of

      Certificate of Incorporation, By-Laws and Certain Other Agreements; etc.

   122

SECTION 6.10. Consolidated Leverage Ratio

   125

SECTION 6.11. Interest Coverage Ratio

   125

SECTION 6.12. Swap Agreements

   125

SECTION 6.13. Designated Senior Debt

   125
ARTICLE VII   
Events of Default   

SECTION 7.01. Events of Default

   126

SECTION 7.02. Exclusion of Certain Subsidiaries

   129

SECTION 7.03. Right to Cure

   129
ARTICLE VIII   
The Agents   

SECTION 8.01. Appointment

   130

SECTION 8.02. Delegation of Duties

   130

SECTION 8.03. Exculpatory Provisions

   131

SECTION 8.04. Reliance by Administrative Agent

   131

SECTION 8.05. Notice of Default

   132

SECTION 8.06. Non-Reliance on Agents and Other Lenders

   132

SECTION 8.07. Indemnification

   132

SECTION 8.08. Agent in Its Individual Capacity

   133

SECTION 8.09. Successor Administrative Agent

   133

SECTION 8.10. Agents and Arrangers

   134
ARTICLE IX   
Miscellaneous   

SECTION 9.01. Notices

   134

SECTION 9.02. Survival of Agreement

   134

SECTION 9.03. Binding Effect

   135

SECTION 9.04. Successors and Assigns

   135

SECTION 9.05. Expenses; Indemnity

   138

SECTION 9.06. Right of Set-off

   140

SECTION 9.07. Applicable Law

   140

SECTION 9.08. Waivers; Amendment

   140

 

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SECTION 9.09. Interest Rate Limitation

   142

SECTION 9.10. No Liability of the Issuing Banks

   143

SECTION 9.11. Entire Agreement

   143

SECTION 9.12. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL

   143

SECTION 9.13. Severability

   144

SECTION 9.14. Counterparts

   144

SECTION 9.15. Headings

   144

SECTION 9.16. Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process

   144

SECTION 9.17. Confidentiality

   144

SECTION 9.18. Direct Website Communications

   145

SECTION 9.19. Release of Liens and Guarantees

   146

SECTION 9.20. Power of Attorney

   147

SECTION 9.21. U.S.A. Patriot Act

   147

 

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Exhibits and Schedules

 

Exhibit A

   Form of Assignment and Acceptance

Exhibit B

   Form of Administrative Questionnaire

Exhibit C-1

   Form of Borrowing Request

Exhibit C-2

   Form of Swingline Borrowing Request

Exhibit D

   Form of Guarantee and Collateral Agreement

Exhibit E

   Intellectual Property Security Agreement

Schedule 1.01(a)

   EBITDA Scheduled Adjustments

Schedule 1.01(b)

   Immaterial Subsidiaries

Schedule 1.01(c)

   Subsidiary Spin-off

Schedule 1.01(d)

   Unrestricted Subsidiaries

Schedule 2.01

   Commitments and Lenders

Schedule 2.05

   Issuing Banks

Schedule 3.01

   Organization and Good Standing

Schedule 3.04

   Governmental Approvals

Schedule 3.05(a)

   Financial Statements

Schedule 3.05(b)

   Liabilities/Long-Term Obligations

Schedule 3.07(b)

   Possession under Leases

Schedule 3.08(a)

   Subsidiaries

Schedule 3.08(b)

   Subscriptions

Schedule 3.13

   Taxes

Schedule 3.15

   Employee Benefit Plans

Schedule 3.16

   Environmental Matters

Schedule 3.20

   Labor Matters

Schedule 3.21

   Insurance

Schedule 4.02(b)

   Local U.S. and/or Foreign Counsel

Schedule 4.02(e)

   Subsidiary Collateral

Schedule 6.01

   Indebtedness

Schedule 6.02(a)

   Liens

Schedule 6.04

   Investments; Intercompany Loans

Schedule 6.07

   Transactions with Affiliates

Schedule 6.09(c)

   Contractual Encumbrances and Restrictions

 

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CREDIT AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”), dated as of October 17, 2005, among AFFINION GROUP HOLDINGS, INC., a Delaware corporation (“ Holdings ”), AFFINION GROUP, INC., a Delaware corporation (the “ Borrower ”), the LENDERS (as hereinafter defined) from time to time party hereto, CREDIT SUISSE, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, as administrative agent for the Lenders (“ Credit Suisse ” or, together with any successor administrative agent appointed pursuant hereto, in such capacity, the “ Administrative Agent ”), DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC., as syndication agent (in such capacity, the “ Syndication Agent ”) and BANK OF AMERICA, N.A. and BNP PARIBAS SECURITIES CORP., as documentation agents (in such capacity, each, a “ Documentation Agent ” and together, the “ Documentation Agents ”).

WHEREAS, Holdings was organized by the Fund, to acquire (the “ Acquisition ”) (a) all of the Equity Interests in Cendant Marketing Group, LLC (formerly, Cendant Membership Services Holdings LLC, “ CMG ”), a Delaware limited liability company and a direct wholly owned subsidiary of Cendant Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “ Seller ”), and (b) 10,000,000 ordinary shares of £1 each in the capital of Cendant International Holdings Limited, a private company limited by shares incorporated in England and Wales with registered number 3458969 and an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of the Seller (“ CIH ” and, together with CMG, the “ Companies ”);

WHEREAS, in order to effect the Acquisition, Holdings created the Borrower, its wholly owned Subsidiary, and the Seller, Holdings and the Borrower entered into the Purchase Agreement, dated as of July 26, 2005 (as amended by Amendment No. 1, dated as of the date hereof, and as further amended from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof, the “ Purchase Agreement ”), setting forth the terms and conditions of the Acquisition;

WHEREAS, in connection with the consummation of the Acquisition and the payment of certain fees and expenses related thereto, the Borrower has requested the Lenders to extend credit in the form of (a) Tranche B Term Loans on the Closing Date in an aggregate principal amount not in excess of $860,000,000 and (b) Revolving Facility Loans and Letters of Credit at any time and from time to time prior to the Revolving Facility Maturity Date in an aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding not in excess of $100,000,000.

NOW, THEREFORE, the Lenders are willing to extend such credit to the Borrower on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein. Accordingly, the parties hereto agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

Definitions

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

ABR ” shall mean, for any day, a fluctuating interest rate per annum in effect from time to time, which rate per annum shall at all times be equal to the higher of (a) the rate of interest per annum determined by Credit Suisse as its prime rate in effect at its principal office in


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New York, New York, and notified to the Borrower and (b)   1 / 2 of 1%  per annum above the Federal Funds Rate.

ABR Borrowing ” shall mean a Borrowing comprised of ABR Loans.

ABR Loan ” shall mean any ABR Term Loan, any ABR Revolving Loan or any Swingline Loan to the Borrower.

ABR Revolving Borrowing ” shall mean a Borrowing comprised of ABR Revolving Loans.

ABR Revolving Loan ” shall mean any Revolving Facility Loan bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the ABR in accordance with the provisions of Article II .

ABR Term Loan ” shall mean any Term Loan bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the ABR in accordance with the provisions of Article II .

Acquisition ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals hereto.

Additional Mortgage ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.11(c) .

Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate ” shall mean, with respect to any Eurocurrency Borrowing for any Interest Period, an interest rate per annum equal to the rate per annum obtained by dividing (i) the rate per annum determined by the Administrative Agent at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time), on the date that is two Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period by reference to the British Bankers’ Association Interest Settlement Rates for deposits in U.S. Dollars (as set forth by any service selected by the Administrative Agent that has been nominated by the British Bankers’ Association as an authorized information vendor for the purpose of displaying such rates) for a period equal to such interest period or to the extent that an interest rate is not ascertainable pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this definition, the interest rate per annum determined by the Administrative Agent to be the average of the rates per annum at which deposits in U.S. Dollars are offered for such relevant Interest Period to major banks in the London interbank market in London, England by the Administrative Agent at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the date that is two Business Days prior to the beginning of such Interest Period, by (ii) a percentage equal to 100% minus the Eurocurrency Rate Reserve Percentage for such Interest Period.

Adjustment Date ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of the term “ Pricing Grid .”

Administrative Agent ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble hereto.

Administrative Agent Fees ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.12(c) .

 

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Administrative Questionnaire ” shall mean an Administrative Questionnaire in the form of Exhibit B or in such other form as may be supplied by the Administrative Agent.

Affiliate ” shall mean, when used 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 Parties ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.18(c) .

Agents ” shall mean the Administrative Agent, the Syndication Agent and the Documentation Agents.

Agreement ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble hereto, as amended from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof.

Applicable Insurance Laws and Regulations ” shall mean any laws, rules and regulations of any government or governmental authority or agency, including of any Applicable Insurance Regulatory Authority, applicable to the Insurance Business or the Insurance Subsidiaries.

Applicable Insurance Regulatory Authority ” shall mean, when used with respect to any Insurance Subsidiary, the insurance department or similar administrative authority or agency located in (x) the state or other jurisdiction in which such Insurance Subsidiary is domiciled or (y) to the extent asserting regulatory jurisdiction over such Insurance Subsidiary, the insurance department, authority or agency in each state or other jurisdiction in which such Insurance Subsidiary is licensed, and shall include any Federal insurance regulatory department, authority or agency that may be created in the future and that asserts regulatory jurisdiction over such Insurance Subsidiary.

Applicable Margin ” shall mean for any day (a) with respect to any Eurocurrency Loan, 2.75%  per annum ; (b) with respect to any ABR Loan, 1.75%  per annum ; and (c) with respect to the Commitment Fee, 0.50%  per annum ; provided , that on and after the first Adjustment Date occurring after the delivery of financial statements pursuant to Section 5.04 for the first fiscal quarter of the Borrower commencing after the Closing Date, the Applicable Margin with respect to Revolving Facility Loans and Swingline Loans will be determined pursuant to the Pricing Grid.

Applicable Percentage ” shall mean, with respect to any Revolving Lender, the percentage of the total Revolving Commitments represented by such Lender’s Revolving Commitment. If the Revolving Commitments have terminated or expired, the Applicable Percentages shall be determined based upon the relative amounts of the Revolving Facility Exposures of the Revolving Lenders.

Approved Fund ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.04(b) .

Asset Acquisition ” shall mean, for purposes of calculating any financial ratios, any Permitted Business Acquisition the aggregate consideration for which exceeds $1,000,000.

 

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Asset Disposition ” shall mean, for purposes of calculating any financial ratios, any sale, transfer or other disposition by the Borrower or any Subsidiary to any person other than the Borrower or any Subsidiary, to the extent otherwise permitted hereunder of any asset or group of related assets (other than inventory or other assets sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of in the ordinary course of business) in one or a series of related transactions, the Net Proceeds from which exceed $1,000,000.

Assignee ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.04(b) .

Assignment and Acceptance ” shall mean an assignment and acceptance entered into by a Lender and an assignee, and accepted by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower (if required by Section 9.04 ), in the form of Exhibit A or such other form as shall be approved by the Administrative Agent.

Available Free Cash Flow Amount ” shall mean, at any time of determination, an amount equal to, without duplication:

(a) the Cumulative Retained Excess Cash Flow Amount on such date of determination (which may be a negative amount), plus

(b) the aggregate amount of proceeds received after the Closing Date and prior to such date of determination that would have constituted Net Proceeds pursuant to clause (a)  of the definition thereof except for the operation of clause (x)  or (y)  of the second proviso thereof (the “ Below-Threshold Asset Sale Proceeds ”), plus

(c) the Cumulative Equity Proceeds Amount on such date of determination, minus

(d) the cumulative amount of Investments pursuant to Section 6.04(b)(iv)(B) from and after the Closing Date and on or prior to such time, minus

(e) the cumulative amount of dividends paid and distributions made pursuant to Section 6.06(h) from and after the Closing Date and on or prior to such time, minus

(f) the cumulative amount of the Available Free Cash Flow Amount immediately prior to the time of such determination used to repay, repurchase, redeem, acquire, cancel or terminate Indebtedness pursuant to Section 6.09(b)(i) from and after the Closing Date and on or prior to such time;

provided , however , for purposes of determining the amount of Available Free Cash Flow Amount available for dividends and distributions under Section 6.06(h) , the calculation of the Available Free Cash Flow Amount shall not include any Below-Threshold Asset Sale Proceeds to the extent the cumulative amount of such Below-Threshold Asset Sale Proceeds exceeds the sum of the cumulative amounts referred to in clauses (d), (e) and (f)  above.

Available Unused Commitment ” shall mean, with respect to a Revolving Facility Lender at any time, an amount equal to the amount by which (a) the aggregate amount of

 

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the Revolving Facility Commitment of such Revolving Facility Lender at such time exceeds (b) the Revolving Facility Exposure of such Revolving Facility Lender at such time.

Banking Subsidiary ” shall mean any Subsidiary that is an Insured Depository Institution (as defined in Section 3 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, 12 U.S.C. § 1813).

Board ” shall mean the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States of America.

Board of Directors ” shall mean, as to any person, the board of directors or managers, as applicable, of such person (or, if such person is a partnership, the board of directors or other governing body of the general partner of such person) or any duly authorized committee thereof.

Borrower ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble hereto.

Borrowing ” shall mean a group of Loans of a single Type, Class and currency and made on a single date to a single Borrower and, in the case of Eurocurrency Loans, as to which a single Interest Period is in effect.

Borrowing Minimum ” shall mean $5,000,000.

Borrowing Multiple ” shall mean $1,000,000.

Borrowing Request ” shall mean a request by the Borrower in accordance with the terms of Section 2.03 and substantially in the form of Exhibit C-1 .

Bridge Facility Agent ” shall mean Credit Suisse or any successor administrative agent appointed pursuant the Bridge Loan Agreement.

Bridge Financing ” shall mean $383,612,600 in senior subordinated increasing rate bridge loans made to the Borrower in accordance with the provisions of the Bridge Loan Agreement, together with accrued interest thereon increasing the principal amount thereof to the extent permitted to be paid in the form of senior subordinated bridge increasing rate bridge loans, if any, under the Bridge Loan Agreement, including any senior subordinated increasing rate term loans into which any such senior subordinated increasing rate bridge loans are converted in accordance with the provisions of the Bridge Loan Agreement, together with accrued interest thereon increasing the principal amount thereof to the extent permitted to be paid in the form of senior subordinated increasing rate term loans, if any, under the Bridge Loan Agreement; provided , that no Bridge Financing shall be deemed to be outstanding after 100% of the aggregate principal amount of all bridge loans and term loans under the Bridge Loan Agreement have been exchanged for Senior Subordinated Exchange Notes.

Bridge Financing Covenant Release ” shall mean the earliest of (a) the one-year anniversary of the Closing Date, (b) the date on which no Bridge Financing remains outstanding, and (c) solely as relating to any specific transaction, and limited to such transaction, the covenants set forth in the Bridge Loan Agreement not prohibiting such transaction (and permitting such transaction, to the extent subject to any financial ratio conditions, in accordance

 

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with the terms thereof), including, without limitation, as a result of any waiver or amendment by the lenders holding the Bridge Financing under the Bridge Loan Agreement of any such covenants, or any other consent having the effect thereof, in order to permit such transaction, such waiver, amendment or consent to be in accordance with the provisions of the Bridge Loan Agreement.

Bridge Financing Documents ” shall mean the Bridge Loan Agreement and the other “ Loan Documents ” as defined in the Bridge Loan Agreement.

Bridge Loan Agreement ” means the Senior Subordinated Bridge Loan Agreement dated as of October 17, 2005 among Holdings, the Borrower, Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank AG Cayman Islands Branch, Banc of America Bridge LLC and BNP Paribas as initial bridge lenders, and the Bridge Facility Agent in respect of the Bridge Facility, as amended and supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof.

Budget ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.04(f) .

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

Capital Expenditures ” shall mean, for any person in respect of any period, the aggregate of all expenditures incurred by such person during such period that, in accordance with GAAP, are or should be included in “ additions to property, plant or equipment ” or similar items reflected in the statement of cash flows of such person; provided , however , that Capital Expenditures shall not include:

(a) expenditures with funds that would have constituted Net Proceeds under clause (a)  of the definition of the term “ Net Proceeds ” but for the application of the first proviso to such clause (a) );

(b) expenditures with proceeds of insurance settlements, condemnation awards and other settlements in respect of lost, destroyed, damaged or condemned assets, equipment or other property to the extent such expenditures are made to replace or repair such lost, destroyed, damaged or condemned assets, equipment or other property or otherwise to acquire, maintain, develop, construct, improve, upgrade or repair assets or properties useful in the business of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries within 12 months of receipt of such proceeds;

(c) interest capitalized during such period;

(d) expenditures that are accounted for as capital expenditures of such person and that actually are paid for by a third party (excluding Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary) and for which none of Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary has provided or is required to provide or incur or is otherwise liable for, directly or indirectly,

 

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any consideration or obligation to such third party or any other person (whether before, during or after such period);

(e) the book value of any asset owned by such person prior to or during such period to the extent that such book value is included as a capital expenditure during such period as a result of such person reusing or beginning to reuse such asset during such period without a corresponding expenditure actually having been made in such period; provided , that (i) any expenditure necessary in order to permit such asset to be reused shall be included as a Capital Expenditure during the period that such expenditure actually is made and (ii) such book value shall have been included in Capital Expenditures when such asset was originally acquired;

(f) the purchase price of equipment purchased during such period to the extent that the consideration therefor consists of any combination of (i) used or surplus equipment traded in at the time of such purchase and (ii) the proceeds of a concurrent sale of used or surplus equipment, in each case, in the ordinary course of business;

(g) Investments in respect of a Permitted Business Acquisition; or

(h) the Acquisition.

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

Cash Interest Expense ” shall mean, with respect to any person on a consolidated basis for any period, Interest Expense for such period, less , without duplication, the sum of (a) pay-in-kind Interest Expense or other noncash Interest Expense (including as a result of the effects of purchase accounting), (b) to the extent included in Interest Expense, the amortization of any financing fees paid by, or on behalf of, Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary, including such fees paid in connection with the Transactions, (c) the amortization of debt discounts, if any, or fees in respect of Swap Agreements and (d) cash interest income of Holdings, the Borrower and the Subsidiaries for such period; provided , that Cash Interest Expense shall exclude any one-time financing fees paid in connection with the Transactions or one-time amendment fees paid in connection with any amendment of this Agreement.

Cendant ” shall mean Cendant Corporation, a Delaware corporation.

A “ Change in Control ” shall be deemed to occur if:

(a) a majority of the seats (other than vacant seats) on the Board of Directors of Holdings shall at any time be occupied by persons who were neither (a) nominated by the Board of Directors of Holdings or a Permitted Holder, (b) appointed by directors so nominated nor (c) appointed by the Fund or a Fund Affiliate; or

 

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(b) a “ change of control ” shall occur under (i) the Senior Notes, the Bridge Loan Agreement, the Senior Subordinated Notes or any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of any of the foregoing, (ii) the Seller Preferred Equity or (iii) any Material Indebtedness; or

(c) Holdings shall fail to own, directly or indirectly, beneficially and of record, 100% of all issued and outstanding Equity Interests of the Borrower; or

(d) Permitted Holders, collectively, shall fail to own beneficially, directly or indirectly, in the aggregate Equity Interests representing at least 51% of (i) the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of Holdings or (ii) the common stock represented by the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of Holdings.

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

Charges ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.09 .

CIH ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals hereto.

Class ” when used in reference to (a) any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are Revolving Facility Loans, Tranche B Term Loans, Other Revolving Facility Loans, Other Term Loans or Swingline Loans and (b) any Commitment, refers to whether such Commitment is a Revolving Facility Commitment, Tranche B Commitment, Incremental Revolving Facility Commitment with respect to Other Revolving Facility Loans or Incremental Term Loan Commitment with respect to Other Term Loans. Other Term Loans (together with the Incremental Term Loan Commitments in respect thereof) and Other Revolving Facility Loans (together with the Incremental Revolving Facility Commitments in respect thereof) that have different terms and conditions shall be construed to be in different Classes.

Closing Date ” shall mean October 17, 2005.

CMG ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals hereto.

Code ” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.

Collateral ” shall mean all “ Collateral ” and “ Mortgaged Property ” referred to in the Security Documents (including the Mortgaged Properties) and all other property that is or is intended to be subject to any Lien in favor of the Administrative Agent or any Subagent for the benefit of the Lenders.

 

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Collateral and Guarantee Requirement ” shall mean, at any time, the requirement that:

(a) on the Closing Date, the Administrative Agent shall have received (i) from Holdings and each other Loan Party a counterpart of the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, duly executed and delivered on behalf of such person and (ii) (except as provided in Section 4.02(e) ), from each Loan Party that directly owns any Equity Interests of a Foreign Subsidiary (other than any Foreign Subsidiary organized under the laws of an Excluded Jurisdiction), a counterpart of a Foreign Pledge Agreement, duly executed and delivered on behalf of such person;

(b) on the Closing Date (except as provided in Section 4.02(e) with respect to any Equity Interests issued by a Foreign Subsidiary), all outstanding Equity Interests of the Borrower, all other outstanding Equity Interests directly owned by any Loan Party (other than (x) the Equity Interests of a Banking Subsidiary or an Insurance Subsidiary to the extent that a pledge of such Equity Interests violates applicable law, (y) in the case of Holdings, the Equity Interests of a special purpose person the sole assets of which are the Netcentives Assets, and (z) the Equity Interests of the Unrestricted Travel Rewards Subsidiary), and all Indebtedness owing to any Loan Party (other than intercompany indebtedness, which is governed by clause (c)  below) shall have been pledged pursuant to the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement (or other applicable Security Document) and the Administrative Agent shall have received certificates or other instruments representing or evidencing all such Equity Interests (other than (i) uncertificated Equity Interests, (ii) Equity Interests issued by Foreign Subsidiaries organized under the laws of a jurisdiction where receipt of such certificates or other instruments is not required for perfection of security interests in such Equity Interests and (iii) Equity Interests issued by a Foreign Subsidiary organized under the laws of an Excluded Jurisdiction) and any notes or other instruments representing such Indebtedness in excess of $10,000,000, together with stock powers, note powers or other instruments of transfer with respect thereto endorsed in blank, provided , that in no event shall more than 65% of the issued and outstanding voting Equity Interests of any Foreign Subsidiary be pledged to secure Obligations of the Loan Parties;

(c) (i) all Indebtedness of Holdings, the Borrower and each Subsidiary (other than (x) intercompany Indebtedness incurred in the ordinary course of business in connection with the cash management operations and intercompany sales of the Borrower and each Subsidiary, (y) any Indebtedness not exceeding $1,000,000 and (z) to the extent that a pledge of such promissory note or instrument would violate applicable law) that is owing to any Loan Party (A) shall be evidenced by a promissory note or an instrument in form satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and (B) except for (x) Indebtedness of any Foreign Subsidiary owing to the Borrower or a Domestic Subsidiary for so long as the pledge of such Indebtedness would be deemed an incurrence of Indebtedness under the Senior Notes or the Senior Subordinated Notes and (y) Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Domestic Subsidiary owing to the Borrower or a Domestic Subsidiary at any time that the pledge of such Indebtedness would be deemed an incurrence of Indebtedness under the Senior Notes Indenture or the Senior Subordinated Notes Indenture and, in each case, the Indebtedness arising from such pledge is not expressly permitted Indebtedness

 

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under the Senior Notes Indenture or the Senior Subordinated Notes Indentures as “ Permitted Debt ” (or similar term) and could not otherwise be incurred in accordance with the terms of the Senior Notes Indenture or the Senior Subordinated Notes Indenture, shall have been pledged pursuant to the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement (or other applicable Security Document), and (ii) the Administrative Agent shall have received all such promissory notes or instruments, together with note powers or other instruments of transfer with respect thereto endorsed in blank (other than with respect to any such intercompany debt the perfection of the pledge of which does not require delivery to the Administrative Agent);

(d) except as otherwise contemplated by any Security Document (including with regard to deposit accounts), all documents and instruments, (including, in the United States of America, filings of Uniform Commercial Code financing statements and filings with the United States Copyright Office and the United States Patent and Trademark Office) and all other actions required by law or reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent to be filed, registered or recorded to create the Liens intended to be created by the Security Documents (in each case, including any supplements thereto) and perfect such Liens to the extent required by, and with the priority required by, the Security Documents, shall have been filed, registered or recorded or delivered to the Administrative Agent for filing, registration or the recording or taken concurrently with, or promptly following, the execution and delivery of each such Security Document;

(e) except as set forth pursuant to any Security Document, each Loan Party shall have obtained all consents and approvals required to be obtained by it in connection with (i) the execution and delivery of all Security Documents (or supplements thereto) to which it is a party and the granting by it of the Liens thereunder and (ii) the performance of its obligations thereunder; and

(f) subject to Section 5.11(g) , in the case of any person that (i) becomes a Subsidiary Loan Party after the Closing Date, the Administrative Agent shall have received from such Subsidiary Loan Party, (A) a supplement to the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, in the form specified therein, duly executed and delivered on behalf of such person, (B)with respect to any Foreign Pledge Agreement that the Administrative Agent determines, based on the advice of counsel, to be necessary or advisable in connection with the pledge of Equity Interests or Indebtedness of a Foreign Subsidiary (other than a pledge of Equity Interests of any Foreign Subsidiary that is not directly owned by it or that is organized under the laws of an Excluded Jurisdiction) owned by such Subsidiary Loan Party, a counterpart thereof, duly executed and delivered on behalf of such person, (C) such other Security Documents as may be required to be delivered pursuant to Section 5.11 , and (D) evidence that any other requirements of Section 5.11 shall have been complied with and (ii) becomes such a Subsidiary Loan Party, the Administrative Agent shall have received from the parent of such Subsidiary Loan Party, (A) supplements to the applicable Security Documents pursuant to which it shall have pledged the Equity Interests in the other Subsidiaries owned by it, or other Security Documents, effecting the pledge of such Equity Interests in favor of the Administrative Agent, subject to the same exceptions and limitations as set forth in paragraph (c)  above, (B) certificates and instruments representing or evidencing such

 

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Equity Interests, subject to the same exceptions and limitations as set forth in paragraph (c)  above.

Commitment Fee ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.12(a) .

Commitments ” shall mean (a) with respect to any Lender, such Lender’s Revolving Facility Commitment, Tranche B Commitment, Incremental Revolving Facility Commitment and/or Incremental Term Loan Commitment, (b) with respect to the Swingline Lender, its Swingline Commitment and (c) with respect to any Issuing Bank, such Issuing Bank’s L/C Commitment.

Communications ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.18(a) .

Companies ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals hereto.

Conduit Lender ” shall mean any special purpose corporation organized and administered by any Lender for the purpose of making Loans otherwise required to be made by such Lender and designated by such Lender in a written instrument; provided , that the designation by any Lender of a Conduit Lender shall not relieve the designating Lender of any of its obligations to fund a Loan under this Agreement if, for any reason, its Conduit Lender fails to fund any such Loan, and the designating Lender (and not the Conduit Lender) shall have the sole right and responsibility to deliver all consents and waivers required or requested under this Agreement with respect to its Conduit Lender; provided , further that no Conduit Lender shall (a) be entitled to receive any greater amount pursuant to Section 2.15 , 2.16 , 2.17 or 9.05 than the designating Lender would have been entitled to receive in respect of the extensions of credit made by such Conduit Lender or (b) be deemed to have any Commitment.

Consolidated Debt ” at any date shall mean the sum of (without duplication) all Indebtedness (other than letters of credit, to the extent undrawn) consisting of Capital Lease Obligations, bankers’ acceptances, Indebtedness for borrowed money, Disqualified Stock and Indebtedness in respect of the deferred purchase price of property or services of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries determined on a consolidated basis on such date.

Consolidated Fixed Charges ” shall mean, with respect to the Borrower and the Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis for any period, the sum, without duplication, of:

(a) the consolidated interest expense (net of interest income) to the extent it relates to Indebtedness of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries for such period, and to the extent such expense was deducted in computing Consolidated Net Income, whether paid or accrued, including, without limitation, amortization of debt issuance costs and original issue discount, non-cash interest payments, the interest component of any deferred payment obligations, the interest component of all payments associated with Capital Lease Obligations, commissions, discounts and other fees and charges incurred in respect of letter of credit or bankers’ acceptance financings, and net of the effect of all payments made or received pursuant to obligations under any Swap Agreement, but excluding the

 

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amortization or write-off of deferred financing fees or expenses of any bridge or other financing fee in connection with the Transactions; plus

(b) the consolidated interest of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries that was capitalized during such period; plus

(c) any interest expense on Indebtedness of another person that is Guaranteed by the Borrower and the Subsidiaries or secured by a Lien on assets of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries, whether or not such Guarantee or Lien is called upon;

in each case, on a consolidated basis and in accordance with GAAP.

Consolidated Leverage Ratio ” shall mean, on any date, the ratio of (a) Consolidated Total Debt as of such date to (b) EBITDA for the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters most recently ended as of such date, all determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP; provided , that to the extent any Asset Disposition or any Asset Acquisition (or any similar transaction or transactions that require a waiver or a consent of the provisions of Section 6.04 or Section 6.05 by the Required Lenders pursuant to Section 9.08 and such waiver or consent has been obtained in accordance with the terms hereof), including the Transactions, has occurred during the relevant Test Period, EBITDA shall be determined for the respective Test Period on a Pro Forma Basis for such occurrences.

Consolidated Net Income ” shall mean, with respect to any person for any period, the aggregate of the Net Income of such person and its subsidiaries for such period, on a consolidated basis, plus the amount that the provision for taxes exceeds cash taxes paid by such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries in such period; provided , however , that, without duplication,

(a) any net after-tax extraordinary or nonrecurring or unusual gains, losses, income, expense or charges (less all fees and expenses relating thereto), including, without limitation, any severance, relocation or other restructuring costs and transition expenses incurred as a direct result of the transition of the Borrower to an independent operating company in connection with the Transactions and fees, expenses or charges related to any offering of Equity Interests of such person, any Investment, any acquisition or any offering of Indebtedness permitted to be incurred by this Agreement (in each case, whether or not successful), including any such fees, expenses or charges related to the Transactions, in each case, shall be excluded;

(b) any increase in amortization or depreciation or any one-time non-cash charges resulting from purchase accounting in connection with any acquisition that is consummated on or after the Closing Date shall be excluded;

(c) the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles during such period shall be excluded;

(d) any net after-tax gains or losses on disposal of discontinued operations shall be excluded;

 

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(e) any net after-tax gains or losses (less all fees and expenses or charges relating thereto) attributable to business dispositions or asset dispositions other than in the ordinary course of business (as determined in good faith by senior management or the Board of Directors of the Borrower) shall be excluded;

(f) any net after-tax gains or losses (less all fees and expenses or charges relating thereto) attributable to the early extinguishment of indebtedness shall be excluded;

(g) the Net Income for such period of any person that is not a subsidiary of such person, or is an Unrestricted Subsidiary, or that is accounted for by the equity method of accounting, shall be included only to the extent of the amount of dividends or distributions or other payments actually paid in cash (or to the extent converted into cash) to the referent person or a subsidiary thereof in respect of such period;

(h) the Net Income for such period of any subsidiary of such person shall be excluded to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by such subsidiary of its Net Income is not at the date of determination permitted without any prior governmental approval (which has not been obtained) or, directly or indirectly, by the operation of the terms of its charter or any agreement, instrument, judgment, decree, order, statute, rule or governmental regulation applicable to such subsidiary or its equityholders, unless such restrictions with respect to the payment of dividends or similar distributions have been legally waived; provided that the Consolidated Net Income of such person shall be increased by the amount of dividends or other distributions or other payments actually paid in cash (or converted into cash) by any such subsidiary to such person or a subsidiary of such person (subject to the provisions of this clause (h) ) , to the extent not already included therein;

(i) any non-cash impairment charge or asset write-off resulting from the application of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 142 and 144, and the amortization of intangibles arising pursuant to No. 141, shall be excluded;

(j) any non-cash expenses realized or resulting from employee benefit plans or post-employment benefit plans, grants of stock appreciation or similar rights, stock options or other rights to officers, directors and employees of such person or any of its Subsidiaries shall be excluded;

(k) any one-time non-cash compensation charges shall be excluded;

(l) non-cash gains, losses, income and expenses resulting from fair value accounting required by Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 133 and related interpretations shall be excluded;

(m) the effects of purchase accounting as a result of the Acquisition shall be excluded;

 

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(n) accruals and reserves that are established within twelve months after the Closing Date and that are so required to be established in accordance with GAAP shall be excluded (until such time as such items require an expenditure of cash); and

(p) to the extent not already reflected in Consolidated Net Income, the amount of any accrual, reserve or other charge that reduces Net Income of such Person that was taken in respect of expected or actual Losses by reason of (x) any legal proceedings disclosed in the Offering Circular, including the financial statements included therein, or relating to the same facts and circumstances as disclosed, or (y) a breach or violation of law, in each case, shall be excluded; provided , that (as certified in a Certificate delivered to the Administrative Agent and signed by any two of the principal executive officer, the principal financial officer, the treasurer or the principal accounting officer of the Borrower) the Borrower has (i) a reasonable good faith belief that it is entitled to be indemnified by Cendant pursuant to the Purchase Agreement in respect of such Losses in an amount greater than or equal to the amount to be excluded from the calculation of Consolidated Net Income pursuant to this clause (p)  and (ii) provided Cendant a notice in respect of the Borrower’s intent to seek indemnity; provided , further , that (x) if Net Income is increased as a result of any amounts received from Cendant in respect of such an indemnity and the right to be so indemnified was used in a prior period to increase Consolidated Net Income pursuant to this clause (p) , such amounts received shall be excluded from Consolidated Net Income and (y) to the extent the actual indemnity received is less than the expected indemnity amount excluded in a prior period pursuant to this clause (p) , Consolidated Net Income shall be reduced by the difference in the period in which such lower actual indemnity amounts are received or in which a final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction is made that the Borrower is entitled to no indemnity

Consolidated Total Assets ” shall mean, as of any date, the total assets of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, as set forth on the consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower as of such date.

Consolidated Total Debt ” at any date shall mean (i) Consolidated Debt on such date less (ii) the Unrestricted Cash and Permitted Investments of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on such date; provided , that the Unrestricted Cash and Permitted Investments of any Subsidiaries that are not Loan Parties to be included in clause (ii)  as a reduction of Consolidated Debt may not exceed $15,000,000 in the aggregate.

Control ” shall mean 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 ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise, and “ Controlling ” and “ Controlled ” shall have meanings correlative thereto.

Credit Event ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Article IV .

 

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Cumulative Equity Proceeds Amount ” shall mean, at any time of determination, an amount equal to, without duplication:

(a) 100% of the aggregate net proceeds (determined in a manner consistent with the definition of “ Net Proceeds ”), including cash and the Fair Market Value of tangible assets other than cash, received by the Borrower after the Closing Date from the issue or sale of Equity Interests of the Borrower to Holdings (excluding, without duplication, Excluded Contributions, Excluded Equity Proceeds, Permitted Cure Securities (including the Cure Amount) and Disqualified Stock) including Equity Interests of Holdings (other than Disqualified Stock) issued upon conversion of Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock to the extent the Borrower had received the Net Proceeds of such Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock, plus

(b) 100% of the aggregate amount of contributions to the capital of the Borrower by Holdings received in cash and the Fair Market Value of tangible assets other than cash after the Closing Date (other than Excluded Contributions, Excluded Equity Proceeds, Permitted Cure Securities (including the Cure Amount) and Disqualified Stock), plus

(c) 100% of the aggregate amount received by the Borrower or any Subsidiary in cash and the Fair Market Value of tangible assets other than cash received by the Borrower or any Subsidiary after the Closing Date from:

(i) the sale or other disposition (other than to the Borrower or a Subsidiary of the Borrower) of Investments made by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and from repurchases and redemptions of such Investments from the Borrower and its Subsidiaries by any person (other than Holdings, the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries) to the extent the Net Proceeds thereof are not required to be applied pursuant to Section 2.11(b) ;

(ii) the sale (other than to the Holdings, Borrower or a Subsidiary of the Borrower) of the Equity Interests of an Unrestricted Subsidiary to the extent the Net Proceeds thereof are not required to be applied pursuant to Section 2.11(b) ;

or

(iii) a distribution, dividend or other payment from an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

Cumulative Retained Excess Cash Flow Amount ” shall mean, at any date of determination, an amount (which may be negative) equal to:

(a) the aggregate cumulative sum of the Retained Percentage of Excess Cash Flow for each Excess Cash Flow Period (commencing after the Closing Date except, solely for purposes of determining the Available Free Cash Flow Amount, commencing on July 1, 2005); plus

(b) for each Excess Cash Flow Interim Period during any Excess Cash Flow Period in which the Borrower has elected to make an Excess Cash Flow Early Prepayment, an amount equal to the Retained Percentage of the Excess Cash Flow for such Excess Cash Flow Interim Period; plus

 

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(c) an amount (which may be negative) equal to (i) the Retained Percentage of Year To Date Excess Cash Flow for such Excess Cash Flow Period minus (ii) the aggregate of all amounts, if any, added pursuant to clause (b)  above during any Excess Cash Flow Period.

Cure Amount ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.03(a) .

Cure Right ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.03(a) .

Current Assets ” shall mean, with respect to the Borrower and the Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis at any date of determination, all assets (other than cash and Permitted Investments or other cash equivalents) that would, in accordance with GAAP, be classified on a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries as current assets at such date of determination, other than amounts related to current or deferred Taxes based on income or profits.

Current Liabilities ” shall mean, with respect to the Borrower and the Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis at any date of determination, all liabilities that would, in accordance with GAAP, be classified on a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries as current liabilities at such date of determination, other than (a) the current portion of any Indebtedness, (b) accruals of Interest Expense (excluding Interest Expense that is due and unpaid), (c) accruals for current or deferred Taxes based on income or profits, (d) accruals, if any, of transaction costs resulting from the Transactions, (e) accruals of any costs or expenses related to (i) severance or termination of employees prior to the Closing Date or (ii) bonuses, pension and other post-retirement benefit obligations, and (f) accruals for add-backs to EBITDA included in clauses (a)(iv) and (a)(vi) of the definition of such term.

Debt Service ” shall mean, with respect to Holdings, the Borrower and the Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis for any period, Cash Interest Expense for such period plus scheduled principal amortization of Consolidated Debt for such period.

Default ” shall mean any event or condition that upon notice, lapse of time or both would constitute an Event of Default.

Defaulting Lender ” shall mean any Lender with respect to which a Lender Default is in effect.

Disqualified Stock ” shall mean, with respect to any person, any Equity Interests of such person that, by their terms (or by the terms of any security into which such Equity Interests are convertible or for which such Equity Interests are redeemable or exchangeable), or upon the happening of any event, (i) mature or are mandatorily redeemable, pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise (other than as a result of a change of control or asset sale), (ii) are convertible or exchangeable other than at the option of the issuer thereof for Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock or (iii) are redeemable at the option of the holder thereof (other than upon the occurrence of a Change of Control (or similar event), sale or disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, or the acceleration of the Loans, subject, in each case, to the prior payment in full in cash of all Obligations), in whole or in part, in each case prior to 91 days after the latest to mature of any Tranche, Other Term Loan, if any, and Other

 

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Revolving Loan, if any; provided , however , that only the portion of the Equity Interests that so mature or are mandatorily redeemable, are so convertible or exchangeable or are so redeemable at the option of the holder thereof prior to such date shall be deemed to be Disqualified Stock; provided , further , that if such Equity Interests are issued to any employee or to any plan for the benefit of employees of the Borrower or the Subsidiaries or by any such plan to such employees, such Equity Interests shall not constitute Disqualified Stock solely because they may be required to be repurchased by the Borrower in order to satisfy applicable statutory or regulatory obligations or as a result of such employee’s termination, death or disability; provided , still further , that any class of Equity Interests of such person that by its terms authorizes such person to satisfy its obligations thereunder by delivery of Equity Interests that are not Disqualified Stock shall not be deemed to be Disqualified Stock; provided , still further , that the Seller Preferred Equity, as in effect on the date hereof, shall not be deemed to be Disqualified Stock.

Dividends ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.06 .

Documentation Agents ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble hereto.

Domestic Subsidiary ” shall mean any Subsidiary that is not a Foreign Subsidiary.

EBITDA ” shall mean, with respect to the Borrower and the Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis for any period, the Consolidated Net Income of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries for such period (without giving effect to the amount added to Net Income in calculating Consolidated Net Income for the excess of the provision for taxes over cash taxes) plus (a) the sum of without duplication:

(i) to the extent deducted or otherwise excluded in calculating Consolidated Net Income for such period, provision for taxes based on income, profits or capital of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries for such period, without duplication, including, without limitation, state franchise and similar taxes, and including an amount equal to the amount of tax distributions actually made to the holders of Equity Interests of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries in respect of such period in accordance with Section 6.06(b) , which shall be included as though such amounts had been paid as income taxes directly by the Borrower or any Subsidiary; plus

(ii) to the extent deducted or otherwise excluded in calculating Consolidated Net Income for such period, Consolidated Fixed Charges of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries for such period; plus

(iii) to the extent deducted or otherwise excluded in calculating Consolidated Net Income for such period, depreciation, amortization (including amortization of intangibles but excluding amortization of prepaid cash expenses that were paid in a prior period) and other non-cash expenses (excluding any such non-cash charges or expenses to the extent that it represents an accrual of or reserve for cash expenses in any future period or amortization of a prepaid cash expense that was paid in a prior period) of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries for such period; plus

 

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(iv) to the extent deducted or otherwise excluded in calculating Consolidated Net Income for such period, the amount of any restructuring charges or expenses (which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall include retention payments and special supplemental bonus payable in connection with the Acquisition or otherwise, exit costs, severance payments, systems establishment costs or excess pension charges); plus

(v) EBITDA Scheduled Adjustments; plus

(vi) an amount of $3,000,000 for each of the four consecutive calendar quarters commencing with the calendar quarter beginning January 1, 2005, representing anticipated cost savings from the 2005 Reorganization (as defined in the Offering Circular); plus

(vii) to the extent permitted to be paid pursuant to Section 6.07(b) , the amount of management, monitoring, consulting and advisory fees and related expenses paid to the Fund or any Fund Affiliate (or any accruals relating to such fees and related expenses) during such period; provided , however , that such amount shall not exceed in any four-quarter period the greater of (x) $2,500,000 and (y) 1% of EBITDA of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis for the immediately preceding fiscal year (calculated without giving effect to this clause (vii) ); minus

(b) non-cash items increasing such Consolidated Net Income for such period (excluding the recognition of deferred revenue or any non-cash items which represent the reversal of any accrual of, or reserve for, anticipated cash charges in any prior period and any items for which cash was received in any prior period and excluding amounts increasing Consolidated Net Income pursuant to clause (p)  of the definition of Consolidated Net Income);

in each case, on a consolidated basis and determined in accordance with GAAP; provided , that for purposes of calculating EBITDA for any period including a fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2005 or earlier, EBITDA for any such applicable fiscal quarter shall be, in the case of the fiscal quarter ended, (A) September 30, 2004, $68,100,000, (B) December 31, 2004, $84,400,000, (C) March 31, 2005, $53,900,000, and (D) June 30, 2005, $52,400,000.

Notwithstanding the preceding, the provision for taxes based on the income or profits of, the Consolidated Fixed Charges of, the depreciation and amortization and other non-cash expenses or non-cash items of and the restructuring charges or expenses of, a Subsidiary of the Borrower will be added to (or subtracted from, in the case of non-cash items described in clause (b)  above) Consolidated Net Income to compute EBITDA, (A) in the same proportion that the Net Income of such Subsidiary was added to compute such Consolidated Net Income of the Borrower, and (B) only to the extent that a corresponding amount of the Net Income of such Subsidiary would be permitted at the date of determination to be dividended or distributed to the Borrower by such Subsidiary without prior governmental approval (that has not been obtained), and without direct or indirect restriction pursuant to the terms of its charter and all agreements, instruments, judgments, decrees, orders, statutes, rules and governmental regulations applicable to that Subsidiary or its stockholders.

 

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EBITDA Scheduled Adjustments ” shall mean the adjustments to EBITDA set forth on Schedule 1.01(a) attached hereto.

EMU Legislation ” shall mean the legislative measures of the European Union for the introduction of, changeover to or operation of the euro in one or more member states.

environment ” shall mean ambient and indoor air, surface water and groundwater (including potable water, navigable water and wetlands), the land surface or subsurface strata, natural resources such as flora and fauna, the workplace or as otherwise defined in any Environmental Law.

Environmental Laws ” shall mean all applicable laws (including common law), rules, regulations, codes, ordinances, orders, decrees, directives, judgments, injunctions, notices or binding agreements issued, promulgated or entered into by or with any Governmental Authority, relating in any way to the environment, preservation or reclamation of natural resources, the generation, management, Release or threatened Release of, or exposure to, any Hazardous Material or to health and safety matters (to the extent relating to the environment or Hazardous Materials).

Equity Financing ” shall mean, in connection with the consummation of the Acquisition, the issuance by Holdings of Equity Interests to the Permitted Holders and the Seller Preferred Equity to the Seller and/or its designee.

Equity Financing Documents ” shall mean, collectively, (a) the Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, between Holdings and Affinion Group Holdings, LLC, (b) the Subscription Agreement and Redemption Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, between Holdings and Affinion Group Holdings, LLC, (c) the Seller Warrants, and (d) the Seller Preferred Equity Documents, as the same may be amended from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof.

Equity Interests ” of any person shall mean any and all shares, interests, rights to purchase or otherwise acquire, warrants, options, participations or other equivalents of or interests in (however designated) equity or ownership of such person, including any preferred stock, any limited or general partnership interest and any limited liability company membership interest, and any securities or other rights or interests convertible into or exchangeable for any of the foregoing.

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

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

ERISA Event ” shall mean (a) any Reportable Event; (b) the existence with respect to any Plan of an “accumulated funding deficiency” (as defined in Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA), whether or not waived; (c) the filing pursuant to Section 412(d)

 

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of the Code or Section 303(d) of ERISA of an application for a waiver of the minimum funding standard with respect to any Plan, the failure to make by its due date a required installment under Section 412(m) of the Code with respect to any Plan or the failure to make any required contribution to a Multiemployer Plan; (d) the incurrence by Holdings, the Borrower, a Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate of any liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to the termination of any Plan; (e) the receipt by Holdings, the Borrower, a Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate from the PBGC or a plan administrator of any notice relating to an intention, or the institution by the PBGC of proceedings, to terminate any Plan or to appoint a trustee to administer any Plan; (f) the incurrence by Holdings, the Borrower, a Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate of any liability with respect to the withdrawal or partial withdrawal from any Plan or Multiemployer Plan; or (g) the receipt by Holdings, the Borrower, a Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate of any notice, or the receipt by any Multiemployer Plan from Holdings, the Borrower, a Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate of any notice, concerning the imposition of Withdrawal Liability or a determination that a Multiemployer Plan is, or is expected to be, insolvent or in reorganization, within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA.

euro ” or “ ” shall mean the currency constituted by the Treaty on the European Union and as referred to in the EMU Legislation.

Eurocurrency Borrowing ” shall mean a Borrowing comprised of Eurocurrency Loans.

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

Eurocurrency Loan ” shall mean any Eurocurrency Term Loan or Eurocurrency Revolving Loan.

Eurocurrency Rate Reserve Percentage ” means, with respect to any Interest Period, 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 Eurocurrency Borrowings denominated in U.S. Dollars is determined) having a term equal to such Interest Period.

Eurocurrency Revolving Borrowing ” shall mean a Borrowing comprised of Eurocurrency Revolving Loans.

Eurocurrency Revolving Loan ” shall mean any Revolving Facility Loan bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate in accordance with the provisions of Article II .

 

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Eurocurrency Term Loan ” shall mean any Term Loan bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate in accordance with the provisions of Article II .

Event of Default ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.01 .

Excess Cash Flow ” shall mean, with respect to the Borrower and the Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis for any Excess Cash Flow Period, EBITDA of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis for such Excess Cash Flow Period, minus , without duplication,

(a) Debt Service for such Excess Cash Flow Period, reduced by the aggregate principal amount of voluntary prepayments of Consolidated Debt (other than prepayments of the Loans) that would otherwise constitute scheduled principal amortization during such Excess Cash Flow Period;

(b) the amount of any voluntary prepayment permitted hereunder of term Indebtedness (other than any Term Loans) during such Excess Cash Flow Period, in each case to the extent not financed, or intended to be financed, using the proceeds of, without duplication, the incurrence of Indebtedness, the sale or issuance of any Equity Interests, any Cumulative Equity Proceeds Amount or any Net Proceeds not otherwise required to prepay the Loans pursuant to Section 2.11 or the definition of the term “ Net Proceeds ”, in each case, to the extent that the amount of such prepayment is not already reflected in Debt Service;

(c) (i) Capital Expenditures by the Borrower and the Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis during such Excess Cash Flow Period that are paid in cash and (ii) the aggregate consideration paid in cash during such Excess Cash Flow Period in respect of Permitted Business Acquisitions and other Investments permitted hereunder, in each case, to the extent not financed with the proceeds of, without duplication, the incurrence of Indebtedness, the sale or issuance of any Equity Interests, any component of Available Free Cash Flow Amount (which, in the case of Cumulative Retained Excess Cash Flow Amount, only to the extent attributable to a time prior to such Excess Cash Flow Period) or any Net Proceeds not otherwise required to prepay the Loans pursuant to Section 2.11 or the definition of the term “ Net Proceeds ” ( less any amounts received in respect thereof as a return of capital);

(d) Capital Expenditures that the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall, during such Excess Cash Flow Period, become obligated to make but that are not made during such Excess Cash Flow Period; provided , that (i) any amount so deducted that will be paid after the close of such Excess Cash Flow Period shall not be deducted again in a subsequent Excess Cash Flow Period, and (ii) the Borrower shall deliver a certificate to the Administrative Agent not later than 90 days after the end of such Excess Cash Flow Period, signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower and certifying that such Capital Expenditures and the delivery of the related equipment will be made in the following Excess Cash Flow Period; provided , further , that if any such Capital Expenditures so deducted are either (A) not so made in the following Excess Cash Flow Period or (B)

 

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made in the following Excess Cash Flow Period with the proceeds of, without duplication, the incurrence of Indebtedness, the sale or issuance of any Equity Interests, any component of Available Free Cash Flow Amount (which, in the case of Cumulative Retained Excess Cash Flow Amount, only to the extent attributable to a time prior to such Excess Cash Flow Period) or any Net Proceeds not otherwise required to prepay the Loans pursuant to Section 2.11 or the definition of the term “ Net Proceeds ”, the amount of such Capital Expenditures not so made or so financed shall be added to the calculation of Excess Cash Flow in such following Excess Cash Flow Period;

(e) Taxes paid in cash by Holdings, the Borrower and the Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis during such Excess Cash Flow Period or that will be paid within six months after the close of such Excess Cash Flow Period and for which reserves have been established, including income tax expense and withholding tax expense incurred in connection with cross-border transactions involving the Foreign Subsidiaries; provided , that any amount so deducted that will be paid after the close of such Excess Cash Flow Period shall not be deducted again in a subsequent Excess Cash Flow Period;

(f) an amount equal to any increase in Working Capital of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries for such Excess Cash Flow Period;

(g) cash expenditures made in respect of Swap Agreements during such Excess Cash Flow Period, to the extent not reflected in the computation of EBITDA or Cash Interest Expense;

(h) permitted dividends or distributions or repurchases of its Equity Interests paid in cash by the Borrower to Holdings during such Excess Cash Flow Period and permitted dividends paid by any Subsidiary to any person other than the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries during such Excess Cash Flow Period, in each case in accordance with Section 6.06 (other than Section 6.06(e) ) or Section 6.06(h) ;

(i) without duplication of any exclusions to the calculation of Consolidated Net Income or EBITDA, amounts paid in cash during such Excess Cash Flow Period on account of (A) items that were accounted for as noncash reductions of Net Income in determining Consolidated Net Income or as noncash reductions of Consolidated Net Income in determining EBITDA of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries in a prior Excess Cash Flow Period and (B) reserves or accruals established in purchase accounting;

(j) to the extent not deducted in the computation of Net Proceeds in respect of any asset disposition or condemnation giving rise thereto, the amount of any mandatory prepayment of Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness created hereunder or under any other Loan Document), together with any interest, premium or penalties required to be paid (and actually paid) in connection therewith to the extent that the income or gain realized from the transaction giving rise to such Net Proceeds exceeds the aggregate amount of all such mandatory prepayments and Capital Expenditures made with such Net Proceeds, and

 

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(k) the amount related to items that were added to or not deducted from Net Income in calculating Consolidated Net Income or were added to or not deducted from Consolidated Net Income in calculating EBITDA to the extent such items represented a cash payment (which had not reduced Excess Cash Flow upon the accrual thereof in a prior Excess Cash Flow Period), or an accrual for a cash payment, by the Borrower and the Subsidiaries or did not represent cash received by the Borrower and the Subsidiaries, in each case on a consolidated basis during such Excess Cash Flow Period,

plus , without duplication,

(a) an amount equal to any decrease in Working Capital of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries for such Excess Cash Flow Period;

(b) all proceeds received during such Excess Cash Flow Period of Capital Lease Obligations, purchase money Indebtedness, Sale and Lease-Back Transactions pursuant to Section 6.03 and any other Indebtedness, in each case to the extent used to finance any Capital Expenditure (other than Indebtedness under this Agreement to the extent there is no corresponding deduction to Excess Cash Flow above in respect of the use of such Borrowings);

(c) all amounts referred to in clause (c)  or (d)  above to the extent funded with, without duplication, (i) the proceeds of the sale or issuance of Equity Interests of, or capital contributions to, the Borrower after the Closing Date, (ii) any amount that would have constituted Net Proceeds under clause (a)  of the definition of the term “ Net Proceeds ” if not so spent or (iii) any component of Available Free Cash Flow Amount (which, in the case of Cumulative Retained Excess Cash Flow Amount, only to the extent attributable to a time prior to such Excess Cash Flow Period), in each case to the extent there is a corresponding deduction from Excess Cash Flow above;

(d) to the extent any permitted Capital Expenditures referred to in clause (d)  above and the delivery of the related equipment do not occur in the following Excess Cash Flow Period specified in the certificate of the Borrower provided pursuant to clause (d) above, the amount of such Capital Expenditures that were not so made in such following Excess Cash Flow Period;

(e) cash payments received in respect of Swap Agreements during such Excess Cash Flow Period to the extent (i) not included in the computation of EBITDA or (ii) such payments do not reduce Cash Interest Expense;

(f) any extraordinary or nonrecurring gain realized in cash during such Excess Cash Flow Period, except to the extent such gain consists of Net Proceeds subject to Section 2.11(c) ;

(g) to the extent deducted in the computation of EBITDA, cash interest income; and

(h) the amount related to items that were deducted from or not added to Net Income in connection with calculating Consolidated Net Income or were deducted from

 

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or not added to Consolidated Net Income in calculating EBITDA to the extent either (x) such items represented cash received by the Borrower or any Subsidiary or (y) such items do not represent cash paid by the Borrower or any Subsidiary, in each case on a consolidated basis during such Excess Cash Flow Period;

provided , that for purposes of calculating Excess Cash Flow in connection with any Excess Cash Flow Early Prepayment of Term Loans to be made in accordance with Section 2.11(a)(ii) or Cumulative Retained Excess Cash Flow Amount for any Excess Cash Flow Interim Period, Excess Cash Flow Period as used in this definition shall be deemed to be Excess Cash Flow Interim Period.

Excess Cash Flow Early Prepayment ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.11(a)(ii) .

Excess Cash Flow Interim Period ” shall mean during any Excess Cash Flow Period, the one, two or three quarter period (taken as one accounting period) for which an Excess Cash Flow Early Prepayment has been made (or calculated and not required to be made) (a) commencing on the later of (i) the end of the immediately preceding Excess Cash Flow Period and (ii) if an Excess Cash Flow Early Prepayment shall have previously been made during such Excess Cash Flow Period, the end of the immediately preceding Excess Cash Flow Interim Period during such Excess Cash Flow Period and (b) ending on the last day of the most recently ended fiscal quarter (other than the last day of the fiscal year) during such Excess Cash Flow Period for which financial statements are available.

Excess Cash Flow Period ” shall mean (a) the period taken as one accounting period beginning on July 1, 2006, and ending on December 31, 2006, and (b) each fiscal year of the Borrower ended thereafter; provided , that solely for purposes of determining the Available Free Cash Flow Amount, such period shall be (i) the period taken as one accounting period beginning on July 1, 2005, and ending on December 31, 2005, and (ii) each fiscal year of the Borrower ended thereafter.

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

Excluded Contributions ” shall mean the Permitted Investments or other assets (valued at their Fair Market Value as determined in good faith by senior management or the Board of Directors of the Borrower) received by the Borrower from:

(a) contributions in respect of its common stock and

(b) the sale (other than to a Subsidiary of the Borrower or pursuant to any management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries) of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Borrower to Holdings,

in each case, as designated as Excluded Contributions pursuant to an Officer’s Certificate executed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower; provided , that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary, Excluded Contributions shall not include any amounts included in Cumulative

 

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Equity Proceeds Amount, any Excluded Equity Proceeds and any Permitted Cure Securities (including the Cure Amount).

Excluded Equity Proceeds ” shall mean, during any fiscal year, the net proceeds (determined in a manner consistent with the definition of “ Net Proceeds ”) received by Holdings during such fiscal year from the sales and issuance of its Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) so long as (a) all such proceeds are contributed in cash to the Borrower, (b) none of such proceeds are included in Cumulative Equity Proceeds Amount (or otherwise in the calculation of Available Free Cash Flow Amount), Excluded Contributions or Cure Amount, and (c) such Equity Interests are not Permitted Cure Securities.

Excluded Indebtedness ” shall mean all Indebtedness permitted to be incurred under Section 6.01 (as amended or waived from time to time).

Excluded Jurisdictions ” shall mean any jurisdiction in which a Foreign Subsidiary is formed or organized to the extent that (a) the perfection of the pledge of Equity Interests in such Foreign Subsidiary pursuant to a Foreign Pledge Agreement requires the consent or approval of any Governmental Authority in such jurisdiction and such consent or approval is not readily obtainable in the ordinary course, or violates applicable law, or (b) such Foreign Subsidiary, taken on a consolidated basis with its subsidiaries, is an Immaterial Subsidiary.

Excluded Taxes ” shall mean, with respect to the Administrative Agent, any Lender, any Issuing Bank or any other recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower hereunder, the following taxes, including interest, penalties or other additions thereto:

(a) income taxes imposed on (or measured by) its net income or franchise taxes imposed on (or measured by) its gross or net income by the United States of America, or by the jurisdiction under the laws of which such recipient is organized or in which its principal office is located or, in the case of any Lender, in which its applicable Lending Office is located, in each case including any political subdivision thereof,

(b) any branch profits taxes imposed by the United States of America or any similar tax imposed by any other jurisdiction described in clause (a) above,

(c) any withholding tax that is attributable to a Lender’s failure to comply with Section 2.17(e) (other than as a result of a change in law), and

(d) any withholding tax that is in effect and would apply to amounts payable hereunder by the Borrower at the time such Lender becomes a party to this Agreement (or designates a new Lending Office),

except, in the case of clause (d)  above, to the extent that (i) such Lender (or its assignor, if any) was entitled, at the time of designation of a new Lending Office (or assignment), to receive additional amounts from a Loan Party with respect to any withholding tax pursuant to Section 2.17(a) or (ii) such withholding tax shall have resulted from the making of any payment

 

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to a location other than the office designated by the Administrative Agent or such Lender for the receipt of payments of the applicable type.

Fair Market Value ” means, with respect to any asset or property, the price that could be negotiated in an arms’-length transaction between a willing seller and a willing and able buyer, neither of whom is under undue pressure or compulsion to complete the transaction.

Federal Funds Rate ” means, for any period, a fluctuating interest rate per annum equal for each day during such period to the weighted average of the rates on overnight Federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System arranged by Federal funds brokers, as 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, or, if such rate is not so published for any day that is a Business Day, the average of the quotations for such day for such transactions received by the Administrative Agent from three Federal funds brokers of recognized standing selected by it.

Fees ” shall mean the Commitment Fees, the L/C Participation Fees, the Issuing Bank Fees and the Administrative Agent Fees.

Financial Officer ” of any person shall mean the Chief Financial Officer, principal accounting officer, Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer or Controller of such person.

Flow Through Entity ” means an entity that is treated as a partnership not taxable as a corporation, a grantor trust or a disregarded entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes or subject to treatment on a comparable basis for purposes of state, local or foreign tax law.

Foreign Pledge Agreement ” shall mean a pledge or charge agreement with respect to the Pledged Collateral that constitutes Equity Interests of a Foreign Subsidiary, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent; provided , that in no event shall more than 65% of the issued and outstanding voting Equity Interests of such Foreign Subsidiary be pledged to secure Obligations of the Loan Parties.

Foreign Subsidiary ” shall mean any Subsidiary (together with its successors) that is incorporated or organized under the laws of any jurisdiction other than the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia.

Fund ” shall mean (i) Apollo Overseas Partners V, L.P., (ii) Apollo Netherlands Partners V(A), L.P., (iii) Apollo Netherlands Partners (V)(B), L.P., (iv) Apollo German Partners V GmbH KG & Co., and (v) Apollo Investment Fund V, L.P.

Fund Affiliate ” shall mean (a) each Affiliate of the Fund that is neither a “ portfolio company ”, whether or not controlled, nor a company controlled by a “ portfolio company ” or in which a “ portfolio company ” has made an investment (including joint ventures) and (b) any individual who is a partner or employee of the Fund.

GAAP ” shall mean generally accepted accounting principles in effect from time to time in the United States, applied on a consistent basis, subject to the provisions of Section

 

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1.02 ; provided , that any reference to the application of GAAP in Sections 3.13(a) , 3.13(b) , 3.20 , 5.03 , 5.07 and 6.02(e) , to a Foreign Subsidiary (and not as a consolidated Subsidiary of the Borrower) shall mean generally accepted accounting principles in effect from time to time in the jurisdiction of organization of such Foreign Subsidiary.

Governmental Authority ” shall mean any federal, state, local or foreign court or governmental agency, authority, instrumentality, regulator or regulatory or legislative body.

Guarantee ” of or by any person (the “ guarantor ”) shall mean (a) any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of the guarantor guaranteeing or having the economic effect of guaranteeing any Indebtedness or other obligation of any other person (the “ primary obligor ”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, and including any obligation of the guarantor, direct or indirect, (i) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness or other obligation (whether arising by virtue of partnership arrangements, by agreement to keep well, to purchase assets, goods, securities or services, to take-or-pay or otherwise) or to purchase (or to advance or supply funds for the purchase of) any security for the payment of such Indebtedness or other obligation, (ii) to purchase or lease property, securities or services for the purpose of assuring the owner of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment thereof, (iii) to maintain working capital, equity capital or any other financial statement condition or liquidity of the primary obligor so as to enable the primary obligor to pay such Indebtedness or other obligation, (iv) entered into for the purpose of assuring in any other manner the holders of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment thereof or to protect such holders against loss in respect thereof (in whole or in part) or (v) as an account party in respect of any letter of credit or letter of guaranty issued to support such Indebtedness or other obligation, or (b) any Lien on any assets of the guarantor securing any Indebtedness or other obligation (or any existing right, contingent or otherwise, of the holder of Indebtedness or other obligation to be secured by such a Lien) of any other person, whether or not such Indebtedness or other obligation is assumed by the guarantor; provided , however , that the term “ Guarantee ” shall not include endorsements for collection or deposit, in either case in the ordinary course of business, or customary and reasonable indemnity obligations in effect on the Closing Date or entered into in connection with any acquisition or disposition of assets permitted under this Agreement.

Guarantee and Collateral Agreement ” shall mean the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, in the form of Exhibit D , as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, among Holdings, the Borrower and each Subsidiary Loan Party and the Administrative Agent.

Hazardous Materials ” shall mean all pollutants, contaminants, wastes, chemicals, materials, substances and constituents, including explosive or radioactive substances or petroleum or petroleum distillates, asbestos or asbestos containing materials, polychlorinated biphenyls or radon gas, of any nature subject to regulation or which can give rise to liability under any Environmental Law.

Holdings ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble hereto.

 

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Immaterial Subsidiary ” shall mean any Subsidiary that (a) did not, as of the last day of the fiscal quarter of the Borrower most recently ended, have assets with a value in excess of 5% of the Consolidated Total Assets or revenues representing in excess of 5% of total revenues of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis as of such date and (b) taken together with all Unrestricted Subsidiaries designated pursuant to clause (ii)  of the definition thereof and all other Immaterial Subsidiaries as of the last day of the fiscal quarter of the Borrower most recently ended, did not have assets with a value in excess of 10% of the Consolidated Total Assets or revenues representing in excess of 10% of total revenues of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis as of such date; provided , that (i) for purposes of the definition of “ Excluded Jurisdiction ”, the assets and revenues of such Subsidiary shall be deemed to include all assets and revenues of such Subsidiary’s Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis and (ii) any Subsidiary that is a “ Significant Subsidiary ” as such term (or any similar term) is used in the Senior Notes Indenture or the Senior Subordinated Notes Indenture (or any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to Refinance the Bridge Financing) shall not be an “ Immaterial Subsidiary ” hereunder. Each Immaterial Subsidiary shall be set forth in Schedule 1.01(b) , and the Borrower shall update such Schedule from time to time after the Closing Date as necessary to reflect all Immaterial Subsidiaries at such time (the selection of Subsidiaries to be added to or removed from such Schedule to be made as the Borrower may determine).

Increased Amount Date ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.20 .

Incremental Amount ” shall mean, at any time, the excess, if any, of (a) the greater of (x) $175,000,000 and (y) an amount equal to EBITDA for the most recent four-quarter period then ended for which financial statements are available, as determined from the certificate delivered pursuant to Section 5.04(c) for such period over (b) the aggregate amount of all Incremental Term Loan Commitments and Incremental Revolving Facility Commitments established prior to such time pursuant to Section 2.20 .

Incremental Assumption Agreement ” shall mean an Incremental Assumption Agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, among the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and one or more Incremental Term Lenders and/or Incremental Revolving Facility Lenders.

Incremental Revolving Facility Commitment ” shall mean the commitment of any Lender, established pursuant to Section 2.20 , to make Incremental Revolving Facility Loans to the Borrower.

Incremental Revolving Facility Lender ” shall mean a Lender with an Incremental Revolving Facility Commitment or an outstanding Incremental Revolving Facility Loan.

Incremental Revolving Facility Loans ” shall mean Revolving Facility Loans made by one or more Lenders to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.01(c) . Incremental Revolving Facility Loans may be made in the form of additional Revolving Facility Loans or, to

 

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the extent permitted by Section 2.20 and provided for in the relevant Incremental Assumption Agreement, Other Revolving Facility Loans.

Incremental Term Lender ” shall mean a Lender with an Incremental Term Loan Commitment or an outstanding Incremental Term Loan.

Incremental Term Loan Commitment ” shall mean the commitment of any Lender, established pursuant to Section 2.20 , to make Incremental Term Loans to the Borrower.

Incremental Term Loans ” shall mean Term Loans made by one or more Lenders to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.01(c) . Incremental Term Loans may be made in the form of additional Tranche B Term Loans or, to the extent permitted by Section 2.20 and provided for in the relevant Incremental Assumption Agreement, Other Term Loans.

Indebtedness ” of any person shall mean, without duplication, (a) all obligations of such person for borrowed money, (b) all obligations of such person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar instruments, (c) all obligations of such person under conditional sale or other title retention agreements relating to property or assets purchased by such person, (d) all obligations of such person issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than current trade liabilities and current intercompany liabilities (but not any refinancings, extensions, renewals or replacements thereof) incurred in the ordinary course of business and maturing within 365 days after the incurrence thereof), (e) all Guarantees by such person of Indebtedness of others, (f) all Capital Lease Obligations of such person, (g) all payments that such person would have to make in the event of an early termination, on the date Indebtedness of such person is being determined, in respect of outstanding Swap Agreements, (h) the principal component of all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such person as an account party in respect of letters of credit, (i) the principal component of all obligations of such person in respect of bankers’ acceptances and (j) the amount of all obligations of such person with respect to the redemption, repayment or other repurchase of any Disqualified Stock (excluding accrued dividends that have not increased the liquidation preference of such Disqualified Stock). The Indebtedness of any person shall include the Indebtedness of any partnership in which such person is a general partner, other than to the extent that the instrument or agreement evidencing such Indebtedness expressly limits the liability of such person in respect thereof; provided , however , that, notwithstanding the foregoing, solely for purposes of calculating any financial covenant in Section 6.10 or Section 6.11 or calculating any financial ratio, Indebtedness shall be deemed not to include (i) contingent obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business, (ii) deferred or prepaid revenues, (iii) purchase price holdbacks in respect of a portion of the purchase price of an asset to satisfy warranty or other unperformed obligations of the respective seller, (iv) with respect to the Borrower, the Seller Preferred Stock, whether or not reflected as a liability of the Borrower on the balance sheet of the Borrower, as in effect as of the Closing Date and as permitted to be amended pursuant to Section 6.08(b) , so long as the Borrower and its Subsidiaries do not have any obligations or liabilities in respect thereof, contingent or otherwise, (v) obligations to make payments in respect of money backed guarantees offered to customers in the ordinary course of business, (vi) obligations to make payments to one or more insurers in respect of profit sharing arrangements entered into in the ordinary course of business, or (vii) any Indebtedness of Holdings deemed to be Indebtedness of

 

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the Borrower on its balance sheet under GAAP but for which the Borrower and its Subsidiaries do not have any obligations or liabilities, contingent or otherwise.

Indemnified Taxes ” shall mean all Taxes other than Excluded Taxes and Other Taxes.

Indemnitee ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.05(b) .

Ineligible Institution ” shall mean the persons identified in writing to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower on the Closing Date, and as may be identified in writing to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower from time to time thereafter, with the written consent of the Administrative Agent, by delivery of a notice thereof to the Administrative Agent setting forth such person or persons (or the person or persons previously identified to Agent that are to be no longer considered “ Ineligible Institutions ”).

Information ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.14(a) .

Information Memorandum ” shall mean the Confidential Information Memorandum dated September 2005, as modified or supplemented prior to the Closing Date.

Insurance Business ” shall mean one or more aspects of the business of soliciting, administering, selling, issuing or underwriting insurance or reinsurance.

Insurance Reserves ” shall mean all reserves required by Applicable Insurance Laws and Regulations to by maintained by any company engaged in the Insurance Business, including, without limitation, adequate reserves for incurred losses and incurred loss adjustment expenses, whether or not reported.

Insurance Subsidiary ” shall mean any Subsidiary that is licensed by any Applicable Insurance Regulatory Authority to conduct, and conducts, an Insurance Business.

Intellectual Property Security Agreement ” shall mean the Intellectual Property Security Agreement, in the form of Exhibit E , as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, among Holdings, the Borrower and each Subsidiary Loan Party and the Administrative Agent.

Interest Coverage Ratio ” shall mean, on any date, the ratio of (a) EBITDA to (b) Cash Interest Expense of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries, in each case, for the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters most recently ended as of such date, all determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

Interest Election Request ” shall mean a request by the Borrower to convert or continue a Term Borrowing or Revolving Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.07 .

Interest Expense ” shall mean, with respect to any person for any period, the sum of, without duplication, (a) gross interest expense of such person for such period on a consolidated basis, including (i) the amortization of debt discounts, (ii) the amortization of all fees (including fees with respect to Swap Agreements) payable in connection with the incurrence

 

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of Indebtedness to the extent included in interest expense, (iii) the portion of any payments or accruals with respect to Capital Lease Obligations allocable to interest expense and (iv) net payments and receipts (if any) pursuant to interest rate hedging obligations, and excluding amortization of deferred financing fees and expensing of any bridge or other financing fees, (b) capitalized interest of such person, whether paid or accrued, and (c) commissions, discounts, yield and other fees and charges incurred for such period in connection with any receivables financing of such person or any of its subsidiaries that are payable to persons other than Holdings, the Borrower and the Subsidiaries.

Interest Payment Date ” shall mean, (a) with respect to any Eurocurrency Loan, the last day of the Interest Period applicable to the Borrowing of which such Loan is a part and, in the case of a Eurocurrency Borrowing with an Interest Period of more than three months’ duration each day that would have been an Interest Payment Date had successive Interest Periods of three months’ duration been applicable to such Borrowing and, in addition, the date of any refinancing or conversion of such Borrowing with or to a Borrowing of a different Type and (b) with respect to any ABR Loan, the last day of each calendar quarter (being the last day of March, June, September and December of each year).

Interest Period ” shall mean, as to any Eurocurrency Borrowing, the period commencing on the date of such Borrowing or on the last day of the immediately preceding Interest Period applicable to such Borrowing, as applicable, and ending on the numerically corresponding day (or, if there is no numerically corresponding day, on the last day) in the calendar month that is 1, 2, 3 or 6 months thereafter (or 9 or 12 months, if at the time of the relevant Borrowing, all Lenders agree to make interest periods of such length available), as the Borrower may elect, or the date any Eurocurrency Borrowing is converted to an ABR Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.07 or repaid or prepaid in accordance with Section 2.09 , 2.10 or 2.11 ; provided , however , that if any Interest Period would end on a day other than a Business Day, such Interest Period shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless such next succeeding Business Day would fall in the next calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day. Interest shall accrue from and including the first day of an Interest Period to but excluding the last day of such Interest Period.

Investment ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.04 .

Issuing Bank ” shall mean each Issuing Bank set forth on Schedule 2.05 and each other Issuing Bank designated pursuant to Section 2.05(k) , in each case in its capacity as an issuer of Letters of Credit hereunder, and its successors in such capacity as provided in Section 2.05(i) . An Issuing Bank may, in its discretion, arrange for one or more Letters of Credit to be issued by Affiliates of such Issuing Bank, in which case the term “ Issuing Bank ” shall include any such Affiliate with respect to Letters of Credit issued by such Affiliate.

Issuing Bank Fees ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.12(b) .

Joint Lead Arrangers ” shall Credit Suisse and Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.

 

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L/C Commitment ” shall mean, with respect to each Issuing Bank, the commitment of such Issuing Bank to issue Letters of Credit pursuant to Section 2.05 . The initial aggregate amount of the L/C Commitments of all Issuing Banks is $50,000,000.

L/C Disbursement ” shall mean a payment or disbursement made by an Issuing Bank pursuant to a Letter of Credit.

L/C Exposure ” shall mean, at any time, the sum of (a) the aggregate undrawn amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit at such time and (b) the aggregate amount of all L/C Disbursements that have not yet been reimbursed by or on behalf of the Borrower at such time. The L/C Exposure of any Revolving Lender at any time shall be its Applicable Percentage of the total L/C Exposure at such time.

L/C Participation Fee ” shall have the meaning assigned such term in Section 2.12(b) .

Lender ” shall mean each financial institution listed on Schedule 2.01 , as well as any person that becomes a “Lender” hereunder pursuant to Section 9.04 or Section 2.20 , including, as applicable the Swingline Lender, and in respect of Letters of Credit, each Issuing Bank.

Lender Default ” shall mean (a) the refusal (which has not been retracted) of a Lender to make available its portion of any Borrowing, to acquire participations in a Swingline Loan pursuant to Section 2.04 or to fund its portion of any unreimbursed payment under Section 2.05(e) , or (b) a Lender having notified in writing the Borrower and/or the Administrative Agent that it does not intend to comply with its obligations under Section 2.04 , 2.05 or 2.06 .

Lending Office ” shall mean, as to any Lender, the applicable branch, office or Affiliate of such Lender designated by such Lender to make Loans to the Borrower.

Letter of Credit ” shall mean any letter of credit issued pursuant to Section 2.05 .

Lien ” shall mean, with respect to any asset, (a) any mortgage, deed of trust, lien, hypothecation, pledge, encumbrance, charge or security interest in or on such asset, (b) the interest of a vendor or a lessor under any conditional sale agreement, capital lease or title retention agreement (or any financing lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing) relating to such asset and (c) in the case of securities (other than securities representing an interest in a joint venture that is not a Subsidiary), any purchase option, call or similar right of a third party with respect to such securities; provided , that in no event shall an operating lease or an agreement to sell be deemed to constitute a Lien.

Loan Documents ” shall mean this Agreement, the Letters of Credit, the Security Documents and any promissory note issued under Section 2.09(e) , and solely for the purposes of Sections 4.02(l) and 7.01(c) hereof, the Fee Letter dated July 26, 2005, by and among Holdings, the Borrower, Credit Suisse, the Joint Lead Arrangers and the other parties thereto.

 

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Loan Parties ” shall mean Holdings, the Borrower and the Subsidiary Loan Parties.

Loans ” shall mean the Term Loans, the Revolving Facility Loans and the Swingline Loans (and shall include any Loans under the Incremental Revolving Facility Commitments or Incremental Term Loan Commitments).

Local Time ” shall mean New York City time.

Losses ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.01(w) .

Majority Lenders ” of any Tranche shall mean, at any time, Lenders under such Tranche having Loans and unused Commitments representing more than 50% of the sum of all Loans outstanding under such Tranche and unused Commitments under such Tranche at such time.

Management Group ” means the group consisting of the directors, executive officers and other management personnel of Holdings and the Borrower on the Closing Date together with (a) any new directors of Holdings or the Borrower whose election by such Boards of Directors or whose nomination for election by the shareholders of Holdings was approved by a vote of a majority of the directors of Holdings then still in office who were either directors on the Closing Date or whose election or nomination was previously so approved and (b) executive officers and other management personnel of Holdings or the Borrower hired at a time when the directors on the Closing Date together with the directors so approved constituted a majority of the directors of Holdings.

Margin Stock ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Regulation U.

Material Adverse Effect ” shall mean the existence of any event, development or circumstance that, subsequent to December 31, 2004, has had or could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on (a) the Transactions, (b) the business, property, operations or condition of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or (c) the validity or enforceability of any material Loan Document or the rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders thereunder.

Material Indebtedness ” shall mean Indebtedness (other than Loans and Letters of Credit) of any one or more of Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary in an aggregate principal amount exceeding $30,000,000.

Material Subsidiary ” shall mean any Subsidiary other than Immaterial Subsidiaries.

Maximum Rate ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.09 .

Moody’s ” shall mean Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.

Mortgaged Properties ” shall mean each real property encumbered by a Mortgage pursuant to Section 5.11 .

 

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Mortgages ” shall mean the mortgages, debentures, hypothecs, deeds of trust, deeds to secure debt, assignments of leases and rents, and other security documents delivered pursuant to Section 5.11 , as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, with respect to Mortgaged Properties, each in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

Multiemployer Plan ” shall mean a multiemployer plan as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA to which Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate is making or accruing an obligation to make contributions, or has within any of the preceding six plan years made or accrued an obligation to make contributions.

Netcentives Assets ” shall mean the portfolio of patents that relate to online award redemption programs, which expire on December 14, 2015.

Netcentives Asset Sale ” shall mean the sale, conveyance, transfer, license or other disposition of the Netcentives Assets.

Net Income ” shall mean, with respect to any person, the net income (loss) of such person, determined in accordance with GAAP and before any reduction in respect of preferred stock dividends minus an amount equal to the amount of tax distributions actually made to the holders of Equity Interests of such person or any parent of such person in respect of a period in accordance with Section 6.06(b)(i) as if such amounts had been paid as income taxes directly by such person but only to the extent such amounts have not already been accounted for as taxes reducing the net income (loss) of such person.

Net Proceeds ” shall mean:

(a) 100% of the cash proceeds actually received by any Loan Party (including any cash payments received by way of deferred payment of principal pursuant to a note or installment receivable or purchase price adjustment receivable or otherwise and including casualty insurance settlements and condemnation awards, but only as and when received) from any loss, damage, destruction or condemnation of, or any sale, transfer or other disposition (including any sale and leaseback of assets and any mortgage or lease of real property) to any person of any asset or assets of the Borrower or any Subsidiary Loan Party (other than those pursuant to Section 6.05(a) , (b) , (c) , (e) , (f)  (except to the extent of any cash consideration), (g) , (i) , (j) , or (m) ) net of (i) attorneys’ fees, accountants’ fees, investment banking fees, survey costs, title insurance premiums, and related search and recording charges, transfer taxes, deed or mortgage recording taxes, required debt payments and required payments of other obligations relating to the applicable asset (other than pursuant hereto), other customary expenses and brokerage, consultant and other customary fees actually incurred in connection therewith and (ii) Taxes paid or payable as a result thereof; provided , that, if no Event of Default exists, the Borrower or any Subsidiary may deliver a certificate of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower to the Administrative Agent promptly after receipt of any such proceeds setting forth the Borrower’s or such Subsidiary’s intention to use, or to commit to use, any portion of such proceeds, to acquire, maintain, develop, construct, improve, upgrade or repair assets useful in the business of the Borrower and the Subsidiary Loan Parties or to make

 

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investments in Permitted Business Acquisitions or Investments permitted by Section 6.04 , in each case, if such certificate shall have been delivered, within twelve months of such receipt, such portion of such proceeds shall not constitute Net Proceeds except to the extent (A) not so used (or committed to be used) within such twelve-month period or (B) if committed to be used within such twelve-month period, not so used within 18 months of such receipt); provided , further , that (x) no proceeds realized in a single transaction or series of related transactions shall constitute Net Proceeds unless such proceeds shall exceed $5,000,000 and (y) no proceeds shall constitute Net Proceeds in any fiscal year until the aggregate amount of all such proceeds in such fiscal year shall exceed $10,000,000; provided , still further , that pending such reinvestment, such proceeds may be applied to temporarily reduce outstanding Revolving Facility Loans; and

(b) 100% of the cash proceeds from the incurrence, issuance or sale by any Loan Party of any Indebtedness (other than Excluded Indebtedness), net of all taxes and fees (including investment banking fees), commissions, costs and other expenses, in each case incurred in connection with such issuance or sale.

For purposes of calculating the amount of Net Proceeds, fees, commissions and other costs and expenses payable to Holdings or the Borrower or any Affiliate of either of them shall be disregarded, except for financial advisory fees customary in type and amount paid to Affiliates of the Fund.

Non-Consenting Lender ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.19(c) .

Note ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.09(e) .

Obligations ” shall, unless otherwise indicated, have the meaning assigned to the term “Loan Document Obligations” in the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement.

Offering Circular ” shall mean the offering circular dated October 3, 2005 prepared in connection with the offering of the Senior Notes.

OID ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.20(b) .

Other Revolving Facility Loans ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.20(a) .

Other Taxes ” shall mean any and all present or future stamp or documentary taxes or any other excise or property taxes, charges or similar levies arising from any payment made hereunder or from the execution, delivery or enforcement of, or otherwise with respect to, the Loan Documents, and any and all interest and penalties related thereto.

Other Term Loans ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.20(a) .

Overdraft Line ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.01(r) .

 

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Participant ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.04(c) .

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

Perfection Certificate ” shall mean the Perfection Certificate with respect to Borrower, in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

Permitted Business Acquisition ” shall mean any acquisition of all or substantially all the assets of, or all the Equity Interests (other than directors’ qualifying shares) in, a person or division or line of business of a person (or any subsequent investment made in a person, division or line of business previously acquired in a Permitted Business Acquisition) if (a) such acquisition was not preceded by, or effected pursuant to, an unsolicited or hostile offer by the acquirer or an Affiliate of the acquirer and (b) immediately after giving effect thereto: (i) no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom; (ii) all transactions related thereto shall be consummated in accordance with applicable laws; (iii) (A) the Borrower and the Subsidiaries shall be in Pro forma Compliance after giving effect to such acquisition, with the covenants set forth in Sections 6.10 and 6.11 recomputed as at the last day of the most recently ended fiscal quarter of the Borrower, and the Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent a certificate of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower to such effect, together with all relevant financial information for such Subsidiary or assets, and (B) any acquired or newly formed Subsidiary shall not be liable for any Indebtedness (except for Indebtedness permitted by Section 6.01 ); (iv) the Available Unused Commitments together with all Unrestricted Cash and Permitted Investments of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries at such time shall be no less than $20,000,000; and (v) the person acquired in such acquisition, if acquired by the Borrower or a Domestic Subsidiary, shall be merged into the Borrower or a Subsidiary Loan Party or become upon consummation of such acquisition a Subsidiary Loan Party.

Permitted Cure Security ” shall mean Equity Interests of Holdings other than Disqualified Stock.

Permitted Holder ” shall mean each of (a) the Fund and the Fund Affiliates and (b) the Management Group, with respect to not more than 10% of the total voting power of the Equity Interests of Holdings or the Borrower.

Permitted Investments ” shall mean:

(a) U.S. Dollars, Sterling, euros, or, in the case of any Foreign Subsidiary, such local currencies held by it from time to time in the ordinary course of business;

(b) securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the government of, or any agency or instrumentality thereof, the United States of America, Mexico or any member state of the European Union, in each case, with maturities not exceeding two years after the date of acquisition;

(c) in the case of any Foreign Subsidiary, securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the government of, or any agency or instrumentality

 

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thereof, in each case with maturities not exceeding 270 days after the date of acquisition and held by it from time to time in the ordinary course of business;

(d) certificates of deposit, time deposits and eurodollar time deposits with maturities of one year or less from the date of acquisition, bankers’ acceptances, in each case with maturities not exceeding one year and overnight bank deposits and demand deposits (in their respective local currencies), in each case with any commercial bank having capital and surplus in excess of $500,000,000 or the foreign currency equivalent thereof and whose long-term debt is rated “ A ” or the equivalent thereof by Moody’s or S&P (or, in the case of an obligor domiciled outside of the United States, reasonably equivalent ratings of another internationally recognized credit rating agency);

(e) repurchase obligations for underlying securities of the types described in clauses (b)  and (d)  above entered into with any financial institution meeting the qualifications specified in clause (d)  above;

(f) commercial paper issued by a corporation (other than an Affiliate of Borrower) rated at least “ A-1 ” or the equivalent thereof by Moody’s or S&P (or, in the case of an obligor domiciled outside of the United States, reasonably equivalent ratings of another internationally recognized credit rating agency) and in each case maturing within one year after the date of acquisition;

(g) readily marketable direct obligations issued by any state of the United States of America or any political subdivision thereof having one of the two highest rating categories obtainable from either Moody’s or S&P in each case with maturities not exceeding two years from the date of acquisition;

(h) Indebtedness issued by persons (other than the Fund or any of its Affiliates) with a rating of “ A ” or higher from S&P or “ A-2 ” or higher from Moody’s (or, in the case of an obligor domiciled outside of the United States, reasonably equivalent ratings of another internationally recognized credit rating agency) in each case with maturities not exceeding two years from the date of acquisition; and

(i) investment funds investing at least 95% of their assets in securities of the types described in clauses (a)  through (h)  above.

Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness ” shall mean any Indebtedness issued in exchange for, or the net proceeds of which are used to extend, refinance, renew, replace, defease or refund (collectively, to “ Refinance ”), the Indebtedness being Refinanced (or previous refinancings thereof constituting Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness); provided , that (a) the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of the Indebtedness so Refinanced ( plus unpaid accrued interest and premium thereon and underwriting discounts, fees, commissions and expenses), (b) the average life to maturity of such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness is greater than or equal to that of the Indebtedness being Refinanced, (c) if the Indebtedness being Refinanced is subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations under this Agreement, such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness shall be subordinated in right of payment

 

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to such Obligations on terms at least as favorable to the Lenders as those contained in the documentation governing the Indebtedness being Refinanced, (d) no Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness shall have obligors that are not Loan Parties hereunder, or greater guarantees or security, than the Indebtedness being Refinanced, (e) if the Indebtedness being Refinanced is secured by any collateral (whether equally and ratably with, or junior to, the Secured Parties or otherwise), such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness may be secured by such collateral (including in respect of Indebtedness of Foreign Subsidiaries that are not Loan Parties otherwise permitted under this Agreement only, any collateral pursuant to after-acquired property clauses to the extent any such collateral secured the Indebtedness being Refinanced) on terms no less favorable to the Secured Parties than those contained in the documentation (including any intercreditor agreement) governing the Indebtedness being Refinanced, (f) in the case of any Permitted Subordinated Indebtedness, the Senior Notes or the Senior Subordinated Notes, has no scheduled amortization, payments of principal, sinking fund payments or similar scheduled payments, other than regularly scheduled payments of interest, and (g) in the case of the Bridge Financing, otherwise satisfies the requirements set forth in clause (b)  of the definition of “ Senior Subordinated Notes ”.

Permitted Subordinated Indebtedness ” means any unsecured Indebtedness that (a) is expressly subordinated to the prior payment in full in cash of the Obligations on terms and conditions no less favorable to the Lenders than the subordination terms and conditions of the Senior Subordinated Exchange Notes, (b) will not mature prior to the date that is 6 months after the scheduled Term Facility Maturity Date, (c) has no scheduled amortization, payments of principal, sinking fund payments or similar scheduled payments, (d) has covenant, default and remedy provisions, in the aggregate, substantially as set forth in the Senior Subordinated Notes Indenture or otherwise no more restrictive or expansive in scope than those contained in Senior Notes Indenture (except as may be appropriate for senior subordinated notes in high yield debt offerings), and (e) has provisions relating to mandatory prepayment, repurchase, redemption and offers to purchase, in the aggregate, no more onerous or expansive in scope than those contained in the Senior Subordinated Notes Indenture.

Permitted Senior Indebtedness ” means any unsecured Indebtedness that (a) if issued by Holdings, is not subject to any Guarantee by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, unless the Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantees such Indebtedness and such Guarantees are permitted under this Agreement, (b) will not mature prior to the date that is 6 months after the scheduled Term Facility Maturity Date, (c) has no scheduled amortization, payments of principal, sinking fund payments or similar scheduled payments, (d) has covenant, default and remedy provisions, in the aggregate, no more restrictive or expansive in scope than those in the Senior Notes Indenture, taken as a whole, and (e) has provisions relating to mandatory prepayment, repurchase, redemption and offers to purchase, in the aggregate, no more onerous or expansive in scope than those contained in the Senior Notes Indenture (it being understood that this definition shall not restrict any voluntary prepayments, repurchases, redemptions or offers to purchase).

person ” shall mean any natural person, corporation, business trust, joint venture, association, company, partnership, limited liability company or government, individual or family trusts, or any agency or political subdivision thereof.

 

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

Platform ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.18(b) .

Pledged Collateral ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement or a Foreign Pledge Agreement, as applicable.

Presumed Tax Rate ” shall mean the highest effective marginal statutory combined U.S. federal, state and local income tax rate prescribed for an individual residing in New York City (taking into account (a) the deductibility of state and local income taxes for U.S. federal income tax purposes, assuming the limitation of Section 68(a)(2) of the Code applies and taking into account any impact of Section 68(f) of the Code, and (b) the character (long-term or short-term capital gain, dividend income or other ordinary income) of the applicable income).

Pricing Grid ” shall mean the table set forth below:

 

Senior Secured Bank Leverage Ratio

  

Applicable Margin

for ABR

Revolving Loans

   

Applicable Margin for
Eurocurrency

Revolving Loans

 

Greater than 2.50 to 1.00

   1.75 %   2.75 %

Greater than 2.00 to 1.00 and equal to or less than 2.50 to 1.00

   1.50 %   2.50 %

Greater than 1.50 to 1.00 and equal to or less than 2.00 to 1.00

   1.25 %   2.25 %

Equal to or less than 1.50 to 1.00

   1.00 %   2.00 %

For the purposes of the Pricing Grid, changes in the Applicable Margin resulting from changes in the Consolidated Leverage Ratio shall become effective on the date (the “ Adjustment Date ”) that is three Business Days after the date on which financial statements are delivered to the Lenders pursuant to Section 5.04 , commencing with the delivery of such financial statements for the first fiscal quarter of the Borrower commencing after the Closing Date, and shall remain in effect until the next change to be effected pursuant to this paragraph. If any financial statements referred to above are not delivered within the time periods specified in Section 5.04 , then, until the date that is three Business Days after the date on which such financial statements are delivered, the highest rate set forth in each column of the Pricing Grid shall apply. In addition, at all times while a Default or an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the highest rate set forth in each column of the Pricing Grid shall apply.

 

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primary obligor ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of the term “ Guarantee .”

Pro Forma Basis ” shall mean, as to any person, for any events as described below that occur subsequent to the commencement of a period for which the financial effect of such events is being calculated, and giving effect to the events for which such calculation is being made, such calculation as will give pro forma effect to such events as if such events occurred on the first day of the four consecutive fiscal quarter period ended on or before the occurrence of such event (the “ Reference Period ”): (i) in making any determination of EBITDA, pro forma effect shall be given to any Asset Disposition and to any Asset Acquisition (or any similar transaction or transactions that require a waiver or a consent of the provisions of Section 6.04 or Section 6.05 by the Required Lenders pursuant to Section 9.08 and such waiver or consent has been obtained in accordance with the terms hereof), in each case that occurred during the Reference Period (or, in the case of determinations made pursuant to the definition of the term “ Permitted Business Acquisition ,” or pursuant to Section 2.11(b) , Section 6.01(s) , Section 6.01(t) , Section 6.02(c) , Section 6.02(i) , Section 6.02(l) , Section 6.08(b) or Section 6.09(b) occurring during the Reference Period or thereafter and through and including the date upon which the respective Permitted Business Acquisition or incurrence or cancellation of Indebtedness or incurrence, creation, assumption or acquisition of Liens is consummated); (ii) in making any determination on a Pro forma Basis, (A) all Indebtedness (including Indebtedness incurred or assumed and for which the financial effect is being calculated, whether incurred under this Agreement or otherwise, but excluding normal fluctuations in revolving Indebtedness incurred for working capital purposes and not to finance any acquisition) incurred or permanently repaid during the Reference Period (or, in the case of determinations made pursuant to the definition of the term “ Permitted Business Acquisition ,” or pursuant to Section 2.11(b) , Section 6.01(s) , Section 6.01(t) , Section 6.02(c) , Section 6.02(i) , Section 6.02(l) , Section 6.08(b) or Section 6.09(b) occurring during the Reference Period or thereafter and through and including the date upon which the respective Permitted Business Acquisition or incurrence of Indebtedness or Liens or Dividend is consummated) shall be deemed to have been incurred or repaid at the beginning of such period and (B) Interest Expense of such person attributable to interest on any Indebtedness, for which pro forma effect is being given as provided in preceding clause (A) , bearing floating interest rates shall be computed on a pro forma basis as if the rates that would have been in effect during the period for which pro forma effect is being given had been actually in effect during such periods; and (iii) for purposes of Section 6.08(b)(ii)(B) , Indebtedness of Holdings to be incurred thereunder, in making any determination on a Pro Forma Basis, such Indebtedness shall be deemed to be Indebtedness of (including all prior Indebtedness incurred under Section 6.08(b)(ii)(B) ), and incurred by, the Borrower.

Pro forma calculations made pursuant to the definition of this term “ Pro Forma Basis ” shall be determined in good faith by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower. Any such pro forma calculation may include adjustments appropriate, in the reasonable good faith determination of the Borrower, to reflect operating expense reductions, other operating improvements or synergies reasonably expected to result from the applicable pro forma event (including, to the extent applicable, from the Transactions) in the 12-month period following the consummation of the pro forma event. The Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent a certificate of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower setting forth such demonstrable or additional

 

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operating expense reductions and other operating improvements or synergies and information and calculations supporting them in reasonable detail.

Pro Forma Closing Balance Sheet ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.05(a)(i) .

Pro Forma Closing EBITDA ” shall mean, “ Pro Forma Adjusted EBITDA ” as calculated in the Offering Circular.

Pro Forma Closing Financial Statements ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.05 .

Pro Forma Closing Income Statements ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.05 .

Pro Forma Compliance ” shall mean, at any date of determination, that the Borrower shall be in pro forma compliance with the covenants set forth in Sections 6.10 and 6.11 as of the date of such determination or the last day of the most recent fiscal quarter-end, as the case may be (computed on the basis of (a) balance sheet amounts as of such date and (b) income statement amounts for the most recently completed period of four consecutive fiscal quarters for which financial statements shall have been delivered to the Administrative Agent and calculated on a Pro forma Basis in respect of the event giving rise to such determination).

Projections ” shall mean the projections of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries included in the Information Memorandum and any other projections and any forward-looking statements (including statements with respect to booked business) of such entities furnished to the Lenders or the Administrative Agent by or on behalf of Holdings, the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries prior to the Closing Date.

Purchase Agreement ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals hereto.

Rate ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of the term “ Type .”

Reference Period ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of the term “ Pro forma Basis.”

Refinance ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of the term “Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness,” and “ Refinanced ” shall have a meaning correlative thereto.

Register ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.04(b) .

Regulation U ” shall mean Regulation U of the Board as from time to time in effect and all official rulings and interpretations thereunder or thereof.

 

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Regulation X ” shall mean Regulation X of the Board as from time to time in effect and all official rulings and interpretations thereunder or thereof.

Related Fund ” shall mean, with respect to any Lender that is a fund that invests in bank or commercial loans and similar extensions of credit, any other fund that invests in bank or commercial loans and similar extensions of credit and is advised or managed by (a) such Lender, (b) an Affiliate of such Lender or (c) an entity (or an Affiliate of such entity) that administers, advises or manages such Lender.

Related Parties ” shall mean, with respect to any specified person, such person’s Affiliates and the respective directors, officers, employees, agents and advisors of such person and such person’s Affiliates.

Release ” shall mean any spilling, leaking, seepage, pumping, pouring, emitting, emptying, discharging, injecting, escaping, leaching, dumping, disposing, depositing, emanating or migrating in, into, onto or through the environment.

Remaining Present Value ” shall mean, as of any date with respect to any lease, the present value as of such date of the scheduled future lease payments with respect to such lease, determined with a discount rate equal to a market rate of interest for such lease reasonably determined at the time such lease was entered into.

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

Repricing Transaction ” means any repayment, refinancing, substitution or replacement, in whole or in part, of principal of outstanding Tranche B Term Loans, directly or indirectly, from the net proceeds of any Indebtedness of Holdings, the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries having an effective interest rate margin or weighted average yield (as determined by the Administrative Agent consistent with generally accepted financial practice) that is less than the Applicable Margin for, or weighted average yield (as determined by the Administrative Agent on the same basis) of, the Tranche B Term Loans, including, without limitation, as may be effected through any Incremental Term Loans or any other new or additional loans under this Agreement or by an amendment of any provisions of this Agreement relating to the Applicable Margin for, or weighted average yield of, the Tranche B Term Loans.

Required Lenders ” shall mean, at any time, Lenders having (a) Loans (other than Swingline Loans) outstanding, (b) L/C Exposure, (c) Swingline Exposure and (d) Available Unused Commitments that, taken together, represent more than 50% of the sum of (w) all Loans (other than Swingline Loans) outstanding, (x) L/C Exposure, (y) Swingline Exposure and (z) the total Available Unused Commitments at such time. The Loans, L/C Exposure, Swingline Exposure and Available Unused Commitment of any Defaulting Lender shall be disregarded in determining Required Lenders at any time.

 

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Required Percentage ” shall mean, with respect to an Excess Cash Flow Period (or Excess Cash Flow Interim Period), 50%; provided , that (a) if the Senior Secured Bank Leverage Ratio at the end of any Excess Cash Flow Period (or Excess Cash Flow Interim Period) is (i) less than or equal to 2.50 to 1.00, the Required Percentage shall be 25% and (ii) less than or equal to 1.75 to 1.00, the Required Percentage shall be 0% and (b) with respect to any Excess Cash Flow Period (or Excess Cash Flow Interim Period) or portion thereof occurring prior to July 1, 2006, the Required Percentage shall be 0%.

Responsible Officer ” of any person shall mean any executive officer or Financial Officer of such person and any other officer or similar official thereof responsible for the administration of the obligations of such person in respect of this Agreement.

Retained Percentage ” shall mean, with respect to any Excess Cash Flow Period (or Excess Cash Flow Interim Period), (a) 100% minus (b) the Required Percentage with respect to such Excess Cash Flow Period (or Excess Cash Flow Interim Period).

Revolving Availability Period ” shall mean, with respect to the Revolving Facility Commitments, the period from and including the Closing Date to but excluding the earlier of the Revolving Facility Maturity Date and the date of termination of the Revolving Facility Commitments.

Revolving Facility Borrowing ” shall mean a Borrowing comprised of Revolving Facility Loans.

Revolving Facility Commitment ” shall mean, with respect to any Revolving Facility Lender, such Lender’s commitment to make Revolving Facility Loans pursuant to Section 2.01 , expressed as an amount representing the maximum aggregate permitted amount of such Lender’s Revolving Facility Exposure hereunder, as such commitment may be (a) reduced from time to time pursuant to Section 2.08 and (b) reduced or increased from time to time pursuant to assignments by or to such Lender pursuant to Section 2.20 or pursuant to assignments by or to such Lender pursuant to Section 9.04 . The initial amount of each Lender’s Revolving Facility Commitment is set forth on Schedule 2.01 , or in the Assignment and Acceptance or Incremental Assumption Agreement pursuant to which such Lender shall have assumed its Revolving Facility Commitment, as applicable. The initial aggregate amount of the Lenders’ Revolving Facility Commitments is $100,000,000.

Revolving Facility Exposure ” shall mean, at any time, the sum of the aggregate principal amount of the Revolving Facility Loans outstanding at such time and the aggregate L/C Exposure at such time; provided , that for purposes of Sections 2.01(b), 2.04(a)(ii), 2.05(b)(ii), 2.08(b)(ii) and 2.11(d) , “ Revolving Facility Exposure ” shall also include the aggregate Swingline Exposure at such time. The Revolving Facility Exposure of any Lender at any time shall be such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the total Revolving Facility Exposure at such time.

Revolving Facility Lender ” shall mean a Lender with a Revolving Facility Commitment or with outstanding Revolving Facility Exposure, or an Incremental Revolving Facility Lender.

 

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Revolving Facility Loans ” shall mean a loan made by a Revolving Facility Lender pursuant to Section 2.01(b) and Other Revolving Facility Loans. Each Revolving Facility Loan shall be a Eurocurrency Loan or an ABR Loan.

Revolving Facility Maturity Date ” shall mean October 17, 2011.

S&P ” shall mean Standard & Poor’s Ratings Group, Inc.

Sale and Lease-Back Transaction ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.03 .

SEC ” shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor thereto.

Secured Parties ” shall mean the “ Secured Parties ” as defined in the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement.

Securities Act ” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

Security Documents ” shall mean the Mortgages, the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, the Foreign Pledge Agreements, the Intellectual Property Security Agreement and each of the security agreements, mortgages and other instruments and documents executed and delivered pursuant to any of the foregoing or pursuant to Section 5.11 , in each case, as amended from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof.

Security Trust Deed ” shall mean a security trust deed entered into between the Administrative Agent, as security trustee thereunder, and the applicable grantors thereunder, in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent.

Seller ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals hereto.

Seller Preferred Equity ” shall mean the Seller Preferred Stock, as amended from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof.

Seller Preferred Equity Documents ” shall mean the certificate of designation governing the Seller Preferred Stock and the Securityholder Rights Agreement dated as of the date hereof among Holdings, Affinion Group Holdings, LLC and Cendant, in each case as amended from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof.

Seller Preferred Stock ” shall mean the Series A Redeemable Exchangeable Preferred Stock issued by Holdings on October 17, 2005, plus any accrued and unpaid dividends paid-in-kind with respect to the Seller Preferred Stock from and after the Closing Date.

Seller Warrants ” shall mean the Warrant to Purchase Common Stock of Holdings dated October 17, 2005, or any warrant or warrants issued in connection with the partial exercise thereof, in each case as amended from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof.

 

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Senior Notes ” shall mean $270,000,000 in initial aggregate principal amount of 10.125% Senior Notes due 2013 yielding gross cash proceeds of $266,387,400 on or prior to the Closing Date, and such additional 10.125% Senior Notes due 2013 or Senior Notes with the same terms other than coupon and maturity date, which may be the same as or later than (but not earlier than) the maturity date of 10.125% Senior Notes due 2013.

Senior Notes Documents ” shall mean the Senior Notes, the Senior Notes Indenture and any documents, supplements, instruments and agreements delivered in connection therewith.

Senior Notes Indenture ” shall mean the indenture, dated as of October 17, 2005, among the Borrower, the Subsidiary Guarantors parties thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., under which the Senior Notes are issued, as amended and supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof.

Senior Secured Bank Debt ” at any date shall mean the aggregate principal amount of Consolidated Total Debt outstanding at such date that consists of, without duplication, net of the Unrestricted Cash and Permitted Investments of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on such date, (i) Term Loans, Revolving Facility Exposure or Other Revolving Facility Loans and (ii) senior Indebtedness secured by a Lien (other than Indebtedness of a Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party secured by a Lien on assets of a Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party) under Section 6.02(a) , (c) , (i) , (j)  or (l)  but only to the extent securing Indebtedness (in each case of clauses (i) and (ii) , other than letters of credit to the extent undrawn and not supporting Indebtedness of the type included in Consolidated Debt).

Senior Secured Bank Leverage Ratio ” shall mean, on any date, the ratio of (a) Senior Secured Bank Debt as of such date to (b) EBITDA for the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters of the Borrower most recently ended as of such date for which financial statements are available (such EBITDA, prior to any adjustments on a Pro Forma Basis, to be as determined from the certificate delivered pursuant to Section 5.04(c) for such period), all determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP; provided , that to the extent any Asset Disposition or any Asset Acquisition (or any similar transaction or transactions that require a waiver or a consent of the provisions of Section 6.04 or Section 6.05 by the Required Lenders pursuant to Section 9.08 and such waiver or consent has been obtained in accordance with the terms hereof), including the Transactions, has occurred during the relevant Test Period, EBITDA shall be determined for the respective Test Period on a Pro Forma Basis for such occurrences.

Senior Subordinated Exchange Notes ” shall mean the Senior Subordinated Exchange Notes to be issued under the Senior Subordinated Exchange Notes Indenture in accordance with the provisions of the Bridge Loan Agreement.

Senior Subordinated Exchange Notes Documents ” shall mean the Senior Subordinated Exchange Notes, the Senior Subordinated Exchange Notes Indenture and any documents, supplements, instruments and agreements delivered in connection therewith.

Senior Subordinated Exchange Notes Indenture ” shall mean, upon execution and delivery thereof, or if earlier, the finalization of the agreed form thereof pursuant to the

 

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provisions of the Bridge Loan Agreement, the “ Senior Subordinated Exchange Notes Indenture ”, as such term is defined in the Bridge Loan Agreement, as may be amended and supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof.

Senior Subordinated Notes ” shall mean, collectively, or any of, as the context may require, (a) the Senior Subordinated Exchange Notes, (b) if the Bridge Financing shall have been funded on the Closing Date, any Senior Subordinated Notes issued by the Borrower that (i) the aggregate principal amount of which does not to exceed the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Bridge Financing to be repaid with the proceeds thereof plus unpaid accrued interest and premium thereon and underwriting discounts, fees, commissions and expenses required to be paid in connection therewith, (ii) are expressly subordinated to the prior payment in full in cash of the Obligations on terms and conditions no less favorable to the Lenders than the subordination terms and conditions of the Senior Subordinated Exchange Notes, (iii) will not mature prior to the date that is 6 months after the scheduled Term Facility Maturity Date, (iv) have no scheduled amortization, payments of principal, sinking fund payments or similar scheduled payments, (v) have covenant, default and remedy provisions, in the aggregate, substantially as set forth in the Senior Subordinated Exchange Notes Indenture or otherwise (or if the Senior Subordinated Exchange Notes Indenture has not been agreed to or executed and delivered) no more restrictive or expansive in scope than those contained in Senior Notes Indenture (except as may be appropriate for senior subordinated notes in high yield debt offerings), and (vi) have provisions relating to mandatory prepayment, repurchase, redemption and offers to purchase, in the aggregate, no more onerous or expansive in scope than those contained in the Senior Subordinated Exchange Notes Indenture (or, if the Senior Subordinated Exchange Notes Indenture has not been agreed to or executed and delivered, customary for publicly traded senior subordinated high yield debt securities as determined in the reasonable judgment of the Administrative Agent) , and (c) if senior subordinated notes of the Borrower are to be issued on or prior to the Closing Date in lieu of the Bridge Financing, any Senior Subordinated Notes issued by the Borrower in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $383,612,600 on terms and conditions reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, it being agreed that the terms and conditions of the Senior Subordinated Exchange Notes are satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

Senior Subordinated Notes Documents ” shall mean, collectively, (a) the Senior Subordinated Exchange Notes Documents, and (b) to the extent not constituting Senior Subordinated Exchange Notes Documents, the Senior Subordinated Notes, the Senior Subordinated Notes Indenture and any documents, supplements, instruments and agreements delivered in connection therewith.

Senior Subordinated Notes Indenture ” shall mean, collectively, or either, as the context may require, (a) the Senior Subordinated Exchange Notes Indenture, and (b) the indenture under which the Senior Subordinated Notes (other than Senior Subordinated Exchange Notes) are issued, each as amended and supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof.

Similar Business ” shall mean any business or activity of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries currently conducted or proposed as of the Closing Date, or any business or

 

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activity that is reasonably similar thereto or a reasonable extension, development or expansion thereof, or is complementary, incidental, ancillary or related thereto.

Statutory Reserves ” shall mean, with respect to any currency, the aggregate of the maximum reserve, liquid asset, fees or similar requirements (including any marginal, special, emergency or supplemental reserves or other requirements) established by any central bank, monetary authority, the Board, the Financial Services Authority, the European Central Bank or other Governmental Authority for any category of deposits or liabilities customarily used to fund loans in such currency, expressed in the case of each such requirement as a decimal. Such reserve percentages shall, in the case of U.S. Dollar-denominated Loans, include those imposed pursuant to Regulation D of the Board. Eurocurrency Loans shall be deemed to be subject to such reserve, liquid asset or similar requirements without benefit of or credit for proration, exemptions or offsets that may be available from time to time to any Lender under any applicable law, rule or regulation, including Regulation D. Statutory Reserves shall be adjusted automatically on and as of the effective date of any change in any reserve, liquid asset or similar requirement.

Sterling ” or “ £ ” shall mean the lawful money of the United Kingdom.

Subagent ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.02 .

subsidiary ” shall mean, with respect to any person (herein referred to as the “ parent ”), any corporation, partnership, association or other business entity (a) of which securities or other ownership interests representing more than 50% of the equity or more than 50% of the ordinary voting power or more than 50% of the general partnership interests are, at the time any determination is being made, directly or indirectly, owned, Controlled or held, or (b) that is, at the time any determination is made, otherwise Controlled, by the parent or one or more subsidiaries of the parent or by the parent and one or more subsidiaries of the parent.

Subsidiary ” shall mean, unless the context otherwise requires, a subsidiary of the Borrower other than any Unrestricted Subsidiary.

Subsidiary Loan Party ” shall mean each Wholly Owned Domestic Subsidiary other than (a) Safecard Services Insurance Co., (b) any Banking Subsidiary, (c) any Unrestricted Subsidiary and (d) to the extent prohibited Applicable Insurance Laws and Regulations, any Insurance Subsidiary.

Subsidiary Spin-off ” shall mean each Subsidiary listed on Schedule 1.01(c) .

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

 

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Swingline Borrowing ” shall mean a Borrowing comprised of Swingline Loans.

Swingline Borrowing Request ” shall mean a request by the Borrower substantially in the form of Exhibit C-2 .

Swingline Commitment ” shall mean, with respect to each Swingline Lender, the commitment of such Swingline Lender to make Swingline Loans pursuant to Section 2.04 . The initial aggregate amount of the Swingline Commitments is $20,000,000.

Swingline Exposure ” shall mean, at any time, the aggregate principal amount of all Swingline Loans outstanding at such time. The Swingline Exposure of any Lender at any time shall be its Applicable Percentage of the total Swingline Exposure at such time.

Swingline Lender ” shall mean Credit Suisse, in its capacity as a lender of Swingline Loans.

Swingline Loans ” shall mean the swingline loans made to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.04 .

Syndication Agent ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble hereto.

Taxes ” shall mean any and all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties (including stamp duties), deductions, charges (including ad valorem charges) or withholdings imposed by any Governmental Authority and any and all interest and penalties related thereto.

Term Borrowing ” shall mean a Borrowing comprised of Term Loans.

Term Facility Maturity Date ” shall mean October 17, 2012.

Term Loan Commitment ” shall mean a Tranche B Term Loan Commitment. The aggregate amount of the Term Loan Commitments on the Closing Date is $860,000,000.

Term Loan Installment Date ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.10(a) .

Term Loans ” shall mean Tranche B Term Loans and Other Term Loans.

Test Period ” shall mean, on any date of determination, the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters of the Borrower then most recently ended (taken as one accounting period).

Tranche ” shall mean a category of Commitments and extensions of credits thereunder. For purposes hereof, each of the following comprises a separate Tranche: (a) the Revolving Facility Commitments and the Revolving Facility Loans and (b) the Tranche Commitments and the Tranche B Term Loans.

 

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Tranche B Lender ” shall mean a Lender with a Tranche B Term Loan Commitment or an outstanding Tranche B Term Loan.

Tranche B Term Loan Commitment ” shall mean, with respect to each Lender, the commitment, if any, of such Lender to make Tranche B Term Loans hereunder on the Closing Date, expressed as an amount representing the maximum aggregate permitted principal amount of the Tranche B Term Loans to be made by such Lender hereunder, as such commitment may be (a) reduced from time to time pursuant to Section 2.08 and (b) reduced or increased from time to time pursuant to assignments by or to such Lender pursuant to Section 2.20 or pursuant to assignments by or to such Lender pursuant to Section 9.04 . The initial amount of each Lender’s Tranche B Term Loan Commitment is set forth on Schedule 2.01 , or in the Assignment and Assumption or Incremental Assumption Agreement pursuant to which such Lender shall have assumed its Tranche B Term Loan Commitment, as applicable. The initial aggregate amount of the Lenders’ Tranche B Term Loan Commitments is $860,000,000.

Tranche B Term Loans ” shall mean the term loans made by the Lenders to the Borrower pursuant to clause (a)  of Section 2.01 .

Transaction Documents ” shall mean the Purchase Agreement and all material exhibits and schedules thereto and all agreements expressly contemplated thereby, the Loan Documents, the Senior Notes Documents, the Bridge Financing Documents and/or, as applicable, the Senior Subordinated Notes Documents and the Equity Financing Documents, in each case as amended from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof.

Transactions ” shall mean, collectively, the transactions to occur pursuant to the Transaction Documents, including (a) the Acquisition; (b) the execution and delivery of the Loan Documents and the initial borrowings hereunder; (c) the Equity Financing; (d) the issuance, and initial purchase, of the Senior Notes; (e) the funding of the Bridge Financing (and the refinancing thereof with Senior Subordinated Notes (including the exchange therefor for Senior Subordinated Exchange Notes)) or the issuance, and initial purchase, of the Senior Subordinated Notes (as contemplated be clause (c)  of the definition of “ Senior Subordinated Notes ”); and (e) the payment of all fees and expenses in connection therewith to be paid on, prior to or subsequent to the Closing Date and owing in connection with the foregoing.

Type, ” when used in respect of any Loan or Borrowing, shall refer to the Rate by reference to which interest on such Loan or on the Loans comprising such Borrowing is determined. For purposes hereof, the term “ Rate ” shall include the Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate and ABR.

Unrestricted Cash ” shall mean cash or cash equivalents of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries that would not appear as “restricted” on a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries.

Unrestricted Subsidiary ” shall mean (i) any subsidiary of the Borrower identified on Schedule 1.01(d) hereto and (ii) any additional subsidiary of the Borrower designated as such by the Borrower that, together with all other Unrestricted Subsidiaries designated pursuant to this clause (ii) , constitutes in the aggregate less than 5% of (A) aggregate

 

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EBITDA on a trailing twelve months’ basis and (B) Consolidated Total Assets at such date of determination; provided , that, at any time an Unrestricted Subsidiary designation pursuant to this clause (ii)  causes the aggregate EBITDA or aggregate assets test set forth above to no longer be satisfied, the Unrestricted Subsidiary or Unrestricted Subsidiaries, as applicable, that has or have either the highest sales or the largest book value of assets, as applicable, of all such Unrestricted Subsidiaries as of the date of the most recent financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 5.04(a) or (b)  shall automatically constitute a Subsidiary and cease to constitute an Unrestricted Subsidiary and the Borrower shall promptly cause the appropriate Security Documents to be executed and delivered to the Administrative Agent (such that, following such conversion of each such Unrestricted Subsidiary to a Subsidiary, the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement shall be satisfied and the remaining Unrestricted Subsidiaries shall satisfy this definition); provided , that the EBITDA attributable to Banking Subsidiaries that are Unrestricted Subsidiaries shall not be included in the foregoing determination, only so long as the cumulative amount of Investments made by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in Banking Subsidiaries does not exceed $20,000,000 in the aggregate.

Unrestricted Travel Rewards Subsidiary ” shall mean the Unrestricted Subsidiary of the Borrower the sole asset of which is a copy (but not the original) of the source code for the loyalty program established and/or to be established by Travel Rewards, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

U.S.A. Patriot Act ” shall mean the U.S.A. Patriot Act, Title III of Pub.L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001).

U.S. Dollars ” or “ $ ” shall mean lawful money of the United States of America.

U.S. Lending Office ” shall mean, as to any Lender, the applicable branch, office or Affiliate of such Lender designated by such Lender to make Loans to the Borrower.

Wholly Owned Subsidiary ” of any person shall mean a subsidiary of such person, all of the Equity Interests of which (other than directors’ qualifying shares or nominee or other similar shares required pursuant to applicable law) are owned by such person or another Wholly Owned Subsidiary of such person.

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

Working Capital ” shall mean, with respect to the Borrower and the Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis at any date of determination, Current Assets at such date of determination minus Current Liabilities at such date of determination; provided , that, for purposes of calculating Excess Cash Flow, increases or decreases in Working Capital shall be calculated without regard to any changes in Current Assets or Current Liabilities as a result of (a) any reclassification in accordance with GAAP of assets or liabilities, as applicable, between current and noncurrent or (b) the effects of purchase accounting.

Year To Date Excess Cash Flow ” shall mean, at any time of determination with respect to any Excess Cash Flow Period, the Excess Cash Flow for the period commencing on

 

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the end of the immediately preceding Excess Cash Flow Period and ending on, as applicable, the last day of the most recent Excess Cash Flow Interim Period during such Excess Cash Flow Period or the last day of such Excess Cash Flow Period.

SECTION 1.02. Terms Generally . The definitions set forth or referred to in Section 1.01 shall apply equally to both 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 .” All references herein to Articles , Sections , Exhibits and Schedules shall be deemed references to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules to, this Agreement unless the context shall otherwise require. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, any reference in this Agreement to any Loan Document shall mean such document as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all terms of an accounting or financial nature shall be construed in accordance with GAAP, as in effect from time to time; provided , that, if the Borrower notifies the Administrative Agent that the Borrower requests an amendment to any provision hereof to eliminate the effect of any change occurring after the Closing Date in GAAP or in the application thereof on the operation of such provision (or if the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower that the Required Lenders request an amendment to any provision hereof for such purpose), regardless of whether any such notice is given before or after such change in GAAP or in the application thereof, then such provision shall be interpreted on the basis of GAAP as in effect and applied immediately before such change shall have become effective until such notice shall have been withdrawn or such provision amended in accordance herewith.

SECTION 1.03. Effectuation of Transfers . Each of the representations and warranties of Holdings and the Borrower contained in this Agreement (and all corresponding definitions) are made after giving effect to the Transactions (or such portion thereof as shall be consummated as of the date of the applicable representation or warranty), unless the context otherwise requires.

SECTION 1.04. Currency Translation . For purposes of determining compliance as of any date with Section 6.01 , 6.02 , 6.03 , 6.04 , 6.05 , 6.06 or 6.07 , amounts incurred or outstanding in currencies other than U.S. Dollars shall be translated into U.S. Dollars at the exchange rates in effect on the first Business Day of the fiscal quarter in which such determination occurs or in respect of which such determination is being made, as such exchange rates shall be determined in good faith by the Borrower. No Default or Event of Default shall arise as a result of any limitation or threshold set forth in U.S. Dollars in Section 6.01 , 6.02 , 6.03 , 6.04 , 6.05 , 6.06 or 6.07 or paragraph (f)  or (j)  of Section 7.01 being exceeded solely as a result of changes in currency exchange rates from those applicable on the first day of the fiscal quarter in which such determination occurs or in respect of which such determination is being made.

 

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ARTICLE II

The Credits

SECTION 2.01. Commitments . Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein:

(a) each Lender agrees to make Tranche B Term Loans to the Borrower in U.S. Dollars on the Closing Date from its U.S. Lending Office in a principal amount not to exceed its Tranche B Term Loan Commitment;

(b) each Revolving Lender agrees from time to time during the Revolving Availability Period to make Revolving Facility Loans in U.S. Dollars to the Borrower from its U.S. Lending Office in an aggregate principal amount that will not result in such Lender’s Revolving Facility Exposure exceeding such Lender’s Revolving Facility Commitment;

(c) each Lender having an Incremental Term Loan Commitment or an Incremental Revolving Facility Commitment agrees, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the applicable Incremental Assumption Agreement, to make Incremental Term Loans to the Borrower and/or Incremental Revolving Facility Loans to the Borrower, in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed its Incremental Term Loan Commitment or Incremental Revolving Facility Commitment, as the case may be; and

(d) within the foregoing limits and subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Borrower may borrow, prepay and reborrow Revolving Facility Loans. Amounts repaid in respect of Term Loans may not be reborrowed.

SECTION 2.02. Loans and Borrowings . (a) Each Loan shall be made as part of a Borrowing consisting of Loans of the same Class and Type made by the Lenders ratably in accordance with their respective Commitments of the applicable Class (or, in the case of Swingline Loans, in accordance with their respective Swingline Commitments). The failure of any Lender to make any Loan required to be made by it shall not relieve any other Lender of its obligations hereunder; provided, that the Commitments of the Lenders are several and no Lender shall be responsible for any other Lender’s failure to make Loans as required.

(b) Subject to Section 2.14 , each Borrowing (other than a Swingline Borrowing) shall be comprised entirely of ABR Loans or Eurocurrency Loans as the Borrower may request in accordance herewith. Each Swingline Borrowing shall be an ABR Borrowing. Each Lender at its option may make any ABR Loan or Eurocurrency Loan by causing any domestic or foreign branch or Affiliate of such Lender to make such Loan; provided , that any exercise of such option shall not affect the obligation of the Borrower to repay such Loan in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and such Lender shall not be entitled to any amounts payable under Section 2.15 or 2.17 solely in respect of increased costs or taxes resulting from such exercise and existing at the time of such exercise.

(c) At the commencement of each Interest Period for any Eurocurrency Revolving Borrowing, such Borrowing shall be in an aggregate amount that is an integral multiple of the Borrowing Multiple and not less than the Borrowing Minimum. At the time that (i) each ABR Revolving Borrowing is made, such Borrowing shall be in an aggregate amount that is an integral multiple of the Borrowing Multiple and not less than the Borrowing Minimum; provided , that an ABR Revolving Borrowing may be in an aggregate amount that is equal to the entire unused balance of the Revolving Commitments or that is required to finance the reimbursement of an L/C Disbursement as contemplated by Section 2.05(e) . Borrowings of

 

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more than one Type and Class may be outstanding at the same time; provided, that there shall not at any time be more than a total of (i) ten Eurocurrency Borrowings outstanding under each of the Tranche B Term Loans or any Other Term Loans and (ii) ten Eurocurrency Borrowings outstanding under each of the Revolving Facility or any Other Revolving Facility Loans.

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

SECTION 2.03. Requests for Borrowings . To request a Revolving Facility Borrowing and/or a Term Borrowing, the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of such request (as provided in Section 9.01 ) by telephone (a) in the case of a Eurocurrency Borrowing, not later than 12:00 p.m., Local Time, three Business Days before the date of the proposed Borrowing or (b) in the case of an ABR Borrowing, not later than 12:00 p.m., Local Time, one Business Day before the date of the proposed Borrowing; provided , that any such notice of an ABR Revolving Borrowing to finance the reimbursement of an L/C Disbursement as contemplated by Section 2.05(e) may be given not later than 11:00 a.m., Local Time, on the date of the proposed Borrowing. Each such telephonic Borrowing Request shall be irrevocable and shall be confirmed promptly by hand delivery or telecopy to the Administrative Agent of a written Borrowing Request in a form approved by the Administrative Agent and signed by the Borrower. Each such telephonic and written Borrowing Request shall specify the following information in compliance with Section 2.02 :

(i) the Class of such Borrowing;

(ii) the aggregate amount of the requested Borrowing;

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

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

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

(vi) the location and number of the Borrower’s account to which funds are to be disbursed.

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

 

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SECTION 2.04. Swingline Loans . (a) Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Swingline Lender agrees to make Swingline Loans in U.S. Dollars to the Borrower from time to time during the Revolving Availability Period, in an aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding that will not result in (i) the Swingline Exposure exceeding the Swingline Commitment or (ii) the Revolving Facility Exposure exceeding the total Revolving Facility Commitments; provided , that the Swingline Lender shall not be required to make a Swingline Loan to refinance an outstanding Swingline Borrowing. Each Swingline Borrowing shall be in an amount that is an integral multiple of $500,000, and not less than $1,000,000. Within the foregoing limits and subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Borrower may borrow, prepay and reborrow Swingline Loans.

(b) To request a Swingline Borrowing, the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent and the Swingline Lender of such request by telephone (confirmed by a Swingline Borrowing Request by telecopy), not later than 1:00 p.m., Local Time, on the day of a proposed Swingline Borrowing. Each such notice and Swingline Borrowing Request shall be irrevocable and shall specify (i) the requested date (which shall be a Business Day) and (ii) the amount of the requested Swingline Borrowing. The Swingline Lender shall consult with the Administrative Agent as to whether the making of the Swingline Loan is in accordance with the terms of this Agreement prior to the Swingline Lender funding such Swingline Loan. The Swingline Lender shall make each Swingline Loan to be made by it hereunder in accordance with Section 2.02(a) on the proposed date thereof by wire transfer of immediately available funds by 3:00 p.m., Local Time, to the account of the Borrower (or, in the case of a Swingline Borrowing made to finance the reimbursement of an L/C Disbursement as provided in Section 2.05(e) , by remittance to the applicable Issuing Bank).

(c) The Swingline Lender may by written notice given to the Administrative Agent not later than 12:00 p.m., Local Time, on any Business Day require the Revolving Facility Lenders to acquire participations on such Business Day in all or a portion of the outstanding Swingline Loans made by it. Such notice shall specify the aggregate amount of such Swingline Loans in which the Revolving Facility Lenders will participate. Promptly upon receipt of such notice, the Administrative Agent will give notice thereof to each such Revolving Facility Lender, specifying in such notice such Revolving Facility Lender’s Applicable Percentage of such Swingline Loan or Loans. Each Revolving Facility Lender hereby absolutely and unconditionally agrees, upon receipt of notice as provided above, to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Swingline Lender, such Revolving Facility Lender’s Applicable Percentage of such Swingline Loan or Loans. Each Revolving Facility Lender acknowledges and agrees that its respective obligation to acquire participations in Swingline Loans pursuant to this paragraph is absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance whatsoever, including the occurrence and continuance of a Default or reduction or termination of the Commitments, and that each such payment shall be made without any offset, abatement, withholding or reduction whatsoever. Each Revolving Facility Lender shall comply with its obligation under this paragraph by wire transfer of immediately available funds, in the same manner as provided in Section 2.06 with respect to Loans made by such Revolving Facility Lender (and Section 2.06 shall apply, mutatis mutandis , to the payment obligations of the Revolving Facility Lenders), and the Administrative Agent shall promptly pay to the Swingline Lender the amounts so received by it from the Revolving Facility Lenders. The Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower of any participations in any Swingline Loan acquired pursuant to

 

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this paragraph (c) , and thereafter payments in respect of such Swingline Loan shall be made to the Administrative Agent and not to the Swingline Lender. Any amounts received by the Swingline Lender from the Borrower (or other party on behalf of the Borrower) in respect of a Swingline Loan after receipt by the Swingline Lender of the proceeds of a sale of participations therein shall be promptly remitted to the Administrative Agent; any such amounts received by the Administrative Agent shall be promptly remitted by the Administrative Agent to the Revolving Facility Lenders that shall have made their payments pursuant to this paragraph and to the Swingline Lender, as their interests may appear; provided , that any such payment so remitted shall be repaid to the Swingline Lender or to the Administrative Agent, as applicable, if and to the extent such payment is required to be refunded to the Borrower for any reason. The purchase of participations in a Swingline Loan pursuant to this paragraph shall not relieve the Borrower of any default in the payment thereof.

SECTION 2.05. Letters of Credit . (a) General . The Borrower may request issuance of Letters of Credit for its own account (or for the account of a Subsidiary, so long as the Borrower and such Subsidiary are co-applicants), in a form reasonably acceptable to the applicable Issuing Bank, at any time and from time to time during the Revolving Availability Period and prior to the date that is thirty days prior to the Revolving Facility Maturity Date. In the event of any inconsistency between the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the terms and conditions of any form of letter of credit application or other agreement submitted by the Borrower to, or entered into by the Borrower with, an Issuing Bank relating to any Letter of Credit, the terms and conditions of this Agreement shall control.

(b) Notice of Issuance, Amendment, Renewal, Extension: Certain Conditions . To request the issuance of a Letter of Credit (or the amendment, renewal (other than an automatic renewal in accordance with paragraph (c)  of this Section) or extension of an outstanding Letter of Credit), the Borrower shall hand deliver or telecopy (or transmit by electronic communication, if arrangements for doing so have been approved by the applicable Issuing Bank) to the applicable Issuing Bank and the Administrative Agent (three Business Days in advance of the requested date of issuance, amendment, renewal or extension) a notice requesting the issuance of a Letter of Credit, or identifying the Letter of Credit to be amended, renewed or extended, and specifying the date of issuance, amendment, renewal or extension (which shall be a Business Day), the date on which such Letter of Credit is to expire (which shall comply with paragraph (c)  of this Section), the amount of such Letter of Credit, the name and address of the beneficiary thereof and such other information as shall be necessary to issue, amend, renew or extend such Letter of Credit. If requested by the applicable Issuing Bank, the Borrower also shall submit a letter of credit application on such Issuing Bank’s standard form in connection with any request for a Letter of Credit. A Letter of Credit shall be issued, amended, renewed or extended only if (and upon issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of each Letter of Credit the Borrower shall be deemed to represent and warrant that), after giving effect to such issuance, amendment, renewal or extension, (i) the L/C Exposure shall not exceed the aggregate L/C Commitments and (ii) the total Revolving Facility Exposure shall not exceed the total Revolving Facility Commitments.

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

 

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extension) and (ii) the date that is five Business Days prior to the Revolving Facility Maturity Date; provided , that any Letter of Credit with a one-year tenor may provide for the automatic renewal thereof for additional one-year periods (which, in no event, shall extend beyond the applicable date referred to in clause (ii)  of this paragraph (c) ).

(d) Participations . By the issuance of a Letter of Credit (or an amendment to a Letter of Credit increasing the amount thereof) and without any further action on the part of the applicable Issuing Bank or the Revolving Facility Lenders, such Issuing Bank hereby grants to each such Revolving Facility Lender, and each such Revolving Facility Lender hereby acquires from such Issuing Bank, a participation in such Revolving Letter of Credit equal to such Revolving Facility Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the aggregate amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit. In consideration and in furtherance of the foregoing, each Revolving Facility Lender hereby absolutely and unconditionally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent in U.S. Dollars, for the account of the applicable Issuing Bank, such Revolving Facility Lender’s Applicable Percentage of (i) each L/C Disbursement made by such Issuing Bank and not reimbursed by the Borrower on the date due as provided in paragraph (e)  of this Section, or of any reimbursement payment required to be refunded to the Borrower for any reason. Each Revolving Facility 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 Event of Default or reduction or termination of the Commitments, and that each such payment shall be made without any offset, abatement, withholding or reduction whatsoever.

(e) Reimbursement . (i) If the applicable Issuing Bank shall make any L/C Disbursement in respect of a Letter of Credit, the Borrower shall reimburse such L/C Disbursement by paying to the Issuing Bank an amount equal to such L/C Disbursement, not later than 2:00 P.M., Local Time, on (A) the Business Day that the Borrower receives notice under paragraph (g)  of this Section of such L/C Disbursement, if such notice is received on such day prior to 10:00 A.M., Local Time, or (B) if clause (A)  does not apply, the Business Day immediately following the date the Borrower receives such notice; provided , that the Borrower may, subject to the conditions to borrowing set forth herein, request in accordance with Section 2.03 or 2.04 that such payment be financed with an ABR Revolving Borrowing or a Swingline Borrowing, as applicable, in an equivalent amount and, to the extent so financed, the Borrower’s obligation to make such payment shall be discharged and replaced by the resulting ABR Revolving Borrowing or Swingline Borrowing.

(ii) If the Borrower fails to reimburse any L/C Disbursement when due, then the applicable Issuing Bank shall promptly notify the Administrative Agent and each Revolving Facility Lender of the applicable L/C Disbursement, the payment then due from the Borrower in respect thereof and such Lender’s Applicable Percentage thereof. Promptly following receipt of such notice, each Revolving Facility Lender shall pay to the Administrative Agent its Applicable Percentage in U.S. Dollars of the payment then due from the Borrower in the same manner as provided in Section 2.06 with respect to Loans made by such Lender (and Section 2.06 shall apply, mutatis mutandis , to the payment obligations of the Revolving Facility Lenders), and the Administrative Agent shall promptly pay to the applicable Issuing Bank the amounts so received by it from such Revolving Facility Lenders. Promptly following receipt by the Administrative

 

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Agent of any payment from the Borrower pursuant to this paragraph, the Administrative Agent shall distribute such payment to the applicable Issuing Bank or, to the extent that Revolving Facility Lenders have made payments pursuant to this paragraph to reimburse such Issuing Bank, then to such Lenders and such Issuing Bank as their interests may appear. Any payment made by a Revolving Facility Lender pursuant to this paragraph to reimburse an Issuing Bank for any L/C Disbursement (other than the funding of an ABR Revolving Borrowing or a Swingline Borrowing as contemplated above) shall not constitute a Loan and shall not relieve the Borrower of its obligation to reimburse such L/C Disbursement.

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

 

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

(h) Interim Interest . If an Issuing Bank shall make any L/C Disbursement, then, unless the Borrower shall reimburse such L/C Disbursement in full on the date such L/C Disbursement is made, the unpaid amount thereof shall bear interest, for each day from and including the date such L/C Disbursement is made to but excluding the date that the Borrower reimburses such L/C Disbursement at the rate per annum then applicable to ABR Revolving Loans; provided, that if such L/C Disbursement is not reimbursed by the Borrower when due pursuant to paragraph (e)(ii) of this Section, then Section 2.13(c) shall apply. Interest accrued pursuant to this paragraph shall be for the account of the applicable Issuing Bank, except that interest accrued on and after the date of payment by any Revolving Facility Lender pursuant to paragraph (e)  of this Section to reimburse such Issuing Bank shall be for the account of such Revolving Facility Lender to the extent of such payment.

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

(j) Cash Collateralization . If any Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, (i) in the case of an Event of Default described in Section 7.01(h) or (i) , on the Business Day or (ii) in the case of any other Event of Default, on the third Business Day, in each case, following the date on which the Borrower receives notice from the Administrative Agent (or, if the maturity of the Loans has been accelerated, Revolving Facility Lenders with L/C Exposure representing greater than 50% of the total L/C Exposure) demanding the deposit of cash collateral pursuant to this paragraph, the Borrower shall deposit in an account with the Administrative Agent, in the name of the Administrative Agent and for the benefit of the Lenders, an amount in cash in U.S. Dollars equal to the aggregate L/C Exposure as of such date plus any accrued and unpaid interest thereon; provided, that upon the occurrence of any Event of Default with respect to the Borrower described in clause (h)  or (i)  of Section 7.01 , the obligation

 

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to deposit such cash collateral shall become effective immediately, and such deposit shall become immediately due and payable, without demand or other notice of any kind. Each such deposit pursuant to this paragraph shall be held by the Administrative Agent as collateral for the payment and performance of the obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement. The Administrative Agent shall have exclusive dominion and control, including the exclusive right of withdrawal, over such account. Other than any interest earned on the investment of such deposits, which investments shall be made at the option and sole discretion of (i) for so long as an Event of Default shall be continuing, the Administrative Agent and (ii) at any other time, the Borrower, in each case, in Permitted Investments and at the risk and expense of the Borrower, such deposits shall not bear interest. Interest or profits, if any, on such investments shall accumulate in such account. Moneys in such account with respect to Letters of Credit issued shall be applied by the Administrative Agent to reimburse each Issuing Bank for L/C Disbursements made in respect of Letters of Credit issued for which such Issuing Bank has not been reimbursed and, to the extent not so applied, shall be held for the satisfaction of the reimbursement obligations of the Borrower for the L/C Exposure at such time or, if the maturity of the Loans has been accelerated (but subject to the consent of Revolving Facility Lenders with L/C Exposure representing greater than 50% of the total L/C Exposure), be applied to satisfy other obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement. If the Borrower is required to provide an amount of cash collateral hereunder as a result of the occurrence of an Event of Default, such amount (to the extent not applied as aforesaid) shall be returned to the Borrower within three Business Days after all Events of Default have been cured or waived.

(k) Additional Issuing Banks . From time to time, the Borrower may by notice to the Administrative Agent designate up to four Lenders (in addition to Credit Suisse), each of which agrees (in its sole discretion) to act in such capacity and each of which is reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent as an Issuing Bank. Each such additional Issuing Bank shall execute a counterpart of this Agreement upon the approval of the Administrative Agent (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld) and shall thereafter be an Issuing Bank hereunder for all purposes.

(l) Issuing Bank Agreements . Unless otherwise requested by the Administrative Agent, each Issuing Bank shall report in writing to the Administrative Agent (i) on the first Business Day of each month, the daily activity (set forth by day) in respect of Letters of Credit during the immediately preceding month, including all issuances, extensions, amendments and renewals, all expirations and cancellations and all disbursements and reimbursements, (ii) on or prior to each Business Day on which such Issuing Bank expects to issue, amend, renew or extend any Letter of Credit, the date of such issuance, amendment, renewal or extension, and the aggregate face amount of the Letters of Credit to be issued, amended, renewed or extended by it and outstanding after giving effect to such issuance, amendment, renewal or extension occurred (and whether the amount thereof changed), it being understood that such Issuing Bank shall not permit any issuance, renewal, extension or amendment resulting in an increase in the amount of any Letter of Credit to occur without first obtaining written (or, with respect to any Issuing Bank, if the Administrative Agent so agrees with respect to such Issuing Bank, telephonic) confirmation from the Administrative Agent that it is then permitted under this Agreement, (iii) on each Business Day on which such Issuing Bank makes any L/C Disbursement in respect of any Letter of Credit issued, the date of such L/C Disbursement and the amount of such L/C Disbursement, (iv) on any Business Day on which the

 

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Borrower fails to reimburse an L/C Disbursement required to be reimbursed to such Issuing Bank on such day, the date of such failure and the amount of such L/C Disbursement and (v) on any other Business Day, such other information as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request.

SECTION 2.06. Funding of Borrowings . (a) Each Lender shall make each Loan to be made by it on the proposed date thereof by wire transfer of immediately available funds by 12:00 noon, Local Time, to the account of the Administrative Agent most recently designated by it for such purpose by notice to the Lenders; provided , that Swingline Loans shall be made as provided in Section 2.04 . The Administrative Agent will make such Loans available to the Borrower by promptly crediting the amounts so received, in like funds, to an account of the Borrower designated by the Borrower in the applicable Borrowing Request; provided, that ABR Revolving Loans and Swingline Borrowings made to finance the reimbursement of a L/C Disbursement and reimbursements as provided in Section 2.05(e) shall be remitted by the Administrative Agent to the applicable Issuing Bank.

(b) Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the proposed date of any Borrowing that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lender’s share of such Borrowing, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such share available on such date in accordance with paragraph (a)  of this Section and may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Borrower a corresponding amount. In such event, if a Lender has not in fact made its share of the applicable Borrowing available to the Administrative Agent, then the applicable Lender and the Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand (without duplication) such corresponding amount with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is made available to the Borrower to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at (i) in the case of such Lender, the greater of (A) (1) the Federal Funds Rate, and (2) the rate reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent to be the cost to it of funding such amount, and (B) a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation or (ii) in the case of the Borrower, the interest rate applicable to ABR Loans. If such Lender pays such amount to the Administrative Agent, then such amount shall constitute such Lender’s Loan included in such Borrowing. If the Borrower pays such amount to the Administrative Agent, then such amount shall constitute a reduction of such Borrowing.

SECTION 2.07. Interest Elections . (a) Each Borrowing initially shall be of the Type specified in the applicable Borrowing Request and, in the case of a Eurocurrency Borrowing, shall have an initial Interest Period as specified in such Borrowing Request. Thereafter, the Borrower may elect to convert such Borrowing to a different Type or to continue such Borrowing and, in the case of a Eurocurrency Borrowing, may elect Interest Periods therefor, all as provided in this Section. The Borrower may elect different options with respect to different portions of the affected Borrowing, in which case each such portion shall be allocated ratably among the Lenders holding the Loans comprising such Borrowing, and the Loans resulting from an election made with respect to any such portion shall be considered a separate Borrowing. This Section shall not apply to Swingline Borrowings, which may not be converted or continued.

 

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(b) To make an election pursuant to this Section, the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of such election (as provided in Section 9.01 ) by telephone, in the case of an election that would result in a Borrowing, by the time that a Borrowing Request would be required under Section 2.03 if the Borrower were requesting a Borrowing of the Type resulting from such election to be made on the effective date of such election. Each such telephonic Interest Election Request shall be irrevocable and shall be confirmed promptly by hand delivery or telecopy to the Administrative Agent of a written Interest Election Request in a form approved by the Administrative Agent and signed by the Borrower. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section, the Borrower shall not be permitted to (i) change the currency of any Borrowing, (ii) elect an Interest Period for Eurocurrency Loans that does not comply with Section 2.02(d) or (iii) convert any Borrowing to a Borrowing not available under the Class of Commitments pursuant to which such Borrowing was made.

(c) Each telephonic and written Interest Election Request shall specify the following information in compliance with Section 2.02 :

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

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

(iii) whether the resulting outstanding credit extension is to be an ABR Borrowing or a Eurocurrency Borrowing; and

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

If any such Interest Election Request requests a Eurocurrency Borrowing but does not specify an Interest Period, then the Borrower shall be deemed to have selected an Interest Period of one month’s duration.

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

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

 

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each Eurocurrency Borrowing shall be converted to an ABR Borrowing at the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto.

SECTION 2.08. Termination and Reduction of Commitments . (a) Unless previously terminated, the Revolving Facility Commitments shall terminate on the Revolving Facility Maturity Date.

(b) The Borrower may at any time terminate, or from time to time reduce, the Revolving Facility Commitments; provided, that (i) each reduction of the Commitments of any Class shall be in an amount that is an integral multiple of $1,000,000 and not less than $5,000,000 (or, if less, the remaining amount of the Revolving Facility Commitments) and (ii) the Borrower shall not terminate or reduce the Revolving Facility Commitments if, after giving effect to any concurrent prepayment of the Revolving Facility Loans in accordance with Section 2.11 , the total Revolving Facility Exposure would exceed the total Revolving Facility Commitments.

(c) The Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of any election to terminate or reduce the Revolving Facility Commitments under paragraph (b)  of this Section at least three Business Days prior to the effective date of such termination or reduction, specifying such election and the effective date thereof. Promptly following receipt of any notice, the Administrative Agent shall advise the applicable Lenders of the contents thereof. Each notice delivered by the Borrower pursuant to this Section shall be irrevocable; provided , that a notice of termination of the Revolving Facility Commitments delivered by the Borrower may state that such notice is conditioned upon the effectiveness of other credit facilities, in which case such notice may be revoked by the Borrower (by notice to the Administrative Agent on or prior to the specified effective date) if such condition is not satisfied. Any termination or reduction of the Commitments of any Class pursuant to this Section 2.08 shall be permanent. Each reduction of the Commitments of any Class shall be made ratably among the Lenders in accordance with their respective Commitments of such Class.

SECTION 2.09. Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Debt . (a) The Borrower hereby unconditionally promises to pay (i) to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Revolving Facility Lender the then unpaid principal amount of each Revolving Facility Loan of such Lender to the Borrower on the Revolving Facility Maturity Date, (ii) to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender the then unpaid principal amount of each Term Loan of such Lender to the Borrower as provided in Section 2.10 and (iii) to the Swingline Lender the then unpaid principal amount of each Swingline Loan to the Borrower on the Revolving Facility Maturity Date.

(b) 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 Loan made by such Lender, including the amounts of principal and interest payable and paid to such Lender from time to time hereunder.

(c) The Administrative Agent shall maintain accounts in which it shall record (i) the amount of each Loan made hereunder, the Class and Type thereof and the Interest Period (if any) applicable thereto, (ii) the amount of any principal or interest due and payable or to

 

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become due and payable from the Borrower to each Lender hereunder and (iii) any amount received by the Administrative Agent hereunder for the account of the Lenders and each Lender’s share thereof.

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

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

SECTION 2.10. Repayment of Term Loans and Revolving Facility Loans . (a) (i) Subject to the other paragraphs of this Section, the Borrower shall repay Tranche B Term Loans on each date set forth below in the aggregate principal amount set forth for such Borrowings opposite such date (each such date being referred to as a “ Term Loan Installment Date ”):

 

Date

  

Tranche B Term

Loans to Be Repaid

March 31, 2006    $ 2,150,000
June 30, 2006    $ 2,150,000
September 30, 2006    $ 2,150,000
December 31, 2006    $ 2,150,000
March 31, 2007    $ 2,150,000
June 30, 2007    $ 2,150,000
September 30, 2007    $ 2,150,000
December 31, 2007    $ 2,150,000
March 31, 2008    $ 2,150,000
June 30, 2008    $ 2,150,000
September 30, 2008    $ 2,150,000
December 31, 2008    $ 2,150,000
March 31, 2009    $ 2,150,000
June 30, 2009    $ 2,150,000
September 30, 2009    $ 2,150,000
December 31, 2009    $ 2,150,000
March 31, 2010    $ 2,150,000
June 30, 2010    $ 2,150,000
September 30, 2010    $ 2,150,000
December 31, 2010    $ 2,150,000
March 31, 2011    $ 2,150,000
June 30, 2011    $ 2,150,000
September 30, 2011    $ 2,150,000
December 31, 2011    $ 2,150,000
March 31, 2012    $ 2,150,000
June 30, 2012    $ 2,150,000
September 30, 2012    $ 2,150,000
Term Facility Maturity Date    $ 801,950,000

 

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To the extent not previously paid, outstanding Term Loans shall be due and payable on the Term Facility Maturity Date.

(ii) In the event that any Incremental Term Loans are made on an Increased Amount Date, the Borrower shall repay such Incremental Term Loans on the dates and in the amounts set forth in the Incremental Assumption Agreement.

(b) To the extent not previously paid, outstanding Revolving Facility Loans shall be due and payable on the Revolving Facility Maturity Date; provided , that any Other Revolving Facility Loans shall be due and payable as set forth in the relevant Incremental Assumption Agreement.

(c) Prepayment of the Loans from:

(i) all Net Proceeds pursuant to Section 2.11(b) and Excess Cash Flow pursuant to Section 2.11(a)(ii) and Section 2.11(c) to be applied to prepay Term Loans of any Class shall be applied (A) to reduce in order of maturity the next twelve unpaid quarterly scheduled amortization payments under paragraph (a)  above in respect of the Term Loans of such Class, and (B) thereafter, to reduce on a pro rata basis (based on the amount of such amortization payments) the remaining scheduled amortization payments in respect of the Term Loans of such Class; and

(ii) any optional prepayments of the Term Loans pursuant to Section 2.11(a)(i) shall be applied to the remaining installments thereof as directed by the Borrower.

(d) Prior to any repayment of any Loan or Loans hereunder, the Borrower shall select the Borrowing or Borrowings constituting such Loan or Loans to be repaid or reduced and shall notify the Administrative Agent by telephone (confirmed by telecopy) of such selection (i) in the case of an ABR Borrowing, not later than 12:00 p.m., Local Time, one Business Day before the scheduled date of such repayment and (ii) in the case of a Eurocurrency Borrowing, not later than 12:00 p.m., Local Time, three Business Days before the scheduled date of such repayment or reduction. Any mandatory prepayment of Term Loans shall be applied so that the aggregate amount of such prepayment is allocated among the Tranche B Term Loans and Other Term Loans of each Class, if any, pro rata based on the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Loans of each such Class. In the case of prepayments under Section 2.11(a)(i) , the Borrower may in its sole discretion select the Borrowing or Borrowings to be prepaid. Each

 

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repayment of a Borrowing within any Class shall be applied ratably to the Loans in such Class included in the repaid Borrowing. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the immediately preceding sentence , the Borrower shall select the Borrowing or Borrowings to be repaid and shall notify the Administrative Agent by telephone (confirmed by telecopy) of such selection not later than 12:00 p.m., Local Time, on the scheduled date of such repayment. Repayments of Borrowings shall be accompanied by accrued interest on the amount repaid.

(e) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, each prepayment of Term Loans pursuant to Section 2.11(a) made on or before the date that is one year after the Closing Date in connection with any Repricing Transaction shall be accompanied by a prepayment premium equal to 1.00% of the aggregate principal amount of each such prepayment.

SECTION 2.11. Prepayment of Loans . (a) The Borrower shall have the right, in its sole discretion (a) at any time and from time to time to prepay any Borrowing in whole or in part, without premium or penalty (but subject to Section 2.16 ) , except as provided in Section 2.10(e) , in an aggregate principal amount that is an integral multiple of the Borrowing Multiple and not less than the Borrowing Minimum or, if less, the amount outstanding, subject to prior notice in accordance with Section 2.10(d) , and (b) during any fiscal year, not later than 45 days after the end of any Excess Cash Flow Interim Period, to prepay the Term Loans in whole or in part in accordance with Sections 2.10(c) and (d) , without premium or penalty (but subject to Section 2.16 ) , in an amount equal to (the “ Excess Cash Flow Early Prepayment ”) the amount by which (A) the Required Percentage of Year to Date Excess Cash Flow as of the last of day of such Excess Cash Flow Interim Period exceeds (B) the sum of the aggregate principal amount of (1) voluntary prepayments of Term Loans previously made pursuant to this Section 2.11(a) (including Excess Cash Flow Early Prepayments for a prior Excess Cash Flow Interim Period in such fiscal year), and (2) permanent voluntary reductions of Revolving Facility Commitments pursuant to Section 2.08(b) to the extent that an equal amount of Revolving Facility Loans was simultaneously repaid pursuant to Section 2.11(a) , in each case, during such fiscal year; provided , that (x) if the amount in clause (B)  exceeds the amount in clause (A) , the amount of Term Loans to be prepaid in connection with such Excess Cash Flow Prepayment shall be zero, (y) not later than the date on which the Borrower is required to deliver financial statements with respect to the end of each Excess Cash Flow Interim Period under Section 5.04(b) , the Borrower will deliver to the Administrative Agent a certificate signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower setting forth the calculation thereof in reasonable detail, and (z) no more than two Excess Cash Flow Early Prepayments may be made in respect of any fiscal year.

(b) All Net Proceeds shall be applied promptly after receipt thereof to prepay Term Loans in accordance with paragraphs (c)  and (d)  of Section 2.10 ; provided , that no prepayments of the Term Loans shall be required hereunder from Net Proceeds pursuant to clause (b)  of the definition thereof if, on the date of receipt thereof, and after giving effect to the repayment, redemption, incurrence, issuance or sale of any Indebtedness in connection with any transaction giving rise to such Net Proceeds on a Pro forma Basis, the Senior Secured Bank Leverage Ratio on the last day of the Borrower’s then most recently completed fiscal quarter for which financial statements are available shall be less than or equal to 2.00 to 1.00.

(c) Not later than 90 days after the end of each Excess Cash Flow Period (or such later date, if any, on which the Borrower is permitted to deliver annual audited statements

 

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under Section 5.04(a) , commencing with the Excess Cash Flow Period beginning on July 1, 2006), the Borrower shall calculate Excess Cash Flow for such Excess Cash Flow Period and an amount equal to the amount by which (A) the Required Percentage of such Excess Cash Flow exceeds (B) the sum of (1) the aggregate principal amount of voluntary prepayments of Term Loans pursuant to Section 2.11(a)(i) , (2) permanent voluntary reductions of Revolving Facility Commitments pursuant to Section 2.08(b) to the extent that an equal amount of Revolving Facility Loans was simultaneously repaid pursuant to Section 2.11(a) , and (3) the aggregate principal amount of Excess Cash Flow Early Prepayments pursuant to Section 2.11(a)(ii) , in each case, during such Excess Cash Flow Period, shall be applied to prepay Term Loans in accordance with paragraphs (c)  and (d)  of Section 2.10 ; provided , that if the amount in clause (B)  exceeds the amount in clause (A) , no such prepayment of Term Loans shall be required. Not later than the date on which the Borrower is required to deliver financial statements with respect to the end of each Excess Cash Flow Period under Section 5.04(a) , the Borrower will deliver to the Administrative Agent a certificate signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower setting forth the amount, if any, of Excess Cash Flow for such fiscal year, the amount of any required prepayment and the calculation thereof in reasonable detail; provided , that no prepayments of the Term Loans shall be required hereunder from Excess Cash Flow and no such certificate need to be delivered if the Senior Secured Bank Leverage Ratio on the last day of the Borrower’s then most recently completed fiscal quarter for which financial statements are available was less than or equal to 1.75 to 1.00 unless any Excess Cash Flow Early Prepayments were made during such Excess Cash Flow Period.

(d) In the event and on such occasion that the total Revolving Facility Exposure exceeds the total Revolving Facility Commitments, the Borrower shall prepay Revolving Facility Borrowings or Swingline Borrowings (or, if no such Borrowings are outstanding, deposit cash collateral in an account with the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 2.05(j) ) in an aggregate amount equal to such excess.

SECTION 2.12. Fees . (a) The Borrower agrees to pay to each Revolving Facility Lender (other than any Defaulting Lender), through the Administrative Agent, three Business Days after the last day of March, June, September and December in each year, and three Business Days after the date on which the Revolving Facility Commitments of all the Revolving Facility Lenders shall be terminated as provided herein, a commitment fee (a “ Commitment Fee ”) on the daily amount of the Available Unused Commitment of such Revolving Facility Lender during the preceding quarter (or other period commencing with the Closing Date or ending with the date on which the last of the Revolving Facility Commitments of such Lender shall be terminated), which shall accrue at a rate equal to the Applicable Margin. All Commitment Fees shall be computed on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed in a year of 360 days. For the purpose of calculating any Lender’s Commitment Fee, the outstanding Swingline Loans during the period for which such Lender’s Commitment Fee is calculated shall be deemed to be zero. The Commitment Fee due to each Revolving Facility Lender shall commence to accrue on the Closing Date and shall cease to accrue on the date on which the last of the Revolving Facility Commitments of such Lender shall be terminated as provided herein.

(b) The Borrower from time to time agrees to pay (i) to each Revolving Facility Lender (other than any Defaulting Lender), through the Administrative Agent, three Business Days after the last day of March, June, September and December of each year and three

 

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Business Days after the date on which the Revolving Facility Commitments of all the Lenders shall be terminated as provided herein, a fee (an “ L/C Participation Fee ”) on such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the daily aggregate L/C Exposure (excluding the portion thereof attributable to unreimbursed L/C Disbursements), during the preceding quarter (or shorter period commencing with the Closing Date or ending with the Revolving Facility Maturity Date or the date on which the Revolving Facility Commitments shall be terminated) at the rate per annum equal to the Applicable Margin for Eurocurrency Revolving Borrowings effective for each day in such period and (ii) to each Issuing Bank, for its own account, (x) three Business Days after the last day of March, June, September and December of each year and three Business Days after the date on which the Revolving Facility Commitments of all the Lenders shall be terminated as provided herein, a fronting fee in respect of each Letter of Credit issued by such Issuing Bank for the period from and including the date of issuance of such Letter of Credit to and including the termination of such Letter of Credit, computed at a rate equal to 1/4 of 1%  per annum of the daily average stated amount of such Letter of Credit (or as otherwise agreed with such Issuing Bank), plus (y) in connection with the issuance, amendment or transfer of any such Letter of Credit or any L/C Disbursement thereunder, such Issuing Bank’s customary documentary and processing charges (collectively, “ Issuing Bank Fees ”). All L/C Participation Fees and Issuing Bank Fees that are payable on a per annum basis shall be computed on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed in a year of 360 days.

(c) The Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the Administrative Agent, the fees set forth in the Fee Letter dated as of July 26, 2005, as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, at the times specified therein (the “ Administrative Agent Fees ”).

(d) All Fees shall be paid on the dates due, in immediately available funds, to the Administrative Agent for distribution, if and as appropriate, among the Lenders, except that Issuing Bank Fees shall be paid directly to the applicable Issuing Banks. Once paid, none of the Fees shall be refundable under any circumstances.

SECTION 2.13. Interest . (a) The Loans comprising each ABR Borrowing (including each Swingline Loan) shall bear interest at the ABR plus the Applicable Margin.

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

(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any principal of or interest on any Loan or any Fees or other amount payable by the Borrower hereunder is not paid when due, whether at stated maturity, upon acceleration or otherwise, such overdue amount shall bear interest, after as well as before judgment, at a rate per annum equal to (i) in the case of overdue principal of any Loan, 2.00% plus the rate otherwise applicable to such Loan as provided in the preceding paragraphs of this Section or (ii) in the case of any other amount, 2.00% plus the interest rate that would have applied had such amount, during the period of non-payment, constituted an ABR Loan; provided , that this paragraph (c)  shall not apply to any Event of Default that has been waived by the Lenders pursuant to Section 9.08 .

 

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

(e) All interest hereunder shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days, except that interest computed by reference to (A) the ABR at times when the ABR is based on the Prime Rate, (B) Loans in any jurisdiction where the relevant interbank market practice is to use a 365 or 366 day year, in each case shall be computed on the basis of a year of 365 days (or 366 days in a leap year), and in each case shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day). The applicable ABR or Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate shall be determined by the Administrative Agent, and such determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

SECTION 2.14. Alternate Rate of Interest . If prior to the commencement of any Interest Period for a Eurocurrency Borrowing denominated in any currency, on any day:

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

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

then the Administrative Agent shall give notice thereof to the Borrower and the Lenders by telephone or telecopy as promptly as practicable thereafter and, until the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower and the Lenders that the circumstances giving rise to such notice no longer exist, (i) any Interest Election Request that requests the conversion of any Borrowing to, or continuation of any Borrowing as, a Eurocurrency Borrowing denominated in such currency shall be ineffective and such Borrowing shall be converted to or continued as on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto, an ABR Borrowing and (ii) if any Borrowing Request requests a Eurocurrency Borrowing in such currency, such Borrowing shall be made as an ABR Borrowing.

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

(i) impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit or similar requirement against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended by,

 

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any Lender (except any such reserve requirement reflected in the Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate) or Issuing Bank; or

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

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

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

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

(d) Promptly after any Lender or any Issuing Bank has determined that it will make a request for increased compensation pursuant to this Section 2.15 , such Lender or Issuing Bank shall notify the Borrower thereof. Failure or delay on the part of any Lender or Issuing Bank to demand compensation pursuant to this Section shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s or Issuing Bank’s right to demand such compensation; provided , that the Borrower shall not be required to compensate a Lender or an Issuing Bank pursuant to this Section for any increased costs or reductions incurred more than 180 days prior to the date that such Lender or Issuing Bank, as applicable, notifies the Borrower of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions and of such Lender’s or Issuing Bank’s intention to claim compensation therefor; provided , further , that if the Change in Law giving rise to such increased

 

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costs or reductions is retroactive, then the 180-day period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof.

SECTION 2.16. Break Funding Payments . In the event of (a) the payment of any principal of any Eurocurrency Loan other than on the last day of an Interest Period applicable thereto (including as a result of an Event of Default), (b) the conversion of any Eurocurrency Loan other than on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto, (c) the failure to borrow, convert, continue or prepay any Eurocurrency Loan on the date specified in any notice delivered pursuant hereto or (d) the assignment of any Eurocurrency Loan other than on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto as a result of a request by the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.19 , then, in any such event, the Borrower shall compensate each Lender for the loss, cost and expense attributable to such event. In the case of a Eurocurrency Loan, such loss, cost or expense to any Lender shall be deemed to be the amount determined by such Lender to be the excess, if any, of (i) the amount of interest that would have accrued on the principal amount of such Loan had such event not occurred, at the Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate that would have been applicable to such Loan, for the period from the date of such event to the last day of the then current Interest Period therefor (or, in the case of a failure to borrow, convert or continue a Eurocurrency Loan, for the period that would have been the Interest Period for such Loan), over (ii) the amount of interest that would accrue on such principal amount for such period at the interest rate that such Lender would bid were it to bid, at the commencement of such period, for deposits in the applicable currency of a comparable amount and period from other banks in the Eurocurrency market. A certificate of any Lender setting forth any amount or amounts that such Lender is entitled to receive pursuant to this Section shall be delivered to the Borrower and 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.

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

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

(c) Each Loan Party shall indemnify the Administrative Agent, each Lender and each Issuing Bank, within 10 days after written demand therefor, for the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes paid by the Administrative Agent, such Lender or such Issuing Bank, as applicable, on or with respect to any payment by or on account of any obligation of such Loan Party hereunder or under any other Loan Documents (including Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes imposed or asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under this Section) and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto,

 

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whether or not such Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to such Loan Party by a Lender or an Issuing Bank, or by the Administrative Agent on its own behalf, on behalf of another Agent or on behalf of a Lender or an Issuing Bank, shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

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

(e) Any Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding Tax or backup withholding Tax under the law of the jurisdiction in which the Borrower is located, or any treaty to which such jurisdiction is a party, with respect to payments under this Agreement shall deliver to the Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), to the extent such Lender is legally entitled to do so, at the time or times prescribed by applicable law, such properly completed and executed documentation prescribed by applicable law as may reasonably be requested by such Borrower to permit such payments to be made without such withholding tax or at a reduced rate; provided , that no Lender shall have any obligation under this paragraph (e)  with respect to any withholding Tax imposed by any jurisdiction other than the United States if in the reasonable judgment of such Lender such compliance would subject such Lender to any material unreimbursed cost or expense or would otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender in any material respect.

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

SECTION 2.18. Payments Generally; Pro Rata Treatment; Sharing of Set-offs . (a) Unless otherwise specified, the Borrower shall make each payment required to be made by it hereunder (whether of principal, interest, fees or reimbursement of L/C Disbursements, or of amounts payable under Section 2.15 , 2.16 or 2.17 , or otherwise) prior to 2:00 p.m., Local Time,

 

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on the date when due, in immediately available funds, without condition or deduction for any defense, recoupment, set-off or counterclaim. Any amounts received after such time on any date may, in the discretion of the Administrative Agent, be deemed to have been received on the next succeeding Business Day for purposes of calculating interest thereon. All such payments shall be made to the Administrative Agent to the applicable account designated to the Borrower by the Administrative Agent, except payments to be made directly to the applicable Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender as expressly provided herein and except that payments pursuant to Sections 2.15 , 2.16 , 2.17 and 9.05 shall be made directly to the persons entitled thereto. The Administrative Agent shall distribute any such payments received by it for the account of any other person to the appropriate recipient promptly following receipt thereof. If any payment hereunder shall be due on a day that is not a Business Day, the date for payment shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day, and, in the case of any payment accruing interest, interest thereon shall be payable for the period of such extension. All payments under each Loan Document of principal or interest in respect of any Loan (or of any breakage indemnity in respect of any Loan) shall be made in the currency of such Loan; all other payments hereunder and under each other Loan Document shall be made in U.S. Dollars, except as otherwise expressly provided herein. Any payment required to be made by the Administrative Agent hereunder shall be deemed to have been made by the time required if the Administrative Agent shall, at or before such time, have taken the necessary steps to make such payment in accordance with the regulations or operating procedures of the clearing or settlement system used by the Administrative Agent to make such payment.

(b) If at any time insufficient funds are received by and available to the Administrative Agent from the Borrower to pay fully all amounts of principal, unreimbursed L/C Disbursements, interest and fees then due from the Borrower hereunder, such funds shall be applied (i)  first , towards payment of interest and fees then due from the Borrower hereunder, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of interest and fees then due to such parties, (ii)  second , towards payment of principal of Swingline Loans and unreimbursed L/C Disbursements then due from the Borrower hereunder, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of principal, and unreimbursed L/C Disbursements then due to such parties, and (iii)  third , towards payment of principal then due from the Borrower hereunder, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of principal then due to such parties.

(c) 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 Term Loans, Revolving Facility Loans or participations in L/C Disbursements or Swingline Loans resulting in such Lender receiving payment of a greater proportion of the aggregate amount of its Term Loans, Revolving Facility Loans and participations in L/C Disbursements and Swingline Loans and accrued interest thereon under any Tranche than the proportion received by any other Lender under such Tranche, then the Lender receiving such greater proportion shall purchase (for cash at face value) participations in the Term Loans, Revolving Facility Loans and participations in L/C Disbursements and Swingline Loans of other Lenders under such Tranche to the extent necessary so that the benefit of all such payments shall be shared by the Lenders under such Tranche ratably in accordance with the aggregate amount of principal of and accrued interest on their respective Term Loans, Revolving Facility Loans and participations in L/C Disbursements and Swingline Loans under such Tranche; provided , that (i) if any such participations are purchased

 

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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 (c)  shall not be construed to apply to any payment made by the Borrower pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of this Agreement or any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Loans or participations in L/C Disbursements to any assignee or participant, other than to the Borrower or any Subsidiary or Affiliate thereof (as to which the provisions of this paragraph (c)  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.

(d) Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the Borrower prior to the date on which any payment is due to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders or the applicable Issuing Bank hereunder that the Borrower will not make such payment, the Administrative Agent may assume that the Borrower has made such payment on such date in accordance herewith and may, in reliance upon such assumption, distribute to the Lenders or the applicable Issuing Bank, as applicable, the amount due. In such event, if the Borrower has not in fact made such payment, then each of the Lenders or the applicable Issuing Bank, as applicable, severally agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the amount so distributed to such Lender or Issuing Bank with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is distributed to it to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at the greater of (A) (1) in the case of Loans, the Federal Funds Effective Rate, (2) in the case of any other amounts denominated in U.S. Dollars, the Federal Funds Effective Rate, and (3) in the case of any other amount denominated in a currency other than U.S. Dollars, the rate reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent to be the cost to it of funding such amount, and (B) a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation.

(e) If any Lender shall fail to make any payment required to be made by it pursuant to Section 2.04(c) , 2.05(d) or (e) , 2.06(b) or 2.18(d) , then the Administrative Agent may, in its discretion (notwithstanding any contrary provision hereof), apply any amounts thereafter received by the Administrative Agent for the account of such Lender to satisfy such Lender’s obligations under such Sections until all such unsatisfied obligations are fully paid.

SECTION 2.19. Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders . (a) If any Lender requests compensation under Section 2.15 , or if the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 2.17 , then such Lender shall use reasonable efforts to designate a different lending office for funding or booking its Loans hereunder or to assign its rights and obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or Affiliates, if, in the reasonable judgment of such Lender, such designation or assignment (i) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant to Section 2.15 or 2.17 , as applicable, in the future and (ii) would not subject such Lender to any material unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender in any material respect. The Borrower hereby agrees to pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender in connection with any such designation or assignment.

 

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(b) If any Lender requests compensation under Section 2.15 , or if the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 2.17 , or is a Defaulting Lender, then the Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to such Lender and the Administrative Agent, require any such Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in Section 9.04 ), all its interests, rights and obligations under this Agreement to an assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment); provided , that (i) the Borrower shall have received the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent (and, if in respect of any Revolving Facility Commitment or Revolving Facility Loan, the Swingline Lender and the Issuing Bank), which consent shall not unreasonably be withheld, (ii) such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Loans and participations in L/C Disbursements and Swingline Loans, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder, from the assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) or the Borrower (in the case of all other amounts) and (iii) in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 2.15 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 2.17 , such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments. Nothing in this Section 2.19 shall be deemed to prejudice any rights that the Borrower may have against any Lender that is a Defaulting Lender.

(c) If any Lender has failed to consent to a proposed amendment, waiver, discharge or termination that pursuant to the terms of Section 9.08 requires the consent of all the Lenders affected and with respect to which the Required Lenders shall have granted their consent (any such Lender referred to above, a “ Non-Consenting Lender ”), then so long as no Event of Default then exists, the Borrower shall have the right (unless such Non-Consenting Lender grants such consent) to (i) replace any such Non-Consenting Lender by requiring such Non-Consenting Lender to assign its Loans and Commitments hereunder to one or more assignees reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent (and, if in respect of any Revolving Facility Commitment or Revolving Facility Loan, the Swingline Lender and the Issuing Bank) or (ii) require such Non-Consenting Lender to assign all of its Term Loans hereunder or all of its Revolving Facility Commitments or Revolving Facility Loans hereunder to one or more assignees reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent (and, if in respect of any Revolving Facility Commitment or Revolving Facility Loan, the Swingline Lender and the Issuing Bank); provided , that (i) all Obligations of the Borrower owing to such Non-Consenting Lender being replaced, including obligations arising under Section 2.16 as a result of such replacement, and/or all Obligations of the Borrower owing to such Non-Consenting Lender in respect of any Loans required to be assigned shall be paid in full to such Non-Consenting Lender concurrently with such assignment, and (ii) the replacement Lender shall purchase the foregoing by paying to such Non-Consenting Lender a price equal to the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon. In connection with any such assignment the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, such Non-Consenting Lender and the replacement Lender shall otherwise comply with Section 9.04 .

(d) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, any assignment of any Lender’s Term Loans pursuant to Section 2.19(c) effected on or before the date that is one year after the Closing Date relating to any proposed amendment, waiver or consent relating to a Repricing Transaction shall be accompanied by a premium equal to 1.00% of the aggregate principal

 

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amount of the Term Loans assigned, with such premium to be paid by the Borrower in cash to the assigning Lender.

SECTION 2.20. Incremental Commitments . (a) The Borrower may, by written notice to the Administrative Agent from time to time, request Incremental Term Loan Commitments and/or Incremental Revolving Facility Commitments, as applicable, in an amount not to exceed the Incremental Amount from one or more Incremental Term Lenders and/or Incremental Revolving Facility Lenders (which may include any existing Lender) willing to provide such Incremental Term Loans and/or Incremental Revolving Facility Loans, as the case may be, in their own discretion; provided , that each Incremental Term Lender and/or Incremental Revolving Facility Lender shall be subject to the approval of the Administrative Agent (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld). Such notice shall set forth (i) the amount of the Incremental Term Loan Commitments and/or Incremental Revolving Facility Commitments being requested (which shall be in minimum increments of $5,000,000 and a minimum amount of $25,000,000 or equal to the remaining Incremental Amount), (ii) the date on which such Incremental Term Loan Commitments and/or Incremental Revolving Facility Commitments are requested to become effective (the “ Increased Amount Date ”) and (iii) (a) whether such Incremental Term Loan Commitments are to be Tranche B Term Loan Commitments or commitments to make term loans with pricing and/or amortization terms different from the Tranche B Term Loans (“ Other Term Loans ”) and/or (b) whether such Incremental Revolving Facility Commitments are to be Revolving Facility Commitments or commitments to make revolving loans with pricing and/or amortization terms different from the Revolving Facility Loans (“ Other Revolving Facility Loans ”).

(b) The Borrower and each Incremental Term Lender and/or Incremental Revolving Facility Lender shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Incremental Assumption Agreement and such other documentation as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably specify to evidence the Incremental Term Loan Commitment of such Incremental Term Lender and/or Incremental Revolving Facility Commitment of such Incremental Revolving Facility Lender. Each Incremental Assumption Agreement shall specify the terms of the Incremental Term Loans and/or Incremental Revolving Facility Loans to be made thereunder; provided , that (i) the Other Term Loans and Other Revolving Facility Loans shall rank pari passu or junior in right of payment and of security with the Tranche B Term Loans and Revolving Facility Loans and (except as to pricing and amortization) shall have the same terms as the Tranche B Term Loans, as applicable, (ii) the final maturity date of (a) any Other Term Loans shall be no earlier than the Term Loan Maturity Date and/or (b) any Other Revolving Facility Loans shall be no earlier than the Revolving Facility Maturity Date, (iii) the weighted average life to maturity of any Other Term Loans shall be no shorter than the weighted average life to maturity of the Term Loans and (iv) the Other Revolving Facility Loans shall require no scheduled amortization or mandatory commitment reductions prior to the Revolving Facility Maturity Date; provided , further that the interest rate margin (which shall be deemed to include all upfront or similar fees or original issue discount payable to all Lenders providing such Other Term Loan and/or Other Revolving Facility Loan) in respect of any Other Term Loan and/or Other Revolving Facility Loan shall be the same as that applicable to the Term Loans and/or the Revolving Facility Loans; except that the interest rate margin in respect of any Other Term Loan and/or Other Revolving Facility Loan (which shall be deemed to include all upfront or similar fees or original issue discount payable to all Lenders providing such Other Term Loan and/or

 

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Other Revolving Facility Loan) may exceed the Applicable Margin for the Term Loans and/or the Revolving Facility Loans (which shall, for such purposes only, be deemed to include all upfront or similar fees or original issue discount payable to all Lenders providing such Other Term Loan and/or Other Revolving Facility Loan), respectively, by no more than  1 / 2 of 1% (it being understood that any such increase may take the form of original issue discount (“ OID ”), with OID being equated to the interest rates in a manner reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent based on an assumed four-year life to maturity), or if it does so exceed such Applicable Margin (which shall, for such purposes only, be deemed to include all upfront or similar fees or original issue discount payable to all Lenders providing such Other Term Loan and/or Other Revolving Facility Loan), such Applicable Margin shall be increased so that the interest rate margin in respect of such Other Term Loan or Other Revolving Facility Loan, as the case may be (which shall be deemed to include all upfront or similar fees or original issue discount payable to all Lenders providing such Other Term Loan and/or Other Revolving Facility Loan), is no more than  1 / 2 of 1% higher than the Applicable Margin for the Term Loans or the Revolving Fa cility Loans, respectively (which shall, for such purposes only, be deemed to include all upfront or similar fees or original issue discount payable to all Lenders providing such Other Term Loan and/or Other Revolving Facility Loan). The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender as to the effectiveness of each Incremental Assumption Agreement. Each of the parties hereto hereby agrees that, upon the effectiveness of any Incremental Assumption Agreement, this Agreement shall be amended to the extent (but only to the extent) necessary to reflect the existence and terms of the Incremental Term Loan Commitments and/or Incremental Revolving Loan Commitments evidenced thereby as provided for in Section 9.08(e) . Any such deemed amendment may be memorialized in writing by the Administrative Agent with the Borrower’s consent (not to be unreasonably withheld) and furnished to the other parties hereto.

(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Incremental Term Loan Commitment or Incremental Revolving Facility Commitment shall become effective under this Section 2.20 unless (i) on the date of such effectiveness, the conditions set forth in paragraphs (b)  and (c)  of Section 4.01 shall be satisfied and the Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate to that effect dated such date and executed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower, (ii) the Administrative Agent shall have received legal opinions, board resolutions and other closing certificates and documentation as required by the relevant Incremental Assumption Agreement and consistent with those delivered on the Closing Date under Section 4.02 and such additional documents and filings (including amendments to the Mortgages and other Security Documents and title endorsement bringdowns) as the Administrative Agent may reasonably require to assure that the Incremental Term Loans and/or Incremental Revolving Facility Loans are secured by the Collateral ratably with (or, to the extent agreed by the applicable Incremental Term Lenders or Incremental Revolving Facility Lenders in the applicable Incremental Assumption Agreement, junior to) the existing Term Loans and Revolving Facility Loans and (iii) the Borrower would be in Pro Forma Compliance after giving effect to such Incremental Term Loan Commitment and/or Incremental Revolving Facility Commitments and the Loans to be made thereunder and the application of the proceeds therefrom as if made and applied on such date.

(d) Each of the parties hereto hereby agrees that the Administrative Agent may take any and all action as may be reasonably necessary to ensure that all Incremental Term Loans and/or Incremental Revolving Facility Loans (other than Other Term Loans or Other

 

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Revolving Facility Loans), when originally made, are included in each Borrowing of outstanding Term Loans or Revolving Facility Loans under the same Tranche on a pro rata basis, and the Borrower agrees that Section 2.16 shall apply to any conversion of Eurocurrency Loans to ABR Loans reasonably required by the Administrative Agent to effect the foregoing.

SECTION 2.21. Illegality . If any Lender reasonably determines that any change in law has made it unlawful, or that any Governmental Authority has asserted after the Closing Date that it is unlawful, for any Lender or its applicable lending office to make or maintain any Eurocurrency Loans, then, on notice thereof by such Lender to the Borrower through the Administrative Agent, any obligations of such Lender to make or continue Eurocurrency Loans or to convert ABR Borrowings to Eurocurrency Borrowings shall be suspended until such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Borrower that the circumstances giving rise to such determination no longer exist. Upon receipt of such notice, the Borrower shall upon demand from such Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), either convert all Eurocurrency Borrowings of such Lender to ABR Borrowings, either on the last day of the Interest Period therefor, if such Lender may lawfully continue to maintain such Eurocurrency Borrowings to such day, or immediately, if such Lender may not lawfully continue to maintain such Loans. Upon any such prepayment or conversion, the Borrower shall also pay accrued interest on the amount so prepaid or converted.

ARTICLE III

Representations and Warranties

The Borrower represents and warrants that:

SECTION 3.01. Organization; Powers . Except as set forth on Schedule 3.01 , each of Holdings, the Borrower and each of the Subsidiaries (a) is a limited liability company, unlimited liability company, corporation or partnership duly organized, validly existing and in good standing (or, if applicable in a foreign jurisdiction, enjoys the equivalent status under the laws of any jurisdiction of organization outside the United States) under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, (b) has all requisite power and authority to own its property and assets and to carry on its business as now conducted, (c) is qualified to do business in each jurisdiction where such qualification is required, except where the failure so to qualify could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and (d) has the power and authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under each of the Loan Documents and each other agreement or instrument contemplated thereby to which it is or will be a party and, in the case of the Borrower, to borrow and otherwise obtain credit hereunder.

SECTION 3.02. Authorization . The execution, delivery and performance by Holdings, the Borrower and each of the Subsidiary Loan Parties of each of the Loan Documents to which it is a party, and the borrowings hereunder and the transactions forming a part of the Transactions (a) have been duly authorized by all corporate, stockholder or limited liability company or partnership action required to be obtained by Holdings, the Borrower and such Subsidiary Loan Parties and (b) will not (i) violate (A) any provision of law, statute, rule or regulation, or of the certificate or articles of incorporation or other constitutive documents (including any limited liability company or operating agreements) or by-laws of Holdings, the Borrower or any such Subsidiary Loan Parties, (B) any applicable order of any court or any rule, regulation or order of any Governmental Authority or (C) any provision of any indenture, certificate of designation for preferred stock, agreement or other instrument to which Holdings, the

 

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Borrower or any such Subsidiary Loan Parties is a party or by which any of them or any of their property is or may be bound, (ii) be in conflict with, result in a breach of or constitute (alone or with notice or lapse of time or both) a default under, give rise to a right of or result in any cancellation or acceleration of any right or obligation (including any payment) or to a loss of a material benefit under any such indenture, certificate of designation for preferred stock, agreement or other instrument, where any such conflict, violation, breach or default referred to in clause (i)  or (ii)  of this Section 3.02 , could reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, or (iii) result in the creation or imposition of any Lien upon or with respect to any property or assets now owned or hereafter acquired by Holdings, the Borrower or any such Subsidiary Loan Parties, other than the Liens created by the Loan Documents and Liens permitted by Section 6.02 .

SECTION 3.03. Enforceability . This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by Holdings and the Borrower and constitutes, and each other Loan Document when executed and delivered by each Loan Party that is party thereto will constitute, a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Loan Party enforceable against each such Loan Party in accordance with its terms, subject to (i) the effects of bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance or other similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, (ii) general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law), (iii) implied covenants of good faith and fair dealing and (iv) except to the extent set forth in the applicable Foreign Pledge Agreements, any foreign laws, rules and regulations as they relate to pledges of Equity Interests in Foreign Subsidiaries that are not Loan Parties.

SECTION 3.04. Governmental Approvals . No action, consent or approval of, registration or filing with or any other action by any Governmental Authority is or will be required in connection with the Transactions, except for (a) the filing of Uniform Commercial Code financing statements and equivalent filings in foreign jurisdictions, (b) filings with the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the United States Copyright Office and comparable offices in foreign jurisdictions and equivalent filings in foreign jurisdictions, (c) recordation of the Mortgages, (d) such as have been made or obtained and are in full force and effect, (e) such other actions, consents, approvals, registrations or filings with respect to which the failure to be obtained or made could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect and (f) filings or other actions listed on Schedule 3.04 .

SECTION 3.05. Financial Statements . (a) The Borrower has heretofore furnished to the Lenders:

(i) the unaudited pro forma condensed combined balance sheet as of June 30, 2005 (the “ Pro Forma Closing Balance Sheet ”) and the related unaudited pro forma condensed combined statement of operations for the six months ended June 30, 2004, the six months ended June 30, 2005 and the year ended December 31, 2004 (the “ Pro Forma Closing Income Statements ”; and, together with the Pro Forma Closing Balance Sheet, the “ Pro Forma Closing Financial Statements ”) of the Borrower, together with its

 

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combined subsidiaries (in each case including the notes thereto), copies of which have heretofore been furnished to each Lender (via inclusion in the Information Memorandum), except as set forth on Schedule 3.05(a) , have been prepared giving effect to the Transactions as set forth in the Information Memorandum (as if such events had occurred, in the case of the Pro Forma Closing Balance Sheet, on such date and, in the case of the Pro Forma Closing Income Statements, January 1, 2004). The Pro Forma Closing Financial Statements have been prepared in good faith based on assumptions believed by Holdings and the Borrower to have been reasonable as of the date of delivery thereof (it being understood that such assumptions are based on good faith estimates of certain items and that the actual amount of such items is subject to change). The Pro Forma Closing Balance Sheet presents fairly in all material respects on a pro forma basis the estimated financial position of the Borrower and its consolidated subsidiaries as at June 30, 2005, assuming that the events specified in the second preceding sentence had actually occurred at such date, and the Pro Forma Closing Income Statement presents fairly in all material respects on a pro forma basis the results of operations of Borrower and its consolidated subsidiaries for such twelve-month period, assuming that the events specified in the second preceding sentence had actually occurred on the first day of such twelve-month period.

(ii) (A) The audited combined balance sheets of the Companies as at December 31, 2003 and December 31, 2004 and the related combined statements of operations, changes in combined equity and cash flows of the Companies for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2002, December 31, 2003 and December 31, 2004 and (B) the unaudited condensed combined balance sheets as of June 30, 2005 and December 31, 2004 and related combined condensed statements of operations, changes in combined equity and cash flows of the Companies for the six months ended June 30, 2004 and June 30, 2005, in each such case, copies of which have heretofore been furnished to each Lender, except as disclosed in the Offering Circular, have been prepared in accordance with GAAP applied consistently throughout the periods involved and Regulation S-X under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and present fairly the financial condition and results of operations of the Companies, as of and on such dates set forth on such financial statements.

(b) Except as set forth in Schedule 3.05(b) , none of the Borrower or the Subsidiaries has any material Guarantees, contingent liabilities and liabilities for taxes, or any long-term leases or unusual forward or long-term commitments, including any interest rate or foreign currency swap or exchange transaction or other obligation in respect of derivatives, that are not reflected in the financial statements referred to in the preceding clauses (a)(i) and (ii) . During the period from December 31, 2004, to and including the Closing Date there has been no disposition by Holdings, the Borrower or any of its subsidiaries of any material part of its business or property other than in connection with the Transactions that has not been disclosed in the Information Memorandum.

SECTION 3.06. No Material Adverse Change or Material Adverse Effect . Since December 31, 2004, there has been no event, development or circumstance that has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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SECTION 3.07. Title to Properties; Possession Under Leases . (a) Each of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries has good and valid record fee simple title to, or valid leasehold interests in, or easements or other limited property interests in, all its properties and assets (including all Mortgaged Properties), except for minor defects in title that do not interfere with its ability to conduct its business as currently conducted or to utilize such properties and assets for their intended purposes and except where the failure to have such title, interests or easements could not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect. All such properties and assets held in fee simple are free and clear of Liens, other than Liens expressly permitted by Section 6.02 or arising by operation of law.

(b) Each of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries has complied with all obligations under all leases to which it is a party, except where the failure to comply would not reasonably be considered to have Material Adverse Effect, and all such leases are in full force and effect, except leases in respect of which the failure to be in full force and effect could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.07(b) , the Borrower and each of the Subsidiaries enjoys peaceful and undisturbed possession under all such leases, other than leases in respect of which the failure to enjoy peaceful and undisturbed possession could not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

(c) Each of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries owns or possesses, or could obtain ownership or possession of or rights under, on terms not materially adverse to it, all patents, trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights, licenses and rights with respect thereto necessary for the present conduct of its business, without any conflict (of which the Borrower has been notified in writing) with the rights of others, and free from any burdensome restrictions on the present conduct of the their businesses, except where such conflicts and restrictions could not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

(d) As of the Closing Date, none of the Borrower or the Subsidiaries has received any notice of any pending or contemplated condemnation proceeding affecting any of the Mortgaged Properties or any sale or disposition thereof in lieu of condemnation that remains unresolved as of the Closing Date.

(e) None of the Borrower or the Subsidiaries is obligated on the Closing Date under any right of first refusal, option or other contractual right to sell, assign or otherwise dispose of any Mortgaged Property or any interest therein, except as permitted under Section 6.02 or 6.05 .

SECTION 3.08. Subsidiaries . (a) Schedule 3.08(a) sets forth as of the Closing Date the name and jurisdiction of incorporation, formation or organization of each direct and indirect subsidiary of Holdings. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.08(a) , as of the Closing Date, all of the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of each subsidiary of Holdings is owned directly by Holdings or by another subsidiary.

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employees or directors and directors’ qualifying shares) of any nature relating to any Equity Interests of Holdings, the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries, except rights of employees to purchase Equity Interests of Holdings in connection with the Transactions or as set forth on Schedule 3.08(b) .

SECTION 3.09. Litigation; Compliance with Laws . (a) As of the Closing Date, there are no actions, suits or proceedings at law or in equity or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, investigations by or on behalf of any Governmental Authority or in arbitration now pending, or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened in writing against or affecting Holdings or the Borrower or any of its subsidiaries or any business, property or rights of any such person (i) that involve any Loan Document, any Transaction Document or the Transactions or (ii) could reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect or materially adversely affect the Transactions. As of the date of any Borrowing after the Closing Date, there are no actions, suits or proceedings at law or in equity or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, investigations by or on behalf of any Governmental Authority or in arbitration now pending, or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened in writing against or affecting Holdings or the Borrower or any of its subsidiaries or any business, property or rights of any such person which could reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

(b) None of Holdings, the Borrower, the Subsidiaries or their respective properties or assets is in violation of (nor will the continued operation of their material properties and assets as currently conducted violate) any law, rule or regulation (including any zoning, building, Environmental Law, ordinance, code or approval or any building permit) or any restriction of record or agreement affecting any Mortgaged Property, or is in default with respect to any judgment, writ, injunction or decree of any Governmental Authority, where such violation or default could reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 3.10. Federal Reserve Regulations . (a) None of Holdings, the Borrower or the Subsidiaries is engaged principally, or as one of its important activities, in the business of extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying Margin Stock.

(b) No part of the proceeds of any Loan will be used, whether directly or indirectly, and whether immediately, incidentally or ultimately, (i) to purchase or carry Margin Stock or to extend credit to others for the purpose of purchasing or carrying Margin Stock or to refund indebtedness originally incurred for such purpose, or (ii) for any purpose that entails a violation of, or that is inconsistent with, the provisions of the Regulations of the Board, including Regulation U or Regulation X.

SECTION 3.11. Investment Company Act; Public Utility Holding Company Act . None of Holdings, the Borrower or the Subsidiaries is (a) an “ investment company ” as defined in, or subject to regulation under, the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, or (b) a “ holding company ” as defined in, or subject to regulation under, the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, as amended.

 

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SECTION 3.12. Use of Proceeds . The Borrower will use the proceeds of the Term Loans borrowed on the Closing Date, together with the proceeds of the Revolving Facility Loans or Swingline Loans borrowed on the Closing Date, only to finance a portion of the Transactions and for the payment of fees and expenses payable in connection with the Transactions; provided , Revolving Facility Loans or Swingline Loans may only be borrowed on the Closing Date after the Borrower shall have applied all cash on hand other than restricted cash, as reflected on the Pro Forma Closing Balance Sheet and the aggregate amount of such Loans, if any, shall not exceed $50,000,000. The Borrower will use the proceeds of the Revolving Facility Loans (except as described above) and the Swingline Loans for working capital needs and other general corporate purposes (including, without limitation, for Permitted Acquisitions and to make Permitted Investments). The Borrower will use the proceeds of the Letters of Credit solely to support payment obligations incurred by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries.

SECTION 3.13. Tax Returns . Except as set forth on Schedule 3.13 :

(a) Each of Holdings, the Borrower and the Subsidiaries (i) has timely filed or caused to be timely filed all federal, state, local and non-U.S. Tax returns required to have been filed by it that are material to such companies taken as a whole and each such Tax return is true and correct in all material respects, including, without limitation, relating to all periods or portions thereof ending on or prior to the Closing Date and (ii) has timely paid or caused to be timely paid all Taxes shown thereon to be due and payable by it and all other material Taxes or assessments, except Taxes or assessments, including, without limitation, relating to all periods or portions thereof ending on or prior to the Closing Date that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings in accordance with Section 5.03 and for which Holdings, the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries (as the case may be) has set aside on its books adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP; and

(b) Other than as could not be, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect: as of the Closing Date, with respect to each of Holdings, the Borrower and the Subsidiaries, (i) there are no claims being asserted in writing with respect to any Taxes, (ii) no presently effective waivers or extensions of statutes of limitation with respect to Taxes have been given or requested and (iii) no Tax returns are being examined by, and no written notification of intention to examine has been received from, the Internal Revenue Service or any other Taxing authority.

SECTION 3.14. No Material Misstatements . (a) All written information (other than the Projections, estimates and information of a general economic nature) (the “ Information ”) concerning Holdings, the Borrower, the Subsidiaries, the Transactions and any other transactions contemplated hereby included in the Information Memorandum or otherwise prepared by or on behalf of the foregoing or their representatives and made available to any Lenders or the Administrative Agent in connection with the Transactions or the other transactions contemplated hereby, when taken as a whole, were true and correct in all material respects, as of the date such Information was furnished to the Lenders and as of the Closing Date and did not contain any untrue statement of a material fact as of any such date or omit to state a

 

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material fact necessary in order to make the statements contained therein not materially misleading in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made.

(b) Any Projections and estimates and information of a general economic nature prepared by or on behalf of the Borrower or any of its representatives and that have been made available to any Lenders or the Administrative Agent in connection with the Transactions or the other transactions contemplated hereby (i) have been prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed by the Borrower to be reasonable as of the date thereof, as of the date such Projections and estimates were furnished to the Initial Lenders and as of the Closing Date, and (ii) as of the Closing Date, have not been modified in any material respect by the Borrower.

SECTION 3.15. Employee Benefit Plans . (a) Except as could not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect or as set forth on Schedule 3.15 : (i) each of Holdings, the Borrower, the Subsidiaries and the ERISA Affiliates is in compliance with the applicable provisions of ERISA and the provisions of the Code relating to Plans and the regulations and published interpretations thereunder and any similar applicable law; no Reportable Event has occurred during the past five years as to which Holdings, the Borrower, a Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate was required to file a report with the PBGC, other than reports that have been filed; (ii) no Reportable Event has occurred during the past five years as to which Holdings, the Borrower, a Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate was required to file a report with the PBGC, other than reports that have been filed; (iii) the present value of all benefit liabilities under each Plan of Holdings, the Borrower, the Subsidiaries and the ERISA Affiliates (based on those assumptions used to fund such Plan), as of the last annual valuation date applicable thereto for which a valuation is available, does not exceed the value of the assets of such Plan, and the present value of all benefit liabilities of all underfunded Plans (based on those assumptions used to fund each such Plan), as of the last annual valuation dates applicable thereto for which valuations are available, does not exceed the value of the assets of all such underfunded Plans; (iv) no ERISA Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur; and (v) none of Holdings, the Borrower, the Subsidiaries or the ERISA Affiliates has received any written notification that any Multiemployer Plan is in reorganization or has been terminated within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA, or has knowledge that any Multiemployer Plan is reasonably expected to be in reorganization or to be terminated.

(b) Each of Holdings, the Borrower and the Subsidiaries is in compliance (i) with all applicable provisions of law and all applicable regulations and published interpretations thereunder with respect to any employee pension benefit plan or other employee benefit plan governed by the laws of a jurisdiction other than the United States and (ii) with the terms of any such plan, except, in each case, for such noncompliance that could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(c) None of Holdings, the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries is or has at any time been an employer (for the purposes of sections 38 to 51 of the Pensions Act 2004) of an occupational pension scheme that is not a money purchase scheme (both terms as defined in the Pension Schemes Act 1993), and none of Holdings, the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries is or has at any time been “ connected ” with or an “ associate ” of (as those terms are used in sections 39 and 43 of the Pensions Act 2004) such an employer, other than any such scheme, connection or association that could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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SECTION 3.16. Environmental Matters . Except as disclosed on Schedule 3.16 and except as to matters that could not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect (i) no written notice, request for information, order, complaint or penalty has been received by the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries, and there are no judicial, administrative or other actions, suits or proceedings pending or threatened, that allege a violation of or liability under any applicable Environmental Laws, in each case relating to the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries, (ii) each of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries has obtained and maintained all permits, licenses and other approvals necessary for its operations to comply with all applicable Environmental Laws and is, and during the term of all applicable statutes of limitation, has been, in compliance with the terms of such permits, licenses and other approvals and with all other applicable Environmental Laws, (iii) there has been no material written environmental assessment or audit conducted since January 1, 2000, by the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries of any property currently owned or leased by the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries that has not been made available to the Administrative Agent prior to the date hereof, (iv) no Hazardous Material is located at, on or under any property currently or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, formerly owned, operated or leased by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries that would reasonably be expected to give rise to any cost, liability or obligation of the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries under any applicable Environmental Laws, and no Hazardous Material has been generated, owned, treated, stored, handled or controlled by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries and transported to or Released at any location in a manner that would reasonably be expected to give rise to any cost, liability or obligation of the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries under any Environmental Laws, and (v) there are no written agreements in which the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries has expressly assumed or undertaken responsibility, and such assumption or undertaking of responsibility has not expired or otherwise terminated, for any liability or obligation of any other person arising under or relating to applicable Environmental Laws, which in any such case has not been made available to the Administrative Agent prior to the date hereof.

SECTION 3.17. Security Documents . (a) The Guarantee and Collateral Agreement is effective to create in favor of the Administrative Agent (for the benefit of the Secured Parties) a legal, valid and enforceable security interest in the Collateral described therein and proceeds thereof to the extent intended to be created thereby. In the case of the Pledged Collateral described in the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, when certificates or promissory notes, as applicable, representing such Pledged Collateral are delivered to the Administrative Agent, and in the case of the other Collateral described in the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement (other than the Intellectual Property (as defined in the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement)), when financing statements and other filings specified on Schedule 6 of the Perfection Certificate in appropriate form are filed in the offices specified on Schedule 6 of the Perfection Certificate, the Administrative Agent (for the benefit of the Secured Parties) shall have a fully perfected Lien on, and security interest in (to the extent required thereby), all right, title and interest of the Loan Parties in such Collateral and, subject to Section 9-315 of the New York Uniform Commercial Code, the proceeds thereof, as security for the Obligations to the extent perfection can be obtained by filing Uniform Commercial Code financing statements, in each case prior and superior in right to any other person (except, in the case of Collateral other than Pledged Collateral, Liens expressly permitted by Section 6.02 and Liens having priority by operation of law).

 

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(b) When the Intellectual Property Security Agreement is properly filed in the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the United States Copyright Office, and, with respect to Collateral in which a security interest cannot be perfected by such filings, upon the proper filing of the financing statements referred to in paragraph (a)  above, the Administrative Agent (for the benefit of the Secured Parties) shall have a fully perfected Lien on, and security interest in, all right, title and interest of the Loan Parties thereunder in the domestic Intellectual Property (to the extent intended to be created thereby), in each case prior and superior in right to any other person (it being understood that subsequent recordings in the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the United States Copyright Office may be necessary to perfect a lien on registered trademarks and patents, trademark and patent applications and registered copyrights acquired by the grantors thereunder after the Closing Date) except Liens permitted by Section 6.02 and Liens having priority by operation of Law.

(c) Each Foreign Pledge Agreement is effective to create in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, a legal, valid and enforceable security interest in the Collateral described therein and the proceeds thereof to the fullest extent permissible under applicable law. In the case of the Pledged Collateral described in a Foreign Pledge Agreement, when certificates representing such Pledged Collateral (if any) are delivered to the Administrative Agent, the Administrative Agent (for the benefit of the Secured Parties) shall have a fully perfected Lien on, and security interest in, all right, title and interest of the Loan Parties in such Collateral and the proceeds thereof, as security for the Obligations, (subject to Section 6.02 ) prior and superior in right to any other person except Liens having priority by operation of the law governing such Foreign Pledge Agreement.

(d) The Mortgages executed and delivered after the Closing Date pursuant to Section 5.11 shall be, effective to create in favor of the Administrative Agent (for the benefit of the Secured Parties) a legal, valid and enforceable Lien on all of the Loan Parties’ right, title and interest in and to the Mortgaged Property thereunder and the proceeds thereof, and when such Mortgages are filed or recorded in the proper real estate filing or recording offices, the Administrative Agent (for the benefit of the Secured Parties) shall have a fully perfected Lien on, and security interest in, all right, title and interest of the Loan Parties in such Mortgaged Property and, to the extent applicable, subject to Section 9-315 of the Uniform Commercial Code, the proceeds thereof, in each case prior and superior in right to any other person, other than with respect to the rights of a person pursuant to Liens expressly permitted by Section 6.02 and Liens having priority by operation of law.

(e) After taking the actions specified for perfection therein, each Security Document (excluding the Foreign Pledge Agreements, the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement and the Mortgages, each of which is covered by another paragraph of this Section 3.17 ), when executed and delivered, will be effective under applicable law to create in favor of the Administrative Agent (for the benefit of the Secured Parties) a legal, valid and enforceable security interest in the Collateral subject thereto (to the extent intended to be created thereby), and will constitute a fully perfected Lien on and security interest in all right, title and interest of the Loan Parties in the Collateral subject thereto (to extent required thereby), prior and superior to the rights of any other person, except for rights secured by Liens expressly permitted by Section 6.02 and Liens having priority by operation of law.

 

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(f) Notwithstanding anything herein (including this Section 3.17 ) or in any other Loan Document to the contrary, other than to the extent set forth in the applicable Foreign Pledge Agreements, none of the Borrower or any other Loan Party makes any representation or warranty as to the effects of perfection or non-perfection, the priority or the enforceability of any pledge of or security interest in any Equity Interests of any Foreign Subsidiary, or as to the rights and remedies of the Agents or any Lender with respect thereto, under foreign law.

SECTION 3.18. Location of Real Property . The Perfection Certificate lists completely and correctly as of the Closing Date all material real property owned by Holdings, the Borrower and the Subsidiary Loan Parties and the addresses thereof. As of the Closing Date, Holdings, the Borrower and the Subsidiary Loan Parties own in fee all the real property set forth as being owned by them on such Perfection Certificate.

SECTION 3.19. Solvency . (a) Immediately after giving effect to the Transactions on the Closing Date, (i) the sum of the assets of the Borrower (individually) and Holdings, the Borrower and the Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, both at a fair valuation and at present fair salable value, exceeds the liabilities, including contingent, subordinated, unmatured, unliquidated, and disputed liabilities of the Borrower (individually) and Holdings, the Borrower and the Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, respectively; (ii) the Borrower (individually) and Holdings, the Borrower and the Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, respectively, have sufficient capital with which to conduct their business; and (iii) the Borrower (individually) and Holdings, the Borrower and the Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis have not incurred debts beyond their ability to pay such debts as they mature. For purposes of this definition, “ debt ” means any liability on a claim, and “ claim ” means (i) a right to payment, whether or not such right is reduced to judgment, liquidated, unliquidated, fixed, contingent, matured, unmatured, disputed, undisputed, legal, equitable, secured, or unsecured or (ii) a right to an equitable remedy for breach of performance to the extent such breach gives rise to a payment, whether or not such right to an equitable remedy is reduced to judgment, fixed, contingent, matured, unmatured, disputed, undisputed, secured, or unsecured. With respect to any such contingent liabilities, such liabilities shall be computed at the amount which, in light of all the facts and circumstances existing at the time, represents the amount which can reasonably be expected to become an actual or matured liability.

(b) Neither of Holdings or the Borrower intends to, or believes that it or any Subsidiary Loan Party will, incur debts beyond its ability to pay such debts as they mature, taking into account the timing and amounts of cash to be received by it or any such Subsidiary Loan Party and the timing and amounts of cash to be payable on or in respect of its Indebtedness or the Indebtedness of any such Subsidiary Loan Party.

SECTION 3.20. Labor Matters . Except as, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect: (a) there are no strikes or other labor disputes pending or threatened against Holdings, the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries; (b) the hours worked and payments made to employees of Holdings, the Borrower and the Subsidiaries have not been in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act or any other applicable law dealing with such matters; (c) all payments due from Holdings, the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries or for which any claim may be made against Holdings, the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries, on account of wages and employee health and welfare insurance and

 

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other benefits have been paid or accrued as a liability on the books of Holdings, the Borrower or such Subsidiary to the extent required by GAAP; and (d) Holdings, the Borrower and the Subsidiaries are in compliance with all applicable laws, agreements, policies, plans and programs relating to employment and employment practices. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.20 , consummation of the Transactions will not give rise to a right of termination or right of renegotiation on the part of any union under any collective bargaining agreement to which Holdings, the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries (or any predecessor) is a party or by which Holdings, the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries (or any predecessor) is bound.

SECTION 3.21. Insurance . Schedule 3.21 sets forth a true, complete and correct description of all material insurance maintained by or on behalf of Holdings, the Borrower or the Subsidiaries as of the Closing Date. As of such date, such insurance is in full force and effect. Such insurance complies with the requirements of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and the Borrower believes that the insurance maintained by or on behalf of Holdings, the Borrower and the Subsidiaries is adequate.

SECTION 3.22. Representations and Warranties in Purchase Agreement . All representations and warranties of Holdings and the Borrower set forth in the Purchase Agreement were true and correct in all material respects as of the time such representations and warranties were made and shall be true and correct in all material respects as of the Closing Date as if such representations and warranties were made on and as of such date, unless stated to relate to a specific earlier date, in which case such representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date.

SECTION 3.23. Senior Debt . The Obligations constitute “ Senior Debt ” (or the equivalent thereof) and “ Designated Senior Debt ” (or the equivalent thereof) under the Bridge Loan Agreement, the Senior Subordinated Notes Indenture and under the documentation governing any Permitted Subordinated Indebtedness, including any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of the Bridge Financing, the Senior Subordinated Notes or such Permitted Subordinated Indebtedness.

SECTION 3.24. No Violation . (a) None of Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary is (a) a party to any agreement or instrument, or subject to any corporate restriction, that, individually or in the aggregate, has resulted, or could reasonably be expected to result, in a Material Adverse Effect or (b) is in default in the performance, observance or fulfillment of any of the obligations, covenants or conditions contained in any agreement or instrument to which any of Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary is a party that, individually or in the aggregate, has resulted, or could reasonably be expected to result, in a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 3.25. Holdings Indebtedness . As of the Closing Date, prior to giving effect to the Transactions, Holdings does not have any Indebtedness.

 

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ARTICLE IV

Conditions of Lending

The obligations of (a) the Lenders (including the Swingline Lender) to make Loans and (b) any Issuing Bank to issue, amend, extend or renew Letters of Credit or increase the stated amounts of Letters of Credit hereunder (each, a “ Credit Event ”) are subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions:

SECTION 4.01. All Credit Events . On the date of each Borrowing and on the date of each issuance, amendment, extension or renewal of a Letter of Credit:

(a) The Administrative Agent shall have received, in the case of a Borrowing, a Borrowing Request as required by Section 2.03 or, in the case of the issuance, amendment, extension or renewal of a Letter of Credit, the applicable Issuing Bank and the Administrative Agent shall have received a notice requesting the issuance, amendment, extension or renewal of such Letter of Credit as required by Section 2.05(b) .

(b) The representations and warranties set forth in the Loan Documents (other than, on the Closing Date, the representation and warranty set forth in Section 3.06 ) that are qualified by materiality shall be true and correct, and the representations and warranties that are not so qualified shall be true and correct in all material respects, in each case on and as of the date of such Borrowing or issuance, amendment, extension or renewal of a Letter of Credit (other than an amendment, extension or renewal of a Letter of Credit without any (i) increase in the stated amount of such Letter of Credit or (ii) extension of the expiration of such Letter of Credit), as applicable, with the same effect as though made on and as of such date, except to the extent such representations and warranties expressly relate to an earlier date (in which case such representations and warranties that are qualified by materiality shall be true and correct, and the representations and warranties that are not so qualified shall be true and correct in all material respects, as of such earlier date).

(c) At the time of and immediately after such Borrowing or issuance, amendment, extension or renewal of a Letter of Credit (other than an amendment, extension or renewal of a Letter of Credit without any (i) increase in the stated amount of such Letter of Credit or (ii) extension of the expiration of such Letter of Credit), as applicable, no Event of Default or Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom.

Each Borrowing and each issuance, amendment, extension or renewal of a Letter of Credit (other than an amendment, extension or renewal of a Letter of Credit without any (i) increase in the stated amount of such Letter of Credit or (ii) extension of the expiration of such Letter of Credit) shall be deemed to constitute a representation and warranty by the Borrower on the date of such Borrowing, issuance, amendment, extension or renewal as applicable, as to the matters specified in paragraphs (b)  and (c)  of this Section 4.01 .

 

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SECTION 4.02. First Credit Event . On the Closing Date:

(a) The Administrative Agent (or its counsel) shall have received from each party hereto either (i) a counterpart of this Agreement signed on behalf of such party or (ii) written evidence satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (which may include telecopy transmission of a signed signature page of this Agreement) that such party has signed a counterpart of this Agreement.

(b) The Administrative Agent shall have received, on behalf of itself, the Lenders and each Issuing Bank on the Closing Date, a favorable written opinion of (i) O’Melveny & Myers LLP, special counsel for Holdings, the Borrower and the other Loan Parties, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, and (ii) local U.S. and foreign counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent as specified on Schedule 4.02(b) , in each case (a) dated the Closing Date, (b) addressed to each Issuing Bank on the Closing Date, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders and (c) in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and covering such other matters relating to the Loan Documents and the Transactions as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request, and each of Holdings, the Borrower and the other Loan Parties hereby instructs its counsel to deliver such opinions.

(c) All legal matters incident to this Agreement, the borrowings and extensions of credit hereunder and the other Loan Documents shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, to the Lenders and to each Issuing Bank on the Closing Date.

(d) The Administrative Agent shall have received in the case of each Loan Party each of the items referred to in clauses (i) , (ii) , (iii)  and (iv)  below:

(i) a copy of the certificate or articles of incorporation or formation, limited liability agreement, partnership agreement or other constituent or governing documents, including all amendments thereto, of each Loan Party, (a) if applicable in such jurisdiction, certified as of a recent date by the Secretary of State (or other similar official) of the jurisdiction of its organization, and a certificate as to the good standing (to the extent such concept or a similar concept exists under the laws of such jurisdiction) of each such Loan Party as of a recent date from such Secretary of State (or other similar official), and (b) otherwise, (i) certified by the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of each such Loan Party or other person duly authorized by the constituent documents of such Loan Party or (ii) otherwise in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent;

(ii) a certificate of the Secretary or Assistant Secretary or similar officer of each Loan Party or other person duly authorized by the constituent documents of such Loan Party dated the Closing Date and certifying

(A) that attached thereto is a true and complete copy of the by-laws (or limited liability company agreement, articles of association, partnership agreement or other equivalent constituent and governing

 

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documents) of such Loan Party as in effect on the Closing Date and at all times since a date prior to the date of the resolutions described in clause (B)  below;

(B) that attached thereto is a true and complete copy of resolutions (or equivalent authorizing actions) duly adopted by the Board of Directors (or equivalent governing body) of such Loan Party (or its managing general partner or managing member) authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of the Loan Documents to which such person is a party and, in the case of the Borrower, the borrowings hereunder, and that such resolutions have not been modified, rescinded or amended and are in full force and effect on the Closing Date;

(C) that the certificate or articles of incorporation, by-laws, limited liability company agreement, articles of association, partnership agreement or other equivalent constituent and governing documents of such Loan Party have not been amended since the date of the last amendment thereto disclosed pursuant to clause (i)  above;

(D) as to the incumbency and specimen signature of each officer or other duly authorized person executing any Loan Document or any other document delivered in connection herewith on behalf of such Loan Party; and

(E) as to the absence of any pending proceeding for the dissolution or liquidation of such Loan Party or, to the knowledge of such person, threatening the existence of such Loan Party;

(iii) a certification of another officer or other duly authorized person as to the incumbency and specimen signature of the Secretary or Assistant Secretary or similar officer or other person duly authorized by such Loan Party executing the certificate pursuant to clause (ii)  above; and

(iv) such other documents as the Administrative Agent on the Closing Date may reasonably request (including tax identification numbers and addresses).

(e) The elements of the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement required to be satisfied on the Closing Date shall have been satisfied and the Administrative Agent shall have received a completed Perfection Certificate dated the Closing Date and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower, together with all attachments contemplated thereby, and the results of a search of the Uniform Commercial Code (or equivalent) filings made with respect to the Loan Parties and evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent that the Liens indicated by such filings (or similar documents) are permitted by Section 6.02 or have been released; provided , that, to the extent that it is not practicable (i) for the Foreign Subsidiaries set forth on Schedule 4.02(e) to satisfy any of paragraphs (a)  and/or (b)  of the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement, to the extent that

 

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such paragraphs are set forth with respect to such Foreign Subsidiary on Schedule 4.02(e) , (ii) to perfect any security interest in the Equity Interests or assets of a Foreign Subsidiary set forth on Schedule 4.02(e) as provided in the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement or (iii) to deliver an opinion of counsel relating to clause (i) or (ii)  above, in each case, prior to the Closing Date, such requirements may be satisfied after the Closing Date in accordance with Section 5.11(h) .

(f) The Acquisition contemplated by the Purchase Agreement to be consummated on the Closing Date shall be consummated prior to or simultaneously with the closing under this Agreement (but in any event on the Closing Date) in accordance with applicable law and the terms and conditions of the Purchase Agreement.

(g) The Equity Financing shall have been consummated prior to or simultaneously with the closing under this Agreement (but in any event on the Closing Date) in accordance with applicable law and the terms and conditions of the Equity Financing Documents.

(h) The Borrower shall have received not less than (i) $266,387,400 in gross cash proceeds from the issuance of the Senior Notes and (ii) $383,612,600 in gross cash proceeds from either (A) the Bridge Financing or (B) the issuance of Senior Subordinated Notes (as contemplated by clause (c)  of the definition of “ Senior Subordinated Notes ”).

(i) On the Closing Date, after giving effect to the Transactions and the other transactions contemplated hereby, Holdings, the Borrower and the Subsidiaries shall have outstanding no Indebtedness or preferred Equity Interests other than (i) Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 6.01 , (ii) in the case of Holdings, Guarantees of Indebtedness under the Loan Documents and Guarantees of the Bridge Financing, and (iii) the Seller Preferred Equity of Holdings.

(j) The Arrangers shall have received (a) a solvency opinion in form and substance and from Murray, Devine & Co., Inc. or another independent investment bank or valuation firm reasonably satisfactory to the Joint Lead Arrangers to the effect that, or (b) a customary certificate from a Responsible Officer of the Borrower certifying that Holdings and its subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis after giving effect to the Transactions and the other transactions contemplated hereby, are solvent.

(k) All requisite governmental authorities and third parties shall have approved or consented to the Transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement to the extent required by the Purchase Agreement and the Loan Documents to be consummated on the Closing Date to the extent required and material, all applicable appeal periods shall have expired and there shall be no litigation, governmental, administrative or judicial action, actual or threatened, that would reasonably be expected to restrain, prevent or impose burdensome conditions on the Transactions or the other transactions contemplated hereby.

(l) The Agents shall have received all fees payable thereto or to any Lender on or prior to the Closing Date and, to the extent invoiced, all other amounts due and

 

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payable pursuant to the Loan Documents on or prior to the Closing Date, including, to the extent invoiced, reimbursement or payment of all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses (including reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of Shearman & Sterling LLP and U.S. and local and foreign counsel) required to be reimbursed or paid by the Loan Parties hereunder or under any Loan Document.

(m) The Administrative Agent shall have received insurance certificates satisfying the requirements of Section 5.02 of this Agreement.

ARTICLE V

Affirmative Covenants

Each of Holdings (solely with respect to Section 5.01(a) and Section 5.06 ) and the Borrower covenants and agrees with each Lender that so long as this Agreement shall remain in effect (other than in respect of contingent indemnification obligations) and until the Commitments have been terminated and the principal of and interest on each Loan, all Fees and all other expenses or amounts payable under any Loan Document shall have been paid in full and all Letters of Credit have been canceled or have expired and all amounts drawn thereunder have been reimbursed in full, unless the Required Lenders shall otherwise consent in writing, each of Holdings (solely with respect to Section 5.01(a) and Section 5.06 ) and the Borrower will, and will cause each of the Material Subsidiaries to:

SECTION 5.01. Existence; Businesses and Properties . (a) Do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve, renew and keep in full force and effect its legal existence, (i) except as otherwise expressly permitted under Section 6.05 , and (ii) except for the liquidation or dissolution of Subsidiaries if the assets of such Subsidiaries to the extent they exceed estimated liabilities are acquired by the Borrower or a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Borrower in such liquidation or dissolution; provided , that Subsidiaries that are Subsidiary Loan Parties may not be liquidated into Subsidiaries that are not Subsidiary Loan Parties unless such liquidation is otherwise permitted by Section 6.05(b) .

(b) Do or cause to be done all things necessary to (i) obtain, preserve, renew, extend and keep in full force and effect the permits, franchises, authorizations, patents, trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights, licenses and rights with respect thereto necessary to the normal conduct of its business, unless the failure to do so would not result, in each case, in a Material Adverse Effect, (ii) comply in all material respects with all material applicable laws, rules, regulations (including any zoning, building, ordinance, code or approval or any building permits or any restrictions of record or agreements affecting the Mortgaged Properties) and judgments, writs, injunctions, decrees and orders of any Governmental Authority, whether now in effect or hereafter enacted, and (iii) at all times maintain and preserve all material property necessary to the normal conduct of its business and keep such property in good repair, working order and condition and from time to time make, or cause to be made, all needful and proper repairs, renewals, additions, improvements and replacements thereto necessary in order that the business carried on in connection therewith, if any, may be properly conducted at all times (in each case except as expressly permitted by this Agreement).

 

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SECTION 5.02. Insurance . (a) Keep its insurable properties insured at all times by financially sound and reputable insurers in such amounts as shall be customary for similar businesses and maintain such other reasonable insurance (including, to the extent consistent with past practices, self-insurance), of such types, to such extent and against such risks, as is customary with companies in the same or similar businesses, taking into account the general degree to which such companies are leveraged, and maintain such other insurance as may be required by law or any other Loan Document.

(b) Cause all such property and property casualty insurance policies to be endorsed or otherwise amended to include appropriate loss payable endorsements, including, with respect to Mortgaged Properties, a “ standard ” or “ New York ” lender’s loss payable endorsement, in each case, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, which endorsement shall provide that, from and after the Closing Date, if the insurance carrier shall have received written notice from the Administrative Agent of the occurrence of an Event of Default, the insurance carrier shall pay all proceeds otherwise payable to the Borrower or the other Loan Parties under such policies directly to the Administrative Agent; cause all such policies to provide that none of the Borrower, the Administrative Agent or any other party shall be a coinsurer thereunder and to contain a “ Replacement Cost Endorsement ,” without any deduction for depreciation, and such other provisions as the Administrative Agent may reasonably (in light of a Default or a material development in respect of the insured property) require from time to time to protect their interests; deliver original or certified copies of all such policies or a certificate of an insurance broker to the Administrative Agent; cause each such policy to provide that it shall not be canceled, lapsed (including for nonrenewal) or terminated upon less than 30 days’ prior written notice (or 10 days’ prior written notice in the case of any failure to pay any premium due thereunder) thereof by the insurer to the Administrative Agent; deliver to the Administrative Agent, prior to the cancellation, lapse (including for nonrenewal) or termination of any such policy of insurance, a copy of a renewal or replacement policy (or other evidence of renewal of a policy previously delivered to the Administrative Agent), or insurance certificate with respect thereto, together with evidence satisfactory to the Administrative Agent of payment of the premium therefor.

(c) Notify the Administrative Agent promptly whenever any separate insurance concurrent in form or contributing in the event of loss with that required to be maintained under this Section 5.02 is taken out by Holdings, the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries; and promptly deliver to the Administrative Agent a duplicate original copy of such policy or policies, or an insurance certificate with respect thereto.

(d) In connection with the covenants set forth in this Section 5.02 , it is understood and agreed that:

(i) none of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders, the Issuing Bank and their respective agents or employees shall be liable for any loss or damage insured by the insurance policies required to be maintained under this Section 5.02 , it being understood that (A) the Loan Parties shall look solely to their insurance companies or any other parties other than the aforesaid parties for the recovery of such loss or damage and (B) such insurance companies shall have no rights of subrogation against the Administrative Agent, the Lenders, any Issuing Bank or their agents or employees. If, however, the

 

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insurance policies, as a matter of the internal policy of such insurer, do not provide waiver of subrogation rights against such parties, as required above, then each of Holdings and the Borrower, on behalf of itself and behalf of each of its subsidiaries, hereby agrees, to the extent permitted by law, to waive, and further agrees to cause each of their Subsidiaries to waive, its right of recovery, if any, against the Administrative Agent, the Lenders, any Issuing Bank and their agents and employees; and

(ii) the designation of any form, type or amount of insurance coverage by the Administrative Agent under this Section 5.02 shall in no event be deemed a representation, warranty or advice by the Administrative Agent or the Lenders that such insurance is adequate for the purposes of the business of Holdings, the Borrower and the Subsidiaries or the protection of their properties.

SECTION 5.03. Taxes . Pay and discharge promptly when due all material Taxes, assessments and governmental charges or levies imposed upon it or upon its income or profits or in respect of its property, before the same shall become delinquent or in default, as well as all lawful claims for labor, materials and supplies or otherwise that, if unpaid, might give rise to a Lien upon such properties or any part thereof; provided , however , that such payment and discharge shall not be required with respect to any such Tax, assessment, charge, levy or claim so long as (a) the validity or amount thereof shall be contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, (b) Holdings, the Borrower or the affected Subsidiary, as applicable, shall have set aside on its books adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP with respect thereto, and (c) the failure to make such payment and discharge could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 5.04. Financial Statements, Reports, etc . Furnish to the Administrative Agent (which will promptly furnish such information to the Lenders):

(a) within 90 days (or, if applicable, such shorter period as the SEC shall specify for the filing of Annual Reports on Form 10-K or, if applicable, such longer period permitted under Rule 12b-25 under the Exchange Act) after the end of each fiscal year, (i) a consolidated balance sheet and related statements of operations, cash flows and owners’ equity showing the financial position of the Borrower and its subsidiaries as of the close of such fiscal year and the consolidated results of its operations during such year and, commencing with the fiscal year ending December 31, 2005, setting forth in comparative form the corresponding figures for the prior fiscal year, and (ii) management’s discussion and analysis of significant operational and financial developments during such fiscal year, which consolidated balance sheet and related statements of operations, cash flows and owners’ equity shall be audited by independent public accountants of recognized national standing and accompanied by an opinion of such accountants (which shall not be qualified in any material respect) to the effect that such consolidated financial statements fairly present, in all material respects, the financial position and results of operations of the Borrower and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP (it being understood that the delivery by the Borrower of Annual Reports on Form 10-K of the Borrower and its consolidated subsidiaries shall satisfy the requirements of this Section 5.04(a) to the extent such Annual Reports include the information specified herein);

 

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(b) within 45 days (or, if applicable, such shorter period as the SEC shall specify for the filing of Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q or, if applicable, such longer period permitted under Rule 12b-25 under the Exchange Act) after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year, commencing with the fiscal quarter ending September 30, 2005 (it being agreed that (x) the deliverables under this clause (b) in respect of the fiscal quarter ending September 30, 2005 shall not be required to be furnished until the 75 th day following September 30, 2005, solely to the extent permitted under the Senior Notes Indenture at such time, and (y) such deliverables shall be furnished no later than the date such requirements are complied with under the Senior Notes Indenture), (i) a consolidated balance sheet and related statements of operations and cash flows showing the financial position of the Borrower and its subsidiaries as of the close of such fiscal quarter and the consolidated results of its operations during such fiscal quarter and the then-elapsed portion of the fiscal year and setting forth in comparative form the corresponding figures for the corresponding periods of the prior fiscal year, and (ii) management’s discussion and analysis of significant operational and financial developments during such quarterly period, all of which shall be in reasonable detail and which consolidated balance sheet and related statements of operations and cash flows shall be certified by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower on behalf of the Borrower as fairly presenting, in all material respects, the financial position and results of operations of the Borrower and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP (subject to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes (it being understood that the delivery by the Borrower of Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q of the Borrower and its consolidated subsidiaries shall satisfy the requirements of this Section 5.04(b) to the extent such Quarterly Reports include the information specified herein);

(c) (i) concurrently with any delivery of financial statements under paragraph (a)  or (b)  above, a certificate of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower (A) certifying that no Event of Default or Default has occurred or, if such an Event of Default or Default has occurred, specifying the nature and extent thereof and any corrective action taken or proposed to be taken with respect thereto, (B) commencing with the fiscal period ending March 31, 2006, setting forth computations of the Consolidated Leverage Ratio in reasonable detail as of the end of the applicable fiscal period, (C) commencing with the fiscal period ending March 31, 2006, setting forth computations in reasonable detail demonstrating compliance with the covenants contained in Sections 6.10 and 6.11 , and (D) setting forth the calculation and uses of Available Free Cash Flow Amount for the fiscal period then ended if the Borrower shall have used the Available Free Cash Flow Amount for any purpose during such fiscal period, and (ii) concurrently with any delivery of financial statements under paragraph (a)  above, a certificate of the accounting firm opining on or certifying such statements stating whether they obtained knowledge during the course of their examination of such statements of any Default or Event of Default (which certificate may be limited to accounting matters and disclaims responsibility for legal interpretations);

(d) promptly after the same become publicly available, copies of all periodic and other publicly available reports, proxy statements and, to the extent requested by the Administrative Agent, other reports and statements filed by Holdings, the Borrower or

 

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any of its subsidiaries with the SEC, or after an initial public offering, distributed to its stockholders generally, as applicable; provided , however , that such reports, proxy statements, filings and other materials required to be delivered pursuant to this clause (d)  shall be deemed delivered for purposes of this Agreement when posted to the website of the Borrower or any website operated by the SEC containing “EDGAR” database information;

(e) if, as a result of any change in accounting principles and policies from those applied in the preparation of the financial statements referred to in Section 3.05(a)(ii) for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004, the consolidated financial statements of the Borrower and its subsidiaries delivered pursuant to paragraph (a)  above will differ in any material respect from the consolidated financial statements that would have been delivered pursuant to such clauses had no such change in accounting principles and policies been made, then, together with the first delivery of financial statements pursuant to paragraph (a)  above following such change, a schedule prepared by a Responsible Officer on behalf of the Borrower reconciling such changes to what the financial statements would have been without such changes;

(f) within 90 days after the beginning of each fiscal year, a detailed consolidated quarterly budget for such fiscal year and, as soon as available, significant revisions, if any, of such budget and quarterly projections with respect to such fiscal year, including a description of underlying assumptions with respect thereto (collectively, the “ Budget ”);

(g) upon the reasonable request of the Administrative Agent, an updated Perfection Certificate (or, to the extent such request relates to specified information contained in the Perfection Certificate, such information) reflecting all changes since the date of the information most recently received pursuant to this paragraph (g)  or Section 5.11(f) ;

(h) promptly, a copy of all reports submitted to the Board of Directors (or any committee thereof) of any of Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary in connection with any material interim or special audit made by independent accountants of the books of Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary;

(i) promptly, from time to time, such other information regarding the operations, business affairs and financial condition of Holdings, the Borrower or any of its subsidiaries, or compliance with the terms of any Loan Document, or such consolidating financial statements, as in each case the Administrative Agent may reasonably request (for itself or on behalf of any Lender); and

(j) promptly upon request by the Administrative Agent, copies of: (i) each Schedule B (Actuarial Information) to the most recent annual report (Form 5500 Series) filed with the Internal Revenue Service with respect to a Plan; (ii) the most recent actuarial valuation report for any Plan; (iii) all notices received from a Multiemployer Plan sponsor, a plan administrator or any governmental agency, or provided to any Multiemployer Plan by Holdings, the Borrower, a Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate,

 

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concerning an ERISA Event; and (iv) such other documents or governmental reports or filings relating to any Plan or Multiemployer Plan as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request.

SECTION 5.05. Litigation and Other Notices . Furnish to the Administrative Agent written notice of the following promptly after any Responsible Officer of Holdings or the Borrower obtains actual knowledge thereof:

(a) any Event of Default or Default, specifying the nature and extent thereof and the corrective action (if any) proposed to be taken with respect thereto;

(b) the filing or commencement of, or any written threat or notice of intention of any person to file or commence, any action, suit or proceeding, whether at law or in equity or by or before any Governmental Authority or in arbitration, against Holdings, the Borrower or any of its subsidiaries as to which an adverse determination is reasonably probable and that, if adversely determined, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

(c) any other development specific to Holdings, the Borrower or any of its subsidiaries that is not a matter of general public knowledge and that has had, or could reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect; and

(d) the development of any ERISA Event that, together with all other ERISA Events that have developed or occurred, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 5.06. Compliance with Laws . Comply with all laws, rules, regulations and orders of any Governmental Authority applicable to it or its property, except where the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; provided , that this Section 5.06 shall not apply to Environmental Laws, which are the subject of Section 5.10 , or to laws related to Taxes, which are the subject of Section 5.03 .

SECTION 5.07. Maintaining Records; Access to Properties and Inspections . Maintain all financial records in accordance with GAAP and permit any persons designated by the Administrative Agent or, upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, any Lender to visit and inspect the financial records and the properties of Holdings, the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries at reasonable times, upon reasonable prior notice to Holdings or the Borrower, and as often as reasonably requested and to make extracts from and copies of such financial records, and permit any persons designated by the Administrative Agent or, upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, any Lender upon reasonable prior notice to Holdings or the Borrower to discuss the affairs, finances and condition of Holdings, the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries with the officers thereof and independent accountants therefor (subject to reasonable requirements of confidentiality, including requirements imposed by law or by contract).

SECTION 5.08. Payment of Obligations . Pay its material Indebtedness and other material obligations, including material Tax liabilities, before the same shall become delinquent or in default, except where (a) the validity or amount thereof is being contested in good faith by

 

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appropriate proceedings, (b) the Borrower or such Subsidiary has set aside on its books adequate reserves with respect thereto in accordance with GAAP, and (c) the failure to make such payment could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 5.09. Use of Proceeds . Use the proceeds of the Loans and the Letters of Credit only as contemplated in Section 3.12 .

SECTION 5.10. Compliance with Environmental Laws . Comply with all Environmental Laws applicable to its operations and properties; and comply with and obtain and renew all material permits, licenses and other approvals required pursuant to Environmental Law for its operations and properties, except, in each case with respect to this Section 5.10 , to the extent the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 5.11. Further Assurances; Additional Security . (a) Execute any and all further documents, financing statements, agreements and instruments, and take all such further actions (including the filing and recording of financing statements, fixture filings, Mortgages and other documents and recordings of Liens in stock registries), that may be required under any applicable law, or that the Administrative Agent may reasonably request, to cause the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement to be and remain satisfied, all at the expense of the Loan Parties, and provide to the Administrative Agent, from time to time upon reasonable request, evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent as to the perfection and priority of the Liens created or intended to be created by the Security Documents.

(b) If any asset (including any real property (other than real property covered by Section 5.11(c) below) or improvements thereto or any interest therein) that has an individual Fair Market Value in an amount, or if purchase price therefor is, greater than $2,500,000 is acquired by Holdings, the Borrower or any other Loan Party after the Closing Date or owned by an entity at the time it becomes a Subsidiary Loan Party (in each case other than assets constituting Collateral under a Security Document that become subject to the Lien of such Security Document upon acquisition thereof and other than assets that (i) are subject to secured financing arrangements containing restrictions permitted by Section 6.09(c) pursuant to which a Lien on such assets securing the Obligations is not permitted or (ii) are not required to become subject to the Liens of the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 5.11(g) or the Security Documents), cause such asset to be subjected to a Lien securing the Obligations pursuant to appropriate Security Documents and take, and cause the Subsidiary Loan Parties to take, such actions as shall be necessary or reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent to grant and perfect such Liens, including actions described in paragraph (a)  of this Section 5.11 , all at the expense of the Loan Parties, subject to paragraph (g)  below.

(c) Promptly notify the Administrative Agent of the acquisition of, and, upon the written request of the Administrative Agent, grant and cause each of the Subsidiary Loan Parties to grant to the Administrative Agent security interests and mortgages in, such real property of the Borrower or any such Subsidiary Loan Parties as are not covered by the original Mortgages (other than assets that (i) are subject to permitted secured financing arrangements containing restrictions permitted by Section 6.09(c) , pursuant to which a Lien on such assets securing the Obligations is not permitted or (ii) are not required to become subject to the Liens of

 

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the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 5.11(g) or the Security Documents), to the extent acquired after the Closing Date and having a value or purchase price at the time of acquisition in excess of $2,500,000 pursuant to documentation in such form as is reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (each, an “ Additional Mortgage ”) and constituting valid and enforceable perfected Liens superior to and prior to the rights of all third persons subject to no other Liens except as are permitted by Section 6.02 or arising by operation of law, at the time of perfection thereof, record or file, and cause each such Subsidiary to record or file, the Additional Mortgage or instruments related thereto in such manner and in such places as is required by law to establish, perfect, preserve and protect the Liens in favor of the Administrative Agent required to be granted pursuant to the Additional Mortgages and pay, and cause each such Subsidiary to pay, in full, all Taxes, fees and other charges payable in connection therewith, in each case subject to paragraph (g)  below. With respect to each such Additional Mortgage, the Borrower shall deliver, or cause the applicable Subsidiary Loan Party to deliver, to the Administrative Agent contemporaneously therewith a title insurance policy or policies or marked up unconditional binder of title insurance, paid for by the Borrower or the applicable Loan Party, issued by a nationally recognized title insurance company insuring the Lien of each such Mortgage as a valid first Lien on the Mortgaged Property described therein, free of any other Liens except as expressly permitted by Section 6.02 and Liens arising by operation of law, together with such endorsements, coinsurance and reinsurance as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request and a survey if reasonably available with respect to property outside the United States.

(d) In connection with (i) the formation or acquisition of any direct or indirect Domestic Subsidiary of Holdings or the Borrower or any direct Foreign Subsidiary of any Loan Party or (ii) any existing direct or indirect subsidiary of Holdings or the Borrower becoming a Subsidiary Loan Party, within ten Business Days after the date of such formation, acquisition or Subsidiary becoming a Subsidiary Loan Party, notify the Administrative Agent and the Lenders thereof and, within 20 Business Days after such date or such longer period as the Administrative Agent shall agree, cause the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement to be satisfied with respect to such subsidiary and with respect to any Equity Interest in or Indebtedness of such subsidiary owned by or on behalf of any Loan Party, subject to Section 5.11(g) .

(e) If any newly formed or acquired or any existing subsidiary of Holdings or the Borrower becomes a “ first tier ” Foreign Subsidiary that is a Material Subsidiary of any Loan Party, within ten Business Days after the date such subsidiary becomes such a “ first tier ” Foreign Subsidiary, notify the Administrative Agent and the Lenders thereof and, within 20 Business Days after such date or such longer period as the Administrative Agent shall agree (or such later date as may be the first practicable date because of delays caused by foreign legal requirements, despite diligent efforts on the part of the Loan Parties), cause the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement to be satisfied with respect to any Equity Interest in such subsidiary owned by or on behalf of any Loan Party, subject to Section 5.11(g) .

(f) (i) Furnish to the Administrative Agent prompt written notice of any change (A) in any Loan Party’s corporate or organization name, (B) in any Loan Party’s identity or organizational structure or (C) in any Loan Party’s organizational identification number; provided, that the Borrower shall not effect or permit any such change unless all filings have been made, or will have been made within any statutory period, under the Uniform Commercial Code or otherwise that are required in order for the Administrative Agent to continue at all times

 

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following such change to have a valid, legal and perfected security interest in all the Collateral for the benefit of the applicable Secured Parties (to the extent intended to be created by the Security Documents) and (ii) promptly notify the Administrative Agent if any material portion of the Collateral is damaged or destroyed.

(g) The Collateral and Guarantee Requirement and the other provisions of this Section 5.11 need not be satisfied with respect to (i) any real property held by the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries as a lessee under a lease, (ii) any Equity Interests acquired after the Closing Date in accordance with this Agreement if, and to the extent that, and for so long as (A) such Equity Interests constitute less 100% of all applicable Equity Interests of such person and the persons holding the remainder of such Equity Interests are not Affiliates, (B) doing so would violate or require a consent (that could not be readily obtained without undue burden on the Loan Parties) under applicable law or regulations or a contractual obligation binding on such Equity Interests, including with regard to any Insurance Subsidiary and any future Banking Subsidiary and (C) such law or obligation existed at the time of the acquisition thereof and was not created or made binding on such Equity Interests in contemplation of or in connection with the acquisition of such Equity Interests, (iii) any assets acquired after the Closing Date, to the extent that, and for so long as, taking such actions would violate a contractual obligation binding on such assets that existed at the time of the acquisition thereof and was not created or made binding on such assets in contemplation or in connection with the acquisition of such assets (except in the case of assets acquired with Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 6.01(i) that is secured by a Lien permitted pursuant to Section 6.02(i) or (j)  and (iv) any Subsidiary or asset with respect to which the Administrative Agent determines that the cost of the satisfaction of the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement or the provisions of this Section 5.11 with respect thereto exceeds the value of the security afforded thereby; provided , that, upon the reasonable request of the Administrative Agent, Holdings and the Borrower shall, and shall cause any applicable Subsidiary to, use commercially reasonable efforts to have waived or eliminated any contractual obligation of the types described in clauses (ii)  and (iii)  above.

(h) In the event that any requirement set forth in Section 4.02(e) (without giving effect to the proviso thereof) has not been satisfied in full on or prior to the Closing Date, cause such requirement to be satisfied as promptly as practicable after the Closing Date and, in any event, cause all such requirements to be satisfied not later than 90 days following the Closing Date (or such later date, based on successive periods of 90 days, as the Administrative Agent may agree because of delays despite diligent efforts, but in no event later than 360 days after the Closing Date).

SECTION 5.12. Fiscal Year; Accounting . In the case of the Borrower, cause its fiscal year to end on December 31.

SECTION 5.13. Rating . In the case of the Borrower, use commercially reasonable efforts to maintain ratings from each of Moody’s and S&P for the Term Loans.

SECTION 5.14. Lender Meetings . In the case of the Borrower, upon the request of the Administrative Agent, participate in a meeting of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders once during each fiscal year to be held at such time and location as may be agreed upon by the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.

 

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SECTION 5.15. Compliance with Material Contracts . Perform and observe all of the terms and conditions of each material agreement to be performed or observed by it, maintain each such material agreement in full force and effect, enforce each such material agreement in accordance with its terms, except where the failure to do so, either individually or in the aggregate, could not be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.

ARTICLE VI

Negative Covenants

Each of Holdings (solely with respect to Sections 6.08(b) and 6.09 ) and the Borrower covenants and agrees with each Lender that, so long as this Agreement shall remain in effect (other than in respect of contingent indemnification obligations) and until the Commitments have been terminated and the principal of and interest on each Loan, all Fees and all other expenses or amounts payable under any Loan Document have been paid in full and all Letters of Credit have been canceled or have expired and all amounts drawn thereunder have been reimbursed in full, unless the Required Lenders shall otherwise consent in writing, Holdings will not (solely with respect to Sections 6.08(b) and 6.09 ) and the Borrower will not, and will not cause or permit any of the Material Subsidiaries to:

SECTION 6.01. Indebtedness . Incur, create, assume or permit to exist any Indebtedness, except:

(a) Indebtedness (other than intercompany Indebtedness) of the Subsidiaries existing, or incurred pursuant to facilities existing, on the Closing Date and set forth on Schedule 6.01 and any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to Refinance such Indebtedness or, without duplication, replacements of such facilities that would constitute Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness with respect to such facilities if all Indebtedness available to be incurred thereunder were outstanding on the date of such replacement;

(b) Indebtedness created hereunder and under the other Loan Documents;

(c) Indebtedness of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries pursuant to Swap Agreements permitted by Section 6.12 ;

(d) Indebtedness of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries owed to (including obligations in respect of letters of credit or bank guarantees or similar instruments for the benefit of) any person providing workers’ compensation, health, disability or other employee benefits or property, casualty or liability insurance to the Borrower or any Subsidiary, pursuant to reimbursement or indemnification obligations to such person, in each case, provided in the ordinary course of business; provided , that upon the incurrence of Indebtedness with respect to reimbursement obligations regarding workers’ compensation claims, such obligations are reimbursed not later than 30 days following such incurrence;

(e) Indebtedness of the Borrower to any Subsidiary and of any Subsidiary to the Borrower or any other Subsidiary; provided , that (i) Indebtedness of any Subsidiary

 

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that is not a Subsidiary Loan Party owing to the Borrower or any Subsidiary Loan Party shall be subject to Section 6.04(b) , and (ii) Indebtedness of the Borrower to any Subsidiary and Indebtedness of any other Loan Party to any Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Loan Party shall be subordinated to the Obligations on terms reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent;

(f) Indebtedness of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries in respect of performance bonds, bid bonds, appeal bonds, surety bonds and completion guarantees and similar obligations, in each case, reasonably required in the conduct of the business (giving effect to any growth or expansion of such business permitted hereunder), including those incurred to secure health, safety, insurance and environmental obligations of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as conducted in accordance with good and prudent business industry practice and otherwise as permitted by the Loan Documents;

(g) Indebtedness arising from the honoring by a bank or other financial institution of a check, draft or similar instrument drawn against insufficient funds in the ordinary course of business or other cash management services in the ordinary course of business; provided , that (i) such Indebtedness (other than credit or purchase cards) is extinguished within 10 Business Days of notification to the Borrower of its incurrence and (ii) such Indebtedness in respect of credit or purchase cards is extinguished within 60 days from its incurrence;

(h) (i) Indebtedness of a Subsidiary acquired after the Closing Date or a person merged into or consolidated with the Borrower or any Subsidiary after the Closing Date and Indebtedness assumed in connection with the acquisition of assets, which Indebtedness, in each case, exists at the time of such acquisition, merger or consolidation and is not created in contemplation of such event and where such acquisition, merger or consolidation is permitted by this Agreement, and (ii) any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to Refinance such Indebtedness; provided , that the aggregate principal amount of such Indebtedness at the time of, and after giving effect to, such acquisition, merger or consolidation, such assumption or such incurrence, as applicable (together with Indebtedness outstanding pursuant to this paragraph (h)  or paragraph (i)  of this Section 6.01 and the Remaining Present Value of outstanding leases permitted under Section 6.03 ), would not exceed $95,000,000 in the aggregate;

(i) (i) Capital Lease Obligations, mortgage financings and purchase money Indebtedness incurred by the Borrower or any Subsidiary prior to or within 270 days after the acquisition, lease or improvement of the respective asset permitted under this Agreement in order to finance such acquisition or improvement, (ii) any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof, and (iii) Capital Lease Obligations incurred by the Borrower or any Subsidiary in respect of any Sale and Lease-Back Transaction that is permitted under Section 6.03 , collectively, in an aggregate principal amount that at the time of, and after giving effect to, the incurrence thereof (together with Indebtedness outstanding pursuant to paragraph (h)  of this Section 6.01 or this paragraph (i)  and the Remaining Present Value of leases permitted under Section 6.03 ) would not exceed $95,000,000 in the aggregate;

 

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(j) Indebtedness in respect of (i) the Senior Notes issued on the Closing Date, (ii) either (A) the Bridge Financing funded on the Closing Date and thereafter, any Senior Subordinated Notes issued in exchange therefor or to refinance the Bridge Financing, or (B) the Senior Subordinated Notes (as contemplated by clause (c)  of the definition of “ Senior Subordinated Notes ”) issued on the Closing Date, (iii) additional Senior Notes issued after the Closing Date yielding gross cash proceeds not to exceed $34,000,000 so long as, if any Bridge Financing is still outstanding, the net proceeds thereof are applied to prepay the Bridge Financing, (iv) any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to Refinance the Bridge Financing , and (v) after no Bridge Financing remains outstanding, any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to Refinance such Senior Notes or Senior Subordinated Notes;

(k) other Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, in an aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding pursuant to this paragraph (k)  not in excess of $90,000,000;

(l) Guarantees by the Borrower or any Subsidiary of any Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Subsidiary expressly permitted to be incurred under this Agreement; provided , that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 6.01 , (i) the Borrower and the Subsidiary Loan Parties shall not Guarantee the Indebtedness of any Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Loan Party unless such Guarantee is permitted under Section 6.04 , (ii) any Guarantees by the Borrower or any Subsidiary Loan Party under this Section 6.01(l) of any other Indebtedness of a person that is subordinated to other Indebtedness of such person shall be expressly subordinated to the Obligations on terms not less favorable to the Lenders than the subordination terms of such other Indebtedness, and (iii) no Subsidiary shall Guarantee the Senior Notes, the Bridge Financing or the Senior Subordinated Notes or any Indebtedness incurred under Section 6.01(s) or (t)  hereunder unless such Subsidiary is also a Subsidiary Loan Party in compliance with the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement;

(m) Indebtedness arising from agreements of the Borrower or any Subsidiary providing for indemnification, adjustment of purchase price or similar obligations, in each case, incurred or assumed in connection with the disposition of any business, assets or a Subsidiary, other than Guarantees of Indebtedness incurred by any person acquiring all or any portion of such business, assets or a Subsidiary for the purpose of financing such acquisition, in each case, to the extent such obligation or transaction is permitted by this Agreement;

(n) reimbursement and similar obligations of Subsidiaries in respect of letters of credit or bank guarantees (other than Letters of Credit issued pursuant to Section 2.05 ) having an aggregate face amount not in excess of $10,000,000;

(o) Indebtedness of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries supported by a Letter of Credit, in a principal amount not in excess of the stated amount of such Letter of Credit;

 

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(p) Indebtedness consisting of (x) the financing of insurance premiums or (y) take-or-pay obligations contained in supply arrangements, in each case, in the ordinary course of business;

(q) to the extent constituting Indebtedness, all premium (if any), interest (including post-petition interest), fees, expenses, charges and additional or contingent interest on Indebtedness otherwise permitted to be incurred pursuant to this Section 6.01 ;

(r) Indebtedness of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries incurred under lines of credit or overdraft facilities extended by one or more financial institutions reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent or by Lenders and, in each case, established for the Borrower’s and such Subsidiaries’ ordinary course of operations (such Indebtedness, the “ Overdraft Line ”), which Indebtedness may be secured as, but only to the extent, provided in Section 6.02(b) and in the Security Documents (it being understood, however, that for a period of 30 consecutive days during each fiscal year of the Borrower the outstanding principal amount of Indebtedness under the Overdraft Line shall not exceed $20,000,000);

(s) (i) Permitted Subordinated Indebtedness incurred by the Borrower or any Subsidiary; provided , that, (A) immediately after giving effect to the incurrence of such Permitted Subordinated Indebtedness on a Pro Forma Basis, the Senior Secured Bank Leverage Ratio shall not exceed 2.00 to 1.00, (B) at the time of the incurrence of such Permitted Subordinated Indebtedness and after giving effect thereto, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom, and (C) a Responsible Officer of the Borrower shall have delivered an officer’s certificate demonstrating the calculation of the Senior Secured Bank Leverage Ratio in form and detail reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, and (ii) Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof; provided , further , that (x) the Permitted Subordinated Indebtedness shall not be used to make, directly or indirectly, any Dividend unless immediately after giving effect to the incurrence of such Permitted Subordinated Indebtedness and payment of such Dividend on a Pro Forma Basis, the Senior Secured Bank Leverage Ratio shall not exceed 1.50 to 1.00, and (y) so long as any Bridge Financing is outstanding, all net proceeds of any such Permitted Subordinated Indebtedness shall be applied to repay the Bridge Financing and no Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness shall be permitted in respect of any Permitted Subordinated Indebtedness;

(t) (i) Permitted Senior Indebtedness incurred by the Borrower or any Subsidiary; provided , that, (A) immediately after giving effect to the incurrence of such Permitted Senior Indebtedness on a Pro Forma Basis, the Senior Secured Bank Leverage Ratio shall not exceed 2.00 to 1.00, (B) at the time of the incurrence of such Permitted Senior Indebtedness and after giving effect thereto, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom, and (C) a Responsible Officer of the Borrower shall have delivered an officer’s certificate demonstrating the calculation of the Senior Secured Bank Leverage Ratio in form and detail reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, and (ii) Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof; provided , further , that to the extent that the terms of such Indebtedness is

 

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permitted hereunder, any increase in the amount of such Indebtedness as a result of capitalized or paid-in-kind interest or accreted principal on such Indebtedness pursuant to such terms shall not constitute a further issuance or incurrence of Indebtedness for purposes of this Section 6.01(t) ; provided , further , that (x) the Permitted Senior Indebtedness shall not be used to make, directly or indirectly, any Dividend unless immediately after giving effect to the incurrence of such Permitted Subordinated Indebtedness and payment of such Dividend on a Pro Forma Basis, the Senior Secured Bank Leverage Ratio shall not exceed 1.50 to 1.00, and (y) so long as any Bridge Financing is outstanding, no Permitted Senior Indebtedness shall be issued or incurred and no Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness shall be permitted in respect of any Permitted Subordinated Indebtedness;

(u) deposits raised by any Material Subsidiary that is subject to state and/or federal banking regulations that constitute Indebtedness owing to such depositor and any discounts or borrowing by such Material Subsidiary;

(v) up to $25,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness of Foreign Subsidiaries that are not Loan Parties at any time outstanding; provided , that to the extent that the terms of such Indebtedness are permitted hereunder, any increase in the amount of such Indebtedness as a result of capitalized or paid-in-kind interest or accreted principal on such Indebtedness pursuant to such terms shall not constitute a further issuance or incurrence of Indebtedness for purposes of this Section 6.01(v) ; and

(w) Indebtedness incurred by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries to fund losses, damages, liabilities, claims, costs and expenses (including attorney’s fees, interest, penalties, judgments and settlements, collectively, “ Losses ”), by reason of any litigation disclosed in this Agreement (including the schedules hereto) or the Offering Circular, including the financial statements included therein, or relating to the same facts and circumstances as disclosed; provided , that, as certified in an Officer’s Certificate executed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower (i) the Borrower has provided to Cendant a notice in respect of such losses and has a reasonable good faith belief that it its entitled to be indemnified by Cendant pursuant to the Purchase Agreement in respect of such losses and (ii) the Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (w)  is in an amount equal to or less than the amount of the losses for which indemnification is claimed; provided , further , that (i) after 30 days of the Borrower receiving funds in satisfaction of such indemnity or (ii) if Cendant gives written notice to the Borrower or any Subsidiary Loan Party that it disputes the Borrower’s entitlement to such indemnity with respect to such losses and (A) such dispute is not challenged by the Borrower within 30 days of receipt of such notice or (B) there is a final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction confirming that the Borrower is not entitled to such indemnity, which judgment is not discharged, waived or stayed for a period of 60 days, any amounts incurred pursuant to this clause (w)  in respect of such indemnity that remain outstanding shall no longer be permitted under this clause (w)  and shall be deemed to be incurred on such date.

SECTION 6.02. Liens . Create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Lien on any property or assets (including stock or other securities of any person, including the Borrower or

 

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any Subsidiary of the Borrower) at the time owned by it or on any income or revenues or rights in respect of any thereof, except:

(a) Liens on property or assets of the Subsidiaries existing on the Closing Date and set forth on Schedule 6.02(a) ; provided , that (i) such Liens shall secure only those obligations that they secure on the Closing Date (and Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof permitted by Section 6.01(a) ) and shall not subsequently apply to any other property or assets of the Borrower or any Subsidiary and (ii) in the case of a Lien securing Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness, any such Lien is permitted, subject to compliance with clause (e)  of the definition of the term “ Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness ”;

(b) any Lien created under the Loan Documents or permitted in respect of any Mortgaged Property by the terms of the applicable Mortgage; provided , however , in no event shall the holders of the Indebtedness under the Overdraft Line have the right to receive proceeds in respect of a claim in excess of $20,000,000 in the aggregate, together with (i) any accrued and unpaid interest in respect of Indebtedness under the Overdraft Line and (ii) any accrued and unpaid fees and expenses owing by the Subsidiaries under the Overdraft Line from the enforcement of any remedies available to the Secured Parties under all of the Loan Documents;

(c) any Lien on any property or asset of the Borrower or any Subsidiary (i) securing Indebtedness or Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness permitted by Section 6.01(h) or (ii) acquired after the Closing Date in a transaction permitted by this Agreement; provided , that such Lien (A) does not apply to any other property or assets of Holdings, the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries not securing such Indebtedness or other obligations owing to the same financier as the financier of such Indebtedness or other obligations or to any person to which such financier has assigned such Indebtedness or other obligations, at the date of the acquisition of such property or asset (other than after acquired property subjected to a Lien securing Indebtedness incurred prior to such date and which Indebtedness is permitted hereunder, such Indebtedness owing to the same financier as the financier of such Indebtedness at the date of the acquisition, that require a pledge of after acquired property, it being understood that such requirement shall not be permitted to apply to any property to which such requirement would not have applied but for such acquisition), (B) such Lien is not created in contemplation of or in connection with such acquisition, (C) in the case of a Lien securing Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness, any such Lien is permitted, subject to compliance with clause (e)  of the definition of the term “ Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness ” and (D) in the case of clause (ii)  of this Section 6.02(c) , (x) after giving effect to any such Lien and the incurrence of Indebtedness, if any, secured by such Lien is created, incurred, acquired or assumed (or any prior Indebtedness becomes so secured) on a Pro Forma Basis, the Senior Secured Bank Leverage Ratio on the last day of the Borrower’s then most recently completed fiscal quarter for which financial statements are available shall be less than or equal to 2.75 to 1.00, (y) at the time of the incurrence of such Lien and after giving effect thereto, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom and (z) the Indebtedness or other obligations secured by such Lien are otherwise permitted by this Agreement;

 

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(d) Liens for Taxes, assessments or other governmental charges or levies not yet delinquent or that are being contested in compliance with Section 5.03 ;

(e) landlord’s, carriers’, warehousemen’s, mechanics’, materialmen’s, repairmen’s, construction or other like Liens arising in the ordinary course of business and securing obligations that are not overdue by more than 30 days or that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and in respect of which, if applicable, Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall have set aside on its books reserves in accordance with GAAP;

(f) (i) deposits and other Liens made in the ordinary course of business in compliance with the Federal Employers Liability Act or any other workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security laws or regulations and deposits securing liability to insurance carriers under insurance or self-insurance arrangements in respect of such obligations and (ii) deposits and other Liens securing liability for reimbursement or indemnification obligations of (including obligations in respect of letters of credit or bank guarantees for the benefit of) insurance carriers providing property, casualty or liability insurance to Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary;

(g) deposits and other Liens to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts (other than for Indebtedness), leases (other than Capital Lease Obligations), statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, performance and return of money bonds, bids, leases, government contracts, trade contracts, agreements with public utilities, and other obligations of a like nature (including letters of credit in lieu of any such bonds or to support the issuance thereof) incurred by Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business, including those incurred to secure health, safety, insurance and environmental obligations in the ordinary course of business;

(h) zoning restrictions, survey exceptions, easements, trackage rights, leases (other than Capital Lease Obligations), licenses, special assessments, rights-of-way, restrictions on or agreements dealing with the use of real property, servicing agreements, development agreements, site plan agreements and other similar encumbrances incurred in the ordinary course of business and title defects or irregularities that are of a minor nature and that, in the aggregate, do not interfere in any material respect with the ordinary conduct of the business of the Borrower or any Subsidiary;

(i) purchase money security interests in equipment or other property or improvements thereto hereafter acquired (or, in the case of improvements, constructed) by the Borrower or any Subsidiary (including the interests of vendors and lessors under conditional sale and title retention agreements); provided , that (i) such security interests secure Indebtedness permitted by Section 6.01(i) (including any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof), (ii) such security interests are incurred, and the Indebtedness secured thereby is created, within 270 days after such acquisition, (iii) the Indebtedness secured thereby does not exceed 100% of the cost of such equipment or other property or improvements at the time of such acquisition or construction, including transaction costs incurred by the Borrower or any Subsidiary in connection with such

 

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acquisition, and (iv) such security interests do not apply to any other property or assets of Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary (other than to accessions to such equipment or other property or improvements but not to other parts of the property to which any such improvements are made); provided , further , that individual financings of equipment provided by a single lender may be cross-collateralized to other financings of equipment provided solely by such lender; provided , further , that individual financings of equipment provided by a single lender may be cross-collateralized to other financings of equipment provided solely by such lender; provided , still further , that such security interest shall not be required to secure Indebtedness under Section 6.01(i) , if (A) after giving effect to any such Lien and the incurrence of Indebtedness secured by such Lien is created, incurred, acquired or assumed (or any prior Indebtedness becomes so secured) on a Pro Forma Basis, the Senior Secured Bank Leverage Ratio on the last day of the Borrower’s then most recently completed fiscal quarter for which financial statements are available shall be less than or equal to 3.00 to 1.00 (ii) at the time of the incurrence of such Lien and after giving effect thereto, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom, and (iii) the Indebtedness or other obligations secured by such Lien are otherwise permitted by this Agreement;

(j) Liens arising out of capitalized lease transactions permitted under Section 6.03 , so long as such Liens attach only to the property sold and being leased in such transaction and any accessions thereto or proceeds thereof and related property;

(k) Liens securing judgments that do not constitute an Event of Default under Section 7.01(j) ; provided , that such Liens, to the extent that they secure aggregate amounts of more than $30,000,000, shall be discharged within 60 days of the creation thereof;

(l) other Liens with respect to property or assets of the Borrower or any Subsidiary not constituting, or required to constitute, Collateral for the Obligations; provided that (i) after giving effect to any such Lien and the incurrence of Indebtedness, if any, secured by such Lien is created, incurred, acquired or assumed (or any prior Indebtedness becomes so secured) on a Pro Forma Basis, the Senior Secured Bank Leverage Ratio on the last day of the Borrower’s then most recently completed fiscal quarter for which financial statements are available shall be less than or equal to 3.00 to 1.00 (ii) at the time of the incurrence of such Lien and after giving effect thereto, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom, and (iii) the Indebtedness or other obligations secured by such Lien are otherwise permitted by this Agreement;

(m) Liens disclosed by the title insurance policies delivered on or subsequent to the Closing Date and pursuant to Section 5.11 and any replacement, extension or renewal of any such Lien; provided , that such replacement, extension or renewal Lien shall not cover any property other than the property that was subject to such Lien prior to such replacement, extension or renewal; provided , further , that the Indebtedness and other obligations secured by such replacement, extension or renewal Lien are permitted by this Agreement;

 

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(n) any interest or title of a lessor under any leases or subleases entered into by the Borrower or any Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business;

(o) Liens that are contractual rights of set-off (i) relating to the establishment of depository relations with banks not given in connection with the issuance of Indebtedness, (ii) relating to pooled deposit or sweep accounts of the Borrower or any Subsidiary to permit satisfaction of overdraft or similar obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries or (iii) relating to purchase orders and other agreements entered into with customers of the Borrower or any Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business;

(p) Liens arising solely by virtue of any statutory or common law provision relating to banker’s liens, rights of set-off or similar rights;

(q) Liens securing obligations in respect of trade-related letters of credit permitted under Section 6.01(f) , (k)  or (n)  and covering the goods (or the documents of title in respect of such goods) financed by such letters of credit and the proceeds and products thereof;

(r) licenses of intellectual property and software that are not material to the conduct of any of the business lines of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries and the value of which does not constitute a material portion of the assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and such license does not materially interfere with the ordinary course of conduct of the business of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries;

(s) 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;

(t) Liens on the assets of a Foreign Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party that secure Indebtedness of such Foreign Subsidiary that is permitted to be incurred under Section 6.01 ;

(u) Liens solely on any cash earnest money deposits made by the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries in connection with any letter of intent or purchase agreement permitted hereunder with respect to any acquisition that would constitute an Investment permitted by this Agreement;

(v) Liens arising out of consignment or similar arrangements for the sale of goods entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(w) Liens in favor of the Borrower or any Subsidiary Loan Party;

(x) Liens arising from precautionary Uniform Commercial Code financing statements or consignments entered into in connection with any transaction otherwise permitted under this Agreement;

(y) Liens of franchisors in the ordinary course of business not securing Indebtedness;

 

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(z) Liens on not more than $10,000,000 of deposits securing Swap Agreements permitted to be incurred under Section 6.12 ;

(aa) Liens securing insurance premium financing arrangements; provided , that such Liens are limited to the applicable unearned insurance premiums;

(bb) Liens incurred to secure cash management services in the ordinary course of business; provided , that such Liens are not incurred in connection with, and do not secure, any borrowings or Indebtedness;

(cc) deposits or other Liens with respect to property or assets of the Borrower or any Subsidiary; provided , that such property and assets shall have an aggregate fair market value (valued at the time of creation of the Liens) of not more than $15,000,000 at any time; and

(dd) leases and subleases not constituting Capital Lease Obligations of real property not material to the conduct of any business line of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries granted to others in the ordinary course of business that do not materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) no Liens shall be permitted to exist, directly or indirectly, on (a) Pledged Collateral and (b) any Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Subsidiary to the Borrower or a Domestic Subsidiary (unless such Indebtedness shall have become subject to a first-priority Lien securing the Obligations), other than Liens in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties and Liens permitted by Section 6.02(d) or (p) , and (ii) no Liens over any deposit account of the Borrower or any Subsidiary Loan Party not in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties other than Liens permitted by Section 6.02(b) , (d) , (f) , (g) , (k) , (o)(i) , (o)(ii) , (p)  or (bb) shall be perfected.

SECTION 6.03. Sale and Lease-Back Transactions . Enter into any arrangement, directly or indirectly, with any person whereby it shall sell or transfer any property, real or personal, used or useful in its business, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, and thereafter rent or lease such property or other property that it intends to use for substantially the same purpose or purposes as the property being sold or transferred (a “ Sale and Lease-Back Transaction ”); provided , that (a) a Sale and Lease-Back Transaction shall be permitted with respect to property (i) owned by the Borrower or any Domestic Subsidiary that is acquired after the Closing Date so long as such Sale and Lease-Back Transaction is consummated within 270 days of the acquisition of such property, or (ii) owned by any Foreign Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party regardless of when such property was acquired, and (b) at the time the lease in connection therewith is entered into, and after giving effect to the entering into of such lease, the Remaining Present Value of such lease (together with Indebtedness outstanding pursuant to paragraphs (h)  and (i)  of Section 6.01 and the Remaining Present Value of outstanding leases previously entered into under this Section 6.03 ) would not exceed $95,000,000 in the aggregate.

SECTION 6.04. Investments, Loans and Advances . Purchase, hold or acquire (including pursuant to any merger with a person that is not a Wholly Owned Subsidiary

 

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immediately prior to such merger) any Equity Interests, Indebtedness or other securities of, make or permit to exist any loans or advances to or Guarantees of the obligations of, or make or permit to exist any investment or any other interest in (each, an “ Investment ”), in any other person, except:

(a) Investments by Holdings in the Equity Interests of the Borrower at any time, which Equity Interests will constitute Pledged Collateral;

(b) (i) Investments by the Borrower or the Subsidiaries in the Equity Interests of the Subsidiaries effective as of the Closing Date as set forth on Schedule 6.04 and Investments by the Borrower and the Subsidiaries consisting of intercompany loans from the Borrower or any Subsidiary to the Borrower or any Subsidiary effective as of the Closing Date as set forth on Schedule 6.04 ; (ii) Investments by the Borrower or any Subsidiary Loan Party in any Subsidiary Loan Party; (iii) Investments by any Foreign Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Loan Party in any Foreign Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Loan Party; and (iv) Investments by the Borrower or any Subsidiary Loan Party in any Subsidiary not otherwise permitted in clause (ii)  above or in any Similar Business in an aggregate amount for all such Investments made or deemed made pursuant to this Section 6.04(b)(iv) not to exceed (A) the greater of (x) $95,000,000 and (y) 5% of Consolidated Total Assets plus (B) after an applicable Bridge Financing Covenant Release, an amount not to exceed the Available Free Cash Flow Amount on the date of such Investment as elected by the Borrower to be applied to this Section 6.04(b)(iv)(B) , such election to be specified in a written notice of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower calculating in reasonable detail the amount of Available Free Cash Flow Amount immediately prior to such election and the amount thereof elected to be so applied; provided , that intercompany current liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business in connection with the cash management operations shall not be included in calculating the limitation in this Section 6.04(b) at any time;

(c) Permitted Investments and Investments that were Permitted Investments when made;

(d) Investments arising out of the receipt by the Borrower or any Subsidiary of noncash consideration for the sale of assets permitted under Section 6.05 ;

(e) (i) loans and advances to employees of Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business not to exceed $15,000,000 in the aggregate at any time outstanding (calculated without regard to write-downs or write-offs thereof) and (ii) advances of payroll payments and expenses to employees in the ordinary course of business;

(f) (i) accounts receivable arising, and trade credit granted, in the ordinary course of business, (ii) any securities received in satisfaction or partial satisfaction of defaulted accounts receivable from financially troubled account debtors to the extent reasonably necessary in order to prevent or limit loss and (iii) any prepayments and other credits to suppliers made in the ordinary course of business;

 

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(g) Swap Agreements permitted pursuant to Section 6.12 ;

(h) Investments existing on the Closing Date and set forth on Schedule 6.04 ;

(i) Investments resulting from pledges and deposits referred to in Sections 6.02(f) , (g) , (k) , (s)  and (u) ;

(j) after an applicable Bridge Financing Covenant Release, additional Investments by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries having an aggregate Fair Market Value, taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this Section 6.04(j) that are at that time outstanding (after giving effect to the sale of Investments made pursuant to this Section 6.04(j) to the extent the proceeds of such sale received by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries consists of cash and Permitted Investments), not to exceed the greater of (x) $110,000,000 and (y) 5% of Consolidated Total Assets of the Borrower at the time of such Investment (with the Fair Market Value of each Investment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value);

(k) after an applicable Bridge Financing Covenant Release, Investments constituting Permitted Business Acquisitions;

(l) Investments consisting of the licensing or contribution of intellectual property pursuant to joint marketing arrangements with other persons;

(m) intercompany loans and other Investments between Foreign Subsidiaries that are not Loan Parties;

(n) Investments consisting of purchases and acquisitions of inventory, supplies, materials and equipment or purchases of contract rights or licenses or leases of intellectual property in each case in the ordinary course of business;

(o) the Acquisition;

(p) Investments received in connection with the bankruptcy or reorganization of, or settlement of delinquent accounts and disputes with or judgments against, customers and suppliers, in each case in the ordinary course of business or Investments acquired by the Borrower as a result of a foreclosure by the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries with respect to any secured Investments or other transfer of title with respect to any secured Investment in default;

(q) Investments of a Subsidiary acquired after the Closing Date or of a person merged into or consolidated with a Subsidiary in accordance with Section 6.05 after the Closing Date to the extent that (i) such acquisition, merger or consolidation is permitted under this Section 6.04 , (ii) such Investments were not made in contemplation of or in connection with such acquisition, merger or consolidation, and (iii) such Investments were in existence on the date of such acquisition, merger or consolidation; and

 

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(r) Investments received substantially contemporaneously in exchange for Equity Interests of Holdings; provided , that (i) no Change of Control would result therefrom, and (ii) such Equity Interests do not constitute Disqualified Stock;

(s) Investments in joint ventures not in excess of $15,000,000 in the aggregate;

(t) Guarantees by (i) the Borrower or any Subsidiary of operating leases (other than Capital Lease Obligations) or of other obligations that do not constitute Indebtedness, in each case, entered into by any Subsidiary Loan Party in the ordinary course of business and (ii) any Foreign Subsidiary of operating leases (other than Capital Lease Obligations) or of obligations that do not constitute Indebtedness, in each case, entered into by any Foreign Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business;

(u) Investments made with Excluded Contributions; provided , that if the Bridge Financing is outstanding, such Investments may only be made to the extent that the Bridge Financing is not required to be prepaid with such Excluded Contributions; and

(v) Investments in a Banking Subsidiary not in excess of $15,000,000.

The amount of Investments made or deemed made pursuant to Section 6.04(b)(iv) and Section 6.04(j) shall be valued at the time of the making thereof, and without giving effect to any write-downs or write-offs thereof, but after deducting any return of capital actually received by the Borrower or the respective Subsidiary Loan Parties in respect of investments or loans theretofore made after the Closing Date by them pursuant to such Sections or, in the case of Guarantees made by them pursuant to such Sections , after deducting any reduction in the amount thereof without having made payment thereunder.

SECTION 6.05. Mergers, Consolidations, Sales of Assets and Acquisitions . Merge into or consolidate with any other person, or permit any other person to merge into or consolidate with it, or sell, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of (in one transaction or in a series of transactions) all or any part of its assets (whether now owned or hereafter acquired), or issue, sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of any Equity Interests of any Subsidiary or purchase, lease or otherwise acquire (in one transaction or a series of transactions) all of any division, unit or business of any other person, except that this Section shall not prohibit:

(a) (i) the lease, purchase and sale of inventory in the ordinary course of business by the Borrower or any Subsidiary, (ii) the acquisition of any other asset in the ordinary course of business by the Borrower or any Subsidiary, (iii) the sale of obsolete or worn out equipment or other property in the ordinary course of business by the Borrower or any Subsidiary or (iv) the sale of Permitted Investments in the ordinary course of business;

(b) if at the time thereof and immediately thereafter no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom, (i) the merger of any Subsidiary into the Borrower in a transaction in which the Borrower is the survivor, (ii) the merger or consolidation of any Domestic Subsidiary into or with any Subsidiary Loan Party in a transaction in which the surviving or resulting entity is a Subsidiary Loan Party

 

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and, in the case of each of clauses (i)  and (ii) , no person other than the Borrower or Subsidiary Loan Party receives any consideration, (iii) the merger or consolidation of any Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Loan Party into or with any other Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Loan Party or (iv) the liquidation or dissolution or change in form of entity of any Subsidiary (other than the Borrower) in accordance with Section 5.01(a)(ii) if the Borrower determines in good faith that such liquidation, change in form or dissolution is in the best interests of the Borrower and is not materially disadvantageous to the Lenders;

(c) sales, transfers, leases or other dispositions to the Borrower or a Subsidiary Loan Party (upon voluntary liquidation or otherwise); provided , that any sales, transfers, leases or other dispositions by a Loan Party to a Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Loan Party shall be made in compliance with Section 6.07 and the aggregate gross proceeds of any such sales, transfers, leases or other dispositions plus the aggregate gross proceeds of any or all assets sold, transferred or leased in reliance upon paragraph (h)  below shall not exceed, in any fiscal year of the Borrower, the greater of $110,000,000 and 5% of Consolidated Total Assets as of the end of the immediately preceding fiscal year;

(d) Sale and Lease-Back Transactions permitted by Section 6.03 ;

(e) Investments permitted by Section 6.04 , Liens permitted by Section 6.02 and Dividends permitted by Section 6.06 ;

(f) any swap of assets in exchange for services or other assets in the ordinary course of business of comparable or greater value or usefulness to the business of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries as a whole, as determined in good faith by the management of the Borrower, which in the event of a swap with a Fair Market Value in excess of (x) $10,000,000 shall be evidenced by a certificate from a Responsible Officer of the Borrower and (y) $25,000,000 shall be set forth in a resolution approved in good faith by at least a majority of the Board of Directors of the Borrower;

(g) the sale of defaulted receivables in the ordinary course of business and not as part of an accounts receivables financing transaction;

(h) sales, transfers, leases or other dispositions of assets not otherwise permitted by this Section 6.05 ; provided , that the aggregate gross proceeds (including noncash proceeds) of any or all assets sold, transferred, leased or otherwise disposed of in reliance upon this paragraph (h) plus the aggregate gross amount of such proceeds in reliance upon clause (i)  in the proviso to Section 6.05(c) above shall not exceed, in any fiscal year of the Borrower, the greater of $110,000,000 and 5% of Consolidated Total Assets as of the end of the immediately preceding fiscal year; provided , further , that the Net Proceeds thereof are applied in accordance with Section 2.11(b) ;

(i) after an applicable Bridge Financing Covenant Release, any merger or consolidation in order to effect a Permitted Business Acquisition; provided , that following any such merger or consolidation (i) involving the Borrower, the Borrower is the surviving corporation, (ii) involving a Domestic Subsidiary, the surviving or resulting

 

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entity shall be a Subsidiary Loan Party that is a Wholly Owned Subsidiary and (iii) involving a Foreign Subsidiary, the surviving or resulting entity shall be a Wholly Owned Subsidiary;

(j) non-exclusive licensing and cross-licensing arrangements involving any technology or other intellectual property of the Borrower or any Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business and other licensing and cross-licensing arrangements involving any technology or other intellectual property of the Borrower or any Subsidiary that are not material to the conduct of any of the business lines of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries, and the value of which does not constitute a material portion of the assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and that are not material to the ordinary course of conduct of the business of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries;

(k) the lease, assignment or sublease of any real or personal property in the ordinary course of business;

(l) sales, leases or other dispositions of inventory, equipment or other assets (excluding Equity Interests, assets constituting a business division, unit, line of business, all or substantially all of the assets of any Material Subsidiary, Sale and Lease-Back Transactions and receivables) of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries determined by the management of the Borrower to be no longer useful or necessary in the operation of the business of the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries; provided , that the Net Proceeds thereof are applied in accordance with Section 2.11(b) ;

(m) the sale, transfer or other disposition by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries of the Netcentives Assets to Holdings or any Affiliate of Holdings on the Closing Date, including pursuant to Section 6.06(g) ;

(n) any Subsidiary Spin-off, to the extent Net Proceeds received are used to repay the Loans in accordance with Section 2.11(a) or, subject to Section 6.09(b)(i) , to repay or redeem the Bridge Financing, the Senior Notes or the Senior Subordinated Notes; and

(o) any sale of Equity Interests in, or other securities of, an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in Section 6.05 above, (i) no sale, transfer or other disposition of assets shall be permitted by this Section 6.05 (except as permitted to Loan Parties pursuant to Section 6.05(c) ) unless such disposition is for Fair Market Value, and (iii) no sale, transfer or other disposition of assets shall be permitted by paragraph (a) , (d) , (h)  or (l)  of this Section 6.05 unless such disposition is for at least 75% cash consideration; provided , that for purposes of clause (i) , the amount of any secured Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Subsidiary or other Indebtedness of a Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party (as shown on the Borrower’s or such Subsidiary’s most recent balance sheet or in the notes thereto) that is assumed by the transferee of any such assets shall be deemed to be cash.

SECTION 6.06. Dividends and Distributions . Declare or pay, directly or indirectly, any dividend or make, directly or indirectly, any other distribution (by reduction of

 

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capital or otherwise), whether in cash, property, securities or a combination thereof, with respect to any of its Equity Interests (other than dividends and distributions on Equity Interests payable solely by the issuance of additional Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the person paying such dividends or distributions) or directly or indirectly redeem, purchase, retire or otherwise acquire for value (or permit any subsidiary of the Borrower to purchase or acquire) any of its Equity Interests or set aside any amount for any such purpose (other than through the issuance of additional Equity Interests of the person redeeming, purchasing, retiring or acquiring such shares) (any of the foregoing dividends, distributions, redemptions, repurchases, retirements, other acquisitions or setting aside of amounts, “ Dividends ”); provided , however , that:

(a) (i) any Subsidiary may declare and pay dividends to, or make other distributions to, the Borrower or any Subsidiary that is a direct parent of such Subsidiary and, if not a Wholly Owned Subsidiary, to each other direct owner of Equity Interests of such Subsidiary on a pro rata basis (or more favorable basis from the perspective of the Borrower or such Subsidiary) based on their relative ownership interests; and (ii) to the extent permitted by Section 6.04 , any Subsidiary that is not a Wholly Owned Subsidiary may repurchase its Equity Interests from any owner of the Equity Interests of such Subsidiary that is not the Borrower or a Subsidiary;

(b) the Borrower may declare and pay dividends or make other distributions to Holdings in respect of (i) overhead, legal, accounting and other professional fees and expenses of Holdings and actual Tax liabilities of Holdings for the consolidated group of which Holdings is parent to the extent that Holdings, and not the Borrower, (A) files a consolidated U.S. federal tax return that includes the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in an amount not to exceed the amount that the Borrower and its Subsidiaries would have been required to pay in respect of federal, state or local taxes, as the case may be, in respect of such year if the Borrower and its Subsidiaries had paid such taxes directly as a stand-alone taxpayer or stand-alone group, and (B) actually pays, or will pay, as the consolidated tax payor, such taxes for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, it being agreed that if such dividends and distributions are paid to Holdings and Holdings does not make such consolidated tax payments on the date when the Borrower and its subsidiaries are required to pay such taxes, such failure shall be an Event of Default that shall continue until all such taxes are paid, (ii) fees and expenses related to any public offering or private placement of equity securities of Holdings that is not consummated and maintaining the corporate existence of the special purpose Unrestricted Subsidiary formed to own the Netcentives Assets, (iii) other fees and expenses in connection with the maintenance of its existence and its ownership of the Borrower, and (iv) after the earlier of the one-year anniversary of the Closing Date and the date on which no Bridge Financing remains outstanding, so long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom, in order to permit Holdings to make (A) payments permitted by Section 6.07(b) and (B) interest payments in respect of Indebtedness of Holdings permitted by Section 6.09(b) (other than Guarantees of Indebtedness of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries);

(c) the Borrower may declare and pay dividends or make other distributions to Holdings in order to enable Holdings may purchase or redeem Equity Interests of

 

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Holdings (including related stock appreciation rights or similar securities) held by then present or former directors, consultants, officers or employees of Holdings, the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries or by any Plan upon such person’s death, disability, retirement or termination of employment or under the terms of any such Plan or any other agreement under which such shares of stock or related rights were issued; provided , that the aggregate amount of dividends for such purchases or redemptions under this Section 6.06(c) shall not exceed (i) in any fiscal year (A) $12,500,000 (plus any amounts carried over from prior years, up to $25,000,000 in the aggregate) plus (B) Excluded Equity Proceeds received from directors, consultants, officers or employees of Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary in connection with permitted employee compensation and incentive arrangements as set forth in a certificate of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower, which, if not used in any fiscal year, may be carried forward to any fiscal calendar year, and (ii)amounts received in respect of key man life insurance policy proceeds;

(d) any person may make noncash repurchases of Equity Interests deemed to occur upon exercise of stock options if such Equity Interests represent a portion of the exercise price of such options;

(e) after an applicable Bridge Financing Covenant Release, so long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom, any person may make additional dividends or other distributions in an aggregate amount with all other Dividends and other distributions made pursuant to this clause (e)  not to exceed $35,000,000;

(f) after an applicable Bridge Financing Covenant Release, any person may make distributions to minority shareholders of any subsidiary that is acquired pursuant to a Permitted Business Acquisition pursuant to appraisal or dissenters’ rights with respect to shares of such subsidiary held by such shareholders;

(g) the Borrower may declare and pay dividends to Holdings (i) on the Closing Date consisting solely of the Netcentives Assets or (ii) from amounts received from a concurrent dividend or other distribution or other concurrent payment from the special purpose Unrestricted Subsidiary formed to own the Netcentives Assets for so long as such person remains an Unrestricted Subsidiary; provided , that no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom;

(h) after an applicable Bridge Financing Covenant Release, the Borrower may elect to declare and pay dividends to Holdings in an amount not to exceed the Available Free Cash Flow Amount, such election to be specified as provided in a written notice of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower calculating in reasonable detail the amount of Available Free Cash Flow Amount immediately prior to such election and the amount thereof elected to be so applied; provided , that (i) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom and any related transactions (including, without limitation, the incurrence of any Indebtedness), and (ii) immediately after giving effect to the payment of such Dividend and any related transactions

 

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(including, without limitation, the incurrence of any Indebtedness) on a Pro Forma Basis, the Senior Secured Bank Leverage Ratio shall not exceed 2.25 to 1.0;

(i) the Borrower or any Subsidiary may make any Dividend on the Closing Date used to fund the Transactions and the fees and expenses related thereto or made in connection with the consummation of the Transactions as described in the Offering Circular (including payments made pursuant to or as contemplated by the Transaction Documents, as in effect on the Closing Date); and

(j) the Borrower or any Subsidiary may make payments of cash, or dividends, distributions or advances to allow such person to make payments of cash, in lieu of the issuance of fractional shares upon exercise of warrants or upon the conversion or exchange of Equity Interests of such person; provided, however, that the aggregate amount of such payments, dividends, distributions or advances shall not exceed $4,000,000.

SECTION 6.07. Transactions with Affiliates . (a) Sell or transfer any property or assets to, or purchase or acquire any property or assets from, or otherwise engage in any other transaction with, any of its Affiliates, unless such transaction is (i) otherwise expressly permitted (or required) with such Affiliates or holders under this Agreement or (ii) upon terms no less favorable to the Borrower or such Subsidiary, as applicable, than would be obtained in a comparable arm’s-length transaction with a person that is not an Affiliate; provided , that this clause (ii)  shall not apply to (A) the payment to the Fund of the monitoring and management and transaction fees and expenses referred to in paragraph (b)  below or fees and expenses payable on the Closing Date, (B) the indemnification of directors of Holdings, the Borrower or the Subsidiaries in accordance with customary practice (a) or (C) to the extent otherwise permitted under this Agreement (each of which shall not be prohibited by this Section 6.07 ), the following:

(i) any issuance of securities, or other payments, awards or grants in cash, securities or otherwise pursuant to, or the funding of, employment arrangements, equity purchase agreements, deferred compensation agreements, stock options and stock ownership plans or similar employee benefit plans approved by the Board of Directors of Holdings;

(ii) loans or advances to employees of Holdings, the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries in accordance with Section 6.04(e) ;

(iii) transactions among the Borrower and the Subsidiary Loan Parties and transactions among the Subsidiary Loan Parties;

(iv) the payment of fees and indemnities to directors, officers, employees and consultants of Holdings, the Borrower and the Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;

(v) the existence of, or the performance by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries of its obligations under the terms of, the Transaction Documents, agreements set forth on Schedule 6.07 and any amendment thereto or similar agreements which it may enter into thereafter; provided , however , that the existence of, or the performance by

 

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the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries of its obligations under, any future amendment to any such existing agreement or under any similar agreement entered into after the Closing Date shall only be permitted by this clause (v)  to the extent that the terms of any such existing agreement together with all amendments thereto, taken as a whole, or new agreement are not otherwise more disadvantageous to the Lenders in any material respect than the original agreement as in effect on the Closing Date;

(vi) transactions to effect the Transactions and the payment of all fees and expenses related to the Transactions, as described herein or contemplated by the Transaction Documents;

(vii) any employment agreements entered into by Holdings, the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;

(viii) transactions permitted under Section 6.05 ;

(ix) transactions permitted by, and complying with the provisions of, Section 6.06 ;

(x) any purchase by the Permitted Holders or any director, officer, employee or consultant of the Borrower or Holdings of Equity Interests of Holdings or any contribution by Holdings to, or purchases of, equity capital of the Borrower; provided that any Equity Interests of the Borrower shall be pledged to the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders pursuant to the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement;

(xi) provided no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom, payments by Holdings, the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries to the Fund or any Fund Affiliate made for any customary financial advisory, financing, underwriting or placement services or in respect of other investment banking activities, including in connection with acquisitions or divestitures, which payments are approved by the majority of the Board of Directors of Holdings, in good faith;

(xii) payments or loans (or cancellation of loans) to employees or consultants that are (A) approved by a majority of the Board of Directors or the managing member of the Borrower in good faith, (B) made in compliance with applicable law and (C) otherwise permitted under this Agreement;

(xiii) transactions with Wholly Owned Subsidiaries for the purchase or sale of goods, products, parts and services entered into in the ordinary course of business in a manner consistent with past practice;

(xiv) any transaction in respect of which the Borrower delivers to the Administrative Agent (for delivery to the Lenders) a letter addressed to the Board of Directors of the Borrower and Holdings from an accounting, appraisal or investment banking firm, in each case of nationally recognized standing that is (A) in the good faith determination of the Borrower qualified to render such letter and (B) reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, which letter states that such transaction is on

 

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terms that are no less favorable to the Borrower or such Subsidiary, as applicable, than would be obtained in a comparable arm’s-length transaction with a person that is not an Affiliate;

(xv) subject to paragraph (b)  below, the payment of all fees, expenses, bonuses and awards related to the Transactions and expressly required by the Purchase Agreement and the payment of any fees to the Fund or any Fund Affiliate to the extent contemplated by the Offering Circular on the Closing Date and thereafter, as otherwise permitted by Section 6.07(b) ;

(xvi) transactions with customers, clients, suppliers, or purchasers or sellers of goods or services, in each case in the ordinary course of business and otherwise in compliance with the terms of this Agreement that are fair to the Borrower or the Subsidiaries;

(xvii) transactions with joint ventures for the purchase or sale of goods, equipment and services entered into in the ordinary course of business and in a manner consistent with past practice;

(xviii) transactions permitted by, and complying with, the provisions of Section 6.05 ;

(xix) transactions between Holdings, the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries and any person that is an Affiliate solely by virtue of having a director who is also a director of Holdings, the Borrower or any direct or indirect parent company of the Borrower, provided , however , that such director abstains from voting as a director of Holdings or the Borrower or such direct or indirect parent company, as the case may be, on any matter involving such other person;

(xx) intercompany transactions for the purpose of improving the consolidated tax efficiency of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries;

(xxi) the termination of management agreements and payments in connection therewith at the net present value of future payments;

(xxii) transactions among Subsidiaries that are not otherwise prohibited under this Agreement;

(xxiii) entering into tax sharing agreements or arrangements approved by the Board of Directors of Holdings or the Borrower;

(xxiv) any agreements or arrangements between a third party and an Affiliate of the Borrower that are acquired or assumed by the Borrower or any Subsidiary in connection with an acquisition or merger of such third party (or assets of such third party) by or with the Borrower or any Subsidiary; provided , that (A) such acquisition or merger is permitted under this Agreement and (B) such agreements or arrangements are not entered into in contemplation of such acquisition or merger or otherwise for the purpose of avoiding the restrictions imposed by this Section 6.07 ; and

 

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(xxv) any contribution to the capital of the Borrower by Holdings.

(b) Make any payment of or on account of monitoring or management or similar fees payable to the Fund or any Fund Affiliate unless no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the aggregate amount of such payments in any fiscal year does not exceed the sum of (i) the lesser of (x) $3,000,000 and (y) 2% of EBITDA of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis for the immediately preceding fiscal year, plus (ii) any deferred fees, plus (iii) after an applicable Bridge Financing Covenant Release, 2% of the value of transactions with respect to which the Fund or any Fund Affiliate provides any transaction, advisory or other services; provided , that this Section 6.07(b) shall not restrict the payment of any fees to the Fund or any Fund Affiliate on the Closing Date to the extent contemplated by the Offering Circular.

SECTION 6.08. Business of Holdings, the Borrower and the Subsidiaries . Notwithstanding any other provisions hereof, engage at any time in any business or business activity other than:

(a) in the case of the Borrower and any Material Subsidiary, (i) any business or business activity conducted by any of them on the Closing Date and any business or business activities incidental or related thereto, (ii) any business or business activity that is reasonably similar thereto or a reasonable extension, development or expansion thereof or ancillary thereto, including the consummation of the Transactions, (iii) any business or business activity that the senior management of the Borrower deems beneficial for the Borrower or such Subsidiary, (iv) any business or business activity of any person acquired pursuant to a Permitted Business Acquisition or (v) the formation and maintenance of one or more Banking Subsidiaries; and

(b) in the case of Holdings, (i) ownership of the Equity Interests in the Borrower and Equity Interests of a special purpose person formed to own the Netcentives Assets, together with activities directly related thereto, and (A) Holdings shall own no assets other than such Equity Interests and its books and records and (B) Holdings shall not grant a Lien on any of its assets other than pursuant to the Loan Documents, (ii) performance of its obligations under and in connection with the Loan Documents, the Purchase Agreement and the other agreements contemplated by the Purchase Agreement, and any Indebtedness permitted to be incurred by Holdings, and Holdings shall incur no other obligations (including Indebtedness) or liabilities other than (A) obligations under the Loan Documents, (B) Indebtedness that is not guaranteed by any Subsidiary, unless such Subsidiary is otherwise permitted to Guarantee such Indebtedness under Section 6.01 (it being understood that Indebtedness includes Guarantees of Indebtedness), so long as (v) immediately after giving effect to the incurrence of such Indebtedness on a Pro Forma Basis, the Consolidated Leverage Ratio shall not exceed 7.25 to 1.00, (w) at the time of the incurrence of such Indebtedness and after giving effect thereto, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom, (x) such Indebtedness may include Guarantees of Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries permitted under Section 6.01 (including the Bridge Financing) other than the Senior Notes, Senior Subordinated Notes, any Permitted Subordinated Financing and any Permitted Senior Financing, so long as such Guarantees are unsecured and do not contain

 

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any covenants other than affirmative corporate maintenance covenants, (y) a Responsible Officer of Holdings shall have delivered an officer’s certificate demonstrating the calculation of the Leverage Ratio in form and detail reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent), and (z) if the Bridge Financing shall then be outstanding, the net proceeds thereof shall be contributed in cash as common equity to the Borrower and applied by the Borrower to repay the Bridge Financing, and (C) Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of the foregoing, and other customary obligations incidental to its existence and ownership of the Equity Interests in the Borrower (including, without limitation, Guarantees of obligations (other than Indebtedness for borrowed money) of the Borrower and the Subsidiary Loan Parties in the ordinary course of the operation of the Borrower’s or such Subsidiary Loan Party’s business, to the extent such Guarantee is also given in the ordinary course of business), (iii) issuance of Equity Interests, (iv) activities in connection with the ownership of the Equity Interests of a special purpose person formed to own the Netcentives Assets, including the sale or disposition thereof and (v) as otherwise required by law.

SECTION 6.09. Limitation on Modifications and Payments of Indebtedness; Modifications of Certificate of Incorporation, By-Laws and Certain Other Agreements; etc . (a) Amend or modify in any manner materially adverse to the Lenders the articles or certificate of incorporation or by-laws or limited liability company operating agreement or other organizational documents of the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries or amend or modify in any manner materially adverse to the Lenders, or grant any waiver or release under or terminate in any manner if such granting or termination shall be materially adverse to the Lenders, the Purchase Agreement.

(b) (i) Make, or agree or offer to pay or make, directly or indirectly, any payment or other distribution (whether in cash, securities or other property) of or in respect of principal of or interest on the Bridge Financing, the Senior Subordinated Notes or any Permitted Subordinated Indebtedness (or any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof) or any payment or other distribution (whether in cash, securities or other property), including any sinking fund or similar deposit, on account of the purchase, redemption, retirement, acquisition, cancellation or termination of the Senior Subordinated Notes or any Permitted Subordinated Indebtedness (or any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof), except for (A) Refinancings with Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof permitted by Sections 6.01(j) , 6.01(s) and (t) , (B) payments of regularly scheduled interest, other than payments in respect of the Bridge Financing, the Senior Subordinated Notes or Permitted Subordinated Indebtedness (or any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof) prohibited by the subordination provisions thereof and (C) to the extent this Agreement is then in effect, principal on the scheduled maturity date thereof; provided , however , that Holdings or the Borrower may at any time and from time to time repay, repurchase, redeem, acquire, cancel or terminate all or any portion of the Bridge Financing, the Senior Subordinated Notes or any Permitted Subordinated Indebtedness (or any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof) without duplication, (u) in the case of the Bridge Financing, so long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom, with the net proceeds of the Senior Subordinated Notes or any Permitted Subordinated Indebtedness and with the net proceeds of any Senior Notes issued after the Closing Date in an amount not to exceed $34,000,000, (v) with the net proceeds of any Indebtedness permitted to be incurred by Holdings pursuant to Section 6.08(b) , which

 

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have been contributed in cash as common equity to the Borrower, (w) with Excluded Equity Proceeds not otherwise used for any other purpose, as set forth in a certificate of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower, (x) through the exchange of Equity Interests of Holdings, (y) in an aggregate amount not to exceed the Available Free Cash Flow Basket Amount on the date of such election as elected by the Borrower to be applied pursuant to this clause (b)(i) , such election to be specified in a written notice of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower calculating in reasonable detail the amount of Available Free Cash Flow Amount immediately prior to such election and the amount thereof elected to be so applied, and (z) so long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom and, immediately after giving effect thereto on a Pro Forma Basis, the Senior Secured Bank Leverage Ratio shall not exceed 2.00 to 1.00, with the Net Proceeds of any Subsidiary Spin-off to the extent not applied to repay Loans in accordance with Section 2.11(a) ; provided , further , that, with respect to this clause (b)(i) , (1) at the time of such repayment, repurchase, redemption, acquisition, cancellation or termination and after giving effect thereto and to any borrowing in connection therewith, the Consolidated Leverage Ratio on a Pro Forma Basis does not exceed 3.50:1.00 (such ratio shall not be required to be satisfied in connection with any repayment of the Bridge Financing as contemplated by clauses (A), (C)(u), (C)(v), (C)(w) and (C)(x) )) and no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom, and (2) if any Bridge Financing is then outstanding, Holdings or the Borrower may not repay, repurchase, redeem, acquire, cancel or terminate all or any portion of the Senior Notes and Holdings and the Borrower shall first repay the Bridge Financing in full before it, directly or indirectly, repays, repurchases, redeems, acquires, cancels or terminates all or any portion of the Senior Notes, any Permitted Senior Indebtedness, the Senior Subordinated Notes or any Permitted Subordinated Indebtedness (or any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof).

(i) Amend or modify, or permit the amendment or modification of, any provision of the Bridge Financing Documents, the Senior Notes Documents, the Senior Subordinated Notes Documents and any documentation governing any Permitted Subordinated Indebtedness and any Permitted Senior Indebtedness (including any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof), the Seller Preferred Equity, or any agreement (including any document relating to the Seller Preferred Equity) relating thereto, other than amendments or modifications that (A) are not in any manner materially adverse to Lenders and that do not affect the subordination provisions thereof (if any) in a manner adverse to the Lenders or (B) otherwise comply with the definition of “ Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness.

(c) Enter into any agreement or instrument that by its terms restricts (i) the payment of dividends or distributions or the making of cash advances by any Material Subsidiary to the Borrower or any Subsidiary that is a direct or indirect parent of such Subsidiary or (ii) the granting of Liens by Holdings, the Borrower or any Loan Party, or any Subsidiary required to be a Loan Party, pursuant to the Security Documents, in each case, other than those arising under any Loan Document, except, in each case, restrictions existing by reason of:

(A) (i) restrictions imposed by applicable law, (ii) restrictions on the payment of dividends and distributions and the making of cash advances, contractual or otherwise, imposed on Banking Subsidiaries and Insurance Subsidiaries, and (iii) restrictions on the pledge of the direct Equity Interests of Banking Subsidiaries and Insurance Subsidiaries under applicable laws;

 

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(B) other than with respect to Holdings, contractual encumbrances or restrictions (1) in effect on the Closing Date with respect to Liens permitted under Section 6.02(a) or as otherwise disclosed on Schedule 6.09(c) , (2) on the granting of Liens pursuant to the Bridge Financing Documents, the Senior Notes Documents, the Senior Subordinated Notes Documents and any documentation governing any Permitted Subordinated Indebtedness and any Permitted Senior Indebtedness (including any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof) incurred in compliance with Section 6.01 , in each case, no less favorable to the Lenders than those restrictions set forth in the Senior Notes Indenture and the Senior Subordinated Notes Indenture on the Closing Date, or (3) pursuant to documentation related to any permitted renewal, extension or refinancing of any Indebtedness existing on the Closing Date that does not expand the scope of any such encumbrance or restriction or make such restriction more onerous;

(C) any restriction on the Equity Interests or assets of a Subsidiary imposed pursuant to an agreement entered into for the sale or disposition of such Equity Interests or assets permitted under Section 6.05 pending the closing of such sale or disposition;

(D) customary provisions in joint venture agreements and other similar agreements applicable to the assets of, or the Equity Interests in, joint ventures entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(E) other than with respect to Holdings, any restrictions imposed by any agreement relating to Indebtedness permitted by Section 6.01 and secured by a Lien permitted by Section 6.02 to secure such Indebtedness to the extent that such restrictions apply only to the property or assets securing such Indebtedness;

(F) customary provisions contained in leases or licenses of intellectual property and other similar agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(G) customary provisions restricting subletting or assignment of any lease governing a leasehold interest;

(H) customary provisions restricting assignment of any agreement entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(I) customary restrictions and conditions contained in any agreement relating to the sale of any asset permitted under Section 6.05 applicable to the asset to be sold pending the consummation of such sale;

(J) restrictions on cash or other deposits or net worth imposed by customers under contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(K) customary provisions contained in leases, licenses, contracts and other similar agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business that impose restrictions on the property subject to such lease; or

 

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(L) any agreement in effect at the time such subsidiary becomes a Subsidiary, so long as such agreement was not entered into in contemplation of such person becoming a Subsidiary and such restriction does not apply to the Borrower or any other Material Subsidiary or any of their respective assets.

SECTION 6.10. Consolidated Leverage Ratio . Permit the Consolidated Leverage Ratio on the last day of any fiscal quarter during any period set forth below to exceed the ratio set forth opposite such period:

 

Period

   Ratio
Closing Date through September 30, 2006    7.50 to 1.00
October 1, 2006 through December 31, 2006    7.25 to 1.00
January 1, 2007 through March 31, 2007    7.00 to 1.00
April 1, 2007 through June 30, 2007    6.75 to 1.00
July 1, 2007 through June 30, 2008    6.50 to 1.00
July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009    6.00 to 1.00
July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2010    5.25 to 1.00
July 1, 2010 through June 30, 2011    4.75 to 1.00
July 1, 2011 and thereafter    4.50 to 1.00

SECTION 6.11. Interest Coverage Ratio . Permit the Interest Coverage Ratio as of the end of any fiscal quarter ending during any period set forth below to be less than the ratio set forth below opposite such period:

 

Period

   Ratio

Closing Date through March 31, 2007

   1.45 to 1.00

April 1, 2007 through June 30, 2007

   1.50 to 1.00

July 1, 2007 through September 30, 2007

   1.55 to 1.00

October 1, 2007 through June 30, 2008

   1.60 to 1.00

July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009

   1.75 to 1.00

July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2010

   1.90 to 1.00

July 1, 2010 through June 30, 2011

   2.10 to 1.00

July 1, 2011 and thereafter

   2.25 to 1.00

SECTION 6.12. Swap Agreements . Enter into any Swap Agreement other than (a) Swap Agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business to hedge or mitigate risks to which the Borrower or any Subsidiary is exposed in the conduct of its business or the management of its liabilities (including currency risks), and (b) Swap Agreements entered into in order to effectively cap, collar or exchange interest rates (from fixed to floating rates, from one floating rate to another floating rate or otherwise) with respect to any interest-bearing liability or investment of Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary.

SECTION 6.13. Designated Senior Debt . Designate any other Indebtedness as “ Designated Senior Debt ” (or the equivalent thereof) under the Bridge Loan Agreement, the

 

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Senior Subordinated Notes Indenture or under the documentation governing any Permitted Subordinated Indebtedness, including any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of the Senior Subordinated Notes or such Permitted Subordinated Indebtedness.

ARTICLE VII

Events of Default

SECTION 7.01. Events of Default . In case of the happening of any of the following events (“ Events of Default ”):

(a) any representation or warranty made or deemed made by the Borrower or any other Loan Party in any Loan Document, or any representation, warranty, statement or information contained in any report, certificate, financial statement or other instrument furnished in connection with or pursuant to any Loan Document, shall prove to have been false or misleading in any material respect when so made, deemed made or furnished by the Borrower or any other Loan Party;

(b) default shall be made in the payment of any principal of any Loan or the reimbursement with respect to any L/C Disbursement when and as the same shall become due and payable, whether at the due date thereof or at a date fixed for prepayment thereof or by acceleration thereof or otherwise;

(c) default shall be made in the payment of any interest on any Loan or on any L/C Disbursement or in the payment of any Fee or any other amount (other than an amount referred to in paragraph (b)  above) due under any Loan Document, when and as the same shall become due and payable, and such default shall continue unremedied for a period of five Business Days;

(d) any default shall be made in the due observance or performance by the Borrower of any covenant or agreement contained in Section 5.01(a) (with respect to the Borrower), 5.05(a) , 5.09 or in Article VI ;

(e) default shall be made in the due observance or performance by the Borrower or any Subsidiary Loan Party of any covenant or agreement contained in any Loan Document (other than those specified in paragraphs (b) , (c)  and (d)  above) and such default shall continue unremedied for a period of 30 days after notice thereof from the Administrative Agent to the Borrower;

(f) (i) any event or condition occurs that (a) results in any Material Indebtedness becoming due prior to its scheduled maturity or (b) enables or permits (with all applicable grace periods having expired) the holder or holders of any Material Indebtedness or any trustee or agent on its or their behalf to cause any Material Indebtedness to become due, or to require the prepayment, repurchase, redemption or defeasance thereof, prior to its scheduled maturity or (ii) Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall fail to pay the principal of any Material Indebtedness at the stated final maturity thereof; provided , that this clause (f)  shall not apply to secured Indebtedness that

 

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becomes due as a result of the voluntary sale or transfer of the property or assets securing such Indebtedness if such sale or transfer is permitted hereunder and under the documents providing for such Indebtedness;

(g) there shall have occurred a Change in Control;

(h) an involuntary proceeding shall be commenced or an involuntary petition shall be filed in a court of competent jurisdiction seeking (i) relief in respect of Holdings, the Borrower or any of its subsidiaries, or of a substantial part of the property or assets of Holdings, the Borrower or any of its subsidiaries, under Title 11 of the United States Code, as now constituted or hereafter amended, or any other federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, moratorium, insolvency, receivership or similar law, (ii) the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian, sequestrator, conservator or similar official for Holdings, the Borrower or any of its subsidiaries or for a substantial part of the property or assets of Holdings, the Borrower or any of its subsidiaries or (iii) the winding-up or liquidation of Holdings, the Borrower or any of its subsidiaries (except, in the case of any subsidiary, in a transaction permitted by Section 6.05 ); and such proceeding or petition shall continue undismissed for 60 days or an order or decree approving or ordering any of the foregoing shall be entered;

(i) Holdings, the Borrower or any of its subsidiaries shall (i) voluntarily commence any proceeding or file any petition seeking relief under Title 11 of the United States Code, as now constituted or hereafter amended, or any other federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, moratorium, insolvency, receivership or similar law, (ii) consent to the institution of, or fail to contest in a timely and appropriate manner, any proceeding or the filing of any petition described in paragraph (h)  above, (iii) apply for or consent to the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian, sequestrator, conservator or similar official for Holdings, the Borrower or any of its subsidiaries or for a substantial part of the property or assets of Holdings, the Borrower or any of its subsidiaries, (iv) file an answer admitting the material allegations of a petition filed against it in any such proceeding, (v) make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors or (vi) become unable, admit in writing its inability or fail generally to pay its debts as they become due;

(j) the failure by Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary Loan Party or any Material Subsidiary to pay one or more final judgments aggregating in excess of $30,000,000, which judgments are not discharged or effectively waived or stayed for a period of 30 consecutive days, or any action shall be legally taken by a judgment creditor to levy upon assets or properties of Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary to enforce any such judgment;

(k) (i) an ERISA Event shall have occurred, (ii) a trustee shall be appointed by a United States district court to administer any Plan, (iii) the Borrower, a Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate shall engage in any non-exempt “prohibited transaction” (as defined in Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code) involving any Plan or (iv) any other event or condition shall occur or exist with respect to a Plan or a Multiemployer Plan; and in each case in clauses (i)  through (iv)  above, such event or condition, together

 

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with all other such events or conditions, if any, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

(l) (i) any Loan Document shall for any reason be asserted in writing by Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary Loan Party (or, in the case of any Security Document with respect to the pledge of Equity Interests of the Borrower, the pledgor thereunder) not to be a legal, valid and binding obligation of any party thereto, (ii) any security interest purported to be created by any Security Document and to extend to assets that are not immaterial to the Borrower and the Subsidiary Loan Parties on a consolidated basis or the Equity Interests of the Borrower, shall cease to be, or shall be asserted in writing by the Borrower or any other Loan Party (or, in the case of any Security Document with respect to the pledge of Equity Interests of the Borrower, the pledgor thereunder) not to be, a valid and perfected security interest (perfected as or having the priority required by this Agreement or the relevant Security Document and subject to such limitations and restrictions as are set forth herein and therein) in the securities, assets or properties covered thereby, except to the extent that any such loss of perfection or priority results from the limitations of foreign laws, rules and regulations as they apply to pledges of Equity Interests in Foreign Subsidiaries or the application thereof, or from the failure of the Administrative Agent to maintain possession of certificates actually delivered to it representing securities pledged under the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement or to file Uniform Commercial Code continuation statements or take the actions described on Schedule 3.04 and except to the extent that such loss is covered by a lender’s title insurance policy and the Administrative Agent shall be reasonably satisfied with the credit of such insurer, or (iii) the Guarantees pursuant to the Security Documents by Holdings, the Borrower or any material Subsidiary Loan Parties of any of the Obligations shall cease to be in full force and effect (other than in accordance with the terms thereof), or shall be asserted in writing by Holdings the Borrower or any Subsidiary Loan Party not to be in effect or not to be legal, valid and binding obligations;

(m) the Obligations shall fail to constitute “ Senior Debt ” (or the equivalent thereof) and “ Designated Senior Debt ” (or the equivalent thereof) under the Bridge Loan Agreement, the Senior Subordinated Notes Indenture and under the documentation governing any Permitted Subordinated Indebtedness, including any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of the Senior Subordinated Notes or such Permitted Subordinated Indebtedness;

then, and in every such event (other than an event with respect to the Borrower described in paragraph (h) or (i) above), and at any time thereafter during the continuance of such event, the Administrative Agent, at the request of the Required Lenders, shall, by notice to the Borrower, take any or all of the following actions, at the same or different times: (i) terminate forthwith the Commitments, (ii) declare the Loans then outstanding to be forthwith due and payable in whole or in part, whereupon the principal of the Loans then outstanding so declared to be due and payable, together with accrued interest thereon and any unpaid accrued Fees and all other liabilities of the Borrower accrued hereunder and under any other Loan Document, shall become forthwith due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or any other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrower, anything contained herein or in any

 

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other Loan Document to the contrary notwithstanding and (iii) demand cash collateral pursuant to Section 2.05(j) ; and in any event with respect to the Borrower described in paragraph (h)  or (i)  above, the Commitments shall automatically terminate, the principal of the Loans then outstanding, together with accrued interest thereon and any unpaid accrued Fees and all other liabilities of the Borrower accrued hereunder and under any other Loan Document, shall automatically become due and payable and the Administrative Agent shall be deemed to have made a demand for cash collateral to the full extent permitted under Section 2.05(j) , without presentment, demand, protest or any other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrower, anything contained herein or in any other Loan Document to the contrary notwithstanding.

SECTION 7.02. Exclusion of Certain Subsidiaries . Solely for the purposes of determining whether an Event of Default has occurred under clause (h) , (i)  or (j)  of Section 7.01 , any reference in any such clause to any subsidiary shall be deemed not to include any Immaterial Subsidiary affected by any event or circumstance referred to in any such clause.

SECTION 7.03. Right to Cure . (a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in Section 7.01 , in the event that the Borrower fails to comply with the requirements of the covenants set forth in Section 6.10 or 6.11 , until the expiration of the 10th day subsequent to the date the certificate calculating the covenants set forth in Sections 6.10 and 6.11 is required to be delivered pursuant to Section 5.04(c) , Holdings shall have the right to issue Permitted Cure Securities for cash or otherwise receive cash contributions to its capital, and, in each case with respect to Holdings, to contribute any such cash to the capital of the Borrower (collectively, the “ Cure Right ”), and upon the receipt by the Borrower of such cash (the “ Cure Amount ”) pursuant to the exercise by Holdings or the Borrower of such Cure Right, the calculation of EBITDA as used in the covenants set forth in Sections 6.10 and 6.11 shall be recalculated giving effect to the following pro forma adjustments:

(i) EBITDA shall be increased, solely for the purpose of measuring the covenants set forth in Sections 6.10 and 6.11 and not for any other purpose under this Agreement, by an amount equal to the Cure Amount; and

(ii) If, after giving effect to the foregoing recalculations, the Borrower shall then be in compliance with the requirements of the covenants set forth in Sections 6.10 and 6.11 , the Borrower shall be deemed to have satisfied the requirements of the covenants set forth in Sections 6.10 and 6.11 as of the relevant date of determination with the same effect as though there had been no failure to comply therewith at such date, and the applicable breach or default of the covenants set forth in Sections 6.10 and 6.11 that had occurred shall be deemed cured for the purposes of this Agreement.

(b) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (i) in each four-fiscal-quarter period there shall be at least one fiscal quarter in which the Cure Right is not exercised, (ii) in each eight-fiscal-quarter period, there shall be a period of at least four consecutive fiscal quarters during which the Cure Right is not exercised and (iii) for purposes of this Section 7.03 , the Cure Amount utilized shall be no greater than the amount required for purposes of complying with the covenants set forth in Section 6.10 and 6.11 .

 

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ARTICLE VIII

The Agents

SECTION 8.01. Appointment . (a) Each Lender (in its capacities as a Lender, the Swingline Lender (if applicable), an Issuing Bank (if applicable) and on behalf of itself and its Affiliates as potential counterparties to Swap Agreements) hereby irrevocably designates and appoints the Administrative Agent as the agent of such Lender under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and each such Lender irrevocably authorizes the Administrative Agent, in such capacity, to take such action on its behalf under the provisions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and to exercise such powers and perform such duties as are expressly delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, together with such other powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. In addition, to the extent required under the laws of any jurisdiction other than the United States, each of the Lenders and the Issuing Banks hereby grants to the Administrative Agent any required powers of attorney to execute any Security Document governed by the laws of such jurisdiction on such Lender’s or Issuing Bank’s behalf. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary elsewhere in this Agreement, the Administrative Agent shall not have any duties or responsibilities, except those expressly set forth herein, or any fiduciary relationship with any Lender, and no implied covenants, functions, responsibilities, duties, obligations or liabilities shall be read into this Agreement or any other Loan Document or otherwise exist against the Administrative Agent.

(b) In furtherance of the foregoing, each Lender (in its capacities as a Lender, the Swingline Lender (if applicable), an Issuing Bank (if applicable) and on behalf of itself and its Affiliates as potential counterparties to Swap Agreements) hereby appoints and authorizes the Administrative Agent to act as the agent of such Lender for purposes of acquiring, holding and enforcing any and all Liens on Collateral granted by any of the Loan Parties to secure any of the Obligations, together with such powers and discretion as are reasonably incidental thereto. In this connection, the Administrative Agent (and any Subagents appointed by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 8.02 for purposes of holding or enforcing any Lien on the Collateral (or any portion thereof) granted under the Security Documents, or for exercising any rights or remedies thereunder at the direction of the Administrative Agent) shall be entitled to the benefits of this Article VIII (including, without limitation, Section 8.07 ) as though the Administrative Agent (and any such Subagents) were an “Agent” under the Loan Documents, as if set forth in full herein with respect thereto.

SECTION 8.02. Delegation of Duties . The Administrative Agent may execute any of its duties under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents (including for purposes of holding or enforcing any Lien on the Collateral (or any portion thereof) by or through agents, employees or attorneys-in-fact and shall be entitled to advice of counsel and other consultants or experts concerning all matters pertaining to such duties. The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any agents or attorneys-in-fact selected by it with reasonable care. The Administrative Agent may also from time to time, when the Administrative Agent deems it to be necessary or desirable, appoint one or more trustees, co-trustees, collateral co-agents, collateral subagents or attorneys-in-fact (each, a “ Subagent ”) with respect to all or any part of the Collateral; provided , however , that no such Subagent shall be authorized to take any action with respect to any Collateral unless and except to the extent

 

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expressly authorized in writing by the Administrative Agent. Should any instrument in writing from the Borrower or any other Loan Party be required by any Subagent so appointed by the Administrative Agent to more fully or certainly vest in and confirm to such Subagent such rights, powers, privileges and duties, the Borrower shall, or shall cause such Loan Party to, execute, acknowledge and deliver any and all such instruments promptly upon request by the Administrative Agent. If any Subagent, or successor thereto, shall die, become incapable of acting, resign or be removed, all rights, powers, privileges and duties of such Subagent, to the extent permitted by law, shall automatically vest in and be exercised by the Administrative Agent until the appointment of a new Subagent. The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any agent, attorney-in-fact or Subagent that it selects in accordance with the foregoing provisions of this Section 8.02 in the absence of the Administrative Agent’s gross negligence or willful misconduct.

SECTION 8.03. Exculpatory Provisions . Neither any Agent or its Affiliates nor any of their respective officers, directors, employees, agents, attorneys-in-fact or affiliates shall be (i) liable for any action lawfully taken or omitted to be taken by it or such person under or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document (except to the extent that any of the foregoing are found by a final and nonappealable decision of a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from its or such person’s own gross negligence or willful misconduct) or (ii) responsible in any manner to any of the Lenders for any recitals, statements, representations or warranties made by any Loan Party or any officer thereof contained in this Agreement or any other Loan Document or in any certificate, report, statement or other document referred to or provided for in, or received by the Agents under or in connection with, this Agreement or any other Loan Document or for the value, validity, effectiveness, genuineness, enforceability or sufficiency of this Agreement or any other Loan Document or for any failure of any Loan Party a party thereto to perform its obligations hereunder or thereunder. The Agents shall not be under any obligation to any Lender to ascertain or to inquire as to the observance or performance of any of the agreements contained in, or conditions of, this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or to inspect the properties, books or records of any Loan Party.

SECTION 8.04. Reliance by Administrative Agent . The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely, and shall be fully protected in relying, upon any instrument, writing, resolution, notice, consent, certificate, affidavit, letter, telecopy, telex or teletype message, statement, order or other document or conversation believed by it to be genuine and correct and to have been signed, sent or made by the proper person or persons and upon advice and statements of legal counsel (including counsel to Holdings or the Borrower), independent accountants and other experts selected by the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent may deem and treat the payee of any Note as the owner thereof for all purposes unless a written notice of assignment, negotiation or transfer thereof shall have been filed with the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent shall be fully justified in failing or refusing to take any action under this Agreement or any other Loan Document unless it shall first receive such advice or concurrence of the Required Lenders (or, if so specified by this Agreement, all or other Lenders) as it deems appropriate or it shall first be indemnified to its satisfaction by the Lenders against any and all liability and expense that may be incurred by it by reason of taking or continuing to take any such action. The Administrative Agent shall in all cases be fully protected in acting, or in refraining from acting, under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents in accordance with a request of the Required Lenders (or, if so specified by this Agreement, all or other

 

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Lenders), and such request and any action taken or failure to act pursuant thereto shall be binding upon all the Lenders and all future holders of the Loans.

SECTION 8.05. Notice of Default . The Administrative Agent shall not be deemed to have knowledge or notice of the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default unless the Administrative Agent has received notice from a Lender, Holdings or the Borrower referring to this Agreement, describing such Default or Event of Default and stating that such notice is a “notice of default.” In the event that the Administrative Agent receives such a notice, the Administrative Agent shall give notice thereof to the Lenders. The Administrative Agent shall take such action with respect to such Default or Event of Default as shall be reasonably directed by the Required Lenders (or, if so specified by this Agreement, all or other Lenders); provided , that unless and until the Administrative Agent shall have received such directions, the Administrative Agent may (but shall not be obligated to) take such action, or refrain from taking such action, with respect to such Default or Event of Default as it shall deem advisable in the best interests of the Lenders.

SECTION 8.06. Non-Reliance on Agents and Other Lenders . Each Lender expressly acknowledges that neither the Agents nor any of their respective officers, directors, employees, agents, attorneys-in-fact or affiliates have made any representations or warranties to it and that no act by any Agent hereafter taken, including any review of the affairs of a Loan Party or any affiliate of a Loan Party, shall be deemed to constitute any representation or warranty by any Agent to any Lender. Each Lender represents to the Agents that it has, independently and without reliance upon any Agent or any other Lender, and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own appraisal of and investigation into the business, operations, property, financial and other condition and creditworthiness of the Loan Parties and their affiliates and made its own decision to make its Loans hereunder and enter into this Agreement. Each Lender also represents that it will, independently and without reliance upon any Agent 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 analysis, appraisals and decisions in taking or not taking action under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and to make such investigation as it deems necessary to inform itself as to the business, operations, property, financial and other condition and creditworthiness of the Loan Parties and their affiliates. Except for notices, reports and other documents expressly required to be furnished to the Lenders by the Administrative Agent hereunder, the Administrative Agent shall not have any duty or responsibility to provide any Lender with any credit or other information concerning the business, operations, property, condition (financial or otherwise), prospects or creditworthiness of any Loan Party or any affiliate of a Loan Party that may come into the possession of the Administrative Agent or any of its officers, directors, employees, agents, attorneys-in-fact or affiliates.

SECTION 8.07. Indemnification . The Lenders agree to indemnify each Agent and each Issuing Bank in its capacity as such (to the extent not reimbursed by Holdings or the Borrower and without limiting the obligation of Holdings or the Borrower to do so), in the amount of its pro rata share (based on its aggregate Revolving Facility Exposure, outstanding Term Loans and unused Commitments hereunder; provided that the aggregate principal amount of Swingline Loans owing to the Swingline Lender and of L/C Disbursements owing to any Issuing Bank shall be considered to be owed to the Revolving Facility Lenders ratably in

 

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accordance with their respective Revolving Facility Exposure), from and against any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements of any kind whatsoever that may at any time (whether before or after the payment of the Loans) be imposed on, incurred by or asserted against such Agent or such Issuing Bank in any way relating to or arising out of the Commitments, this Agreement, any of the other Loan Documents or any documents contemplated by or referred to herein or therein or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby or any action taken or omitted by such Agent or such Issuing Bank under or in connection with any of the foregoing; provided , that no Lender shall be liable for the payment of any portion of such liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements that are found by a final and nonappealable decision of a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from such Agent’s or such Issuing Bank’s gross negligence or willful misconduct. The failure of any Lender to reimburse any Agent or any Issuing Bank, as the case may be, promptly upon demand for its ratable share of any amount required to be paid by the Lenders to such Agent or such Issuing Bank, as the case may be, as provided herein shall not relieve any other Lender of its obligation hereunder to reimburse such Agent or such Issuing Bank, as the case may be, for its ratable share of such amount, but no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to reimburse such Agent or such Issuing Bank, as the case may be, for such other Lender’s ratable share of such amount. The agreements in this Section shall survive the payment of the Loans and all other amounts payable hereunder.

SECTION 8.08. Agent in Its Individual Capacity . Each Agent and its affiliates may make loans to, accept deposits from, and generally engage in any kind of business with any Loan Party as though such Agent were not an Agent. With respect to its Loans made or renewed by it and with respect to any Letter of Credit issued, or Letter of Credit or Swingline Loan participated in, by it, each Agent shall have the same rights and powers under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents as any Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not an Agent, and the terms “Lender” and “Lenders” shall include each Agent in its individual capacity.

SECTION 8.09. Successor Administrative Agent . The Administrative Agent may resign as Administrative Agent upon 10 days’ notice to the Lenders and the Borrower. If the Administrative Agent shall resign as Administrative Agent under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, then the Required Lenders shall appoint from among the Lenders a successor agent for the Lenders, which successor agent shall (unless an Event of Default under Section 7.01(b) , (c) , (h)  or (i)  shall have occurred and be continuing) be subject to approval by the Borrower (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), whereupon such successor agent shall succeed to the rights, powers and duties of the Administrative Agent, and the term “Administrative Agent” shall mean such successor agent effective upon such appointment and approval, and the former Administrative Agent’s rights, powers and duties as Administrative Agent shall be terminated, without any other or further act or deed on the part of such former Administrative Agent or any of the parties to this Agreement or any holders of the Loans. If no successor agent has accepted appointment as Administrative Agent by the date that is 10 days following a retiring Administrative Agent’s notice of resignation, the retiring Administrative Agent’s resignation shall nevertheless thereupon become effective, and the Lenders shall assume and perform all of the duties of the Administrative Agent hereunder until such time, if any, as the Required Lenders appoint a successor agent as provided for above. After any retiring Administrative Agent’s resignation as Administrative Agent, the provisions of

 

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this Section 8.09 shall inure to its benefit as to any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was Administrative Agent under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

SECTION 8.10. Agents and Arrangers . None of the Agents or the Joint Lead Arrangers shall have any duties or responsibilities hereunder in its capacity as such.

ARTICLE IX

Miscellaneous

SECTION 9.01. Notices . (a) 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 telecopy, as follows:

(i) if to any Loan Party, to it at 100 Connecticut Avenue, Norwalk Connecticut 06580, Attention: Chief Executive Officer, with a copy to Apollo Investment Fund V, L.P., 9 West 57th Street, New York, New York 10019, Attention: Stan Parker;

(ii) if to the Administrative Agent, to Credit Suisse, 11 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10020, Attention: Mark Waldron (telecopy 212-325-8304) (e-mail: mark.waldron.2@csfb.com); and

(iii) if to an Issuing Bank, to it at the address or telecopy number set forth separately in writing.

(b) Notices and other communications to the Lenders hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent; provided , that the foregoing shall not apply to notices pursuant to Article II unless otherwise agreed by the Administrative Agent and the applicable Lender. Each of the Administrative Agent and the Borrower may, in its discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by it; provided , further that approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications.

(c) All notices and other communications given to any party hereto in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed to have been given on the date of receipt if delivered by hand or overnight courier service, sent by telecopy or (to the extent permitted by paragraph (b)  above) electronic means or on the date five Business Days after dispatch by certified or registered mail if mailed, in each case delivered, sent or mailed (properly addressed) to such party as provided in this Section 9.01 or in accordance with the latest unrevoked direction from such party given in accordance with this Section 9.01 .

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

SECTION 9.02. Survival of Agreement . All covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made by the Borrower and the other Loan Parties herein, in the

 

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other Loan Documents and in the certificates or other instruments prepared or delivered in connection with or pursuant to this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall be considered to have been relied upon by the Lenders and each Issuing Bank and shall survive the making by the Lenders of the Loans, the execution and delivery of the Loan Documents and the issuance of the Letters of Credit, regardless of any investigation made by such persons or on their behalf, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as the principal of or any accrued interest on any Loan or L/C Disbursement or any Fee or any other amount payable under this Agreement or any other Loan Document is outstanding and unpaid or any Letter of Credit is outstanding and so long as the Commitments have not been terminated. Without prejudice to the survival of any other agreements contained herein, indemnification and reimbursement obligations contained herein (including pursuant to Sections 2.15 , 2.17 and 9.05 ) shall survive the payment in full of the principal and interest hereunder, the expiration of the Letters of Credit and the termination of the Commitments or this Agreement.

SECTION 9.03. Binding Effect . This Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by Holdings, the Borrower and the Administrative Agent and when the Administrative Agent shall have received copies hereof that, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto, and thereafter shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of Holdings, the Borrower, each Issuing Bank, the Administrative Agent and each Lender and their respective permitted successors and assigns.

SECTION 9.04. Successors and Assigns . (a) The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby (including any affiliate of the Issuing Bank that issues any Letter of Credit), except that (i) the Borrower may not assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder (other than pursuant to a merger permitted by Section 6.05(b) or (i)  without the prior written consent of each Lender (and any attempted assignment or transfer by the Borrower without such consent shall be null and void) and (ii) no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer its rights or obligations hereunder except in accordance with this Section or Article X . Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby (including any Affiliate of the Issuing Bank that issues any Letter of Credit), Participants (to the extent provided in paragraph (c)  of this Section), and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of the Agents, the Issuing Bank and the Lenders) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents.

(b) (i) Subject to the conditions set forth in paragraph (b)(ii) below, any Lender may assign to one or more assignees (each, an “ Assignee ”) all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitments and the Loans at the time owing to it) with the prior written consent of:

(A) the Borrower (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld); provided , that no consent of the Borrower shall be required for an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender, an Approved Fund (as defined below) or, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, any other person or in connection with the initial syndication of the Loans; provided , that any liability of the Borrower to an assignee that is an

 

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Approved Fund or affiliate of the assigning Lender under Section 2.15 or 2.17 shall be limited to the amount, if any, that would have been payable hereunder by the Borrower in the absence of such assignment;

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

(C) the Swingline Lender and the Issuing Bank; provided , that the consent of the Issuing Bank shall not be required if such assignment is an assignment under the Term Facility.

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

(A) except in the case of an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund or an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s Commitments or Loans, the amount of the Commitments or Loans of the assigning Lender subject to each such assignment (determined as of the trade date specified in the Assignment and Acceptance with respect to such assignment or, if no trade date is so specified, as of the date such Assignment and Acceptance is delivered to the Administrative Agent) shall not be less than (x) $1,000,000 in respect of Term Loans; provided that simultaneous assignments to or by two or more Related Funds shall be treated as one assignment for purposes of the minimum assignment requirement, and shall be in an amount that is an integral multiple of $1,000,000 (or the entire remaining amount of such Lender’s Commitment) and (y) $5,000,000 in respect of the Revolving Facility Loans, unless each of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent otherwise consent;

(B) the parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Acceptance, together with a processing and recordation fee of $3,500 (which may be waived or reduced at the Administrative Agent’s sole discretion); provided , that (i) assignments pursuant to Section 2.19 shall not require the signature of the assigning Lender to become effective and (ii) any such processing and recordation fee in connection with assignments pursuant to Section 2.19 shall be paid by the Borrower or the assignee; and

(C) the Assignee, if it shall not be a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire and any tax forms.

For the purposes of this Section 9.04 , “ Approved Fund ” means any person (other than a natural person) that is engaged in making, purchasing, holding or investing in bank loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its business and that is administered or managed by (a) a Lender, (b) an Affiliate of a Lender or (c) an entity or an Affiliate of an entity that administers or manages a Lender.

(iii) Subject to acceptance and recording thereof pursuant to paragraph (b)(v) below, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Acceptance the Assignee thereunder shall be a party hereto and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Acceptance, 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

 

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Assignment and Acceptance, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Acceptance 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 2.15 , 2.16 , 2.17 and 9.05 ). Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this Section 9.04 shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with paragraph (c)  of this Section.

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

(v) Upon its receipt of a duly completed Assignment and Acceptance executed by an assigning Lender and an Assignee, the Assignee’s completed Administrative Questionnaire (unless the Assignee shall already be a Lender hereunder), the processing and recordation fee referred to in paragraph (b)  of this Section and any written consent to such assignment required by paragraph (b)  of this Section, the Administrative Agent shall accept such Assignment and Acceptance and record the information contained therein in the Register. No assignment shall be effective for purposes of this Agreement unless it has been recorded in the Register as provided in this paragraph.

(c) (i) Any Lender may, without the consent of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, sell participations to one or more banks or other entities (a “ Participant ”) in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitments and the Loans owing to it); provided , that (a) such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (b) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations and (c) the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank and the other Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement. Any agreement pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents; provided , that (x) such agreement may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, modification or waiver that (1) requires the consent of each Lender directly affected thereby pursuant to Section 9.04(a)(i) or clause (i) , (ii) , (iii) , (iv) , (v)  or (vi)  of the first proviso to Section 9.08(b) and (2) directly affects such Participant and (y) no other agreement with respect to such

 

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Participant may exist between such Lender and such Participant. Subject to paragraph (c)(ii) of this Section, the Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.15 , 2.16 and 2.17 to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to paragraph (b)  of this Section. To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 9.06 as though it were a Lender; provided , that such Participant shall be subject to Section 2.18(c) as though it were a Lender.

(ii) A Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 2.15 , 2.16 or 2.17 than the applicable Lender would have been entitled to receive with respect to the participation sold to such Participant, unless the sale of the participation to such Participant is made with the Borrower’s prior written consent.

(d) Any Lender may, without the consent of the Administrative Agent or the Borrower, 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 and in the case of any Lender that is a Fund, any pledge or assignment to any holders of obligations owed, or securities issued, by such Lender, including to any trustee for, or any other representative of, such holders, and this Section shall not apply to any such pledge or assignment of a security interest; provided , that no such pledge or assignment of a security interest shall release a Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or Assignee for such Lender as a party hereto.

(e) The Borrower, at its expense and upon receipt of written notice from the relevant Lender, agrees to issue Notes to any Lender requiring Notes to facilitate transactions of the type described in paragraph (d)  above.

(f) Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Conduit Lender may assign any or all of the Loans it may have funded hereunder to its designating Lender without the consent of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent and without regard to the limitations set forth in Section 9.04(b) . Each of Holdings, the Borrower, each Lender and the Administrative Agent hereby confirms that it will not institute against a Conduit Lender or join any other person in instituting against a Conduit Lender any bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, insolvency or liquidation proceeding under any state bankruptcy or similar law, for one year and one day after the payment in full of the latest maturing commercial paper note issued by such Conduit Lender; provided , however , that each Lender designating any Conduit Lender hereby agrees to indemnify, save and hold harmless each other party hereto and each Loan Party for any loss, cost, damage or expense arising out of its inability to institute such a proceeding against such Conduit Lender during such period of forbearance.

(g) Notwithstanding the foregoing, no assignment may be made or participation sold to an Ineligible Institution without the prior written consent of the Borrower. Upon the request of any Lender, the Administrative Agent shall inform such Lender as to whether an actual proposed Participant or Assignee is an Ineligible Institution.

SECTION 9.05. Expenses; Indemnity . (a) The Borrower agrees to pay all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses (including Other Taxes) incurred by the Administrative Agent in connection with the preparation of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, or by the

 

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Administrative Agent in connection with the syndication of the Commitments or the administration of this Agreement (including expenses incurred in connection with due diligence, reasonable fees, disbursements and the charges for no more than one counsel in each jurisdiction where Collateral is located) or in connection with the administration of this Agreement and any amendments, modifications or waivers of the provisions hereof or thereof or incurred by the Administrative Agent or any Lender in connection with the enforcement or protection of their rights in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, in connection with the Loans made or the Letters of Credit issued hereunder, including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of Shearman & Sterling LLP, counsel for the Administrative Agent and the Joint Lead Arrangers, and, in connection with any such enforcement or protection, the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of any other counsel.

(b) The Borrower agrees to indemnify the Administrative Agent, the Joint Lead Arrangers, each Issuing Bank, each Lender, their respective Affiliates and each of their respective directors, trustees, officers, employees and agents (each such person being called an “ Indemnitee ”) against, and to hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and related costs and expenses, including reasonable counsel fees, charges and disbursements (except the allocated costs of in-house counsel), incurred by or asserted against any Indemnitee arising out of, in any way connected with, or as a result of (i) the execution or delivery of this Agreement or any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby, the performance by the parties hereto and thereto of their respective obligations thereunder or the consummation of the Transactions and the other transactions contemplated hereby, (ii) the use of the proceeds of the Loans or the use of any Letter of Credit or (iii) any claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether or not any Indemnitee is a party thereto, and regardless of whether any of the foregoing is raised or initiated by a third party or Holdings, the Borrower or any other Loan Party or any Subsidiary; provided , that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted primarily from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee (for purposes of this Section 9.05(b) only, each of the Administrative Agent, any Joint Lead Arranger, any Issuing Bank or any Lender shall, together with its respective Related Parties, be treated as a single Indemnitee). Subject to and without limiting the generality of the foregoing sentence, the Borrower agrees to indemnify each Indemnitee against, and hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and related costs and expenses, including reasonable counsel or consultant fees, charges and disbursements (except the allocated costs of in-house counsel), incurred by or asserted against any Indemnitee arising out of, in any way connected with or as a result of (a) any claim or liability related in any way to Environmental Laws and Holdings, the Borrower or any of their Subsidiaries, or (b) any actual or alleged presence, Release or threatened Release of Hazardous Materials at, under, on or from any property currently or formerly owned, leased or operated by any predecessor of Holdings, the Borrower or any of their Subsidiaries; provided , that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee or any of its Related Parties. The provisions of this Section 9.05 shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of the expiration of the term of this Agreement, the consummation of the transactions contemplated

 

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hereby, the repayment of any of the Obligations, the invalidity or unenforceability of any term or provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or any investigation made by or on behalf of the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender. All amounts due under this Section 9.05 shall be payable on written demand therefor accompanied by reasonable documentation with respect to any reimbursement, indemnification or other amount requested.

(c) Except as expressly provided in Section 9.05(a) with respect to Other Taxes, which shall not be duplicative with any amounts paid pursuant to Section 2.17 , this Section 9.05 shall not apply to Taxes.

SECTION 9.06. Right of Set-off . If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, each Lender and each Issuing Bank is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final) at any time held and other indebtedness at any time owing by such Lender or such Issuing Bank to or for the credit or the account of Holdings, the Borrower or any other Subsidiary against any of and all the obligations of Holdings or the Borrower now or hereafter existing under this Agreement or any other Loan Document held by such Lender or such Issuing Bank, irrespective of whether or not such Lender or such Issuing Bank shall have made any demand under this Agreement or such other Loan Document and although the obligations may be unmatured. The rights of each Lender and each Issuing Bank under this Section 9.06 are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of set-off) that such Lender or such Issuing Bank may have.

SECTION 9.07. Applicable Law . THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS (OTHER THAN LETTERS OF CREDIT AND AS EXPRESSLY SET FORTH IN OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS) SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH AND GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

SECTION 9.08. Waivers; Amendment . (a) No failure or delay of the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender in exercising any right or power hereunder or under any Loan Document shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right or power, or any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce such a right or power, preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or power. The rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent, each Issuing Bank and the Lenders hereunder and under the other Loan Documents are cumulative and are not exclusive of any rights or remedies that they would otherwise have. No waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document or consent to any departure by Holdings, the Borrower or any other Loan Party therefrom shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be permitted by paragraph (b)  below, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for which given. No notice or demand on Holdings, the Borrower or any other Loan Party in any case shall entitle such person to any other or further notice or demand in similar or other circumstances.

(b) Neither this Agreement nor any other Loan Document nor any provision hereof or thereof may be waived, amended or modified, except as provided in Section 2.20 , or (x) in the case of this Agreement, pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by Holdings, the Borrower and the Required Lenders and (y) in the case of any other Loan

 

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Document, pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by each party thereto and the Administrative Agent and consented to by the Required Lenders; provided , however , that no such agreement shall

(i) decrease or forgive the principal amount of, or extend the final maturity of, or decrease the rate of interest on, any Loan or any L/C Disbursement without the prior written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby; provided that any amendment to the financial covenant definitions in this Agreement shall not constitute a reduction in the rate of interest for purposes of this clause (i) ,

(ii) increase or extend the Commitment of any Lender or decrease the Commitment Fees or L/C Participation Fees or other fees of any Lender without the prior written consent of such Lender (it being understood that waivers or modifications of conditions precedent, covenants, Defaults or Events of Default or of a mandatory reduction in the aggregate Commitments shall not constitute an increase of the Commitments of any Lender),

(iii) extend, waive or reduce the amount of any scheduled installment of principal or extend any date on which payment of interest on any Loan or any L/C Disbursement or any Fees is due, without the prior written consent of each Lender adversely affected thereby,

(iv) amend or modify the provisions of Section 2.18(b) or (c)  in a manner that would by its terms alter the pro rata sharing of payments required thereby, or require any Lender to make available Interest Periods longer than six months without its consent, without the prior written consent of each Lender adversely affected thereby,

(v) amend or modify the provisions of this Section or the definition of the term “ Required Lenders ” or any other provision hereof specifying the number or percentage of Lenders required to waive, amend or modify any rights hereunder or make any determination or grant any consent hereunder, without the prior written consent of each Lender adversely affected thereby (it being understood that, with the consent of the Required Lenders, additional extensions of credit pursuant to this Agreement may be included in the determination of the Required Lenders on substantially the same basis as the Loans and Commitments are included on the Closing Date),

(vi) release all or substantially all the Collateral or release any of Holdings, the Borrower or any other Subsidiary Loan Party from its Guarantee under the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement unless, in the case a Subsidiary Loan Party, all or substantially all of the Equity Interests of such Subsidiary Loan Party are sold or otherwise disposed of in a transaction permitted by this Agreement, without the prior written consent of each Lender,

(vii) effect any waiver, amendment or modification that by its terms adversely affects the rights in respect of payments or collateral of Lenders participating in any Tranche differently from those of Lenders participating in another Tranche, without the consent of the Majority Lenders participating in the adversely affected Tranche (it being

 

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agreed that the Required Lenders may waive, in whole or in part, any prepayment required by Section 2.11 so long as the application of any prepayment still required to be made is not changed),

(viii) effect any waiver, amendment or modification of Section 5.02 of the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, or any comparable provision of any other Security Document, in a manner that materially adversely affects the rights in respect of payments or collateral of Lenders, without the consent of each Lender so affected;

provided further that no such agreement shall amend, modify or otherwise affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent or an Issuing Bank hereunder without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent or such Issuing Bank acting as such at the effective date of such agreement, as applicable. Each Lender shall be bound by any waiver, amendment or modification authorized by this Section 9.08 and any consent by any Lender pursuant to this Section 9.08 shall bind any Assignee of such Lender.

(c) Without the consent of the Syndication Agent, the Documentation Agents or any Joint Lead Arranger or Lender, the Loan Parties and the Administrative Agent may (in their respective sole discretion, or shall, to the extent required by any Loan Document) enter into any amendment, modification or waiver of any Loan Document, or enter into any new agreement or instrument, to effect the granting, perfection, protection, expansion or enhancement of any security interest in any Collateral or additional property to become Collateral for the benefit of the Secured Parties, or as required by local law to give effect to, or protect any security interest for the benefit of the Secured Parties, in any property or so that the security interests therein comply with applicable law.

(d) Subject to the foregoing, this Agreement may be amended (or amended and restated) with the written consent of the Required Lenders, the Administrative Agent, Holdings and the Borrower (a) to add one or more additional credit facilities to this Agreement and to permit the extensions of credit from time to time outstanding thereunder and the accrued interest and fees in respect thereof to share ratably in the benefits of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents with the Term Loans and the Revolving Facility Loans and the accrued interest and fees in respect thereof and (b) to include appropriately the Lenders holding such credit facilities in any determination of the Required Lenders.

(e) Notwithstanding the foregoing, technical and conforming modifications to the Loan Documents may be made with the consent of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent to the extent necessary to integrate any Incremental Term Loan Commitments or Incremental Revolving Facility Commitments on substantially the same basis as the Term Loans or Revolving Facility Loans, as applicable.

SECTION 9.09. Interest Rate Limitation . Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if at any time the applicable interest rate, together with all fees and charges that are treated as interest under applicable law (collectively, the “ Charges ”), as provided for herein or in any other document executed in connection herewith, or otherwise contracted for, charged, received, taken or reserved by any Lender or any Issuing Bank, shall exceed the maximum lawful rate (the “ Maximum Rate ”) that may be contracted for, charged, taken, received or

 

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reserved by such Lender in accordance with applicable law, the rate of interest payable hereunder, together with all Charges payable to such Lender or such Issuing Bank, shall be limited to the Maximum Rate; provided , that such excess amount shall be paid to such Lender or such Issuing Bank on subsequent payment dates to the extent not exceeding the legal limitation.

SECTION 9.10. 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 any Issuing Bank nor any of its officers or directors 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 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; (c) 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 (d) 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 (i) such Issuing Bank’s willful misconduct or gross negligence as determined in a final, non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction in determining whether documents presented under any Letter of Credit comply with the terms of the Letter of Credit or (ii) such Issuing Bank’s willful failure to make lawful payment under a Letter of Credit after the presentation to it of a draft and certificates strictly complying with the terms and conditions of the Letter of Credit. 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.

SECTION 9.11. Entire Agreement . This Agreement, the other Loan Documents and the agreements regarding certain Fees referred to herein constitute the entire contract between the parties relative to the subject matter hereof. Any previous agreement among or representations from the parties or their Affiliates with respect to the subject matter hereof is superseded by this Agreement and the other Loan Documents. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Fee Letter dated as of July 26, 2005, shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and remain in full force and effect.

SECTION 9.12. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL . EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF, UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS. EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT

 

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AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS, AS APPLICABLE, BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 9.12.

SECTION 9.13. Severability . In the event any one or more of the provisions contained in this Agreement or in any other Loan Document should be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained herein and therein shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby. The parties shall endeavor in good-faith negotiations to replace the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions.

SECTION 9.14. Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original but all of which, when taken together, shall constitute but one contract, and shall become effective as provided in Section 9.03 . Delivery of an executed counterpart to this Agreement by facsimile (or other electronic) transmission pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent shall be as effective as delivery of a manually signed original.

SECTION 9.15. Headings . Article and Section headings and the Table of Contents used herein are for convenience of reference only, are not part of this Agreement and are not to affect the construction of, or to be taken into consideration in interpreting, this Agreement.

SECTION 9.16. Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process . (a) Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits, for itself and its property, to the exclusive jurisdiction of any New York State court or federal court of the United States of America sitting in New York City, and any appellate court from any thereof, in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the other Loan Documents, or for recognition or enforcement of any judgment, and each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that all claims in respect of any such action or proceeding may be heard and determined in such New York State or, to the extent permitted by law, in such federal court. Each of the parties hereto agrees that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law. Nothing in this Agreement shall affect any right that any Lender or any Issuing Bank may otherwise have to bring any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or the other Loan Documents against Holdings, the Borrower or any other Loan Party or their properties in the courts of any jurisdiction.

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

SECTION 9.17. Confidentiality . Each of the Lenders, each Issuing Bank and each of the Agents agrees that it shall maintain in confidence any information relating to

 

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Holdings, the Borrower and the other Loan Parties furnished to it by or on behalf of Holdings, the Borrower or the other Loan Parties (other than information that (a) has become generally available to the public other than as a result of a disclosure by such party, (b) has been independently developed by such Lender, such Issuing Bank or such Agent without violating this Section 9.17 or (c) was available to such Lender, such Issuing Bank or such Agent from a third party having, to such person’s knowledge, no obligations of confidentiality to Holdings, the Borrower or any other Loan Party) and shall not reveal the same other than to its directors, trustees, officers, employees and advisors with a need to know or to any person that approves or administers the Loans on behalf of such Lender (so long as each such person shall have been instructed to keep the same confidential in accordance with this Section 9.17 ), except: (a) to the extent necessary to comply with law or any legal process or the requirements of any Governmental Authority, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners or of any securities exchange on which securities of the disclosing party or any Affiliate of the disclosing party are listed or traded, (b) as part of normal reporting or review procedures to Governmental Authorities or the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, (c) to its parent companies, Affiliates or auditors (so long as each such person shall have been instructed to keep the same confidential in accordance with this Section 9.17 ), (d) in order to enforce its rights under any Loan Document in a legal proceeding, (e) to any prospective assignee of, or prospective Participant in, any of its rights under this Agreement (so long as such person shall have been instructed to keep the same confidential in accordance with this Section 9.17 ) and (f) to any direct or indirect contractual counterparty in Swap Agreements or such contractual counterparty’s professional advisor (so long as such contractual counterparty or professional advisor to such contractual counterparty agrees to be bound by the provisions of this Section).

SECTION 9.18. Direct Website Communications . (a) Delivery . (i) Each Loan Party hereby agrees that it will provide to the Administrative Agent all information, documents and other materials that it is obligated to furnish to the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Agreement and any other Loan Document, including all notices, requests, financial statements, financial and other reports, certificates and other information materials, but excluding any such communication that (a) relates to a request for a new, or a conversion of an existing, borrowing or other extension of credit (including any election of an interest rate or interest period relating thereto), (b) relates to the payment of any principal or other amount due under this Agreement prior to the scheduled date therefor, (c) provides notice of any Default or Event of Default under this Agreement or (d) is required to be delivered to satisfy any condition precedent to the effectiveness of this Agreement and/or any borrowing or other extension of credit hereunder (all such non-excluded communications collectively, the “ Communications ”), by transmitting the Communications in an electronic/soft medium in a format acceptable to the Administrative Agent. In addition, each Loan Party agrees to continue to provide the Communications to the Administrative Agent in the manner specified in this Agreement or any other Loan Document but only to the extent requested by the Administrative Agent. Nothing in this Section 9.18 shall prejudice the right of the Agents, the Joint Lead Arrangers or any Lender or any Loan Party to give any notice or other communication pursuant to this Agreement or any other Loan Document in any other manner specified in this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

(ii) The Administrative Agent agrees that receipt of the Communications by the Administrative Agent at its e-mail address set forth in Section 9.01 shall constitute effective delivery of the Communications to the Administrative Agent for purposes of the Loan

 

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Documents. Each Lender agrees that notice to it (as provided in the next sentence) specifying that the Communications have been posted to the Platform (as defined below) shall constitute effective delivery of the Communications to such Lender for purposes of the Loan Documents. Each Lender agrees (a) to notify the Administrative Agent in writing (including by electronic communication) from time to time of such Lender’s e-mail address to which the foregoing notice may be sent by electronic transmission and (b) that the foregoing notice may be sent to such e-mail address.

(b) Posting . Each Loan Party further agrees that the Administrative Agent may make the Communications available to the Lenders by posting the Communications on Intralinks or a substantially similar electronic transmission system (the “ Platform ”).

(c) Platform . The Platform is provided “as is” and “as available.” The Agent Parties (as defined below) do not warrant the accuracy or completeness of the Communications or 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 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 Administrative Agent or any of its affiliates or any of their respective officers, directors, employees, agents advisors or representatives (collectively, “ Agent Parties ”) have any liability to the Loan Parties, any Lender or any other person or entity for damages of any kind, including direct or indirect, special, incidental or consequential damages, losses or expenses (whether in tort, contract or otherwise), arising out of any Loan Party’s or the Administrative Agent’s transmission of communications through the internet, except to the extent the liability of any Agent Party is found in a final non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted primarily from such Agent Party’s gross negligence or willful misconduct.

SECTION 9.19. Release of Liens and Guarantees . In the event that any Loan Party conveys, sells, leases, assigns, transfers or otherwise disposes of all or any portion of any of the Equity Interests or assets of any Loan Party (other than the Equity Interests of the Borrower) to a person that is not (and is not required to become) a Loan Party in a transaction not prohibited by this Agreement, then the Administrative Agent shall promptly (and the Lenders hereby authorize the Administrative Agent to) take such action and execute any such documents as may be reasonably requested by Holdings or the Borrower and at the Borrower’s expense to release any Liens created by any Loan Document in respect of such assets or Equity interests, and, in the case of a disposition of the Equity Interests of any Subsidiary Loan Party in a transaction not prohibited by this Agreement and as a result of which such Subsidiary Loan Party would cease to be a Subsidiary Loan Party, terminate such Subsidiary Loan Party’s obligations or Holdings’s obligations, as applicable, under the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement. In addition, the Administrative Agent agrees to take such actions as are reasonably requested by Holdings or the Borrower and at the Borrower’s expense to terminate the Liens and security interests created by the Loan Documents when all the Obligations (other than contingent indemnities and expense reimbursement obligations to the extent no claim therefor has been made) are paid in full and all Letters of Credit and Commitments are terminated. Any representation, warranty or covenant contained in any Loan Document relating to any such Equity Interests, asset or subsidiary of the Borrower shall no longer be deemed to be made once such Equity Interests or asset or subsidiary is so conveyed, sold, leased, assigned, transferred or disposed of.

 

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SECTION 9.20. Power of Attorney . Each Lender (including the Swingline Lender) and each Issuing Bank hereby (i) authorizes the Administrative Agent as its agent and attorney-in-fact to execute and deliver, on behalf of and in the name of such Lender or Issuing Bank (or Affiliate), all and any Loan Documents (including Security Documents) and related documentation, (ii) authorizes the Administrative Agent to appoint any further agents or attorneys-in-fact to execute and deliver, or otherwise to act, on behalf of and in the name of the Administrative Agent for any such purpose and (iii) authorizes the Administrative Agent to delegate its powers under this power of attorney and to do any and all acts and to make and receive all declarations that are deemed necessary or appropriate to the Administrative Agent.

SECTION 9.21. U.S.A. Patriot Act . Each Lender hereby notifies the Borrower that pursuant to the requirements of the U.S.A. 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 to identify the Borrower in accordance with the U.S.A. Patriot Act.

[ SIGNATURE PAGES FOLLOW ]

 

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

 

AFFINION GROUP, INC.

By:  

/s/ Nathaniel J. Lipman

 

Name:

 

Nathaniel J. Lipman

 

Title:

 

Chief Executive Officer

 

AFFINION GROUP HOLDINGS, INC.

By:  

/s/ Nathaniel J. Lipman

 

Name:

 

Nathaniel J. Lipman

 

Title:

 

Chief Executive Officer


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CREDIT SUISSE, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH

as Administrative Agent and as a Lender,

By:  

/s/ Robert Hetu

 

Name:

 

Robert Hetu

 

Title:

 

Director

 

By:  

/s/ Cassandra Droogan

 

Name:

 

Cassandra Droogan

 

Title:

 

Associate

 

DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC.

as Syndication Agent and as a Lender,

By:  

/s/ Michael C. Henry

 

Name:

 

Michael C. Henry

 

Title:

 

Managing Director

 

By:  

/s/ Eric Brook

 

Name:

 

Eric Brook

 

Title:

 

Managing Director


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DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH,

as a Lender

By:  

/s/ Scottye Lindsey

 

Name:

 

Scottye Lindsey

 

Title:

 

Director

 

By:  

/s/ Diane F. Rolfe

 

Name:

 

Diane F. Rolfe

 

Title:

 

Vice President

 

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,

as Documentation Agent and as a Lender,

By:  

/s/ John A. Fulton

 

Name:

 

John A. Fulton

 

Title:

 

Vice President

 

BNP PARIBAS SECURITIES CORP.,

as Documentation Agent and as a Lender,

By:  

/s/ Geoffery A. Manna

 

Name:

 

Geoffery A. Manna

 

Title:

 

Managing Director

 

By:  

/s/ Richard S. Cohen

 

Name:

 

Richard S. Cohen

 

Title:

 

Vice President


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EXHIBITS to the CREDIT AGREEMENT


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EXHIBIT A

[FORM OF]

ASSIGNMENT AND ACCEPTANCE

1. This Assignment and Acceptance (the “ Assignment and Acceptance ”) is dated as of the Effective Date set forth below and is entered into by and between [Insert name of Assignor] (the “ Assignor ”) and [Insert name of Assignee] (the “ Assignee ”). Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement identified below, receipt of a copy of which is hereby acknowledged by the 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 Acceptance as if set forth herein in full.

2. For an agreed consideration, the Assignor hereby irrevocably sells and assigns to the Assignee, and the Assignee hereby irrevocably purchases and assumes from the Assignor, 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 rights and obligations in its capacity as a Lender 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 under the respective facilities identified below (including any Letters of Credit 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) 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 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 pursuant to clauses (i) and (ii) above being referred to herein collectively as the “ Assigned Interest ”). Such sale and assignment is without recourse to the Assignor and, except as expressly provided in this Assignment and Acceptance, without representation or warranty by the Assignor.

 

  a. Assignor:                             

 

  b. Assignee: 1                                                           

[and is an Affiliate/Approved Fund of [Identify Lender]]

 

  c. Borrower: Affinion Group, Inc.

 

  d. Administrative Agent: Credit Suisse, Cayman Islands Branch, as Administrative Agent under the Credit Agreement

 

  e. Credit Agreement: Credit Agreement dated as of October __, 2005 (as amended, restated, supplemented, waived or otherwise modified from time to time, the

1 Assignee cannot be an Ineligible Institution.


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     Credit Agreement ”), among Affinion Group Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation ( “Holdings” ), Affinion Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Borrower” ), the Lenders from time to time party thereto, Credit Suisse, Cayman Islands Branch, as administrative agent ( “Credit Suisse” or, together with any successor administrative agent, in such capacity, the “ Administrative Agent ”) for the Lenders, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., as syndication agent (in such capacity, the “Syndication Agent” ), Bank of America, N.A. and BNP Paribas Securities Corp., as documentation agents (in such capacity, each, a “Documentation Agent” and together, the “Documentation Agents” ), Credit Suisse First Boston LLC and Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., as joint lead arrangers and joint bookrunners (in such capacity, the “Joint Lead Arrangers” ).

 

  f. Assigned Interest:

 

Facility Assigned

   Aggregate Amount of
Commitments/Loans
for all Lenders
   Amount of
Commitments/Loans
Assigned
   Percentage Assigned
of Commitments/
Loans 2

Revolving Facility Loan

         %

Tranche B Term Loan

         %

Effective Date:                          ,              , 200_. [TO BE INSERTED BY ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND WHICH SHALL BE THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF RECORDATION OF TRANSFER IN THE REGISTER THEREFOR.]


2 Set forth, to at least 9 decimals, as a percentage of the Commitment/Loans of all Lenders thereunder.

 

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The terms set forth in this Assignment and Acceptance are hereby agreed to:

 

ASSIGNOR [NAME OF ASSIGNOR]

By:

    
  Name:
  Title:

 

ASSIGNEE [NAME OF ASSIGNEE]

By:

    
  Name:
  Title:

 

Consented 3 to and accepted:

CREDIT SUISSE, CAYMAN ISLANDS

BRANCH AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

By:

    
  Name:
  Title:

[Consented 4 to:]

AFFINION GROUP, INC.

By:

    
  Name:
  Title:

[Consented 5 to:]

[NAME]


3 Consents to be included to the extent required by Section 9.04(b) of the Credit Agreement.

 

4 Consents to be included to the extent required by Section 9.04(b) of the Credit Agreement.

 

5 Consents of Issuing Bank and Swingline Bank to be included to the extent required by Section 9.04(b) of the Credit Agreement.

 

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ANNEX I

STANDARD TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR

ASSIGNMENT AND ACCEPTANCE

1. Representations and Warranties

1.1. Assignor . The Assignor (a) represents and warrants that (i) it is the legal and beneficial owner of the Assigned Interest, (ii) the Assigned Interest is free and clear of any lien, encumbrance or other adverse claim and (iii) it has full power and authority, and has taken all action necessary, to execute and deliver this Assignment and Acceptance and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, 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 Holdings, the Borrowers, any of their Subsidiaries or Affiliates or any other person obligated in respect of any Loan Document or (iv) the performance or observance by Holdings, the Borrowers, any of their Subsidiaries or Affiliates or any other person of any of their respective obligations under any Loan Document.

1.2. Assignee . The 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 Acceptance and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and to become a Lender under the Credit Agreement, (ii) it satisfies the requirements, if any, specified in the Credit Agreement that are required to be satisfied by it in order to acquire the Assigned Interest and become a Lender, (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 Assigned Interest, shall have the obligations of a Lender thereunder and (iv) it has received a copy of the Credit Agreement, together with copies of the most recent financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 5.04 thereof, as applicable, and such other documents and information as it has deemed appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Assignment and Acceptance and to purchase the Assigned Interest on the basis of which it has made such analysis and decision independently and without reliance on the Administrative Agent or any other Lender; and (b) agrees that (i) it will, independently and without reliance on the Administrative Agent, the 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 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 Assigned Interest (including payments of principal, interest, fees and other amounts) to the Assignor for amounts which have accrued to but excluding the Effective Date and to the Assignee for amounts which have accrued from and after the Effective Date.

3. General Provisions . This Assignment and Acceptance shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of, the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns. This Assignment and Acceptance may be executed in any number of counterparts, which

 

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together shall constitute one instrument. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Assignment and Acceptance by telecopy shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Assignment and Acceptance. This Assignment and Acceptance shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of the State of New York.

 

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CREDIT

SUISSE

   FIRST
BOSTON
  

LOGO

ADMINISTRATIVE QUESTIONNAIRE

AFFINION GROUP, INC.

 

Agent Information

  

Agent Closing Contact

Credit Suisse

Eleven Madison Avenue

New York, NY 10010

  

Fay Rollins

Tel: 212 325-9041

Fax: 212-743-1422

E-Mail: fay.rollins@csfb.com

Agent Wire Instructions

Bank of New York

ABA 021000018

Account Name: CSFB Cayman Agency Account

Account Number: 8900492627

  

It is very important that all of the requested information be completed accurately and that this

questionnaire be returned promptly. If your institution is sub-allocating its allocation, please fill

out an administrative questionnaire for each legal entity.

Legal Name of Lender to appear in Documentation:   
   

Signature Block Information :                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

•      Signing Credit Agreement

  

¨ Yes     ¨ No

•      Coming in via Assignment

  

¨ Yes     ¨ No

Type of Lender:                                                                                                                                                                                         

(Bank, Asset Manager, Broker/Dealer, CLO/CDO; Finance Company, Hedge Fund, Insurance, Mutual Fund,

Pension Fund, Other Regulated Investment Fund, Special Purpose Vehicle, Other-please specify)

 

Lender Parent:                                                                                                                                                                                                 

 

Lender Domestic Address

       

Lender Eurodollar Address

           
           
           

 

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Contacts/Notification Methods: Borrowings, Paydowns, Interest, Fees, etc.

 

    Primary Credit Contact          Secondary Credit Contact

Name:

            

Company:

            

Title:

            

Address:

            
               

Telephone:

            

Facsimile:

            

E-Mail Address:  

            
  Primary Operations Contact      Secondary Operations Contact

Name:

            

Company:

            

Title:

            

Address:

            
               

Telephone:

            

Facsimile:

            

E-Mail Address:

            

 

Lender’s Domestic Wire Instructions

 

Bank Name:

    

ABA/Routing No.:

    

Account Name:

    

Account No.:

    

FFC Account Name:  

    

FFC Account No.:

    

Attention:

    

Reference:

    

 

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NON-U.S. LENDER INSTITUTIONS :

I. Corporations :

If your institution is incorporated outside of the United States for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and is the beneficial owner of the interest and other income it receives, you must complete one of the following three tax forms, as applicable to your institution: a.) Form W-8BEN (Certificate of Foreign Status of Beneficial Owner) , b.) Form W-8ECI (Income Effectively Connected to a US. Trade or Business) , or c.) Form W-8EXP (Certificate of Foreign Government or Governmental Agency) .

A U.S. taxpayer identification number is required for any institution submitting Form W-8ECI. It is also required on Form W-8BEN for certain institutions claiming the benefits of a tax treaty with the U.S. Please refer to the instructions when completing the form applicable to your institution. In addition, please be advised that U.S. tax regulations do not permit the acceptance of faxed forms. An original tax form must be submitted .

II. Flow-Through Entities :

If your institution is organized outside the U.S., and is classified for U.S. federal income tax purposes as either a Partnership, Trust, Qualified or Non-Qualified Intermediary, or other non-U.S. flow-through entity, an original Form W-8IMY (Certificate of Foreign Intermediary, Foreign Flow-Through Entity, or Certain U.S. Branches for United States Tax Withholding) must be completed by the intermediary together with a withholding statement. Flow-through entities other than Qualified Intermediaries are required to include tax forms for each of the underlying beneficial owners.

Please refer to the instructions when completing this form. In addition, please be advised that U.S. tax regulations do not permit the acceptance of faxed forms. Original tax form(s) must be submitted .

U.S. LENDER INSTITUTIONS :

If your institution is incorporated or organized within the United States, you must complete and return Form W-9 (Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification) . Please be advised that we request that you submit an original Form W-9 .

Pursuant to the language contained in the tax section of the Credit Agreement, the applicable tax form for your institution must be completed and returned prior to the first payment of income. Failure to provide the proper tax form when requested may subject your institution to U.S. tax withholding .

 

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EXHIBIT C-1

[FORM OF]

BORROWING REQUEST

Credit Suisse, Cayman Islands Branch,

as Administrative Agent for the Lenders referred to below

11 Madison Avenue

New York, NY 10010

Attention:                     
Fax:                                 

[Date]

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Reference is made to the Credit Agreement dated as of October 17, 2005 (as amended, restated, supplemented, waived or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Credit Agreement ”), among Affinion Group Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation, Affinion Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Borrower ”), the Lenders from time to time party thereto, Credit Suisse, Cayman Islands Branch, as administrative agent for the Lenders, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., as syndication agent, Bank of America, N.A. and BNP Paribas Securities Corp., as documentation agents, Credit Suisse First Boston LLC and Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., as joint lead arrangers and joint bookrunners. Terms defined in the Credit Agreement are used herein with the same meanings. This notice constitutes a Borrowing Request and the Borrower hereby requests Borrowings under the Credit Agreement, and in that connection the Borrower specifies the following information with respect to such Borrowings requested hereby:

 

  (A) Type of Borrowing: [Revolving Borrowing] [Term Borrowing]

 

  (B) Aggregate Amount of Borrowing 1 :                                                              

 

  (C) Date of Borrowing (which shall be a Business Day):                                 

 

  (D) Type of Borrowing (ABR or Eurocurrency):                                              

 

  (E) Interest Period (if a Eurocurrency Borrowing) 2 :                                          

 

  (F) Location and number of Borrower’s account to which proceeds of
    Borrowing are to be disbursed:                                                                  

1 In an integral multiple of the Borrowing Multiple and not less than the Borrowing Minimum; provided, that an ABR Revolving Borrowing may be in an aggregate amount that is equal to the entire unused balance of the Revolving Commitments or that is required to finance the reimbursement of an L/C Disbursement as contemplated by Section 2.05(e) of the Credit Agreement.

 

2 Which must comply with the definition of “Interest Period” and in the case of Revolving Borrowing, end not later than the Revolving Facility Maturity Date.

 

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The Borrower named below hereby represents and warrants that the conditions specified in paragraphs (b)  and (c)  of Section 4.01 of the Credit Agreement are satisfied . 3

 

Very truly yours,

 

AFFINION GROUP, INC.

 

By:

    
  Name:
  Title:

3 To be included in Borrowing Notices after the Closing Date.

 

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EXHIBIT C-2

[FORM OF]

SWINGLINE BORROWING REQUEST

Credit Suisse, Cayman Islands Branch,

as Administrative Agent for the Lenders referred to below

11 Madison Avenue

New York, NY 10010

Attention:                         
Fax:                                     

[Date]

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Reference is made to the Credit Agreement dated as of October 17, 2005 (as amended, restated, supplemented, waived or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Credit Agreement ”), among Affinion Group Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation, Affinion Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Borrower ”), the Lenders from time to time party thereto, Credit Suisse, Cayman Islands Branch, as administrative agent for the Lenders, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., as syndication agent, Bank of America, N.A. and BNP Paribas Securities Corp., as documentation agents, Credit Suisse First Boston LLC and Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., as joint lead arrangers and joint bookrunners. Terms defined in the Credit Agreement are used herein with the same meanings. This notice constitutes a Swingline Borrowing Request and the Borrower hereby requests Borrowings under the Credit Agreement, and in that connection the Borrower specifies the following information with respect to such Borrowings requested hereby:

 

  (A) Aggregate Amount of Borrowing 1 :                                                                                   

 

  (B) Date of Borrowing (which shall be a Business Day):                                                      

 

  (C) Location and number of Borrower’s account to which proceeds of
    Borrowing are to be disbursed:                                                                                               

The Borrower named below hereby represents and warrants that the conditions specified in paragraphs (b)  and (c)  of Section 4.01 of the Credit Agreement are satisfied.

 

Very truly yours,
AFFINION GROUP, INC.

By:

    
  Name:
  Title:

1 In the case of a Swingline Borrowing, not less than $1,000,000 and an integral multiple of $500,000.

 

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EXHIBIT D

GUARANTEE AND COLLATERAL AGREEMENT

dated and effective as of

October 17, 2005,

among

AFFINION GROUP HOLDINGS, INC.,

AFFINION GROUP, INC.,

each Subsidiary of the Borrower identified herein,

and

CREDIT SUISSE, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

              Page
 

ARTICLE I.

  
 

Definitions

  
 

SECTION 1.01.

   Credit Agreement    1
 

SECTION 1.02.

   Other Defined Terms    1
 

ARTICLE II.

  
 

Guarantee

  
 

SECTION 2.01.

   Guarantee    5
 

SECTION 2.02.

   Guarantee of Payment    5
 

SECTION 2.03.

   No Limitations, Etc    5
 

SECTION 2.04.

   Reinstatement    6
 

SECTION 2.05.

   Agreement To Pay; Subrogation    7
 

SECTION 2.06.

   Information    7
 

SECTION 2.07.

   Maximum Liability    7
 

SECTION 2.08.

   Payment Free and Clear of Taxes    7
 

ARTICLE III.

  
 

Pledge of Securities

  
 

SECTION 3.01.

   Pledge    7
 

SECTION 3.02.

   Delivery of the Pledged Collateral    8
 

SECTION 3.03.

   Representations, Warranties and Covenants    9
 

SECTION 3.04.

   Registration in Nominee Name; Denominations    10
 

SECTION 3.05.

   Voting Rights; Dividends and Interest, etc    11
 

ARTICLE IV.

  
 

Security Interests in Personal Property

  

 

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SECTION 4.01.

   Security Interest    13
 

SECTION 4.02.

   Representations and Warranties    15
 

SECTION 4.03.

   Covenants    17
 

SECTION 4.04.

   Other Actions    19
 

SECTION 4.05.

  

Covenants Regarding Patent,

Trademark and Copyright Collateral

   21
 

ARTICLE V.

  
 

Remedies

  
 

SECTION 5.01.

   Remedies Upon Default    22
 

SECTION 5.02.

   Application of Proceeds    24
 

SECTION 5.03.

   Grant of License to Use Intellectual Property    25
 

SECTION 5.04.

   Securities Act, etc    25
 

SECTION 5.05.

   Registration, etc    26
 

ARTICLE VI.

  
 

Indemnity, Subrogation and Subordination

  
 

SECTION 6.01.

   Indemnity and Subrogation    26
 

SECTION 6.02.

   Contribution and Subrogation    27
 

SECTION 6.03.

   Subordination    27
 

ARTICLE VII.

  
 

Miscellaneous

  
 

SECTION 7.01.

   Notices    27
 

SECTION 7.02.

   Security Interest Absolute    27
 

SECTION 7.03.

   Limitation By Law    27
 

SECTION 7.04.

   Binding Effect; Several Agreement    28
 

SECTION 7.05.

   Successors and Assigns    28

 

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SECTION 7.06.

  

Administrative Agent’s Fees and Expenses;

Indemnification

   28
 

SECTION 7.07.

   Administrative Agent Appointed Attorney-in-Fact    29
 

SECTION 7.08.

   GOVERNING LAW    29
 

SECTION 7.09.

   Waivers; Amendment    29
 

SECTION 7.10.

   WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL    30
 

SECTION 7.11.

   Severability    30
 

SECTION 7.12.

   Counterparts    30
 

SECTION 7.13.

   Headings    30
 

SECTION 7.14.

   Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process    30
 

SECTION 7.15.

   Termination or Release    31
 

SECTION 7.16.

   Additional Subsidiaries    32
 

SECTION 7.17.

   Right of Set-off    32

 

Schedules

     

Schedule I

   [Reserved.]   

Schedule II

   Capital Stock; Debt Securities   

Schedule III

   Intellectual Property   

Exhibits

     

Exhibit I

   Form of Supplement to the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement   

Exhibit II

   Form of Perfection Certificate   

 

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GUARANTEE AND COLLATERAL AGREEMENT dated and effective as of October 17, 2005 (this “ Agreement ”), among AFFINION GROUP HOLDINGS, INC., a Delaware corporation (“ Holdings ”), AFFINION GROUP, INC., a Delaware limited liability company (the “ Borrower ”), each Subsidiary of the Borrower identified herein as a party (each, a “ Subsidiary Party ”) and CREDIT SUISSE, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, as Administrative Agent (in such capacity, the “ Administrative Agent ”) for the Secured Parties (as defined below).

Reference is made to the Credit Agreement dated as of October 17, 2005 (as amended, restated, supplemented, waived or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Credit Agreement ”), among Holdings, the Borrower, the LENDERS party thereto from time to time, the Administrative Agent, DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC., as syndication agent (in such capacity, the “ Syndication Agent ”), BANK OF AMERICA, N.A. and BNP PARIBAS SECURITIES CORP., as documentation agents (in such capacity, the “ Documentation Agents ”) and CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON LLC and DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC., as joint lead arrangers and joint bookrunners (in such capacity, the “ Joint Lead Arrangers ”).

The Lenders have agreed to extend credit to the Borrower subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Credit Agreement. The obligations of the Lenders to extend such credit are conditioned upon, among other things, the execution and delivery of this Agreement. The Subsidiary Parties are subsidiaries of the Borrower, will derive substantial benefits from the extension of credit to the Borrower pursuant to the Credit Agreement and are willing to execute and deliver this Agreement in order to induce the Lenders to extend such credit. Accordingly, the parties hereto agree as follows:

ARTICLE I.

Definitions

SECTION 1.01. Credit Agreement . (a) Capitalized terms used in this Agreement and not otherwise defined herein have the respective meanings assigned thereto in the Credit Agreement. All terms defined in the New York UCC (as defined herein) and not defined in this Agreement have the meanings specified therein. The term “instrument” shall have the meaning specified in Article 9 of the New York UCC.

(b) The rules of construction specified in Section 1.02 of the Credit Agreement also apply to this Agreement.

SECTION 1.02. Other Defined Terms . As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings specified below:

Account Debtor ” means any person who is or who may become obligated to any Pledgor under, with respect to or on account of an Account.

Article 9 Collateral ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 4.01 .

Collateral ” means Article 9 Collateral and Pledged Collateral.

Control Agreement ” means a securities account control agreement or a commodity account control agreement, as applicable, enabling the Administrative Agent to obtain “control” (within the meaning of the New York UCC) of any such accounts, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.


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Copyright License ” means any written agreement, now or hereafter in effect, granting any right to any Pledgor under any Copyright now or hereafter owned by any third party, and all rights of any Pledgor under any such agreement (including, without limitation, any such rights that such Pledgor has the right to license).

Copyrights ” means all of the following now owned or hereafter acquired by any Pledgor (or, as required in the context of the definition of “ Copyright License ,” any third party licensor): (a) all copyright rights in any work subject to the copyright laws of the United States or any other country, whether as author, assignee, transferee or otherwise; and (b) all registrations and applications for registration of any such Copyright in the United States or any other country, including registrations, supplemental registrations and pending applications for registration in the United States Copyright Office, including those listed on Schedule III .

Credit Agreement ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the preliminary statement of this Agreement.

Federal Securities Laws ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.04 .

General Intangibles ” means all “General Intangibles” as defined in the New York UCC.

Guarantors ” means Holdings and the Subsidiary Guarantors.

Intellectual Property ” means all intellectual and similar property of every kind and nature now owned or hereafter acquired by any Pledgor, including inventions, designs, Patents, Copyrights, Trademarks, trade secrets, domain names, confidential or proprietary technical and business information, know-how, show-how or other data or information and all related documentation.

IP Agreements ” means all material Copyright Licenses, Patent Licenses, Trademark Licenses, and all other agreements, permits, consents, orders and franchises relating to the license, development, use or disclosure of any material Intellectual Property to which a Pledgor, now or hereafter, is a party or a beneficiary, including, without limitation, the agreements set forth on Schedule III hereto.

Loan Document Obligations ” means (a) the due and punctual payment by the Borrower of (i) the unpaid principal of and interest (including interest accruing during the pendency of any bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other similar proceeding, regardless of whether allowed or allowable in such proceeding) on the Loans made to the Borrower, when and as due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, upon one or more dates set for prepayment or otherwise, (ii) each payment required to be made by the Borrower under the Credit Agreement in respect of any Letter of Credit, when and as due, including payments in respect of reimbursement of disbursements, interest thereon (including interest accruing during the pendency of any bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other similar proceeding, regardless of whether allowed or allowable in such proceeding) and obligations to provide cash collateral and (iii) all other monetary obligations of the Borrower to any of the Secured Parties under the Credit Agreement and each of the other Loan Documents, including obligations to pay fees, expense and reimbursement obligations and indemnification obligations, whether primary, secondary,

 

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direct, contingent, fixed or otherwise (including monetary obligations incurred during the pendency of any bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other similar proceeding, regardless of whether allowed or allowable in such proceeding), (b) the due and punctual performance of all other obligations of the Borrower under or pursuant to the Credit Agreement and each of the other Loan Documents and (c) the due and punctual payment and performance of all the obligations of each other Loan Party under or pursuant to this Agreement and each of the other Loan Documents.

New York UCC ” means the Uniform Commercial Code as from time to time in effect in the State of New York.

Obligations ” means (a) the Loan Document Obligations, (b) the due and punctual payment and performance of all obligations of each Loan Party under each Swap Agreement that (i) is in effect on the Closing Date with a counterparty that is a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender as of the Closing Date or (ii) is entered into after the Closing Date with any counterparty that is a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender at the time such Swap Agreement is entered into and (c) the due and punctual payment and performance of all obligations of the Borrower and any of its subsidiaries in respect of overdrafts and related liabilities owed to a Lender or any of its Affiliates (or any other Person designated by the Borrower as a provider of cash management services and entitled to the benefit of this Agreement) and arising from cash management services (including treasury, depository, overdraft, credit or debit card, electronic funds transfer, ACH services and other cash management arrangements).

Patent License ” means any written agreement, now or hereafter in effect, granting to any Pledgor any right to make, use or sell any invention covered by a Patent, now or hereafter owned by any third party (including, without limitation, any such rights that such Pledgor has the right to license).

Patents ” means all of the following now owned or hereafter acquired by any Pledgor (or, as required in the context of the definition of “ Patent License ,” any third party licensor): (a) all letters patent of the United States or the equivalent thereof in any other country, and all applications for letters patent of the United States or the equivalent thereof in any other country, including those listed on Schedule III , and (b) all reissues, continuations, divisions, continuations-in-part or extensions thereof, and the inventions disclosed or claimed therein, including the right to make, use and/or sell the inventions disclosed or claimed therein.

Perfection Certificate ” means a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit II , completed and supplemented with the schedules and attachments contemplated thereby, and duly executed by an officer of each Pledgor.

Permitted Liens ” means any Lien permitted by Section 6.02 and Section 6.08(b) of the Credit Agreement.

Pledged Collateral ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.01 .

Pledged Debt Securities ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.01 .

 

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Pledged Securities ” means any promissory notes, stock certificates or other certificated securities now or hereafter included in the Pledged Collateral, including all certificates, instruments or other documents representing or evidencing any Pledged Collateral.

Pledged Stock ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.01 .

Pledgor ” shall mean the Borrower and each Guarantor.

Requirement of Law ” means, with respect to any person, the common law and all federal, state, local and foreign laws, rules and regulations, orders, judgments, decrees and other legal requirements or determinations (including, without limitation, the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, and the written rules and regulations of the FCC) of any Governmental Authority or arbitrator, applicable to or binding upon such person or any of its property or which such Person or any of its property is subject.

Secured Parties ” means (a) the Lenders (and any Affiliate of a Lender or any other Person designated by the Borrower as a provider of cash management services to which any obligation referred to in clause (c)  of the definition of the term “ Obligations ” is owed), (b) the Administrative Agent, (c) each Issuing Bank, (d) each counterparty to any Swap Agreement entered into with a Loan Party the obligations under which constitute Obligations, (e) the beneficiaries of each indemnification obligation undertaken by any Loan Party under any Loan Document and (f) the successors and permitted assigns of each of the foregoing.

Security Interest ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 4.01 .

Subsidiary Party ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the preliminary statement of this Agreement, which includes any Subsidiary under Section 7.16 .

Trademark License ” means any written agreement, now or hereafter in effect, granting to any Pledgor any right to use any Trademark now or hereafter owned by any third party (including, without limitation, any such rights that such Pledgor has the right to license).

Trademarks ” means all of the following now owned or hereafter acquired by any Pledgor (or, as required in the context of the definition of “ Trademark License ,” any third party licensor): (a) all trademarks, service marks, corporate names, company names, business names, fictitious business names, trade styles, trade dress, logos, other source or business identifiers, designs and general intangibles of like nature, now existing or hereafter adopted or acquired, all registrations thereof (if any), and all registration and recording applications filed in connection therewith, including registrations and registration applications in the United States Patent and Trademark Office or any similar offices in any State of the United States or any other country or any political subdivision thereof, and all renewals thereof, including those listed on Schedule III and (b) all goodwill associated therewith or symbolized thereby.

 

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ARTICLE II.

Guarantee

SECTION 2.01. Guarantee . Each Guarantor unconditionally guarantees to the Administrative Agent, jointly with the other Guarantors and severally, as a primary obligor and not merely as a surety, the due and punctual payment and performance of the Obligations for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties. Each Guarantor further agrees that the Obligations may be extended or renewed, in whole or in part, without notice to or further assent from it, and that it will remain bound upon its guarantee notwithstanding any extension or renewal of any Obligation. Each Guarantor waives presentment to, demand of payment from and protest to the Borrower or any other Loan Party of any of the Obligations, and also waives notice of acceptance of its guarantee and notice of protest for nonpayment.

SECTION 2.02. Guarantee of Payment . Each Guarantor further agrees that its guarantee hereunder constitutes a guarantee of payment when due and not of collection, and waives any right to require that any resort be had by the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party to any security held for the payment of the Obligations or to any balance of any deposit account or credit on the books of the Administrative Agent (including in its individual capacity) or any other Secured Party in favor of the Borrower or any other person.

SECTION 2.03. No Limitations, Etc . (a) Except for termination of a Guarantor’s obligations hereunder as expressly provided for in Section 7.15 , the obligations of each Guarantor hereunder shall not be subject to any reduction, limitation, impairment or termination for any reason, including any claim of waiver, release, surrender, alteration or compromise, and shall not be subject to any defense or setoff, counterclaim, recoupment or termination whatsoever by reason of the invalidity, illegality or unenforceability of the Obligations or otherwise (other than defense of payment or performance). Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the obligations of each Guarantor hereunder shall not be discharged or impaired or otherwise affected by:

(i) the failure of the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party to assert any claim or demand or to exercise or enforce any right or remedy under the provisions of any Loan Document or otherwise;

(ii) any rescission, waiver, amendment or modification of, or any release from any of the terms or provisions of, any Loan Document or any other agreement, including with respect to any other Guarantor under this Agreement;

(iii) the failure to perfect any security interest in, or the exchange, substitution, release or any impairment of, any security held by the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party for the Obligations;

(iv) any default, failure or delay, willful or otherwise, in the performance of the Obligations;

(v) any other act or omission that may or might in any manner or to any extent vary the risk of any Guarantor or otherwise operate as a discharge of any Guarantor as a matter of law or equity (other than the payment in full in cash of all the Obligations),

(vi) any illegality, lack of validity or enforceability of any Obligation,

 

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(vii) any change in the corporate existence, structure or ownership of the Borrower, or any insolvency, bankruptcy, reorganization or other similar proceeding affecting the Borrower or its assets or any resulting release or discharge of any Obligation (other than the payment in full in cash of all the Obligations),

(viii) the existence of any claim, set-off or other rights that the Guarantor may have at any time against the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, or any other corporation or person, whether in connection herewith or any unrelated transactions, provided that nothing herein will prevent the assertion of any such claim by separate suit or compulsory counterclaim,

(ix) and any other circumstance (including without limitation, any statute of limitations) or any existence of or reliance on any representation by the Administrative Agent that might otherwise constitute a defense to, or a legal or equitable discharge of, the Borrower or the Guarantor or any other guarantor or surety.

Each Guarantor expressly authorizes the Secured Parties to take and hold security for the payment and performance of the Obligations, to exchange, waive or release any or all such security (with or without consideration), to enforce or apply such security and direct the order and manner of any sale thereof in their sole discretion or to release or substitute any one or more other guarantors or obligors upon or in respect of the Obligations, all without affecting the obligations of any Guarantor hereunder.

(b) To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, each Guarantor waives any defense based on or arising out of any defense of any other Loan Party or the unenforceability of the Obligations or any part thereof from any cause, or the cessation from any cause of the liability of any other Loan Party, other than the payment in full in cash or immediately available funds of all the Obligations (other than contingent or unliquidated obligations or liabilities). The Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties may, at their election, foreclose on any security held by one or more of them by one or more judicial or nonjudicial sales, accept an assignment of any such security in lieu of foreclosure, compromise or adjust any part of the Obligations, make any other accommodation with any other Loan Party or exercise any other right or remedy available to them against any other Loan Party, without affecting or impairing in any way the liability of any Guarantor hereunder except to the extent the Obligations (other than contingent or unliquidated obligations or liabilities) have been paid in full in cash or immediately available funds. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, each Guarantor waives any defense arising out of any such election even though such election operates, pursuant to applicable law, to impair or to extinguish any right of reimbursement or subrogation or other right or remedy of such Guarantor against any other Loan Party, as the case may be, or any security.

SECTION 2.04. Reinstatement . Each Guarantor agrees that its guarantee hereunder shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment, or any part thereof, of any Obligation is rescinded or must otherwise be restored by the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party upon the bankruptcy or reorganization of the Borrower, any other Loan Party or otherwise.

 

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SECTION 2.05. Agreement To Pay; Subrogation . In furtherance of the foregoing and not in limitation of any other right that the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party has at law or in equity against any Guarantor by virtue hereof, upon the failure of the Borrower or any other Loan Party to pay any Obligation when and as the same shall become due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, after notice of prepayment or otherwise, each Guarantor hereby promises to and will forthwith pay, or cause to be paid, to the Administrative Agent for distribution to the applicable Secured Parties in cash the amount of such unpaid Obligation. Upon payment by any Guarantor of any sums to the Administrative Agent as provided above, all rights of such Guarantor against the Borrower, or other Loan Party or any other Guarantor arising as a result thereof by way of right of subrogation, contribution, reimbursement, indemnity or otherwise shall in all respects be subject to Article VI .

SECTION 2.06. Information . Each Guarantor assumes all responsibility for being and keeping itself informed of the financial condition and assets of the Borrower and each other Loan Party, and of all other circumstances bearing upon the risk of nonpayment of the Obligations and the nature, scope and extent of the risks that such Guarantor assumes and incurs hereunder, and agrees that none of the Administrative Agent or the other Secured Parties will have any duty to advise such Guarantor of information known to it or any of them regarding such circumstances or risks.

SECTION 2.07. Maximum Liability . Anything herein or in any other Loan Document to the contrary notwithstanding, the maximum liability of each Guarantor hereunder and under the other Loan Documents shall in no event exceed the amount which can be guaranteed by such Guarantor under applicable federal and state laws relating to the insolvency of debtors (after giving effect to the right of contribution established in Section 6.02 ).

SECTION 2.08. Payment Free and Clear of Taxes . Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of any Guarantor hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall be made free and clear of, and without deduction for, any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes on the same terms and to the same extent that payments by the Borrower and Holdings are required to be made pursuant to the terms of Section 2.17 of the Credit Agreement. The provisions of Section 2.17 of the Credit Agreement shall apply to each Guarantor, mutatis mutandis .

ARTICLE III.

Pledge of Securities

SECTION 3.01. Pledge . As security for the payment or performance, as the case may be, in full of the Obligations, each Pledgor hereby assigns and pledges to the Administrative Agent, its successors and permitted assigns, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, and hereby grants to the Administrative Agent, its successors and permitted assigns, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, a security interest in all of such Pledgor’s right, title and interest in, to and under (a) the Equity Interests directly owned by it (including those listed on Schedule II ) and any other Equity Interests obtained in the future by such Pledgor and any certificates representing all such Equity Interests (the “ Pledged Stock ”); provided , that the Pledged Stock shall not include (i) more than 65% of the issued and outstanding voting Equity Interests of any Foreign Subsidiary, which pledge shall be duly noted on the share register, if any, of such Foreign Subsidiary, (ii) to the extent applicable law requires that a Subsidiary of such Pledgor issue directors’ qualifying shares, such shares or nominee or other similar shares, (iii) any Equity Interests with respect to which the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement or the other paragraphs of Section 5.11 of the Credit Agreement need not be satisfied by reason of Section 5.11(g) of the Credit Agreement, (iv) any Equity Interests of a Subsidiary to the extent that, as of the Closing Date, and for so long as, such a pledge of such Equity Interests would violate a contractual obligation binding on or relating to such Equity Interest permitted to exist under the

 

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Credit Agreement or (v) any Equity Interests of a person that is not directly or indirectly a Subsidiary; (b)(i) the debt securities listed opposite the name of such Pledgor on Schedule II , (ii) any debt securities in the future issued to such Pledgor and (iii) the promissory notes and any other instruments, if any, evidencing such debt securities (the “ Pledged Debt Securities ”); (c) subject to Section 3.05 , all payments of principal or interest, dividends, cash, instruments and other property from time to time received, receivable or otherwise distributed in respect of, in exchange for or upon the conversion of, and all other proceeds received in respect of, the securities referred to in clauses (a)  and (b)  above; (d) subject to Section 3.05 , all rights and privileges of such Pledgor with respect to the securities and other property referred to in clauses (a) , (b)  and (c)  above; and (e) all proceeds of any of the foregoing (the items referred to in clauses (a)  through (e)  above being collectively referred to as the “ Pledged Collateral ”).

TO HAVE AND TO HOLD the Pledged Collateral, together with all right, title, interest, powers, privileges and preferences pertaining or incidental thereto, unto the Administrative Agent, its successors and permitted assigns, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, forever; subject , however , to the terms, covenants and conditions hereinafter set forth.

SECTION 3.02. Delivery of the Pledged Collateral . (a) Each Pledgor agrees promptly to deliver or cause to be delivered to the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, any and all Pledged Securities to the extent such Pledged Securities, in the case of promissory notes or other instruments evidencing Indebtedness, are required to be delivered pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section 3.02 .

(b) Each Pledgor will cause any Indebtedness for borrowed money having, in the case of each instance of Indebtedness, an aggregate principal amount in excess of $1,000,000 (other than (i) intercompany current liabilities incurred in connection with the cash management operations and intercompany sales of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries permitted by the Credit Agreement or (ii) to the extent that a pledge of such promissory note or instrument would violate applicable law) owed to such Pledgor by any person and evidenced by a duly executed promissory note to be pledged and delivered to the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, pursuant to the terms hereof. To the extent any such promissory note is a demand note, each Pledgor party thereto agrees, if requested by the Administrative Agent, to immediately demand payment thereunder upon an Event of Default specified under Section 7.01(b) , (c) , (f) , (h) , or (i)  of the Credit Agreement.

(c) Upon delivery to the Administrative Agent, (i) any Pledged Securities required to be delivered pursuant to the foregoing paragraphs (a)  and (b)  of this Section 3.02 shall be accompanied by stock powers or note powers, as applicable, duly executed in blank or other instruments of transfer reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and by such other instruments and documents as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request and (ii) all other property composing part of the Pledged Collateral delivered pursuant to the terms of this Agreement shall be accompanied to the extent necessary to perfect the security interest in or allow realization on the Pledged Collateral by proper instruments of assignment duly executed by the applicable Pledgor and such other instruments or documents (including issuer acknowledgments in respect of uncertificated securities) as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request. Each delivery of Pledged Securities shall be accompanied by a schedule describing the securities, which schedule shall be attached hereto as Schedule II (or a supplement to Schedule II , as applicable) and made a part hereof; provided , that failure to attach any such schedule hereto shall not affect the validity of such pledge of such Pledged Securities. Each schedule so delivered shall supplement any prior schedules so delivered.

 

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SECTION 3.03. Representations, Warranties and Covenants . The Pledgors, jointly and severally, represent, warrant and covenant to and with the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, that:

(a) Schedule II correctly sets forth the percentage of the issued and outstanding shares of each class of the Equity Interests of the issuer thereof represented by such Pledged Stock and includes all Equity Interests, debt securities and promissory notes or instruments evidencing Indebtedness required to be (i) pledged in order to satisfy the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement, or (ii) delivered pursuant to Section 3.02(b) ;

(b) the Pledged Stock and Pledged Debt Securities (solely with respect to Pledged Debt Securities issued by a person that is not the Borrower, a Subsidiary or an Affiliate of the Borrower or any such subsidiary, to the best of each Pledgor’s knowledge) have been duly and validly authorized and issued by the issuers thereof and (i) in the case of Pledged Stock, are fully paid and nonassessable (other than with respect to Pledge Stock consisting of membership interests of limited liability companies to the extent provided in Sections 18-502 and 18-607 of the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act) and (ii) in the case of Pledged Debt Securities (solely with respect to Pledged Debt Securities issued by a person that is not the Borrower, a Subsidiary or an Affiliate of the Borrower or any such subsidiary, to the best of each Pledgor’s knowledge) are legal, valid and binding obligations of the issuers thereof, subject to the effects of bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally, general equitable principles (whether considered in a proceeding at law or in equity) and an implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing;

(c) as of the Closing Date, none of the Equity Interests in limited liability companies or partnerships that are pledged by the Pledgors hereunder constitutes a security under Section 8-103 of the Uniform Commercial Code or the corresponding code or statute of any other applicable jurisdiction;

(d) the Pledgors shall not amend, or permit to be amended, the limited liability company agreement (or operating agreement or similar agreement) or partnership agreement of any Subsidiary of any Loan Party whose Equity Interests are, or are required to be, Collateral in a manner to cause such Equity Interests to constitute a security under Section 8-103 of the Uniform Commercial Code in the State of New York or the corresponding code or statute of any other applicable jurisdiction unless such Loan Party shall have first delivered 30 days written notice to the Collateral Agent and shall have taken all actions contemplated hereby and as otherwise reasonably required by the Collateral Agent to maintain the security interest of the Collateral Agent therein as a valid, perfected, first priority security interest;

(e) except for the security interests granted hereunder, each Pledgor (i) is and, subject to any transfers made in compliance with the Credit Agreement, will continue to be the direct owner, beneficially and of record, of the Pledged Securities indicated on Schedule II as owned by such Pledgor, (ii) holds the same free and clear of all Liens, other than Permitted Liens, (iii) will make no assignment, pledge, hypothecation or transfer of, or create or permit to exist any security interest in or other Lien on, the Pledged Collateral, other than pursuant to a

 

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transaction permitted by the Credit Agreement and other than Permitted Liens and (iv) subject to the rights of such Pledgor under the Loan Documents to dispose of Pledged Collateral, will use commercially reasonable efforts to defend its title or interest hereto or therein against any and all Liens (other than Permitted Liens), however arising, of all persons;

(f) other than as set forth in the Credit Agreement or the schedules thereto, and except for restrictions and limitations imposed by the Loan Documents or securities laws generally or otherwise permitted to exist pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement, the Pledged Collateral is and will continue to be freely transferable and assignable, and none of the Pledged Collateral is or will be subject to any option, right of first refusal, shareholders agreement, charter or by-law provisions or contractual restriction of any nature that might prohibit, impair, delay or otherwise affect the pledge of such Pledged Collateral hereunder, the sale or disposition thereof pursuant hereto or the exercise by the Administrative Agent of rights and remedies hereunder;

(g) each Pledgor has the power and authority to pledge the Pledged Collateral pledged by it hereunder in the manner hereby done or contemplated;

(h) other than as set forth in the Credit Agreement or the schedules thereto, no consent or approval of any Governmental Authority, any securities exchange or any other person was or is necessary to the validity of the pledge effected hereby (other than such as have been obtained and are in full force and effect);

(i) each Pledgor that is an issuer of the Pledged Collateral confirms that is has received notice of the security interest granted hereunder;

(j) by virtue of the execution and delivery by the Pledgors of this Agreement and the Foreign Pledge Agreements, when any Pledged Securities (including Pledged Stock of any domestic Subsidiary and any foreign stock covered by a Foreign Pledge Agreement) are delivered to the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, in accordance with this Agreement, the Administrative Agent will obtain, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, a legal, valid and perfected lien upon and security interest in such Pledged Securities, subject only to Liens permitted under the Credit Agreement or arising by operation of law, as security for the payment and performance of the Obligations; and

(k) the pledge effected hereby is effective to vest in the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, the rights of the Administrative Agent in the Pledged Collateral as set forth herein.

SECTION 3.04. Registration in Nominee Name; Denominations . The Administrative Agent, on behalf of the Secured Parties, shall have the right (in its sole and absolute discretion) to hold the Pledged Securities in the name of the applicable Pledgor, endorsed or assigned in blank or in favor of the Administrative Agent or, if an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, in its own name as pledgee or the name of its nominee (as pledgee or as sub-agent). Each Pledgor will promptly give to the Administrative Agent copies of any notices or other communications received by it with respect to Pledged Securities registered in the name of such Pledgor. If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the

 

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Administrative Agent shall have the right to exchange the certificates representing Pledged Securities for certificates of smaller or larger denominations for any purpose consistent with this Agreement. Each Pledgor shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause any Loan Party that is not a party to this Agreement to comply with a request by the Administrative Agent, pursuant to this Section 3.04 , to exchange certificates representing Pledged Securities of such Loan Party for certificates of smaller or larger denominations.

SECTION 3.05. Voting Rights; Dividends and Interest, etc . (a) Unless and until an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and the Administrative Agent shall have given notice to the relevant Pledgors of the Administrative Agent’s intention to exercise its rights hereunder:

(i) Each Pledgor shall be entitled to exercise any and all voting and/or other consensual rights and powers inuring to an owner of Pledged Collateral or any part thereof for any purpose consistent with the terms of this Agreement, the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents; provided , that such rights and powers shall not be exercised in any manner that could materially and adversely affect the rights inuring to a holder of any Pledged Collateral, the rights and remedies of any of the Administrative Agent or the other Secured Parties under this Agreement, the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document or the ability of the Secured Parties to exercise the same.

(ii) The Administrative Agent shall promptly execute and deliver to each Pledgor, or cause to be executed and delivered to such Pledgor, all such proxies, powers of attorney and other instruments as such Pledgor may reasonably request for the purpose of enabling such Pledgor to exercise the voting and/or consensual rights and powers it is entitled to exercise pursuant to subparagraph (i)  above.

(iii) Each Pledgor shall be entitled to receive and retain any and all dividends, interest, principal and other distributions paid on or distributed in respect of the Pledged Collateral to the extent and only to the extent that such dividends, interest, principal and other distributions are permitted by, and otherwise paid or distributed in accordance with, the terms and conditions of the Credit Agreement, the other Loan Documents and applicable laws; provided , that (A) any noncash dividends, interest, principal or other distributions, payments or other consideration in respect thereof, including any rights to receive the same to the extent not so distributed or paid, that would constitute Pledged Securities or Article 9 Collateral, whether resulting from a subdivision, combination or reclassification of the outstanding Equity Interests of the issuer of any Pledged Securities, received in exchange for Pledged Securities or any part thereof, or in redemption thereof, as a result of any merger, consolidation, acquisition or other exchange of assets to which such issuer may be a party or otherwise or (B) any non-cash dividends and other distributions paid or payable in respect of any Pledged Securities that would constitute Pledged Securities or Article 9 Collateral in connection with a partial or total liquidation or dissolution or in connection with a reduction of capital, capital surplus or paid in surplus, shall be and become part of the Pledged Collateral or Article 9 Collateral, as applicable, and, if received by any Pledgor, shall not be commingled by such Pledgor with any of its other funds or property but shall be held separate and apart therefrom, shall be held in trust for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, and shall be forthwith delivered to the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, in the same form as so received (endorsed in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent).

 

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(b) Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default and after notice by the Administrative Agent to the Borrower of the Administrative Agent’s intention to exercise its rights hereunder, all rights of any Pledgor to dividends, interest, principal or other distributions that such Pledgor is authorized to receive pursuant to paragraph (a)(iii) of this Section 3.05 shall cease, and all such rights shall thereupon become vested, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, in the Administrative Agent, which shall have the sole and exclusive right and authority to receive and retain such dividends, interest, principal or other distributions; provided, however, that even after the occurrence of an Event of Default, any Pledgor may continue to exercise dividend and distribution rights solely to the extent permitted under subclause (i)  and subclause (ii)  of Section 6.06(b) of the Credit Agreement and such amounts are required by Holdings for the stated purposes thereof. All dividends, interest, principal or other distributions received by any Pledgor contrary to the provisions of this Section 3.05 shall not be commingled by such Pledgor with any of its other funds or property but shall be held separate and apart therefrom, shall be held in trust for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, and shall be forthwith delivered to the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, in the same form as so received (endorsed in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent). Any and all money and other property paid over to or received by the Administrative Agent pursuant to the provisions of this paragraph (b)  shall be retained by the Administrative Agent in an account to be established by the Administrative Agent upon receipt of such money or other property and shall be applied in accordance with the provisions of Section 5.02 . After all Events of Default have been cured or waived and the Borrower has delivered to the Administrative Agent a certificate to that effect, the Administrative Agent shall promptly repay to each Pledgor (without interest) all dividends, interest, principal or other distributions that such Pledgor would otherwise be permitted to retain pursuant to the terms of paragraph (a)(iii) of this Section 3.05 and that remain in such account.

(c) Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default and after notice by the Administrative Agent to the Borrower of the Administrative Agent’s intention to exercise its rights hereunder, all rights of any Pledgor to exercise the voting and/or consensual rights and powers it is entitled to exercise pursuant to paragraph (a)(i) of this Section 3.05 , and the obligations of the Administrative Agent under paragraph (a)(ii) of this Section 3.05 , shall cease, and all such rights shall thereupon become vested in the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, which shall have the sole and exclusive right and authority to exercise such voting and consensual rights and powers (other than any Event of Default under Section 7.01(h) or (i)  the Credit Agreement); provided , that, unless otherwise directed by the Required Lenders, the Administrative Agent shall have the right from time to time following and during the continuance of an Event of Default (other than any Event of Default under Section 7.01(h) or (i)  of the Credit Agreement) to permit the Pledgors to exercise such rights. After all Events of Default have been cured or waived and the Borrower has delivered to the Administrative Agent a certificate to that effect, each Pledgor shall have the right to exercise the voting and/or consensual rights and powers that such Pledgor would otherwise be entitled to exercise pursuant to the terms of paragraph (a)(i) above.

 

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ARTICLE IV.

Security Interests in Personal Property

SECTION 4.01. Security Interest . (a) As security for the payment or performance, as the case may be, in full of the Obligations, each Pledgor hereby assigns and pledges to the Administrative Agent, its successors and assigns, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, and hereby grants to the Administrative Agent, its successors and assigns, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, a security interest (the “ Security Interest ”) in all right, title and interest in or to any and all of the following assets and properties now owned or at any time hereafter acquired by such Pledgor or in which such Pledgor now has or at any time in the future may acquire any right, title or interest (collectively, the “ Article 9 Collateral ”):

(i) all Accounts;

(ii) all Chattel Paper;

(iii) all cash and Deposit Accounts;

(iv) all Documents;

(v) all Equipment;

(vi) all General Intangibles;

(vii) all Instruments;

(viii) all Intellectual Property;

(ix) all Inventory;

(x) all Investment Property;

(xi) all Letter of Credit Rights;

(xii) all Commercial Tort Claims;

(xiii) to the extent not included in the definition of “General Intangibles”, all choses in action and causes of action and all other intangible personal property of any Pledgor of every kind and nature (other than Accounts) now owned or hereafter acquired by any Pledgor, including corporate or other business records, indemnification claims, contract rights (including rights under leases, whether entered into as lessor or lessee, Swap Agreements and other agreements), Intellectual Property, goodwill, registrations, franchises, tax refund claims and any letter of credit, guarantee, claim, security interest or other security;

(xiv) all other personal property not otherwise described above (except for property specifically excluded from any defined term used in any of the foregoing clauses);

(xv) all books and records pertaining to the Article 9 Collateral; and

 

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(xvi) to the extent not otherwise included, all proceeds, Supporting Obligations and products of any and all of the foregoing and all collateral security and guarantees given by any person with respect to any of the foregoing.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, this Agreement shall not constitute a grant of a security interest in (a) any vehicle covered by a certificate of title or ownership, (b) any assets with respect to which the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement or the other paragraphs of Section 5.11 of the Credit Agreement need not be satisfied by reason of Section 5.11(g) of the Credit Agreement, (c) any Equity Interests, the pledge of which is governed by Section 3.01 hereof, (d) any Letter of Credit Rights to the extent any Pledgor is required by applicable law to apply the proceeds of a drawing of such Letter of Credit for a specified purpose or (e) any Pledgor’s right, title or interest in any license, contract or agreement to which such Pledgor is a party or any of its right, title or interest thereunder to the extent, but only to the extent, that such a grant would, under the terms of such license, contract or agreement, result in a breach of the terms of, or constitute a default under, any license, contract or agreement to which such Pledgor is a party (other than to the extent that any such term would be rendered ineffective pursuant to Section 9-406, 9-407, 9-408 or 9-409 of the New York UCC or any other applicable law (including, without limitation, Title 11 of the United States Code) or principles of equity); provided , that immediately upon the ineffectiveness, lapse or termination of any such provision, the Collateral shall include, and such Grantor shall be deemed to have granted a security interest in, all such rights and interests as if such provision had never been in effect.

(b) Each Pledgor hereby irrevocably authorizes the Administrative Agent at any time and from time to time to file in any relevant jurisdiction any initial financing statements (including fixture filings) with respect to the Article 9 Collateral or any part thereof and amendments thereto that contain the information required by Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code of each applicable jurisdiction for the filing of any financing statement or amendment, including (i) whether such Pledgor is an organization, the type of organization and any organizational identification number issued to such Pledgor, (ii) in the case of a financing statement filed as a fixture filing, a sufficient description of the real property to which such Article 9 Collateral relates and (iii) a description of collateral that describes such property in any other manner as the Administrative Agent may reasonably determine is necessary or advisable to ensure the perfection of the security interest in the Article 9 Collateral granted under this Agreement, including describing such property as “all assets” or “all property.” Each Pledgor agrees to provide such information to the Administrative Agent promptly upon request.

The Administrative Agent is further authorized to file with the United States Patent and Trademark Office or United States Copyright Office (or any successor office or any similar office in any other country) such documents as may be necessary or advisable for the purpose of perfecting, confirming, continuing, enforcing or protecting the Security Interest granted by each Pledgor, without the signature of any Pledgor, and naming any Pledgor or the Pledgors as debtors and the Administrative Agent as secured party.

(c) The Security Interest is granted as security only and shall not subject the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party to, or in any way alter or modify, any obligation or liability of any Pledgor with respect to or arising out of the Article 9 Collateral.

 

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SECTION 4.02. Representations and Warranties . The Pledgors jointly and severally represent and warrant to the Administrative Agent and the Secured Parties that:

(a) Each Pledgor has good and valid rights in and title to the Article 9 Collateral with respect to which it has purported to grant a Security Interest hereunder and has full power and authority to grant to the Administrative Agent the Security Interest in such Article 9 Collateral pursuant hereto and to execute, deliver and perform its obligations in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, without the consent or approval of any other person other than any consent or approval that has been obtained and is in full force and effect or has otherwise been disclosed herein or in the Credit Agreement and the Schedules hereto.

(b) The Perfection Certificate has been duly prepared, completed and executed and the information set forth-therein, including the exact legal name of each Pledgor, is correct and complete, in all material respects, as of the Closing Date. Uniform Commercial Code financing statements (including fixture filings, as applicable) or other appropriate filings, recordings or registrations containing a description of the Article 9 Collateral have been prepared by the Administrative Agent based upon the information provided to the Administrative Agent in the Perfection Certificate for filing in each governmental, municipal or other office specified in Schedule 7 to the Perfection Certificate (or specified by notice from the Borrower to the Administrative Agent after the Closing Date in the case of filings, recordings or registrations required by Section 5.11 of the Credit Agreement), and constitute all the filings, recordings and registrations (other than filings required to be made in the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the United States Copyright Office in order to perfect the Security Interest in Article 9 Collateral consisting of United States Patents, United States registered Trademarks and United States registered Copyrights) that are necessary to publish notice of and protect the validity of and to establish a legal, valid and perfected security interest in favor of the Administrative Agent (for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties) in respect of all Article 9 Collateral in which the Security Interest may be perfected by filing, recording or registration in the United States (or any political subdivision thereof) and its territories and possessions, and no further or subsequent filing, refiling, recording, rerecording, registration or reregistration is necessary in any such jurisdiction, except as provided under applicable law with respect to the filing of continuation statements or amendments. Each Pledgor represents and warrants that a fully executed Intellectual Property Security Agreement containing a description of all Article 9 Collateral consisting of Intellectual Property with respect to United States Patents (and Patents for which United States registration applications are pending), United States registered Trademarks (and Trademarks for which United States registration applications are pending) and United States registered Copyrights (and Copyrights for which United States registration applications are pending) has been delivered to the Administrative Agent for recording with the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the United States Copyright Office pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 261, 15 U.S.C. § 1060 or 17 U.S.C. § 205 and the regulations thereunder, as applicable, and reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent, to protect the validity of and to establish a legal, valid and perfected security interest in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, in respect of all Article 9 Collateral consisting of such Intellectual Property in which a security interest may be perfected by recording with the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the United States Copyright Office, and no further or subsequent filing, refiling, recording, rerecording, registration or reregistration is necessary (other than such actions as are necessary to perfect the Security Interest with respect to any Article 9 Collateral consisting of Patents, Trademarks and Copyrights (or registration or application for registration thereof) acquired or developed after the date hereof).

 

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(c) The Security Interest constitutes (i) a legal and valid security interest in all the Article 9 Collateral securing the payment and performance of the Obligations, (ii) subject to the filings described in Section 4.02(b) , a perfected security interest in all Article 9 Collateral in which a security interest may be perfected by filing, recording or registering a financing statement or analogous document in the United States (or any political subdivision thereof) and its territories and possessions pursuant to the Uniform Commercial Code or other applicable law in such jurisdictions and (iii) subject to Section 4.02(b) , a security interest that shall be perfected in all Article 9 Collateral in which a security interest may be perfected upon the receipt and recording of the Intellectual Property Security Agreement with the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the United States Copyright Office, as applicable. The Security Interest is and shall be prior to any other Lien on any of the Article 9 Collateral other than Permitted Liens or Liens arising by operation of law.

(d) The Article 9 Collateral is owned by the Guarantors free and clear of any Lien, other than Permitted Liens or Liens arising by operation of law. None of the Pledgors has filed or consented to the filing of (i) any financing statement or analogous document under the Uniform Commercial Code or any other applicable laws covering any Article 9 Collateral, (ii) any assignment in which any Pledgor assigns any Article 9 Collateral or any security agreement or similar instrument covering any Article 9 Collateral with the United States Patent and Trademark Office or the United States Copyright Office or (iii) any assignment in which any Pledgor assigns any Article 9 Collateral or any security agreement or similar instrument covering any Article 9 Collateral with any foreign governmental, municipal or other office, which financing statement or analogous document, assignment, security agreement or similar instrument is still in effect, except, in each case, for Permitted Liens.

(e) None of the Pledgors holds any Commercial Tort Claim individually in excess of $500,000 as of the Closing Date except as indicated on the Perfection Certificate.

(f) Except as set forth in the Perfection Certificate, as of the Closing Date, all Accounts owned by the Pledgors have been originated by the Pledgors and all Inventory owned by the Pledgors has been acquired by the Pledgors in the ordinary course of business.

(g) As to itself and its Intellectual Property Collateral:

(i) The Intellectual Property Collateral set forth on Schedule III includes all of the Patents, domain names, Trademarks, Copyrights and IP Agreements owned by such Pledgor as of the date hereof.

(ii) The Intellectual Property Collateral is subsisting and has not been adjudged invalid or unenforceable in whole or part, and to the best of such Pledgor’s knowledge, is valid and unenforceable, except as could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Such Pledgor is not aware of any uses of any item of Intellectual Property Collateral that would be expected to lead to such item becoming invalid or unenforceable, except as could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(iii) Such Pledgor has made or performed all commercially reasonable acts, including without limitation filings, recordings and payment of all required fees and taxes, required to maintain and protect its interest in each and every item of Intellectual Property Collateral in full force and effect in the United States and such Pledgor has used proper statutory notice in connection with its use of each Patent, Trademark and Copyright in the Intellectual Property Collateral, in each case, except to the extent that the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(iv) With respect to each IP Agreement, the absence, termination or violation of which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect: (A) such Pledgor has not received any notice of termination or cancellation under such IP Agreement; (B) such Pledgor has not received any notice of a breach or default under such IP Agreement, which breach or default has not been cured or waived; and (C) neither such Pledgor nor any other party to such IP Agreement is in breach or default thereof in any material respect, and no event has occurred that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute such a breach or default or permit termination, modification or acceleration under such IP Agreement.

(v) Except as could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, no Pledgor or Intellectual Property Collateral is subject to any outstanding consent, settlement, decree, order, injunction, judgment or ruling restricting the use of any Intellectual Property Collateral or that would impair the validity or enforceability of such Intellectual Property Collateral.

SECTION 4.03. Covenants . (a) Each Pledgor agrees promptly to notify the Administrative Agent in writing of any change (i) in its corporate name, (ii) in its identity or type of organization or corporate structure, (iii) in its Federal Taxpayer Identification Number or organizational identification number or (iv) in its jurisdiction of organization. Each Pledgor agrees promptly to provide the Administrative Agent with certified organizational documents reflecting any of the changes described in the immediately preceding sentence. Each Pledgor agrees not to effect or permit any change referred to in the first sentence of this paragraph (a) unless all filings have been made under the Uniform Commercial Code or otherwise that are required in order for the Administrative Agent to continue at all times following such change to have a valid, legal and perfected first priority security interest in all the Article 9 Collateral, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties. Each Pledgor agrees promptly to notify the Administrative Agent if any material portion of the Article 9 Collateral owned or held by such Pledgor is damaged or destroyed.

(b) Subject to the rights of such Pledgor under the Loan Documents to dispose of Collateral, each Pledgor shall, at its own expense, use commercially reasonable efforts to defend title to the Article 9 Collateral against all persons and to defend the Security Interest of the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, in the Article 9 Collateral and the priority thereof against any Lien that is not a Permitted Lien.

 

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(c) Each Pledgor agrees, at its own expense, to execute, acknowledge, deliver and cause to be duly filed all such further instruments and documents and take all such actions as the Administrative Agent may from time to time reasonably request to better assure, preserve, protect and perfect the Security Interest and the rights and remedies created hereby, including, without limitation, the payment of any fees and taxes required in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the granting of the Security Interest and the filing of any financing statements (including fixture filings) or other documents in connection herewith or therewith. If any amount payable under or in connection with any of the Article 9 Collateral that is in excess of $1,000,000 shall be or become evidenced by any promissory note or other instrument, such note or instrument shall be promptly pledged and delivered to the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, duly endorsed in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each Pledgor hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent, with prompt notice thereof to the Pledgors, to supplement this Agreement by supplementing Schedule III or adding additional schedules hereto to specifically identify any asset or item that may constitute Copyrights, Patents, Trademarks, Copyright Licenses, Patent Licenses or Trademark Licenses; provided that any Pledgor shall have the right, exercisable within 30 days after the Borrower has been notified by the Administrative Agent of the specific identification of such Article 9 Collateral, to advise the Administrative Agent in writing of any inaccuracy of the representations and warranties made by such Pledgor hereunder with respect to such Article 9 Collateral. Each Pledgor agrees that it will use its commercially reasonable efforts to take such action as shall be necessary in order that all representations and warranties hereunder shall be true and correct with respect to such Article 9 Collateral within 30 days after the date it has been notified by the Administrative Agent of the specific identification of such Article 9 Collateral, including, if such inaccuracy arose from the omission of any items from any such Schedules, by supplementing any such Schedule hereto and the Perfection Certificate.

(d) After the occurrence of an Event of Default and during the continuance thereof, the Administrative Agent shall have the right to verify under reasonable procedures the validity, amount, quality, quantity, value, condition and status of, or any other matter relating to, the Article 9 Collateral, including, in the case of Accounts or Article 9 Collateral in the possession of any third person, by contacting Account Debtors or the third person possessing such Article 9 Collateral for the purpose of making such a verification. The Administrative Agent shall have the right to share any information it gains from such inspection or verification with any Secured Party.

(e) At its option, the Administrative Agent may discharge past due taxes, assessments, charges, fees, Liens, security interests or other encumbrances at any time levied or placed on the Article 9 Collateral and is not a Permitted Lien, and may pay for the maintenance and preservation of the Article 9 Collateral to the extent any Pledgor fails to do so as required by the Credit Agreement or this Agreement, and each Pledgor jointly and severally agrees to reimburse the Administrative Agent on demand for any reasonable payment made or any reasonable expense incurred by the Administrative Agent pursuant to the foregoing authorization; provided , however , that nothing in this Section 4.03(e) shall be interpreted as excusing any Pledgor from the performance of, or imposing any obligation on the Administrative Agent or any Secured Party to cure or perform, any covenants or other promises of any Pledgor with respect to taxes, assessments, charges, fees, Liens, security interests or other encumbrances and maintenance as set forth herein or in the other Loan Documents.

 

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(f) Each Pledgor (rather than the Administrative Agent or any Secured Party) shall remain liable for the observance and performance of all the conditions and obligations to be observed and performed by it under each contract, agreement or instrument relating to the Article 9 Collateral and each Pledgor jointly and severally agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Administrative Agent and the Secured Parties from and against any and all liability for such performance.

(g) None of the Pledgors shall make or permit to be made an assignment, pledge or hypothecation of the Article 9 Collateral or shall grant any other Lien in respect of the Article 9 Collateral, except as expressly permitted by the Credit Agreement. None of the Pledgors shall make or permit to be made any transfer of the Article 9 Collateral and each Pledgor shall remain at all times in possession of the Article 9 Collateral owned by it, except as permitted by the Credit Agreement.

(h) None of the Pledgors will, without the Administrative Agent’s prior written consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), grant any extension of the time of payment of any Accounts included in the Article 9 Collateral, compromise, compound or settle the same for less than the full amount thereof, release, wholly or partly, any person liable for the payment thereof or allow any credit or discount whatsoever thereon, other than extensions, credits, discounts, compromises or settlements granted or made in the ordinary course of business and consistent with prudent business practices, except as permitted by the Credit Agreement.

(i) Each Pledgor irrevocably makes, constitutes and appoints the Administrative Agent (and all officers, employees or agents designated by the Administrative Agent) as such Pledgor’s true and lawful agent (and attorney-in-fact) for the purpose, during the continuance of an Event of Default, of making, settling and adjusting claims in respect of Article 9 Collateral under policies of insurance, endorsing. the name of such Pledgor on any check, draft, instrument or other item of payment for the proceeds of such policies of insurance and for making all determinations and decisions with respect thereto. In the event that any Pledgor at any time or times shall fail to obtain or maintain any of the policies of insurance required hereby or to pay any premium in whole or part relating thereto, the Administrative Agent may, without waiving or releasing any obligation or liability of the Pledgors hereunder or any Event of Default, in its sole discretion, obtain and maintain such policies of insurance and pay such premium and take any other actions with respect thereto as the Administrative Agent reasonably deems advisable. All sums disbursed by the Administrative Agent in connection with this Section 4.03(i) , including reasonable attorneys’ fees, court costs, expenses and other charges relating thereto, shall be payable, upon demand, by the Guarantors to the Administrative Agent and shall be additional Obligations secured hereby.

SECTION 4.04. Other Actions . In order to further ensure the attachment, perfection and priority of, and the ability of the Administrative Agent to enforce, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, the Administrative Agent’s security interest in the Article 9 Collateral, each Pledgor agrees, in each case at such Pledgor’s own expense, to take the following actions with, respect to the following Article 9 Collateral:

 

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(a) Instruments and Tangible Chattel Paper . If any Pledgor shall at any time own or acquire any Instruments or Tangible Chattel Paper evidencing an amount in excess of $1,000,000, such Pledgor shall forthwith endorse, assign and deliver the same to the Administrative Agent, accompanied by such instruments of transfer or assignment duly executed in blank as the Administrative Agent may from time to time reasonably request.

(b) Investment Property . Except to the extent otherwise provided in Article III , if any Pledgor shall at any time hold or acquire any Certificated Security, such Pledgor shall forthwith endorse, assign and deliver the same to the Administrative Agent, accompanied by such instruments of transfer or assignment duly executed in blank as the Administrative Agent may from time to time reasonably specify. If any security of a domestic issuer now or hereafter acquired by any Pledgor is uncertificated and is issued to such Pledgor or its nominee directly by the issuer thereof, (i) upon the Administrative Agent’s reasonable request and (ii) upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, such Pledgor shall promptly notify the Administrative Agent of such uncertificated securities and pursuant to an agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, either (i) cause the issuer to agree to comply with instructions from the Administrative Agent as to such security, without further consent of any Pledgor or such nominee, or (ii) cause the issuer to register the Administrative Agent as the registered owner of such security. If any security or other Investment Property, whether certificated or uncertificated, representing an Equity Interest in a third party and having a fair market value in excess of $500,000 now or hereafter acquired by any Pledgor is held by such Pledgor or its nominee through a securities intermediary or commodity intermediary, such Pledgor shall promptly notify the Administrative Agent thereof and, at the Administrative Agent’s request and option, pursuant to a Control Agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, either (A) cause such securities intermediary or commodity intermediary, as applicable, to agree, in the case of a securities intermediary, to comply with entitlement orders or other instructions from the Administrative Agent to such securities intermediary as to such securities or other Investment Property or, in the case of a commodity intermediary, to apply any value distributed on account of any commodity contract as directed by the Administrative Agent to such commodity intermediary, in each case without further consent of any Pledgor or such nominee, or (B) in the case of Financial Assets or other Investment Property held through a securities intermediary, arrange for the Administrative Agent to become the entitlement holder with respect to such Investment Property, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, with such Pledgor being permitted, only with the consent of the Administrative Agent, to exercise rights to withdraw or otherwise deal with such Investment Property. The Administrative Agent agrees with each of the Guarantors that the Administrative Agent shall not give any such entitlement orders or instructions or directions to any such issuer, securities intermediary or commodity intermediary, and shall not withhold its consent to the exercise of any withdrawal or dealing rights by any Pledgor, unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or, after giving effect to any such withdrawal or dealing rights, would occur. The provisions of this paragraph (b) requiring a Control Agreement shall not apply to any Financial Assets credited to a securities account for which the Administrative Agent is the securities intermediary.

 

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(c) Commercial Tort Claims . If any Pledgor shall at any time hold or acquire a Commercial Tort Claim in an amount reasonably estimated to exceed $500,000, such Pledgor shall promptly notify the Administrative Agent thereof in a writing signed by such Pledgor, including a summary description of such claim, and grant to the Administrative Agent in writing a security interest therein and in the proceeds thereof, all upon the terms of this Agreement, with such writing to be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

SECTION 4.05. Covenants Regarding Patent, Trademark and Copyright Collateral . Except as permitted by the Credit Agreement:

(a) Each Pledgor agrees that it will not knowingly do any act or omit to do any act (and will exercise commercially reasonable efforts to prevent its licensees from doing any act or omitting to do any act) whereby any Patent that is material to such Pledgor’s business may become prematurely invalidated or dedicated to the public, and agrees that it shall take commercially reasonable steps with respect to any material products covered by any such Patent as necessary and sufficient to establish and preserve its rights under applicable patent laws.

(b) Each Pledgor will, and will use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause its licensees or its sublicensees to, for each Trademark material to such Pledgor’s business, (i) maintain such Trademark in full force free from any adjudication of abandonment or invalidity for non-use, (ii) maintain the quality of products and services offered under such Trademark, (iii) display such Trademark with notice of federal or foreign registration or claim of trademark or service mark as required under applicable law and (iv) not knowingly use or knowingly permit its licensees’ use of such Trademark in violation of any third-party rights.

(c) Each Pledgor will, and will use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause its licensees or its sublicensees to, for each work covered by a Copyright material to the of such Pledgor’s business that it publishes, displays and distributes, use copyright notice as required under applicable copyright laws.

(d) Each Pledgor shall notify the Administrative Agent promptly if it knows that any Patent, Trademark or Copyright material to such Pledgor’s business may imminently become abandoned, lost or dedicated to the public, or of any materially adverse determination or development, excluding office actions and similar determinations or developments in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, United States Copyright Office, any court or any similar office of any country, regarding such Pledgor’s ownership of any such material Patent, Trademark or Copyright or its right to register or to maintain the same.

(e) Each Pledgor, either itself or through any agent, employee, licensee or designee, shall (i) inform the Administrative Agent on a semi-annual basis of each application by itself, or through any agent, employee, licensee or designee, for any Patent with the United States Patent and Trademark Office and each registration of any Trademark or Copyright with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the United States Copyright Office or any comparable office or agency in any other country filed during the preceding six-month period, and (ii) upon the reasonable request of the Administrative Agent, execute and deliver any and all agreements, instruments, documents and papers as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request to evidence the Administrative Agent’s security interest in such Patent, Trademark or Copyright.

 

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(f) Each Pledgor shall exercise its reasonable business judgment consistent with the practice in any proceeding before the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the United States Copyright Office or any comparable office or agency in any other country with respect to maintaining and pursuing each application relating to any Patent, Trademark and/or Copyright (and obtaining the relevant grant or registration) and to maintain (i) each issued material Patent and (ii) the registrations of each material Trademark and each material Copyright, including, when applicable and necessary in such Pledgor’s reasonable business judgment, timely filings of applications for renewal, affidavits of use, affidavits of incontestability and payment of maintenance fees, and, if any Pledgor believes necessary in its reasonable business judgment, to initiate opposition, interference and cancellation proceedings against third parties.

(g) In the event that any Pledgor knows or has reason to know that any Article 9 Collateral consisting of a Patent, Trademark or Copyright material to its business has been or is about to be materially infringed, misappropriated or diluted by a third party, such Pledgor shall promptly notify the Administrative Agent and shall, if such Pledgor deems it necessary in its reasonable business judgment, promptly sue and recover any and all damages, and take such other actions as are reasonably appropriate under the circumstances.

(h) Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, each Pledgor shall use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain all requisite consents or approvals from the licensor under each Copyright License, Patent License or Trademark License to effect the assignment of all such Pledgor’s right, title and interest thereunder to (in the Administrative Agent’s sole discretion) the designee of the Administrative Agent or the Administrative Agent.

ARTICLE V.

Remedies

SECTION 5.01. Remedies Upon Default . Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, each Pledgor agrees to deliver each item of Collateral to the Administrative Agent on demand, and it is agreed that the Administrative Agent shall have the right to take any of or all the following actions at the same or different times: (a) with respect to any Article 9 Collateral consisting of Intellectual Property, on demand, to cause the Security Interest to become an assignment, transfer and conveyance of any of or all such Article 9 Collateral by the applicable Pledgors to the Administrative Agent or to license or sublicense, whether general, special or otherwise, and whether on an exclusive or a nonexclusive basis, any such Article 9 Collateral throughout the world on such terms and conditions and in such manner as the Administrative Agent shall determine (other than in violation of any then-existing licensing arrangements to the extent that waivers thereunder cannot be obtained after commercially reasonable efforts on the part of the applicable Pledgors to obtain such waivers) and (b) with or without legal process and with or without prior notice or demand for performance, to take possession of the Article 9 Collateral and without liability for trespass to the applicable Pledgor to enter any premises where the Article 9 Collateral may be located for the purpose of taking possession of or removing the Article 9 Collateral and, generally, to exercise any and all rights afforded to a secured party under the applicable Uniform Commercial Code or other applicable law. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each Pledgor agrees that the Administrative Agent shall have the right, subject to the requirements of applicable law, to

 

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sell or otherwise dispose of all or any part of the Collateral at a public or private sale or at any broker’s board or on any securities exchange, for cash, upon credit or for future delivery as the Administrative Agent shall deem appropriate. The Administrative Agent shall be authorized in connection with any sale of a security (if it deems it advisable to do so) pursuant to the foregoing to restrict the prospective bidders or purchasers to persons who represent and agree that they are purchasing such security for their own account, for investment, and not with a view to the distribution or sale thereof. Upon consummation of any such sale of Collateral pursuant to this Section 5.01 , the Administrative Agent shall have the right to assign, transfer and deliver to the purchaser or purchasers thereof the Collateral so sold. Each such purchaser at any such sale shall hold the property sold absolutely, free from any claim or right on the part of any Pledgor, and each Pledgor hereby waives and releases (to the extent permitted by law) all rights of redemption, stay, valuation and appraisal that such Pledgor now has or may at any time in the future have under any rule of law or statute now existing or hereafter enacted.

The Administrative Agent shall give the applicable Pledgors 10 Business Days’ written notice (which each Pledgor agrees is reasonable notice within the meaning of Section 9-611 of the New York UCC or its equivalent in other jurisdictions) of the Administrative Agent’s intention to make any sale of Collateral. Such notice, in the case of a public sale, shall state the time and place for such sale and, in the case of a sale at a broker’s board or on a securities exchange, shall state the board or exchange at which such sale is to be made and the day on which the Collateral, or portion thereof, will first be offered for sale at such board or exchange. Any such public sale shall be held at such time or times within ordinary business hours and at such place or places as the Administrative Agent may fix and state in the notice (if any) of such sale. At any such sale, the Collateral, or the portion thereof, to be sold may be sold in one lot as an entirety or in separate parcels, as the Administrative Agent may (in its sole and absolute discretion) determine. The Administrative Agent shall not be obligated to make any sale of any Collateral if it shall determine not to do so, regardless of the fact that notice of sale of such Collateral shall have been given. The Administrative Agent may, without notice or publication, adjourn any public or private sale or cause the same to be adjourned from time to time by announcement at the time and place fixed for sale, and such sale may, without further notice, be made at the time and place to which the same was so adjourned. In the case of any sale of all or any part of the Collateral made on credit or for future delivery, the Collateral so sold may be retained by the Administrative Agent until the sale price is paid by the purchaser or purchasers thereof, but the Administrative Agent shall not incur any liability in the event that any such purchaser or purchasers shall fail to take up and pay for the Collateral so sold and, in the case of any such failure, such Collateral may be sold again upon notice given in accordance with provisions above. At any public (or, to the extent permitted by law, private) sale made pursuant to this Section 5.01 , any Secured Party may bid for or purchase for cash, free (to the extent permitted by law) from any right of redemption, stay, valuation or appraisal on the part of any Pledgor (all such rights being also hereby waived and released to the extent permitted by law), the Collateral or any part thereof offered for sale and such Secured Party may, upon compliance with the terms of sale, hold, retain and dispose of such property in accordance with Section 5.02 hereof without further accountability to any Pledgor therefor. For purposes hereof, a written agreement to purchase the Collateral or any portion thereof shall be treated as a sale thereof; the Administrative Agent shall be free to carry out such sale pursuant to such agreement and no Pledgor shall be entitled to the return of the Collateral or any portion thereof subject thereto, notwithstanding the fact that after the Administrative Agent shall have entered into such an

 

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agreement all Events of Default shall have been remedied and the Obligations paid in full. As an alternative to exercising the power of sale herein conferred upon it, the Administrative Agent may proceed by a suit or suits at law or in equity to foreclose this Agreement and to sell the Collateral or any portion thereof pursuant to a judgment or decree of a court or courts having competent jurisdiction or pursuant to a proceeding by a court-appointed receiver. Any sale pursuant to the provisions of this Section 5.01 shall be deemed to conform to the commercially reasonable standards as provided in Section 9-610(b) of the New York UCC or its equivalent in other jurisdictions.

SECTION 5.02. Application of Proceeds . The Administrative Agent shall promptly apply the proceeds, moneys or balances of any collection or sale of Collateral, as well as any Collateral consisting of cash, as follows:

FIRST, to the payment of all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent in connection with such collection or sale or otherwise in connection with this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any of the Obligations, including without limitation all court costs and the reasonable fees and expenses of its agents and legal counsel, the repayment of all advances made by the Administrative Agent hereunder or under any other Loan Document on behalf of any Pledgor, any other reasonable costs or expenses incurred in connection with the exercise of any right or remedy hereunder or under any other Loan Document, and all other fees, indemnities and other amounts owing or reimbursable to the Administrative Agent under any Loan Document in its capacity as such;

SECOND, to payment of all fees, indemnities and other amounts (other than principal and interest) payable to the Issuing Bank in capacity as such and of any amount required to be paid to the Issuing Bank by any Revolving Facility Lender pursuant to Section 2.05(d) , (e)(ii) and (h)  of the Credit Agreement and not paid by such Revolving Facility Lender (which shall be payable to the Administrative Agent if the Administrative Agent advanced such payment to the Issuing Bank in anticipation of such payment by such Revolving Facility Lender and otherwise, to the Issuing Bank);

THIRD, to the payment in full of the Obligations (the amounts so applied to be distributed among the Secured Parties pro rata in accordance with the respective amounts of the Obligations owed to them on the date of any such distribution, which in the case of Letters of Credit, shall be paid by deposit in an account with the Administrative Agent, in the name of the Administrative Agent and for the benefit of the Lenders, an amount in cash in U.S. Dollars equal to the aggregate L/C Exposure as of such date plus any accrued and unpaid interest thereon); and

FOURTH, to the Pledgors, their successors or assigns, or as a court of competent jurisdiction may otherwise direct.

The Administrative Agent shall have absolute discretion as to the time of application of any such proceeds, moneys or balances in accordance with this Agreement. Upon any sale of Collateral by the Administrative Agent (including pursuant to a power of sale granted by statute or under a judicial proceeding), the receipt of the purchase money by the Administrative Agent or of the officer making the sale shall be a sufficient discharge to the purchaser or purchasers of the Collateral so sold and such purchaser or purchasers shall not be obligated to see to the application of any part of the purchase money paid over to the Administrative Agent or such officer or be answerable in any way for the misapplication thereof.

 

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SECTION 5.03. Grant of License to Use Intellectual Property . For the purpose of enabling the Administrative Agent to exercise rights and remedies under this Agreement at such time as the Administrative Agent shall be lawfully entitled to exercise such rights and remedies, each Pledgor hereby grants to (in the Administrative Agent’s sole discretion) a designee of the Administrative Agent or the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, an irrevocable, non-exclusive license (exercisable without payment of royalty or other compensation to any Pledgor) to use, license or sublicense any of the Article 9 Collateral consisting of Intellectual Property now owned or hereafter acquired by such Pledgor, wherever the same may be located, and including, without limitation, in such license reasonable access to all media in which any of the licensed items may be recorded or stored and to all computer software and programs used for the compilation or printout thereof, the right to prosecute and maintain all intellectual property and the right to sue for past infringement of the intellectual property. The use of such license by the Administrative Agent may be exercised, at the option of the Administrative Agent, upon the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default; provided that any license, sublicense or other transaction entered into by the Administrative Agent in accordance herewith shall be binding upon the Pledgors notwithstanding any subsequent cure of an Event of Default.

SECTION 5.04. Securities Act, etc . In view of the position of the Pledgors in relation to the Pledged Collateral, or because of other current or future circumstances, a question may arise under the Securities Act of 1933, as now or hereafter in effect, or any similar federal statute hereafter enacted analogous in purpose or effect (such Act and any such similar statute as from time to time in effect being called the “ Federal Securities Laws ”) with respect to any disposition of the Pledged Collateral permitted hereunder. Each Pledgor understands that compliance with the Federal Securities Laws might very strictly limit the course of conduct of the Administrative Agent if the Administrative Agent were to attempt to dispose of all or any part of the Pledged Collateral, and might also limit the extent to which or the manner in which any subsequent transferee of any Pledged Collateral could dispose of the same. Similarly, there may be other legal restrictions or limitations affecting the Administrative Agent in any attempt to dispose of all or part of the Pledged Collateral under applicable Blue Sky or other state securities laws or similar laws analogous in purpose or effect. Each Pledgor acknowledges and agrees that in light of such restrictions and limitations, the Administrative Agent, in its sole and absolute discretion, (a) may proceed to make such a sale whether or not a registration statement for the purpose of registering such Pledged Collateral or part thereof shall have been filed under the Federal Securities Laws or, to the extent applicable, Blue Sky or other state securities laws and (b) may approach and negotiate with a single potential purchaser to effect such sale. Each Pledgor acknowledges and agrees that any such sale might result in prices and other terms less favorable to the seller than if such sale were a public sale without such restrictions. In the event of any such sale, the Administrative Agent shall incur no responsibility or liability for selling all or any part of the Pledged Collateral at a price that the Administrative Agent, in its sole and absolute discretion, may in good faith deem reasonable under the circumstances, notwithstanding the possibility that a substantially higher price might have been realized if the sale were deferred until after registration as aforesaid or if more than a single purchaser were approached. The provisions of this Section 5.04 will apply notwithstanding the existence of a public or private market upon which the quotations or sales prices may exceed substantially the price at which the Administrative Agent sells.

 

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SECTION 5.05. Registration, etc . Each Pledgor agrees that, upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, if for any reason the Administrative Agent desires to sell any of the Pledged Collateral at a public sale, it will, at any time and from time to time, upon the written request of the Administrative Agent, use its commercially reasonable efforts to take or to cause the issuer of such Pledged Collateral to take such action and prepare, distribute and/or file such documents, as are required or advisable in the reasonable opinion of counsel for the Administrative Agent to permit the public sale of such Pledged Collateral. Each Pledgor further agrees to indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Administrative Agent, each other Secured Party, any underwriter and their respective officers, directors, affiliates and controlling persons from and against all loss, liability, expenses, costs of counsel (including reasonable fees and expenses to the Administrative Agent of legal counsel), and claims (including the costs of investigation) that they may incur insofar as such loss, liability, expense or claim arises out of or is based upon any alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or in any notification or offering circular, or arises out of or is based upon any alleged omission to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements in any thereof not misleading, except insofar as the same may have been caused by any untrue statement or omission based upon information furnished in writing to such Pledgor or the issuer of such Pledged Collateral by the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party expressly for use therein. Each Pledgor further agrees, upon such written request referred to above, to use its commercially reasonable efforts to qualify, file or register, or cause the issuer of such Pledged Collateral to qualify, file or register, any of the Pledged Collateral under the Blue Sky or other securities laws of such states as may be reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent and keep effective, or cause to be kept effective, all such qualifications, filings or registrations. Each Pledgor will bear all costs and expenses of carrying out its obligations under this Section 5.05 . Each Pledgor acknowledges that there is no adequate remedy at law for failure by it to comply with the provisions of this Section 5.05 only and that such failure would not be adequately compensable in damages and, therefore, agrees that its agreements contained in this Section 5.05 may be specifically enforced.

ARTICLE VI.

Indemnity, Subrogation and Subordination

SECTION 6.01. Indemnity and Subrogation . In addition to all such rights of indemnity and subrogation as the Guarantors may have under applicable law (but subject to Section 6.03 ), the Borrower agrees that (a) in the event a payment shall be made by any Guarantor under this Agreement in respect of any Obligation of the Borrower, the Borrower shall indemnify such Guarantor for the full amount of such payment and such Pledgor shall be subrogated to the rights of the person to whom such payment shall have been made to the extent of such payment and (b) in the event any assets of any Guarantor shall be sold pursuant to this Agreement or any other Security Document to satisfy in whole or in part an Obligation of the Borrower, the Borrower shall indemnify such Guarantor in an amount equal to the greater of the book value or the fair market value of the assets so sold.

SECTION 6.02. Contribution and Subrogation . Each Guarantor (a “ Contributing Guarantor ”) agrees (subject to Section 6.03 ) that, in the event a payment shall be made by any other Guarantor hereunder in respect of any Obligation or assets of any other Guarantor shall be sold pursuant to any Security Document to satisfy any Obligation owed to any Secured Party and such other Guarantor (the “ Claiming Guarantor ”) shall not have been fully indemnified by the Borrower as provided in Section 6.01 , the Contributing Guarantor shall indemnify the Claiming Guarantor in an amount equal to the amount of such payment or

 

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the greater of the book value or the fair market value of such assets, as applicable, in each case multiplied by a fraction of which the numerator shall be the net worth of such Contributing Guarantor on the date hereof and the denominator shall be the aggregate net worth of all the Guarantors on the date hereof (or, in the case of any Guarantor becoming a party hereto pursuant to Section 7.16 , the date of the supplement hereto executed and delivered by such Guarantor). Any Contributing Guarantor making any payment to a Claiming Guarantor pursuant to this Section 6.02 shall be subrogated to the rights of such Claiming Guarantor under Section 6.01 to the extent of such payment.

SECTION 6.03. Subordination . (a) Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, all rights of the Guarantors under Sections 6.01 and 6.02 and all other rights of indemnity, contribution or subrogation of the Pledgor under applicable law or otherwise shall be fully subordinated to the payment in full in cash or immediately’ available funds of the Obligations (other than contingent or unliquidated obligations or liabilities). No failure on the part of the Borrower or any Guarantor to make the payments required by Sections 6.01 and 6.02 (or any other payments required under applicable law or otherwise) shall in any respect limit the obligations and liabilities of any Guarantor with respect to its obligations hereunder, and each Guarantor shall remain liable for the full amount of the obligations of such Guarantor hereunder.

(b) Each Guarantor hereby agrees that all Indebtedness and other monetary obligations owed by it to any other Guarantor or any Subsidiary shall be fully subordinated to the payment in full in cash or immediately available funds of the Obligations (other than contingent or unliquidated obligations or liabilities).

ARTICLE VII.

Miscellaneous

SECTION 7.01. Notices . All communications and notices hereunder shall (except as otherwise expressly permitted herein) be in writing and given as provided in Section 9.01 of the Credit Agreement. All communications and notices hereunder to any Subsidiary Party shall be given to it in care of the Borrower, with such notice to be given as provided in Section 9.01 of the Credit Agreement.

SECTION 7.02. Security Interest Absolute . All rights of the Administrative Agent hereunder, the Security Interest, the security interest in the Pledged Collateral and all obligations of each Pledgor hereunder shall be absolute and unconditional irrespective of (a) any lack of validity or enforceability of the Credit Agreement, any other Loan Document, any agreement with respect to any of the Obligations or any other agreement or instrument relating to any of the foregoing, (b) any change in the time, manner or place of payment of, or in any other term of, all or any of the Obligations, or any other amendment or waiver of or any consent to any departure from the Credit Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other agreement or instrument, (c) any exchange, release or non-perfection of any Lien on other collateral, or any release or amendment or waiver of or consent under or departure from any guarantee, securing or guaranteeing all or any of the Obligations or (d) any other circumstance that might otherwise constitute a defense available to, or a discharge of, any Pledgor in respect of the Obligations or this Agreement (other than a defense of payment or performance).

SECTION 7.03. Limitation By Law . All rights, remedies and powers provided in this Agreement may be exercised only to the extent that the exercise thereof does not violate any applicable provision of law, and all the provisions of this Agreement are intended to be subject to all applicable mandatory provisions of law that may be controlling and to be limited to the extent necessary so that they shall not render this Agreement invalid, unenforceable, in whole or in part, or not entitled to be recorded, registered or filed under the provisions of any applicable law.

 

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SECTION 7.04. Binding Effect; Several Agreement . This Agreement shall become effective as to any party to this Agreement when a counterpart hereof executed on behalf of such party shall have been delivered to the Administrative Agent and a counterpart hereof shall have been executed on behalf of the Administrative Agent, and thereafter shall be binding upon such party and the Administrative Agent and their respective permitted successors and assigns, and shall inure to the benefit of such party, the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties and their respective permitted successors and assigns, except that no party shall have the right to assign or transfer its rights or obligations hereunder or any interest herein or in the Collateral (and any such assignment or transfer shall be void) except as expressly contemplated by this Agreement or the Credit Agreement. This Agreement shall be construed as a separate agreement with respect to each party and may be amended, modified, supplemented, waived or released with respect to any party without the approval of any other party and without affecting the obligations of any other party hereunder.

SECTION 7.05. Successors and Assigns . Whenever in this Agreement any of the parties hereto is referred to, such reference shall be deemed to include the permitted successors and assigns of such party; and all covenants, promises and agreements by or on behalf of any Pledgor or the Administrative Agent that are contained in this Agreement shall bind and inure to the benefit of their respective permitted successors and assigns. The Administrative Agent hereunder shall at all times be the same person that is the Administrative Agent under the Credit Agreement. Written notice of resignation by the Administrative Agent pursuant to the Credit Agreement shall also constitute notice of resignation as the Administrative Agent under this Agreement. Upon the acceptance of any appointment as the Administrative Agent under the Credit Agreement by a successor Administrative Agent, that successor Administrative Agent shall thereupon succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Administrative Agent pursuant hereto.

SECTION 7.06. Administrative Agent’s Fees and Expenses; Indemnification . (a) The parties hereto agree that the Administrative Agent shall be entitled to reimbursement of its expenses incurred hereunder as provided in Section 9.05 of the Credit Agreement.

(b) Without limitation of its indemnification obligations under the other Loan Documents, in addition to such obligations, each Pledgor jointly and severally agrees to indemnify the Administrative Agent and the other Indemnitees (as defined in Section 9.05 of the Credit Agreement) against, and hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and related expenses, including reasonable counsel fees, charges and disbursements, incurred by or asserted against any Indemnitee arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, (i) the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement or any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby, the performance by the parties hereto and thereto of their respective obligations thereunder or the consummation of the Transactions and other transactions contemplated hereby, (ii) the use of proceeds of the Loans or the use of any Letter of Credit or (iii) any claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, or to the Collateral, whether or not 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 are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee.

(c) Any such amounts payable as provided hereunder shall be additional Obligations secured hereby and by the other Security Documents. The provisions of this Section 7.06 shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of the termination of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, the consummation of the transactions contemplated

 

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hereby, the repayment of any of the Obligations, the invalidity or unenforceability of any term or provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or any investigation made by or on behalf of the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party. All amounts due under this Section 7.06 shall be payable on written demand therefor.

SECTION 7.07. Administrative Agent Appointed Attorney-in-Fact . Each Pledgor hereby appoints the Administrative Agent the attorney-in-fact of such Pledgor for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this Agreement and taking any action and executing any instrument that the Administrative Agent may deem necessary or advisable to accomplish the purposes hereof, which appointment is irrevocable and coupled with an interest. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent shall have the right, upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, with full power of substitution either in the Administrative Agent’s name or in the name of such Pledgor, (a) to receive, endorse, assign or deliver any and all notes, acceptances, checks, drafts, money orders or other evidences of payment relating to the Collateral or any part thereof, (b) to demand, collect, receive payment of, give receipt for and give discharges and releases of all or any of the Collateral; (c) to ask for, demand, sue for, collect, receive and give acquittance for any and all moneys due or to become due under and by virtue of any Collateral; (d) to sign the name of any Pledgor on any invoice or bill of lading relating to any of the Collateral; (e) to send verifications of Accounts to any Account Debtor; (f) to commence and prosecute any and all suits, actions or proceedings at law or in equity in any court of competent jurisdiction to collect or otherwise realize on all or any of the Collateral or to enforce any rights in respect of any Collateral; (g) to settle, compromise, compound, adjust or defend any actions, suits or proceedings relating to all or any of the Collateral; (h) to notify, or to require any Pledgor to notify, Account Debtors to make payment directly to the Administrative Agent; and (i) to use, sell, assign, transfer, pledge, make any agreement with respect to or otherwise deal with all or any of the Collateral, and to do all other acts and things necessary to carry out the purposes of this Agreement, as fully and completely as though the Administrative Agent were the absolute owner of the Collateral for all purposes; provided, that nothing herein contained shall be construed as requiring or obligating the Administrative Agent to make any commitment or to make any inquiry as to the nature or sufficiency of any payment received by the Administrative Agent, or to present or file any claim or notice, or to take any action with respect to the Collateral or any part thereof or the moneys due or to become due in respect thereof or any property covered thereby. The Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties shall be accountable only for amounts actually received as a result of the exercise of the powers granted to them herein, and neither they nor their officers, directors, employees or agents shall be responsible to any Pledgor for any act or failure to act hereunder, except for their own gross negligence or willful misconduct.

SECTION 7.08. GOVERNING LAW . THIS AGREEMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES UNDER THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH AND GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

SECTION 7.09. Waivers; Amendment . (a) No failure or delay by the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender in exercising any right, power or remedy hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right, power or remedy, or any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce such a right, power or remedy, preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or remedy. The rights, powers and remedies of the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank and the Lenders hereunder and under the other Loan Documents are cumulative and are not exclusive of any rights, powers

 

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or remedies that they would otherwise have. No waiver of any provision of this Agreement or consent to any departure by any Loan Party therefrom shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be permitted by paragraph (b)  of this Section 7.09 , and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for which given. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the making of a Loan or the issuance of a Letter of Credit shall not be construed as a waiver of any Default or Event of Default, regardless of whether the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any Issuing Bank may have had notice or knowledge of such Default or Event of Default at the time. No notice or demand on any Loan Party in any case shall entitle any Loan Party to any other or further notice or demand in similar or other circumstances.

(b) Neither this Agreement nor any provision hereof may be waived, amended or modified except pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by the Administrative Agent and the Loan Party or Loan Parties with respect to which such waiver, amendment or modification is to apply, subject to any consent required in accordance with Section 9.08 of the Credit Agreement.

SECTION 7.10. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL . EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF, UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS. EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATNE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 7.10 .

SECTION 7.11. Severability . In the event any one or more of the provisions contained in this Agreement or in any other Loan Document should be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained herein and therein shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby. The parties shall endeavor in good-faith negotiations to replace the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions.

SECTION 7.12. Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original but all of which when taken together shall constitute but one contract, and shall become effective as provided in Section 7.04 . Delivery of an executed counterpart to this Agreement by facsimile transmission shall be as effective as delivery of a manually signed original.

SECTION 7.13. Headings . Article and Section headings and the Table of Contents used herein are for convenience of reference only, are not part of this Agreement and are not to affect the construction of, or to be taken into consideration in interpreting, this Agreement.

SECTION 7.14. Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process . (a) Each party to this Agreement hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits, for itself and its property, to the exclusive jurisdiction of any New York State court or federal court of the United States of America sitting in New York City, and any appellate court from any thereof, in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Documents, or for recognition or enforcement of any judgment, and each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that all claims in respect of any such action or proceeding

 

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may be heard and determined in such New York State or, to the extent permitted by law, in such federal court. Each of the parties hereto agrees that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law. Nothing in this Agreement shall affect any right that the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender may otherwise have to bring any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document against any Pledgor, or its properties, in the courts of any jurisdiction.

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

SECTION 7.15. Termination or Release . (a) This Agreement, the guarantees made herein, the pledges made herein, the Security Interest and all other security interests granted hereby shall terminate when all the Loan Document Obligations (other than contingent or unliquidated obligations or liabilities) have been paid in full in cash or immediately available funds and the Lenders have no further commitment to lend under the Credit Agreement, the L/C Exposure has been reduced to zero and each Issuing Bank has no further obligations to issue Letters of Credit under the Credit Agreement.

(b) A Subsidiary Party shall automatically be released from its obligations hereunder and the security interests in the Collateral of such Subsidiary Party shall be automatically released upon the consummation of any transaction permitted by the Credit Agreement as a result of which such Subsidiary Party ceases to be a Subsidiary of the Borrower or otherwise ceases to be a Pledgor; provided that the Required Lenders shall have consented to such transaction (to the extent such consent is required by the Credit Agreement) and the terms of such consent did not provide otherwise.

(c) Upon any sale or other transfer by any Pledgor of any Collateral that is permitted under the Credit Agreement to any person that is not a Pledgor, or upon the effectiveness of any written consent to the release of the security interest granted hereby in any Collateral pursuant to Section 9.08 of the Credit Agreement, the security interest in such Collateral shall be automatically released.

(d) In connection with any termination or release pursuant to paragraph (a) , (b)  or (c)  of this Section 7.15 , the Administrative Agent shall execute and deliver to any Pledgor, at such Pledgor’s, expense all documents that such Pledgor shall reasonably request to evidence such termination or release (including, without limitation, UCC termination statements), and will duly assign and transfer to such Pledgor, such of the Pledged Collateral that may be in the possession of the Administrative Agent and has not theretofore been sold or otherwise applied or released pursuant to this Agreement; provided , that the Administrative Agent shall not be required to take any action under this Section 7.15(d) unless such Pledgor shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent together with such request, which may be incorporated into such request, (i) a reasonably detailed description of the Collateral, which in any event shall be sufficient to effect the appropriate termination or release without affecting any other Collateral, and (ii) a certificate of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower or such Pledgor certifying that the transaction giving rise to such termination or release is permitted by the Credit Agreement and

 

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was consummated in compliance with the Loan Documents. Any execution and delivery of documents pursuant to this Section 7.15 shall be without recourse to or warranty by the Administrative Agent.

SECTION 7.16. Additional Subsidiaries . Upon execution and delivery by the Administrative Agent and any Subsidiary that is required to become a party hereto by Section 5.11 of the Credit Agreement of an instrument in the form of Exhibit I hereto, such subsidiary shall become a Subsidiary Party hereunder with the same force and effect as if originally named as a Subsidiary Party herein. The execution and delivery of any such instrument shall not require the consent of any other party to this Agreement. The rights and obligations of each party to this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding the addition of any new party to this Agreement.

SECTION 7.17. Right of Set-off . If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, each Lender and each Issuing Bank is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to set-off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final) at any time held and other indebtedness at any time owing by such Lender or such Issuing Bank to or for the credit or the account of any party to this Agreement against any of and all the obligations of such party now or hereafter existing under this Agreement owed to such Lender or such Issuing Bank, irrespective of whether or not such Lender or such Issuing Bank shall have made any demand under this Agreement and although such obligations may be unmatured. The rights of each Lender under this Section 7.17 are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of set-off) that such Lender or such Issuing Bank may have. [Signature Page Follows]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have duly executed this Agreement as of the day and year first above written.

 

AFFINION GROUP, INC.

By:

    
 

Name:

 

Title:

AFFINION GROUP HOLDINGS, INC.

By:

    
 

Name:

 

Title:

 

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AFFINION AUTO SERVICES, INC.

AFFINION DATA SERVICES, INC.

AFFINION GROUP, LLC

AFFINION MEMBERSHIP SERVICES
HOLDINGS SUBSIDIARY LLC

AFFINION PUBLISHING, INC.

BENEFIT CONSULTANTS MEMBERSHIP, INC.

CARDWELL AGENCY INC.

COMP-U-CARD SERVICES, LLC

CREDENTIALS SERVICES INTERNATIONAL, INC.

LONG TERM PREFERRED CARE, INC.

MCM GROUP, LTD.

NGI HOLDINGS, INC.

PREFERRED CARE AGENCY, INC.

PROGENY MARKETING INNOVATIONS OF KENTUCKY, INC.

PROGENY MARKETING INNOVATIONS, INC.

SAFECARD SERVICES, INCORPORATED

TRAVELER’S ADVANTAGE SERVICES, INC.

TRILEGIANT AUTO SERVICES, INC.

TRILEGIANT CORPORATION

TRILEGIANT INSURANCE SERVICES, INC.

TRILEGIANT LOYALTY SOLUTIONS, INC.

TRILEGIANT MARKETING SERVICES, INC.

TRILEGIANT RETAIL SERVICES, INC.

TRL GROUP, INC.

UNITED BANK CLUB ASSOCIATION, INC.

By:

    
 

Name:

 

Title:

CUC ASIA HOLDINGS,

 

By:

 

Comp-U-Card Services, LLC, its General

Partner

 

By:

    
   

Name:

   

Title:

 

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CREDIT SUISSE, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH,

as Administrative Agent

By:

    
 

Name:

 

Title:

By:

    
 

Name:

 

Title:

 

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Exhibit I

to Guarantee and

Collateral Agreement

SUPPLEMENT NO.              dated as of             (this “ Supplement ”), to the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement dated as of October 17, 2005 (the “ Guarantee and Collateral Agreement ”), among AFFINION GROUP, INC., a Delaware corporation (the “ Borrower ”), AFFINION GROUP HOLDINGS, INC., a Delaware corporation (“ Holdings ”), each Subsidiary Party thereto and CREDIT SUISSE, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, as Administrative Agent (in such capacity, the “ Administrative Agent ”) for the Secured Parties (as defined herein).

A. Reference is made to the Credit Agreement dated as of October 17, 2005 (as amended, supplemented, waived or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Credit Agreement ”), among Holdings, the Borrower, the Lenders party thereto from time to time, the Administrative Agent, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., as syndication agent, Bank of America, N.A. and BNP Paribas Securities Corp., as documentation agents and Credit Suisse First Boston LLC and Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., as joint lead arrangers and joint bookrunners (in such capacity, the “ Joint Lead Arrangers ”).

B. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Credit Agreement and the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement referred to therein.

C. The Guarantors have entered into the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement in order to induce the Lenders to make Loans and each Issuing Bank to issue Letters of Credit. Section 7.16 of the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement provides that additional Subsidiaries may become Subsidiary Parties under the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement by execution and delivery of an instrument in the form of this Supplement. The undersigned Subsidiary (the “ New Subsidiary ”) is executing this Supplement in accordance with the requirements of the Credit Agreement to become a Subsidiary Party under the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement in order to induce the Lenders to make additional Loans and each Issuing Bank to issue additional Letters of Credit and as consideration for Loans previously made and Letters of Credit previously issued.

Accordingly, the Administrative Agent and the New Subsidiary agree as follows:

SECTION 1. In accordance with Section 7.16 of the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, the New Subsidiary by its signature below becomes a Subsidiary Party and a Pledgor under the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement with the same force and effect as if originally named therein as a Subsidiary Party and a Pledgor, and the New Subsidiary hereby (a) agrees to all the terms and provisions of the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement applicable to it as a Subsidiary Party and Pledgor thereunder and (b) represents and warrants that the representations and warranties made by it as a Pledgor thereunder are true and correct, in all material respects, on and as of the date hereof. In furtherance of the foregoing, the New Subsidiary, as security for the payment and performance in full of the Obligations (as defined in the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement), does hereby create and grant to the Administrative Agent, its successors

 

1


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and assigns, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, their successors and assigns, a security interest in and Lien on all the New Subsidiary’s right, title and interest in and to the Collateral (as defined in the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement) of the New Subsidiary. Each reference to a “ Subsidiary Party ” or a “ Pledgor ” in the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement shall be deemed to include the New Subsidiary. The Guarantee and Collateral Agreement is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

SECTION 2. The New Subsidiary represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties that this Supplement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by it and constitutes its legal, valid and binding obligation, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, subject to (i) the effects of bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance or other similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, (ii) general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law) and (iii) implied covenants of good faith and fair dealing.

SECTION 3. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original but all of which when taken together shall constitute but one contract. This Supplement shall become effective when (a) the Administrative Agent shall have received a counterpart of this Supplement that bears the signature of the New Subsidiary and (b) the Administrative Agent has executed a counterpart hereof.

SECTION 4. The New Subsidiary hereby represents and warrants that (a) set forth on Schedule I attached hereto is a true and correct schedule of the location of any and all Article 9 Collateral of the New Subsidiary, (b) set forth on Schedule II attached hereto is a true and correct schedule of all the Pledged Securities of the New Subsidiary and (c) set forth under its signature hereto, is the true and correct legal name of the New Subsidiary, its jurisdiction of formation and the location of its chief executive office.

SECTION 5. Except as expressly supplemented hereby, the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.

SECTION 6. THIS SUPPLEMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES UNDER THIS SUPPLEMENT SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH AND GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

SECTION 7. In the event any one or more of the provisions contained in this Supplement should be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained herein and in the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby. The parties shall endeavor in good-faith negotiations to replace the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions.

SECTION 8. All communications and notices hereunder shall be in writing and given as provided in Section 7.01 of the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement.

 

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SECTION 9. The New Subsidiary agrees to reimburse the Administrative Agent for its reasonable out-of-pocket expenses in connection with this Supplement, including the reasonable fees, disbursements and other charges of counsel for the Administrative Agent.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the New Subsidiary and the Administrative Agent have duly executed this Supplement to the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement as of the day and year first above written.

 

[Name of New Subsidiary]

By:

    
 

Name:

 

Title:

Legal Name:

Jurisdiction of Formation:

Location of Chief

Executive Office:

 

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CREDIT SUISSE, CAYMAN ISLANDS
BRANCH, as Administrative Agent

By:

    
 

Name:

 

Title:

By:

    
 

Name:

 

Title:

 

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Schedule I

to Supplement No.              to the

Guarantee and

Collateral Agreement

 

LOCATION OF ARTICLE 9 COLLATERAL

Description

   Location

 

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Schedule II to

Supplement No.             

to the Guarantee and

Collateral Agreement

 

Pledged Securities of the New Subsidiary

EQUITY INTERESTS

Number of Issuer

Certificate

  

Registered Owner

   Number and Class of
Equity Interest
   Percentage of Equity
Interests

DEBT SECURITIES

Issuer

  

Principal Amount

   Date of Note    Maturity Date

OTHER PROPERTY


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EXHIBIT E

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT

This INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT (as amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ IP Security Agreement ”) dated October 17, 2005, is made by the Persons listed on the signature pages hereof (collectively, the “ Grantors ”) in favor of Credit Suisse, Cayman Islands Branch (“ Credit Suisse ”), as administrative agent (the “ Administrative Agent ”) for the Secured Parties (as defined in the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement referred to below).

WHEREAS, Affinion Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation, has entered into a Credit Agreement dated as of October 17, 2005 (as amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Credit Agreement ”), with Affinion Group Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“ Holdings ”), the Lenders from time to time party thereto, Credit Suisse, the Administrative Agent, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., as syndication agent (in such capacity, the “ Syndication Agent ”), Bank of America, N.A. and BNP Paribas Securities Corp., as documentation agents (in such capacity, each, a “ Documentation Agent ” and together, the “ Documentation Agents ”), Credit Suisse First Boston LLC and Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., as joint lead arrangers and joint bookrunners (in such capacity, the “ Joint Lead Arrangers ”). Terms defined in the Credit Agreement and not otherwise defined herein are used herein as defined in the Credit Agreement.

WHEREAS, as a condition precedent to the making of Loans and the issuance of Letters of Credit by the Lenders under the Credit Agreement and the entry into Swap Agreements by Lenders or Affiliates of Lenders from time to time, each Grantor has executed and delivered that certain Guarantee and Collateral Agreement dated October 17, 2005 among the Grantors and the Administrative Agent (as amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Guarantee and Collateral Agreement ”).

WHEREAS, under the terms of the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, the Grantors have granted to the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, a security interest in, among other property, certain intellectual property of the Grantors, and have agreed as a condition thereof to execute this IP Security Agreement for recording with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the United States Copyright Office and other governmental authorities.

NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, each Grantor agrees as follows:

SECTION 1. Grant of Security . Each Grantor hereby grants to the Administrative Agent for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties a security interest in all of such Grantor’s right, title and interest in and to the following (the “ Collateral ”):

(i) the patents and patent applications set forth in Schedule A hereto (the “ Patents ”);


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(ii) the trademark and service mark registrations and applications set forth in Schedule B hereto (provided that no security interest shall be granted in United States intent-to-use trademark applications to the extent that, and solely during the period in which, the grant of a security interest therein would impair the validity or enforceability of such intent-to-use trademark applications under applicable federal law), together with the goodwill symbolized thereby (the “ Trademarks ”);

(iii) all copyrights, whether registered or unregistered, now owned or hereafter acquired by such Grantor, including, without limitation, the copyright registrations and applications and exclusive copyright licenses set forth in Schedule C hereto (the “ Copyrights ”);

(iv) all reissues, divisions, continuations, continuations-in-part, extensions, renewals and reexaminations of any of the foregoing, all rights in the foregoing provided by international treaties or conventions, all rights corresponding thereto throughout the world and all other rights of any kind whatsoever of such Grantor accruing thereunder or pertaining thereto;

(v) any and all claims for damages and injunctive relief for past, present and future infringement, dilution, misappropriation, violation, misuse or breach with respect to any of the foregoing, with the right, but not the obligation, to sue for and collect, or otherwise recover, such damages; and

(vi) any and all proceeds of, collateral for, income, royalties and other payments now or hereafter due and payable with respect to, and supporting obligations relating to, any and all of the Collateral of or arising from any of the foregoing.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, in no event shall the term “copyright license” include any license to the extent, but only to the extent, that the granting of a security interest in the rights under the terms of such license result in a breach of the terms of, or constitute a default under, such license (other than to the extent that any such term would be rendered ineffective pursuant to the Uniform Commercial Code or any other applicable law (including the Bankruptcy Code) or principles of equity; provided, that immediately upon the ineffectiveness, lapse or termination of any such provision, the term “copyright license” shall include all such rights and interests as if such provision had never been in effect.

SECTION 2. Security for Obligations . The grant of a security interest in, the Collateral by each Grantor under this IP Security Agreement secures the payment of all Obligations of such Grantor now or hereafter existing under or in respect of the Loan Documents, whether direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, and whether for principal, reimbursement obligations, interest, premiums, penalties, fees, indemnifications, contract causes of action, costs, expenses or otherwise. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, this IP Security Agreement secures, as to each Grantor, the payment of all amounts that constitute part of the Obligations and that would be owed by such Grantor to any Secured Party under the Loan Documents but for the fact that such Obligations are unenforceable or not allowable due to the existence of a bankruptcy, reorganization or similar proceeding involving a Loan Party.


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SECTION 3. Recordation . Each Grantor authorizes and requests that the Register of Copyrights, the Commissioner for Patents and the Commissioner for Trademarks and any other applicable government officer record this IP Security Agreement.

SECTION 4. Execution in Counterparts . This IP Security Agreement may be executed in any number of 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.

SECTION 5. Grants, Rights and Remedies . This IP Security Agreement has been entered into in conjunction with the provisions of the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement. Each Grantor does hereby acknowledge and confirm that the grant of the security interest hereunder to, and the rights and remedies of, the Administrative Agent with respect to the Collateral are more fully set forth in the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, the terms and provisions of which are incorporated herein by reference as if fully set forth herein.

SECTION 6. Governing Law . This IP Security Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.


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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each Grantor has caused this IP Security Agreement to be duly executed and delivered by its officer thereunto duly authorized as of the date first above written.

 

AFFINION GROUP, INC.

By

    
 

Name:

 

Title:

Address for Notices:

  
  
  

AFFINION GROUP HOLDINGS, INC.

By

    
 

Name:

 

Title:

Address for Notices:

  
  
  

[NAME OF GRANTOR]

By

    
 

Name:

 

Title:

Address for Notices:

  
  
  

 

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Exhibit A to the

IP Security Agreement

FORM OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT SUPPLEMENT

This INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT SUPPLEMENT (this “ IP Security Agreement Supplement ”) dated                     , 200    , is made by the Person listed on the signature page hereof (the “ Grantor ”) in favor of Credit Suisse, Cayman Islands Branch (“ Credit Suisse ”), as administrative agent (the “ Administrative Agent ”) for the Secured Parties (as defined in the Credit Agreement referred to below).

WHEREAS, Affinion Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation, has entered into a Credit Agreement dated as of October 17, 2005 (as amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Credit Agreement ”), with Affinion Group Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“ Holdings ”), the Lenders from time to time party thereto, Credit Suisse, the Administrative Agent, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., as syndication agent (in such capacity, the “ Syndication Agent ”), Bank of America, N.A. and BNP Paribas Securities Corp., as documentation agents (in such capacity, each, a “ Documentation Agent ” and together, the “ Documentation Agents ”), Credit Suisse First Boston LLC and Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., as joint lead arrangers and joint bookrunners (in such capacity, the “ Joint Lead Arrangers ”). Terms defined in the Credit Agreement and not otherwise defined herein are used herein as defined in the Credit Agreement.

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Credit Agreement, the Grantor and certain other Persons have executed and delivered that certain Guarantee and Collateral Agreement dated October 17, 2005 made by the Grantor and such other Persons to the Administrative Agent (as amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Guarantee and Collateral Agreement ”) and that certain Intellectual Property Security Agreement dated October 17, 2005 (as amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ IP Security Agreement ”).

WHEREAS, under the terms of the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, the Grantor has granted to the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, a security interest in the Additional Collateral (as defined in Section 1 below) of the Grantor and has agreed as a condition thereof to execute this IP Security Agreement Supplement for recording with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the United States Copyright Office and other governmental authorities.

NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Grantor agrees as follows:

SECTION 1. Grant of Security . Each Grantor hereby grants to the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, a security interest in all of such Grantor’s right, title and interest in and to the following (the “ Collateral ”):

(i) the patents and patent applications set forth in Schedule A hereto (the “ Patents ”);


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(ii) the trademark and service mark registrations and applications set forth in Schedule B hereto (provided that no security interest shall be granted in United States intent-to-use trademark applications to the extent that, and solely during the period in which, the grant of a security interest therein would impair the validity or enforceability of such intent-to-use trademark applications under applicable federal law), together with the goodwill symbolized thereby (the “ Trademarks ”);

(iii) the copyright registrations and applications and exclusive copyright licenses set forth in Schedule C hereto (the “ Copyrights ”);

(iv) all reissues, divisions, continuations, continuations-in-part, extensions, renewals and reexaminations of any of the foregoing, all rights in the foregoing provided by international treaties or conventions, all rights corresponding thereto throughout the world and all other rights of any kind whatsoever of such Grantor accruing thereunder or pertaining thereto;

(v) all any and all claims for damages and injunctive relief for past, present and future infringement, dilution, misappropriation, violation, misuse or breach with respect to any of the foregoing, with the right, but not the obligation, to sue for and collect, or otherwise recover, such damages; and

(vi) any and all proceeds of, collateral for, income, royalties and other payments now or hereafter due and payable with respect to, and supporting obligations relating to, any and all of the foregoing or arising from any of the foregoing.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, in no event shall the term “copyright license” include any license to the extent, but only to the extent, that the granting of a security interest in the rights under the terms of such license result in a breach of the terms of, or constitute a default under, such license (other than to the extent that any such term would be rendered ineffective pursuant to the Uniform Commercial Code or any other applicable law (including the Bankruptcy Code) or principles of equity; provided, that immediately upon the ineffectiveness, lapse or termination of any such provision, the term “copyright license” shall include all such rights and interests as if such provision had never been in effect.

SECTION 2. Security for Obligations . The grant of a security interest in the Additional Collateral by the Grantor under this IP Security Agreement Supplement secures the payment of all Obligations of the Grantor now or hereafter existing under or in respect of the Loan Documents, whether direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, and whether for principal, reimbursement obligations, interest, premiums, penalties, fees, indemnifications, contract causes of action, costs, expenses or otherwise.

SECTION 3. Recordation . The Grantor authorizes and requests that the Register of Copyrights, the Commissioner for Patents and the Commissioner for Trademarks and any other applicable government officer to record this IP Security Agreement Supplement.

SECTION 4. Grants, Rights and Remedies . This IP Security Agreement Supplement has been entered into in conjunction with the provisions of the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement. The Grantor does hereby acknowledge and confirm that the grant of the security


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interest hereunder to, and the rights and remedies of, the Administrative Agent with respect to the Additional Collateral are more fully set forth in the Guarantee and Agreement, the terms and provisions of which are incorporated herein by reference as if fully set forth herein.

SECTION 5. Governing Law . This IP Security Agreement Supplement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.


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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Grantor has caused this IP Security Agreement Supplement to be duly executed and delivered by its officer thereunto duly authorized as of the date first above written.

 

By

 

 

 

    Name:

 
 

    Title:

 

Address for Notices:

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.2

 


$383,612,600

SENIOR SUBORDINATED

BRIDGE LOAN AGREEMENT

Dated as of October 17, 2005,

Among

AFFINION GROUP HOLDINGS, INC.,

AFFINION GROUP, INC.,

as Borrower,

THE LENDERS PARTY HERETO,

CREDIT SUISSE, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH,

as Administrative Agent,

DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC.,

as Syndication Agent,

and

BANC OF AMERICA BRIDGE LLC,

and

BNP PARIBAS SECURITIES CORP.,

as Documentation Agents

 


CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON LLC,

as Joint Lead Arranger and Joint Bookrunner

and

DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC.,

as Joint Lead Arranger and Joint Bookrunner

 



TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

   ARTICLE I   
   Definitions   
SECTION 1.01.    Defined Terms    1
SECTION 1.02.    Terms Generally    35
SECTION 1.03.    Effectuation of Transfers    36
SECTION 1.04.    Currency Translation    36
   ARTICLE II   
   The Credits   
SECTION 2.01.    Commitments    36
SECTION 2.02.    Loans and Borrowings    36
SECTION 2.03.    Requests for Borrowings    37
SECTION 2.04.    Term Loans; Senior Subordinated Exchange Notes    37
SECTION 2.05.    Senior Subordinated Exchange Notes    38
SECTION 2.06.    Funding of Borrowings    39
SECTION 2.07.    [RESERVED]    40
SECTION 2.08.    Payments    40
SECTION 2.09.    Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Debt    41
SECTION 2.10.    Take-Out Financing    41
SECTION 2.11.    Prepayment of Loans    43
SECTION 2.12.    Fees    43
SECTION 2.13.    Interest    44
SECTION 2.14.    [RESERVED]    45
SECTION 2.15.    Increased Costs    45
SECTION 2.16.    Indemnity    46
SECTION 2.17.    Taxes    47
SECTION 2.18.    Pro Rata Treatment; Sharing of Set-offs    48
SECTION 2.19.    Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders    49
   ARTICLE III   
   Representations and Warranties   
SECTION 3.01.    Organization; Powers    50
SECTION 3.02.    Authorization    50
SECTION 3.03.    Enforceability    51
SECTION 3.04.    Governmental Approvals    51
SECTION 3.05.    Financial Statements    51
SECTION 3.06.    No Material Adverse Change or Material Adverse Effect    53
SECTION 3.07.    Title to Properties; Possession Under Leases    53
SECTION 3.08.    Subsidiaries    53
SECTION 3.09.    Litigation; Compliance with Laws    54
SECTION 3.10.    Federal Reserve Regulations    54

 

i


SECTION 3.11.    Investment Company Act; Public Utility Holding Company Act    54
SECTION 3.12.    Use of Proceeds    54
SECTION 3.13.    Tax Returns    55
SECTION 3.14.    No Material Misstatements    55
SECTION 3.15.    Employee Benefit Plans    55
SECTION 3.16.    Environmental Matters    56
SECTION 3.17.    [RESERVED]    57
SECTION 3.18.    Real Property    57
SECTION 3.19.    Solvency    57
SECTION 3.20.    Labor Matters    58
SECTION 3.21.    Insurance    58
SECTION 3.22.    Representations and Warranties in Purchase Agreement    58
SECTION 3.23.    [RESERVED]    58
SECTION 3.24.    No Violation    58
SECTION 3.25.    Holdings Indebtedness    58
   ARTICLE IV   
   Conditions of Lending   
SECTION 4.01.    Closing    59
   ARTICLE V   
   Affirmative Covenants   
SECTION 5.01.    Existence; Businesses and Properties    62
SECTION 5.02.    Insurance    63
SECTION 5.03.    Taxes    63
SECTION 5.04.    Financial Statements, Reports, etc.    63
SECTION 5.05.    Litigation and Other Notices    66
SECTION 5.06.    Compliance with Laws    66
SECTION 5.07.    Maintaining Records; Access to Properties and Inspections    66
SECTION 5.08.    Payment of Obligations    66
SECTION 5.09.    Use of Proceeds    66
SECTION 5.10.    Compliance with Environmental Laws    67
SECTION 5.11.    Further Assurances    67
SECTION 5.12.    Fiscal Year; Accounting    67
SECTION 5.13.    Lender Meetings    67
SECTION 5.14.    Compliance with Material Contracts    67
   ARTICLE VI   
   Negative Covenants   
SECTION 6.01.    Indebtedness    67
SECTION 6.02.    Liens    71
SECTION 6.03.    Sale and Lease-Back Transactions    76
SECTION 6.04.    Investments, Loans and Advances    76
SECTION 6.05.    Mergers, Consolidations, Sales of Assets and Acquisitions    79

 

ii


SECTION 6.06.    Dividends and Distributions    81
SECTION 6.07.    Transactions with Affiliates    83
SECTION 6.08.    Business of Holdings, the Borrower and the Subsidiaries    86
SECTION 6.09.    Limitation on Modifications and Payments of Indebtedness; Modifications of Certificate of Incorporation, By-Laws and Certain Other Agreements; etc.    87
SECTION 6.10.    Swap Agreements    88
SECTION 6.11.    Anti-Layering    89
   ARTICLE VII   
   Events of Default   
SECTION 7.01.    Events of Default    89
SECTION 7.02.    Exclusion of Certain Subsidiaries    92
SECTION 7.03.    Right to Cure    92
   ARTICLE VIII   
SECTION 8.01.    Agreement to Subordinate    92
   ARTICLE IX   
   The Agents   
SECTION 9.01.    Appointment    93
SECTION 9.02.    Delegation of Duties    93
SECTION 9.03.    Exculpatory Provisions    93
SECTION 9.04.    Reliance by Administrative Agent    94
SECTION 9.05.    Notice of Default    94
SECTION 9.06.    Non-Reliance on Agents and Other Lenders    94
SECTION 9.07.    Indemnification    95
SECTION 9.08.    Agent in Its Individual Capacity    95
SECTION 9.09.    Successor Administrative Agent    96
SECTION 9.10.    Agents and Arrangers    96
   ARTICLE X   
   Miscellaneous   
SECTION 10.01.    Notices    96
SECTION 10.02.    Survival of Agreement    97
SECTION 10.03.    Binding Effect    97
SECTION 10.04.    Successors and Assigns    97
SECTION 10.05.    Expenses; Indemnity    100
SECTION 10.06.    Right of Set-off    102
SECTION 10.07.    Applicable Law    102
SECTION 10.08.    Waivers; Amendment    102
SECTION 10.09.    Interest Rate Limitation    103
SECTION 10.10.    [RESERVED]    103
SECTION 10.11.    Entire Agreement    104

 

iii


SECTION 10.12.    WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL    104
SECTION 10.13.    Severability    104
SECTION 10.14.    Counterparts    104
SECTION 10.15.    Headings    104
SECTION 10.16.    Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process    104
SECTION 10.17.    Confidentiality    105
SECTION 10.18.    Direct Website Communications    105
SECTION 10.19.    Release of Guarantees    107
SECTION 10.20.    Power of Attorney    107
SECTION 10.21.    U.S.A. Patriot Act    107

 

iv


Exhibits and Schedules

 

Annex A

   Subordination Provisions

Exhibit A

   Form of Assignment and Acceptance

Exhibit B

   Form of Administrative Questionnaire

Exhibit C

   Form of Borrowing Request

Exhibit D

   Form of Guarantee Agreement

Schedule 1.01(a)

   EBITDA Scheduled Adjustments

Schedule 1.01(b)

   Immaterial Subsidiaries

Schedule 1.01(c)

   Subsidiary Spin-off

Schedule 1.01(d)

   Unrestricted Subsidiaries

Schedule 2.01

   Commitments and Lenders

Schedule 3.01

   Organization and Good Standing

Schedule 3.04

   Governmental Approvals

Schedule 3.05(a)

   Financial Statements

Schedule 3.05(b)

   Liabilities/Long-Term Obligations

Schedule 3.07(b)

   Possession under Leases

Schedule 3.08(a)

   Subsidiaries

Schedule 3.08(b)

   Subscriptions

Schedule 3.13

   Taxes

Schedule 3.15

   Employee Benefit Plans

Schedule 3.16

   Environmental Matters

Schedule 3.20

   Labor Matters

Schedule 3.21

   Insurance

Schedule 4.01(b)

   Local U.S. and/or Foreign Counsel

Schedule 6.01

   Indebtedness

Schedule 6.02(a)

   Liens

Schedule 6.04

   Investments; Intercompany Loans

Schedule 6.07

   Transactions with Affiliates

 

v


SENIOR SUBORDINATED BRIDGE LOAN AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”), dated as of October 17, 2005, among AFFINION GROUP HOLDINGS, INC., a Delaware corporation (“ Holdings ”), AFFINION GROUP, INC., a Delaware corporation (the “ Borrower ”), the LENDERS (as hereinafter defined) from time to time party hereto, CREDIT SUISSE, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, as administrative agent for the Lenders (“ Credit Suisse ” or, together with any successor administrative agent appointed pursuant hereto, in such capacity, the “ Administrative Agent ”), DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC. (“ DBSI ”), as syndication agent (in such capacity, the “ Syndication Agent ”) and BANC OF AMERICA BRIDGE LLC (“ Banc of America Bridge ”) and BNP PARIBAS SECURITIES CORP. (“ BNPPSC ”), as documentation agents (in such capacity, each, a “ Documentation Agent ” and together, the “ Documentation Agents ”).

WHEREAS, Holdings was organized by the Fund, to acquire (the “ Acquisition ”) (a) all of the Equity Interests in Cendant Marketing Group, LLC (formerly, Cendant Membership Services Holdings LLC, “ CMG ”), a Delaware limited liability company and a direct wholly owned subsidiary of Cendant Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “ Seller ”), and (b) 10,000,000 ordinary shares of £1 each in the capital of Cendant International Holdings Limited, a private company limited by shares incorporated in England and Wales with registered number 3458969 and an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of the Seller (“ CIH ” and, together with CMG, the “ Companies ”);

WHEREAS, in order to effect the Acquisition, Holdings created the Borrower, its wholly owned Subsidiary, and the Seller, Holdings and the Borrower entered into the Purchase Agreement, dated as of July 26, 2005 (as amended by Amendment No. 1, dated as of the date hereof, and as further amended from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof, the “ Purchase Agreement ”), setting forth the terms and conditions of the Acquisition;

WHEREAS, in connection with the consummation of the Acquisition and the payment of certain fees and expenses related thereto, the Borrower has requested the Lenders to extend credit in the form of Bridge Loans on the Closing Date in an aggregate principal amount not in excess of $383,612,600.

NOW, THEREFORE, the Lenders are willing to extend such credit to the Borrower on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein. Accordingly, the parties hereto agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

Definitions

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

Acquisition ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals hereto.

Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate ” shall mean, for any Interest Period, an interest rate per annum equal to the rate per annum obtained by dividing (i) the rate per annum


determined by the Administrative Agent at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time), on the date that is two Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period by reference to the British Bankers’ Association Interest Settlement Rates for deposits in U.S. Dollars (as set forth by any service selected by the Administrative Agent that has been nominated by the British Bankers’ Association as an authorized information vendor for the purpose of displaying such rates) for a period equal to such interest period or to the extent that an interest rate is not ascertainable pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this definition, the interest rate per annum determined by the Administrative Agent to be the average of the rates per annum at which deposits in U.S. Dollars are offered for such relevant Interest Period to major banks in the London interbank market in London, England by the Administrative Agent at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the date that is two Business Days prior to the beginning of such Interest Period, by (ii) a percentage equal to 100% minus the Eurocurrency Rate Reserve Percentage for such Interest Period.

Administrative Agent ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble hereto.

Administrative Questionnaire ” shall mean an Administrative Questionnaire in the form of Exhibit B or in such other form as may be supplied by the Administrative Agent.

Affiliate ” shall mean, when used 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 Parties ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.18(c) .

Agents ” shall mean the Administrative Agent, the Syndication Agent and the Documentation Agents.

Agreement ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble hereto, as amended from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof.

Applicable Insurance Laws and Regulations ” shall mean any laws, rules and regulations of any government or governmental authority or agency, including of any Applicable Insurance Regulatory Authority, applicable to the Insurance Business or the Insurance Subsidiaries.

Applicable Insurance Regulatory Authority ” shall mean, when used with respect to any Insurance Subsidiary, the insurance department or similar administrative authority or agency located in (x) the state or other jurisdiction in which such Insurance Subsidiary is domiciled or (y) to the extent asserting regulatory jurisdiction over such Insurance Subsidiary, the insurance department, authority or agency in each state or other jurisdiction in which such Insurance Subsidiary is licensed, and shall include any Federal insurance regulatory department, authority or agency that may be created in the future and that asserts regulatory jurisdiction over such Insurance Subsidiary.

Approved Fund ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.04(b) .

 

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Asset Acquisition ” shall mean, for purposes of calculating any financial ratios, any Permitted Business Acquisition the aggregate consideration for which exceeds $1,000,000.

Asset Disposition ” shall mean, for purposes of calculating any financial ratios, any sale, transfer or other disposition by the Borrower or any Subsidiary to any person other than the Borrower or any Subsidiary, to the extent otherwise permitted hereunder of any asset or group of related assets (other than inventory or other assets sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of in the ordinary course of business) in one or a series of related transactions, the Net Proceeds from which exceed $1,000,000.

Assignee ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.04(b) .

Assignment and Acceptance ” shall mean an assignment and acceptance entered into by a Lender and an assignee, and accepted by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower (if required by Section 10.04 ), in the form of Exhibit A or such other form as shall be approved by the Administrative Agent.

Available Free Cash Flow Amount ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in, and shall be calculated to be same as such amount in, the Credit Agreement.

Banking Subsidiary ” shall mean any Subsidiary that is an Insured Depository Institution (as defined in Section 3 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, 12 U.S.C. § 1813).

Bankruptcy Law ” means Title 11, U.S. Code, or any similar foreign, federal or state law for the relief of debtors.

Board ” shall mean the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States of America.

Board of Directors ” shall mean, as to any person, the board of directors or managers, as applicable, of such person (or, if such person is a partnership, the board of directors or other governing body of the general partner of such person) or any duly authorized committee thereof.

Borrower ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble hereto.

Borrowing ” shall mean the incurrence of the Bridge Loans.

Borrowing Request ” shall mean a request by the Borrower in accordance with the terms of Section 2.03 and substantially in the form of Exhibit C .

Breakage Event ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.16 .

Bridge Loans ” shall mean the initial loans made by the Lenders to the Borrower pursuant to clause (a)  of Section 2.01 and shall include any interest in excess of the Cash Cap to the extent paid in the form of additional Bridge Loans pursuant to Section 2.13(a)(iii) .

Budget ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.04(f) .

 

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

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

Cash Cap ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.13(a)(iii) .

Cash Interest Expense ” shall mean, with respect to any person on a consolidated basis for any period, Interest Expense for such period, less , without duplication, the sum of (a) pay-in-kind Interest Expense or other noncash Interest Expense (including as a result of the effects of purchase accounting), (b) to the extent included in Interest Expense, the amortization of any financing fees paid by, or on behalf of, Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary, including such fees paid in connection with the Transactions, (c) the amortization of debt discounts, if any, or fees in respect of Swap Agreements and (d) cash interest income of Holdings, the Borrower and the Subsidiaries for such period; provided , that Cash Interest Expense shall exclude any one-time financing fees paid in connection with the Transactions or one-time amendment fees paid in connection with any amendment of this Agreement.

Cendant ” shall mean Cendant Corporation, a Delaware corporation.

A “ Change in Control ” shall be deemed to occur if:

(a) a majority of the seats (other than vacant seats) on the Board of Directors of Holdings shall at any time be occupied by persons who were neither (a) nominated by the Board of Directors of Holdings or a Permitted Holder, (b) appointed by directors so nominated nor (c) appointed by the Fund or a Fund Affiliate; or

(b) a “ change of control ” shall occur under (i) the Senior Notes, any Senior Subordinated Notes or any Demand Securities or any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of any of the foregoing, (ii) the Seller Preferred Equity or (iii) any Material Indebtedness; or

(c) Holdings shall fail to own, directly or indirectly, beneficially and of record, 100% of all issued and outstanding Equity Interests of the Borrower; or

(d) Permitted Holders, collectively, shall fail to own beneficially, directly or indirectly, in the aggregate Equity Interests representing at least 51% of (i) the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of Holdings or (ii) the common stock represented by the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of Holdings.

 

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

Charges ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.09 .

CIH ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals hereto.

Closing Date ” shall mean October 17, 2005.

CMG ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals hereto.

Code ” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.

Commitment ” shall mean, with respect to each Lender, the commitment of such Lender to make Bridge Loans hereunder on the Closing Date, expressed as an amount representing the maximum aggregate permitted principal amount of the Bridge Loans to be made by such Lender hereunder on the Closing Date. The initial amount of each Lender’s Commitment is set forth on Schedule 2.01 or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender shall have assumed its Commitment, as applicable. The initial aggregate amount of the Lenders’ Commitments is $383,612,600.

Communications ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.18(a) .

Companies ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals hereto.

Conduit Lender ” shall mean any special purpose corporation organized and administered by any Lender for the purpose of making Loans otherwise required to be made by such Lender and designated by such Lender in a written instrument; provided , that the designation by any Lender of a Conduit Lender shall not relieve the designating Lender of any of its obligations to fund a Loan under this Agreement if, for any reason, its Conduit Lender fails to fund any such Loan, and the designating Lender (and not the Conduit Lender) shall have the sole right and responsibility to deliver all consents and waivers required or requested under this Agreement with respect to its Conduit Lender; provided , further that no Conduit Lender shall (a) be entitled to receive any greater amount pursuant to Section 2.15 , 2.16 , 2.17 or 10.05 than the designating Lender would have been entitled to receive in respect of the extensions of credit made by such Conduit Lender or (b) be deemed to have any Commitment.

Consolidated Debt ” at any date shall mean the sum of (without duplication) all Indebtedness (other than letters of credit, to the extent undrawn) consisting of Capital Lease Obligations, bankers’ acceptances, Indebtedness for borrowed money, Disqualified Stock and Indebtedness in respect of the deferred purchase price of property or services of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries determined on a consolidated basis on such date.

 

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Consolidated Fixed Charges ” shall mean, with respect to the Borrower and the Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis for any period, the sum, without duplication, of:

(a) the consolidated interest expense (net of interest income) to the extent it relates to Indebtedness of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries for such period, and to the extent such expense was deducted in computing Consolidated Net Income, whether paid or accrued, including, without limitation, amortization of debt issuance costs and original issue discount, non-cash interest payments, the interest component of any deferred payment obligations, the interest component of all payments associated with Capital Lease Obligations, commissions, discounts and other fees and charges incurred in respect of letter of credit or bankers’ acceptance financings, and net of the effect of all payments made or received pursuant to obligations under any Swap Agreement, but excluding the amortization or write-off of deferred financing fees or expenses of any bridge or other financing fee in connection with the Transactions; plus

(b) the consolidated interest of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries that was capitalized during such period; plus

(c) any interest expense on Indebtedness of another person that is Guaranteed by the Borrower and the Subsidiaries or secured by a Lien on assets of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries, whether or not such Guarantee or Lien is called upon;

in each case, on a consolidated basis and in accordance with GAAP.

Consolidated Leverage Ratio ” shall mean, on any date, the ratio of (a) Consolidated Total Debt as of such date to (b) EBITDA for the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters most recently ended as of such date, all determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP; provided , that to the extent any Asset Disposition or Asset Acquisition (or any similar transaction or transactions that require a waiver or a consent of the provisions of Section 6.04 or Section 6.05 by the Required Lenders pursuant to Section 10.08 and such waiver or consent has been obtained in accordance with the terms hereof), including the Transactions, has occurred during the relevant Test Period, EBITDA shall be determined for the respective Test Period on a Pro Forma Basis for such occurrences.

Consolidated Net Income ” shall mean, with respect to any person for any period, the aggregate of the Net Income of such person and its subsidiaries for such period, on a consolidated basis, plus the amount that the provision for taxes exceeds cash taxes paid by such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries in such period; provided , however , that, without duplication,

(a) any net after-tax extraordinary or nonrecurring or unusual gains, losses, income, expense or charges (less all fees and expenses relating thereto), including, without limitation, any severance, relocation or other restructuring costs and transition expenses incurred as a direct result of the transition of the Borrower to an independent operating company in connection with the Transactions and fees, expenses or charges related to any offering of Equity Interests of such person, any Investment, any acquisition or any offering of Indebtedness permitted to be incurred by this Agreement (in each case,

 

6


whether or not successful), including any such fees, expenses or charges related to the Transactions, in each case, shall be excluded;

(b) any increase in amortization or depreciation or any one-time non-cash charges resulting from purchase accounting in connection with any acquisition that is consummated on or after the Closing Date shall be excluded;

(c) the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles during such period shall be excluded;

(d) any net after-tax gains or losses on disposal of discontinued operations shall be excluded;

(e) any net after-tax gains or losses (less all fees and expenses or charges relating thereto) attributable to business dispositions or asset dispositions other than in the ordinary course of business (as determined in good faith by senior management or the Board of Directors of the Borrower) shall be excluded;

(f) any net after-tax gains or losses (less all fees and expenses or charges relating thereto) attributable to the early extinguishment of indebtedness shall be excluded;

(g) the Net Income for such period of any person that is not a subsidiary of such person, or is an Unrestricted Subsidiary, or that is accounted for by the equity method of accounting, shall be included only to the extent of the amount of dividends or distributions or other payments actually paid in cash (or to the extent converted into cash) to the referent person or a subsidiary thereof in respect of such period;

(h) the Net Income for such period of any subsidiary of such person shall be excluded to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by such subsidiary of its Net Income is not at the date of determination permitted without any prior governmental approval (which has not been obtained) or, directly or indirectly, by the operation of the terms of its charter or any agreement, instrument, judgment, decree, order, statute, rule or governmental regulation applicable to such subsidiary or its equityholders, unless such restrictions with respect to the payment of dividends or similar distributions have been legally waived; provided , that the Consolidated Net Income of such person shall be increased by the amount of dividends or other distributions or other payments actually paid in cash (or converted into cash) by any such subsidiary to such person or a subsidiary of such person (subject to the provisions of this clause (h) ) , to the extent not already included therein;

(i) any non-cash impairment charge or asset write-off resulting from the application of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 142 and 144, and the amortization of intangibles arising pursuant to No. 141, shall be excluded;

(j) any non-cash expenses realized or resulting from employee benefit plans or post-employment benefit plans, grants of stock appreciation or similar rights, stock

 

7


options or other rights to officers, directors and employees of such person or any of its Subsidiaries shall be excluded;

(k) any one-time non-cash compensation charges shall be excluded;

(l) non-cash gains, losses, income and expenses resulting from fair value accounting required by Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 133 and related interpretations shall be excluded;

(m) the effects of purchase accounting as a result of the Acquisition shall be excluded;

(n) accruals and reserves that are established within twelve months after the Closing Date and that are so required to be established in accordance with GAAP shall be excluded (until such time as such items require an expenditure of cash); and

(p) to the extent not already reflected in Consolidated Net Income, the amount of any accrual, reserve or other charge that reduces Net Income of such Person that was taken in respect of expected or actual Losses by reason of (x) any legal proceedings disclosed in the Offering Circular, including the financial statements included therein, or relating to the same facts and circumstances as disclosed, or (y) a breach or violation of law, in each case, shall be excluded; provided , that (as certified in a Certificate delivered to the Administrative Agent and signed by any two of the principal executive officer, the principal financial officer, the treasurer or the principal accounting officer of the Borrower) the Borrower has (i) a reasonable good faith belief that it is entitled to be indemnified by Cendant pursuant to the Purchase Agreement in respect of such Losses in an amount greater than or equal to the amount to be excluded from the calculation of Consolidated Net Income pursuant to this clause (p)  and (ii) provided Cendant a notice in respect of the Borrower’s intent to seek indemnity; provided , further , that (x) if Net Income is increased as a result of any amounts received from Cendant in respect of such an indemnity and the right to be so indemnified was used in a prior period to increase Consolidated Net Income pursuant to this clause (p) , such amounts received shall be excluded from Consolidated Net Income and (y) to the extent the actual indemnity received is less than the expected indemnity amount excluded in a prior period pursuant to this clause (p) , Consolidated Net Income shall be reduced by the difference in the period in which such lower actual indemnity amounts are received or in which a final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction is made that the Borrower is entitled to no indemnity.

Consolidated Total Assets ” shall mean, as of any date, the total assets of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, as set forth on the consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower as of such date.

Consolidated Total Debt ” at any date shall mean (i) Consolidated Debt on such date less (ii) the Unrestricted Cash and Permitted Investments of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on such date; provided , that the Unrestricted Cash and Permitted Investments of any

 

8


Subsidiaries that are not Loan Parties to be included in clause (ii)  as a reduction of Consolidated Debt may not exceed $15,000,000 in the aggregate.

Control ” shall mean 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 ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise, and “ Controlling ” and “ Controlled ” shall have meanings correlative thereto.

Conversion Date ” shall mean October 17, 2006.

Conversion Fee ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.12(a) .

Credit Agreement ” shall mean the Credit Agreement dated as of October 17, 2005 among the Borrower, Holdings, the lenders parties thereto, and the other parties thereto in their capacities as Issuing Bank and Swingline Lender, the Administrative Agent, the Syndication Agent and the Documentation Agents, as it may be amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

Credit Agreement Documents ” shall mean the Credit Agreement and each of the other “Loan Documents,” as such term is defined in the Credit Agreement.

Credit Facilities ” shall mean any revolving credit facilities (including any letter of credit and swingline loan subfacilities thereunder) and any term loan facilities made available to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries pursuant to the Credit Agreement.

Cumulative Equity Proceeds Amount ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in, and shall be calculated to be same as such amount in, the Credit Agreement.

Cure Amount ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.03(a) .

Cure Right ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.03(a) .

Debt Service ” shall mean, with respect to Holdings, the Borrower and the Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis for any period, Cash Interest Expense for such period plus scheduled principal amortization of Consolidated Debt for such period.

Default ” shall mean any event or condition that upon notice, lapse of time or both would constitute an Event of Default.

Defaulting Lender ” shall mean any Lender with respect to which a Lender Default is in effect.

Demand Offering ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.10(b) .

Demand Securities ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.10(b) .

 

9


Disqualified Stock ” shall mean, with respect to any person, any Equity Interests of such person that, by their terms (or by the terms of any security into which such Equity Interests are convertible or for which such Equity Interests are redeemable or exchangeable), or upon the happening of any event, (i) mature or are mandatorily redeemable, pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise (other than as a result of a change of control or asset sale), (ii) are convertible or exchangeable other than at the option of the issuer thereof for Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock or (iii) are redeemable at the option of the holder thereof (other than upon the occurrence of a Change of Control (or similar event), sale or disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, or the acceleration of the Loans, subject, in each case, to the prior payment in full in cash of all Obligations), in whole or in part, in each case prior to 91 days after the latest to mature of any Loan; provided , however , that only the portion of the Equity Interests that so mature or are mandatorily redeemable, are so convertible or exchangeable or are so redeemable at the option of the holder thereof prior to such date shall be deemed to be Disqualified Stock; provided , further , that if such Equity Interests are issued to any employee or to any plan for the benefit of employees of the Borrower or the Subsidiaries or by any such plan to such employees, such Equity Interests shall not constitute Disqualified Stock solely because they may be required to be repurchased by the Borrower in order to satisfy applicable statutory or regulatory obligations or as a result of such employee’s termination, death or disability; provided , still further , that any class of Equity Interests of such person that by its terms authorizes such person to satisfy its obligations thereunder by delivery of Equity Interests that are not Disqualified Stock shall not be deemed to be Disqualified Stock; provided , still further , that the Seller Preferred Equity, as in effect on the date hereof, shall not be deemed to be Disqualified Stock.

Dividends ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.06 .

Documentation Agents ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble hereto.

Domestic Subsidiary ” shall mean any Subsidiary that is not a Foreign Subsidiary.

EBITDA ” shall mean, with respect to the Borrower and the Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis for any period, the Consolidated Net Income of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries for such period (without giving effect to the amount added to Net Income in calculating Consolidated Net Income for the excess of the provision for taxes over cash taxes) plus (a) the sum of without duplication:

(i) to the extent deducted or otherwise excluded in calculating Consolidated Net Income for such period, provision for taxes based on income, profits or capital of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries for such period, without duplication, including, without limitation, state franchise and similar taxes, and including an amount equal to the amount of tax distributions actually made to the holders of Equity Interests of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries in respect of such period in accordance with Section 6.06(b) , which shall be included as though such amounts had been paid as income taxes directly by the Borrower or any Subsidiary; plus

 

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(ii) to the extent deducted or otherwise excluded in calculating Consolidated Net Income for such period, Consolidated Fixed Charges of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries for such period; plus

(iii) to the extent deducted or otherwise excluded in calculating Consolidated Net Income for such period, depreciation, amortization (including amortization of intangibles but excluding amortization of prepaid cash expenses that were paid in a prior period) and other non-cash expenses (excluding any such non-cash charges or expenses to the extent that it represents an accrual of or reserve for cash expenses in any future period or amortization of a prepaid cash expense that was paid in a prior period) of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries for such period; plus

(iv) to the extent deducted or otherwise excluded in calculating Consolidated Net Income for such period, the amount of any restructuring charges or expenses (which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall include retention payments and special supplemental bonus payable in connection with the Acquisition or otherwise, exit costs, severance payments, systems establishment costs or excess pension charges); plus

(v) EBITDA Scheduled Adjustments; plus

(vi) an amount of $3,000,000 for each of the four consecutive calendar quarters commencing with the calendar quarter beginning January 1, 2005, representing anticipated cost savings from the 2005 Reorganization (as defined in the Offering Circular); plus

(vii) to the extent permitted to be paid pursuant to Section 6.07(b) , the amount of management, monitoring, consulting and advisory fees and related expenses paid to the Fund or any Fund Affiliate (or any accruals relating to such fees and related expenses) during such period; provided , however , that such amount shall not exceed in any four-quarter period the greater of (x) $2,500,000 and (y) 1% of EBITDA of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis for the immediately preceding fiscal year (calculated without giving effect to this clause (vii) ); minus

(b) non-cash items increasing such Consolidated Net Income for such period (excluding the recognition of deferred revenue or any non-cash items which represent the reversal of any accrual of, or reserve for, anticipated cash charges in any prior period and any items for which cash was received in any prior period and excluding amounts increasing Consolidated Net Income pursuant to clause (p)  of the definition of Consolidated Net Income);

in each case, on a consolidated basis and determined in accordance with GAAP; provided , that for purposes of calculating EBITDA for any period including a fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2005 or earlier, EBITDA for any such applicable fiscal quarter shall be, in the case of the fiscal quarter ended, (A) September 30, 2004, $68,100,000, (B) December 31, 2004, $84,400,000, (C) March 31, 2005, $53,900,000, and (D) June 30, 2005, $52,400,000.

Notwithstanding the preceding, the provision for taxes based on the income or profits of, the Consolidated Fixed Charges of, the depreciation and amortization and other non-cash expenses

 

11


or non-cash items of and the restructuring charges or expenses of, a Subsidiary of the Borrower will be added to (or subtracted from, in the case of non-cash items described in clause (b)  above) Consolidated Net Income to compute EBITDA, (A) in the same proportion that the Net Income of such Subsidiary was added to compute such Consolidated Net Income of the Borrower, and (B) only to the extent that a corresponding amount of the Net Income of such Subsidiary would be permitted at the date of determination to be dividended or distributed to the Borrower by such Subsidiary without prior governmental approval (that has not been obtained), and without direct or indirect restriction pursuant to the terms of its charter and all agreements, instruments, judgments, decrees, orders, statutes, rules and governmental regulations applicable to that Subsidiary or its stockholders.

EBITDA Scheduled Adjustments ” shall mean the adjustments to EBITDA set forth on Schedule 1.01(a) attached hereto.

EMU Legislation ” shall mean the legislative measures of the European Union for the introduction of, changeover to or operation of the euro in one or more member states.

Engagement Letter ” shall mean the Engagement Letter dated July 26, 2005, by and among Holdings, the Borrower and the Joint Lead Arrangers.

environment ” shall mean ambient and indoor air, surface water and groundwater (including potable water, navigable water and wetlands), the land surface or subsurface strata, natural resources such as flora and fauna, the workplace or as otherwise defined in any Environmental Law.

Environmental Laws ” shall mean all applicable laws (including common law), rules, regulations, codes, ordinances, orders, decrees, directives, judgments, injunctions, notices or binding agreements issued, promulgated or entered into by or with any Governmental Authority, relating in any way to the environment, preservation or reclamation of natural resources, the generation, management, Release or threatened Release of, or exposure to, any Hazardous Material or to health and safety matters (to the extent relating to the environment or Hazardous Materials).

Equity Financing ” shall mean, in connection with the consummation of the Acquisition, the issuance by Holdings of Equity Interests to the Permitted Holders and the Seller Preferred Equity to the Seller and/or its designee.

Equity Financing Documents ” shall mean, collectively, (a) the Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, between Holdings and Affinion Group Holdings, LLC, (b) the Subscription Agreement and Redemption Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, between Holdings and Affinion Group Holdings, LLC, (c) the Seller Warrants, and (d) the Seller Preferred Equity Documents, as the same may be amended from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof.

Equity Interests ” of any person shall mean any and all shares, interests, rights to purchase or otherwise acquire, warrants, options, participations or other equivalents of or interests in (however designated) equity or ownership of such person, including any preferred stock, any limited or general partnership interest and any limited liability company membership

 

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interest, and any securities or other rights or interests convertible into or exchangeable for any of the foregoing.

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

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

ERISA Event ” shall mean (a) any Reportable Event; (b) the existence with respect to any Plan of an “accumulated funding deficiency” (as defined in Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA), whether or not waived; (c) the filing pursuant to Section 412(d) of the Code or Section 303(d) of ERISA of an application for a waiver of the minimum funding standard with respect to any Plan, the failure to make by its due date a required installment under Section 412(m) of the Code with respect to any Plan or the failure to make any required contribution to a Multiemployer Plan; (d) the incurrence by Holdings, the Borrower, a Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate of any liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to the termination of any Plan; (e) the receipt by Holdings, the Borrower, a Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate from the PBGC or a plan administrator of any notice relating to an intention, or the institution by the PBGC of proceedings, to terminate any Plan or to appoint a trustee to administer any Plan; (f) the incurrence by Holdings, the Borrower, a Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate of any liability with respect to the withdrawal or partial withdrawal from any Plan or Multiemployer Plan; or (g) the receipt by Holdings, the Borrower, a Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate of any notice, or the receipt by any Multiemployer Plan from Holdings, the Borrower, a Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate of any notice, concerning the imposition of Withdrawal Liability or a determination that a Multiemployer Plan is, or is expected to be, insolvent or in reorganization, within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA.

euro ” or “ ” shall mean the currency constituted by the Treaty on the European Union and as referred to in the EMU Legislation.

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

Eurocurrency Rate Reserve Percentage ” means, with respect to any Interest Period, 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 Eurocurrency Borrowings denominated in U.S. Dollars is determined) having a term equal to such Interest Period.

 

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Event of Default ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.01 .

Exchange ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.04(a) .

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

Exchange Date ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.04(c) .

Exchange Request ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.04(d) .

Excluded Contributions ” shall mean the Permitted Investments or other assets (valued at their Fair Market Value as determined in good faith by senior management or the Board of Directors of the Borrower) received by the Borrower from:

(a) contributions in respect of its common stock and

(b) the sale (other than to a Subsidiary of the Borrower or pursuant to any management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries) of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Borrower to Holdings,

in each case, as designated as Excluded Contributions pursuant to an Officer’s Certificate executed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower; provided , that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary, Excluded Contributions shall not include any amounts included in Cumulative Equity Proceeds Amount, any Excluded Equity Proceeds and any Permitted Cure Securities (including the Cure Amount).

Excluded Equity Proceeds ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in, and shall be calculated to be same as such amount in, the Credit Agreement.

Excluded Indebtedness ” shall mean all Indebtedness permitted to be incurred under Section 6.01 (as amended or waived from time to time) other than Section 6.01(b)(ii) , (j)(ii) , and (s) .

Excluded Taxes ” shall mean, with respect to the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any other recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower hereunder, the following taxes, including interest, penalties or other additions thereto:

(a) income taxes imposed on (or measured by) its net income or franchise taxes imposed on (or measured by) its gross or net income by the United States of America, or by the jurisdiction under the laws of which such recipient is organized or in which its principal office is located or, in the case of any Lender, in which its applicable Lending Office is located, in each case including any political subdivision thereof,

 

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(b) any branch profits taxes imposed by the United States of America or any similar tax imposed by any other jurisdiction described in clause (a) above,

(c) any withholding tax that is attributable to a Lender’s failure to comply with Section 2.17(e) (other than as a result of a change in law), and

(d) any withholding tax that is in effect and would apply to amounts payable hereunder by the Borrower at the time such Lender becomes a party to this Agreement (or designates a new Lending Office),

except, in the case of clause (d)   above, to the extent that (i) such Lender (or its assignor, if any) was entitled, at the time of designation of a new Lending Office (or assignment), to receive additional amounts from a Loan Party with respect to any withholding tax pursuant to Section 2.17(a) or (ii) such withholding tax shall have resulted from the making of any payment to a location other than the office designated by the Administrative Agent or such Lender for the receipt of payments of the applicable type.

Fair Market Value ” means, with respect to any asset or property, the price that could be negotiated in an arms’-length transaction between a willing seller and a willing and able buyer, neither of whom is under undue pressure or compulsion to complete the transaction.

Federal Funds Rate ” means, for any period, a fluctuating interest rate per annum equal for each day during such period to the weighted average of the rates on overnight Federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System arranged by Federal funds brokers, as 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, or, if such rate is not so published for any day that is a Business Day, the average of the quotations for such day for such transactions received by the Administrative Agent from three Federal funds brokers of recognized standing selected by it.

Fees ” shall mean the Conversion Fees and any and all other fees payable to the Administrative Agent or any Lender pursuant to this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, including the Fee Letter except to the extent related to the Credit Facilities.

Financial Officer ” of any person shall mean the Chief Financial Officer, principal accounting officer, Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer or Controller of such person.

Flow Through Entity ” means an entity that is treated as a partnership not taxable as a corporation, a grantor trust or a disregarded entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes or subject to treatment on a comparable basis for purposes of state, local or foreign tax law.

Foreign Subsidiary ” shall mean any Subsidiary (together with its successors) that is incorporated or organized under the laws of any jurisdiction other than the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia.

 

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Fund ” shall mean (i) Apollo Overseas Partners V, L.P., (ii) Apollo Netherlands Partners V(A), L.P., (iii) Apollo Netherlands Partners (V)(B), L.P., (iv) Apollo German Partners V GmbH KG & Co., and (v) Apollo Investment Fund V, L.P.

Fund Affiliate ” shall mean (a) each Affiliate of the Fund that is neither a “ portfolio company ”, whether or not controlled, nor a company controlled by a “ portfolio company ” or in which a “ portfolio company ” has made an investment (including joint ventures) and (b) any individual who is a partner or employee of the Fund.

GAAP ” shall mean generally accepted accounting principles in effect from time to time in the United States, applied on a consistent basis, subject to the provisions of Section 1.02 ; provided , that any reference to the application of GAAP in Sections 3.13(a) , 3.13(b) , 3.20 , 5.03 , 5.07 and 6.02(e) , to a Foreign Subsidiary (and not as a consolidated Subsidiary of the Borrower) shall mean generally accepted accounting principles in effect from time to time in the jurisdiction of organization of such Foreign Subsidiary.

Governmental Authority ” shall mean any federal, state, local or foreign court or governmental agency, authority, instrumentality, regulator or regulatory or legislative body.

Guarantee ” of or by any person (the “ guarantor ”) shall mean (a) any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of the guarantor guaranteeing or having the economic effect of guaranteeing any Indebtedness or other obligation of any other person (the “ primary obligor ”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, and including any obligation of the guarantor, direct or indirect, (i) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness or other obligation (whether arising by virtue of partnership arrangements, by agreement to keep well, to purchase assets, goods, securities or services, to take-or-pay or otherwise) or to purchase (or to advance or supply funds for the purchase of) any security for the payment of such Indebtedness or other obligation, (ii) to purchase or lease property, securities or services for the purpose of assuring the owner of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment thereof, (iii) to maintain working capital, equity capital or any other financial statement condition or liquidity of the primary obligor so as to enable the primary obligor to pay such Indebtedness or other obligation, (iv) entered into for the purpose of assuring in any other manner the holders of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment thereof or to protect such holders against loss in respect thereof (in whole or in part) or (v) as an account party in respect of any letter of credit or letter of guaranty issued to support such Indebtedness or other obligation, or (b) any Lien on any assets of the guarantor securing any Indebtedness or other obligation (or any existing right, contingent or otherwise, of the holder of Indebtedness or other obligation to be secured by such a Lien) of any other person, whether or not such Indebtedness or other obligation is assumed by the guarantor; provided , however , that the term “ Guarantee ” shall not include endorsements for collection or deposit, in either case in the ordinary course of business, or customary and reasonable indemnity obligations in effect on the Closing Date or entered into in connection with any acquisition or disposition of assets permitted under this Agreement.

Guarantee Agreement ” shall mean the Senior Subordinated Guarantee Agreement, in the form of Exhibit D , as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, among Holdings and each Subsidiary Loan Party and the Administrative Agent.

 

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Hazardous Materials ” shall mean all pollutants, contaminants, wastes, chemicals, materials, substances and constituents, including explosive or radioactive substances or petroleum or petroleum distillates, asbestos or asbestos containing materials, polychlorinated biphenyls or radon gas, of any nature subject to regulation or which can give rise to liability under any Environmental Law.

Holdings ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble hereto.

Immaterial Subsidiary ” shall mean any Subsidiary that (a) did not, as of the last day of the fiscal quarter of the Borrower most recently ended, have assets with a value in excess of 5% of the Consolidated Total Assets or revenues representing in excess of 5% of total revenues of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis as of such date and (b) taken together with all Unrestricted Subsidiaries designated pursuant to clause (ii)  of the definition thereof and all other Immaterial Subsidiaries as of the last day of the fiscal quarter of the Borrower most recently ended, did not have assets with a value in excess of 10% of the Consolidated Total Assets or revenues representing in excess of 10% of total revenues of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis as of such date; provided , that any Subsidiary that is a “ Significant Subsidiary ” as such term (or any similar term) is used in the Senior Notes Indenture shall not be an “ Immaterial Subsidiary ” hereunder. Each Immaterial Subsidiary shall be set forth in Schedule 1.01(b) , and the Borrower shall update such Schedule from time to time after the Closing Date as necessary to reflect all Immaterial Subsidiaries at such time (the selection of Subsidiaries to be added to or removed from such Schedule to be made as the Borrower may determine).

Indebtedness ” of any person shall mean, without duplication, (a) all obligations of such person for borrowed money, (b) all obligations of such person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar instruments, (c) all obligations of such person under conditional sale or other title retention agreements relating to property or assets purchased by such person, (d) all obligations of such person issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than current trade liabilities and current intercompany liabilities (but not any refinancings, extensions, renewals or replacements thereof) incurred in the ordinary course of business and maturing within 365 days after the incurrence thereof), (e) all Guarantees by such person of Indebtedness of others, (f) all Capital Lease Obligations of such person, (g) all payments that such person would have to make in the event of an early termination, on the date Indebtedness of such person is being determined, in respect of outstanding Swap Agreements, (h) the principal component of all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such person as an account party in respect of letters of credit, (i) the principal component of all obligations of such person in respect of bankers’ acceptances and (j) the amount of all obligations of such person with respect to the redemption, repayment or other repurchase of any Disqualified Stock (excluding accrued dividends that have not increased the liquidation preference of such Disqualified Stock). The Indebtedness of any person shall include the Indebtedness of any partnership in which such person is a general partner, other than to the extent that the instrument or agreement evidencing such Indebtedness expressly limits the liability of such person in respect thereof; provided , however , that, notwithstanding the foregoing, solely for purposes of calculating any financial covenant in Section 6.10 or Section 6.11 or calculating any financial ratio, Indebtedness shall be deemed not to include (i) contingent obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business, (ii) deferred or prepaid revenues, (iii) purchase price holdbacks in

 

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respect of a portion of the purchase price of an asset to satisfy warranty or other unperformed obligations of the respective seller, (iv) with respect to the Borrower, the Seller Preferred Stock, whether or not reflected as a liability of the Borrower on the balance sheet of the Borrower, as in effect as of the Closing Date and as permitted to be amended pursuant to Section 6.08(b) , so long as the Borrower and its Subsidiaries do not have any obligations or liabilities in respect thereof, contingent or otherwise, (v) obligations to make payments in respect of money backed guarantees offered to customers in the ordinary course of business, (vi) obligations to make payments to one or more insurers in respect of profit sharing arrangements entered into in the ordinary course of business, or (vii) any Indebtedness of Holdings deemed to be Indebtedness of the Borrower on its balance sheet under GAAP but for which the Borrower and its Subsidiaries do not have any obligations or liabilities, contingent or otherwise.

Indemnified Taxes ” shall mean all Taxes other than Excluded Taxes and Other Taxes.

Indemnitee ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.05(b) .

Ineligible Institution ” shall mean the persons identified in writing to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower on the Closing Date, and as may be identified in writing to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower from time to time thereafter, with the written consent of the Administrative Agent, by delivery of a notice thereof to the Administrative Agent setting forth such person or persons (or the person or persons previously identified to Agent that are to be no longer considered “ Ineligible Institutions ”).

Information ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.14(a) .

Information Memorandum ” shall mean the Confidential Information Memorandum dated September 2005 for the Credit Facilities, as modified or supplemented prior to the Closing Date.

Initial Lenders ” shall mean Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank AG Cayman Islands Branch, Banc of America Bridge and BNPPSC and each of their respective affiliates.

Insurance Business ” shall mean one or more aspects of the business of soliciting, administering, selling, issuing or underwriting insurance or reinsurance.

Insurance Reserves ” shall mean all reserves required by Applicable Insurance Laws and Regulations to by maintained by any company engaged in the Insurance Business, including, without limitation, adequate reserves for incurred losses and incurred loss adjustment expenses, whether or not reported.

Insurance Subsidiary ” shall mean any Subsidiary that is licensed by any Applicable Insurance Regulatory Authority to conduct, and conducts, an Insurance Business.

Interest Coverage Ratio ” shall mean, on any date, the ratio of (a) EBITDA to (b) Cash Interest Expense of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries, in each case, for the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters most recently ended as of such date, all determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

 

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Interest Expense ” shall mean, with respect to any person for any period, the sum of, without duplication, (a) gross interest expense of such person for such period on a consolidated basis, including (i) the amortization of debt discounts, (ii) the amortization of all fees (including fees with respect to Swap Agreements) payable in connection with the incurrence of Indebtedness to the extent included in interest expense, (iii) the portion of any payments or accruals with respect to Capital Lease Obligations allocable to interest expense and (iv) net payments and receipts (if any) pursuant to interest rate hedging obligations, and excluding amortization of deferred financing fees and expensing of any bridge or other financing fees, (b) capitalized interest of such person, whether paid or accrued, and (c) commissions, discounts, yield and other fees and charges incurred for such period in connection with any receivables financing of such person or any of its subsidiaries that are payable to persons other than Holdings, the Borrower and the Subsidiaries.

Interest Payment Date ” means, with respect to any Loan, the last day of the Interest Period applicable to such Loan, the Conversion Date and the day on which any Loan is repaid or prepaid.

Interest Period ” means, initially, the period commencing on the Closing Date and ending on the numerically corresponding day (or, if there is no numerically corresponding day, on the last day) in the calendar month that is three months thereafter, and each successive three-month period commencing on the last day of the preceding interest period and ending on the numerically corresponding day (or, if there is no numerically corresponding day, on the last day) in the calendar month that is three months thereafter; provided , that if any Interest Period would end on a day other than a Business Day, such Interest Period shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless such next succeeding Business Day would fall in the next calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day. Interest shall accrue from and including the first day of an Interest Period to but excluding the last day of such Interest Period.

Investment ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.04 .

Investment Bank ” shall mean the investment banks retained by the Borrower pursuant to the Engagement Letter.

Joint Lead Arrangers ” shall Credit Suisse and Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.

Lender ” shall mean each financial institution listed on Schedule 2.01 , as well as any person that becomes a “Lender” hereunder pursuant to Section 10.04 .

Lender Default ” shall mean (a) the refusal (which has not been retracted) of a Lender to make available its portion of any Borrowing or (b) a Lender having notified in writing the Borrower and/or the Administrative Agent that it does not intend to comply with its obligations under Section 2.06 .

Lending Office ” shall mean, as to any Lender, the applicable branch, office or Affiliate of such Lender designated by such Lender to make Loans to the Borrower.

 

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Lien ” shall mean, with respect to any asset, (a) any mortgage, deed of trust, lien, hypothecation, pledge, encumbrance, charge or security interest in or on such asset, (b) the interest of a vendor or a lessor under any conditional sale agreement, capital lease or title retention agreement (or any financing lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing) relating to such asset and (c) in the case of securities (other than securities representing an interest in a joint venture that is not a Subsidiary), any purchase option, call or similar right of a third party with respect to such securities; provided , that in no event shall an operating lease or an agreement to sell be deemed to constitute a Lien.

Loan Documents ” shall mean this Agreement, the Guarantee Agreement and any promissory note issued under Section 2.09(e) , and solely for the purposes of Sections 4.01(l) and 7.01(c) hereof, the Fee Letter dated July 26, 2005, by and among Holdings, the Borrower, Credit Suisse, the Joint Lead Arrangers and the other parties thereto.

Loan Parties ” shall mean Holdings, the Borrower and the Subsidiary Loan Parties.

Loans ” shall mean the Bridge Loans and the Term Loans.

Local Time ” shall mean New York City time.

Losses ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.01(w) .

Management Group ” means the group consisting of the directors, executive officers and other management personnel of Holdings and the Borrower on the Closing Date together with (a) any new directors of Holdings or the Borrower whose election by such Boards of Directors or whose nomination for election by the shareholders of Holdings was approved by a vote of a majority of the directors of Holdings then still in office who were either directors on the Closing Date or whose election or nomination was previously so approved and (b) executive officers and other management personnel of Holdings or the Borrower hired at a time when the directors on the Closing Date together with the directors so approved constituted a majority of the directors of Holdings.

Margin Stock ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Regulation U.

Material Adverse Effect ” shall mean the existence of any event, development or circumstance that, subsequent to December 31, 2004, has had or could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on (a) the Transactions, (b) the business, property, operations or condition of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or (c) the validity or enforceability of any material Loan Document or the rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders thereunder.

Material Indebtedness ” shall mean Indebtedness (other than Loans) of any one or more of Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary in an aggregate principal amount exceeding $30,000,000.

Material Subsidiary ” shall mean any Subsidiary other than Immaterial Subsidiaries.

 

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Maturity Date ” shall mean April  17 , 2014.

Maximum Rate ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.09 .

Moody’s ” shall mean Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.

Multiemployer Plan ” shall mean a multiemployer plan as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA to which Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate is making or accruing an obligation to make contributions, or has within any of the preceding six plan years made or accrued an obligation to make contributions.

Netcentives Assets ” shall mean the portfolio of patents that relate to online award redemption programs, which expire on December 14, 2015.

Netcentives Asset Sale ” shall mean the sale, conveyance, transfer, license or other disposition of the Netcentives Assets.

Net Income ” shall mean, with respect to any person, the net income (loss) of such person, determined in accordance with GAAP and before any reduction in respect of preferred stock dividends minus an amount equal to the amount of tax distributions actually made to the holders of Equity Interests of such person or any parent of such person in respect of a period in accordance with Section 6.06(b(i) as if such amounts had been paid as income taxes directly by such person but only to the extent such amounts have not already been accounted for as taxes reducing the net income (loss) of such person.

Net Proceeds ” shall mean:

(a) 100% of the cash proceeds actually received by any Loan Party (including any cash payments received by way of deferred payment of principal pursuant to a note or installment receivable or purchase price adjustment receivable or otherwise and including casualty insurance settlements and condemnation awards, but only as and when received) from any loss, damage, destruction or condemnation of, or any sale, transfer or other disposition (including any sale and leaseback of assets and any mortgage or lease of real property) to any person of any asset or assets of the Borrower or any Subsidiary Loan Party (other than those of the type described in (regardless of whether the Senior Subordinated Exchange Notes Applicable Covenants are then in effect) Section 6.05(a) , (b) , (c) , (e) , (f)  (except to the extent of any cash consideration), (g) , (i) , (j) , or (m) ) net of (i) attorneys’ fees, accountants’ fees, investment banking fees, survey costs, title insurance premiums, and related search and recording charges, transfer taxes, deed or mortgage recording taxes, required debt payments (including, without limitation, mandatory prepayments required by the Credit Agreement) and required payments of other obligations relating to the applicable asset (other than pursuant hereto), other customary expenses and brokerage, consultant and other customary fees actually incurred in connection therewith and (ii) Taxes paid or payable as a result thereof; provided , that, if no Event of Default exists, the Borrower or any Subsidiary may deliver a certificate of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower to the Administrative Agent promptly after receipt of any such proceeds setting forth the Borrower’s or such Subsidiary’s intention to use, or to commit to use, any portion of such proceeds, to acquire, maintain, develop, construct,

 

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improve, upgrade or repair assets useful in the business of the Borrower and the Subsidiary Loan Parties or to make Investments permitted by Section 6.04 (regardless of whether the Senior Subordinated Exchange Notes Applicable Covenants are then in effect), in each case, if such certificate shall have been delivered, within twelve months of such receipt, such portion of such proceeds shall not constitute Net Proceeds except to the extent (A) not so used (or committed to be used) within such twelve-month period or (B) if committed to be used within such twelve-month period, not so used within 18 months of such receipt); provided , further , that (x) no proceeds realized in a single transaction or series of related transactions shall constitute Net Proceeds unless such proceeds shall exceed $5,000,000 and (y) no proceeds shall constitute Net Proceeds in any fiscal year until the aggregate amount of all such proceeds in such fiscal year shall exceed $10,000,000;

(b) 100% of the cash proceeds from the incurrence, issuance or sale by any Loan Party of any Indebtedness (other than Excluded Indebtedness), additional Senior Notes, the Senior Subordinated Notes, Permitted Indebtedness and Demand Securities, in each case, (i) net of all taxes and fees (including investment banking fees), commissions, discounts, costs and other expenses, in each case incurred in connection with such issuance or sale and (ii) in excess of the amount of mandatory prepayments, if any, required (and actually made) under the Credit Agreement; and

(c) 100% of the cash proceeds from the issuance or sale by any Loan Party (including Holdings) of any Equity Interests (other than (x) any such issuance or sale of Equity Interests of a Subsidiary that would constitute a sale, transfer or disposition of assets subject to clause (a)  of this definition, (y) Permitted Equity Cure Securities and (z) any such issuance or sale to the Fund or any Fund Affiliate), net of all taxes and fees (including investment banking fees), commissions, costs and other expenses, in each case incurred in connection with such issuance or sale.

For purposes of calculating the amount of Net Proceeds, fees, commissions and other costs and expenses payable to Holdings or the Borrower or any Affiliate of either of them shall be disregarded, except for financial advisory fees customary in type and amount paid to Affiliates of the Fund.

Non-Consenting Lender ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.19(c) .

Note ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.09(e) .

Obligations ” shall, unless otherwise indicated, have the meaning assigned to the term “Loan Document Obligations” in the Guarantee Agreement.

Offering Circular ” shall mean the offering circular dated October 3, 2005 prepared in connection with the offering of the Senior Notes.

Other Taxes ” shall mean any and all present or future stamp or documentary taxes or any other excise or property taxes, charges or similar levies arising from any payment

 

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made hereunder or from the execution, delivery or enforcement of, or otherwise with respect to, the Loan Documents, and any and all interest and penalties related thereto.

Overdraft Line ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.01(r) .

Participant ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.04(c) .

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

Permitted Business Acquisition ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Credit Agreement, and any calculations and other conditions required to be determined or satisfied for any transaction to constitute a “ Permitted Business Acquisition ” shall be performed in accordance with the Credit Agreement, so long as immediately after giving effect thereto: (i) no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom; (ii) all transactions related thereto shall be consummated in accordance with applicable laws; and (iii) the person acquired in such acquisition, if acquired by the Borrower or a Domestic Subsidiary, shall be merged into the Borrower or a Subsidiary Loan Party or become upon consummation of such acquisition a Subsidiary Loan Party.

Permitted Cure Security ” shall mean Equity Interests of Holdings other than Disqualified Stock.

Permitted Holder ” shall mean each of (a) the Fund and the Fund Affiliates and (b) the Management Group, with respect to not more than 10% of the total voting power of the Equity Interests of Holdings or the Borrower.

Permitted Indebtedness ” means any unsecured Indebtedness that (a) is expressly subordinated in right of payment to Senior Debt (as defined in Section 8.02 ) and pari passu or junior in right of payment to the Obligations, subject to Section 6.13 , (b) will not mature prior to the Maturity Date, (c) has no scheduled amortization, payments of principal, sinking fund payments or similar scheduled payments, (d) has covenant, default and remedy provisions, in the aggregate, substantially as set forth in the Senior Subordinated Exchange Notes Indenture or otherwise no more restrictive or expansive in scope than those contained in Senior Notes Indenture (except as may be appropriate for senior subordinated notes in high yield debt offerings), and (e) the terms and provisions of which are otherwise permitted under this Agreement.

Permitted Investments ” shall mean:

(a) U.S. Dollars, Sterling, euros, or, in the case of any Foreign Subsidiary, such local currencies held by it from time to time in the ordinary course of business;

(b) securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the government of, or any agency or instrumentality thereof, the United States of America, Mexico or any member state of the European Union, in each case, with maturities not exceeding two years after the date of acquisition;

 

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(c) in the case of any Foreign Subsidiary, securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the government of, or any agency or instrumentality thereof, in each case with maturities not exceeding 270 days after the date of acquisition and held by it from time to time in the ordinary course of business;

(d) certificates of deposit, time deposits and eurodollar time deposits with maturities of one year or less from the date of acquisition, bankers’ acceptances, in each case with maturities not exceeding one year and overnight bank deposits and demand deposits (in their respective local currencies), in each case with any commercial bank having capital and surplus in excess of $500,000,000 or the foreign currency equivalent thereof and whose long-term debt is rated “ A ” or the equivalent thereof by Moody’s or S&P (or, in the case of an obligor domiciled outside of the United States, reasonably equivalent ratings of another internationally recognized credit rating agency);

(e) repurchase obligations for underlying securities of the types described in clauses (b)  and (d)  above entered into with any financial institution meeting the qualifications specified in clause (d)  above;

(f) commercial paper issued by a corporation (other than an Affiliate of Borrower) rated at least “ A-1 ” or the equivalent thereof by Moody’s or S&P (or, in the case of an obligor domiciled outside of the United States, reasonably equivalent ratings of another internationally recognized credit rating agency) and in each case maturing within one year after the date of acquisition;

(g) readily marketable direct obligations issued by any state of the United States of America or any political subdivision thereof having one of the two highest rating categories obtainable from either Moody’s or S&P in each case with maturities not exceeding two years from the date of acquisition;

(h) Indebtedness issued by persons (other than the Fund or any of its Affiliates) with a rating of “ A ” or higher from S&P or “ A-2 ” or higher from Moody’s (or, in the case of an obligor domiciled outside of the United States, reasonably equivalent ratings of another internationally recognized credit rating agency) in each case with maturities not exceeding two years from the date of acquisition; and

(i) investment funds investing at least 95% of their assets in securities of the types described in clauses (a)  through (h)  above.

Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness ” shall mean any Indebtedness issued in exchange for, or the net proceeds of which are used to extend, refinance, renew, replace, defease or refund (collectively, to “ Refinance ”), the Indebtedness being Refinanced (or previous refinancings thereof constituting Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness); provided , that (a) the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of the Indebtedness so Refinanced ( plus unpaid accrued interest and premium thereon and underwriting discounts, fees, commissions and expenses), (b) the average life to maturity of such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness is greater than or equal to that of the Indebtedness being Refinanced, (c) if the

 

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Indebtedness being Refinanced is subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations under this Agreement, such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness shall be subordinated in right of payment to such Obligations on terms at least as favorable to the Lenders as those contained in the documentation governing the Indebtedness being Refinanced, (d) if the Indebtedness being Refinanced is pari passu in right of payment with the Obligations under this Agreement, such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness shall be pari passu or subordinated in right of payment to such Obligations, (e) no Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness shall have obligors that are not Loan Parties hereunder, or greater guarantees or security, than the Indebtedness being Refinanced and (f) if the Indebtedness being Refinanced is secured by any collateral, such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness may be secured by such collateral (including in respect of Indebtedness of Foreign Subsidiaries that are not Loan Parties otherwise permitted under this Agreement only, any collateral pursuant to after-acquired property clauses to the extent any such collateral secured the Indebtedness being Refinanced).

person ” shall mean any natural person, corporation, business trust, joint venture, association, company, partnership, limited liability company or government, individual or family trusts, or any agency or political subdivision thereof.

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

Platform ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.18(b) .

Prepayment Minimum ” shall mean $2,000,000.

Prepayment Multiple ” shall mean $1,000,000.

Presumed Tax Rate ” shall mean the highest effective marginal statutory combined U.S. federal, state and local income tax rate prescribed for an individual residing in New York City (taking into account (a) the deductibility of state and local income taxes for U.S. federal income tax purposes, assuming the limitation of Section 68(a)(2) of the Code applies and taking into account any impact of Section 68(f) of the Code, and (b) the character (long-term or short-term capital gain, dividend income or other ordinary income) of the applicable income).

primary obligor ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of the term “ Guarantee .”

Pro Forma Basis ” shall mean, as to any person, for any events as described below that occur subsequent to the commencement of a period for which the financial effect of such events is being calculated, and giving effect to the events for which such calculation is being made, such calculation as will give pro forma effect to such events as if such events occurred on the first day of the four consecutive fiscal quarter period ended on or before the occurrence of such event (the “ Reference Period ”): (i) in making any determination of EBITDA, pro forma effect shall be given to any Asset Disposition and to any Asset Acquisition (or any similar transaction or transactions that require a waiver or a consent of the provisions of

 

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Section 6.04 or Section 6.05 by the Required Lenders pursuant to Section 10.08 and such waiver or consent has been obtained in accordance with the terms hereof), in each case that occurred during the Reference Period (or, in the case of determinations made pursuant to the definition of “ Specified Covenant Release ” and pursuant to Section 6.01(s) , Section 6.02(c) , Section 6.02(i) , Section 6.02(l) , Section 6.04 (to the extent relating to the calculation of the Consolidated Leverage Ratio) or Section 6.08(b) occurring during the Reference Period or thereafter and through and including the date upon which the incurrence or cancellation of Indebtedness or incurrence, creation, assumption or acquisition of Liens is consummated); (ii) in making any determination on a Pro forma Basis, (A) all Indebtedness (including Indebtedness incurred or assumed and for which the financial effect is being calculated, whether incurred under this Agreement or otherwise, but excluding normal fluctuations in revolving Indebtedness incurred for working capital purposes and not to finance any acquisition) incurred or permanently repaid during the Reference Period (or, in the case of determinations made pursuant to the definition of “ Specified Covenant Release ” and pursuant to Section 6.01(s) , Section 6.02(c) , Section 6.02(i) , Section 6.02(l) , Section 6.04 (to the extent relating to the calculation of the Consolidated Leverage Ratio) or Section 6.08(b) occurring during the Reference Period or thereafter and through and including the date upon which the incurrence or cancellation of Indebtedness or incurrence, creation, assumption or acquisition of Liens is consummated) shall be deemed to have been incurred or repaid at the beginning of such period and (B) Interest Expense of such person attributable to interest on any Indebtedness, for which pro forma effect is being given as provided in preceding clause (A) , bearing floating interest rates shall be computed on a pro forma basis as if the rates that would have been in effect during the period for which pro forma effect is being given had been actually in effect during such periods; and (iii) for purposes of Section 6.08(b)(ii)(B) , Indebtedness of Holdings to be incurred thereunder, in making any determination on a Pro Forma Basis, such Indebtedness shall be deemed to be Indebtedness of (including all prior Indebtedness incurred under Section 6.08(b)(ii)(B) ), and incurred by, the Borrower.

Pro forma calculations made pursuant to the definition of this term “ Pro Forma Basis ” shall be determined in good faith by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower. Any such pro forma calculation may include adjustments appropriate, in the reasonable good faith determination of the Borrower, to reflect operating expense reductions, other operating improvements or synergies reasonably expected to result from the applicable pro forma event (including, to the extent applicable, from the Transactions) in the 12-month period following the consummation of the pro forma event. The Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent a certificate of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower setting forth such demonstrable or additional operating expense reductions and other operating improvements or synergies and information and calculations supporting them in reasonable detail.

Pro Forma Closing Balance Sheet ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.05(a)(i) .

Pro Forma Closing EBITDA ” shall mean, “ Pro Forma Adjusted EBITDA ” as calculated in the Offering Circular.

Pro Forma Closing Financial Statements ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.05 .

 

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Pro Forma Closing Income Statements ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.05 .

Projections ” shall mean the projections of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries provided to and approved by, the Administrative Agent and the Initial Lenders prior to the Closing Date, and any other projections and any forward-looking statements (including statements with respect to booked business) of such entities furnished to the Lenders or the Administrative Agent by or on behalf of Holdings, the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries prior to the Closing Date.

Purchase Agreement ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals hereto.

Reference Period ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of the term “ Pro forma Basis.”

Refinance ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of the term “Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness,” and “ Refinanced ” shall have a meaning correlative thereto.

Register ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.04(b) .

Registration Rights Agreement ” shall mean a registration rights agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (it being agreed that, except as provided below, a registration rights agreement substantially similar to the registration rights agreement entered into in connection with the issuance of the Senior Notes (the “ Senior Notes Registration Rights Agreement ”) is satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower), which will provide, subject to the terms and limitations set forth in such registration rights agreement, that after the date (the “ Original Issue Date ”) on which the initial issuance of Senior Subordinated Exchange Notes (the “Initial Senior Subordinated Exchange Notes” ) are issued:

(a) (i) the Borrower and the Subsidiary Loan Parties will use their commercially reasonable efforts to prepare and file with the SEC, within 90 days after the Original Issue Date, an exchange offer registration statement with respect to the Initial Senior Subordinated Exchange Notes and any additional Senior Subordinated Exchange Notes issued on or prior to five (5) Business Days prior to the commencement of the Registered Exchange Offer (as defined below) (the “ Exchange Offer Registration Statement ”) and use their commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Exchange Offer Registration Statement to become effective on or prior to 210 days after the Original Issue Date, (ii) as soon as practicable after the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, the Borrower will commence the exchange offer (the “ Registered Exchange Offer ”) and the keep the Registered Exchange Offer open for not less than 20 Business Days (or longer, if required by applicable law) after the date notice of the Registered Exchange Offer is mailed to holders of the Initial Senior Subordinated Exchange Notes and (iii) the Borrower will be required to consummate the Registered Exchange Offer no later than 30 Business Days after the date on which the Exchange

 

27


Offer Registration Statement is declared effective and will issue exchange notes in exchange for all of the Initial Senior Subordinated Exchange Notes validly tendered in the exchange offer;

(b) (i) if the Registered Exchange Offer is not permitted by applicable law or SEC policy or consummated within the required time period, (ii) the Registered Exchange Offer is not consummated within 30 Business Days of the 210th day after the Issue Date, (iii) any holder of the Initial Senior Subordinated Exchange Notes notifies the Borrower in writing on or prior to the 60th day after the consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer that (A) such holder is prohibited by applicable law or SEC policy from participating in the Registered Exchange Offer, or (B) such holder may not resell the registered Senior Subordinated Exchange Notes (the “ Registered Senior Subordinated Exchange Notes” ) acquired by it in the Registered Exchange Offer to the public without delivering a prospectus and that the prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is not appropriate or available for such resales by such holder, or (C) such holder is a broker-dealer, and holds Senior Subordinated Exchange Notes acquired directly from the Borrower or one of its affiliates, or (iv) upon the first issuance of Senior Subordinated Exchange Notes subsequent to (5) Business Days prior to the commencement of the Registered Exchange Offer (and, therefore, not included in the Registered Exchange Offer) (the date of such issuance and each subsequent issuance, a “Subsequent Issue Date” ) (each of the conditions described in the foregoing clauses (i) through (iv)  occur, including in the case of clause (iii)  the receipt of the required notice, being a “Trigger Event” and the date on which such Trigger Event occurs being a Trigger Date” ), the Borrower and the Subsidiary Loan Parties shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to prepare and file with the SEC as soon as practicable after the first such Trigger Date (the “Initial Trigger Date” ) and use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause to become effective, on or prior to 30 days after such Initial Trigger Date (the “Subsequent Effectiveness Date” ), a shelf registration statement providing for the resale of Senior Subordinated Exchange Notes (the “ Shelf Registration Statement ”); provided , that the Subsequent Effectiveness Date shall be extended to 210 days after the Trigger Date to the extent that the Borrower receives notice that such Shelf Registration Statement will be reviewed by the SEC;

(c) (i) immediately after the Initial Trigger Date, the Borrower shall notify holders of Senior Subordinated Notes of the Borrower’s obligation to file a Shelf Registration Statement and accompany such notice with a form of notice and questionnaire (the “Holder Questionnaire” ) pursuant to which a holder may elect to be named as a selling security holder in, and have its Senior Subordinated Exchange Notes registered for resale by, the Shelf Registration Statement; (ii) at the time the Shelf Registration Statement is declared effective, each holder of Senior Subordinated Exchange Notes who provided to the Borrower the Holder Questionnaire on or prior to the date that is ten (10) Business Days (or such subsequent date as may be determined by the Borrower) prior to such time of effectiveness shall be named as a selling security holder in the Shelf Registration Statement and the related prospectus in such a manner as to permit such holder to freely transfer its Senior Subordinated Exchange Notes with the delivery of such prospectus; and (iii) after the Subsequent Effectiveness Date, the Borrower shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to amend or supplement, as

 

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necessary, the Shelf Registration Statement within (10) ten Business Days of its receipt of a Holder Questionnaire (or, in the case of Holder Questionnaires received by the Borrower nine (9) or fewer Business Days prior to the Subsequent Effectiveness Date, within (10) ten Business Days of the Subsequent Effectiveness Date) to ensure that the Shelf Registration Statement will permit any holder that provided the Holder Questionnaire to freely transfer its Senior Subordinated Exchange Notes;

(d) the Borrower and the Subsidiary Loan Parties will pay liquidated damages (“ Additional Interest ”) in the amounts set forth in clause (e)  below if any of the following events occur (each such event referred to in clause (i) through (iv)  below as a “ Registration Failure ”): (i) the Borrowers fail to file, amend or supplement any of the registration statements required by the Registration Rights Agreement on or before the date specified for such filing, amendment or supplement (except, with respect to amending or supplementing the Shelf Registration Statement as set forth in clause (c)(iii) above, as permitted in the Registration Rights Agreement for blackout periods), or (ii) any of such registration statements is not declared effective by the SEC on or prior to the date specified for such effectiveness (the “ Effectiveness Target Date ”), or (iii) the Borrowers fail to consummate the exchange offer within 30 Business Days after the Effectiveness Target Date for the Exchange Offer Registration Statement; or (iv) the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or the Shelf Registration Statement is declared effective but thereafter ceases to be effective or usable (except as permitted in the Registration Rights Agreement for blackout periods) in connection with the exchange or resale of the Senior Subordinated Exchange Notes during the periods specified in the Registration Rights Agreement.

(e) (i) Additional Interest shall accrue on the principal amount of the Senior Subordinated Exchange Notes (it being expressly understood that, with respect to the Shelf Registration Statement, Additional Interest shall be payable only with respect to securities requested to be registered) over and above the interest set forth in the title of the Senior Subordinated Exchange Notes from and including the date on which any such Registration Failure shall occur to but excluding the date on which all such Registration Failure have been cured, at an initial rate of 0.25%  per annum (the “ Additional Interest Rate ) for the first 90-day period immediately following the occurrence of such Registration Default; (ii) the Additional Interest Rate shall increase by an additional 0.25%  per annum with respect to each subsequent 90-day period until all Registration Defaults have been cured, up to a maximum Additional Interest Rate of 1.00%  per annum ; and (iii) all accrued Additional Interest will be paid in arrears on each quarterly (or, if applicable for such Senior Subordinated Exchange Notes, semi-annual) interest payment date.

Regulation U ” shall mean Regulation U of the Board as from time to time in effect and all official rulings and interpretations thereunder or thereof.

Regulation X ” shall mean Regulation X of the Board as from time to time in effect and all official rulings and interpretations thereunder or thereof.

 

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Related Fund ” shall mean, with respect to any Lender that is a fund that invests in bank or commercial loans and similar extensions of credit, any other fund that invests in bank or commercial loans and similar extensions of credit and is advised or managed by (a) such Lender, (b) an Affiliate of such Lender or (c) an entity (or an Affiliate of such entity) that administers, advises or manages such Lender.

Related Parties ” shall mean, with respect to any specified person, such person’s Affiliates and the respective directors, officers, employees, agents and advisors of such person and such person’s Affiliates.

Release ” shall mean any spilling, leaking, seepage, pumping, pouring, emitting, emptying, discharging, injecting, escaping, leaching, dumping, disposing, depositing, emanating or migrating in, into, onto or through the environment.

Remaining Present Value ” shall mean, as of any date with respect to any lease, the present value as of such date of the scheduled future lease payments with respect to such lease, determined with a discount rate equal to a market rate of interest for such lease reasonably determined at the time such lease was entered into.

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

Required Lenders ” shall mean, at any time, Lenders having Loans outstanding, that, taken together, represent more than 50% of the sum of all Loans outstanding at such time. The Loans of any Defaulting Lender shall be disregarded in determining Required Lenders at any time.

Responsible Officer ” of any person shall mean any executive officer or Financial Officer of such person and any other officer or similar official thereof responsible for the administration of the obligations of such person in respect of this Agreement.

S&P ” shall mean Standard & Poor’s Ratings Group, Inc.

Sale and Lease-Back Transaction ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.03 .

SEC ” shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor thereto.

Securities Act ” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

Securities Notice ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.10(b) .

 

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Securities Offering ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.10(a) .

Seller ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals hereto.

Seller Preferred Equity ” shall mean the Seller Preferred Stock, as amended from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof.

Seller Preferred Equity Documents ” shall mean the certificate of designation governing the Seller Preferred Stock and the Securityholder Rights Agreement dated as of the date hereof among Holdings, Affinion Group Holdings, LLC and Cendant, in each case as amended from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof.

Seller Preferred Stock ” shall mean the Series A Redeemable Exchangeable Preferred Stock issued by Holdings on October 17, 2005, plus any accrued and unpaid dividends paid-in-kind with respect to the Seller Preferred Stock from and after the Closing Date.

Seller Warrants ” shall mean the Warrant to Purchase Common Stock of Holdings dated October 17, 2005, or any warrant or warrants issued in connection with the partial exercise thereof, in each case as amended from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof.

Senior Notes ” shall mean $270,000,000 in initial aggregate principal amount of 10.125% Senior Notes due 2013 yielding gross cash proceeds of $266,387,400 on or prior to the Closing Date, and such additional 10.125% Senior Notes due 2013 or Senior Notes with the same terms other than coupon and maturity date, which may be the same as or later than (but not earlier than) the maturity date of the 10.125% Senior Notes due 2013.

Senior Notes Documents ” shall mean the Senior Notes, the Senior Notes Indenture and any documents, supplements, instruments and agreements delivered in connection therewith.

Senior Notes Indenture ” shall mean the indenture, dated as of October 17, 2005, among the Borrower, the Subsidiary Guarantors parties thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., under which the Senior Notes are issued, as amended and supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof.

Senior Secured Bank Debt ” at any date shall mean the aggregate principal amount of Consolidated Total Debt outstanding at such date that consists of, without duplication, net of the Unrestricted Cash and Permitted Investments of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on such date, (i) Indebtedness in respect of the Credit Facilities and (ii) senior Indebtedness secured by a Lien (other than Indebtedness of a Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party secured by a Lien on assets of a Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party) under Section 6.02(a) , (c) , (i) , (j)  or (l)  but only to the extent securing Indebtedness (in each case of clauses (i) and (ii) , other than letters of credit to the extent undrawn and not supporting Indebtedness of the type included in Consolidated Debt).

Senior Secured Bank Leverage Ratio ” shall mean, on any date, the ratio of (a) Senior Secured Bank Debt as of such date to (b) EBITDA for the period of four consecutive

 

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fiscal quarters of the Borrower most recently ended as of such date for which financial statements are available (such EBITDA, prior to any adjustments on a Pro Forma Basis, to be as determined from the certificate delivered pursuant to Section 5.04(c) for such period), all determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP provided , that to the extent any Asset Disposition or any Asset Acquisition (or any similar transaction or transactions that require a waiver or a consent of the provisions of Section 6.04 or Section 6.05 by the Required Lenders pursuant to Section 10.08 and such waiver or consent has been obtained in accordance with the terms hereof), including the Transactions, has occurred during the relevant Test Period, EBITDA shall be determined for the respective Test Period on a Pro Forma Basis for such occurrences.

Senior Subordinated Exchange Notes ” shall mean the Senior Subordinated Exchange Notes to be issued under the Senior Subordinated Exchange Notes Indenture in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement and the Senior Subordinated Exchange Notes Indenture.

Senior Subordinated Exchange Notes Applicable Covenants ” shall mean the applicable covenants and merger and successor provisions of the Senior Subordinated Exchange Notes Indenture .

Senior Subordinated Exchange Notes Documents ” shall mean the Senior Subordinated Exchange Notes, the Senior Subordinated Exchange Notes Indenture and any documents, supplements, instruments and agreements delivered in connection therewith.

Senior Subordinated Exchange Notes Event of Default Provisions ” shall mean the “ Events of Default ” provisions in the Senior Subordinated Exchange Notes Indenture other than any provisions thereof addressing payment defaults.

Senior Subordinated Exchange Notes Indenture ” shall mean an indenture capable of being qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, to be agreed between, and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to, the Administrative Agent, the Borrower and the Investment Bank in light of the then prevailing market conditions, as such indenture may be amended and supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof.

Senior Subordinated Notes ” shall mean the senior subordinated notes proposed to be issued by the Borrower after the Closing Date to refinance the Loans having terms and conditions substantially the same as the terms and conditions of the Senior Subordinated Exchange Notes or as are otherwise reasonable and customary for issuance of high yield senior subordinated debt securities in light of the then prevailing market conditions as determined in the reasonable judgment by the Investment Bank in consultation with the Borrower.

Similar Business ” shall mean any business or activity of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries currently conducted or proposed as of the Closing Date, or any business or activity that is reasonably similar thereto or a reasonable extension, development or expansion thereof, or is complementary, incidental, ancillary or related thereto.

Specified Covenant Release ” shall mean, with respect to any specific transaction, the six-month anniversary of the Closing Date having occurred so long as at the time

 

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of such transaction, (a) the Consolidated Leverage Ratio, computed as at the last day of the most recently ended fiscal quarter of the Borrower to give effect to such transaction on a Pro Forma Basis (including, without limitation, the incurrence and assumption of all Indebtedness related to, or in connection with, such transaction) is less than 5.75 to 1.00 and the Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent a certificate of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower to such effect, together with all relevant financial information, and (b) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or result therefrom.

Statutory Reserves ” shall mean, with respect to any currency, the aggregate of the maximum reserve, liquid asset, fees or similar requirements (including any marginal, special, emergency or supplemental reserves or other requirements) established by any central bank, monetary authority, the Board, the Financial Services Authority, the European Central Bank or other Governmental Authority for any category of deposits or liabilities customarily used to fund loans in such currency, expressed in the case of each such requirement as a decimal. Such reserve percentages shall, in the case of U.S. Dollar-denominated Loans, include those imposed pursuant to Regulation D of the Board. Eurocurrency Loans shall be deemed to be subject to such reserve, liquid asset or similar requirements without benefit of or credit for proration, exemptions or offsets that may be available from time to time to any Lender under any applicable law, rule or regulation, including Regulation D. Statutory Reserves shall be adjusted automatically on and as of the effective date of any change in any reserve, liquid asset or similar requirement.

Sterling ” or “ £ ” shall mean the lawful money of the United Kingdom.

subsidiary ” shall mean, with respect to any person (herein referred to as the “ parent ”), any corporation, partnership, association or other business entity (a) of which securities or other ownership interests representing more than 50% of the equity or more than 50% of the ordinary voting power or more than 50% of the general partnership interests are, at the time any determination is being made, directly or indirectly, owned, Controlled or held, or (b) that is, at the time any determination is made, otherwise Controlled, by the parent or one or more subsidiaries of the parent or by the parent and one or more subsidiaries of the parent.

Subsidiary ” shall mean, unless the context otherwise requires, a subsidiary of the Borrower other than any Unrestricted Subsidiary.

Subsidiary Loan Party ” shall mean each Wholly Owned Domestic Subsidiary other than (a) Safecard Services Insurance Co., (b) any Banking Subsidiary, (c) any Unrestricted Subsidiary and (d) to the extent prohibited Applicable Insurance Laws and Regulations, any Insurance Subsidiary.

Subsidiary Spin-off ” shall mean each Subsidiary listed on Schedule 1.01(c) .

Swap Agreement ” shall mean any agreement with respect to any swap, forward, future or derivative transaction or option or similar agreement involving, or settled by reference to, one or more rates, currencies, commodities, equity or debt instruments or securities, or economic, financial or pricing indices or measures of economic, financial or pricing risk or value or any similar transaction or any combination of these transactions; provided , that no phantom

 

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stock or similar plan providing for payments only on account of services provided by current or former directors, officers, employees or consultants of Holdings, the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries shall be a Swap Agreement.

Syndication Agent ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble hereto.

Taxes ” shall mean any and all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties (including stamp duties), deductions, charges (including ad valorem charges) or withholdings imposed by any Governmental Authority and any and all interest and penalties related thereto.

Term Loan ” shall mean Loans that remain outstanding on and after the Conversion Date and shall include any interest in excess of the Cash Cap paid in the form of additional Term Loans pursuant to Section 2.13(a)(iii) .

Test Period ” shall mean, on any date of determination, the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters of the Borrower then most recently ended (taken as one accounting period).

Total Cap ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.13(a)(iii) .

Transaction Documents ” shall mean the Purchase Agreement and all material exhibits and schedules thereto and all agreements expressly contemplated thereby, the Loan Documents, the Senior Notes Documents, the Credit Agreement Documents and the Equity Financing Documents, in each case as amended from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof.

Transactions ” shall mean, collectively, the transactions to occur pursuant to the Transaction Documents, including (a) the Acquisition; (b) the execution and delivery of the Credit Agreement Documents and the initial borrowings thereunder; (c) the Equity Financing; (d) the issuance, and initial purchase, of the Senior Notes; (e) the execution and delivery of the Loan Documents and the funding of the Bridge Loans, conversion of Bridge Loans to Term Loans and the exchange of any Loans for Senior Subordinated Exchange Notes; and (e) the payment of all fees and expenses in connection therewith to be paid on, prior to or subsequent to the Closing Date and owing in connection with the foregoing.

Trustee ” shall mean Wells Fargo Bank, National Association or any other person acting as trustee under the Senior Subordinated Exchange Notes Indenture.

Unrestricted Cash ” shall mean cash or cash equivalents of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries that would not appear as “restricted” on a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries.

Unrestricted Subsidiary ” shall mean (i) any subsidiary of the Borrower identified on Schedule 1.01(d) hereto and (ii) any additional subsidiary of the Borrower designated as such by the Borrower that, together with all other Unrestricted Subsidiaries designated pursuant to this clause (ii) , constitutes in the aggregate less than 5% of (A) aggregate EBITDA on a trailing twelve months’ basis and (B) Consolidated Total Assets at such date of

 

34


determination; provided , that, at any time an Unrestricted Subsidiary designation pursuant to this clause (ii)  causes the aggregate EBITDA or aggregate assets test set forth above to no longer be satisfied, the Unrestricted Subsidiary or Unrestricted Subsidiaries, as applicable, that has or have either the highest sales or the largest book value of assets, as applicable, of all such Unrestricted Subsidiaries as of the date of the most recent financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 5.04(a) or (b)  shall automatically constitute a Subsidiary and cease to constitute an Unrestricted Subsidiary and the Borrower shall promptly cause the Guarantee Agreement to be executed and delivered to the Administrative Agent (such that, following such conversion of each such Unrestricted Subsidiary to a Subsidiary the remaining Unrestricted Subsidiaries shall satisfy this definition); provided , that the EBITDA attributable to Banking Subsidiaries that are Unrestricted Subsidiaries shall not be included in the foregoing determination, only so long as the cumulative amount of Investments made by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in Banking Subsidiaries does not exceed $20,000,000 in the aggregate.

Unrestricted Travel Rewards Subsidiary ” shall mean the Unrestricted Subsidiary of the Borrower the sole asset of which is a copy (but not the original) of the source code for the loyalty program established and/or to be established by Travel Rewards, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

U.S.A. Patriot Act ” shall mean the U.S.A. Patriot Act, Title III of Pub.L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001).

U.S. Dollars ” or “ $ ” shall mean lawful money of the United States of America.

U.S. Lending Office ” shall mean, as to any Lender, the applicable branch, office or Affiliate of such Lender designated by such Lender to make Loans to the Borrower.

Wholly Owned Subsidiary ” of any person shall mean a subsidiary of such person, all of the Equity Interests of which (other than directors’ qualifying shares or nominee or other similar shares required pursuant to applicable law) are owned by such person or another Wholly Owned Subsidiary of such person.

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

SECTION 1.02. Terms Generally . The definitions set forth or referred to in Section 1.01 shall apply equally to both 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 .” All references herein to Articles , Sections , Exhibits and Schedules shall be deemed references to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules to, this Agreement unless the context shall otherwise require. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, any reference in this Agreement to any Loan Document shall mean such document as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all terms of an accounting or financial nature shall be construed in accordance with GAAP, as in effect from time to time; provided , that, if the

 

35


Borrower notifies the Administrative Agent that the Borrower requests an amendment to any provision hereof to eliminate the effect of any change occurring after the Closing Date in GAAP or in the application thereof on the operation of such provision (or if the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower that the Required Lenders request an amendment to any provision hereof for such purpose), regardless of whether any such notice is given before or after such change in GAAP or in the application thereof, then such provision shall be interpreted on the basis of GAAP as in effect and applied immediately before such change shall have become effective until such notice shall have been withdrawn or such provision amended in accordance herewith.

SECTION 1.03. Effectuation of Transfers . Each of the representations and warranties of Holdings and the Borrower contained in this Agreement (and all corresponding definitions) are made after giving effect to the Transactions (or such portion thereof as shall be consummated as of the date of the applicable representation or warranty), unless the context otherwise requires.

SECTION 1.04. Currency Translation . For purposes of determining compliance as of any date with Section 6.01 , 6.02 , 6.03 , 6.04 , 6.05 , 6.06 or 6.07 , amounts incurred or outstanding in currencies other than U.S. Dollars shall be translated into U.S. Dollars at the exchange rates in effect on the first Business Day of the fiscal quarter in which such determination occurs or in respect of which such determination is being made, as such exchange rates shall be determined in good faith by the Borrower. No Default or Event of Default shall arise as a result of any limitation or threshold set forth in U.S. Dollars in Section 6.01 , 6.02 , 6.03 , 6.04 , 6.05 , 6.06 or 6.07 or paragraph (f)  or (j)  of Section 7.01 being exceeded solely as a result of changes in currency exchange rates from those applicable on the first day of the fiscal quarter in which such determination occurs or in respect of which such determination is being made.

ARTICLE II

The Credits

SECTION 2.01. Commitments . Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Lender agrees to make Bridge Loans to the Borrower in U.S. Dollars on the Closing Date in a principal amount not to exceed its Commitment.

SECTION 2.02. Loans and Borrowings . (a) The failure of any Lender to make any Bridge Loan required to be made by it shall not relieve any other Lender of its obligations hereunder; provided , that the Commitments of the Lenders are several and no Lender shall be responsible for any other Lender’s failure to make Loans as required.

(b) Each Lender at its option may make any Loan through any domestic or foreign branch or Affiliate of such Lender; provided , that any exercise of such option shall not affect the obligation of the Borrower to repay such Loan in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and such Lender not be entitled to any amounts payable under Section 2.15 or 2.17 solely in respect of increased costs or taxes resulting from such exercise and existing at the time of such exercise.

(c) Amounts paid or prepaid in respect of Loans may not be reborrowed

 

36


SECTION 2.03. Requests for Borrowings . To request a Borrowing, the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of such request (as provided in Section 10.01 ) by telephone not later than 12:00 p.m., Local Time, one Business Day before the Closing Date. Such telephonic Borrowing Request shall be irrevocable and shall be confirmed promptly by hand delivery or telecopy to the Administrative Agent of a written Borrowing Request in a form approved by the Administrative Agent and signed by the Borrower. Such telephonic and written Borrowing Request shall specify the following information: (i) the aggregate amount of the requested Borrowing, (ii) the date of such Borrowing, which shall be a Business Day, and (iii) the location and number of the Borrower’s account to which funds are to be disbursed.

SECTION 2.04. Term Loans; Senior Subordinated Exchange Notes . Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Bridge Loans may remain outstanding as such to but excluding the Conversion Date, whereupon the outstanding Bridge Loans shall automatically be converted, without the need for any action by any party hereto, to Term Loans. Unless the maturity of the Loans shall have been accelerated on or prior to the Conversion Date, on the Conversion Date the provisions of Articles V and VI and Section 7.01 (other than Sections 7.01(b) and (c) , which shall remain in full force and effect except that the grace period specified in Sections 7.01(c) thereof shall be changed from five Business Days to thirty days) and the defined terms relating thereto shall cease to be in effect and shall be replaced by the Senior Subordinated Exchange Notes Applicable Covenants (in the case of Articles V and VI ), the Senior Subordinated Exchange Notes Event of Default Provisions (in the case of Section 7.01 ) and the applicable defined terms set forth in the Senior Subordinated Exchange Notes Indenture (in the case of the applicable defined terms), each of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein, mutatis mutandis , for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, as fully and effectively as if set forth in full herein.

(a) Each Lender will have the option at any time on or after the Conversion Date to receive Senior Subordinated Exchange Notes in exchange for the Term Loans (or a portion thereof) (including any interest not required to be paid in cash) of such Lender then outstanding pursuant to Section 2.05 (each such event being referred to herein as an “ Exchange ”); provided , that the Borrower shall not be required to issue Senior Subordinated Exchange Notes until it shall have received Exchange Requests to issue not less than $25,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Senior Subordinated Exchange Notes.

(b) The principal amount of the Senior Subordinated Exchange Notes will equal 100.0% of the aggregate principal amount (including any accrued interest not required to be paid in cash) of the Loans (or the portions thereof) for which they are exchanged and will bear interest at a fixed rate per annum equal to the per annum rate in effect with respect to the Term Loans on the Exchange Date, except as provided pursuant to Section 2.13(a)(iv) . The Senior Subordinated Exchange Notes will rank pari passu with the Term Loans and will have the terms set forth in the Senior Subordinated Exchange Notes Indenture. On any date an Exchange occurs (an “ Exchange Date ”), the Borrower shall, pursuant to the provisions of this Article II , pay any accrued and unpaid interest required to be paid in cash on the Loans so exchanged except to the extent prohibited from doing so pursuant to the application of any subordination provisions in Article VIII . If a Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such Exchange, (i) a Default or Event of Default, as the case may be, shall be deemed to have occurred and be continuing under the Subordinated Exchange Notes Indenture, (ii) any notices

 

37


given or cure periods commenced while the Loan was outstanding shall be deemed given or commenced (as of the actual dates thereof) for all purposes with respect to the Senior Subordinated Exchange Notes (with the same effect as if the Senior Subordinated Exchange Notes had been outstanding as of the actual dates thereof), (iii) the subordination provisions under the Subordinated Exchange Notes Indenture shall be in effect with respect to the Senior Subordinated Exchange Notes, to the extent applicable, to the same extent that the subordination provisions in Article VIII are in effect as if such Default or Event of Default, as the case may be, had occurred under the Subordinated Exchange Notes Indenture, including, without limitation, as to any restrictions on cash payments (with any Payment Blockage Notice delivered pursuant to the provisions in Article VIII that is in effect at the time of such Exchange being deemed to be an effective delivery of a “ Payment Blockage Notice ” (or similar notice) under the Subordinated Exchange Notes Indenture as of the actual date of delivery of such Payment Blockage Notice (with the same effect as if the Senior Subordinated Exchange Notes had been outstanding as of the actual dates thereof), and (iv) the Senior Subordinated Exchange Notes shall accrue default interest under the Subordinated Exchange Notes Indenture to the same extent the Loans that were exchanged for such Senior Subordinated Exchange Notes accrue default interest. Receipt by a Lender of the Senior Subordinated Exchange Notes and all amounts due in respect of the corresponding Loans through the Exchange Date shall be in satisfaction of, and shall constitute the discharge of, the corresponding Loans and the Borrower and the Loan Parties will have no further obligations in respect of such Loans relating to any time from and after the time of such receipt; provided , that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary, (A) if a Lender receives Senior Subordinated Exchange Notes but not all accrued and unpaid interest required to be paid in cash on the Loans which were exchanged for such Senior Subordinated Exchange Notes, the Borrower’s and the Loan Parties’ obligations in respect thereof shall not be satisfied and discharged and interest and default interest shall accrue on such unpaid interest to the extent provided in this Agreement, (B) such satisfaction and discharge shall be deemed to occur upon the payment in full in cash of all such unpaid interest, together with any additional interest and default interest thereon, and (C) any such satisfaction and discharge shall not affect the obligations of the Borrower and the Loan Parties hereunder and the other Loan Documents with respect to such Loans, other than the principal thereof and interest thereon, to the extent arising or relating to any time prior to the time of such receipt.

(c) In order to effect an Exchange, a Lender shall provide the Administrative Agent and the Borrower written or telecopy notice (an “ Exchange Request ”) in the form to be attached as an exhibit to the Senior Subordinated Exchange Notes Indenture at least five Business Days prior to an Exchange Date, which shall be a Business Day, selected by such Lender for an Exchange in compliance with this Article II , together with such other information as may be reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent. Each Exchange Request shall specify (A) the Lender’s legal name; (B) the Exchange Date selected by such Lender and (C) the principal amount of the Loans to be exchanged pursuant to the applicable notice. Upon receipt of an Exchange Request, the Administrative Agent shall send, on the date that is five days prior to the Exchange Date specified in such Exchange Request, written or telecopy notice of such proposed Exchange to the Trustee, with a copy to the Borrower, that shall specify the information contained in such Exchange Request.

SECTION 2.05. Senior Subordinated Exchange Notes . (a) In the event that any Bridge Loans remain outstanding on the nine-month anniversary of the Closing Date, (i) the

 

38


Borrower and the other Loan Parties (other than Holdings) shall enter into the Senior Subordinated Exchange Notes Indenture promptly thereafter (and in any event no later than 30 days prior to the Conversion Date), (ii) the Borrower shall execute and deliver to the Trustee certificates evidencing the full amount of the Senior Subordinated Exchange Notes that may be issued pursuant to the terms hereof, to be held by the Trustee, undated and unauthenticated, pending issuance pursuant to the terms hereof, (iii) the Borrower shall enter into the Registration Rights Agreement promptly thereafter (and in any event no later than 30 days prior to the Conversion Date), and (iv) the Borrower shall use its best efforts to obtain ratings from each of Moody’s and S&P for the Senior Subordinated Exchange Notes (and, if applicable, each tranche thereof) prior to the Conversion Date and, if not obtained by then, as soon as practicable thereafter.

(b) The Borrower shall, no later than ten Business Days prior to the Conversion Date, (i) use best efforts to cause the Senior Subordinated Exchange Notes to become eligible for deposit at The Depository Trust Company (including by the filing of an appropriately executed letter of representations), (ii) obtain “CUSIP” and “ISIN” numbers for the Senior Subordinated Exchange Notes and (iii) use best efforts, in cooperation with the Administrative Agent, to cause the Senior Subordinated Exchange Notes to be eligible for trading in the Private Offerings, Resales and Trading through Automatic Linkages (“ Portal ”) market.

(c) If Senior Subordinated Exchange Notes are issued pursuant to the terms hereof, then the Borrower shall register the Senior Subordinated Exchange Notes under the Securities Act in accordance with the terms set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement.

(d) On or prior to the fifth Business Day following the receipt of an Exchange Request from a Lender in accordance with Section 2.04(c) (and subject to the proviso set forth in Section 2.04(a) ) that requests the exchange of any Term Loan (or portion thereof to the extent permitted by Section 2.04 ) of such Lender for Senior Subordinated Exchange Notes, the Borrower shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Trustee to deliver, in accordance with the instructions set forth in such Exchange Request and with the terms of the Senior Subordinated Exchange Notes Indenture, a fully executed and authenticated Senior Subordinated Exchange Note or Senior Subordinated Exchange Notes, bearing interest and with a maturity date as set forth for such Senior Subordinated Exchange Notes in the Senior Subordinated Exchange Notes Indenture, in exchange for such Term Loan, dated the date of the issuance of such Senior Subordinated Exchange Note. Such Senior Subordinated Exchange Note shall either (i) be recorded in book-entry form as a beneficial interest in one or more global notes deposited with the Trustee as custodian for The Depository Trust Company and credited to the account of the exchanging Lender directly or indirectly through its participant in the Depository Trust Company system, in each case in the same principal amount as such Term Loan (or portion thereof) being exchanged or (ii) if the foregoing is not reasonably practicable, be issued as a definitive registered note payable to the order of the holder or beneficial owner, as the case may be, in the same principal amount as such Term Loan (or portion thereof) being exchanged.

SECTION 2.06. Funding of Borrowings . (a) Each Lender shall make each Bridge Loan to be made by it on the Closing Date by wire transfer of immediately available funds by 12:00 noon, Local Time, to the account of the Administrative Agent most recently designated by it for such purpose by notice to the Lenders. The Administrative Agent will make

 

39


such Loans available to the Borrower by promptly crediting the amounts so received, in like funds, to an account of the Borrower designated by the Borrower in the applicable Borrowing Request.

(b) Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the proposed date of any Borrowing that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lender’s share of such Borrowing, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such share available on such date in accordance with paragraph (a)  of this Section and may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Borrower a corresponding amount. In such event, if a Lender has not in fact made its share of the applicable Borrowing available to the Administrative Agent, then the applicable Lender and the Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand (without duplication) such corresponding amount with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is made available to the Borrower to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at the greater of (i) (A) the Federal Funds Rate, and (B) the rate reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent to be the cost to it of funding such amount, and (ii) a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation. If such Lender pays such amount to the Administrative Agent, then such amount shall constitute such Lender’s Loan included in such Borrowing. If the Borrower pays such amount to the Administrative Agent, then such amount shall constitute a reduction of such Borrowing.

SECTION 2.07. [RESERVED] .

SECTION 2.08. Payments . (a) The Borrower shall make each payment (including principal of or interest on any Loan or any fees or other amounts) hereunder and under any other Loan Document not later than 12:00 noon (New York City time) on the date when due in immediately available dollars, without setoff, defense or counterclaim to the extent not permitted to be paid, and so paid, in the form of additional Loans. Any amounts received after such time on any date may, in the discretion of the Administrative Agent, be deemed to have been received on the next succeeding Business Day for purposes of calculating interest thereon. Each such payment shall be made to the Administrative Agent at its offices at Eleven Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10010 to the account designated by the Administrative Agent, except that payments pursuant to Sections 2.15 , 2.16 , 2.17 and 10.05 shall be made directly to the persons entitled thereto. The Administrative Agent shall promptly distribute to each Lender any payments received by the Administrative Agent on behalf of such Lender.

(b) Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, whenever any payment (including principal of or interest on any Loan or any fees or other amounts) hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall become due, or otherwise would occur, on a day that is not a Business Day, such payment may be made on the next succeeding Business Day, and such extension of time shall in such case be included in the computation of interest or fees, if applicable.

(c) Any payment required to be made by the Administrative Agent hereunder shall be deemed to have been made by the time required if the Administrative Agent shall, at or before such time, have taken the necessary steps to make such payment in accordance with the

 

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regulations or operating procedures of the clearing or settlement system used by the Administrative Agent to make such payment.

SECTION 2.09. Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Debt . (a) The Borrower hereby unconditionally promises to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender the then unpaid principal amount of each Loan of such Lender on the Maturity Date or such earlier date on which such Loan is required to be repaid in accordance with the provisions hereof.

(b) 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 Loan made by such Lender, including the amounts of principal and interest payable and paid to such Lender from time to time hereunder.

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

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

(e) Any Lender may request that Loans made by it be evidenced by a promissory note (a “ Note ”). In such event, the Borrower shall prepare, execute and deliver to such Lender a promissory note payable to the order of such Lender (or, if requested by such Lender, to such Lender and its registered assigns) and in a form approved by the Administrative Agent and reasonably acceptable to the Borrower. Thereafter, the Loans evidenced by such promissory note and interest thereon shall at all times (including after assignment pursuant to Section 10.04 ) be represented by one or more promissory notes in such form payable to the order of the payee named therein (or, if such promissory note is a registered note, to such payee and its registered assigns).

SECTION 2.10. Take-Out Financing . (a) The Borrower shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to consummate, promptly following the Closing Date, the offering and sale of the Senior Subordinated Notes (the “ Securities Offering ”) in an amount sufficient to repay all principal and other amounts then due or outstanding under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents from the net cash proceeds thereof and, in any event, subject to the conditions set forth in Section 2.10(b) , use its best efforts to refinance the Loans in full with the proceeds of the Demand Securities as promptly as practicable following the Closing Date.

(b) In the event the Securities Offering has not been consummated on or prior January 31, 2006 (or has not generated sufficient net cash proceeds to repay all principal and other amounts due or outstanding under this Agreement), then, at any time and from time to time

 

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during the period beginning on February 1, 2006 and ending on the date that is the earlier to occur of (x) the date that is eighteen months after the Closing Date or (y) the date on which 100% of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of all Loans (including any interest thereon permitted to be paid in the form of additional Loans) shall have been exchanged for Senior Subordinated Exchange Notes, upon notice by the Administrative Agent to the Borrower stating that, in its or the Investment Bank’s opinion, market conditions are such that the conditions specified in clause (v)  below can be satisfied (a “ Securities Notice ”), the Borrower shall execute an offering (a “ Demand Offering ”) of debt securities (“ Demand Securities ”) upon such terms and conditions as may be specified in the Securities Notice, it being understood that: (i) the Investment Bank will determine in its reasonable discretion after consultation with the Borrower whether the Demand Securities issued in the Demand Offering will be issued through a registered public offering or a private placement; (ii) the Demand Securities will have economic terms, including ranking, interest, yields and redemption prices, that are, in the reasonable judgment of the Investment Bank, necessary to ensure a successful placement of the Demand Securities and all other terms and arrangements with respect thereto will be customary for similar financings taking into account prevailing market conditions as reasonably determined by the Investment Bank; (iii) the maturity of any particular Demand Security shall not be earlier than the date that is eight and one-half years after the Closing Date and the weighted average life to maturity of all Demand Securities shall not be earlier than the date that is eight and one-half years after the Closing Date; (iv) no Demand Securities of Holdings will be offered; and (v) the weighted average yield of all Demand Securities and all other Indebtedness issued or incurred by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries after the Closing Date (including, without limitation, any Senior Subordinated Notes and any additional Senior Notes, but excluding any additional Indebtedness under the Credit Facilities (including incremental facilities thereunder)) the net cash proceeds of which were applied to prepay the Loans shall not exceed, during any period of time set forth in the grid below, the rate per annum set forth in the column opposite such period of time in the grid below (the “ Weighted Average Yield Caps ”); provided , that (A) the weighted average yield of all Demand Securities and all such other Indebtedness required to be paid in cash shall not exceed the Cash Cap, and the Borrower may elect to pay such excess yield on the Demand Securities by paying the appropriate excess yield on each relevant interest payment date with respect to any such Demand Securities through the addition to the then outstanding aggregate principal amount of such Demand Securities of a principal amount equal to all or a portion of such excess interest to be paid (with the Demand Securities with respect to which the yield may be so paid to be reasonably determined by the Investment Bank), (B) the yield on any particular Demand Security shall not exceed 13.50%  per annum , and (C) the Weighted Average Yield Cap shall only apply with respect to the yield on Demand Securities and not to any other Indebtedness, such other Indebtedness being referred to herein solely for purposes of determining the weighted average yield available for any Demand Securities to be offered.

 

Period

   Weighted
Average
Yield
Cap
 

February 1, 2006 - February 28, 2006

   12.00 %

March 1, 2006 - March 1, 2006

   12.50 %

April 1, 2006 - April 30, 2006

   13.00 %

May 1, 2006 and thereafter

   13.25 %

 

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(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, in the event of a failure by the Borrower to execute a Demand Offering within five (5) Business Days following receipt of a Securities Notice, the Administrative Agent shall have the right to increase the interest rate with respect to the Loans upon such failure (or any time thereafter) such that the aggregate weighted average interest rate of all outstanding Loans and any then outstanding Senior Subordinated Exchange Notes and Demand Securities shall not exceed 13.50%  per annum and the portion thereof payable in cash shall not exceed 12.35%  per annum . The interest rate with respect to the Loans following any adjustment pursuant to the preceding sentence shall continue as the applicable interest rate through the Maturity Date. After such a failure to execute a Demand Offering, this Agreement will be modified to provide for optional redemption, call premium terms and defeasance provisions that are customary for high yield securities and which shall be reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent based on market convention. In addition, the Conversion Fee, if not previously paid, shall become immediately due and payable upon any such failure to execute a Demand Offering. Each of the parties hereto hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to memorialize such modifications in an amendment to this Agreement, which, in the absence of manifest error, shall be conclusive and binding on the parties hereto and which shall not require the consent of any other party hereto.

SECTION 2.11. Prepayment of Loans . (a) The Borrower shall have the right at any time and from time to time to prepay the Loans in whole or in part, without premium or penalty (but subject to Section 2.16 ) upon at least three days’ prior written or fax notice (or telephone notice promptly confirmed by written or fax notice) to the Administrative Agent before 11:00 a.m., New York City time in an aggregate principal amount that is an integral multiple of the Prepayment Multiple and not less than the Prepayment Minimum or, if less, the amount outstanding. Each notice of optional prepayment shall be irrevocable and shall specify the prepayment date and the principal amount of each Loan (or portion thereof) to be prepaid. All optional prepayments under this Section 2.11(a) shall be accompanied by accrued and unpaid interest on the principal amount to be prepaid to but excluding the date of payment.

(b) All Net Proceeds shall be applied to prepay the Loans, without premium or penalty (but subject to Section 2.16 ) no later than one Business Day after receipt of such Net Proceeds, subject to the prior application of such Net Proceeds as required by the Credit Agreement and the Senior Notes Indenture to prepay or repurchase outstanding amounts thereunder (or as otherwise permitted to be applied thereunder in lieu of making such prepayments or repurchases) and subject to any limitations thereunder on prepayments of subordinated debt.

(c) In the event that a Change of Control occurs, the Borrower shall promptly (and in any event not later than 91 days following the occurrence of such Change of Control) prepay all outstanding Loans at par.

SECTION 2.12. Fees . (a) If the Bridge Loans have not been repaid in full on or prior to the Conversion Date, the Borrower shall pay the conversion fee (the “ Conversion Fee ”)

 

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in an amount equal to 2.50% of the aggregate principal amount of Bridge Loans being converted into Term Loans.

(b) The Conversion Fee shall be paid on the Conversion Date, in immediately available funds, to the Administrative Agent for distribution among the Lenders. Once paid, none of the Fees shall be refundable under any circumstances.

SECTION 2.13. Interest . (a) (i) Subject to the provisions of Sections 2.10(c) and 2.13(b) , Bridge Loans shall bear interest for each Interest Period on the unpaid principal thereof at a rate per annum (computed on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed over a year of 360 days) equal to (A) in the case of the initial Interest Period commencing on the Closing Date and the next succeeding Interest Period ( i.e. , the second Interest Period), 11.00%  per annum , and (B) in the case of each subsequent Interest Period, the interest rate in effect for the immediately preceding Interest Period plus 0.50%  per annum .

(ii) Subject to the provisions of Sections 2.10(c) and 2.13(b) , Term Loans shall bear interest for each Interest Period on the unpaid principal thereof at a rate p er annum (computed on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed over a year of 360 days) equal to (A) in the case of the initial Interest Period commencing on the Conversion Date, the interest rate in effect for the Bridge Loans immediately prior to the Conversion Date plus 0.50%  per annum , and (B) in the case of each subsequent Interest Period, the interest rate in effect for the immediately preceding Interest Period plus 0.50%  per annum .

(iii) Notwithstanding the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii) , the interest rate borne by the Loans in any Interest Period shall not exceed 12.00%  per annum (the “ Total Cap ”), except to the extent provided in Section 2.10(c) , subject to Section 2.13(b) . To the extent the interest rate borne by the Loans in any Interest Period exceeds a rate equal (A) 11.00%  per annum (the “ Cash Cap ”) or (B) solely to the extent provided in Section 2.10(c) , 12.35%  per annum , subject in each case to Section 2.13(b) , the Borrower may elect to pay such excess interest on the Loans by paying the appropriate excess interest on each relevant Interest Payment Date through the addition to the then outstanding aggregate principal amount of Loans of a principal amount equal to all or a portion of such excess interest to be paid.

(iv) Any Lender that surrenders Term Loans in exchange for Senior Subordinated Exchange Notes may elect to receive such Senior Subordinated Exchange Notes in multiple tranches of securities (with such tranches bearing different interest rates and having different maturities, ranking and other economic terms, all as reasonably determined by the Investment Bank; provided , that there shall not be more than four tranches of Senior Subordinated Exchange Notes in the aggregate without the consent of the Borrower), so long as (A) the weighted average yield of such tranches does not exceed the weighted average yield of such surrendered Term Loans (subject to any subsequent application of Section 2.10(c) , the provisions of the Senior Subordinated Exchange Notes equivalent to Section 2.13(b) , and the accrual of any additional interest or liquidated damages as contemplated in the definition of Registration Rights Agreement), (B) the weighted average maturity of such tranches is not less than the

 

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weighted average maturity of such surrendered Term Loans, and (C) the maturity of any particular Senior Subordinated Exchange Note shall not be earlier than the date that is eight years after the Closing Date. To the extent the weighted average interest rate borne on any outstanding Senior Subordinated Exchange Notes exceeds the Cash Cap, subject to the provisions of the Senior Subordinated Exchange Notes equivalent to Section 2.13(b) , the Borrower may elect to pay such excess interest on, as provided in the Indenture, including pursuant to any supplements thereto providing for such tranches, such tranches of outstanding Senior Subordinated Exchange Notes as reasonably determined by the Investment Bank (which may be, but are not required to be, limited to tranches of Senior Subordinated Exchange Notes bearing an interest rate in excess of the Cash Cap) by paying the appropriate excess interest on each relevant Interest Payment Date through the addition to the then outstanding aggregate principal amount of Senior Subordinated Exchange Notes of the applicable tranches of a principal amount equal to all or a portion of such excess interest to be paid.

(b) Any amount (whether of principal, interest, fees or otherwise) not paid when due hereunder or any other Loan Document shall bear interest, to the extent permitted by law (after as well as before judgment), at the rate then applicable to the outstanding Loans pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.13 plus 2.00%  per annum . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, in no event shall the Total Cap or the Cash Cap or any other provision limit or affect the Borrower’s obligation to pay interest in cash on overdue amounts at the rate required to be paid by this Section 2.13(b) .

(c) Interest shall be payable in arrears (either in cash or, to the extent permitted by clause (a)(iii) above, by adding to the then outstanding principal amount of the Loans) on each Interest Payment Date; provided , that additional interest accruing pursuant to Section 2.13(b) shall be payable from time to time upon demand.

(d) Each determination of an interest rate by the Administrative Agent pursuant to any provision of this Agreement shall be conclusive and binding on the Borrower and the Lenders in the absence of manifest error.

SECTION 2.14. [RESERVED] .

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

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

(ii) impose on any Lender or the London interbank market any other condition affecting this Agreement or Eurocurrency Loans made by such Lender or participation therein;

and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to such Lender of making or maintaining any Eurocurrency Loan or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Lender hereunder (whether of principal, interest or otherwise), then the Borrower will

 

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pay to such Lender such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered.

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

(c) A certificate of a Lender setting forth the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or its holding company, as applicable, as specified in paragraph (a)  or (b)  of this Section shall be delivered to the Borrower and 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) Promptly after any Lender has determined that it will make a request for increased compensation pursuant to this Section 2.15 , such Lender shall notify the Borrower thereof. 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 demand such compensation; provided , that the Borrower shall not be required to compensate a Lender pursuant to this Section for any increased costs or reductions incurred more than 180 days 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; provided , further , that if the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions is retroactive, then the 180-day period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof.

SECTION 2.16. Indemnity . The Borrower shall indemnify each Lender against any loss or expense that such Lender may sustain or incur as a consequence of (a) any event, other than a default by such Lender in the performance of its obligations hereunder, which results in (i) such Lender receiving or being deemed to receive any amount on account of the principal of any Loan prior to the end of the Interest Period in effect therefor or (ii) the Loan to be made by such Lender not being made after notice of such Loan shall have been given by the Borrower hereunder (any of the events referred to in this clause (a)  being called a “ Breakage Event ”) or (b) any failure by the Borrower to make any payment or prepayment required to be made by it hereunder. In the case of any Breakage Event, such loss shall include an amount equal to the excess, as reasonably determined by such Lender, of (i) its cost of obtaining funds for the Loan that is the subject of such Breakage Event for the period from the date of such Breakage Event to the last day of the Interest Period in effect (or that would have been in effect) for such Loan over (ii) the amount of interest likely to be realized by such Lender in redeploying the funds released or not utilized by reason of such Breakage Event for such period. A certificate of any Lender setting forth any amount or amounts which such Lender is entitled to receive pursuant to this Section 2.16 shall be delivered to the Borrower and shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

 

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

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

(c) Each Loan Party shall indemnify the Administrative Agent and each Lender, within 10 days after written demand therefor, for the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes paid by the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as applicable, on or with respect to any payment by or on account of any obligation of such Loan Party hereunder or under any other Loan Documents (including Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes imposed or asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under this Section) and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to such Loan Party by a Lender or by the Administrative Agent on its own behalf, on behalf of another Agent or on behalf of a Lender, shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

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

(e) Any Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding Tax or backup withholding Tax under the law of the jurisdiction in which the Borrower is located, or any treaty to which such jurisdiction is a party, with respect to payments under this Agreement shall deliver to the Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), to the extent such Lender is legally entitled to do so, at the time or times prescribed by applicable law, such properly completed and executed documentation prescribed by applicable law as may reasonably be requested by such Borrower to permit such payments to be made without such withholding tax or at a reduced rate; provided , that no Lender shall have any obligation under this paragraph (e)  with respect to any withholding Tax imposed by any jurisdiction other than the United States if in the reasonable judgment of such Lender such compliance would subject such Lender to any material unreimbursed cost or expense or would otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender in any material respect.

(f) If the Administrative Agent or a Lender determines, in its sole discretion, that it has received a refund of any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes as to which it has been

 

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

SECTION 2.18. Pro Rata Treatment; Sharing of Set-offs . (a) If at any time insufficient funds are received by and available to the Administrative Agent from the Borrower to pay fully all amounts of principal, interest and fees then due from the Borrower hereunder, such funds shall be applied (i)  first , towards payment of interest and fees then due from the Borrower hereunder, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of interest and fees then due to such parties and (ii)  second , towards payment of principal then due from the Borrower hereunder, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of principal then due to such parties.

(b) If any Lender shall, by exercising any right of set-off or counterclaim or otherwise, obtain payment in respect of any principal of or interest on any of its Loans resulting in such Lender receiving payment of a greater proportion of the aggregate amount of its Loans and accrued interest thereon than the proportion received by any other Lender, then the Lender receiving such greater proportion shall purchase (for cash at face value) participations in the Loans of other Lenders to the extent necessary so that the benefit of all such payments shall be shared by the Lenders ratably in accordance with the aggregate amount of principal of and accrued interest on their respective Loans; 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 (b)  shall not be construed to apply to any payment made by the Borrower pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of this Agreement or any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Loans to any assignee or participant, other than to the Borrower or any Subsidiary or Affiliate thereof (as to which the provisions of this paragraph (b)  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.

 

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(c) Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the Borrower prior to the date on which any payment is due to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders hereunder that the Borrower will not make such payment, the Administrative Agent may assume that the Borrower has made such payment on such date in accordance herewith and may, in reliance upon such assumption, distribute to the Lenders the amount due. In such event, if the Borrower has not in fact made such payment, then each of the Lenders severally agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the amount so distributed to such Lender with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is distributed to it to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at the greater of (A) (1) in the case of Loans, the Federal Funds Effective Rate, (2) in the case of any other amounts denominated in U.S. Dollars, the Federal Funds Effective Rate, and (3) in the case of any other amount denominated in a currency other than U.S. Dollars, the rate reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent to be the cost to it of funding such amount, and (B) a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation.

(d) If any Lender shall fail to make any payment required to be made by it pursuant to Section 2.06(b) or 2.18(c) , then the Administrative Agent may, in its discretion (notwithstanding any contrary provision hereof), apply any amounts thereafter received by the Administrative Agent for the account of such Lender to satisfy such Lender’s obligations under such Sections until all such unsatisfied obligations are fully paid.

SECTION 2.19. Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders . (a) If any Lender requests compensation under Section 2.15 , or if the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 2.17 , then such Lender shall use reasonable efforts to designate a different lending office for funding or booking its Loans hereunder or to assign its rights and obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or Affiliates, if, in the reasonable judgment of such Lender, such designation or assignment (i) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant to Section 2.15 or 2.17 , as applicable, in the future and (ii) would not subject such Lender to any material unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender in any material respect. The Borrower hereby agrees to pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender in connection with any such designation or assignment.

(b) If any Lender requests compensation under Section 2.15 , or if the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 2.17 , or is a Defaulting Lender, then the Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to such Lender and the Administrative Agent, require any such Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in Section 10.04 ), all its interests, rights and obligations under this Agreement to an assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment); provided , that (i) the Borrower shall have received the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent, which consent shall not unreasonably be withheld, (ii) such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Loans, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder, from the assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) or the Borrower (in the case of all other amounts) and (iii) in the

 

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case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 2.15 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 2.17 , such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments. Nothing in this Section 2.19 shall be deemed to prejudice any rights that the Borrower may have against any Lender that is a Defaulting Lender.

(c) If any Lender has failed to consent to a proposed amendment, waiver, discharge or termination that pursuant to the terms of Section 10.08 requires the consent of all the Lenders affected and with respect to which the Required Lenders shall have granted their consent (any such Lender referred to above, a “ Non-Consenting Lender ”), then so long as no Event of Default then exists, the Borrower shall have the right (unless such Non-Consenting Lender grants such consent) to (i) replace any such Non-Consenting Lender by requiring such Non-Consenting Lender to assign its Loans and Commitments hereunder to one or more assignees reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent or (ii) require such Non-Consenting Lender to assign all of its Loans hereunder to one or more assignees reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent; provided , that (i) all Obligations of the Borrower owing to such Non-Consenting Lender being replaced and/or all Obligations of the Borrower owing to such Non-Consenting Lender in respect of any Loans required to be assigned shall be paid in full to such Non-Consenting Lender concurrently with such assignment, and (ii) the replacement Lender shall purchase the foregoing by paying to such Non-Consenting Lender a price equal to the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon. In connection with any such assignment the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, such Non-Consenting Lender and the replacement Lender shall otherwise comply with Section 10.04 .

ARTICLE III

Representations and Warranties

The Borrower represents and warrants that:

SECTION 3.01. Organization; Powers . Except as set forth on Schedule 3.01 , each of Holdings, the Borrower and each of the Subsidiaries (a) is a limited liability company, unlimited liability company, corporation or partnership duly organized, validly existing and in good standing (or, if applicable in a foreign jurisdiction, enjoys the equivalent status under the laws of any jurisdiction of organization outside the United States) under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, (b) has all requisite power and authority to own its property and assets and to carry on its business as now conducted, (c) is qualified to do business in each jurisdiction where such qualification is required, except where the failure so to qualify could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and (d) has the power and authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under each of the Loan Documents and each other agreement or instrument contemplated thereby to which it is or will be a party and, in the case of the Borrower, to borrow and otherwise obtain credit hereunder.

SECTION 3.02. Authorization . The execution, delivery and performance by Holdings, the Borrower and each of the Subsidiary Loan Parties of each of the Loan Documents to which it is a party, and the borrowings hereunder and the transactions forming a part of the Transactions (a) have been duly authorized by all corporate, stockholder or limited liability company or partnership action required to be obtained by Holdings, the Borrower and such

 

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Subsidiary Loan Parties and (b) will not (i) violate (A) any provision of law, statute, rule or regulation, or of the certificate or articles of incorporation or other constitutive documents (including any limited liability company or operating agreements) or by-laws of Holdings, the Borrower or any such Subsidiary Loan Parties, (B) any applicable order of any court or any rule, regulation or order of any Governmental Authority or (C) any provision of any indenture, certificate of designation for preferred stock, agreement or other instrument to which Holdings, the Borrower or any such Subsidiary Loan Parties is a party or by which any of them or any of their property is or may be bound, (ii) be in conflict with, result in a breach of or constitute (alone or with notice or lapse of time or both) a default under, give rise to a right of or result in any cancellation or acceleration of any right or obligation (including any payment) or to a loss of a material benefit under any such indenture, certificate of designation for preferred stock, agreement or other instrument, where any such conflict, violation, breach or default referred to in clause (i)  or (ii)  of this Section 3.02 , could reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, or (iii) result in the creation or imposition of any Lien upon or with respect to any property or assets now owned or hereafter acquired by Holdings, the Borrower or any such Subsidiary Loan Parties, other than the Liens created by the Credit Agreement Documents and Liens permitted by Section 6.02 .

SECTION 3.03. Enforceability . This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by Holdings and the Borrower and constitutes, and each other Loan Document when executed and delivered by each Loan Party that is party thereto will constitute, a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Loan Party enforceable against each such Loan Party in accordance with its terms, subject to (i) the effects of bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance or other similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, (ii) general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law) and (iii) implied covenants of good faith and fair dealing.

SECTION 3.04. Governmental Approvals . No action, consent or approval of, registration or filing with or any other action by any Governmental Authority is or will be required in connection with the Transactions, except for (a) the filing of Uniform Commercial Code financing statements and equivalent filings in foreign jurisdictions pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement Documents, (b) filings with the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the United States Copyright Office and comparable offices in foreign jurisdictions and equivalent filings in foreign jurisdictions pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement Documents, (c) recordation of the Mortgages pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement Documents, (d) such as have been made or obtained and are in full force and effect, (e) such other actions, consents, approvals, registrations or filings with respect to which the failure to be obtained or made could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect and (f) filings or other actions listed on Schedule 3.04 .

SECTION 3.05. Financial Statements . (a) The Borrower has heretofore furnished to the Lenders:

(i) the unaudited pro forma condensed combined balance sheet as of June 30, 2005 (the “ Pro Forma Closing Balance Sheet ”) and the related unaudited pro forma condensed combined statement of operations for the six months ended June 30, 2004, the six months ended June 30, 2005 and the year ended December 31, 2004 (the “ Pro Forma

 

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Closing Income Statements ”; and, together with the Pro Forma Closing Balance Sheet, the “ Pro Forma Closing Financial Statements ”) of the Borrower, together with its combined subsidiaries (in each case including the notes thereto), copies of which have heretofore been furnished to each Lender (via inclusion in the Information Memorandum), except as set forth on Schedule 3.05(a) , have been prepared giving effect to the Transactions as set forth in the Information Memorandum (as if such events had occurred, in the case of the Pro Forma Closing Balance Sheet, on such date and, in the case of the Pro Forma Closing Income Statements, January 1, 2004). The Pro Forma Closing Financial Statements have been prepared in good faith based on assumptions believed by Holdings and the Borrower to have been reasonable as of the date of delivery thereof (it being understood that such assumptions are based on good faith estimates of certain items and that the actual amount of such items is subject to change). The Pro Forma Closing Balance Sheet presents fairly in all material respects on a pro forma basis the estimated financial position of the Borrower and its consolidated subsidiaries as at June 30, 2005, assuming that the events specified in the second preceding sentence had actually occurred at such date, and the Pro Forma Closing Income Statement presents fairly in all material respects on a pro forma basis the results of operations of Borrower and its consolidated subsidiaries for such twelve-month period, assuming that the events specified in the second preceding sentence had actually occurred on the first day of such twelve-month period.

(ii) (A) The audited combined balance sheets of the Companies as at December 31, 2003 and December 31, 2004 and the related combined statements of operations, changes in combined equity and cash flows of the Companies for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2002, December 31, 2003 and December 31, 2004 and (B) the unaudited condensed combined balance sheets as of June 30, 2005 and December 31, 2004 and related combined condensed statements of operations, changes in combined equity and cash flows of the Companies for the six months ended June 30, 2004 and June 30, 2005, in each such case, copies of which have heretofore been furnished to each Lender, except as disclosed in the Offering Circular, have been prepared in accordance with GAAP applied consistently throughout the periods involved and Regulation S-X under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and present fairly the financial condition and results of operations of the Companies, as of and on such dates set forth on such financial statements.

(b) Except as set forth in Schedule 3.05(b) , none of the Borrower or the Subsidiaries has any material Guarantees, contingent liabilities and liabilities for taxes, or any long-term leases or unusual forward or long-term commitments, including any interest rate or foreign currency swap or exchange transaction or other obligation in respect of derivatives, that are not reflected in the financial statements referred to in the preceding clauses (a)(i) and (ii) . During the period from December 31, 2004, to and including the Closing Date there has been no disposition by Holdings, the Borrower or any of its subsidiaries of any material part of its business or property other than in connection with the Transactions that has not been disclosed in the Information Memorandum.

 

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SECTION 3.06. No Material Adverse Change or Material Adverse Effect . Since December 31, 2004, there has been no event, development or circumstance that has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 3.07. Title to Properties; Possession Under Leases . (a) Each of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries has good and valid record fee simple title to, or valid leasehold interests in, or easements or other limited property interests in, all its properties and assets, except for minor defects in title that do not interfere with its ability to conduct its business as currently conducted or to utilize such properties and assets for their intended purposes and except where the failure to have such title, interests or easements could not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect. All such properties and assets held in fee simple are free and clear of Liens, other than Liens expressly permitted by Section 6.02 or arising by operation of law.

(b) Each of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries has complied with all obligations under all leases to which it is a party, except where the failure to comply would not reasonably be considered to have Material Adverse Effect, and all such leases are in full force and effect, except leases in respect of which the failure to be in full force and effect could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.07(b) , the Borrower and each of the Subsidiaries enjoys peaceful and undisturbed possession under all such leases, other than leases in respect of which the failure to enjoy peaceful and undisturbed possession could not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

(c) Each of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries owns or possesses, or could obtain ownership or possession of or rights under, on terms not materially adverse to it, all patents, trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights, licenses and rights with respect thereto necessary for the present conduct of its business, without any conflict (of which the Borrower has been notified in writing) with the rights of others, and free from any burdensome restrictions on the present conduct of the their businesses, except where such conflicts and restrictions could not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 3.08. Subsidiaries . (a) Schedule 3.08(a) sets forth as of the Closing Date the name and jurisdiction of incorporation, formation or organization of each direct and indirect subsidiary of Holdings. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.08(a) , as of the Closing Date, all of the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of each subsidiary of Holdings is owned directly by Holdings or by another subsidiary.

(b) As of the Closing Date, there are no outstanding subscriptions, options, warrants, calls, rights or other agreements or commitments (other than stock options granted to employees or directors and directors’ qualifying shares) of any nature relating to any Equity Interests of Holdings, the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries, except rights of employees to purchase Equity Interests of Holdings in connection with the Transactions or as set forth on Schedule 3.08(b) .

 

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SECTION 3.09. Litigation; Compliance with Laws . (a) As of the Closing Date, there are no actions, suits or proceedings at law or in equity or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, investigations by or on behalf of any Governmental Authority or in arbitration now pending, or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened in writing against or affecting Holdings or the Borrower or any of its subsidiaries or any business, property or rights of any such person (i) that involve any Loan Document, any Transaction Document or the Transactions or (ii) which could reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect or materially adversely affect the Transactions. As of the date of any Borrowing after the Closing Date, there are no actions, suits or proceedings at law or in equity or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, investigations by or on behalf of any Governmental Authority or in arbitration now pending, or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened in writing against or affecting Holdings or the Borrower or any of its subsidiaries or any business, property or rights of any such person which could reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

(b) None of Holdings, the Borrower, the Subsidiaries or their respective properties or assets is in violation of (nor will the continued operation of their material properties and assets as currently conducted violate) any law, rule or regulation (including any zoning, building, Environmental Law, ordinance, code or approval or any building permit) or any restriction of record or agreement affecting any property, or is in default with respect to any judgment, writ, injunction or decree of any Governmental Authority, where such violation or default could reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 3.10. Federal Reserve Regulations . (a) None of Holdings, the Borrower or the Subsidiaries is engaged principally, or as one of its important activities, in the business of extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying Margin Stock.

(b) No part of the proceeds of any Loan will be used, whether directly or indirectly, and whether immediately, incidentally or ultimately, (i) to purchase or carry Margin Stock or to extend credit to others for the purpose of purchasing or carrying Margin Stock or to refund indebtedness originally incurred for such purpose, or (ii) for any purpose that entails a violation of, or that is inconsistent with, the provisions of the Regulations of the Board, including Regulation U or Regulation X.

SECTION 3.11. Investment Company Act; Public Utility Holding Company Act . None of Holdings, the Borrower or the Subsidiaries is (a) an “ investment company ” as defined in, or subject to regulation under, the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, or (b) a “ holding company ” as defined in, or subject to regulation under, the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, as amended.

SECTION 3.12. Use of Proceeds . The Borrower will use the proceeds of the Bridge Loans borrowed on the Closing Date, together with the proceeds of the Senior Notes and the Credit Facilities borrowed on the Closing Date, (i) to finance a portion of the Transactions and for the payment of fees and expenses payable in connection with the Transactions and (ii) for general corporate purposes.

 

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SECTION 3.13. Tax Returns . Except as set forth on Schedule 3.13 :

(a) Each of Holdings, the Borrower and the Subsidiaries (i) has timely filed or caused to be timely filed all federal, state, local and non-U.S. Tax returns required to have been filed by it that are material to such companies taken as a whole and each such Tax return is true and correct in all material respects, including, without limitation, relating to all periods or portions thereof ending on or prior to the Closing Date and (ii) has timely paid or caused to be timely paid all Taxes shown thereon to be due and payable by it and all other material Taxes or assessments, except Taxes or assessments, including, without limitation, relating to all periods or portions thereof ending on or prior to the Closing Date that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings in accordance with Section 5.03 and for which Holdings, the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries (as the case may be) has set aside on its books adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP; and

(b) Other than as could not be, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect: as of the Closing Date, with respect to each of Holdings, the Borrower and the Subsidiaries, (i) there are no claims being asserted in writing with respect to any Taxes, (ii) no presently effective waivers or extensions of statutes of limitation with respect to Taxes have been given or requested and (iii) no Tax returns are being examined by, and no written notification of intention to examine has been received from, the Internal Revenue Service or any other Taxing authority.

SECTION 3.14. No Material Misstatements . (a) All written information (other than the Projections, estimates and information of a general economic nature) (the “ Information ”) concerning Holdings, the Borrower, the Subsidiaries, the Transactions and any other transactions contemplated hereby included in the Information Memorandum or otherwise prepared by or on behalf of the foregoing or their representatives and made available to any Lenders or the Administrative Agent in connection with the Transactions or the other transactions contemplated hereby, when taken as a whole, were true and correct in all material respects, as of the date such Information was furnished to the Lenders and as of the Closing Date and did not contain any untrue statement of a material fact as of any such date or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements contained therein not materially misleading in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made.

(b) Any Projections and estimates and information of a general economic nature prepared by or on behalf of the Borrower or any of its representatives and that have been made available to any Lenders or the Administrative Agent in connection with the Transactions or the other transactions contemplated hereby (i) have been prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed by the Borrower to be reasonable as of the date thereof, as of the date such Projections and estimates were furnished to the Initial Lenders and as of the Closing Date, and (ii) as of the Closing Date, have not been modified in any material respect by the Borrower.

SECTION 3.15. Employee Benefit Plans . (a) Except as could not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect or as set forth on Schedule 3.15 : (i) each of Holdings, the Borrower, the Subsidiaries and the ERISA Affiliates is in compliance with the applicable provisions of ERISA and the provisions of the Code relating to

 

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Plans and the regulations and published interpretations thereunder and any similar applicable law; no Reportable Event has occurred during the past five years as to which Holdings, the Borrower, a Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate was required to file a report with the PBGC, other than reports that have been filed; (ii) no Reportable Event has occurred during the past five years as to which Holdings, the Borrower, a Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate was required to file a report with the PBGC, other than reports that have been filed; (iii) the present value of all benefit liabilities under each Plan of Holdings, the Borrower, the Subsidiaries and the ERISA Affiliates (based on those assumptions used to fund such Plan), as of the last annual valuation date applicable thereto for which a valuation is available, does not exceed the value of the assets of such Plan, and the present value of all benefit liabilities of all underfunded Plans (based on those assumptions used to fund each such Plan), as of the last annual valuation dates applicable thereto for which valuations are available, does not exceed the value of the assets of all such underfunded Plans; (iv) no ERISA Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur; and (v) none of Holdings, the Borrower, the Subsidiaries or the ERISA Affiliates has received any written notification that any Multiemployer Plan is in reorganization or has been terminated within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA, or has knowledge that any Multiemployer Plan is reasonably expected to be in reorganization or to be terminated.

(b) Each of Holdings, the Borrower and the Subsidiaries is in compliance (i) with all applicable provisions of law and all applicable regulations and published interpretations thereunder with respect to any employee pension benefit plan or other employee benefit plan governed by the laws of a jurisdiction other than the United States and (ii) with the terms of any such plan, except, in each case, for such noncompliance that could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(c) None of Holdings, the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries is or has at any time been an employer (for the purposes of sections 38 to 51 of the Pensions Act 2004) of an occupational pension scheme that is not a money purchase scheme (both terms as defined in the Pension Schemes Act 1993), and none of Holdings, the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries is or has at any time been “ connected ” with or an “ associate ” of (as those terms are used in sections 39 and 43 of the Pensions Act 2004) such an employer, other than any such scheme, connection or association that could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 3.16. Environmental Matters . Except as disclosed on Schedule 3.16 and except as to matters that could not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect (i) no written notice, request for information, order, complaint or penalty has been received by the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries, and there are no judicial, administrative or other actions, suits or proceedings pending or threatened, that allege a violation of or liability under any applicable Environmental Laws, in each case relating to the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries, (ii) each of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries has obtained and maintained all permits, licenses and other approvals necessary for its operations to comply with all applicable Environmental Laws and is, and during the term of all applicable statutes of limitation, has been, in compliance with the terms of such permits, licenses and other approvals and with all other applicable Environmental Laws, (iii) there has been no material written environmental assessment or audit conducted since January 1, 2000, by the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries of any property currently owned or leased by the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries that has not been made available to the Administrative Agent prior to the date

 

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hereof, (iv) no Hazardous Material is located at, on or under any property currently or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, formerly owned, operated or leased by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries that would reasonably be expected to give rise to any cost, liability or obligation of the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries under any applicable Environmental Laws, and no Hazardous Material has been generated, owned, treated, stored, handled or controlled by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries and transported to or Released at any location in a manner that would reasonably be expected to give rise to any cost, liability or obligation of the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries under any Environmental Laws, and (v) there are no written agreements in which the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries has expressly assumed or undertaken responsibility, and such assumption or undertaking of responsibility has not expired or otherwise terminated, for any liability or obligation of any other person arising under or relating to applicable Environmental Laws, which in any such case has not been made available to the Administrative Agent prior to the date hereof.

SECTION 3.17. [RESERVED] .

SECTION 3.18. Real Property . As of the Closing Date, Holdings, the Borrower and the Subsidiary Loan Parties own in fee all the real property set forth as being owned by them on the Perfection Certificate (as defined in the Credit Agreement) delivered pursuant to the Credit Agreement.

SECTION 3.19. Solvency . (a) Immediately after giving effect to the Transactions on the Closing Date, (i) the sum of the assets of the Borrower (individually) and Holdings, the Borrower and the Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, both at a fair valuation and at present fair salable value, exceeds the liabilities, including contingent, subordinated, unmatured, unliquidated, and disputed liabilities of the Borrower (individually) and Holdings, the Borrower and the Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, respectively; (ii) the Borrower (individually) and Holdings, the Borrower and the Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, respectively, have sufficient capital with which to conduct their business; and (iii) the Borrower (individually) and Holdings, the Borrower and the Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis have not incurred debts beyond their ability to pay such debts as they mature. For purposes of this definition, “ debt ” means any liability on a claim, and “ claim ” means (i) a right to payment, whether or not such right is reduced to judgment, liquidated, unliquidated, fixed, contingent, matured, unmatured, disputed, undisputed, legal, equitable, secured, or unsecured or (ii) a right to an equitable remedy for breach of performance to the extent such breach gives rise to a payment, whether or not such right to an equitable remedy is reduced to judgment, fixed, contingent, matured, unmatured, disputed, undisputed, secured, or unsecured. With respect to any such contingent liabilities, such liabilities shall be computed at the amount which, in light of all the facts and circumstances existing at the time, represents the amount which can reasonably be expected to become an actual or matured liability.

(b) Neither of Holdings or the Borrower intends to, or believes that it or any Subsidiary Loan Party will, incur debts beyond its ability to pay such debts as they mature, taking into account the timing and amounts of cash to be received by it or any such Subsidiary Loan Party and the timing and amounts of cash to be payable on or in respect of its Indebtedness or the Indebtedness of any such Subsidiary Loan Party.

 

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SECTION 3.20. Labor Matters . Except as, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect: (a) there are no strikes or other labor disputes pending or threatened against Holdings, the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries; (b) the hours worked and payments made to employees of Holdings, the Borrower and the Subsidiaries have not been in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act or any other applicable law dealing with such matters; (c) all payments due from Holdings, the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries or for which any claim may be made against Holdings, the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries, on account of wages and employee health and welfare insurance and other benefits have been paid or accrued as a liability on the books of Holdings, the Borrower or such Subsidiary to the extent required by GAAP; and (d) Holdings, the Borrower and the Subsidiaries are in compliance with all applicable laws, agreements, policies, plans and programs relating to employment and employment practices. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.20 , consummation of the Transactions will not give rise to a right of termination or right of renegotiation on the part of any union under any collective bargaining agreement to which Holdings, the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries (or any predecessor) is a party or by which Holdings, the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries (or any predecessor) is bound.

SECTION 3.21. Insurance . Schedule 3.21 sets forth a true, complete and correct description of all material insurance maintained by or on behalf of Holdings, the Borrower or the Subsidiaries as of the Closing Date. As of such date, such insurance is in full force and effect. Such insurance complies with the requirements of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and the Borrower believes that the insurance maintained by or on behalf of Holdings, the Borrower and the Subsidiaries is adequate.

SECTION 3.22. Representations and Warranties in Purchase Agreement . All representations and warranties of Holdings and the Borrower set forth in the Purchase Agreement were true and correct in all material respects as of the time such representations and warranties were made and shall be true and correct in all material respects as of the Closing Date as if such representations and warranties were made on and as of such date, unless stated to relate to a specific earlier date, in which case such representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date.

SECTION 3.23. [RESERVED].

SECTION 3.24. No Violation . (a) None of Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary is (a) a party to any agreement or instrument, or subject to any corporate restriction, that, individually or in the aggregate, has resulted, or could reasonably be expected to result, in a Material Adverse Effect or (b) is in default in the performance, observance or fulfillment of any of the obligations, covenants or conditions contained in any agreement or instrument to which any of Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary is a party that, individually or in the aggregate, has resulted, or could reasonably be expected to result, in a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 3.25. Holdings Indebtedness . As of the Closing Date, prior to giving effect to the Transactions, Holdings does not have any Indebtedness.

 

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ARTICLE IV

Conditions of Lending

The obligations of the Lenders to make Bridge Loans are subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions:

SECTION 4.01. Closing . On the Closing Date:

(a) The Administrative Agent shall have received a Borrowing Request as required by Section 2.03 and the Administrative Agent (or its counsel) shall have received from each party hereto either (i) a counterpart of this Agreement signed on behalf of such party or (ii) written evidence satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (which may include telecopy transmission of a signed signature page of this Agreement) that such party has signed a counterpart of this Agreement.

(b) The Administrative Agent shall have received, on behalf of itself and the Lenders on the Closing Date, a favorable written opinion of (i) O’Melveny & Myers LLP, special counsel for Holdings, the Borrower and the other Loan Parties, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, and (ii) local counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent as specified on Schedule 4.01(b) , in each case (a) dated the Closing Date, (b) addressed to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders and (c) in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and covering such other matters relating to the Loan Documents and the Transactions as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request, and each of Holdings, the Borrower and the other Loan Parties hereby instructs its counsel to deliver such opinions.

(c) All legal matters incident to this Agreement, the borrowings and the other Loan Documents shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and to the Lenders on the Closing Date.

(d) The Administrative Agent shall have received in the case of each Loan Party each of the items referred to in clauses (i) , (ii) , (iii)  and (iv)  below:

(i) a copy of the certificate or articles of incorporation or formation, limited liability agreement, partnership agreement or other constituent or governing documents, including all amendments thereto, of each Loan Party, (a) if applicable in such jurisdiction, certified as of a recent date by the Secretary of State (or other similar official) of the jurisdiction of its organization, and a certificate as to the good standing (to the extent such concept or a similar concept exists under the laws of such jurisdiction) of each such Loan Party as of a recent date from such Secretary of State (or other similar official), and (b) otherwise, (i) certified by the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of each such Loan Party or other person duly authorized by the constituent documents of such Loan Party or (ii) otherwise in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent;

 

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(ii) a certificate of the Secretary or Assistant Secretary or similar officer of each Loan Party or other person duly authorized by the constituent documents of such Loan Party dated the Closing Date and certifying

(A) that attached thereto is a true and complete copy of the by-laws (or limited liability company agreement, articles of association, partnership agreement or other equivalent constituent and governing documents) of such Loan Party as in effect on the Closing Date and at all times since a date prior to the date of the resolutions described in clause (B)  below;

(B) that attached thereto is a true and complete copy of resolutions (or equivalent authorizing actions) duly adopted by the Board of Directors (or equivalent governing body) of such Loan Party (or its managing general partner or managing member) authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of the Loan Documents to which such person is a party and, in the case of the Borrower, the borrowings hereunder, and that such resolutions have not been modified, rescinded or amended and are in full force and effect on the Closing Date;

(C) that the certificate or articles of incorporation, by-laws, limited liability company agreement, articles of association, partnership agreement or other equivalent constituent and governing documents of such Loan Party have not been amended since the date of the last amendment thereto disclosed pursuant to clause (i)  above;

(D) as to the incumbency and specimen signature of each officer or other duly authorized person executing any Loan Document or any other document delivered in connection herewith on behalf of such Loan Party; and

(E) as to the absence of any pending proceeding for the dissolution or liquidation of such Loan Party or, to the knowledge of such person, threatening the existence of such Loan Party;

(iii) a certification of another officer or other duly authorized person as to the incumbency and specimen signature of the Secretary or Assistant Secretary or similar officer or other person duly authorized by such Loan Party executing the certificate pursuant to clause (ii)  above; and

(iv) such other documents as the Administrative Agent on the Closing Date may reasonably request (including tax identification numbers and addresses).

(e) The Administrative Agent (or its counsel) shall have received from each party to the Guarantee Agreement either (i) a counterpart of the Guarantee Agreement signed on behalf of such party or (ii) written evidence satisfactory to the Administrative

 

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Agent (which may include telecopy transmission of a signed signature page of such Agreement) that such party has signed a counterpart of the Guarantee Agreement.

(f) The Acquisition contemplated by the Purchase Agreement to be consummated on the Closing Date shall be consummated prior to or simultaneously with the closing under this Agreement (but in any event on the Closing Date) in accordance with applicable law and the terms and conditions of the Purchase Agreement.

(g) The Equity Financing shall have been consummated prior to or simultaneously with the closing under this Agreement (but in any event on the Closing Date) in accordance with applicable law and the terms and conditions of the Equity Financing Documents.

(h) The Borrower shall have received not less than (i) $860,000,000 in gross cash proceeds from loans under the Credit Facilities and (ii) $266,387,400 in gross cash proceeds from the issuance of the Senior Notes.

(i) On the Closing Date, after giving effect to the Transactions and the other transactions contemplated hereby, Holdings, the Borrower and the Subsidiaries shall have outstanding no Indebtedness or preferred Equity Interests other than (i) Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 6.01 , (ii) the Guarantee by Holdings of the Credit Facilities pursuant to the Credit Agreement Documents to which it is a party, and (iii) the Seller Preferred Equity of Holdings.

(j) The Arrangers shall have received (a) a solvency opinion in form and substance and from Murray, Devine & Co., Inc. or another independent investment bank or valuation firm reasonably satisfactory to the Joint Lead Arrangers to the effect that, or (b) a customary certificate from a Responsible Officer of the Borrower certifying that Holdings and its subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis after giving effect to the Transactions and the other transactions contemplated hereby, are solvent.

(k) All requisite governmental authorities and third parties shall have approved or consented to the Transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement to the extent required by the Purchase Agreement and the Loan Documents to be consummated on the Closing Date to the extent required and material, all applicable appeal periods shall have expired and there shall be no litigation, governmental, administrative or judicial action, actual or threatened, that would reasonably be expected to restrain, prevent or impose burdensome conditions on the Transactions or the other transactions contemplated hereby.

(l) The Agents shall have received all fees payable thereto or to any Lender on or prior to the Closing Date and, to the extent invoiced, all other amounts due and payable pursuant to the Loan Documents on or prior to the Closing Date, including, to the extent invoiced, reimbursement or payment of all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses (including reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of Shearman & Sterling LLP and U.S. and local and foreign counsel) required to be reimbursed or paid by the Loan Parties hereunder or under any Loan Document.

 

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(m) The representations and warranties set forth in the Loan Documents other than the representation and warranty set forth in Section 3.06 ) that are qualified by materiality shall be true and correct, and the representations and warranties that are not so qualified shall be true and correct in all material respects, in each case on and as of the date of such Borrowing, with the same effect as though made on and as of such date, except to the extent such representations and warranties expressly relate to an earlier date (in which case such representations and warranties that are qualified by materiality shall be true and correct, and the representations and warranties that are not so qualified shall be true and correct in all material respects, as of such earlier date).

(n) At the time of and immediately after the Borrowing, no Event of Default or Default shall be occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom.

ARTICLE V

Affirmative Covenants

Each of Holdings (solely with respect to Section 5.01(a) and Section 5.06 ) and the Borrower covenants and agrees with each Lender that so long as this Agreement shall remain in effect (other than in respect of contingent indemnification obligations) and until the Commitments have been terminated and the principal of and interest on each Loan, all Fees and all other expenses or amounts payable under any Loan Document shall have been paid in full, unless the Required Lenders shall otherwise consent in writing, each of Holdings (solely with respect to Section 5.01(a) and Section 5.06 ) and the Borrower will, and will cause each of the Material Subsidiaries to:

SECTION 5.01. Existence; Businesses and Properties . (a) Do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve, renew and keep in full force and effect its legal existence, (i) except as otherwise expressly permitted under Section 6.05 , and (ii) except for the liquidation or dissolution of Subsidiaries if the assets of such Subsidiaries to the extent they exceed estimated liabilities are acquired by the Borrower or a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Borrower in such liquidation or dissolution; provided , that Subsidiaries that are Subsidiary Loan Parties may not be liquidated into Subsidiaries that are not Subsidiary Loan Parties unless such liquidation is otherwise permitted by Section 6.05(b) .

(b) Do or cause to be done all things necessary to (i) obtain, preserve, renew, extend and keep in full force and effect the permits, franchises, authorizations, patents, trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights, licenses and rights with respect thereto necessary to the normal conduct of its business, unless the failure to do so would not result, in each case, in a Material Adverse Effect, (ii) comply in all material respects with all material applicable laws, rules, regulations (including any zoning, building, ordinance, code or approval or any building permits or any restrictions of record or agreements affecting the Mortgaged Properties (as defined in the Credit Agreement)) and judgments, writs, injunctions, decrees and orders of any Governmental Authority, whether now in effect or hereafter enacted, and (iii) at all times maintain and preserve all material property necessary to the normal conduct of its business and keep such property in good repair, working order and condition and from time to time make, or cause to be made, all needful and proper repairs, renewals, additions, improvements and

 

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replacements thereto necessary in order that the business carried on in connection therewith, if any, may be properly conducted at all times (in each case except as expressly permitted by this Agreement).

SECTION 5.02. Insurance . Keep its insurable properties insured at all times by financially sound and reputable insurers in such amounts as shall be customary for similar businesses and maintain such other reasonable insurance (including, to the extent consistent with past practices, self-insurance), of such types, to such extent and against such risks, as is customary with companies in the same or similar businesses, taking into account the general degree to which such companies are leveraged, and maintain such other insurance as may be required by law or any other Loan Document.

SECTION 5.03. Taxes . Pay and discharge promptly when due all material Taxes, assessments and governmental charges or levies imposed upon it or upon its income or profits or in respect of its property, before the same shall become delinquent or in default, as well as all lawful claims for labor, materials and supplies or otherwise that, if unpaid, might give rise to a Lien upon such properties or any part thereof; provided , however , that such payment and discharge shall not be required with respect to any such Tax, assessment, charge, levy or claim so long as (a) the validity or amount thereof shall be contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, (b) Holdings, the Borrower or the affected Subsidiary, as applicable, shall have set aside on its books adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP with respect thereto, and (c) the failure to make such payment and discharge could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 5.04. Financial Statements, Reports, etc . Furnish to the Administrative Agent (which will promptly furnish such information to the Lenders):

(a) within 90 days (or, if applicable, such shorter period as the SEC shall specify for the filing of Annual Reports on Form 10-K or, if applicable, such longer period permitted under Rule 12b-25 under the Exchange Act) after the end of each fiscal year, (i) a consolidated balance sheet and related statements of operations, cash flows and owners’ equity showing the financial position of the Borrower and its subsidiaries as of the close of such fiscal year and the consolidated results of its operations during such year and, commencing with the fiscal year ending December 31, 2005, setting forth in comparative form the corresponding figures for the prior fiscal year, and (ii) management’s discussion and analysis of significant operational and financial developments during such fiscal year, which consolidated balance sheet and related statements of operations, cash flows and owners’ equity shall be audited by independent public accountants of recognized national standing and accompanied by an opinion of such accountants (which shall not be qualified in any material respect) to the effect that such consolidated financial statements fairly present, in all material respects, the financial position and results of operations of the Borrower and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP (it being understood that the delivery by the Borrower of Annual Reports on Form 10-K of the Borrower and its consolidated subsidiaries shall satisfy the requirements of this Section 5.04(a) to the extent such Annual Reports include the information specified herein);

 

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(b) within 45 days (or, if applicable, such shorter period as the SEC shall specify for the filing of Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q or, if applicable, such longer period permitted under Rule 12b-25 under the Exchange Act) after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year, commencing with the fiscal quarter ending September 30, 2005 (it being agreed that (x) the deliverables under this clause (b) in respect of the fiscal quarter ending September 30, 2005 shall not be required to be furnished until the 75 th day following September 30, 2005, solely to the extent permitted under the Senior Notes Indenture at such time, and (y) such deliverables shall be furnished no later than the date such requirements are complied with under the Senior Notes Indenture), (i) a consolidated balance sheet and related statements of operations and cash flows showing the financial position of the Borrower and its subsidiaries as of the close of such fiscal quarter and the consolidated results of its operations during such fiscal quarter and the then-elapsed portion of the fiscal year and setting forth in comparative form the corresponding figures for the corresponding periods of the prior fiscal year, and (ii) management’s discussion and analysis of significant operational and financial developments during such quarterly period, all of which shall be in reasonable detail and which consolidated balance sheet and related statements of operations and cash flows shall be certified by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower on behalf of the Borrower as fairly presenting, in all material respects, the financial position and results of operations of the Borrower and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP (subject to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes (it being understood that the delivery by the Borrower of Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q of the Borrower and its consolidated subsidiaries shall satisfy the requirements of this Section 5.04(b) to the extent such Quarterly Reports include the information specified herein);

(c) (i) concurrently with any delivery of financial statements under paragraph (a)  or (b)  above, a certificate of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower (A) certifying that no Event of Default or Default has occurred or, if such an Event of Default or Default has occurred, specifying the nature and extent thereof and any corrective action taken or proposed to be taken with respect thereto, (B) commencing with the fiscal period ending March 31, 2006, setting forth computations of the Consolidated Leverage Ratio in reasonable detail as of the end of the applicable fiscal period, and (C) commencing with the fiscal period ending March 31, 2006, setting forth computations in reasonable detail demonstrating compliance with the covenants contained in Sections 6.10 and 6.11 , and (ii) concurrently with any delivery of financial statements under paragraph (a)  above, a certificate of the accounting firm opining on or certifying such statements stating whether they obtained knowledge during the course of their examination of such statements of any Default or Event of Default (which certificate may be limited to accounting matters and disclaims responsibility for legal interpretations);

(d) promptly after the same become publicly available, copies of all periodic and other publicly available reports, proxy statements and, to the extent requested by the Administrative Agent, other reports and statements filed by Holdings, the Borrower or any of its subsidiaries with the SEC, or after an initial public offering, distributed to its stockholders generally, as applicable; provided , however , that such reports, proxy statements, filings and other materials required to be delivered pursuant to this clause (d)

 

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shall be deemed delivered for purposes of this Agreement when posted to the website of the Borrower or any website operated by the SEC containing “EDGAR” database information;

(e) if, as a result of any change in accounting principles and policies from those applied in the preparation of the financial statements referred to in Section 3.05(a)(ii) for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004, the consolidated financial statements of the Borrower and its subsidiaries delivered pursuant to paragraph (a)  above will differ in any material respect from the consolidated financial statements that would have been delivered pursuant to such clauses had no such change in accounting principles and policies been made, then, together with the first delivery of financial statements pursuant to paragraph (a)  above following such change, a schedule prepared by a Responsible Officer on behalf of the Borrower reconciling such changes to what the financial statements would have been without such changes;

(f) within 90 days after the beginning of each fiscal year, a detailed consolidated quarterly budget for such fiscal year and, as soon as available, significant revisions, if any, of such budget and quarterly projections with respect to such fiscal year, including a description of underlying assumptions with respect thereto (collectively, the “ Budget ”);

(g) [RESERVED] ;

(h) promptly, a copy of all reports submitted to the Board of Directors (or any committee thereof) of any of Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary in connection with any material interim or special audit made by independent accountants of the books of Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary;

(i) promptly, from time to time, such other information regarding the operations, business affairs and financial condition of Holdings, the Borrower or any of its subsidiaries, or compliance with the terms of any Loan Document, or such consolidating financial statements, as in each case the Administrative Agent may reasonably request (for itself or on behalf of any Lender); and

(j) promptly upon request by the Administrative Agent, copies of: (i) each Schedule B (Actuarial Information) to the most recent annual report (Form 5500 Series) filed with the Internal Revenue Service with respect to a Plan; (ii) the most recent actuarial valuation report for any Plan; (iii) all notices received from a Multiemployer Plan sponsor, a plan administrator or any governmental agency, or provided to any Multiemployer Plan by Holdings, the Borrower, a Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate, concerning an ERISA Event; and (iv) such other documents or governmental reports or filings relating to any Plan or Multiemployer Plan as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request.

 

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SECTION 5.05. Litigation and Other Notices . Furnish to the Administrative Agent written notice of the following promptly after any Responsible Officer of Holdings or the Borrower obtains actual knowledge thereof:

(a) any Event of Default or Default, specifying the nature and extent thereof and the corrective action (if any) proposed to be taken with respect thereto;

(b) the filing or commencement of, or any written threat or notice of intention of any person to file or commence, any action, suit or proceeding, whether at law or in equity or by or before any Governmental Authority or in arbitration, against Holdings, the Borrower or any of its subsidiaries as to which an adverse determination is reasonably probable and that, if adversely determined, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

(c) any other development specific to Holdings, the Borrower or any of its subsidiaries that is not a matter of general public knowledge and that has had, or could reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect; and

(d) the development of any ERISA Event that, together with all other ERISA Events that have developed or occurred, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 5.06. Compliance with Laws . Comply with all laws, rules, regulations and orders of any Governmental Authority applicable to it or its property, except where the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; provided , that this Section 5.06 shall not apply to Environmental Laws, which are the subject of Section 5.10 , or to laws related to Taxes, which are the subject of Section 5.03 .

SECTION 5.07. Maintaining Records; Access to Properties and Inspections . Maintain all financial records in accordance with GAAP and permit any persons designated by the Administrative Agent or, upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, any Lender to visit and inspect the financial records and the properties of Holdings, the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries at reasonable times, upon reasonable prior notice to Holdings or the Borrower, and as often as reasonably requested and to make extracts from and copies of such financial records, and permit any persons designated by the Administrative Agent or, upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, any Lender upon reasonable prior notice to Holdings or the Borrower to discuss the affairs, finances and condition of Holdings, the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries with the officers thereof and independent accountants therefor (subject to reasonable requirements of confidentiality, including requirements imposed by law or by contract).

SECTION 5.08. Payment of Obligations . Pay its material Indebtedness and other material obligations, including material Tax liabilities, before the same shall become delinquent or in default, except where (a) the validity or amount thereof is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, (b) the Borrower or such Subsidiary has set aside on its books adequate reserves with respect thereto in accordance with GAAP, and (c) the failure to make such payment could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 5.09. Use of Proceeds . Use the proceeds of the Loans only as contemplated in Section 3.12 .

 

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SECTION 5.10. Compliance with Environmental Laws . Comply with all Environmental Laws applicable to its operations and properties; and comply with and obtain and renew all material permits, licenses and other approvals required pursuant to Environmental Law for its operations and properties, except, in each case with respect to this Section 5.10 , to the extent the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 5.11. Further Assurances . In connection with (a) the formation or acquisition of any direct or indirect Domestic Subsidiary of Holdings or the Borrower or (b) any existing direct or indirect subsidiary of Holdings or the Borrower becoming a Subsidiary Loan Party, within ten Business Days after the date of such formation, acquisition or Subsidiary becoming a Subsidiary Loan Party, notify the Administrative Agent and the Lenders thereof and, within 20 Business Days after such date or such longer period as the Administrative Agent shall agree, cause such Subsidiary or Subsidiary Loan Party to duly execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent a counterpart of the Guarantee Agreement.

SECTION 5.12. Fiscal Year; Accounting . In the case of the Borrower, cause its fiscal year to end on December 31.

SECTION 5.13. Lender Meetings . In the case of the Borrower, upon the request of the Administrative Agent, participate in a meeting of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders once during each fiscal year to be held at such time and location as may be agreed upon by the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.

SECTION 5.14. Compliance with Material Contracts . Perform and observe all of the terms and conditions of each material agreement to be performed or observed by it, maintain each such material agreement in full force and effect, enforce each such material agreement in accordance with its terms, except where the failure to do so, either individually or in the aggregate, could not be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.

ARTICLE VI

Negative Covenants

Each of Holdings (solely with respect to Sections 6.08(b) and 6.09 ) and the Borrower covenants and agrees with each Lender that, so long as this Agreement shall remain in effect (other than in respect of contingent indemnification obligations) and until the Commitments have been terminated and the principal of and interest on each Loan, all Fees and all other expenses or amounts payable under any Loan Document have been paid in full, unless the Required Lenders shall otherwise consent in writing, Holdings will not (solely with respect to Sections 6.08(b) and 6.09 ) and the Borrower will not, and will not cause or permit any of the Material Subsidiaries to:

SECTION 6.01. Indebtedness . Incur, create, assume or permit to exist any Indebtedness, except:

(a) Indebtedness (other than intercompany Indebtedness) of the Subsidiaries existing, or incurred pursuant to facilities existing, on the Closing Date and set forth on Schedule 6.01 and any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to Refinance such Indebtedness or, without duplication, replacements of such facilities that would constitute Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness with respect to such facilities if all Indebtedness available to be incurred thereunder were outstanding on the date of such replacement;

(b) (i) Indebtedness created hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, (ii) the Senior Subordinated Notes and any Demand Securities to the extent that the Net Proceeds thereof are used to prepay the Loans, and (iii) the Senior Subordinated Exchange Notes;

 

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(c) Indebtedness of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries pursuant to Swap Agreements permitted by Section 6.12 ;

(d) Indebtedness of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries owed to (including obligations in respect of letters of credit or bank guarantees or similar instruments for the benefit of) any person providing workers’ compensation, health, disability or other employee benefits or property, casualty or liability insurance to the Borrower or any Subsidiary, pursuant to reimbursement or indemnification obligations to such person, in each case, provided in the ordinary course of business; provided , that upon the incurrence of Indebtedness with respect to reimbursement obligations regarding workers’ compensation claims, such obligations are reimbursed not later than 30 days following such incurrence;

(e) Indebtedness of the Borrower to any Subsidiary and of any Subsidiary to the Borrower or any other Subsidiary; provided , that (i) Indebtedness of any Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Loan Party owing to the Borrower or any Subsidiary Loan Party shall be subject to Section 6.04(b) , and (ii) Indebtedness of the Borrower to any Subsidiary and Indebtedness of any other Loan Party to any Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Loan Party shall be subordinated to the Obligations on terms reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent;

(f) Indebtedness of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries in respect of performance bonds, bid bonds, appeal bonds, surety bonds and completion guarantees and similar obligations, in each case, reasonably required in the conduct of the business (giving effect to any growth or expansion of such business permitted hereunder), including those incurred to secure health, safety, insurance and environmental obligations of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as conducted in accordance with good and prudent business industry practice and otherwise as permitted by the Loan Documents;

(g) Indebtedness arising from the honoring by a bank or other financial institution of a check, draft or similar instrument drawn against insufficient funds in the ordinary course of business or other cash management services in the ordinary course of business; provided , that (i) such Indebtedness (other than credit or purchase cards) is extinguished within 10 Business Days of notification to the Borrower of its incurrence

 

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and (ii) such Indebtedness in respect of credit or purchase cards is extinguished within 60 days from its incurrence;

(h) (i) Indebtedness of a Subsidiary acquired after the Closing Date or a person merged into or consolidated with the Borrower or any Subsidiary after the Closing Date and Indebtedness assumed in connection with the acquisition of assets, which Indebtedness, in each case, exists at the time of such acquisition, merger or consolidation and is not created in contemplation of such event and where such acquisition, merger or consolidation is permitted by this Agreement, and (ii) any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to Refinance such Indebtedness; provided , that the aggregate principal amount of such Indebtedness at the time of, and after giving effect to, such acquisition, merger or consolidation, such assumption or such incurrence, as applicable (together with Indebtedness outstanding pursuant to this paragraph (h)  or paragraph (i)  of this Section 6.01 and the Remaining Present Value of outstanding leases permitted under Section 6.03 ), would not exceed $95,000,000 in the aggregate;

(i) (i) Capital Lease Obligations, mortgage financings and purchase money Indebtedness incurred by the Borrower or any Subsidiary prior to or within 270 days after the acquisition, lease or improvement of the respective asset permitted under this Agreement in order to finance such acquisition or improvement, (ii) any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof, and (iii) Capital Lease Obligations incurred by the Borrower or any Subsidiary in respect of any Sale and Lease-Back Transaction that is permitted under Section 6.03 , collectively, in an aggregate principal amount that at the time of, and after giving effect to, the incurrence thereof (together with Indebtedness outstanding pursuant to paragraph (h)  of this Section 6.01 or this paragraph (i)  and the Remaining Present Value of leases permitted under Section 6.03 ) would not exceed $95,000,000 in the aggregate;

(j) Indebtedness in respect of (i) the Senior Notes issued on the Closing Date, (ii) additional Senior Notes issued after the Closing Date yielding gross cash proceeds not to exceed $34,000,000 so long as the Net Proceeds thereof are applied to prepay the Loans, and (iii) the Indebtedness under the Credit Facilities;

(k) other Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, in an aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding pursuant to this paragraph (k)  not in excess of $90,000,000;

(l) Guarantees by the Borrower or any Subsidiary of any Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Subsidiary expressly permitted to be incurred under this Agreement; provided , that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 6.01 , (i) the Borrower and the Subsidiary Loan Parties shall not Guarantee the Indebtedness of any Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Loan Party unless such Guarantee is permitted under Section 6.04 , (ii) any Guarantees by the Borrower or any Subsidiary Loan Party under this Section 6.01(l) of any other Indebtedness of a person that is subordinated to other Indebtedness of such person shall be expressly subordinated to the Obligations on terms not less favorable to the Lenders than the subordination terms of such other Indebtedness, and (iii) no Subsidiary shall Guarantee the Senior Notes, the Senior Subordinated Notes,

 

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if any, or the Credit Facilities or any Indebtedness incurred under Section 6.01(s) hereunder unless such Subsidiary is also a Subsidiary Loan Party that has duly executed and delivered a counterpart of the Guarantee Agreement;

(m) Indebtedness arising from agreements of the Borrower or any Subsidiary providing for indemnification, adjustment of purchase price or similar obligations, in each case, incurred or assumed in connection with the disposition of any business, assets or a Subsidiary, other than Guarantees of Indebtedness incurred by any person acquiring all or any portion of such business, assets or a Subsidiary for the purpose of financing such acquisition, in each case, to the extent such obligation or transaction is permitted by this Agreement;

(n) reimbursement and similar obligations of Subsidiaries in respect of letters of credit or bank guarantees (other than letters of credit issued pursuant to the Credit Agreement) having an aggregate face amount not in excess of $10,000,000;

(o) Indebtedness of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries supported by a letter of credit issued pursuant to the Credit Agreement, in a principal amount not in excess of the stated amount of such letter of credit;

(p) Indebtedness consisting of (x) the financing of insurance premiums or (y) take-or-pay obligations contained in supply arrangements, in each case, in the ordinary course of business;

(q) to the extent constituting Indebtedness, all premium (if any), interest (including post-petition interest), fees, expenses, charges and additional or contingent interest on Indebtedness otherwise permitted to be incurred pursuant to this Section 6.01 ;

(r) Indebtedness of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries incurred under lines of credit or overdraft facilities extended by one or more financial institutions reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent (under the Credit Agreement Documents) or by Lenders (under the Credit Agreement Documents) and, in each case, established for the Borrower’s and such Subsidiaries’ ordinary course of operations (such Indebtedness, the “ Overdraft Line ”), which Indebtedness may be secured as, but only to the extent, provided in Section 6.02(b) in the Credit Agreement (it being understood, however, that for a period of 30 consecutive days during each fiscal year of the Borrower the outstanding principal amount of Indebtedness under the Overdraft Line shall not exceed $20,000,000);

(s) Permitted Indebtedness incurred by the Borrower or any Subsidiary; provided , that, (i) at the time of the incurrence of such Permitted Indebtedness and after giving effect thereto, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom, and (ii) the Net Proceeds thereof are used to repay the Loans;

(t) [RESERVED] ;

 

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(u) deposits raised by any Material Subsidiary that is subject to state and/or federal banking regulations that constitute Indebtedness owing to such depositor and any discounts or borrowing by such Material Subsidiary;

(v) up to $25,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness of Foreign Subsidiaries that are not Loan Parties at any time outstanding; provided , that to the extent that the terms of such Indebtedness are permitted hereunder, any increase in the amount of such Indebtedness as a result of capitalized or paid-in-kind interest or accreted principal on such Indebtedness pursuant to such terms shall not constitute a further issuance or incurrence of Indebtedness for purposes of this Section 6.01(v) ; and

(w) Indebtedness incurred by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries to fund losses, damages, liabilities, claims, costs and expenses (including attorney’s fees, interest, penalties, judgments and settlements, collectively, “ Losses ”), by reason of any litigation disclosed in this Agreement (including the schedules hereto) or the Offering Circular, including the financial statements included therein, or relating to the same facts and circumstances as disclosed; provided , that, as certified in an Officer’s Certificate executed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower (i) the Borrower has provided to Cendant a notice in respect of such losses and has a reasonable good faith belief that it its entitled to be indemnified by Cendant pursuant to the Purchase Agreement in respect of such losses and (ii) the Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (w)  is in an amount equal to or less than the amount of the losses for which indemnification is claimed; provided , further , that (i) after 30 days of the Borrower receiving funds in satisfaction of such indemnity or (ii) if Cendant gives written notice to the Borrower or any Subsidiary Loan Party that it disputes the Borrower’s entitlement to such indemnity with respect to such losses and (A) such dispute is not challenged by the Borrower within 30 days of receipt of such notice or (B) there is a final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction confirming that the Borrower is not entitled to such indemnity, which judgment is not discharged, waived or stayed for a period of 60 days, any amounts incurred pursuant to this clause (w)  in respect of such indemnity that remain outstanding shall no longer be permitted under this clause (w)  and shall be deemed to be incurred on such date.

SECTION 6.02. Liens . Create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Lien on any property or assets (including stock or other securities of any person, including the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower) at the time owned by it or on any income or revenues or rights in respect of any thereof, except:

(a) Liens on property or assets of the Subsidiaries existing on the Closing Date and set forth on Schedule 6.02(a) ; provided , that (i) such Liens shall secure only those obligations that they secure on the Closing Date (and Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof permitted by Section 6.01(a) ) and shall not subsequently apply to any other property or assets of the Borrower or any Subsidiary and (ii) in the case of a Lien securing Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness, any such Lien is permitted, subject to compliance with clause (e)  of the definition of the term “ Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness ”;

 

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(b) any Lien created under the Credit Agreement Documents or permitted in respect of any Mortgaged Property (as defined in the Credit Agreement) by the terms of the applicable Mortgage (as defined in the Credit Agreement);

(c) any Lien on any property or asset of the Borrower or any Subsidiary (i) securing Indebtedness or Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness permitted by Section 6.01(h) or (ii) acquired after the Closing Date in a transaction permitted by this Agreement; provided , that such Lien (A) does not apply to any other property or assets of Holdings, the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries not securing such Indebtedness or other obligations owing to the same financier as the financier of such Indebtedness or other obligations or to any person to which such financier has assigned such Indebtedness or other obligations, at the date of the acquisition of such property or asset (other than after acquired property subjected to a Lien securing Indebtedness incurred prior to such date and which Indebtedness is permitted hereunder, such Indebtedness owing to the same financier as the financier of such Indebtedness at the date of the acquisition, that require a pledge of after acquired property, it being understood that such requirement shall not be permitted to apply to any property to which such requirement would not have applied but for such acquisition), (B) such Lien is not created in contemplation of or in connection with such acquisition, (C) in the case of a Lien securing Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness, any such Lien is permitted, subject to compliance with clause (e)  of the definition of the term “ Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness ” and (D) in the case of clause (ii)  of this Section 6.02(c) , (x) after giving effect to any such Lien and the incurrence of Indebtedness, if any, secured by such Lien is created, incurred, acquired or assumed (or any prior Indebtedness becomes so secured) on a Pro Forma Basis, the Senior Secured Bank Leverage Ratio on the last day of the Borrower’s then most recently completed fiscal quarter for which financial statements are available shall be less than or equal to 2.75 to 1.00, (y) at the time of the incurrence of such Lien and after giving effect thereto, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom and (z) the Indebtedness or other obligations secured by such Lien are otherwise permitted by this Agreement;

(d) Liens for Taxes, assessments or other governmental charges or levies not yet delinquent or that are being contested in compliance with Section 5.03 ;

(e) landlord’s, carriers’, warehousemen’s, mechanics’, materialmen’s, repairmen’s, construction or other like Liens arising in the ordinary course of business and securing obligations that are not overdue by more than 30 days or that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and in respect of which, if applicable, Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall have set aside on its books reserves in accordance with GAAP;

(f) (i) deposits and other Liens made in the ordinary course of business in compliance with the Federal Employers Liability Act or any other workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security laws or regulations and deposits securing liability to insurance carriers under insurance or self-insurance arrangements in respect of such obligations and (ii) deposits and other Liens securing liability for reimbursement or indemnification obligations of (including obligations in

 

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respect of letters of credit or bank guarantees for the benefit of) insurance carriers providing property, casualty or liability insurance to Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary;

(g) deposits and other Liens to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts (other than for Indebtedness), leases (other than Capital Lease Obligations), statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, performance and return of money bonds, bids, leases, government contracts, trade contracts, agreements with public utilities, and other obligations of a like nature (including letters of credit in lieu of any such bonds or to support the issuance thereof) incurred by Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business, including those incurred to secure health, safety, insurance and environmental obligations in the ordinary course of business;

(h) zoning restrictions, survey exceptions, easements, trackage rights, leases (other than Capital Lease Obligations), licenses, special assessments, rights-of-way, restrictions on or agreements dealing with the use of real property, servicing agreements, development agreements, site plan agreements and other similar encumbrances incurred in the ordinary course of business and title defects or irregularities that are of a minor nature and that, in the aggregate, do not interfere in any material respect with the ordinary conduct of the business of the Borrower or any Subsidiary;

(i) purchase money security interests in equipment or other property or improvements thereto hereafter acquired (or, in the case of improvements, constructed) by the Borrower or any Subsidiary (including the interests of vendors and lessors under conditional sale and title retention agreements); provided , that (i) such security interests secure Indebtedness permitted by Section 6.01(i) (including any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof), (ii) such security interests are incurred, and the Indebtedness secured thereby is created, within 270 days after such acquisition, (iii) the Indebtedness secured thereby does not exceed 100% of the cost of such equipment or other property or improvements at the time of such acquisition or construction, including transaction costs incurred by the Borrower or any Subsidiary in connection with such acquisition, and (iv) such security interests do not apply to any other property or assets of Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary (other than to accessions to such equipment or other property or improvements but not to other parts of the property to which any such improvements are made); provided , further , that individual financings of equipment provided by a single lender may be cross-collateralized to other financings of equipment provided solely by such lender; provided , further , that individual financings of equipment provided by a single lender may be cross-collateralized to other financings of equipment provided solely by such lender; provided , still further , that such security interest shall not be required to secure Indebtedness under Section 6.01(i) , if (A) after giving effect to any such Lien and the incurrence of Indebtedness secured by such Lien is created, incurred, acquired or assumed (or any prior Indebtedness becomes so secured) on a Pro Forma Basis, the Senior Secured Bank Leverage Ratio on the last day of the Borrower’s then most recently completed fiscal quarter for which financial statements are available shall be less than or equal to 3.00 to 1.00 (ii) at the time of the incurrence of such Lien and after giving effect thereto, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be

 

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continuing or would result therefrom, and (iii) the Indebtedness or other obligations secured by such Lien are otherwise permitted by this Agreement;

(j) Liens arising out of capitalized lease transactions permitted under Section 6.03 , so long as such Liens attach only to the property sold and being leased in such transaction and any accessions thereto or proceeds thereof and related property;

(k) Liens securing judgments that do not constitute an Event of Default under Section 7.01(j) ; provided , that such Liens, to the extent that they secure aggregate amounts of more than $30,000,000, shall be discharged within 60 days of the creation thereof;

(l) other Liens with respect to property or assets of the Borrower or any Subsidiary not constituting, or required to constitute, Collateral (under, and as defined in, the Credit Agreement Documents); provided that (i) after giving effect to any such Lien and the incurrence of Indebtedness, if any, secured by such Lien is created, incurred, acquired or assumed (or any prior Indebtedness becomes so secured) on a Pro Forma Basis, the Senior Secured Bank Leverage Ratio on the last day of the Borrower’s then most recently completed fiscal quarter for which financial statements are available shall be less than or equal to 3.00 to 1.00 (ii) at the time of the incurrence of such Lien and after giving effect thereto, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom, and (iii) the Indebtedness or other obligations secured by such Lien are otherwise permitted by this Agreement;

(m) Liens disclosed by the title insurance policies delivered on or subsequent to the Closing Date and any replacement, extension or renewal of any such Lien; provided , that such replacement, extension or renewal Lien shall not cover any property other than the property that was subject to such Lien prior to such replacement, extension or renewal; provided , further , that the Indebtedness and other obligations secured by such replacement, extension or renewal Lien are permitted by this Agreement;

(n) any interest or title of a lessor under any leases or subleases entered into by the Borrower or any Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business;

(o) Liens that are contractual rights of set-off (i) relating to the establishment of depository relations with banks not given in connection with the issuance of Indebtedness, (ii) relating to pooled deposit or sweep accounts of the Borrower or any Subsidiary to permit satisfaction of overdraft or similar obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries or (iii) relating to purchase orders and other agreements entered into with customers of the Borrower or any Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business;

(p) Liens arising solely by virtue of any statutory or common law provision relating to banker’s liens, rights of set-off or similar rights;

(q) Liens securing obligations in respect of trade-related letters of credit permitted under Section 6.01(f) , (k)  or (n)  and covering the goods (or the documents of

 

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title in respect of such goods) financed by such letters of credit and the proceeds and products thereof;

(r) licenses of intellectual property and software that are not material to the conduct of any of the business lines of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries and the value of which does not constitute a material portion of the assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and such license does not materially interfere with the ordinary course of conduct of the business of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries;

(s) 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;

(t) Liens on the assets of a Foreign Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party that secure Indebtedness of such Foreign Subsidiary that is permitted to be incurred under Section 6.01 ;

(u) Liens solely on any cash earnest money deposits made by the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries in connection with any letter of intent or purchase agreement permitted hereunder with respect to any acquisition that would constitute an Investment permitted by this Agreement;

(v) Liens arising out of consignment or similar arrangements for the sale of goods entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(w) Liens in favor of the Borrower or any Subsidiary Loan Party;

(x) Liens arising from precautionary Uniform Commercial Code financing statements or consignments entered into in connection with any transaction otherwise permitted under this Agreement;

(y) Liens of franchisors in the ordinary course of business not securing Indebtedness;

(z) Liens on not more than $10,000,000 of deposits securing Swap Agreements permitted to be incurred under Section 6.12 ;

(aa) Liens securing insurance premium financing arrangements; provided , that such Liens are limited to the applicable unearned insurance premiums;

(bb) Liens incurred to secure cash management services in the ordinary course of business; provided , that such Liens are not incurred in connection with, and do not secure, any borrowings or Indebtedness;

(cc) deposits or other Liens with respect to property or assets of the Borrower or any Subsidiary; provided , that such property and assets shall have an aggregate fair market value (valued at the time of creation of the Liens) of not more than $15,000,000 at any time; and

 

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(dd) leases and subleases not constituting Capital Lease Obligations of real property not material to the conduct of any business line of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries granted to others in the ordinary course of business that do not materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries.

SECTION 6.03. Sale and Lease-Back Transactions . Enter into any arrangement, directly or indirectly, with any person whereby it shall sell or transfer any property, real or personal, used or useful in its business, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, and thereafter rent or lease such property or other property that it intends to use for substantially the same purpose or purposes as the property being sold or transferred (a “ Sale and Lease-Back Transaction ”); provided , that (a) a Sale and Lease-Back Transaction shall be permitted with respect to property (i) owned by the Borrower or any Domestic Subsidiary that is acquired after the Closing Date so long as such Sale and Lease-Back Transaction is consummated within 270 days of the acquisition of such property, or (ii) owned by any Foreign Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party regardless of when such property was acquired, and (b) at the time the lease in connection therewith is entered into, and after giving effect to the entering into of such lease, the Remaining Present Value of such lease (together with Indebtedness outstanding pursuant to paragraphs (h)  and (i)  of Section 6.01 and the Remaining Present Value of outstanding leases previously entered into under this Section 6.03 ) would not exceed $95,000,000 in the aggregate.

SECTION 6.04. Investments, Loans and Advances . Purchase, hold or acquire (including pursuant to any merger with a person that is not a Wholly Owned Subsidiary immediately prior to such merger) any Equity Interests, Indebtedness or other securities of, make or permit to exist any loans or advances to or Guarantees of the obligations of, or make or permit to exist any investment or any other interest in (each, an “ Investment ”), in any other person, except:

(a) Investments by Holdings in the Equity Interests of the Borrower at any time, which Equity Interests will constitute Pledged Collateral (under, and as defined in, the Credit Agreement Documents);

(b) (i) Investments by the Borrower or the Subsidiaries in the Equity Interests of the Subsidiaries effective as of the Closing Date as set forth on Schedule 6.04 and Investments by the Borrower and the Subsidiaries consisting of intercompany loans from the Borrower or any Subsidiary to the Borrower or any Subsidiary effective as of the Closing Date as set forth on Schedule 6.04 ; (ii) Investments by the Borrower or any Subsidiary Loan Party in any Subsidiary Loan Party; (iii) Investments by any Foreign Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Loan Party in any Foreign Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Loan Party; and (iv) Investments by the Borrower or any Subsidiary Loan Party in any Subsidiary not otherwise permitted in clause (ii)  above or in any Similar Business in an aggregate amount for all such Investments made or deemed made pursuant to this Section 6.04(b)(iv) not to exceed (A) the greater of (x) $95,000,000 and (y) 5% of Consolidated Total Assets plus (B) subject to a Specified Covenant Release, an amount not to exceed the Available Free Cash Flow Amount on the date of such Investment as elected by the Borrower to be applied to this Section 6.04(b)(iv)(B) , such election to be specified in a written notice of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower calculating in

 

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reasonable detail the amount of Available Free Cash Flow Amount immediately prior to such election and the amount thereof elected to be so applied; provided , that intercompany current liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business in connection with the cash management operations shall not be included in calculating the limitation in this Section 6.04(b) at any time;

(c) Permitted Investments and Investments that were Permitted Investments when made;

(d) Investments arising out of the receipt by the Borrower or any Subsidiary of noncash consideration for the sale of assets permitted under Section 6.05 ;

(e) (i) loans and advances to employees of Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business not to exceed $15,000,000 in the aggregate at any time outstanding (calculated without regard to write-downs or write-offs thereof) and (ii) advances of payroll payments and expenses to employees in the ordinary course of business;

(f) (i) accounts receivable arising, and trade credit granted, in the ordinary course of business, (ii) any securities received in satisfaction or partial satisfaction of defaulted accounts receivable from financially troubled account debtors to the extent reasonably necessary in order to prevent or limit loss and (iii) any prepayments and other credits to suppliers made in the ordinary course of business;

(g) Swap Agreements permitted pursuant to Section 6.12 ;

(h) Investments existing on the Closing Date and set forth on Schedule 6.04 ;

(i) Investments resulting from pledges and deposits referred to in Sections 6.02(f) , (g) , (k) , (s)  and (u) ;

(j) subject to a Specified Covenant Release, additional Investments by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries having an aggregate Fair Market Value, taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this Section 6.04(j) that are at that time outstanding (after giving effect to the sale of Investments made pursuant to this Section 6.04(j) to the extent the proceeds of such sale received by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries consists of cash and Permitted Investments), not to exceed the greater of (x) $110,000,000 and (y) 5% of Consolidated Total Assets of the Borrower at the time of such Investment (with the Fair Market Value of each Investment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value);

(k) subject to a Specified Covenant Release, Investments constituting Permitted Business Acquisitions;

(l) Investments consisting of the licensing or contribution of intellectual property pursuant to joint marketing arrangements with other persons;

 

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(m) intercompany loans and other Investments between Foreign Subsidiaries that are not Loan Parties;

(n) Investments consisting of purchases and acquisitions of inventory, supplies, materials and equipment or purchases of contract rights or licenses or leases of intellectual property in each case in the ordinary course of business;

(o) the Acquisition;

(p) Investments received in connection with the bankruptcy or reorganization of, or settlement of delinquent accounts and disputes with or judgments against, customers and suppliers, in each case in the ordinary course of business or Investments acquired by the Borrower as a result of a foreclosure by the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries with respect to any secured Investments or other transfer of title with respect to any secured Investment in default;

(q) Investments of a Subsidiary acquired after the Closing Date or of a person merged into or consolidated with a Subsidiary in accordance with Section 6.05 after the Closing Date to the extent that (i) such acquisition, merger or consolidation is permitted under this Section 6.04 , (ii) such Investments were not made in contemplation of or in connection with such acquisition, merger or consolidation, and (iii) such Investments were in existence on the date of such acquisition, merger or consolidation; and

(r) Investments received substantially contemporaneously in exchange for Equity Interests of Holdings; provided , that (i) no Change of Control would result therefrom, and (ii) such Equity Interests do not constitute Disqualified Stock;

(s) Investments in joint ventures not in excess of $15,000,000 in the aggregate;

(t) Guarantees by (i) the Borrower or any Subsidiary of operating leases (other than Capital Lease Obligations) or of other obligations that do not constitute Indebtedness, in each case, entered into by any Subsidiary Loan Party in the ordinary course of business and (ii) any Foreign Subsidiary of operating leases (other than Capital Lease Obligations) or of obligations that do not constitute Indebtedness, in each case, entered into by any Foreign Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business;

(u) subject to a Specified Covenant Release, Investments made with Excluded Contributions; provided , that such Investments may only be made to the extent that the Loans are not required to be prepaid with such Excluded Contributions; and

(v) Investments in a Banking Subsidiary not in excess of $15,000,000.

The amount of Investments made or deemed made pursuant to Section 6.04(b)(iv) and (j)  shall be valued at the time of the making thereof, and without giving effect to any write-downs or write-offs thereof, but after deducting any return of capital actually received by the Borrower or the respective Subsidiary Loan Parties in respect of investments or loans theretofore made after the Closing Date by them pursuant to such Sections or, in the case of Guarantees made by them

 

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pursuant to such Sections , after deducting any reduction in the amount thereof without having made payment thereunder.

SECTION 6.05. Mergers, Consolidations, Sales of Assets and Acquisitions . Merge into or consolidate with any other person, or permit any other person to merge into or consolidate with it, or sell, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of (in one transaction or in a series of transactions) all or any part of its assets (whether now owned or hereafter acquired), or issue, sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of any Equity Interests of any Subsidiary or purchase, lease or otherwise acquire (in one transaction or a series of transactions) all of any division, unit or business of any other person, except that this Section shall not prohibit:

(a) (i) the lease, purchase and sale of inventory in the ordinary course of business by the Borrower or any Subsidiary, (ii) the acquisition of any other asset in the ordinary course of business by the Borrower or any Subsidiary, (iii) the sale of obsolete or worn out equipment or other property in the ordinary course of business by the Borrower or any Subsidiary or (iv) the sale of Permitted Investments in the ordinary course of business;

(b) if at the time thereof and immediately thereafter no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom, (i) the merger of any Subsidiary into the Borrower in a transaction in which the Borrower is the survivor, (ii) the merger or consolidation of any Domestic Subsidiary into or with any Subsidiary Loan Party in a transaction in which the surviving or resulting entity is a Subsidiary Loan Party and, in the case of each of clauses (i)  and (ii) , no person other than the Borrower or Subsidiary Loan Party receives any consideration, (iii) the merger or consolidation of any Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Loan Party into or with any other Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Loan Party or (iv) the liquidation or dissolution or change in form of entity of any Subsidiary (other than the Borrower) in accordance with Section 5.01(a)(ii) if the Borrower determines in good faith that such liquidation, change in form or dissolution is in the best interests of the Borrower and is not materially disadvantageous to the Lenders;

(c) sales, transfers, leases or other dispositions to the Borrower or a Subsidiary Loan Party (upon voluntary liquidation or otherwise); provided , that any sales, transfers, leases or other dispositions by a Loan Party to a Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Loan Party shall be made in compliance with Section 6.07 and the aggregate gross proceeds of any such sales, transfers, leases or other dispositions plus the aggregate gross proceeds of any or all assets sold, transferred or leased in reliance upon paragraph (h)  below shall not exceed, in any fiscal year of the Borrower, the greater of $110,000,000 and 5% of Consolidated Total Assets as of the end of the immediately preceding fiscal year;

(d) Sale and Lease-Back Transactions permitted by Section 6.03 ;

(e) Investments permitted by Section 6.04 , Liens permitted by Section 6.02 and Dividends permitted by Section 6.06 ;

 

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(f) any swap of assets in exchange for services or other assets in the ordinary course of business of comparable or greater value or usefulness to the business of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries as a whole, as determined in good faith by the management of the Borrower, which in the event of a swap with a Fair Market Value in excess of (x) $10,000,000 shall be evidenced by a certificate from a Responsible Officer of the Borrower and (y) $25,000,000 shall be set forth in a resolution approved in good faith by at least a majority of the Board of Directors of the Borrower;

(g) the sale of defaulted receivables in the ordinary course of business and not as part of an accounts receivables financing transaction;

(h) sales, transfers, leases or other dispositions of assets not otherwise permitted by this Section 6.05 ; provided , that the aggregate gross proceeds (including noncash proceeds) of any or all assets sold, transferred, leased or otherwise disposed of in reliance upon this paragraph (h) plus the aggregate gross amount of such proceeds in reliance upon clause (i)  in the proviso to Section 6.05(c) above shall not exceed, in any fiscal year of the Borrower, the greater of $110,000,000 and 5% of Consolidated Total Assets as of the end of the immediately preceding fiscal year; provided , further , that the Net Proceeds thereof are applied in accordance with Section 2.11(b) ;

(i) subject to a Specified Covenant Release, any merger or consolidation in order to effect a Permitted Business Acquisition; provided , that following any such merger or consolidation (i) involving the Borrower, the Borrower is the surviving corporation, (ii) involving a Domestic Subsidiary, the surviving or resulting entity shall be a Subsidiary Loan Party that is a Wholly Owned Subsidiary and (iii) involving a Foreign Subsidiary, the surviving or resulting entity shall be a Wholly Owned Subsidiary;

(j) non-exclusive licensing and cross-licensing arrangements involving any technology or other intellectual property of the Borrower or any Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business and other licensing and cross-licensing arrangements involving any technology or other intellectual property of the Borrower or any Subsidiary that are not material to the conduct of any of the business lines of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries, and the value of which does not constitute a material portion of the assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and that are not material to the ordinary course of conduct of the business of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries;

(k) the lease, assignment or sublease of any real or personal property in the ordinary course of business;

(l) sales, leases or other dispositions of inventory, equipment or other assets (excluding Equity Interests, assets constituting a business division, unit, line of business, all or substantially all of the assets of any Material Subsidiary, Sale and Lease-Back Transactions and receivables) of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries determined by the management of the Borrower to be no longer useful or necessary in the operation of the business of the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries; provided , that the Net Proceeds thereof are applied in accordance with Section 2.11(b) ;

 

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(m) the sale, transfer or other disposition by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries of the Netcentives Assets to Holdings or any Affiliate of Holdings on the Closing Date, including pursuant to Section 6.06(g) ;

(n) any Subsidiary Spin-off, to the extent Net Proceeds received are used to repay the Loans or repay the Credit Facilities; and

(o) any sale of Equity Interests in, or other securities of, an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in Section 6.05 above, (i) no sale, transfer or other disposition of assets shall be permitted by this Section 6.05 (except as permitted to Loan Parties pursuant to Section 6.05(c) ) unless such disposition is for Fair Market Value, and (iii) no sale, transfer or other disposition of assets shall be permitted by paragraph (a) , (d) , (h)  or (l)  of this Section 6.05 unless such disposition is for at least 75% cash consideration; provided , that for purposes of clause (i) , the amount of any secured Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Subsidiary or other Indebtedness of a Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party (as shown on the Borrower’s or such Subsidiary’s most recent balance sheet or in the notes thereto) that is assumed by the transferee of any such assets shall be deemed to be cash.

SECTION 6.06. Dividends and Distributions . Declare or pay, directly or indirectly, any dividend or make, directly or indirectly, any other distribution (by reduction of capital or otherwise), whether in cash, property, securities or a combination thereof, with respect to any of its Equity Interests (other than dividends and distributions on Equity Interests payable solely by the issuance of additional Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the person paying such dividends or distributions) or directly or indirectly redeem, purchase, retire or otherwise acquire for value (or permit any subsidiary of the Borrower to purchase or acquire) any of its Equity Interests or set aside any amount for any such purpose (other than through the issuance of additional Equity Interests of the person redeeming, purchasing, retiring or acquiring such shares) (any of the foregoing dividends, distributions, redemptions, repurchases, retirements, other acquisitions or setting aside of amounts, “ Dividends ”); provided , however , that:

(a) (i) any Subsidiary may declare and pay dividends to, or make other distributions to, the Borrower or any Subsidiary that is a direct parent of such Subsidiary and, if not a Wholly Owned Subsidiary, to each other direct owner of Equity Interests of such Subsidiary on a pro rata basis (or more favorable basis from the perspective of the Borrower or such Subsidiary) based on their relative ownership interests; and (ii) to the extent permitted by Section 6.04 , any Subsidiary that is not a Wholly Owned Subsidiary may repurchase its Equity Interests from any owner of the Equity Interests of such Subsidiary that is not the Borrower or a Subsidiary;

(b) the Borrower may declare and pay dividends or make other distributions to Holdings in respect of (i) overhead, legal, accounting and other professional fees and expenses of Holdings and actual Tax liabilities of Holdings for the consolidated group of which Holdings is parent to the extent that Holdings, and not the Borrower, (A) files a consolidated U.S. federal tax return that includes the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in an

 

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amount not to exceed the amount that the Borrower and its Subsidiaries would have been required to pay in respect of federal, state or local taxes, as the case may be, in respect of such year if the Borrower and its Subsidiaries had paid such taxes directly as a stand-alone taxpayer or stand-alone group, and (B) actually pays, or will pay, as the consolidated tax payor, such taxes for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, it being agreed that if such dividends and distributions are paid to Holdings and Holdings does not make such consolidated tax payments on the date when the Borrower and its subsidiaries are required to pay such taxes, such failure shall be an Event of Default that shall continue until all such taxes are paid, (ii) fees and expenses related to any public offering or private placement of equity securities of Holdings, the proceeds of which were intended to be used to repay the Loans, that is not consummated and maintaining the corporate existence of the special purpose Unrestricted Subsidiary formed to own the Netcentives Assets, and (iii) other fees and expenses in connection with the maintenance of its existence and its ownership of the Borrower;

(c) the Borrower may declare and pay dividends or make other distributions to Holdings in order to enable Holdings may purchase or redeem Equity Interests of Holdings (including related stock appreciation rights or similar securities) held by then present or former directors, consultants, officers or employees of Holdings, the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries or by any Plan upon such person’s death, disability, retirement or termination of employment or under the terms of any such Plan or any other agreement under which such shares of stock or related rights were issued; provided , that the aggregate amount of dividends for such purchases or redemptions under this Section 6.06(c) shall not exceed (i) in any fiscal year $12,500,000 (plus any amounts carried over from prior years, up to $25,000,000 in the aggregate) plus (B) Excluded Equity Proceeds received from directors, consultants, officers or employees of Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary in connection with permitted employee compensation and incentive arrangements as set forth in a certificate of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower, which, if not used in any fiscal year, may be carried forward to any fiscal calendar year, and (ii)amounts received in respect of key man life insurance policy proceeds;

(d) any person may make noncash repurchases of Equity Interests deemed to occur upon exercise of stock options if such Equity Interests represent a portion of the exercise price of such options;

(e) [RESERVED] ;

(f) subject to a Specified Covenant Release, any person may make distributions to minority shareholders of any subsidiary that is acquired pursuant to a Permitted Business Acquisition pursuant to appraisal or dissenters’ rights with respect to shares of such subsidiary held by such shareholders; provided that no such distribution shall be paid to the Fund or any Affiliate of the Fund;

(g) the Borrower may declare and pay dividends to Holdings (i) on the Closing Date consisting solely of the Netcentives Assets or (ii) from amounts received from a concurrent dividend or other distribution or other concurrent payment from the special purpose Unrestricted Subsidiary formed to own the Netcentives Assets for so long

 

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as such person remains an Unrestricted Subsidiary; provided that no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom;

(h) [RESERVED] ;

(i) the Borrower or any Subsidiary may make any Dividend on the Closing Date used to fund the Transactions and the fees and expenses related thereto or made in connection with the consummation of the Transactions as described in the Offering Circular (including payments made pursuant to or as contemplated by the Transaction Documents, as in effect on the Closing Date; and

(j) the Borrower or any Subsidiary may make payments of cash, or dividends, distributions or advances to allow such person to make payments of cash, in lieu of the issuance of fractional shares upon exercise of warrants or upon the conversion or exchange of Equity Interests of such person; provided, however, that the aggregate amount of such payments, dividends, distributions or advances shall not exceed $4,000,000.

SECTION 6.07. Transactions with Affiliates . (a) Sell or transfer any property or assets to, or purchase or acquire any property or assets from, or otherwise engage in any other transaction with, any of its Affiliates, unless such transaction is (i) otherwise expressly permitted (or required) with such Affiliates or holders under this Agreement or (ii) upon terms no less favorable to the Borrower or such Subsidiary, as applicable, than would be obtained in a comparable arm’s-length transaction with a person that is not an Affiliate; provided , that this clause (ii)  shall not apply to (A) the payment to the Fund of the monitoring and management and transaction fees and expenses referred to in paragraph (b)  below or fees and expenses payable on the Closing Date, (B) the indemnification of directors of Holdings, the Borrower or the Subsidiaries in accordance with customary practice or (C) to the extent otherwise permitted under this Agreement (each of which shall not be prohibited by this Section 6.07 ), the following:

(i) any issuance of securities, or other payments, awards or grants in cash, securities or otherwise pursuant to, or the funding of, employment arrangements, equity purchase agreements, deferred compensation agreements, stock options and stock ownership plans or similar employee benefit plans approved by the Board of Directors of Holdings;

(ii) loans or advances to employees of Holdings, the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries in accordance with Section 6.04(e) ;

(iii) transactions among the Borrower and the Subsidiary Loan Parties and transactions among the Subsidiary Loan Parties;

(iv) the payment of fees and indemnities to directors, officers, employees and consultants of Holdings, the Borrower and the Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;

(v) the existence of, or the performance by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries of its obligations under the terms of, the Transaction Documents, agreements

 

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set forth on Schedule 6.07 and any amendment thereto or similar agreements which it may enter into thereafter; provided , however , that the existence of, or the performance by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries of its obligations under, any future amendment to any such existing agreement or under any similar agreement entered into after the Closing Date shall only be permitted by this clause (v)  to the extent that the terms of any such existing agreement together with all amendments thereto, taken as a whole, or new agreement are not otherwise more disadvantageous to the Lenders in any material respect than the original agreement as in effect on the Closing Date;

(vi) transactions to effect the Transactions and the payment of all fees and expenses related to the Transactions, as described herein or contemplated by the Transaction Documents;

(vii) any employment agreements entered into by Holdings, the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;

(viii) transactions permitted under Section 6.05 ;

(ix) transactions permitted by, and complying with the provisions of, Section 6.06 ;

(x) any purchase by the Permitted Holders or any director, officer, employee or consultant of the Borrower or Holdings of Equity Interests of Holdings or any contribution by Holdings to, or purchases of, equity capital of the Borrower; provided that any Equity Interests of the Borrower shall be pledged to the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders pursuant to the Guarantee Agreement;

(xi) provided no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom, payments by Holdings, the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries to the Fund or any Fund Affiliate made for any customary financial advisory, financing, underwriting or placement services or in respect of other investment banking activities, including in connection with acquisitions or divestitures, which payments are approved by the majority of the Board of Directors of Holdings, in good faith;

(xii) payments or loans (or cancellation of loans) to employees or consultants that are (A) approved by a majority of the Board of Directors or the managing member of the Borrower in good faith, (B) made in compliance with applicable law and (C) otherwise permitted under this Agreement;

(xiii) transactions with Wholly Owned Subsidiaries for the purchase or sale of goods, products, parts and services entered into in the ordinary course of business in a manner consistent with past practice;

(xiv) any transaction in respect of which the Borrower delivers to the Administrative Agent (for delivery to the Lenders) a letter addressed to the Board of Directors of the Borrower and Holdings from an accounting, appraisal or investment banking firm, in each case of nationally recognized standing that is (A) in the good faith

 

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determination of the Borrower qualified to render such letter and (B) reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, which letter states that such transaction is on terms that are no less favorable to the Borrower or such Subsidiary, as applicable, than would be obtained in a comparable arm’s-length transaction with a person that is not an Affiliate;

(xv) subject to paragraph (b)  below, the payment of all fees, expenses, bonuses and awards related to the Transactions and expressly required by the Purchase Agreement and the payment of any fees to the Fund or any Fund Affiliate to the extent contemplated by the Offering Circular on the Closing Date and thereafter, as otherwise permitted by Section 6.07(b) ;

(xvi) transactions with customers, clients, suppliers, or purchasers or sellers of goods or services, in each case in the ordinary course of business and otherwise in compliance with the terms of this Agreement that are fair to the Borrower or the Subsidiaries;

(xvii) transactions with joint ventures for the purchase or sale of goods, equipment and services entered into in the ordinary course of business and in a manner consistent with past practice;

(xviii) transactions permitted by, and complying with, the provisions of Section 6.05 ;

(xix) transactions between Holdings, the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries and any person that is an Affiliate solely by virtue of having a director who is also a director of Holdings, the Borrower or any direct or indirect parent company of the Borrower, provided , however , that such director abstains from voting as a director of Holdings or the Borrower or such direct or indirect parent company, as the case may be, on any matter involving such other person;

(xx) intercompany transactions for the purpose of improving the consolidated tax efficiency of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries;

(xxi) the termination of management agreements and payments in connection therewith at the net present value of future payments;

(xxii) transactions among Subsidiaries that are not otherwise prohibited under this Agreement;

(xxiii) entering into tax sharing agreements or arrangements approved by the Board of Directors of Holdings or the Borrower;

(xxiv) any agreements or arrangements between a third party and an Affiliate of the Borrower that are acquired or assumed by the Borrower or any Subsidiary in connection with an acquisition or merger of such third party (or assets of such third party) by or with the Borrower or any Subsidiary; provided , that (A) such acquisition or merger is permitted under this Agreement and (B) such agreements or arrangements are not

 

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entered into in contemplation of such acquisition or merger or otherwise for the purpose of avoiding the restrictions imposed by this Section 6.07 ; and

(xxv) any contribution to the capital of the Borrower by Holdings.

(b) Make any payment of or on account of monitoring or management or similar fees payable to the Fund or any Fund Affiliate unless no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the aggregate amount of such payments in any fiscal year does not exceed the sum of (i) the lesser of (x) $3,000,000 and (y) 2% of EBITDA of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis for the immediately preceding fiscal year, plus (ii) any deferred fees, plus (iii) subject to a Specified Covenant Release, 2% of the value of transactions with respect to which the Fund or any Fund Affiliate provides any transaction, advisory or other services; provided , that this Section 6.07(b) shall not restrict the payment of any fees to the Fund or any Fund Affiliate on the Closing Date to the extent contemplated by the Offering Circular.

SECTION 6.08. Business of Holdings, the Borrower and the Subsidiaries . Notwithstanding any other provisions hereof, engage at any time in any business or business activity other than:

(a) in the case of the Borrower and any Material Subsidiary, (i) any business or business activity conducted by any of them on the Closing Date and any business or business activities incidental or related thereto, (ii) any business or business activity that is reasonably similar thereto or a reasonable extension, development or expansion thereof or ancillary thereto, including the consummation of the Transactions, (iii) any business or business activity that the senior management of the Borrower deems beneficial for the Borrower or such Subsidiary or (iv) the formation and maintenance of one or more Banking Subsidiaries; and

(b) in the case of Holdings, (i) ownership of the Equity Interests in the Borrower and Equity Interests of a special purpose person formed to own the Netcentives Assets, together with activities directly related thereto, and (A) Holdings shall own no assets other than such Equity Interests and its books and records and (B) Holdings shall not grant a Lien on any of its assets other than pursuant to the Loan Documents or the Credit Agreement Documents, (ii) performance of its obligations under and in connection with the Loan Documents, the Purchase Agreement and the other agreements contemplated by the Purchase Agreement, and any Indebtedness permitted to be incurred by Holdings, and Holdings shall incur no other obligations (including Indebtedness) or liabilities other than (A) obligations under the Loan Documents, the Credit Agreement Documents and (B) Indebtedness that is not guaranteed by any Subsidiary, unless such Subsidiary is otherwise permitted to Guarantee such Indebtedness under Section 6.01 (it being understood that Indebtedness includes Guarantees of Indebtedness), so long as (v) immediately after giving effect to the incurrence of such Indebtedness on a Pro Forma Basis, the Consolidated Leverage Ratio shall not exceed 7.25 to 1.00, (w) at the time of the incurrence of such Indebtedness and after giving effect thereto, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom, (x) such Indebtedness may include Guarantees of Indebtedness of the Borrower and its

 

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Subsidiaries permitted under Section 6.01 other than the Senior Notes, Senior Subordinated Notes and any Permitted Indebtedness so long as such Guarantees are unsecured and do not contain any covenants other than affirmative corporate maintenance covenants, (y) the Net Proceeds thereof shall be contributed to the Borrower in cash as common equity and applied by the Borrower to prepay the Loans, and (z) a Responsible Officer of Holdings shall have delivered an officer’s certificate demonstrating the calculation of the Leverage Ratio in form and detail reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent), and other customary obligations incidental to its existence and ownership of the Equity Interests in the Borrower (including, without limitation, Guarantees of obligations (other than Indebtedness for borrowed money) of the Borrower and the Subsidiary Loan Parties in the ordinary course of the operation of the Borrower’s or such Subsidiary Loan Party’s business, to the extent such Guarantee is also given in the ordinary course of business), (iii) issuance of Equity Interests so long as the Net Proceeds of any sales or issuances of its Equity Interests (other than any such issuance or sale to the Fund or any Fund Affiliate) are contributed in cash as common equity to the Borrower and applied by the Borrower to prepay the Loans, (iv) activities in connection with the ownership of the Equity Interests of a special purpose person formed to own the Netcentives Assets, including the sale or disposition thereof and (v) as otherwise required by law.

SECTION 6.09. Limitation on Modifications and Payments of Indebtedness; Modifications of Certificate of Incorporation, By-Laws and Certain Other Agreements; etc . (a) Amend or modify in any manner materially adverse to the Lenders the articles or certificate of incorporation or by-laws or limited liability company operating agreement or other organizational documents of the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries or amend or modify in any manner materially adverse to the Lenders, or grant any waiver or release under or terminate in any manner if such granting or termination shall be materially adverse to the Lenders, the Purchase Agreement.

(b) (i) Make, or agree or offer to pay or make, directly or indirectly, any payment or other distribution (whether in cash, securities or other property) of or in respect of principal of or interest (other than payment of regularly scheduled interest) on any Senior Subordinated Notes, any Permitted Indebtedness or any Indebtedness subordinated in right of payment to the prior payment of the Loans or any payment or other distribution (whether in cash, securities or other property), including any sinking fund or similar deposit, on account of the purchase, redemption, retirement, acquisition, cancellation or termination of any Senior Subordinated Notes, any Permitted Indebtedness or any Indebtedness subordinated in right of payment to the prior payment of the Loans.

(ii) Amend or modify, or permit the amendment or modification of, any provision of any documentation governing any Indebtedness subordinated in right of payment to the prior payment of the Loans, the Seller Preferred Equity, or any agreement (including any document relating to the Seller Preferred Equity) relating thereto, other than amendments or modifications that are not in any manner materially adverse to Lenders and that do not affect the subordination provisions thereof (if any) in a manner adverse to the Lenders.

 

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(c) Enter into any agreement or instrument that by its terms restricts the payment of dividends or distributions or the making of cash advances by any Material Subsidiary to the Borrower or any Subsidiary that is a direct or indirect parent of such Subsidiary, except, in each case, restrictions existing by reason of:

(A) (i) restrictions imposed by applicable law and (ii) restrictions on the payment of dividends and distributions and the making of cash advances, contractual or otherwise, imposed on Banking Subsidiaries and Insurance Subsidiaries;

(B) other than with respect to Holdings, contractual restrictions as set forth in the Credit Agreement;

(C) any restriction on the Equity Interests or assets of a Subsidiary imposed pursuant to an agreement entered into for the sale or disposition of such Equity Interests or assets permitted under Section 6.05 pending the closing of such sale or disposition;

(D) customary provisions in joint venture agreements and other similar agreements applicable to the assets of, or the Equity Interests in, joint ventures entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(E) customary restrictions and conditions contained in any agreement relating to the sale of any asset permitted under Section 6.05 applicable to the asset to be sold pending the consummation of such sale; or

(F) any agreement in effect at the time such subsidiary becomes a Subsidiary, so long as such agreement was not entered into in contemplation of such person becoming a Subsidiary and such restriction does not apply to the Borrower or any other Material Subsidiary or any of their respective assets.

SECTION 6.10. Consolidated Leverage Ratio . Permit the Consolidated Leverage Ratio on the last day of any fiscal quarter during any period set forth below to exceed the ratio set forth opposite such period:

 

Period

  

Ratio

Closing Date through September 30, 2006

  

7.75 to 1.00

October 1, 2006 through December 31, 2006

  

7.50 to 1.00

January 1, 2007 through March 31, 2007

  

7.25 to 1.00

April 1, 2007 through June 30, 2007

  

7.00 to 1.00

July 1, 2007 through June 30, 2008

  

6.75 to 1.00

July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009

  

6.25 to 1.00

July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2010

  

5.50 to 1.00

July 1, 2010 through June 30, 2011

  

5.00 to 1.00

July 1, 2011 and thereafter

  

4.75 to 1.00

 

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SECTION 6.11. Interest Coverage Ratio . Permit the Interest Coverage Ratio as of the end of any fiscal quarter ending during any period set forth below to be less than the ratio set forth below opposite such period:

 

Period

  

Ratio

Closing Date through March 31, 2007

  

1.20 to 1.00

April 1, 2007 through June 30, 2007

  

1.25 to 1.00

July 1, 2007 through September 30,2007

  

1.30 to 1.00

October 1, 2007 through June 30, 2008

  

1.35 to 1.00

July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009

  

1.50 to 1.00

July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2010

  

1.65 to 1.00

July 1, 2010 through June 30, 2011

  

1.85 to 1.00

July 1, 2011 and thereafter

  

2.00 to 1.00

SECTION 6.12. Swap Agreements . Enter into any Swap Agreement other than (a) Swap Agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business to hedge or mitigate risks to which the Borrower or any Subsidiary is exposed in the conduct of its business or the management of its liabilities (including currency risks), and (b) Swap Agreements entered into in order to effectively cap, collar or exchange interest rates (from fixed to floating rates, from one floating rate to another floating rate or otherwise) with respect to any interest-bearing liability or investment of Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary.

SECTION 6.13. Anti-Layering . Notwithstanding any other provision hereof, incur, create, issue, assume, guarantee or otherwise become directly or indirectly liable for any Indebtedness that is subordinate or junior in right of payment to the Indebtedness and other obligations under the Credit Agreement and senior in any respect in right of payment to the Loans.

ARTICLE VII

Events of Default

SECTION 7.01. Events of Default . In case of the happening of any of the following events (“ Events of Default ”):

(a) any representation or warranty made or deemed made by the Borrower or any other Loan Party in any Loan Document, or any representation, warranty, statement or information contained in any report, certificate, financial statement or other instrument furnished in connection with or pursuant to any Loan Document, shall prove to have been false or misleading in any material respect when so made, deemed made or furnished by the Borrower or any other Loan Party;

(b) default shall be made in the payment of any principal of any Loan when and as the same shall become due and payable, whether at the due date thereof or at a date fixed for prepayment thereof or by acceleration thereof or otherwise;

 

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(c) default shall be made in the payment of any interest on any Loan or in the payment of any Fee or any other amount (other than an amount referred to in paragraph (b)  above) due under any Loan Document, when and as the same shall become due and payable, and such default shall continue unremedied for a period of five Business Days;

(d) any default shall be made in the due observance or performance by the Borrower of any covenant or agreement contained in Section 5.01(a) (with respect to the Borrower), 5.05(a) , 5.09 or in Article VI ;

(e) default shall be made in the due observance or performance by the Borrower or any Subsidiary Loan Party of any covenant or agreement contained in any Loan Document (other than those specified in paragraphs (b) , (c)  and (d)  above, Section 2.05(c) , and Section 2.10(b) ) and such default shall continue unremedied for a period of 45 days (or 30 days as relating to Section 2.05 after notice thereof from the Administrative Agent to the Borrower (except no such notice shall be required in the case of Section 2.05(a) );

(f) (i) any event or condition occurs that results in any Material Indebtedness becoming due prior to its scheduled maturity or (ii) Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall fail to pay the principal of any Material Indebtedness at the stated final maturity thereof; provided , that this clause (f)  shall not apply to secured Indebtedness that becomes due as a result of the voluntary sale or transfer of the property or assets securing such Indebtedness if such sale or transfer is permitted hereunder and under the documents providing for such Indebtedness;

(g) [RESERVED] ;

(h) an involuntary proceeding shall be commenced or an involuntary petition shall be filed in a court of competent jurisdiction seeking (i) relief in respect of Holdings, the Borrower or any of its subsidiaries, or of a substantial part of the property or assets of Holdings, the Borrower or any of its subsidiaries, under Title 11 of the United States Code, as now constituted or hereafter amended, or any other federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, moratorium, insolvency, receivership or similar law, (ii) the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian, sequestrator, conservator or similar official for Holdings, the Borrower or any of its subsidiaries or for a substantial part of the property or assets of Holdings, the Borrower or any of its subsidiaries or (iii) the winding-up or liquidation of Holdings, the Borrower or any of its subsidiaries (except, in the case of any subsidiary, in a transaction permitted by Section 6.05 ); and such proceeding or petition shall continue undismissed for 60 days or an order or decree approving or ordering any of the foregoing shall be entered;

(i) Holdings, the Borrower or any of its subsidiaries shall (i) voluntarily commence any proceeding or file any petition seeking relief under Title 11 of the United States Code, as now constituted or hereafter amended, or any other federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, moratorium, insolvency, receivership or similar law, (ii) consent to the institution of, or fail to contest in a timely and appropriate manner, any proceeding or the filing of any petition described in paragraph (h)  above, (iii) apply for or consent to

 

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the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian, sequestrator, conservator or similar official for Holdings, the Borrower or any of its subsidiaries or for a substantial part of the property or assets of Holdings, the Borrower or any of its subsidiaries, (iv) file an answer admitting the material allegations of a petition filed against it in any such proceeding, (v) make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors or (vi) become unable, admit in writing its inability or fail generally to pay its debts as they become due;

(j) the failure by Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary Loan Party or any Material Subsidiary to pay one or more final judgments aggregating in excess of $30,000,000, which judgments are not discharged or effectively waived or stayed for a period of 30 consecutive days, or any action shall be legally taken by a judgment creditor to levy upon assets or properties of Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary to enforce any such judgment;

(k) (i) an ERISA Event shall have occurred, (ii) a trustee shall be appointed by a United States district court to administer any Plan, (iii) the Borrower, a Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate shall engage in any non-exempt “prohibited transaction” (as defined in Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code) involving any Plan or (iv) any other event or condition shall occur or exist with respect to a Plan or a Multiemployer Plan; and in each case in clauses (i)  through (iv)  above, such event or condition, together with all other such events or conditions, if any, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; or

(l) (i) any Loan Document shall for any reason be asserted in writing by Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary Loan Party not to be a legal, valid and binding obligation of any party thereto or (ii) the Guarantees pursuant to the Guarantee Agreement by Holdings, the Borrower or any material Subsidiary Loan Parties of any of the Obligations shall cease to be in full force and effect (other than in accordance with the terms thereof), or shall be asserted in writing by Holdings the Borrower or any Subsidiary Loan Party not to be in effect or not to be legal, valid and binding obligations;

then, and in every such event (other than an event with respect to the Borrower described in paragraph (h)  or (i)  above), and at any time thereafter during the continuance of such event, the Administrative Agent, at the request of Lenders having Loans outstanding that, taken together, represent more than at least 33-1/3% of the aggregate principal amount of all Loans then outstanding (or, if Initial Lenders hold a majority of Loans, a majority of such principal amount), shall, by notice to the Borrower (an “ Acceleration Notice ”), declare the Loans then outstanding to be forthwith due and payable, whereupon the principal of the Loans then outstanding so declared to be due and payable, together with accrued interest thereon and any unpaid accrued Fees and all other liabilities of the Borrower accrued hereunder and under any other Loan Document, shall become forthwith due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or any other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrower, anything contained herein or in any other Loan Document to the contrary notwithstanding; and in any event with respect to the Borrower described in paragraph (h)  or (i)  above, the principal of the Loans then outstanding, together with accrued interest thereon and any unpaid accrued Fees and all other liabilities of the Borrower accrued hereunder and under any other Loan Document, shall automatically become due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or any other notice

 

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of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrower, anything contained herein or in any other Loan Document to the contrary notwithstanding. An Acceleration Notice may be annulled and past defaults (except for monetary defaults not yet cured) may be waived by the Required Lenders.

SECTION 7.02. Exclusion of Certain Subsidiaries . Solely for the purposes of determining whether an Event of Default has occurred under clause (h) , (i)  or (j)  of Section 7.01 , any reference in any such clause to any subsidiary shall be deemed not to include any Immaterial Subsidiary affected by any event or circumstance referred to in any such clause.

SECTION 7.03. Right to Cure . (a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in Section 7.01 , in the event that the Borrower fails to comply with the requirements of the covenants set forth in Section 6.10 or 6.11 , until the expiration of the 10th day subsequent to the date the certificate calculating the covenants set forth in Sections 6.10 and 6.11 is required to be delivered pursuant to Section 5.04(c) , Holdings shall have the right to issue Permitted Cure Securities for cash or otherwise receive cash contributions to its capital, and, in each case with respect to Holdings, to contribute any such cash to the capital of the Borrower (collectively, the “ Cure Right ”), and upon the receipt by the Borrower of such cash (the “ Cure Amount ”) pursuant to the exercise by Holdings or the Borrower of such Cure Right the covenants set forth in Sections 6.10 and 6.11 shall be recalculated giving effect to the following pro forma adjustments:

(i) EBITDA shall be increased, solely for the purpose of measuring the covenants set forth in Sections 6.10 and 6.11 and not for any other purpose under this Agreement, by an amount equal to the Cure Amount; and

(ii) If, after giving effect to the foregoing recalculations, the Borrower shall then be in compliance with the requirements of the covenants set forth in Sections 6.10 and 6.11 , the Borrower shall be deemed to have satisfied the requirements of the covenants set forth in Sections 6.10 and 6.11 as of the relevant date of determination with the same effect as though there had been no failure to comply therewith at such date, and the applicable breach or default of the covenants set forth in Sections 6.10 and 6.11 that had occurred shall be deemed cured for the purposes of this Agreement.

(b) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (i) in each four-fiscal-quarter period there shall be at least one fiscal quarter in which the Cure Right is not exercised, (ii) in each eight-fiscal-quarter period, there shall be a period of at least four consecutive fiscal quarters during which the Cure Right is not exercised and (iii) for purposes of this Section 7.03, the Cure Amount utilized shall be no greater than the amount required for purposes of complying with the covenants set forth in Section 6.10 and 6.11 .

ARTICLE VIII

Subordination

SECTION 8.01. Agreement to Subordinate . The Borrower, the Administrative Agent and each Lender covenants and agrees that all Loans shall be subject to the provisions of

 

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this Article VIII and Annex A attached hereto (which is incorporated into this Article VIII by reference and shall form a part of this Article VIII as if fully set forth herein) and that each Person holding any Loan, whether upon original issue or upon transfer, assignment or exchange thereof, accepts and agrees that the Indebtedness evidenced by the Loans shall, to the extent and in the manner set forth in this Article VIII , be subordinated in right of payment to the prior payment in full, in cash or cash equivalents, of all amounts payable under Senior Debt (as defined in Annex A ), including, without limitation, the Borrower’s obligations under the Credit Agreement (including any interest accruing subsequent to an event specified in Section 7.01(h) or (i)  of this Agreement, whether or not such interest is an allowed claim enforceable against the debtor under the Bankruptcy Law), all as more specifically set forth in Annex A .

ARTICLE IX

The Agents

SECTION 9.01. Appointment . (a) Each Lender hereby irrevocably designates and appoints the Administrative Agent as the agent of such Lender under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and each such Lender irrevocably authorizes the Administrative Agent, in such capacity, to take such action on its behalf under the provisions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and to exercise such powers and perform such duties as are expressly delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, together with such other powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary elsewhere in this Agreement, the Administrative Agent shall not have any duties or responsibilities, except those expressly set forth herein, or any fiduciary relationship with any Lender, and no implied covenants, functions, responsibilities, duties, obligations or liabilities shall be read into this Agreement or any other Loan Document or otherwise exist against the Administrative Agent.

(b) [RESERVED] .

SECTION 9.02. Delegation of Duties . The Administrative Agent may execute any of its duties under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents by or through agents, employees or attorneys-in-fact and shall be entitled to advice of counsel and other consultants or experts concerning all matters pertaining to such duties. The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any agents or attorneys-in-fact selected by it with reasonable care. The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any agent or attorney-in-fact that it selects in accordance with the foregoing provisions of this Section 9.02 in the absence of the Administrative Agent’s gross negligence or willful misconduct.

Section 9.03. Exculpatory Provisions . Neither any Agent or its Affiliates nor any of their respective officers, directors, employees, agents, attorneys-in-fact or affiliates shall be (i) liable for any action lawfully taken or omitted to be taken by it or such person under or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document (except to the extent that any of the foregoing are found by a final and nonappealable decision of a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from its or such person’s own gross negligence or willful misconduct) or (ii) responsible in any manner to any of the Lenders for any recitals, statements, representations or

 

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warranties made by any Loan Party or any officer thereof contained in this Agreement or any other Loan Document or in any certificate, report, statement or other document referred to or provided for in, or received by the Agents under or in connection with, this Agreement or any other Loan Document or for the value, validity, effectiveness, genuineness, enforceability or sufficiency of this Agreement or any other Loan Document or for any failure of any Loan Party a party thereto to perform its obligations hereunder or thereunder. The Agents shall not be under any obligation to any Lender to ascertain or to inquire as to the observance or performance of any of the agreements contained in, or conditions of, this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or to inspect the properties, books or records of any Loan Party.

SECTION 9.04. Reliance by Administrative Agent . The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely, and shall be fully protected in relying, upon any instrument, writing, resolution, notice, consent, certificate, affidavit, letter, telecopy, telex or teletype message, statement, order or other document or conversation believed by it to be genuine and correct and to have been signed, sent or made by the proper person or persons and upon advice and statements of legal counsel (including counsel to Holdings or the Borrower), independent accountants and other experts selected by the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent may deem and treat the payee of any Note as the owner thereof for all purposes unless a written notice of assignment, negotiation or transfer thereof shall have been filed with the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent shall be fully justified in failing or refusing to take any action under this Agreement or any other Loan Document unless it shall first receive such advice or concurrence of the Required Lenders (or, if so specified by this Agreement, all or other Lenders) as it deems appropriate or it shall first be indemnified to its satisfaction by the Lenders against any and all liability and expense that may be incurred by it by reason of taking or continuing to take any such action. The Administrative Agent shall in all cases be fully protected in acting, or in refraining from acting, under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents in accordance with a request of the Required Lenders (or, if so specified by this Agreement, all or other Lenders), and such request and any action taken or failure to act pursuant thereto shall be binding upon all the Lenders and all future holders of the Loans.

SECTION 9.05. Notice of Default . The Administrative Agent shall not be deemed to have knowledge or notice of the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default unless the Administrative Agent has received notice from a Lender, Holdings or the Borrower referring to this Agreement, describing such Default or Event of Default and stating that such notice is a “notice of default.” In the event that the Administrative Agent receives such a notice, the Administrative Agent shall give notice thereof to the Lenders. The Administrative Agent shall take such action with respect to such Default or Event of Default as shall be reasonably directed by the Required Lenders (or, if so specified by this Agreement, all or other Lenders); provided , that unless and until the Administrative Agent shall have received such directions, the Administrative Agent may (but shall not be obligated to) take such action, or refrain from taking such action, with respect to such Default or Event of Default as it shall deem advisable in the best interests of the Lenders.

SECTION 9.06. Non-Reliance on Agents and Other Lenders . Each Lender expressly acknowledges that neither the Agents nor any of their respective officers, directors, employees, agents, attorneys-in-fact or affiliates have made any representations or warranties to it and that no act by any Agent hereafter taken, including any review of the affairs of a Loan

 

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Party or any affiliate of a Loan Party, shall be deemed to constitute any representation or warranty by any Agent to any Lender. Each Lender represents to the Agents that it has, independently and without reliance upon any Agent or any other Lender, and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own appraisal of and investigation into the business, operations, property, financial and other condition and creditworthiness of the Loan Parties and their affiliates and made its own decision to make its Loans hereunder and enter into this Agreement. Each Lender also represents that it will, independently and without reliance upon any Agent 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 analysis, appraisals and decisions in taking or not taking action under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and to make such investigation as it deems necessary to inform itself as to the business, operations, property, financial and other condition and creditworthiness of the Loan Parties and their affiliates. Except for notices, reports and other documents expressly required to be furnished to the Lenders by the Administrative Agent hereunder, the Administrative Agent shall not have any duty or responsibility to provide any Lender with any credit or other information concerning the business, operations, property, condition (financial or otherwise), prospects or creditworthiness of any Loan Party or any affiliate of a Loan Party that may come into the possession of the Administrative Agent or any of its officers, directors, employees, agents, attorneys-in-fact or affiliates.

SECTION 9.07. Indemnification . The Lenders agree to indemnify each Agent in its capacity as such (to the extent not reimbursed by Holdings or the Borrower and without limiting the obligation of Holdings or the Borrower to do so), in the amount of its pro rata share (based on its outstanding Loans, from and against any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements of any kind whatsoever that may at any time (whether before or after the payment of the Loans) be imposed on, incurred by or asserted against such Agent in any way relating to or arising out of the Commitments, this Agreement, any of the other Loan Documents or any documents contemplated by or referred to herein or therein or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby or any action taken or omitted by such Agent under or in connection with any of the foregoing; provided , that no Lender shall be liable for the payment of any portion of such liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements that are found by a final and nonappealable decision of a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from such Agent’s gross negligence or willful misconduct. The failure of any Lender to reimburse any Agent promptly upon demand for its ratable share of any amount required to be paid by the Lenders to such Agent as provided herein shall not relieve any other Lender of its obligation hereunder to reimburse such Agent for its ratable share of such amount, but no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to reimburse such Agent for such other Lender’s ratable share of such amount. The agreements in this Section shall survive the payment of the Loans and all other amounts payable hereunder.

SECTION 9.08. Agent in Its Individual Capacity . Each Agent and its affiliates may make loans to, accept deposits from, and generally engage in any kind of business with any Loan Party as though such Agent were not an Agent. With respect to its Loans made or renewed by it, each Agent shall have the same rights and powers under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents as any Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not an Agent, and the terms “Lender” and “Lenders” shall include each Agent in its individual capacity.

 

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SECTION 9.09. Successor Administrative Agent . The Administrative Agent may resign as Administrative Agent upon 10 days’ notice to the Lenders and the Borrower. If the Administrative Agent shall resign as Administrative Agent under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, then the Required Lenders shall appoint from among the Lenders a successor agent for the Lenders, which successor agent shall (unless an Event of Default under Section 7.01(b) , (c) , (h)  or (i)  shall have occurred and be continuing) be subject to approval by the Borrower (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), whereupon such successor agent shall succeed to the rights, powers and duties of the Administrative Agent, and the term “Administrative Agent” shall mean such successor agent effective upon such appointment and approval, and the former Administrative Agent’s rights, powers and duties as Administrative Agent shall be terminated, without any other or further act or deed on the part of such former Administrative Agent or any of the parties to this Agreement or any holders of the Loans. If no successor agent has accepted appointment as Administrative Agent by the date that is 10 days following a retiring Administrative Agent’s notice of resignation, the retiring Administrative Agent’s resignation shall nevertheless thereupon become effective, and the Lenders shall assume and perform all of the duties of the Administrative Agent hereunder until such time, if any, as the Required Lenders appoint a successor agent as provided for above. After any retiring Administrative Agent’s resignation as Administrative Agent, the provisions of this Section 9.09 shall inure to its benefit as to any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was Administrative Agent under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

SECTION 9.10. Agents and Arrangers . None of the Agents or the Joint Lead Arrangers shall have any duties or responsibilities hereunder in its capacity as such.

ARTICLE X

Miscellaneous

SECTION 10.01. Notices . xxvi) 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 telecopy, as follows:

(i) if to any Loan Party, to it at 100 Connecticut Avenue, Norwalk Connecticut 06580, Attention: Chief Executive Officer, with a copy to Apollo Investment Fund V, L.P., 9 West 57th Street, New York, New York 10019, Attention: Stan Parker; and

(ii) if to the Administrative Agent, to Credit Suisse, 11 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10020, Attention: Mark Waldron (telecopy 212-325-8304) (e-mail: mark.waldron.2@csfb.com).

(b) Notices and other communications to the Lenders hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent; provided , that the foregoing shall not apply to notices pursuant to Article II unless otherwise agreed by the Administrative Agent and the applicable Lender. Each of the Administrative Agent and the Borrower may, in its discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved

 

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by it; provided , further that approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications.

(c) All notices and other communications given to any party hereto in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed to have been given on the date of receipt if delivered by hand or overnight courier service, sent by telecopy or (to the extent permitted by paragraph (b)  above) electronic means or on the date five Business Days after dispatch by certified or registered mail if mailed, in each case delivered, sent or mailed (properly addressed) to such party as provided in this Section 10.01 or in accordance with the latest unrevoked direction from such party given in accordance with this Section 10.01 .

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

SECTION 10.02. Survival of Agreement . All covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made by the Borrower and the other Loan Parties herein, in the other Loan Documents and in the certificates or other instruments prepared or delivered in connection with or pursuant to this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall be considered to have been relied upon by the Lenders and shall survive the making by the Lenders of the Loans, the execution and delivery of the Loan Documents, regardless of any investigation made by such persons or on their behalf, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as the principal of or any accrued interest on any Loan or any Fee or any other amount payable under this Agreement or any other Loan Document is outstanding and unpaid and so long as the Commitments have not been terminated. Without prejudice to the survival of any other agreements contained herein, indemnification and reimbursement obligations contained herein (including pursuant to Sections 2.15 , 2.17 and 10.05 ) shall survive the payment in full of the principal and interest hereunder and the termination of the Commitments or this Agreement.

SECTION 10.03. Binding Effect . This Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by Holdings, the Borrower and the Administrative Agent and when the Administrative Agent shall have received copies hereof that, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto, and thereafter shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of Holdings, the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and each Lender and their respective permitted successors and assigns.

SECTION 10.04. Successors and Assigns . (a) The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, except that (i) the Borrower may not assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder (other than pursuant to a merger permitted by Section 6.05(b) or (i)  without the prior written consent of each Lender (and any attempted assignment or transfer by the Borrower without such consent shall be null and void) and (ii) no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer its rights or obligations hereunder except in accordance with this Section or Article X . 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 (c)  of this Section), and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of the Agents and the

 

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Lenders) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents.

(b) (i) Subject to clauses (b)(ii) and (iii)  and clause (g)  below, each Lender shall have the absolute and unconditional right to resell or assign the Loans held by it in compliance with applicable law to any third party (each, an “ Assignee ”) at any time; provided , however, that prior to any assignment of Bridge Loans which occurs prior to the Conversion Date, each Lender will consult with the Borrower with respect to such assignment. The Assignee, if it shall not be a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire. Notwithstanding the foregoing, assignments shall not be permitted to Ineligible Institutions.

(ii) During the first 60 days following the Closing Date, each assignment by an Initial Lender that results in the Initial Lenders, collectively, holding less than 51% of the aggregate principal amount of the Bridge Loans outstanding shall require the prior written consent of the Borrower (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed).

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

(A) except in the case of an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund or an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s Loans, the amount of the Loans of the assigning Lender subject to each such assignment (determined as of the trade date specified in the Assignment and Acceptance with respect to such assignment or, if no trade date is so specified, as of the date such Assignment and Acceptance is delivered to the Administrative Agent) shall not be less than $1,000,000 in respect of Bridge Loans, unless each of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent otherwise consent; provided that simultaneous assignments to or by two or more Related Funds shall be treated as one assignment for purposes of the minimum assignment requirement, and shall be in an amount that is an integral multiple of $1,000,000 (or the entire remaining amount of such Lender’s Loans); and

(B) the parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Acceptance, together with a processing and recordation fee of $3,500 (which may be waived or reduced at the Administrative Agent’s sole discretion); provided , that (i) assignments pursuant to Section 2.19 shall not require the signature of the assigning Lender to become effective and (ii) any such processing and recordation fee in connection with assignments pursuant to Section 2.19 shall be paid by the Borrower or the assignee.

For the purposes of this Section 10.04 , “ Approved Fund ” means any person (other than a natural person) that is engaged in making, purchasing, holding or investing in bank loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its business and that is administered or managed by (a) a Lender, (b) an Affiliate of a Lender or (c) an entity or an Affiliate of an entity that administers or manages a Lender.

(iv) Subject to acceptance and recording thereof pursuant to paragraph (b)(v) below, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Acceptance the

 

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Assignee thereunder shall be a party hereto and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Acceptance, 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 Acceptance, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Acceptance 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 2.15 , 2.16 , 2.17 and 10.05 ). Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this Section 10.04 shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with paragraph (c)  of this Section.

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

(vi) Upon its receipt of a duly completed Assignment and Acceptance executed by an assigning Lender and an Assignee, the Assignee’s completed Administrative Questionnaire (unless the Assignee shall already be a Lender hereunder), the processing and recordation fee referred to in paragraph (b)  of this Section and any written consent to such assignment required by paragraph (b)  of this Section, the Administrative Agent shall accept such Assignment and Acceptance and record the information contained therein in the Register. No assignment shall be effective for purposes of this Agreement unless it has been recorded in the Register as provided in this paragraph.

(c) (i) Subject to clause (g)  below, each Lender shall have the absolute and unconditional right to sell participations to any third party (a “ Participant ”) in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of the Loans owing to it); provided , that the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the other Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement. Any agreement pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents; provided , that (x) such agreement may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant agree to any amendment, modification or waiver that (1) requires the consent of each Lender directly affected thereby pursuant to Section 10.04(a)(i) or clause (i) , (ii) , (iii) , (iv) , (v)  or (vi)  of the first proviso to Section 10.08(b) and (2) directly affects such Participant and (y) no other agreement with respect to such Participant may exist between such Lender and such Participant. Subject to paragraph (e)(ii) of this Section, the Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.15 , 2.16 and 2.17 to the same extent as if it were a Lender

 

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and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to paragraph (b)  of this Section. To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 10.06 as though it were a Lender; provided , that such Participant shall be subject to Section 2.18(b) as though it were a Lender.

(d) Any Lender may, without the consent of the Administrative Agent or the Borrower, 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 and in the case of any Lender that is a Fund, any pledge or assignment to any holders of obligations owed, or securities issued, by such Lender, including to any trustee for, or any other representative of, such holders, and this Section shall not apply to any such pledge or assignment of a security interest; provided , that no such pledge or assignment of a security interest shall release a Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or Assignee for such Lender as a party hereto.

(e) The Borrower, at its expense and upon receipt of written notice from the relevant Lender, agrees to issue Notes to any Lender requiring Notes to facilitate transactions of the type described in paragraph (d)  above.

(f) Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Conduit Lender may assign any or all of the Loans it may have funded hereunder to its designating Lender without the consent of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent and without regard to the limitations set forth in Section 10.04(b) . Each of Holdings, the Borrower, each Lender and the Administrative Agent hereby confirms that it will not institute against a Conduit Lender or join any other person in instituting against a Conduit Lender any bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, insolvency or liquidation proceeding under any state bankruptcy or similar law, for one year and one day after the payment in full of the latest maturing commercial paper note issued by such Conduit Lender; provided , however , that each Lender designating any Conduit Lender hereby agrees to indemnify, save and hold harmless each other party hereto and each Loan Party for any loss, cost, damage or expense arising out of its inability to institute such a proceeding against such Conduit Lender during such period of forbearance.

(g) Notwithstanding the foregoing, no assignment may be made or participation sold to an Ineligible Institution without the prior written consent of the Borrower. Upon the request of any Lender, the Administrative Agent shall inform such Lender as to whether an actual proposed Participant or Assignee is an Ineligible Institution.

SECTION 10.05. Expenses; Indemnity . (a) The Borrower agrees to pay all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses (including Other Taxes) incurred by the Administrative Agent in connection with the preparation of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, or by the Administrative Agent in connection with the syndication of the Commitments or the administration of this Agreement (including expenses incurred in connection with due diligence, reasonable fees, disbursements and the charges for no more than one counsel in each jurisdiction where a Loan Party is organized) or in connection with the administration of this Agreement and any amendments, modifications or waivers of the provisions hereof or thereof or incurred by the Administrative Agent or any Lender in connection with the enforcement or protection of their rights in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, in connection with the

 

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Loans made hereunder, including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of Shearman & Sterling LLP, counsel for the Administrative Agent and the Joint Lead Arrangers, and, in connection with any such enforcement or protection, the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of any other counsel.

(b) The Borrower agrees to indemnify the Administrative Agent, the Joint Lead Arrangers, each Lender, their respective Affiliates and each of their respective directors, trustees, officers, employees and agents (each such person being called an “ Indemnitee ”) against, and to hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and related expenses, including reasonable counsel fees, charges and disbursements (except the allocated costs of in-house counsel), incurred by or asserted against any Indemnitee arising out of, in any way connected with, or as a result of (i) the execution or delivery of this Agreement or any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby, the performance by the parties hereto and thereto of their respective obligations thereunder or the consummation of the Transactions and the other transactions contemplated hereby, (ii) the use of the proceeds of the Loans or (iii) any claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether or not any Indemnitee is a party thereto, and regardless of whether any of the foregoing is raised or initiated by a third party or Holdings, the Borrower or any other Loan Party or any Subsidiary; provided , that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted primarily from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee (for purposes of this Section 10.05(b) only, each of the Administrative Agent, any Joint Lead Arranger or any Lender shall, together with its respective Related Parties, be treated as a single Indemnitee). Subject to and without limiting the generality of the foregoing sentence, the Borrower agrees to indemnify each Indemnitee against, and hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and related costs and expenses, including reasonable counsel or consultant fees, charges and disbursements (except the allocated costs of in-house counsel), incurred by or asserted against any Indemnitee arising out of, in any way connected with or as a result of (a) any claim or liability related in any way to Environmental Laws and Holdings, the Borrower or any of their Subsidiaries, or (b) any actual or alleged presence, Release or threatened Release of Hazardous Materials at, under, on or from any property currently or formerly owned, leased or operated by any predecessor of Holdings, the Borrower or any of their Subsidiaries; provided , that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee or any of its Related Parties. The provisions of this Section 10.05 shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of the expiration of the term of this Agreement, the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, the repayment of any of the Obligations, the invalidity or unenforceability of any term or provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or any investigation made by or on behalf of the Administrative Agent or any Lender. All amounts due under this Section 10.05 shall be payable on written demand therefor accompanied by reasonable documentation with respect to any reimbursement, indemnification or other amount requested.

 

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(c) Except as expressly provided in Section 10.05(a) with respect to Other Taxes, which shall not be duplicative with any amounts paid pursuant to Section 2.17 , this Section 10.05 shall not apply to Taxes.

SECTION 10.06. Right of Set-off . Subject to Article VIII , if an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, each Lender is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final) at any time held and other indebtedness at any time owing by such Lender to or for the credit or the account of Holdings, the Borrower or any other Subsidiary against any of and all the obligations of Holdings or the Borrower now or hereafter existing under this Agreement or any other Loan Document held by such Lender, irrespective of whether or not such Lender shall have made any demand under this Agreement or such other Loan Document and although the obligations may be unmatured. The rights of each Lender under this Section 10.06 are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of set-off) that such Lender may have.

SECTION 10.07. Applicable Law . THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS (OTHER THAN AS EXPRESSLY SET FORTH IN OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS) SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH AND GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

SECTION 10.08. Waivers; Amendment . (a) No failure or delay of the Administrative Agent or any Lender in exercising any right or power hereunder or under any Loan Document shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right or power, or any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce such a right or power, preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or power. The rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders hereunder and under the other Loan Documents are cumulative and are not exclusive of any rights or remedies that they would otherwise have. No waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document or consent to any departure by Holdings, the Borrower or any other Loan Party therefrom shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be permitted by paragraph (b)  below, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for which given. No notice or demand on Holdings, the Borrower or any other Loan Party in any case shall entitle such person to any other or further notice or demand in similar or other circumstances.

(b) Neither this Agreement nor any other Loan Document nor any provision hereof or thereof may be waived, amended or modified, except as provided in Section 2.10(c) , and except (x) in the case of this Agreement, pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by Holdings, the Borrower and the Required Lenders and (y) in the case of any other Loan Document, pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by each party thereto and the Administrative Agent and consented to by the Required Lenders; provided , however , that no such agreement shall

(i) decrease or forgive the principal amount of, or extend the final maturity of, or decrease the rate of interest on, any Loan without the prior written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby,

 

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(ii) increase or extend the Commitment of any Lender or decrease the fees of any Lender without the prior written consent of such Lender,

(iii) extend any date on which payment of interest on any Loan or any Fees is due, without the prior written consent of each Lender adversely affected thereby,

(iv) amend or modify the provisions of Section 2.18(a) or (b)  in a manner that would by its terms alter the pro rata sharing of payments required thereby, without the prior written consent of each Lender adversely affected thereby,

(v) amend or modify the provisions of this Section or the definition of the term “ Required Lenders ” or any other provision hereof specifying the number or percentage of Lenders required to waive, amend or modify any rights hereunder or make any determination or grant any consent hereunder, without the prior written consent of each Lender adversely affected thereby (it being understood that, with the consent of the Required Lenders, additional extensions of credit pursuant to this Agreement may be included in the determination of the Required Lenders on substantially the same basis as the Loans and Commitments are included on the Closing Date),

(vi) release any of Holdings, the Borrower or any other Subsidiary Loan Party from its Guarantee under the Guarantee Agreement unless, in the case a Subsidiary Loan Party, all or substantially all of the Equity Interests of such Subsidiary Loan Party are sold or otherwise disposed of in a transaction permitted by this Agreement, without the prior written consent of each Lender (it being understood that Holdings’ not being a guarantor with respect to any Senior Subordinated Exchange Notes shall not constitute a release of its Guarantee under the Guarantee Agreement),

provided further that no such agreement shall amend, modify or otherwise affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent hereunder without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent acting as such at the effective date of such agreement, as applicable. Each Lender shall be bound by any waiver, amendment or modification authorized by this Section 10.08 and any consent by any Lender pursuant to this Section 10.08 shall bind any Assignee of such Lender.

SECTION 10.09. Interest Rate Limitation . Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if at any time the applicable interest rate, together with all fees and charges that are treated as interest under applicable law (collectively, the “ Charges ”), as provided for herein or in any other document executed in connection herewith, or otherwise contracted for, charged, received, taken or reserved by any Lender, shall exceed the maximum lawful rate (the “ Maximum Rate ”) that may be contracted for, charged, taken, received or reserved by such Lender in accordance with applicable law, the rate of interest payable hereunder, together with all Charges payable to such Lender, shall be limited to the Maximum Rate; provided , that such excess amount shall be paid to such Lender on subsequent payment dates to the extent not exceeding the legal limitation.

SECTION 10.10. [RESERVED].

 

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SECTION 10.11. Entire Agreement . This Agreement, the other Loan Documents and the agreements regarding certain Fees referred to herein constitute the entire contract between the parties relative to the subject matter hereof. Any previous agreement among or representations from the parties or their Affiliates with respect to the subject matter hereof is superseded by this Agreement and the other Loan Documents. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Fee Letter dated as of July 26, 2005, shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and remain in full force and effect.

SECTION 10.12. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL . EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF, UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS. EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS, AS APPLICABLE, BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 10.12.

SECTION 10.13. Severability . In the event any one or more of the provisions contained in this Agreement or in any other Loan Document should be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained herein and therein shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby. The parties shall endeavor in good-faith negotiations to replace the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions.

SECTION 10.14. Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original but all of which, when taken together, shall constitute but one contract, and shall become effective as provided in Section 10.03 . Delivery of an executed counterpart to this Agreement by facsimile (or other electronic) transmission pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent shall be as effective as delivery of a manually signed original.

SECTION 10.15. Headings . Article and Section headings and the Table of Contents used herein are for convenience of reference only, are not part of this Agreement and are not to affect the construction of, or to be taken into consideration in interpreting, this Agreement.

SECTION 10.16. Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process . (a) Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits, for itself and its property, to the exclusive jurisdiction of any New York State court or federal court of the United States of America sitting in New York City, and any appellate court from any thereof, in any action or

 

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proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the other Loan Documents, or for recognition or enforcement of any judgment, and each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that all claims in respect of any such action or proceeding may be heard and determined in such New York State or, to the extent permitted by law, in such federal court. Each of the parties hereto agrees that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law. Nothing in this Agreement shall affect any right that any Lender may otherwise have to bring any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or the other Loan Documents against Holdings, the Borrower or any other Loan Party or their properties in the courts of any jurisdiction.

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

SECTION 10.17. Confidentiality . Each of the Lenders and each of the Agents agrees that it shall maintain in confidence any information relating to Holdings, the Borrower and the other Loan Parties furnished to it by or on behalf of Holdings, the Borrower or the other Loan Parties (other than information that (a) has become generally available to the public other than as a result of a disclosure by such party, (b) has been independently developed by such Lender or such Agent without violating this Section 10.17 or (c) was available to such Lender or such Agent from a third party having, to such person’s knowledge, no obligations of confidentiality to Holdings, the Borrower or any other Loan Party) and shall not reveal the same other than to its directors, trustees, officers, employees and advisors with a need to know or to any person that approves or administers the Loans on behalf of such Lender (so long as each such person shall have been instructed to keep the same confidential in accordance with this Section 10.17 ), except: (a) to the extent necessary to comply with law or any legal process or the requirements of any Governmental Authority, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners or of any securities exchange on which securities of the disclosing party or any Affiliate of the disclosing party are listed or traded, (b) as part of normal reporting or review procedures to Governmental Authorities or the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, (c) to its parent companies, Affiliates or auditors (so long as each such person shall have been instructed to keep the same confidential in accordance with this Section 10.17 ), (d) in order to enforce its rights under any Loan Document in a legal proceeding, (e) to any prospective assignee of, or prospective Participant in, any of its rights under this Agreement (so long as such person shall have been instructed to keep the same confidential in accordance with this Section 10.17 ) and (f) to any direct or indirect contractual counterparty in Swap Agreements or such contractual counterparty’s professional advisor (so long as such contractual counterparty or professional advisor to such contractual counterparty agrees to be bound by the provisions of this Section).

SECTION 10.18. Direct Website Communications . (a) Delivery . (i) Each Loan Party hereby agrees that it will provide to the Administrative Agent all information, documents and other materials that it is obligated to furnish to the Administrative Agent pursuant to this

 

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Agreement and any other Loan Document, including all notices, requests, financial statements, financial and other reports, certificates and other information materials, but excluding any such communication that (a) relates to a request for a new, or a conversion of an existing, borrowing or other extension of credit, (b) relates to the payment of any principal or other amount due under this Agreement prior to the scheduled date therefor, (c) provides notice of any Default or Event of Default under this Agreement or (d) is required to be delivered to satisfy any condition precedent to the effectiveness of this Agreement and/or any borrowing or other extension of credit hereunder (all such non-excluded communications collectively, the “ Communications ”), by transmitting the Communications in an electronic/soft medium in a format acceptable to the Administrative Agent. In addition, each Loan Party agrees to continue to provide the Communications to the Administrative Agent in the manner specified in this Agreement or any other Loan Document but only to the extent requested by the Administrative Agent. Nothing in this Section 10.18 shall prejudice the right of the Agents, the Joint Lead Arrangers or any Lender or any Loan Party to give any notice or other communication pursuant to this Agreement or any other Loan Document in any other manner specified in this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

(ii) The Administrative Agent agrees that receipt of the Communications by the Administrative Agent at its e-mail address set forth in Section 10.01 shall constitute effective delivery of the Communications to the Administrative Agent for purposes of the Loan Documents. Each Lender agrees that notice to it (as provided in the next sentence) specifying that the Communications have been posted to the Platform (as defined below) shall constitute effective delivery of the Communications to such Lender for purposes of the Loan Documents. Each Lender agrees (a) to notify the Administrative Agent in writing (including by electronic communication) from time to time of such Lender’s e-mail address to which the foregoing notice may be sent by electronic transmission and (b) that the foregoing notice may be sent to such e-mail address.

(b) Posting . Each Loan Party further agrees that the Administrative Agent may make the Communications available to the Lenders by posting the Communications on Intralinks or a substantially similar electronic transmission system (the “ Platform ”).

(c) Platform . The Platform is provided “as is” and “as available.” The Agent Parties (as defined below) do not warrant the accuracy or completeness of the Communications or 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 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 Administrative Agent or any of its affiliates or any of their respective officers, directors, employees, agents advisors or representatives (collectively, “ Agent Parties ”) have any liability to the Loan Parties, any Lender or any other person or entity for damages of any kind, including direct or indirect, special, incidental or consequential damages, losses or expenses (whether in tort, contract or otherwise), arising out of any Loan Party’s or the Administrative Agent’s transmission of communications through the internet, except to the extent the liability of any Agent Party is found in a final non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted primarily from such Agent Party’s gross negligence or willful misconduct.

 

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SECTION 10.19. Release of Guarantees . In the event of a disposition of the Equity Interests of any Subsidiary Loan Party in a transaction not prohibited by this Agreement and as a result of which such Subsidiary Loan Party would cease to be a Subsidiary Loan Party, then the Administrative Agent shall promptly (and the Lenders hereby authorize the Administrative Agent to) take such action and execute any such documents as may be reasonably requested by Holdings or the Borrower and at the Borrower’s expense to terminate such Subsidiary Loan Party’s obligations or Holdings’s obligations, as applicable, under the Guarantee Agreement. Any representation, warranty or covenant contained in any Loan Document relating to any such Equity Interests, asset or subsidiary of the Borrower shall no longer be deemed to be made once such Equity Interests or asset or subsidiary is so conveyed, sold, leased, assigned, transferred or disposed of.

SECTION 10.20. Power of Attorney . Each Lender hereby (i) authorizes the Administrative Agent as its agent and attorney-in-fact to execute and deliver, on behalf of and in the name of such Lender (or Affiliate), all and any Loan Documents and related documentation, (ii) authorizes the Administrative Agent to appoint any further agents or attorneys-in-fact to execute and deliver, or otherwise to act, on behalf of and in the name of the Administrative Agent for any such purpose and (iii) authorizes the Administrative Agent to delegate its powers under this power of attorney and to do any and all acts and to make and receive all declarations that are deemed necessary or appropriate to the Administrative Agent.

SECTION 10.21. U.S.A. Patriot Act . Each Lender hereby notifies the Borrower that pursuant to the requirements of the U.S.A. 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 to identify the Borrower in accordance with the U.S.A. Patriot Act.

[ SIGNATURE PAGES FOLLOW ]

 

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

 

AFFINION GROUP, INC.
By:   /s/ Nathaniel J. Lipman
  Name: Nathaniel J. Lipman
  Title: Chief Executive Officer
AFFINION GROUP HOLDINGS, INC.
By:   /s/ Nathaniel J. Lipman
  Name: Nathaniel J. Lipman
 

Title: Chief Executive Officer


CREDIT SUISSE, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH

as Administrative Agent and as a Lender,

By:   /s/ Alexis F. Maged
  Name: Alexis F. Maged
 

Title: Managing Director

By:   /s/ Sovonna Day-Goins
  Name: Sovonna Day-Goins
 

Title: Director

DEUTSCHE BANK AG CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, as a Lender.
By:   /s/ Scottye Lindsey
  Name: Scottye Lindsey
 

Title: Director

By:   /s/ Diane F. Rolfe
  Name: Diane F. Rolfe
 

Title: Vice President


DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC.

as Syndication Agent

By:  

/s/ Michael C. Henry

 

Name: Michael C. Henry

  Title: Managing Director
By:  

/s/ Eric Brook

 

Name: Eric Brook

 

Title: Managing Director

BANC OF AMERICA BRIDGE LLC,
as Documentation Agent and as a Lender,
By:  

/s/ Mark G. Uggilt

 

Name: Mark G. Uggilt

 

Title: Vice President


BNP PARIBAS SECURITIES CORP.,
as Documentation Agent and as a Lender,
By:  

/s/ David A. Barcos

  Name: David A. Barcos
  Title: Managing Director
By:  

/s/ Cecile Scherer

 

Name: Cecile Scherer

 

Title: Director – Merchant Banking Group


ANNEX to the BRIDGE LOAN AGREEMENT


ANNEX A

SUBORDINATION PROVISIONS

SECTION 1.01. Agreement to Subordinate . This is the Annex A referred to in Article VIII of the Senior Subordinated Bridge Loan Agreement (the “ Bridge Loan Agreement ”) and is incorporated by reference into the Bridge Loan Agreement and, in particular, Article VIII thereof, and shall form a part thereof as if fully set forth therein. The Borrower and each other Loan Party agree, and each Lender agrees, that the Indebtedness evidenced by the Loans is subordinated in right of payment, to the extent and in the manner provided in this Annex A , to the prior payment in full in cash of all Senior Debt of the Borrower, including the Indebtedness of the Borrower under the Credit Agreement, the Indebtedness represented by the Senior Notes and Senior Debt of the Borrower incurred after the Closing Date.

SECTION 1.02. Certain Definitions .

Designated Senior Debt ” shall mean:

(a) any Indebtedness outstanding under the Credit Agreement; and

(b) to the extent permitted under the Credit Agreement, any other Senior Debt permitted under the Bridge Loan Agreement, the aggregate principal amount of which is $50,000,000 or more and that has been designated by the Borrower as “ Designated Senior Debt.

Obligations ” shall mean, as used in this Annex A , any principal, interest, penalties, fees, indemnifications, reimbursements (including, without limitation, reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit and bankers’ acceptances), damages and other liabilities payable under the documentation governing any Indebtedness; provided that Obligations with respect to the Loans shall not include fees or indemnifications in favor of the Administrative Agent and other third parties other than the Lenders.

Permitted Junior Securities ” shall mean:

(a) Equity Interests in Holdings or any other business entity provided for by a plan of reorganization; and

(b) debt securities of the Borrower or any Guarantor or any other business entity provided for by a plan of reorganization that are subordinated to all Senior Debt and any debt securities issued in exchange for Senior Debt to the same extent as, or to a greater extent than, the Loans and the Guarantee Agreement are subordinated to Senior Debt under the Bridge Loan Agreement.

Representative shall mean the indenture trustee or other trustee, agent or representative for any Senior Debt.


Senior Debt ” of any person shall mean:

(a) all Indebtedness of such person outstanding under the Credit Agreement and the Senior Notes and all Swap Agreements with respect thereto, whether outstanding on the Closing Date or incurred thereafter;

(b) any other Indebtedness of such person permitted to be incurred under the terms of the Bridge Loan Agreement, unless the instrument under which such Indebtedness is incurred expressly provides that it is on a parity with or subordinated in right of payment to the Loans or any Guarantee; and

(c) all Obligations with respect to the items listed in the preceding clauses (a)  and (b)  (including any interest accruing subsequent to the filing of a petition of bankruptcy at the rate provided for in the documentation with respect thereto, whether or not such interest is an allowed claim under applicable law).

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the foregoing provisions of this definition, Senior Debt will not include:

(i) any liability for federal, state, local or other taxes owed or owing by the Borrower or any Guarantor;

(ii) any Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Guarantor to any of their Subsidiaries;

(iii) any trade payables;

(iv) the portion of any Indebtedness that is incurred in violation of the Bridge Loan Agreement;

(v) any Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Guarantor that, when incurred, was without recourse to the Borrower or such Guarantor;

(vi) any repurchase, redemption or other obligation in respect of Disqualified Stock or Seller Preferred Stock; or

(vii) any Indebtedness owed to any employee of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries.

SECTION 1.03. Liquidation; Dissolution; Bankruptcy . The holders of Senior Debt of the Borrower shall be entitled to receive payment in full in cash or cash of all Obligations due in respect of Senior Debt of the Borrower (including interest after the commencement of any bankruptcy proceeding at the rate specified in the documentation for the applicable Senior Debt of the Borrower) before the Lenders shall be entitled to receive any payment with respect to the Loans (except that Lenders may receive and retain Permitted Junior Securities), in the event of any distribution to creditors of the Borrower in (a) any liquidation or dissolution of the Borrower; (b) any bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, receivership or similar proceeding relating to the Borrower or its property; (c) any assignment by the Borrower for the benefit of its creditors; or (d) any marshaling of the Borrower’s assets and liabilities.


SECTION 1.04. Default on Designated Senior Debt . (a) The Borrower shall not make any payment in respect of the Loans (except in Permitted Junior Securities and, to the extent otherwise permitted by Section 2.13(a)(iii) of the Bridge Loan Agreement, in the form of additional Loans) if:

(i) a default (a “ payment default ”) in the payment of principal, premium or interest on Designated Senior Debt of the Borrower occurs and is continuing; or

(ii) any other default (a “ nonpayment default ”) occurs and is continuing on any series of Designated Senior Debt of the Borrower that permits holders of that series of Designated Senior Debt of the Borrower to accelerate its maturity and the Administrative Agent receives (with a copy to the Borrower) a written notice of such default (a “ Payment Blockage Notice ”) from a Representative of the holders of such Designated Senior Debt;

provided , that for the avoidance of doubt, a cashless conversion of Bridge Loans into Term Loans and a cashless Exchange shall not constitute a payment for purposes hereof.

(b) Payments on the Loans may and shall be resumed:

(i) in the case of a payment default on Designated Senior Debt of the Borrower, upon the date on which such default is cured or waived; and

(ii) in the case of a nonpayment default on Designated Senior Debt of the Borrower, the earlier of (x) the date on which such default is cured or waived, (y) 179 days after the date on which the applicable Payment Blockage Notice is received and (z) the date the Administrative Agent receives notice from the Representative for such Designated Senior Debt rescinding the Payment Blockage Notice, unless, in each case, the maturity of such Designated Senior Debt of the Borrower has been accelerated.

(c) No new Payment Blockage Notice may be delivered unless and until:

(i) 360 days have elapsed since the delivery of the immediately prior Payment Blockage Notice; and

(ii) all scheduled payments of principal, interest and premium and additional interest, if any, on the Loans that have come due have been paid in full in cash equivalents.

(d) No nonpayment default that existed or was continuing on the date of delivery of any Payment Blockage Notice to the Administrative Agent will be, or be made, the basis for a subsequent Payment Blockage Notice unless such default has been cured or waived for a period of not less than 90 days.

(e) If the Administrative Agent or any Lender receives a payment in respect of the Loans (except in Permitted Junior Securities) when (i) the payment is prohibited by this Annex A and (ii) the Administrative Agent or the Lender has actual knowledge that the payment is prohibited; provided , that such actual knowledge shall not be required in the case of any


payment default on Designated Senior Debt, the Administrative Agent or the Lender, as the case may be, shall hold the payment in trust for the benefit of the holders of Senior Debt of the Borrower. Upon the proper written request of the holders of Senior Debt of the Borrower or if there is any payment default on any Designated Senior Debt, the Administrative Agent or the Lender, as the case may be, shall deliver the amounts in trust to the holders of Senior Debt of the Borrower or its proper representative.

SECTION 1.05. Subordination of Guarantee . Payments under the Guarantee Agreement shall be subordinated to the prior payment in full of all Senior Debt of such Guarantor, including Senior Debt incurred after the date of the Bridge Loan Agreement, on the same basis as the payments by the Borrower on the Loans are subordinated to the prior payment in full of Senior Debt of the Borrower. For the purposes of the foregoing sentence, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall have the right to receive and/or retain payments by any of the Guarantors only at such times as they may receive and/or retain payments in respect of the Loans pursuant to the Bridge Loan Agreement.

SECTION 1.06. Acceleration of Loans . If payment of the Loans is accelerated because of an Event of Default, the Borrower and the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the holders of Senior Debt of the Borrower of the acceleration.

SECTION 1.07. When Distribution Must Be Paid Over . In the event that the Administrative Agent or any Lender receives any payment of any Obligations with respect to the Loans (except in Permitted Junior Securities) at a time when the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as applicable, has actual knowledge that such payment is prohibited by this Annex A , such payment shall be held by the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as applicable, in trust for the benefit of, and shall be paid forthwith over and delivered, upon written request, to the holders of Senior Debt of the Borrower as their interests may appear or their Representative under the Bridge Loan Agreement or other agreement (if any) pursuant to which such Senior Debt may have been issued, as their respective interests may appear, for application to the payment of all Obligations with respect to such Senior Debt remaining unpaid to the extent necessary to pay such Obligations in full in accordance with their terms, after giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution to or for the holders of such Senior Debt.

With respect to the holders of Senior Debt of the Borrower, the Administrative Agent undertakes to perform only such obligations on the part of the Administrative Agent as are specifically set forth in this Annex A , and no implied covenants or obligations with respect to the holders of such Senior Debt shall be read into the Bridge Loan Agreement against the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent shall not be deemed to owe any fiduciary duty to the holders of Senior Debt of the Borrower, and shall not be liable to any such holders if the Administrative Agent shall pay over or distribute to or on behalf of Lenders or the Borrower or any other person money or assets to which any holders of such Senior Debt shall be entitled by virtue of this Annex A , except if such payment is made as a result of the willful misconduct or gross negligence of the Administrative Agent.

SECTION 1.08. Notice by the Borrower . The Borrower shall promptly notify the Administrative Agent in writing of any facts known to the Borrower that would cause a payment of any Obligations with respect to the Loans to violate this Annex A , but failure to give such notice shall not affect the subordination of the Loans to the Senior Debt of the Borrower as provided in this Annex A .


SECTION 1.09. Subrogation . After all Senior Debt of the Borrower is paid in full and until the Loans are paid in full, Lenders shall be subrogated (equally and ratably with all other Indebtedness pari passu with the Loans) to the rights of holders of such Senior Debt to receive distributions applicable to such Senior Debt to the extent that distributions otherwise payable to the Lenders have been applied to the payment of such Senior Debt. A distribution made under this Annex A to holders of Senior Debt of the Borrower that otherwise would have been made to Lenders is not, as between the Borrower and Lenders, a payment by the Borrower on the Loans.

SECTION 1.10. Relative Rights . This Annex A defines the relative rights of Lenders and holders of Senior Debt of the Borrower. Nothing in the Bridge Loan Agreement shall:

(a) impair, as between the Borrower and Lenders, the obligation of the Borrower, which is absolute and unconditional, to make payments on the Loans in accordance with the terms under the Loans and the Bridge Loan Agreement;

(b) affect the relative rights of Lenders and creditors of the Borrower other than their rights in relation to holders of Senior Debt of the Borrower; or

(c) prevent the Administrative Agent or any Lender from exercising its available remedies upon a Default or Event of Default, subject to the rights of holders and owners of Senior Debt of the Borrower to receive distributions and payments otherwise payable to Lenders.

If the Borrower fails because of this Annex A to make a payment on the Loans in accordance with the terms under the Loans and the Bridge Loan Agreement, the failure is still a Default or Event of Default.

SECTION 1.11. Subordination May Not Be Impaired by the Borrower . No right of any holder of Senior Debt of the Borrower to enforce the subordination of the Indebtedness evidenced by the Loans shall be impaired by any act or failure to act by the Borrower or any Lender or by the failure of the Borrower or any Lender to comply with the Bridge Loan Agreement.

SECTION 1.12. Distribution or Notice to Representative . Whenever a distribution is to be made or a notice is to be given to holders of Senior Debt of the Borrower, the distribution may be made and the notice may be given to their Representative (if any).

Upon any payment or distribution of assets of the Borrower referred to in this Annex A , the Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall be entitled to rely upon any order or decree made by any court of competent jurisdiction or upon any certificate of such Representative or of the liquidating trustee or agent or other person making any distribution to the Administrative Agent or to the Lenders for the purpose of ascertaining the persons entitled to participate in such distribution, the holders of the Senior Debt of the Borrower and other Indebtedness of the Borrower, the amount thereof or payable thereon, the amount or amounts paid or distributed thereon and all other facts pertinent thereto or to this Annex A .


SECTION 1.13. Rights of Administrative Agent . Notwithstanding this Annex A or any other provision of the Bridge Loan Agreement, the Administrative Agent shall not be charged with knowledge of the existence of any facts that would prohibit the making of any payment or distribution by the Administrative Agent, and the Administrative Agent may continue to make payments on the Loans, unless the Administrative Agent shall have received at its principal office at least five Business Days prior to the date of such payment written notice of facts that would cause the payment of any Obligations with respect to the Loans to violate this Annex A . Only the Borrower or a Representative may give the notice. Nothing in this Annex A shall impair the claims of, or payments to, the Administrative Agent under or pursuant to Section 9.07 of the Bridge Loan Agreement.

The Administrative Agent in its individual or any other capacity may hold Senior Debt of the Borrower with the same rights it would have if it were not Administrative Agent. Any of the other Agents may do the same with like rights.

SECTION 1.14. Authorization to Effect Subordination . Each Lender authorizes and directs the Administrative Agent on such Lender’s behalf to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate the subordination as provided in this Annex A , and appoints the Administrative Agent to act as such Lender’s attorney-in-fact for any and all such purposes. If the Administrative Agent does not file a proper proof of claim or proof of debt in the form required in any proceeding referred to in Section 7.01(h) or (i)  of the Bridge Loan Agreement at least 30 days before the expiration of the time to file such claim, the lenders under the Credit Agreement are hereby authorized to file an appropriate claim for and on behalf of the Lenders.


EXHIBITS to the BRIDE LOAN AGREEMENT


EXHIBIT A

[FORM OF]

ASSIGNMENT AND ACCEPTANCE

1. This Assignment and Acceptance (the “ Assignment and Acceptance ”) is dated as of the Effective Date set forth below and is entered into by and between [Insert name of Assignor] (the “ Assignor ”) and [Insert name of Assignee] (the “ Assignee ”). Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement identified below, receipt of a copy of which is hereby acknowledged by the 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 Acceptance as if set forth herein in full.

2. For an agreed consideration, the Assignor hereby irrevocably sells and assigns to the Assignee, and the Assignee hereby irrevocably purchases and assumes from the Assignor, subject to and in accordance with the Standard Terms and Conditions and the Bridge Loan Agreement, as of the Effective Date inserted by the Administrative Agent as contemplated below (i) all of the Assignor’s rights and obligations in its capacity as a Lender under the Bridge Loan 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 under the respective facilities identified below 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) against any person, whether known or unknown, arising under or in connection with the Bridge Loan 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 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 pursuant to clauses (i) and (ii) above being referred to herein collectively as the “ Assigned Interest ”). Such sale and assignment is without recourse to the Assignor and, except as expressly provided in this Assignment and Acceptance, without representation or warranty by the Assignor.

 

  a. Assignor:                                                  

 

  b. Assignee: 1                                                                                                                            
     [and is an Affiliate/Approved Fund of [Identify Lender]]

 

  c. Borrower: Affinion Group, Inc.

 

  d. Administrative Agent: Credit Suisse, Cayman Islands Branch, as Administrative Agent under the Bridge Loan Agreement

 

  e. Agreement: Senior Subordinated Bridge Loan Agreement dated as of October 17, 2005 (as amended, restated, supplemented, waived or otherwise modified from time to time, the

 


1 Assignee cannot be an Ineligible Institution.

Zenith - Form of Assignment and Acceptance


     Bridge Loan Agreement ”), among Affinion Group Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation ( “Borrower” ), the Lenders from time to time party thereto, Credit Suisse, Cayman Islands Branch, as administrative agent for the Lenders, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., as syndication agent, Banc of America Bridge LLC and BNP Paribas Securities Corp., as documentation agents, Credit Suisse First Boston LLC and Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., as joint lead arrangers and joint bookrunners.

 

  f. Assigned Interest:

 

Facility Assigned

   Aggregate Amount of
Commitments/Loans
for all Lenders
   Amount of
Commitments/Loans
Assigned
   Percentage Assigned
of Commitments/
Loans 2
 

Term Loan

           %

Effective Date:                      ,      , 200    . [TO BE INSERTED BY ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND WHICH SHALL BE THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF RECORDATION OF TRANSFER IN THE REGISTER THEREFOR.]

 


2 Set forth, to at least 9 decimals, as a percentage of the Commitment/Loans of all Lenders thereunder.

Zenith - Form of Assignment and Acceptance

A-2


The terms set forth in this Assignment and Acceptance are hereby agreed to:

 

    ASSIGNOR [NAME OF ASSIGNOR]
    By:  

 

    Name:  
    Title:  
    ASSIGNEE [NAME OF ASSIGNEE]
    By:  

 

    Name:  
    Title:  
Consented 3 to and accepted:    

CREDIT SUISSE, CAYMAN ISLANDS

    BRANCH AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

   
By:  

 

   
Name:      
Title:      
[Consented 4 to:]    
AFFINION GROUP, INC.    
By:  

 

   
Name:      
Title:      

 


3 Consents to be included to the extent required by Section 10.04(b) of the Bridge Loan Agreement.
4 Consents to be included to the extent required by Section 10.04(b) of the Bridge Loan Agreement.

Zenith - Form of Assignment and Acceptance

A-3


ANNEX 1

STANDARD TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR

ASSIGNMENT AND ACCEPTANCE

1. Representations and Warranties

1.1. Assignor. The Assignor (a) represents and warrants that (i) it is the legal and beneficial owner of the Assigned Interest, (ii) the Assigned Interest is free and clear of any lien, encumbrance or other adverse claim and (iii) it has full power and authority, and has taken all action necessary, to execute and deliver this Assignment and Acceptance and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, 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 Holdings, the Borrowers, any of their Subsidiaries or Affiliates or any other person obligated in respect of any Loan Document or (iv) the performance or observance by Holdings, the Borrowers, any of their Subsidiaries or Affiliates or any other person of any of their respective obligations under any Loan Document.

1.2. Assignee. The 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 Acceptance and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and to become a Lender under the Credit Agreement, (ii) it satisfies the requirements, if any, specified in the Credit Agreement that are required to be satisfied by it in order to acquire the Assigned Interest and become a Lender, (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 Assigned Interest, shall have the obligations of a Lender thereunder and (iv) it has received a copy of the Credit Agreement, together with copies of the most recent financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 5.04 thereof, as applicable, and such other documents and information as it has deemed appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Assignment and Acceptance and to purchase the Assigned Interest on the basis of which it has made such analysis and decision independently and without reliance on the Administrative Agent or any other Lender; and (b) agrees that (i) it will, independently and without reliance on the Administrative Agent, the 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 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 Assigned Interest (including payments of principal, interest, fees and other amounts) to the Assignor for amounts which have accrued to but excluding the Effective Date and to the Assignee for amounts which have accrued from and after the Effective Date.

3. General Provisions . This Assignment and Acceptance shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of, the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns. This Assignment and Acceptance may be executed in any number of counterparts, which

 

Zenith - Form of Assignment and Acceptance


together shall constitute one instrument. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Assignment and Acceptance by telecopy shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Assignment and Acceptance. This Assignment and Acceptance shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of the State of New York.

Zenith - Form of Assignment and Acceptance

A-5


CREDIT SUISSE    FIRST
BOSTON
   LOGO                                 

ADMINISTRATIVE QUESTIONNAIRE

AFFINION GROUP, INC.

 

        Agent Information   Agent Closing Contact

        Credit Suisse

        Eleven Madison Avenue

        New York, NY 10010

 

Fay Rollins

Tel: 212 325-9041

Fax: 212-743-1422

E-Mail: fay.rollins@csfb.com

         Agent Wire Instructions

        Bank of New York

        ABA 021000018

        Account Name: CSFB Cayman Agency Account

        Account Number: 8900492627

It is very important that all of the requested information be completed accurately and that this questionnaire be returned promptly. If your institution is sub-allocating its allocation, please fill out an administrative questionnaire for each legal entity.

Legal Name of Lender to appear in Documentation: ________________________________________________________________

Signature Block Information: ___________________________________________________________________________________

 

•      Signing Credit Agreement

   ¨  Yes                ¨ No

•      Coming in via Assignment

   ¨ Yes                ¨ No

Type of Lender: ___________________________________________________________________________________________

(Bank, Asset Manager, Broker/Dealer, CLO/CDO; Finance Company, Hedge Fund, Insurance, Mutual Fund, Pension Fund, Other Regulated Investment Fund, Special Purpose Vehicle, Other-please specify)

Lender Parent: _______________________________________________________________________________________________

 

 

Lender Domestic Address   Lender Eurodollar Address
     
     
     
     

 

 

LSTA JANUARY 2005   Copyright© LSTA 2005. All rights reserved.  

 

1


Contacts/Notification Methods: Borrowings, Paydowns, Interest, Fees, etc.

 

   Primary Credit Contact    Secondary Credit Contact

Name:

           

Company:

           

Title:

           

Address:

           
              

Telephone:

           

Facsimile:

           

E-Mail Address:

           
   Primary Operations Contact    Secondary Operations Contact

Name:

           

Company:

           

Title:

           

Address:

           
              

Telephone:

           

Facsimile:

           

E-Mail Address:

           
     

Lender’s Domestic Wire Instructions

  
  

Bank Name:

           

ABA/Routing No.:

           

Account Name:

           

Account No.:

           

FFC Account Name:

           

FFC Account No.:

           

Attention:

           

Reference:

           

 

2


NON-U.S. LENDER INSTITUTIONS :

I. Corporations :

If your institution is incorporated outside of the United States for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and is the beneficial owner of the interest and other income it receives, you must complete one of the following three tax forms, as applicable to your institution: a.) Form W-8BEN (Certificate of Foreign Status of Beneficial Owner) , b.) Form W-8ECI (Income Effectively Connected to a US. Trade or Business) , or c.) Form W-8EXP (Certificate of Foreign Government or Governmental Agency) .

A U.S. taxpayer identification number is required for any institution submitting Form W-8ECI. It is also required on Form W-8BEN for certain institutions claiming the benefits of a tax treaty with the U.S. Please refer to the instructions when completing the form applicable to your institution. In addition, please be advised that U.S. tax regulations do not permit the acceptance of faxed forms. An original tax form must be submitted .

II. Flow-Through Entities :

If your institution is organized outside the U.S., and is classified for U.S. federal income tax purposes as either a Partnership, Trust, Qualified or Non-Qualified Intermediary, or other non-U.S. flow-through entity, an original Form W-8IMY (Certificate of Foreign Intermediary, Foreign Flow-Through Entity, or Certain U.S. Branches for United States Tax Withholding) must be completed by the intermediary together with a withholding statement. Flow-through entities other than Qualified Intermediaries are required to include tax forms for each of the underlying beneficial owners.

Please refer to the instructions when completing this form. In addition, please be advised that U.S. tax regulations do not permit the acceptance of faxed forms. Original tax form(s) must be submitted .

U.S. LENDER INSTITUTIONS :

If your institution is incorporated or organized within the United States, you must complete and return Form W-9 (Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification) . Please be advised that we request that you submit an original Form W-9 .

Pursuant to the language contained in the tax section of the Credit Agreement, the applicable tax form for your institution must be completed and returned prior to the first payment of income. Failure to provide the proper tax form when requested may subject your institution to U.S. tax withholding .

 

3


EXHIBIT C

[FORM OF]

BORROWING REQUEST

Credit Suisse, Cayman Islands Branch,

    as Administrative Agent for the Lenders referred to below

11 Madison Avenue

New York, NY 10010

Attention:                                                      

Fax:                                                                

[Date]

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Reference is made to the Senior Subordinated Bridge Loan Agreement dated as of October 17, 2005 (as amended, restated, supplemented, waived or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Bridge Loan Agreement ”), among Affinion Group Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation, Affinion Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Borrower ”), the Lenders from time to time party thereto, Credit Suisse, Cayman Islands Branch, as administrative agent for the Lenders, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., as syndication agent, Banc of America, Bridge LLC and BNP Paribas Securities Corp., as documentation agents, Credit Suisse First Boston LLC and Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., as joint lead arrangers and joint bookrunners. Terms defined in the Bridge Loan Agreement are used herein with the same meanings. This notice constitutes a Borrowing Request and the Borrower hereby requests Borrowings under the Bridge Loan Agreement, and in that connection the Borrower specifies the following information with respect to such Borrowings requested hereby:

 

  (A) Aggregate Amount of Borrowing 6 : ________________________________________________________

 

  (B) Date of Borrowing (which shall be a Business Day): ___________________________________________

 

  (C) Location and number of Borrower’s account to which proceeds of

Borrowing are to be disbursed: ___________________________________________________________

 

C-1


The Borrower named below hereby represents and warrants that the conditions specified in paragraphs (m)  and (n)  of Section 4.01 of the Bridge Loan Agreement are satisfied.

 

Very truly yours,

 

AFFINION GROUP, INC.
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

 

C-2

Exhibit 10.3

GUARANTEE AND COLLATERAL AGREEMENT

dated and effective as of

October 17, 2005,

among

AFFINION GROUP HOLDINGS, INC.,

AFFINION GROUP, INC.,

each Subsidiary of the Borrower identified herein,

and

CREDIT SUISSE, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH

as Administrative Agent


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

          Page
   ARTICLE I.   
   Definitions   

SECTION 1.01.

  

Credit Agreement

   1

SECTION 1.02.

  

Other Defined Terms

   1
   ARTICLE II.   
   Guarantee   

SECTION 2.01.

  

Guarantee

   5

SECTION 2.02.

  

Guarantee of Payment

   5

SECTION 2.03.

  

No Limitations, Etc

   5

SECTION 2.04.

  

Reinstatement

   6

SECTION 2.05.

  

Agreement To Pay; Subrogation

   6

SECTION 2.06.

  

Information

   7

SECTION 2.07.

  

Maximum Liability

   7

SECTION 2.08.

  

Payment Free and Clear of Taxes

   7
   ARTICLE III.   
   Pledge of Securities   

SECTION 3.01.

  

Pledge

   7

SECTION 3.02.

  

Delivery of the Pledged Collateral

   8

SECTION 3.03.

  

Representations, Warranties and Covenants

   9

SECTION 3.04.

  

Registration in Nominee Name; Denominations

   10

SECTION 3.05.

  

Voting Rights; Dividends and Interest, etc

   11

 

-ii-


          Page
   ARTICLE IV.   
   Security Interests in Personal Property   

SECTION 4.01.

  

Security Interest

   13

SECTION 4.02.

  

Representations and Warranties

   15

SECTION 4.03.

  

Covenants

   17

SECTION 4.04.

  

Other Actions

   20

SECTION 4.05.

  

Covenants Regarding Patent, Trademark and Copyright Collateral

   21
   ARTICLE V.   
   Remedies   

SECTION 5.01.

  

Remedies Upon Default

   22

SECTION 5.02.

  

Application of Proceeds

   24

SECTION 5.03.

  

Grant of License to Use Intellectual Property

   25

SECTION 5.04.

  

Securities Act, etc

   25

SECTION 5.05.

  

Registration, etc

   26
   ARTICLE VI.   
   Indemnity, Subrogation and Subordination   

SECTION 6.01.

  

Indemnity and Subrogation

   26

SECTION 6.02.

  

Contribution and Subrogation

   26

SECTION 6.03.

  

Subordination

   27
   ARTICLE VII.   
   Miscellaneous   

SECTION 7.01.

  

Notices

   27

SECTION 7.02.

  

Security Interest Absolute

   27

SECTION 7.03.

  

Limitation By Law

   27

SECTION 7.04.

  

Binding Effect; Several Agreement

   28

SECTION 7.05.

  

Successors and Assigns

   28

 

-iii-


          Page

SECTION 7.06.

  

Administrative Agent’s Fees and Expenses; Indemnification

   28

SECTION 7.07.

  

Administrative Agent Appointed Attorney-in-Fact

   29

SECTION 7.08.

  

GOVERNING LAW

   29

SECTION 7.09.

  

Waivers; Amendment

   29

SECTION 7.10.

  

WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL

   30

SECTION 7.11.

  

Severability

   30

SECTION 7.12.

  

Counterparts

   30

SECTION 7.13.

  

Headings

   30

SECTION 7.14.

  

Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process

   30

SECTION 7.15.

  

Termination or Release

   31

SECTION 7.16.

  

Additional Subsidiaries

   32

SECTION 7.17.

  

Right of Set-off

   32

 

Schedules

  

Schedule I

  

[Reserved.]

Schedule II

  

Capital Stock; Debt Securities

Schedule III

  

Intellectual Property

Exhibits

  

Exhibit I

  

Form of Supplement to the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement

Exhibit II

  

Form of Perfection Certificate

 

-iv-


GUARANTEE AND COLLATERAL AGREEMENT dated and effective as of October 17, 2005 (this “ Agreement ”), among AFFINION GROUP HOLDINGS, INC., a Delaware corporation (“ Holdings ”), AFFINION GROUP, INC., a Delaware limited liability company (the “ Borrower ”), each Subsidiary of the Borrower identified herein as a party (each, a “ Subsidiary Party ”) and CREDIT SUISSE, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, as Administrative Agent (in such capacity, the “ Administrative Agent ”) for the Secured Parties (as defined below).

Reference is made to the Credit Agreement dated as of October 17, 2005 (as amended, restated, supplemented, waived or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Credit Agreement ”), among Holdings, the Borrower, the LENDERS party thereto from time to time, the Administrative Agent, DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC., as syndication agent (in such capacity, the “ Syndication Agent ”), BANK OF AMERICA, N.A. and BNP PARIBAS SECURITIES CORP., as documentation agents (in such capacity, the “ Documentation Agents ”) and CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON LLC and DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC., as joint lead arrangers and joint bookrunners (in such capacity, the “ Joint Lead Arrangers ”).

The Lenders have agreed to extend credit to the Borrower subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Credit Agreement. The obligations of the Lenders to extend such credit are conditioned upon, among other things, the execution and delivery of this Agreement. The Subsidiary Parties are subsidiaries of the Borrower, will derive substantial benefits from the extension of credit to the Borrower pursuant to the Credit Agreement and are willing to execute and deliver this Agreement in order to induce the Lenders to extend such credit. Accordingly, the parties hereto agree as follows:

ARTICLE I.

Definitions

SECTION 1.01. Credit Agreement . (a) Capitalized terms used in this Agreement and not otherwise defined herein have the respective meanings assigned thereto in the Credit Agreement. All terms defined in the New York UCC (as defined herein) and not defined in this Agreement have the meanings specified therein. The term “instrument” shall have the meaning specified in Article 9 of the New York UCC.

(b) The rules of construction specified in Section 1.02 of the Credit Agreement also apply to this Agreement.

SECTION 1.02. Other Defined Terms . As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings specified below:

Account Debtor ” means any person who is or who may become obligated to any Pledgor under, with respect to or on account of an Account.

Article 9 Collateral ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 4.01 .

Collateral ” means Article 9 Collateral and Pledged Collateral.

Control Agreement ” means a securities account control agreement or a commodity account control agreement, as applicable, enabling the Administrative Agent to obtain “control” (within the meaning of the New York UCC) of any such accounts, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

 

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Copyright License ” means any written agreement, now or hereafter in effect, granting any right to any Pledgor under any Copyright now or hereafter owned by any third party, and all rights of any Pledgor under any such agreement (including, without limitation, any such rights that such Pledgor has the right to license).

Copyrights ” means all of the following now owned or hereafter acquired by any Pledgor (or, as required in the context of the definition of “ Copyright License ,” any third party licensor): (a) all copyright rights in any work subject to the copyright laws of the United States or any other country, whether as author, assignee, transferee or otherwise; and (b) all registrations and applications for registration of any such Copyright in the United States or any other country, including registrations, supplemental registrations and pending applications for registration in the United States Copyright Office, including those listed on Schedule III .

Credit Agreement ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the preliminary statement of this Agreement.

Federal Securities Laws ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.04 .

General Intangibles ” means all “General Intangibles” as defined in the New York UCC.

Guarantors ” means Holdings and the Subsidiary Guarantors.

Intellectual Property ” means all intellectual and similar property of every kind and nature now owned or hereafter acquired by any Pledgor, including inventions, designs, Patents, Copyrights, Trademarks, trade secrets, domain names, confidential or proprietary technical and business information, know-how, show-how or other data or information and all related documentation.

IP Agreements ” means all material Copyright Licenses, Patent Licenses, Trademark Licenses, and all other agreements, permits, consents, orders and franchises relating to the license, development, use or disclosure of any material Intellectual Property to which a Pledgor, now or hereafter, is a party or a beneficiary, including, without limitation, the agreements set forth on Schedule III hereto.

Loan Document Obligations ” means (a) the due and punctual payment by the Borrower of (i) the unpaid principal of and interest (including interest accruing during the pendency of any bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other similar proceeding, regardless of whether allowed or allowable in such proceeding) on the Loans made to the Borrower, when and as due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, upon one or more dates set for prepayment or otherwise, (ii) each payment required to be made by the Borrower under the Credit Agreement in respect of any Letter of Credit, when and as due, including payments in respect of reimbursement of disbursements, interest thereon (including interest accruing during the pendency of any bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other similar proceeding, regardless of whether allowed or allowable in such proceeding) and obligations to provide cash collateral and (iii) all other monetary obligations of the Borrower to any of the Secured Parties under the Credit Agreement and each of the other Loan Documents, including obligations to pay fees, expense and reimbursement obligations and indemnification obligations, whether primary, secondary,

 

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direct, contingent, fixed or otherwise (including monetary obligations incurred during the pendency of any bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other similar proceeding, regardless of whether allowed or allowable in such proceeding), (b) the due and punctual performance of all other obligations of the Borrower under or pursuant to the Credit Agreement and each of the other Loan Documents and (c) the due and punctual payment and performance of all the obligations of each other Loan Party under or pursuant to this Agreement and each of the other Loan Documents.

New York UCC ” means the Uniform Commercial Code as from time to time in effect in the State of New York.

Obligations ” means (a) the Loan Document Obligations, (b) the due and punctual payment and performance of all obligations of each Loan Party under each Swap Agreement that (i) is in effect on the Closing Date with a counterparty that is a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender as of the Closing Date or (ii) is entered into after the Closing Date with any counterparty that is a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender at the time such Swap Agreement is entered into and (c) the due and punctual payment and performance of all obligations of the Borrower and any of its subsidiaries in respect of overdrafts and related liabilities owed to a Lender or any of its Affiliates (or any other Person designated by the Borrower as a provider of cash management services and entitled to the benefit of this Agreement) and arising from cash management services (including treasury, depository, overdraft, credit or debit card, electronic funds transfer, ACH services and other cash management arrangements).

Patent License ” means any written agreement, now or hereafter in effect, granting to any Pledgor any right to make, use or sell any invention covered by a Patent, now or hereafter owned by any third party (including, without limitation, any such rights that such Pledgor has the right to license).

Patents ” means all of the following now owned or hereafter acquired by any Pledgor (or, as required in the context of the definition of “ Patent License ,” any third party licensor): (a) all letters patent of the United States or the equivalent thereof in any other country, and all applications for letters patent of the United States or the equivalent thereof in any other country, including those listed on Schedule III , and (b) all reissues, continuations, divisions, continuations-in-part or extensions thereof, and the inventions disclosed or claimed therein, including the right to make, use and/or sell the inventions disclosed or claimed therein.

Perfection Certificate ” means a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit II , completed and supplemented with the schedules and attachments contemplated thereby, and duly executed by an officer of each Pledgor.

Permitted Liens ” means any Lien permitted by Section 6.02 and Section 6.08(b) of the Credit Agreement.

Pledged Collateral ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.01 .

Pledged Debt Securities ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.01 .

 

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Pledged Securities ” means any promissory notes, stock certificates or other certificated securities now or hereafter included in the Pledged Collateral, including all certificates, instruments or other documents representing or evidencing any Pledged Collateral.

Pledged Stock ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.01 .

Pledgor ” shall mean the Borrower and each Guarantor.

Requirement of Law ” means, with respect to any person, the common law and all federal, state, local and foreign laws, rules and regulations, orders, judgments, decrees and other legal requirements or determinations (including, without limitation, the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, and the written rules and regulations of the FCC) of any Governmental Authority or arbitrator, applicable to or binding upon such person or any of its property or which such Person or any of its property is subject.

Secured Parties ” means (a) the Lenders (and any Affiliate of a Lender or any other Person designated by the Borrower as a provider of cash management services to which any obligation referred to in clause (c)  of the definition of the term “ Obligations ” is owed), (b) the Administrative Agent, (c) each Issuing Bank, (d) each counterparty to any Swap Agreement entered into with a Loan Party the obligations under which constitute Obligations, (e) the beneficiaries of each indemnification obligation undertaken by any Loan Party under any Loan Document and (f) the successors and permitted assigns of each of the foregoing.

Security Interest ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 4.01 .

Subsidiary Party ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the preliminary statement of this Agreement, which includes any Subsidiary under Section 7.16 .

Trademark License ” means any written agreement, now or hereafter in effect, granting to any Pledgor any right to use any Trademark now or hereafter owned by any third party (including, without limitation, any such rights that such Pledgor has the right to license).

Trademarks ” means all of the following now owned or hereafter acquired by any Pledgor (or, as required in the context of the definition of “ Trademark License ,” any third party licensor): (a) all trademarks, service marks, corporate names, company names, business names, fictitious business names, trade styles, trade dress, logos, other source or business identifiers, designs and general intangibles of like nature, now existing or hereafter adopted or acquired, all registrations thereof (if any), and all registration and recording applications filed in connection therewith, including registrations and registration applications in the United States Patent and Trademark Office or any similar offices in any State of the United States or any other country or any political subdivision thereof, and all renewals thereof, including those listed on Schedule III and (b) all goodwill associated therewith or symbolized thereby.

 

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ARTICLE II.

Guarantee

SECTION 2.01. Guarantee . Each Guarantor unconditionally guarantees to the Administrative Agent, jointly with the other Guarantors and severally, as a primary obligor and not merely as a surety, the due and punctual payment and performance of the Obligations for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties. Each Guarantor further agrees that the Obligations may be extended or renewed, in whole or in part, without notice to or further assent from it, and that it will remain bound upon its guarantee notwithstanding any extension or renewal of any Obligation. Each Guarantor waives presentment to, demand of payment from and protest to the Borrower or any other Loan Party of any of the Obligations, and also waives notice of acceptance of its guarantee and notice of protest for nonpayment.

SECTION 2.02. Guarantee of Payment . Each Guarantor further agrees that its guarantee hereunder constitutes a guarantee of payment when due and not of collection, and waives any right to require that any resort be had by the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party to any security held for the payment of the Obligations or to any balance of any deposit account or credit on the books of the Administrative Agent (including in its individual capacity) or any other Secured Party in favor of the Borrower or any other person.

SECTION 2.03. No Limitations, Etc . (a) Except for termination of a Guarantor’s obligations hereunder as expressly provided for in Section 7.15, the obligations of each Guarantor hereunder shall not be subject to any reduction, limitation, impairment or termination for any reason, including any claim of waiver, release, surrender, alteration or compromise, and shall not be subject to any defense or setoff, counterclaim, recoupment or termination whatsoever by reason of the invalidity, illegality or unenforceability of the Obligations or otherwise (other than defense of payment or performance). Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the obligations of each Guarantor hereunder shall not be discharged or impaired or otherwise affected by:

(i) the failure of the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party to assert any claim or demand or to exercise or enforce any right or remedy under the provisions of any Loan Document or otherwise;

(ii) any rescission, waiver, amendment or modification of, or any release from any of the terms or provisions of, any Loan Document or any other agreement, including with respect to any other Guarantor under this Agreement;

(iii) the failure to perfect any security interest in, or the exchange, substitution, release or any impairment of, any security held by the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party for the Obligations;

(iv) any default, failure or delay, willful or otherwise, in the performance of the Obligations;

(v) any other act or omission that may or might in any manner or to any extent vary the risk of any Guarantor or otherwise operate as a discharge of any Guarantor as a matter of law or equity (other than the payment in full in cash of all the Obligations),

(vi) any illegality, lack of validity or enforceability of any Obligation,

 

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(vii) any change in the corporate existence, structure or ownership of the Borrower, or any insolvency, bankruptcy, reorganization or other similar proceeding affecting the Borrower or its assets or any resulting release or discharge of any Obligation (other than the payment in full in cash of all the Obligations),

(viii) the existence of any claim, set-off or other rights that the Guarantor may have at any time against the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, or any other corporation or person, whether in connection herewith or any unrelated transactions, provided that nothing herein will prevent the assertion of any such claim by separate suit or compulsory counterclaim,

(ix) and any other circumstance (including without limitation, any statute of limitations) or any existence of or reliance on any representation by the Administrative Agent that might otherwise constitute a defense to, or a legal or equitable discharge of, the Borrower or the Guarantor or any other guarantor or surety.

Each Guarantor expressly authorizes the Secured Parties to take and hold security for the payment and performance of the Obligations, to exchange, waive or release any or all such security (with or without consideration), to enforce or apply such security and direct the order and manner of any sale thereof in their sole discretion or to release or substitute any one or more other guarantors or obligors upon or in respect of the Obligations, all without affecting the obligations of any Guarantor hereunder.

(b) To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, each Guarantor waives any defense based on or arising out of any defense of any other Loan Party or the unenforceability of the Obligations or any part thereof from any cause, or the cessation from any cause of the liability of any other Loan Party, other than the payment in full in cash or immediately available funds of all the Obligations (other than contingent or unliquidated obligations or liabilities). The Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties may, at their election, foreclose on any security held by one or more of them by one or more judicial or nonjudicial sales, accept an assignment of any such security in lieu of foreclosure, compromise or adjust any part of the Obligations, make any other accommodation with any other Loan Party or exercise any other right or remedy available to them against any other Loan Party, without affecting or impairing in any way the liability of any Guarantor hereunder except to the extent the Obligations (other than contingent or unliquidated obligations or liabilities) have been paid in full in cash or immediately available funds. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, each Guarantor waives any defense arising out of any such election even though such election operates, pursuant to applicable law, to impair or to extinguish any right of reimbursement or subrogation or other right or remedy of such Guarantor against any other Loan Party, as the case may be, or any security.

SECTION 2.04. Reinstatement . Each Guarantor agrees that its guarantee hereunder shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment, or any part thereof, of any Obligation is rescinded or must otherwise be restored by the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party upon the bankruptcy or reorganization of the Borrower, any other Loan Party or otherwise.

SECTION 2.05. Agreement To Pay; Subrogation . In furtherance of the foregoing and not in limitation of any other right that the Administrative Agent or any other

 

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Secured Party has at law or in equity against any Guarantor by virtue hereof, upon the failure of the Borrower or any other Loan Party to pay any Obligation when and as the same shall become due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, after notice of prepayment or otherwise, each Guarantor hereby promises to and will forthwith pay, or cause to be paid, to the Administrative Agent for distribution to the applicable Secured Parties in cash the amount of such unpaid Obligation. Upon payment by any Guarantor of any sums to the Administrative Agent as provided above, all rights of such Guarantor against the Borrower, or other Loan Party or any other Guarantor arising as a result thereof by way of right of subrogation, contribution, reimbursement, indemnity or otherwise shall in all respects be subject to Article VI .

SECTION 2.06. Information . Each Guarantor assumes all responsibility for being and keeping itself informed of the financial condition and assets of the Borrower and each other Loan Party, and of all other circumstances bearing upon the risk of nonpayment of the Obligations and the nature, scope and extent of the risks that such Guarantor assumes and incurs hereunder, and agrees that none of the Administrative Agent or the other Secured Parties will have any duty to advise such Guarantor of information known to it or any of them regarding such circumstances or risks.

SECTION 2.07. Maximum Liability . Anything herein or in any other Loan Document to the contrary notwithstanding, the maximum liability of each Guarantor hereunder and under the other Loan Documents shall in no event exceed the amount which can be guaranteed by such Guarantor under applicable federal and state laws relating to the insolvency of debtors (after giving effect to the right of contribution established in Section 6.02 ).

SECTION 2.08. Payment Free and Clear of Taxes . Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of any Guarantor hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall be made free and clear of, and without deduction for, any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes on the same terms and to the same extent that payments by the Borrower and Holdings are required to be made pursuant to the terms of Section 2.17 of the Credit Agreement. The provisions of Section 2.17 of the Credit Agreement shall apply to each Guarantor, mutatis mutandis .

ARTICLE III.

Pledge of Securities

SECTION 3.01. Pledge . As security for the payment or performance, as the case may be, in full of the Obligations, each Pledgor hereby assigns and pledges to the Administrative Agent, its successors and permitted assigns, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, and hereby grants to the Administrative Agent, its successors and permitted assigns, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, a security interest in all of such Pledgor’s right, title and interest in, to and under (a) the Equity Interests directly owned by it (including those listed on Schedule II ) and any other Equity Interests obtained in the future by such Pledgor and any certificates representing all such Equity Interests (the “ Pledged Stock ”); provided , that the Pledged Stock shall not include (i) more than 65% of the issued and outstanding voting Equity Interests of any Foreign Subsidiary, which pledge shall be duly noted on the share register, if any, of such Foreign Subsidiary, (ii) to the extent applicable law requires that a Subsidiary of such Pledgor issue directors’ qualifying shares, such shares or nominee or other similar shares, (iii) any Equity Interests with respect to which the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement or the other paragraphs of Section 5.11 of the Credit Agreement need not be satisfied by reason of Section 5.11(g) of the Credit Agreement, (iv) any Equity Interests of a Subsidiary to the extent that, as of the Closing Date, and for so long as, such a pledge of such Equity Interests would violate a contractual obligation binding on or relating to such Equity Interest permitted to exist under the

 

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Credit Agreement or (v) any Equity Interests of a person that is not directly or indirectly a Subsidiary; (b)(i) the debt securities listed opposite the name of such Pledgor on Schedule II , (ii) any debt securities in the future issued to such Pledgor and (iii) the promissory notes and any other instruments, if any, evidencing such debt securities (the “ Pledged Debt Securities ”); (c) subject to Section 3.05 , all payments of principal or interest, dividends, cash, instruments and other property from time to time received, receivable or otherwise distributed in respect of, in exchange for or upon the conversion of, and all other proceeds received in respect of, the securities referred to in clauses (a) and (b) above; (d) subject to Section 3.05 , all rights and privileges of such Pledgor with respect to the securities and other property referred to in clauses (a) , (b) and (c) above; and (e) all proceeds of any of the foregoing (the items referred to in clauses (a) through (e) above being collectively referred to as the “ Pledged Collateral ”).

TO HAVE AND TO HOLD the Pledged Collateral, together with all right, title, interest, powers, privileges and preferences pertaining or incidental thereto, unto the Administrative Agent, its successors and permitted assigns, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, forever; subject , however , to the terms, covenants and conditions hereinafter set forth.

SECTION 3.02. Delivery of the Pledged Collateral . (a) Each Pledgor agrees promptly to deliver or cause to be delivered to the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, any and all Pledged Securities to the extent such Pledged Securities, in the case of promissory notes or other instruments evidencing Indebtedness, are required to be delivered pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section 3.02 .

(b) Each Pledgor will cause any Indebtedness for borrowed money having, in the case of each instance of Indebtedness, an aggregate principal amount in excess of $1,000,000 (other than (i) intercompany current liabilities incurred in connection with the cash management operations and intercompany sales of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries permitted by the Credit Agreement or (ii) to the extent that a pledge of such promissory note or instrument would violate applicable law) owed to such Pledgor by any person and evidenced by a duly executed promissory note to be pledged and delivered to the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, pursuant to the terms hereof. To the extent any such promissory note is a demand note, each Pledgor party thereto agrees, if requested by the Administrative Agent, to immediately demand payment thereunder upon an Event of Default specified under Section 7.01(b) , (c) , (f) , (h) , or (i)  of the Credit Agreement.

(c) Upon delivery to the Administrative Agent, (i) any Pledged Securities required to be delivered pursuant to the foregoing paragraphs (a)  and (b)  of this Section 3.02 shall be accompanied by stock powers or note powers, as applicable, duly executed in blank or other instruments of transfer reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and by such other instruments and documents as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request and (ii) all other property composing part of the Pledged Collateral delivered pursuant to the terms of this Agreement shall be accompanied to the extent necessary to perfect the security interest in or allow realization on the Pledged Collateral by proper instruments of assignment duly executed by the applicable Pledgor and such other instruments or documents (including issuer acknowledgments in respect of uncertificated securities) as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request. Each delivery of Pledged Securities shall be accompanied by a schedule describing the securities, which schedule shall be attached hereto as Schedule II (or a supplement to Schedule II , as applicable) and made a part hereof; provided , that failure to attach any such

 

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schedule hereto shall not affect the validity of such pledge of such Pledged Securities. Each schedule so delivered shall supplement any prior schedules so delivered.

SECTION 3.03. Representations, Warranties and Covenants . The Pledgors, jointly and severally, represent, warrant and covenant to and with the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, that:

(a) Schedule II correctly sets forth the percentage of the issued and outstanding shares of each class of the Equity Interests of the issuer thereof represented by such Pledged Stock and includes all Equity Interests, debt securities and promissory notes or instruments evidencing Indebtedness required to be (i) pledged in order to satisfy the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement, or (ii) delivered pursuant to Section 3.02(b) ;

(b) the Pledged Stock and Pledged Debt Securities (solely with respect to Pledged Debt Securities issued by a person that is not the Borrower, a Subsidiary or an Affiliate of the Borrower or any such subsidiary, to the best of each Pledgor’s knowledge) have been duly and validly authorized and issued by the issuers thereof and (i) in the case of Pledged Stock, are fully paid and nonassessable (other than with respect to Pledge Stock consisting of membership interests of limited liability companies to the extent provided in Sections 18-502 and 18-607 of the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act) and (ii) in the case of Pledged Debt Securities (solely with respect to Pledged Debt Securities issued by a person that is not the Borrower, a Subsidiary or an Affiliate of the Borrower or any such subsidiary, to the best of each Pledgor’s knowledge) are legal, valid and binding obligations of the issuers thereof, subject to the effects of bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally, general equitable principles (whether considered in a proceeding at law or in equity) and an implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing;

(c) as of the Closing Date, none of the Equity Interests in limited liability companies or partnerships that are pledged by the Pledgors hereunder constitutes a security under Section 8-103 of the Uniform Commercial Code or the corresponding code or statute of any other applicable jurisdiction;

(d) the Pledgors shall not amend, or permit to be amended, the limited liability company agreement (or operating agreement or similar agreement) or partnership agreement of any Subsidiary of any Loan Party whose Equity Interests are, or are required to be, Collateral in a manner to cause such Equity Interests to constitute a security under Section 8-103 of the Uniform Commercial Code in the State of New York or the corresponding code or statute of any other applicable jurisdiction unless such Loan Party shall have first delivered 30 days written notice to the Collateral Agent and shall have taken all actions contemplated hereby and as otherwise reasonably required by the Collateral Agent to maintain the security interest of the Collateral Agent therein as a valid, perfected, first priority security interest;

(e) except for the security interests granted hereunder, each Pledgor (i) is and, subject to any transfers made in compliance with the Credit Agreement, will continue to be the direct owner, beneficially and of record, of the Pledged Securities indicated on Schedule II as owned by such Pledgor, (ii) holds the same free and clear of all Liens, other than Permitted Liens, (iii) will make no assignment, pledge, hypothecation or transfer of, or create or permit to exist any security interest in or other Lien on, the Pledged Collateral, other than pursuant to a

 

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transaction permitted by the Credit Agreement and other than Permitted Liens and (iv) subject to the rights of such Pledgor under the Loan Documents to dispose of Pledged Collateral, will use commercially reasonable efforts to defend its title or interest hereto or therein against any and all Liens (other than Permitted Liens), however arising, of all persons;

(f) other than as set forth in the Credit Agreement or the schedules thereto, and except for restrictions and limitations imposed by the Loan Documents or securities laws generally or otherwise permitted to exist pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement, the Pledged Collateral is and will continue to be freely transferable and assignable, and none of the Pledged Collateral is or will be subject to any option, right of first refusal, shareholders agreement, charter or by-law provisions or contractual restriction of any nature that might prohibit, impair, delay or otherwise affect the pledge of such Pledged Collateral hereunder, the sale or disposition thereof pursuant hereto or the exercise by the Administrative Agent of rights and remedies hereunder;

(g) each Pledgor has the power and authority to pledge the Pledged Collateral pledged by it hereunder in the manner hereby done or contemplated;

(h) other than as set forth in the Credit Agreement or the schedules thereto, no consent or approval of any Governmental Authority, any securities exchange or any other person was or is necessary to the validity of the pledge effected hereby (other than such as have been obtained and are in full force and effect);

(i) each Pledgor that is an issuer of the Pledged Collateral confirms that is has received notice of the security interest granted hereunder;

(j) by virtue of the execution and delivery by the Pledgors of this Agreement and the Foreign Pledge Agreements, when any Pledged Securities (including Pledged Stock of any domestic Subsidiary and any foreign stock covered by a Foreign Pledge Agreement) are delivered to the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, in accordance with this Agreement, the Administrative Agent will obtain, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, a legal, valid and perfected lien upon and security interest in such Pledged Securities, subject only to Liens permitted under the Credit Agreement or arising by operation of law, as security for the payment and performance of the Obligations; and

(k) the pledge effected hereby is effective to vest in the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, the rights of the Administrative Agent in the Pledged Collateral as set forth herein.

SECTION 3.04. Registration in Nominee Name; Denominations . The Administrative Agent, on behalf of the Secured Parties, shall have the right (in its sole and absolute discretion) to hold the Pledged Securities in the name of the applicable Pledgor, endorsed or assigned in blank or in favor of the Administrative Agent or, if an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, in its own name as pledgee or the name of its nominee (as pledgee or as sub-agent). Each Pledgor will promptly give to the Administrative Agent copies of any notices or other communications received by it with respect to Pledged Securities registered in the name of such Pledgor. If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the

 

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Administrative Agent shall have the right to exchange the certificates representing Pledged Securities for certificates of smaller or larger denominations for any purpose consistent with this Agreement. Each Pledgor shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause any Loan Party that is not a party to this Agreement to comply with a request by the Administrative Agent, pursuant to this Section 3.04 , to exchange certificates representing Pledged Securities of such Loan Party for certificates of smaller or larger denominations.

SECTION 3.05. Voting Rights; Dividends and Interest, Etc . (a) Unless and until an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and the Administrative Agent shall have given notice to the relevant Pledgors of the Administrative Agent’s intention to exercise its rights hereunder:

(i) Each Pledgor shall be entitled to exercise any and all voting and/or other consensual rights and powers inuring to an owner of Pledged Collateral or any part thereof for any purpose consistent with the terms of this Agreement, the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents; provided , that such rights and powers shall not be exercised in any manner that could materially and adversely affect the rights inuring to a holder of any Pledged Collateral, the rights and remedies of any of the Administrative Agent or the other Secured Parties under this Agreement, the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document or the ability of the Secured Parties to exercise the same.

(ii) The Administrative Agent shall promptly execute and deliver to each Pledgor, or cause to be executed and delivered to such Pledgor, all such proxies, powers of attorney and other instruments as such Pledgor may reasonably request for the purpose of enabling such Pledgor to exercise the voting and/or consensual rights and powers it is entitled to exercise pursuant to subparagraph (i)  above.

(iii) Each Pledgor shall be entitled to receive and retain any and all dividends, interest, principal and other distributions paid on or distributed in respect of the Pledged Collateral to the extent and only to the extent that such dividends, interest, principal and other distributions are permitted by, and otherwise paid or distributed in accordance with, the terms and conditions of the Credit Agreement, the other Loan Documents and applicable laws; provided , that (A) any noncash dividends, interest, principal or other distributions, payments or other consideration in respect thereof, including any rights to receive the same to the extent not so distributed or paid, that would constitute Pledged Securities or Article 9 Collateral, whether resulting from a subdivision, combination or reclassification of the outstanding Equity Interests of the issuer of any Pledged Securities, received in exchange for Pledged Securities or any part thereof, or in redemption thereof, as a result of any merger, consolidation, acquisition or other exchange of assets to which such issuer may be a party or otherwise or (B) any non-cash dividends and other distributions paid or payable in respect of any Pledged Securities that would constitute Pledged Securities or Article 9 Collateral in connection with a partial or total liquidation or dissolution or in connection with a reduction of capital, capital surplus or paid in surplus, shall be and become part of the Pledged Collateral or Article 9 Collateral, as applicable, and, if received by any Pledgor, shall not be commingled by such Pledgor with any of its other funds or property but shall be held separate and apart therefrom, shall be held in trust for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, and shall be forthwith delivered to the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, in the same form as so received (endorsed in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent).

 

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(b) Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default and after notice by the Administrative Agent to the Borrower of the Administrative Agent’s intention to exercise its rights hereunder, all rights of any Pledgor to dividends, interest, principal or other distributions that such Pledgor is authorized to receive pursuant to paragraph (a)(iii) of this Section 3.05 shall cease, and all such rights shall thereupon become vested, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, in the Administrative Agent, which shall have the sole and exclusive right and authority to receive and retain such dividends, interest, principal or other distributions; provided, however, that even after the occurrence of an Event of Default, any Pledgor may continue to exercise dividend and distribution rights solely to the extent permitted under subclause (i)  and subclause (ii)  of Section 6.06(b) of the Credit Agreement and such amounts are required by Holdings for the stated purposes thereof. All dividends, interest, principal or other distributions received by any Pledgor contrary to the provisions of this Section 3.05 shall not be commingled by such Pledgor with any of its other funds or property but shall be held separate and apart therefrom, shall be held in trust for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, and shall be forthwith delivered to the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, in the same form as so received (endorsed in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent). Any and all money and other property paid over to or received by the Administrative Agent pursuant to the provisions of this paragraph (b)  shall be retained by the Administrative Agent in an account to be established by the Administrative Agent upon receipt of such money or other property and shall be applied in accordance with the provisions of Section 5.02 . After all Events of Default have been cured or waived and the Borrower has delivered to the Administrative Agent a certificate to that effect, the Administrative Agent shall promptly repay to each Pledgor (without interest) all dividends, interest, principal or other distributions that such Pledgor would otherwise be permitted to retain pursuant to the terms of paragraph (a)(iii) of this Section 3.05 and that remain in such account.

(c) Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default and after notice by the Administrative Agent to the Borrower of the Administrative Agent’s intention to exercise its rights hereunder, all rights of any Pledgor to exercise the voting and/or consensual rights and powers it is entitled to exercise pursuant to paragraph (a)(i) of this Section 3.05 , and the obligations of the Administrative Agent under paragraph (a)(ii) of this Section 3.05 , shall cease, and all such rights shall thereupon become vested in the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, which shall have the sole and exclusive right and authority to exercise such voting and consensual rights and powers (other than any Event of Default under Section 7.01(h) or (i)  the Credit Agreement); provided , that, unless otherwise directed by the Required Lenders, the Administrative Agent shall have the right from time to time following and during the continuance of an Event of Default (other than any Event of Default under Section 7.01(h) or (i)  of the Credit Agreement) to permit the Pledgors to exercise such rights. After all Events of Default have been cured or waived and the Borrower has delivered to the Administrative Agent a certificate to that effect, each Pledgor shall have the right to exercise the voting and/or consensual rights and powers that such Pledgor would otherwise be entitled to exercise pursuant to the terms of paragraph (a)(i) above.

 

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ARTICLE IV.

Security Interests in Personal Property

SECTION 4.01. Security Interest . (a) As security for the payment or performance, as the case may be, in full of the Obligations, each Pledgor hereby assigns and pledges to the Administrative Agent, its successors and assigns, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, and hereby grants to the Administrative Agent, its successors and assigns, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, a security interest (the “ Security Interest ”) in all right, title and interest in or to any and all of the following assets and properties now owned or at any time hereafter acquired by such Pledgor or in which such Pledgor now has or at any time in the future may acquire any right, title or interest (collectively, the “ Article 9 Collateral ”):

(i) all Accounts;

(ii) all Chattel Paper;

(iii) all cash and Deposit Accounts;

(iv) all Documents;

(v) all Equipment;

(vi) all General Intangibles;

(vii) all Instruments;

(viii) all Intellectual Property;

(ix) all Inventory;

(x) all Investment Property;

(xi) all Letter of Credit Rights;

(xii) all Commercial Tort Claims;

(xiii) to the extent not included in the definition of “General Intangibles”, all choses in action and causes of action and all other intangible personal property of any Pledgor of every kind and nature (other than Accounts) now owned or hereafter acquired by any Pledgor, including corporate or other business records, indemnification claims, contract rights (including rights under leases, whether entered into as lessor or lessee, Swap Agreements and other agreements), Intellectual Property, goodwill, registrations, franchises, tax refund claims and any letter of credit, guarantee, claim, security interest or other security;

(xiv) all other personal property not otherwise described above (except for property specifically excluded from any defined term used in any of the foregoing clauses);

(xv) all books and records pertaining to the Article 9 Collateral; and

 

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(xvi) to the extent not otherwise included, all proceeds, Supporting Obligations and products of any and all of the foregoing and all collateral security and guarantees given by any person with respect to any of the foregoing.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, this Agreement shall not constitute a grant of a security interest in (a) any vehicle covered by a certificate of title or ownership, (b) any assets with respect to which the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement or the other paragraphs of Section 5.11 of the Credit Agreement need not be satisfied by reason of Section 5.11(g) of the Credit Agreement, (c) any Equity Interests, the pledge of which is governed by Section 3.01 hereof, (d) any Letter of Credit Rights to the extent any Pledgor is required by applicable law to apply the proceeds of a drawing of such Letter of Credit for a specified purpose or (e) any Pledgor’s right, title or interest in any license, contract or agreement to which such Pledgor is a party or any of its right, title or interest thereunder to the extent, but only to the extent, that such a grant would, under the terms of such license, contract or agreement, result in a breach of the terms of, or constitute a default under, any license, contract or agreement to which such Pledgor is a party (other than to the extent that any such term would be rendered ineffective pursuant to Section 9-406, 9-407, 9-408 or 9-409 of the New York UCC or any other applicable law (including, without limitation, Title 11 of the United States Code) or principles of equity); provided , that immediately upon the ineffectiveness, lapse or termination of any such provision, the Collateral shall include, and such Grantor shall be deemed to have granted a security interest in, all such rights and interests as if such provision had never been in effect.

(b) Each Pledgor hereby irrevocably authorizes the Administrative Agent at any time and from time to time to file in any relevant jurisdiction any initial financing statements (including fixture filings) with respect to the Article 9 Collateral or any part thereof and amendments thereto that contain the information required by Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code of each applicable jurisdiction for the filing of any financing statement or amendment, including (i) whether such Pledgor is an organization, the type of organization and any organizational identification number issued to such Pledgor, (ii) in the case of a financing statement filed as a fixture filing, a sufficient description of the real property to which such Article 9 Collateral relates and (iii) a description of collateral that describes such property in any other manner as the Administrative Agent may reasonably determine is necessary or advisable to ensure the perfection of the security interest in the Article 9 Collateral granted under this Agreement, including describing such property as “all assets” or “all property.” Each Pledgor agrees to provide such information to the Administrative Agent promptly upon request.

The Administrative Agent is further authorized to file with the United States Patent and Trademark Office or United States Copyright Office (or any successor office or any similar office in any other country) such documents as may be necessary or advisable for the purpose of perfecting, confirming, continuing, enforcing or protecting the Security Interest granted by each Pledgor, without the signature of any Pledgor, and naming any Pledgor or the Pledgors as debtors and the Administrative Agent as secured party.

(c) The Security Interest is granted as security only and shall not subject the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party to, or in any way alter or modify, any obligation or liability of any Pledgor with respect to or arising out of the Article 9 Collateral.

 

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SECTION 4.02. Representations and Warranties . The Pledgors jointly and severally represent and warrant to the Administrative Agent and the Secured Parties that:

(a) Each Pledgor has good and valid rights in and title to the Article 9 Collateral with respect to which it has purported to grant a Security Interest hereunder and has full power and authority to grant to the Administrative Agent the Security Interest in such Article 9 Collateral pursuant hereto and to execute, deliver and perform its obligations in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, without the consent or approval of any other person other than any consent or approval that has been obtained and is in full force and effect or has otherwise been disclosed herein or in the Credit Agreement and the Schedules hereto.

(b) The Perfection Certificate has been duly prepared, completed and executed and the information set forth-therein, including the exact legal name of each Pledgor, is correct and complete, in all material respects, as of the Closing Date. Uniform Commercial Code financing statements (including fixture filings, as applicable) or other appropriate filings, recordings or registrations containing a description of the Article 9 Collateral have been prepared by the Administrative Agent based upon the information provided to the Administrative Agent in the Perfection Certificate for filing in each governmental, municipal or other office specified in Schedule 7 to the Perfection Certificate (or specified by notice from the Borrower to the Administrative Agent after the Closing Date in the case of filings, recordings or registrations required by Section 5.11 of the Credit Agreement), and constitute all the filings, recordings and registrations (other than filings required to be made in the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the United States Copyright Office in order to perfect the Security Interest in Article 9 Collateral consisting of United States Patents, United States registered Trademarks and United States registered Copyrights) that are necessary to publish notice of and protect the validity of and to establish a legal, valid and perfected security interest in favor of the Administrative Agent (for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties) in respect of all Article 9 Collateral in which the Security Interest may be perfected by filing, recording or registration in the United States (or any political subdivision thereof) and its territories and possessions, and no further or subsequent filing, refiling, recording, rerecording, registration or reregistration is necessary in any such jurisdiction, except as provided under applicable law with respect to the filing of continuation statements or amendments. Each Pledgor represents and warrants that a fully executed Intellectual Property Security Agreement containing a description of all Article 9 Collateral consisting of Intellectual Property with respect to United States Patents (and Patents for which United States registration applications are pending), United States registered Trademarks (and Trademarks for which United States registration applications are pending) and United States registered Copyrights (and Copyrights for which United States registration applications are pending) has been delivered to the Administrative Agent for recording with the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the United States Copyright Office pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 261, 15 U.S.C. § 1060 or 17 U.S.C. § 205 and the regulations thereunder, as applicable, and reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent, to protect the validity of and to establish a legal, valid and perfected security interest in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, in respect of all Article 9 Collateral consisting of such Intellectual Property in which a security interest may be perfected by recording with the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the United States Copyright Office, and no further or subsequent filing, refiling, recording, rerecording, registration or reregistration is necessary (other than such actions as are necessary to perfect the Security Interest with respect to any Article 9 Collateral consisting of Patents, Trademarks and Copyrights (or registration or application for registration thereof) acquired or developed after the date hereof).

 

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(c) The Security Interest constitutes (i) a legal and valid security interest in all the Article 9 Collateral securing the payment and performance of the Obligations, (ii) subject to the filings described in Section 4.02(b) , a perfected security interest in all Article 9 Collateral in which a security interest may be perfected by filing, recording or registering a financing statement or analogous document in the United States (or any political subdivision thereof) and its territories and possessions pursuant to the Uniform Commercial Code or other applicable law in such jurisdictions and (iii) subject to Section 4.02(b) , a security interest that shall be perfected in all Article 9 Collateral in which a security interest may be perfected upon the receipt and recording of the Intellectual Property Security Agreement with the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the United States Copyright Office, as applicable. The Security Interest is and shall be prior to any other Lien on any of the Article 9 Collateral other than Permitted Liens or Liens arising by operation of law.

(d) The Article 9 Collateral is owned by the Guarantors free and clear of any Lien, other than Permitted Liens or Liens arising by operation of law. None of the Pledgors has filed or consented to the filing of (i) any financing statement or analogous document under the Uniform Commercial Code or any other applicable laws covering any Article 9 Collateral, (ii) any assignment in which any Pledgor assigns any Article 9 Collateral or any security agreement or similar instrument covering any Article 9 Collateral with the United States Patent and Trademark Office or the United States Copyright Office or (iii) any assignment in which any Pledgor assigns any Article 9 Collateral or any security agreement or similar instrument covering any Article 9 Collateral with any foreign governmental, municipal or other office, which financing statement or analogous document, assignment, security agreement or similar instrument is still in effect, except, in each case, for Permitted Liens.

(e) None of the Pledgors holds any Commercial Tort Claim individually in excess of $500,000 as of the Closing Date except as indicated on the Perfection Certificate.

(f) Except as set forth in the Perfection Certificate, as of the Closing Date, all Accounts owned by the Pledgors have been originated by the Pledgors and all Inventory owned by the Pledgors has been acquired by the Pledgors in the ordinary course of business.

(g) As to itself and its Intellectual Property Collateral:

(i) The Intellectual Property Collateral set forth on Schedule III includes all of the Patents, domain names, Trademarks, Copyrights and IP Agreements owned by such Pledgor as of the date hereof.

(ii) The Intellectual Property Collateral is subsisting and has not been adjudged invalid or unenforceable in whole or part, and to the best of such Pledgor’s knowledge, is valid and unenforceable, except as could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Such Pledgor is not aware of any uses of any item of Intellectual Property Collateral that would be expected to lead to such item becoming invalid or unenforceable, except as could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(iii) Such Pledgor has made or performed all commercially reasonable acts, including without limitation filings, recordings and payment of all required fees and taxes, required to maintain and protect its interest in each and every item of Intellectual Property Collateral in full force and effect in the United States and such Pledgor has used proper statutory notice in connection with its use of each Patent, Trademark and Copyright in the Intellectual Property Collateral, in each case, except to the extent that the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(iv) With respect to each IP Agreement, the absence, termination or violation of which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect: (A) such Pledgor has not received any notice of termination or cancellation under such IP Agreement; (B) such Pledgor has not received any notice of a breach or default under such IP Agreement, which breach or default has not been cured or waived; and (C) neither such Pledgor nor any other party to such IP Agreement is in breach or default thereof in any material respect, and no event has occurred that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute such a breach or default or permit termination, modification or acceleration under such IP Agreement.

(v) Except as could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, no Pledgor or Intellectual Property Collateral is subject to any outstanding consent, settlement, decree, order, injunction, judgment or ruling restricting the use of any Intellectual Property Collateral or that would impair the validity or enforceability of such Intellectual Property Collateral.

SECTION 4.03. Covenants . (a) Each Pledgor agrees promptly to notify the Administrative Agent in writing of any change (i) in its corporate name, (ii) in its identity or type of organization or corporate structure, (iii) in its Federal Taxpayer Identification Number or organizational identification number or (iv) in its jurisdiction of organization. Each Pledgor agrees promptly to provide the Administrative Agent with certified organizational documents reflecting any of the changes described in the immediately preceding sentence. Each Pledgor agrees not to effect or permit any change referred to in the first sentence of this paragraph (a) unless all filings have been made under the Uniform Commercial Code or otherwise that are required in order for the Administrative Agent to continue at all times following such change to have a valid, legal and perfected first priority security interest in all the Article 9 Collateral, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties. Each Pledgor agrees promptly to notify the Administrative Agent if any material portion of the Article 9 Collateral owned or held by such Pledgor is damaged or destroyed.

(b) Subject to the rights of such Pledgor under the Loan Documents to dispose of Collateral, each Pledgor shall, at its own expense, use commercially reasonable efforts to defend title to the Article 9 Collateral against all persons and to defend the Security Interest of the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, in the Article 9 Collateral and the priority thereof against any Lien that is not a Permitted Lien.

(c) Each Pledgor agrees, at its own expense, to execute, acknowledge, deliver and cause to be duly filed all such further instruments and documents and take all such actions as the

 

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Administrative Agent may from time to time reasonably request to better assure, preserve, protect and perfect the Security Interest and the rights and remedies created hereby, including, without limitation, the payment of any fees and taxes required in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the granting of the Security Interest and the filing of any financing statements (including fixture filings) or other documents in connection herewith or therewith. If any amount payable under or in connection with any of the Article 9 Collateral that is in excess of $1,000,000 shall be or become evidenced by any promissory note or other instrument, such note or instrument shall be promptly pledged and delivered to the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, duly endorsed in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each Pledgor hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent, with prompt notice thereof to the Pledgors, to supplement this Agreement by supplementing Schedule III or adding additional schedules hereto to specifically identify any asset or item that may constitute Copyrights, Patents, Trademarks, Copyright Licenses, Patent Licenses or Trademark Licenses; provided that any Pledgor shall have the right, exercisable within 30 days after the Borrower has been notified by the Administrative Agent of the specific identification of such Article 9 Collateral, to advise the Administrative Agent in writing of any inaccuracy of the representations and warranties made by such Pledgor hereunder with respect to such Article 9 Collateral. Each Pledgor agrees that it will use its commercially reasonable efforts to take such action as shall be necessary in order that all representations and warranties hereunder shall be true and correct with respect to such Article 9 Collateral within 30 days after the date it has been notified by the Administrative Agent of the specific identification of such Article 9 Collateral, including, if such inaccuracy arose from the omission of any items from any such Schedules, by supplementing any such Schedule hereto and the Perfection Certificate.

(d) After the occurrence of an Event of Default and during the continuance thereof, the Administrative Agent shall have the right to verify under reasonable procedures the validity, amount, quality, quantity, value, condition and status of, or any other matter relating to, the Article 9 Collateral, including, in the case of Accounts or Article 9 Collateral in the possession of any third person, by contacting Account Debtors or the third person possessing such Article 9 Collateral for the purpose of making such a verification. The Administrative Agent shall have the right to share any information it gains from such inspection or verification with any Secured Party.

(e) At its option, the Administrative Agent may discharge past due taxes, assessments, charges, fees, Liens, security interests or other encumbrances at any time levied or placed on the Article 9 Collateral and is not a Permitted Lien, and may pay for the maintenance and preservation of the Article 9 Collateral to the extent any Pledgor fails to do so as required by the Credit Agreement or this Agreement, and each Pledgor jointly and severally agrees to reimburse the Administrative Agent on demand for any reasonable payment made or any reasonable expense incurred by the Administrative Agent pursuant to the foregoing authorization; provided , however , that nothing in this Section 4.03(e) shall be interpreted as excusing any Pledgor from the performance of, or imposing any obligation on the Administrative Agent or any Secured Party to cure or perform, any covenants or other promises of any Pledgor with respect to taxes, assessments, charges, fees, Liens, security interests or other encumbrances and maintenance as set forth herein or in the other Loan Documents.

 

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(f) Each Pledgor (rather than the Administrative Agent or any Secured Party) shall remain liable for the observance and performance of all the conditions and obligations to be observed and performed by it under each contract, agreement or instrument relating to the Article 9 Collateral and each Pledgor jointly and severally agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Administrative Agent and the Secured Parties from and against any and all liability for such performance.

(g) None of the Pledgors shall make or permit to be made an assignment, pledge or hypothecation of the Article 9 Collateral or shall grant any other Lien in respect of the Article 9 Collateral, except as expressly permitted by the Credit Agreement. None of the Pledgors shall make or permit to be made any transfer of the Article 9 Collateral and each Pledgor shall remain at all times in possession of the Article 9 Collateral owned by it, except as permitted by the Credit Agreement.

(h) None of the Pledgors will, without the Administrative Agent’s prior written consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), grant any extension of the time of payment of any Accounts included in the Article 9 Collateral, compromise, compound or settle the same for less than the full amount thereof, release, wholly or partly, any person liable for the payment thereof or allow any credit or discount whatsoever thereon, other than extensions, credits, discounts, compromises or settlements granted or made in the ordinary course of business and consistent with prudent business practices, except as permitted by the Credit Agreement.

(i) Each Pledgor irrevocably makes, constitutes and appoints the Administrative Agent (and all officers, employees or agents designated by the Administrative Agent) as such Pledgor’s true and lawful agent (and attorney-in-fact) for the purpose, during the continuance of an Event of Default, of making, settling and adjusting claims in respect of Article 9 Collateral under policies of insurance, endorsing. the name of such Pledgor on any check, draft, instrument or other item of payment for the proceeds of such policies of insurance and for making all determinations and decisions with respect thereto. In the event that any Pledgor at any time or times shall fail to obtain or maintain any of the policies of insurance required hereby or to pay any premium in whole or part relating thereto, the Administrative Agent may, without waiving or releasing any obligation or liability of the Pledgors hereunder or any Event of Default, in its sole discretion, obtain and maintain such policies of insurance and pay such premium and take any other actions with respect thereto as the Administrative Agent reasonably deems advisable. All sums disbursed by the Administrative Agent in connection with this Section 4.03(i) , including reasonable attorneys’ fees, court costs, expenses and other charges relating thereto, shall be payable, upon demand, by the Guarantors to the Administrative Agent and shall be additional Obligations secured hereby.

 

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SECTION 4.04. Other Actions . In order to further ensure the attachment, perfection and priority of, and the ability of the Administrative Agent to enforce, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, the Administrative Agent’s security interest in the Article 9 Collateral, each Pledgor agrees, in each case at such Pledgor’s own expense, to take the following actions with, respect to the following Article 9 Collateral:

(a) Instruments and Tangible Chattel Paper . If any Pledgor shall at any time own or acquire any Instruments or Tangible Chattel Paper evidencing an amount in excess of $1,000,000, such Pledgor shall forthwith endorse, assign and deliver the same to the Administrative Agent, accompanied by such instruments of transfer or assignment duly executed in blank as the Administrative Agent may from time to time reasonably request.

(b) Investment Property . Except to the extent otherwise provided in Article III , if any Pledgor shall at any time hold or acquire any Certificated Security, such Pledgor shall forthwith endorse, assign and deliver the same to the Administrative Agent, accompanied by such instruments of transfer or assignment duly executed in blank as the Administrative Agent may from time to time reasonably specify. If any security of a domestic issuer now or hereafter acquired by any Pledgor is uncertificated and is issued to such Pledgor or its nominee directly by the issuer thereof, (i) upon the Administrative Agent’s reasonable request and (ii) upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, such Pledgor shall promptly notify the Administrative Agent of such uncertificated securities and pursuant to an agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, either (i) cause the issuer to agree to comply with instructions from the Administrative Agent as to such security, without further consent of any Pledgor or such nominee, or (ii) cause the issuer to register the Administrative Agent as the registered owner of such security. If any security or other Investment Property, whether certificated or uncertificated, representing an Equity Interest in a third party and having a fair market value in excess of $500,000 now or hereafter acquired by any Pledgor is held by such Pledgor or its nominee through a securities intermediary or commodity intermediary, such Pledgor shall promptly notify the Administrative Agent thereof and, at the Administrative Agent’s request and option, pursuant to a Control Agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, either (A) cause such securities intermediary or commodity intermediary, as applicable, to agree, in the case of a securities intermediary, to comply with entitlement orders or other instructions from the Administrative Agent to such securities intermediary as to such securities or other Investment Property or, in the case of a commodity intermediary, to apply any value distributed on account of any commodity contract as directed by the Administrative Agent to such commodity intermediary, in each case without further consent of any Pledgor or such nominee, or (B) in the case of Financial Assets or other Investment Property held through a securities intermediary, arrange for the Administrative Agent to become the entitlement holder with respect to such Investment Property, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, with such Pledgor being permitted, only with the consent of the Administrative Agent, to exercise rights to withdraw or otherwise deal with such Investment Property. The Administrative Agent agrees with each of the Guarantors that the Administrative Agent shall not give any such entitlement orders or instructions or directions to any such issuer, securities intermediary or commodity intermediary, and shall not withhold its consent to the exercise of any withdrawal or dealing rights by any Pledgor, unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or, after giving effect to any such withdrawal or dealing rights, would occur. The provisions of this paragraph (b) requiring a Control Agreement shall not apply to any Financial Assets credited to a securities account for which the Administrative Agent is the securities intermediary.

 

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(c) Commercial Tort Claims . If any Pledgor shall at any time hold or acquire a Commercial Tort Claim in an amount reasonably estimated to exceed $500,000, such Pledgor shall promptly notify the Administrative Agent thereof in a writing signed by such Pledgor, including a summary description of such claim, and grant to the Administrative Agent in writing a security interest therein and in the proceeds thereof, all upon the terms of this Agreement, with such writing to be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

SECTION 4.05. Covenants Regarding Patent, Trademark and Copyright Collateral . Except as permitted by the Credit Agreement:

(a) Each Pledgor agrees that it will not knowingly do any act or omit to do any act (and will exercise commercially reasonable efforts to prevent its licensees from doing any act or omitting to do any act) whereby any Patent that is material to such Pledgor’s business may become prematurely invalidated or dedicated to the public, and agrees that it shall take commercially reasonable steps with respect to any material products covered by any such Patent as necessary and sufficient to establish and preserve its rights under applicable patent laws.

(b) Each Pledgor will, and will use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause its licensees or its sublicensees to, for each Trademark material to such Pledgor’s business, (i) maintain such Trademark in full force free from any adjudication of abandonment or invalidity for non-use, (ii) maintain the quality of products and services offered under such Trademark, (iii) display such Trademark with notice of federal or foreign registration or claim of trademark or service mark as required under applicable law and (iv) not knowingly use or knowingly permit its licensees’ use of such Trademark in violation of any third-party rights.

(c) Each Pledgor will, and will use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause its licensees or its sublicensees to, for each work covered by a Copyright material to the of such Pledgor’s business that it publishes, displays and distributes, use copyright notice as required under applicable copyright laws.

(d) Each Pledgor shall notify the Administrative Agent promptly if it knows that any Patent, Trademark or Copyright material to such Pledgor’s business may imminently become abandoned, lost or dedicated to the public, or of any materially adverse determination or development, excluding office actions and similar determinations or developments in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, United States Copyright Office, any court or any similar office of any country, regarding such Pledgor’s ownership of any such material Patent, Trademark or Copyright or its right to register or to maintain the same.

(e) Each Pledgor, either itself or through any agent, employee, licensee or designee, shall (i) inform the Administrative Agent on a semi-annual basis of each application by itself, or through any agent, employee, licensee or designee, for any Patent with the United States Patent and Trademark Office and each registration of any Trademark or Copyright with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the United States Copyright Office or any comparable office or agency in any other country filed during the preceding six-month period, and (ii) upon the reasonable request of the Administrative Agent, execute and deliver any and all agreements, instruments, documents and papers as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request to evidence the Administrative Agent’s security interest in such Patent, Trademark or Copyright.

 

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(f) Each Pledgor shall exercise its reasonable business judgment consistent with the practice in any proceeding before the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the United States Copyright Office or any comparable office or agency in any other country with respect to maintaining and pursuing each application relating to any Patent, Trademark and/or Copyright (and obtaining the relevant grant or registration) and to maintain (i) each issued material Patent and (ii) the registrations of each material Trademark and each material Copyright, including, when applicable and necessary in such Pledgor’s reasonable business judgment, timely filings of applications for renewal, affidavits of use, affidavits of incontestability and payment of maintenance fees, and, if any Pledgor believes necessary in its reasonable business judgment, to initiate opposition, interference and cancellation proceedings against third parties.

(g) In the event that any Pledgor knows or has reason to know that any Article 9 Collateral consisting of a Patent, Trademark or Copyright material to its business has been or is about to be materially infringed, misappropriated or diluted by a third party, such Pledgor shall promptly notify the Administrative Agent and shall, if such Pledgor deems it necessary in its reasonable business judgment, promptly sue and recover any and all damages, and take such other actions as are reasonably appropriate under the circumstances.

(h) Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, each Pledgor shall use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain all requisite consents or approvals from the licensor under each Copyright License, Patent License or Trademark License to effect the assignment of all such Pledgor’s right, title and interest thereunder to (in the Administrative Agent’s sole discretion) the designee of the Administrative Agent or the Administrative Agent.

ARTICLE V.

Remedies

SECTION 5.01. Remedies Upon Default . Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, each Pledgor agrees to deliver each item of Collateral to the Administrative Agent on demand, and it is agreed that the Administrative Agent shall have the right to take any of or all the following actions at the same or different times: (a) with respect to any Article 9 Collateral consisting of Intellectual Property, on demand, to cause the Security Interest to become an assignment, transfer and conveyance of any of or all such Article 9 Collateral by the applicable Pledgors to the Administrative Agent or to license or sublicense, whether general, special or otherwise, and whether on an exclusive or a nonexclusive basis, any such Article 9 Collateral throughout the world on such terms and conditions and in such manner as the Administrative Agent shall determine (other than in violation of any then-existing licensing arrangements to the extent that waivers thereunder cannot be obtained after commercially reasonable efforts on the part of the applicable Pledgors to obtain such waivers) and (b) with or without legal process and with or without prior notice or demand for performance, to take possession of the Article 9 Collateral and without liability for trespass to the applicable Pledgor to enter any premises where the Article 9 Collateral may be located for the purpose of taking possession of or removing the Article 9 Collateral and, generally, to exercise any and all rights afforded to a secured party under the applicable Uniform Commercial Code or other applicable law. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each Pledgor agrees that the Administrative Agent shall have the right, subject to the requirements of applicable law, to

 

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sell or otherwise dispose of all or any part of the Collateral at a public or private sale or at any broker’s board or on any securities exchange, for cash, upon credit or for future delivery as the Administrative Agent shall deem appropriate. The Administrative Agent shall be authorized in connection with any sale of a security (if it deems it advisable to do so) pursuant to the foregoing to restrict the prospective bidders or purchasers to persons who represent and agree that they are purchasing such security for their own account, for investment, and not with a view to the distribution or sale thereof. Upon consummation of any such sale of Collateral pursuant to this Section 5.01 , the Administrative Agent shall have the right to assign, transfer and deliver to the purchaser or purchasers thereof the Collateral so sold. Each such purchaser at any such sale shall hold the property sold absolutely, free from any claim or right on the part of any Pledgor, and each Pledgor hereby waives and releases (to the extent permitted by law) all rights of redemption, stay, valuation and appraisal that such Pledgor now has or may at any time in the future have under any rule of law or statute now existing or hereafter enacted. The Administrative Agent shall give the applicable Pledgors 10 Business Days’ written notice (which each Pledgor agrees is reasonable notice within the meaning of Section 9-611 of the New York UCC or its equivalent in other jurisdictions) of the Administrative Agent’s intention to make any sale of Collateral. Such notice, in the case of a public sale, shall state the time and place for such sale and, in the case of a sale at a broker’s board or on a securities exchange, shall state the board or exchange at which such sale is to be made and the day on which the Collateral, or portion thereof, will first be offered for sale at such board or exchange. Any such public sale shall be held at such time or times within ordinary business hours and at such place or places as the Administrative Agent may fix and state in the notice (if any) of such sale. At any such sale, the Collateral, or the portion thereof, to be sold may be sold in one lot as an entirety or in separate parcels, as the Administrative Agent may (in its sole and absolute discretion) determine. The Administrative Agent shall not be obligated to make any sale of any Collateral if it shall determine not to do so, regardless of the fact that notice of sale of such Collateral shall have been given. The Administrative Agent may, without notice or publication, adjourn any public or private sale or cause the same to be adjourned from time to time by announcement at the time and place fixed for sale, and such sale may, without further notice, be made at the time and place to which the same was so adjourned. In the case of any sale of all or any part of the Collateral made on credit or for future delivery, the Collateral so sold may be retained by the Administrative Agent until the sale price is paid by the purchaser or purchasers thereof, but the Administrative Agent shall not incur any liability in the event that any such purchaser or purchasers shall fail to take up and pay for the Collateral so sold and, in the case of any such failure, such Collateral may be sold again upon notice given in accordance with provisions above. At any public (or, to the extent permitted by law, private) sale made pursuant to this Section 5.01 , any Secured Party may bid for or purchase for cash, free (to the extent permitted by law) from any right of redemption, stay, valuation or appraisal on the part of any Pledgor (all such rights being also hereby waived and released to the extent permitted by law), the Collateral or any part thereof offered for sale and such Secured Party may, upon compliance with the terms of sale, hold, retain and dispose of such property in accordance with Section 5.02 hereof without further accountability to any Pledgor therefor. For purposes hereof, a written agreement to purchase the Collateral or any portion thereof shall be treated as a sale thereof; the Administrative Agent shall be free to carry out such sale pursuant to such agreement and no Pledgor shall be entitled to the return of the Collateral or any portion thereof subject thereto, notwithstanding the fact that after the Administrative Agent shall have entered into such an

 

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agreement all Events of Default shall have been remedied and the Obligations paid in full. As an alternative to exercising the power of sale herein conferred upon it, the Administrative Agent may proceed by a suit or suits at law or in equity to foreclose this Agreement and to sell the Collateral or any portion thereof pursuant to a judgment or decree of a court or courts having competent jurisdiction or pursuant to a proceeding by a court-appointed receiver. Any sale pursuant to the provisions of this Section 5.01 shall be deemed to conform to the commercially reasonable standards as provided in Section 9-610(b) of the New York UCC or its equivalent in other jurisdictions.

SECTION 5.02. Application of Proceeds . The Administrative Agent shall promptly apply the proceeds, moneys or balances of any collection or sale of Collateral, as well as any Collateral consisting of cash, as follows:

FIRST, to the payment of all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent in connection with such collection or sale or otherwise in connection with this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any of the Obligations, including without limitation all court costs and the reasonable fees and expenses of its agents and legal counsel, the repayment of all advances made by the Administrative Agent hereunder or under any other Loan Document on behalf of any Pledgor, any other reasonable costs or expenses incurred in connection with the exercise of any right or remedy hereunder or under any other Loan Document, and all other fees, indemnities and other amounts owing or reimbursable to the Administrative Agent under any Loan Document in its capacity as such;

SECOND, to payment of all fees, indemnities and other amounts (other than principal and interest) payable to the Issuing Bank in capacity as such and of any amount required to be paid to the Issuing Bank by any Revolving Facility Lender pursuant to Section 2.05(d) , (e)(ii) and (h)  of the Credit Agreement and not paid by such Revolving Facility Lender (which shall be payable to the Administrative Agent if the Administrative Agent advanced such payment to the Issuing Bank in anticipation of such payment by such Revolving Facility Lender and otherwise, to the Issuing Bank);

THIRD, to the payment in full of the Obligations (the amounts so applied to be distributed among the Secured Parties pro rata in accordance with the respective amounts of the Obligations owed to them on the date of any such distribution, which in the case of Letters of Credit, shall be paid by deposit in an account with the Administrative Agent, in the name of the Administrative Agent and for the benefit of the Lenders, an amount in cash in U.S. Dollars equal to the aggregate L/C Exposure as of such date plus any accrued and unpaid interest thereon); and

FOURTH, to the Pledgors, their successors or assigns, or as a court of competent jurisdiction may otherwise direct.

The Administrative Agent shall have absolute discretion as to the time of application of any such proceeds, moneys or balances in accordance with this Agreement. Upon any sale of Collateral by the Administrative Agent (including pursuant to a power of sale granted by statute or under a judicial proceeding), the receipt of the purchase money by the Administrative Agent or of the officer making the sale shall be a sufficient discharge to the purchaser or purchasers of the Collateral so sold and such purchaser or purchasers shall not be obligated to see to the application of any part of the purchase money paid over to the Administrative Agent or such officer or be answerable in any way for the misapplication thereof.

 

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SECTION 5.03. Grant of License to Use Intellectual Property . For the purpose of enabling the Administrative Agent to exercise rights and remedies under this Agreement at such time as the Administrative Agent shall be lawfully entitled to exercise such rights and remedies, each Pledgor hereby grants to (in the Administrative Agent’s sole discretion) a designee of the Administrative Agent or the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, an irrevocable, non-exclusive license (exercisable without payment of royalty or other compensation to any Pledgor) to use, license or sublicense any of the Article 9 Collateral consisting of Intellectual Property now owned or hereafter acquired by such Pledgor, wherever the same may be located, and including, without limitation, in such license reasonable access to all media in which any of the licensed items may be recorded or stored and to all computer software and programs used for the compilation or printout thereof, the right to prosecute and maintain all intellectual property and the right to sue for past infringement of the intellectual property. The use of such license by the Administrative Agent may be exercised, at the option of the Administrative Agent, upon the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default; provided that any license, sublicense or other transaction entered into by the Administrative Agent in accordance herewith shall be binding upon the Pledgors notwithstanding any subsequent cure of an Event of Default..

SECTION 5.04. Securities Act, Etc . In view of the position of the Pledgors in relation to the Pledged Collateral, or because of other current or future circumstances, a question may arise under the Securities Act of 1933, as now or hereafter in effect, or any similar federal statute hereafter enacted analogous in purpose or effect (such Act and any such similar statute as from time to time in effect being called the “ Federal Securities Laws ”) with respect to any disposition of the Pledged Collateral permitted hereunder. Each Pledgor understands that compliance with the Federal Securities Laws might very strictly limit the course of conduct of the Administrative Agent if the Administrative Agent were to attempt to dispose of all or any part of the Pledged Collateral, and might also limit the extent to which or the manner in which any subsequent transferee of any Pledged Collateral could dispose of the same. Similarly, there may be other legal restrictions or limitations affecting the Administrative Agent in any attempt to dispose of all or part of the Pledged Collateral under applicable Blue Sky or other state securities laws or similar laws analogous in purpose or effect. Each Pledgor acknowledges and agrees that in light of such restrictions and limitations, the Administrative Agent, in its sole and absolute discretion, (a) may proceed to make such a sale whether or not a registration statement for the purpose of registering such Pledged Collateral or part thereof shall have been filed under the Federal Securities Laws or, to the extent applicable, Blue Sky or other state securities laws and (b) may approach and negotiate with a single potential purchaser to effect such sale. Each Pledgor acknowledges and agrees that any such sale might result in prices and other terms less favorable to the seller than if such sale were a public sale without such restrictions. In the event of any such sale, the Administrative Agent shall incur no responsibility or liability for selling all or any part of the Pledged Collateral at a price that the Administrative Agent, in its sole and absolute discretion, may in good faith deem reasonable under the circumstances, notwithstanding the possibility that a substantially higher price might have been realized if the sale were deferred until after registration as aforesaid or if more than a single purchaser were approached. The provisions of this Section 5.04 will apply notwithstanding the existence of a public or private market upon which the quotations or sales prices may exceed substantially the price at which the Administrative Agent sells.

 

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SECTION 5.05. Registration, Etc . Each Pledgor agrees that, upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, if for any reason the Administrative Agent desires to sell any of the Pledged Collateral at a public sale, it will, at any time and from time to time, upon the written request of the Administrative Agent, use its commercially reasonable efforts to take or to cause the issuer of such Pledged Collateral to take such action and prepare, distribute and/or file such documents, as are required or advisable in the reasonable opinion of counsel for the Administrative Agent to permit the public sale of such Pledged Collateral. Each Pledgor further agrees to indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Administrative Agent, each other Secured Party, any underwriter and their respective officers, directors, affiliates and controlling persons from and against all loss, liability, expenses, costs of counsel (including reasonable fees and expenses to the Administrative Agent of legal counsel), and claims (including the costs of investigation) that they may incur insofar as such loss, liability, expense or claim arises out of or is based upon any alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or in any notification or offering circular, or arises out of or is based upon any alleged omission to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements in any thereof not misleading, except insofar as the same may have been caused by any untrue statement or omission based upon information furnished in writing to such Pledgor or the issuer of such Pledged Collateral by the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party expressly for use therein. Each Pledgor further agrees, upon such written request referred to above, to use its commercially reasonable efforts to qualify, file or register, or cause the issuer of such Pledged Collateral to qualify, file or register, any of the Pledged Collateral under the Blue Sky or other securities laws of such states as may be reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent and keep effective, or cause to be kept effective, all such qualifications, filings or registrations. Each Pledgor will bear all costs and expenses of carrying out its obligations under this Section 5.05 . Each Pledgor acknowledges that there is no adequate remedy at law for failure by it to comply with the provisions of this Section 5.05 only and that such failure would not be adequately compensable in damages and, therefore, agrees that its agreements contained in this Section 5.05 may be specifically enforced.

ARTICLE VI.

Indemnity, Subrogation and Subordination

SECTION 6.01. Indemnity and Subrogation . In addition to all such rights of indemnity and subrogation as the Guarantors may have under applicable law (but subject to Section 6.03 ), the Borrower agrees that (a) in the event a payment shall be made by any Guarantor under this Agreement in respect of any Obligation of the Borrower, the Borrower shall indemnify such Guarantor for the full amount of such payment and such Pledgor shall be subrogated to the rights of the person to whom such payment shall have been made to the extent of such payment and (b) in the event any assets of any Guarantor shall be sold pursuant to this Agreement or any other Security Document to satisfy in whole or in part an Obligation of the Borrower, the Borrower shall indemnify such Guarantor in an amount equal to the greater of the book value or the fair market value of the assets so sold.

SECTION 6.02. Contribution and Subrogation . Each Guarantor (a “ Contributing Guarantor ”) agrees (subject to Section 6.03 ) that, in the event a payment shall be made by any other Guarantor hereunder in respect of any Obligation or assets of any other Guarantor shall be sold pursuant to any Security Document to satisfy any Obligation owed to any Secured Party and such other Guarantor (the “ Claiming Guarantor ”) shall not have been fully indemnified by the Borrower as provided in Section 6.01 , the Contributing Guarantor shall indemnify the Claiming Guarantor in an amount equal to the amount of such payment or

 

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the greater of the book value or the fair market value of such assets, as applicable, in each case multiplied by a fraction of which the numerator shall be the net worth of such Contributing Guarantor on the date hereof and the denominator shall be the aggregate net worth of all the Guarantors on the date hereof (or, in the case of any Guarantor becoming a party hereto pursuant to Section 7.16 , the date of the supplement hereto executed and delivered by such Guarantor). Any Contributing Guarantor making any payment to a Claiming Guarantor pursuant to this Section 6.02 shall be subrogated to the rights of such Claiming Guarantor under Section 6.01 to the extent of such payment.

SECTION 6.03. Subordination . (a) Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, all rights of the Guarantors under Sections 6.01 and 6.02 and all other rights of indemnity, contribution or subrogation of the Pledgor under applicable law or otherwise shall be fully subordinated to the payment in full in cash or immediately’ available funds of the Obligations (other than contingent or unliquidated obligations or liabilities). No failure on the part of the Borrower or any Guarantor to make the payments required by Sections 6.01 and 6.02 (or any other payments required under applicable law or otherwise) shall in any respect limit the obligations and liabilities of any Guarantor with respect to its obligations hereunder, and each Guarantor shall remain liable for the full amount of the obligations of such Guarantor hereunder.

(b) Each Guarantor hereby agrees that all Indebtedness and other monetary obligations owed by it to any other Guarantor or any Subsidiary shall be fully subordinated to the payment in full in cash or immediately available funds of the Obligations (other than contingent or unliquidated obligations or liabilities).

ARTICLE VII.

Miscellaneous

SECTION 7.01. Notices . All communications and notices hereunder shall (except as otherwise expressly permitted herein) be in writing and given as provided in Section 9.01 of the Credit Agreement. All communications and notices hereunder to any Subsidiary Party shall be given to it in care of the Borrower, with such notice to be given as provided in Section 9.01 of the Credit Agreement.

SECTION 7.02. Security Interest Absolute . All rights of the Administrative Agent hereunder, the Security Interest, the security interest in the Pledged Collateral and all obligations of each Pledgor hereunder shall be absolute and unconditional irrespective of (a) any lack of validity or enforceability of the Credit Agreement, any other Loan Document, any agreement with respect to any of the Obligations or any other agreement or instrument relating to any of the foregoing, (b) any change in the time, manner or place of payment of, or in any other term of, all or any of the Obligations, or any other amendment or waiver of or any consent to any departure from the Credit Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other agreement or instrument, (c) any exchange, release or non-perfection of any Lien on other collateral, or any release or amendment or waiver of or consent under or departure from any guarantee, securing or guaranteeing all or any of the Obligations or (d) any other circumstance that might otherwise constitute a defense available to, or a discharge of, any Pledgor in respect of the Obligations or this Agreement (other than a defense of payment or performance).

SECTION 7.03. Limitation By Law . All rights, remedies and powers provided in this Agreement may be exercised only to the extent that the exercise thereof does not violate any applicable provision of law, and all the provisions of this Agreement are intended to be subject to all applicable mandatory provisions of law that may be controlling and to be limited to the extent necessary so that they shall not render this Agreement invalid, unenforceable, in whole or in part, or not entitled to be recorded, registered or filed under the provisions of any applicable law.

 

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SECTION 7.04. Binding Effect; Several Agreement . This Agreement shall become effective as to any party to this Agreement when a counterpart hereof executed on behalf of such party shall have been delivered to the Administrative Agent and a counterpart hereof shall have been executed on behalf of the Administrative Agent, and thereafter shall be binding upon such party and the Administrative Agent and their respective permitted successors and assigns, and shall inure to the benefit of such party, the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties and their respective permitted successors and assigns, except that no party shall have the right to assign or transfer its rights or obligations hereunder or any interest herein or in the Collateral (and any such assignment or transfer shall be void) except as expressly contemplated by this Agreement or the Credit Agreement. This Agreement shall be construed as a separate agreement with respect to each party and may be amended, modified, supplemented, waived or released with respect to any party without the approval of any other party and without affecting the obligations of any other party hereunder.

SECTION 7.05. Successors and Assigns . Whenever in this Agreement any of the parties hereto is referred to, such reference shall be deemed to include the permitted successors and assigns of such party; and all covenants, promises and agreements by or on behalf of any Pledgor or the Administrative Agent that are contained in this Agreement shall bind and inure to the benefit of their respective permitted successors and assigns. The Administrative Agent hereunder shall at all times be the same person that is the Administrative Agent under the Credit Agreement. Written notice of resignation by the Administrative Agent pursuant to the Credit Agreement shall also constitute notice of resignation as the Administrative Agent under this Agreement. Upon the acceptance of any appointment as the Administrative Agent under the Credit Agreement by a successor Administrative Agent, that successor Administrative Agent shall thereupon succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Administrative Agent pursuant hereto.

SECTION 7.06. Administrative Agent’s Fees and Expenses; Indemnification . (a) The parties hereto agree that the Administrative Agent shall be entitled to reimbursement of its expenses incurred hereunder as provided in Section 9.05 of the Credit Agreement.

(b) Without limitation of its indemnification obligations under the other Loan Documents, in addition to such obligations, each Pledgor jointly and severally agrees to indemnify the Administrative Agent and the other Indemnitees (as defined in Section 9.05 of the Credit Agreement) against, and hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and related expenses, including reasonable counsel fees, charges and disbursements, incurred by or asserted against any Indemnitee arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, (i) the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement or any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby, the performance by the parties hereto and thereto of their respective obligations thereunder or the consummation of the Transactions and other transactions contemplated hereby, (ii) the use of proceeds of the Loans or the use of any Letter of Credit or (iii) any claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, or to the Collateral, whether or not 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 are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee.

(c) Any such amounts payable as provided hereunder shall be additional Obligations secured hereby and by the other Security Documents. The provisions of this Section 7.06 shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of the termination of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, the consummation of the transactions contemplated

 

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hereby, the repayment of any of the Obligations, the invalidity or unenforceability of any term or provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or any investigation made by or on behalf of the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party. All amounts due under this Section 7.06 shall be payable on written demand therefor.

SECTION 7.07. Administrative Agent Appointed Attorney-in-Fact . Each Pledgor hereby appoints the Administrative Agent the attorney-in-fact of such Pledgor for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this Agreement and taking any action and executing any instrument that the Administrative Agent may deem necessary or advisable to accomplish the purposes hereof, which appointment is irrevocable and coupled with an interest. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent shall have the right, upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, with full power of substitution either in the Administrative Agent’s name or in the name of such Pledgor, (a) to receive, endorse, assign or deliver any and all notes, acceptances, checks, drafts, money orders or other evidences of payment relating to the Collateral or any part thereof, (b) to demand, collect, receive payment of, give receipt for and give discharges and releases of all or any of the Collateral; (c) to ask for, demand, sue for, collect, receive and give acquittance for any and all moneys due or to become due under and by virtue of any Collateral; (d) to sign the name of any Pledgor on any invoice or bill of lading relating to any of the Collateral; (e) to send verifications of Accounts to any Account Debtor; (f) to commence and prosecute any and all suits, actions or proceedings at law or in equity in any court of competent jurisdiction to collect or otherwise realize on all or any of the Collateral or to enforce any rights in respect of any Collateral; (g) to settle, compromise, compound, adjust or defend any actions, suits or proceedings relating to all or any of the Collateral; (h) to notify, or to require any Pledgor to notify, Account Debtors to make payment directly to the Administrative Agent; and (i) to use, sell, assign, transfer, pledge, make any agreement with respect to or otherwise deal with all or any of the Collateral, and to do all other acts and things necessary to carry out the purposes of this Agreement, as fully and completely as though the Administrative Agent were the absolute owner of the Collateral for all purposes; provided, that nothing herein contained shall be construed as requiring or obligating the Administrative Agent to make any commitment or to make any inquiry as to the nature or sufficiency of any payment received by the Administrative Agent, or to present or file any claim or notice, or to take any action with respect to the Collateral or any part thereof or the moneys due or to become due in respect thereof or any property covered thereby. The Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties shall be accountable only for amounts actually received as a result of the exercise of the powers granted to them herein, and neither they nor their officers, directors, employees or agents shall be responsible to any Pledgor for any act or failure to act hereunder, except for their own gross negligence or willful misconduct.

SECTION 7.08. GOVERNING LAW . THIS AGREEMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES UNDER THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH AND GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

SECTION 7.09. Waivers; Amendment . (a) No failure or delay by the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender in exercising any right, power or remedy hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right, power or remedy, or any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce such a right, power or remedy, preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or remedy. The rights, powers and remedies of the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank and the Lenders hereunder and under the other Loan Documents are cumulative and are not exclusive of any rights, powers

 

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or remedies that they would otherwise have. No waiver of any provision of this Agreement or consent to any departure by any Loan Party therefrom shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be permitted by paragraph (b)  of this Section 7.09 , and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for which given. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the making of a Loan or the issuance of a Letter of Credit shall not be construed as a waiver of any Default or Event of Default, regardless of whether the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any Issuing Bank may have had notice or knowledge of such Default or Event of Default at the time. No notice or demand on any Loan Party in any case shall entitle any Loan Party to any other or further notice or demand in similar or other circumstances.

(b) Neither this Agreement nor any provision hereof may be waived, amended or modified except pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by the Administrative Agent and the Loan Party or Loan Parties with respect to which such waiver, amendment or modification is to apply, subject to any consent required in accordance with Section 9.08 of the Credit Agreement.

SECTION 7.10. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL . EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF, UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS. EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATNE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 7.10 .

SECTION 7.11. Severability . In the event any one or more of the provisions contained in this Agreement or in any other Loan Document should be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained herein and therein shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby. The parties shall endeavor in good-faith negotiations to replace the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions.

SECTION 7.12. Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original but all of which when taken together shall constitute but one contract, and shall become effective as provided in Section 7.04 . Delivery of an executed counterpart to this Agreement by facsimile transmission shall be as effective as delivery of a manually signed original.

SECTION 7.13. Headings . Article and Section headings and the Table of Contents used herein are for convenience of reference only, are not part of this Agreement and are not to affect the construction of, or to be taken into consideration in interpreting, this Agreement.

SECTION 7.14 Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process . (a) Each party to this Agreement hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits, for itself and its property, to the exclusive jurisdiction of any New York State court or federal court of the United States of America sitting in New York City, and any appellate court from any thereof, in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Documents, or for recognition or enforcement of any judgment, and each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that all claims in respect of any such action or proceeding

 

30


may be heard and determined in such New York State or, to the extent permitted by law, in such federal court. Each of the parties hereto agrees that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law. Nothing in this Agreement shall affect any right that the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender may otherwise have to bring any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document against any Pledgor, or its properties, in the courts of any jurisdiction.

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

SECTION 7.15. Termination or Release . (a) This Agreement, the guarantees made herein, the pledges made herein, the Security Interest and all other security interests granted hereby shall terminate when all the Loan Document Obligations (other than contingent or unliquidated obligations or liabilities) have been paid in full in cash or immediately available funds and the Lenders have no further commitment to lend under the Credit Agreement, the L/C Exposure has been reduced to zero and each Issuing Bank has no further obligations to issue Letters of Credit under the Credit Agreement.

(b) A Subsidiary Party shall automatically be released from its obligations hereunder and the security interests in the Collateral of such Subsidiary Party shall be automatically released upon the consummation of any transaction permitted by the Credit Agreement as a result of which such Subsidiary Party ceases to be a Subsidiary of the Borrower or otherwise ceases to be a Pledgor; provided that the Required Lenders shall have consented to such transaction (to the extent such consent is required by the Credit Agreement) and the terms of such consent did not provide otherwise.

(c) Upon any sale or other transfer by any Pledgor of any Collateral that is permitted under the Credit Agreement to any person that is not a Pledgor, or upon the effectiveness of any written consent to the release of the security interest granted hereby in any Collateral pursuant to Section 9.08 of the Credit Agreement, the security interest in such Collateral shall be automatically released.

(d) In connection with any termination or release pursuant to paragraph (a) , (b)  or (c)  of this Section 7.15 , the Administrative Agent shall execute and deliver to any Pledgor, at such Pledgor’s, expense all documents that such Pledgor shall reasonably request to evidence such termination or release (including, without limitation, UCC termination statements), and will duly assign and transfer to such Pledgor, such of the Pledged Collateral that may be in the possession of the Administrative Agent and has not theretofore been sold or otherwise applied or released pursuant to this Agreement; provided , that the Administrative Agent shall not be required to take any action under this Section 7.15(d) unless such Pledgor shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent together with such request, which may be incorporated into such request, (i) a reasonably detailed description of the Collateral, which in any event shall be sufficient to effect the appropriate termination or release without affecting any other Collateral, and (ii) a certificate of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower or such Pledgor certifying that the transaction giving rise to such termination or release is permitted by the Credit Agreement and

 

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was consummated in compliance with the Loan Documents. Any execution and delivery of documents pursuant to this Section 7.15 shall be without recourse to or warranty by the Administrative Agent.

SECTION 7.16. Additional Subsidiaries . Upon execution and delivery by the Administrative Agent and any Subsidiary that is required to become a party hereto by Section 5.11 of the Credit Agreement of an instrument in the form of Exhibit I hereto, such subsidiary shall become a Subsidiary Party hereunder with the same force and effect as if originally named as a Subsidiary Party herein. The execution and delivery of any such instrument shall not require the consent of any other party to this Agreement. The rights and obligations of each party to this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding the addition of any new party to this Agreement.

SECTION 7.17. Right of Set-off . If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, each Lender and each Issuing Bank is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to set-off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final) at any time held and other indebtedness at any time owing by such Lender or such Issuing Bank to or for the credit or the account of any party to this Agreement against any of and all the obligations of such party now or hereafter existing under this Agreement owed to such Lender or such Issuing Bank, irrespective of whether or not such Lender or such Issuing Bank shall have made any demand under this Agreement and although such obligations may be unmatured. The rights of each Lender under this Section 7.17 are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of set-off) that such Lender or such Issuing Bank may have.

[Signature Page Follows]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have duly executed this Agreement as of the day and year first above written.

 

AFFINION GROUP, INC.
By:  

/s/ Nathaniel J. Lipman

 

Name: Nathaniel J. Lipman

Title: Chief Executive Officer

AFFINION GROUP HOLDINGS, INC.
By:  

/s/ Nathaniel J. Lipman

 

Name: Nathaniel J. Lipman

Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

33


AFFINION AUTO SERVICES, INC.

AFFINION DATA SERVICES, INC.

AFFINION GROUP, LLC

AFFINION MEMBERSHIP SERVICES HOLDINGS SUBSIDIARY LLC

AFFINION PUBLISHING, INC.

BENEFIT CONSULTANTS MEMBERSHIP, INC.

CARDWELL AGENCY INC.

COMP-U-CARD SERVICES, LLC

CREDENTIALS SERVICES INTERNATIONAL, INC.

LONG TERM PREFERRED CARE, INC.

MCM GROUP, LTD.

NGI HOLDINGS, INC.

PREFERRED CARE AGENCY, INC.

PROGENY MARKETING INNOVATIONS OF KENTUCKY, INC.

PROGENY MARKETING INNOVATIONS, INC.

SAFECARD SERVICES, INCORPORATED

TRAVELER’S ADVANTAGE SERVICES, INC.

TRILEGIANT AUTO SERVICES, INC.

TRILEGIANT CORPORATION

TRILEGIANT INSURANCE SERVICES, INC.

TRILEGIANT LOYALTY SOLUTIONS, INC.

TRILEGIANT MARKETING SERVICES, INC.

TRILEGIANT RETAIL SERVICES, INC.

TRL GROUP, INC.

UNITED BANK CLUB ASSOCIATION, INC.

By:

 

/s/ Nathaniel J. Lipman

 

Name: Nathaniel J. Lipman

Title: Chief Executive Officer

CUC ASIA HOLDINGS,
 

By:

 

Comp-U-Card Services, LLC, its General Partner

  By:  

/s/ Nathaniel J. Lipman

   

Name: Nathaniel J. Lipman

Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

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CREDIT SUISSE, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH,
as Administrative Agent
By:  

/s/ Robert Hetu

 

Name: Robert Hetu

Title: Director

By:  

/s/ Cassandra Droogan

 

Name: Cassandra Droogan

Title: Associate

 

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Exhibit I

to Guarantee and

Collateral Agreement

SUPPLEMENT NO.              dated as of             (this “ Supplement ”), to the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement dated as of October 17, 2005 (the “ Guarantee and Collateral Agreement ”), among AFFINION GROUP, INC., a Delaware corporation (the “ Borrower ”), AFFINION GROUP HOLDINGS, INC., a Delaware corporation (“ Holdings ”), each Subsidiary Party thereto and CREDIT SUISSE, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, as Administrative Agent (in such capacity, the “ Administrative Agent ”) for the Secured Parties (as defined herein).

A. Reference is made to the Credit Agreement dated as of October 17, 2005 (as amended, supplemented, waived or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Credit Agreement ”), among Holdings, the Borrower, the Lenders party thereto from time to time, the Administrative Agent, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., as syndication agent, Bank of America, N.A. and BNP Paribas Securities Corp., as documentation agents and Credit Suisse First Boston LLC and Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., as joint lead arrangers and joint bookrunners (in such capacity, the “ Joint Lead Arrangers ”).

B. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Credit Agreement and the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement referred to therein.

C. The Guarantors have entered into the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement in order to induce the Lenders to make Loans and each Issuing Bank to issue Letters of Credit. Section 7.16 of the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement provides that additional Subsidiaries may become Subsidiary Parties under the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement by execution and delivery of an instrument in the form of this Supplement. The undersigned Subsidiary (the “ New Subsidiary ”) is executing this Supplement in accordance with the requirements of the Credit Agreement to become a Subsidiary Party under the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement in order to induce the Lenders to make additional Loans and each Issuing Bank to issue additional Letters of Credit and as consideration for Loans previously made and Letters of Credit previously issued.

Accordingly, the Administrative Agent and the New Subsidiary agree as follows:

SECTION 1. In accordance with Section 7.16 of the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, the New Subsidiary by its signature below becomes a Subsidiary Party and a Pledgor under the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement with the same force and effect as if originally named therein as a Subsidiary Party and a Pledgor, and the New Subsidiary hereby (a) agrees to all the terms and provisions of the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement applicable to it as a Subsidiary Party and Pledgor thereunder and (b) represents and warrants that the representations and warranties made by it as a Pledgor thereunder are true and correct, in all material respects, on and as of the date hereof. In furtherance of the foregoing, the New Subsidiary, as security for the payment and performance in full of the Obligations (as defined in the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement), does hereby create and grant to the Administrative Agent, its successors

 

1


and assigns, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, their successors and assigns, a security interest in and Lien on all the New Subsidiary’s right, title and interest in and to the Collateral (as defined in the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement) of the New Subsidiary. Each reference to a “ Subsidiary Party ” or a “ Pledgor ” in the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement shall be deemed to include the New Subsidiary. The Guarantee and Collateral Agreement is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

SECTION 2. The New Subsidiary represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties that this Supplement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by it and constitutes its legal, valid and binding obligation, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, subject to (i) the effects of bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance or other similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, (ii) general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law) and (iii) implied covenants of good faith and fair dealing.

SECTION 3. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original but all of which when taken together shall constitute but one contract. This Supplement shall become effective when (a) the Administrative Agent shall have received a counterpart of this Supplement that bears the signature of the New Subsidiary and (b) the Administrative Agent has executed a counterpart hereof.

SECTION 4. The New Subsidiary hereby represents and warrants that (a) set forth on Schedule I attached hereto is a true and correct schedule of the location of any and all Article 9 Collateral of the New Subsidiary, (b) set forth on Schedule II attached hereto is a true and correct schedule of all the Pledged Securities of the New Subsidiary and (c) set forth under its signature hereto, is the true and correct legal name of the New Subsidiary, its jurisdiction of formation and the location of its chief executive office.

SECTION 5. Except as expressly supplemented hereby, the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.

SECTION 6. THIS SUPPLEMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES UNDER THIS SUPPLEMENT SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH AND GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

SECTION 7. In the event any one or more of the provisions contained in this Supplement should be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained herein and in the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby. The parties shall endeavor in good-faith negotiations to replace the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions.

SECTION 8. All communications and notices hereunder shall be in writing and given as provided in Section 7.01 of the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement.

 

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SECTION 9. The New Subsidiary agrees to reimburse the Administrative Agent for its reasonable out-of-pocket expenses in connection with this Supplement, including the reasonable fees, disbursements and other charges of counsel for the Administrative Agent.

 

3


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the New Subsidiary and the Administrative Agent have duly executed this Supplement to the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement as of the day and year first above written.

 

[Name of New Subsidiary]

By:     
 

Name:

Title:

Legal Name:

Jurisdiction of Formation:

Location of Chief

Executive Office:

 

4


CREDIT SUISSE, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, as Administrative Agent

By:     
 

Name:

Title:

By:     
 

Name:

Title:

 

5


Schedule I

to Supplement No.              to the

Guarantee and

Collateral Agreement

 

LOCATION OF ARTICLE 9 COLLATERAL

Description

   Location

 

6


Schedule II to

Supplement No.             

to the Guarantee and

Collateral Agreement

 

Pledged Securities of the New Subsidiary

EQUITY INTERESTS

Number of Issuer
Certificate
   Registered Owner    Number and Class of
Equity Interest
   Percentage of Equity
Interests

DEBT SECURITIES

Issuer    Principal Amount    Date of Note    Maturity Date

OTHER PROPERTY

 

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      Exhibit 10.4                    
     

 

MANAGEMENT INVESTOR RIGHTS

AGREEMENT dated as of October 17, 2005 (this

“Agreement”), among AFFINION GROUP

HOLDINGS, INC., a Delaware corporation (the

“Company”), AFFINION GROUP HOLDINGS,

LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

(“Parent LLC”), and the HOLDERS that are parties

hereto.

WHEREAS, each Holder deems it to be in the best interest of the Company and the Holders that provision be made for the continuity and stability of the business and policies of the Company, and, to that end, the Company and the Holders hereby set forth herein their agreement with respect to the Common Stock and Options now owned or hereafter owned by them.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and of the mutual consents and obligations hereinafter set forth, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

Section 1. Definitions .

As used in this Agreement:

Additional Consideration ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 5(e).

Affiliate ” of the Company or the Parent LLC means a Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, the Company or the Parent LLC, as applicable. As used in this definition, the term “control,” including the correlative terms “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under common control with,” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of management or policies (whether through ownership of securities or any partnership or other ownership interest, by contract or otherwise) of a Person. The term “ Affiliate ” shall not include at any time any portfolio companies of Apollo Management V, L.P. or its affiliates.

Affiliate ” of a Holder (other than the Parent LLC) means: (i) any member of the immediate family of an individual Holder, including parents, siblings, spouse and children (including those by adoption); the parents, siblings, spouse, or children (including those by adoption) of such immediate family member, and in any such case any trust whose primary beneficiary is such individual Holder or one or more members of such immediate family and/or such Holder’s lineal descendants; (ii) the legal representative or guardian of such individual Holder or of any such immediate family member in the event such individual Holder or any such immediate family member becomes mentally incompetent; and (iii) any Person controlling, controlled by or under common control with a Holder. As used in this definition, the term “control,” including the correlative terms “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under common control with,” means possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of management or policies (whether through ownership of securities or any partnership or other ownership interest, by contract or otherwise) of a Person. The term “ Affiliate ” shall not include at any time any portfolio companies of Apollo Management V, L.P. or its affiliates.


Apollo Group ” means Apollo Investment Fund V, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, and each of its affiliates.

Asset Sale ” means the sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis.

Bankruptcy Event ” means with respect to any Management Holder (i) such holder shall voluntarily be adjudicated as bankrupt or insolvent; (ii) such holder shall consent to or not contest the appointment of a receiver or trustee for himself, herself or itself or for all or any part of his, her or its property; (iii) such holder shall file a petition seeking relief under the bankruptcy, rearrangement, reorganization or other debtor relief laws of the United States or any state or any other competent jurisdiction; (iv) such holder shall make a general assignment for the benefit of his, her or its creditors; (v) a petition shall have been filed against such Management Holder seeking relief under the bankruptcy, rearrangement, reorganization or other debtor relief laws of the United States or any state or other competent jurisdiction; or (vi) a court of competent jurisdiction shall have entered an order, judgment or decree appointing a receiver or trustee for such Management Holder, or for any part of his, her or its property, and such petition, order, judgment or decree shall not be and remain discharged or stayed within a period of sixty (60) days after its entry.

Board ” means the Board of Directors of the Company and any duly authorized committee thereof. All determinations by the Board required pursuant to the terms of this Agreement to be made by the Board shall be binding and conclusive.

Cause ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in the Stock Incentive Plan.

Come Along Option ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2(b)(i).

Come Along Shares ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2(b)(ii).

Common Stock ” means the common stock of the Company, par value $.01 per share.

Company ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in the introductory paragraph hereof

Control Disposition ” means a Disposition which would have the effect of transferring to a Person or Group a number of shares of Common Stock such that, following the consummation of such Disposition, such Person or Group possesses the voting power to elect a majority of the Board (whether by merger, consolidation or sale or transfer of Common Stock).

Deemed Held Shares ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2(a)(ii).

Disability ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in the Stock Incentive Plan.

Disposition ” means any direct or indirect transfer, assignment, sale, gift, pledge, hypothecation or other encumbrance, or any other disposition, of Common Stock (or any interest therein or right thereto) or of all or part of the voting power (other than the granting of a revocable proxy) associated with the Common Stock (or any interest therein) whatsoever, or any other transfer of beneficial ownership of Common Stock whether voluntary or involuntary, including, without limitation (a) as a part of any liquidation of a Management Holder’s assets or

 

2


(b) as a part of any reorganization of a Management Holder pursuant to the United States or other bankruptcy law or other similar debtor relief laws.

Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder.

Executive Management Holder ” means each Management Holder set forth on Annex III hereto and any such other Management Holder as the Board may designate from time to time, including after consideration in good faith of any designees recommended by any member of the Board.

Fair Market Value ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in the Stock Incentive Plan.

Good Reason ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in the Stock Incentive Plan.

Group ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act.

Holders ” means the holders of securities of the Company who are parties hereto.

Indebtedness ” means with respect to any Person, (a) all indebtedness of such Person for borrowed money, whether current or funded, or secured or unsecured, (b) all indebtedness of such Person for the deferred purchase price of property or services represented by a note, bond, debenture or similar instrument and any other obligation or liability represented by a note, bond, debenture or similar instrument, (c) all indebtedness of such Person created or arising under any conditional sale or other title retention agreement with respect to property acquired by such Person (even though the rights and remedies of the seller or lender under such agreement in the event of default are limited to repossession or sale of such property), (d) all indebtedness of such Person secured by a purchase money mortgage or other lien to secure all or part of the purchase price of the property subject to such mortgage or lien, (e) all obligations of such Person to pay rent or other amounts under any lease of (or other arrangement conveying the right to use) real or personal property, or a combination thereof, which obligations are required to be classified and accounted for as capital leases on a balance sheet of such Person under generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“ GAAP ”) and, for the purposes of this Agreement, the amount of such obligations at any time shall be the capitalized amount thereof at such time determined in accordance with GAAP, (f) all unpaid reimbursement obligations of such Person with respect to letters of credit, bankers’ acceptances or similar facilities issued for the account of such Person, (g) all obligations of such Person under any forward contract, futures contract, swap, option or other financing agreement or arrangement (including caps, floors, collars and similar agreements), the value of which is dependent upon interest rates, currency exchange rates, commodities or other indices, (h) all interest, fees and other expenses owed with respect to the indebtedness referred to above (and any prepayment penalties or fees or similar breakage costs or other fees and costs required to be paid in order for such Indebtedness to be satisfied and discharged in full), and (i) all indebtedness referred to above which is directly or indirectly guaranteed by such Person or which such Person has agreed (contingently or otherwise) to purchase or otherwise acquire or in respect of which it has otherwise assured a creditor against loss.

Independent Third Party ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in the Stock Incentive Plan.

 

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IRA ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.2(c).

Management Holder ” means any Holder who is employed by, or serves as a consultant or director, to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, including each Executive Management Holder.

Non-Compete Period ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 7(c).

Offer ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.1.

Offeror ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.1.

Option ” means the options issued to Holders pursuant to the Stock Incentive Plan, as it is amended, supplemented, restated or otherwise modified from time to time, or any other option plan approved by the Company.

Original Cost ” means the price per share paid by the Parent LLC for its shares of Common Stock on the date of consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement, subject to appropriate adjustment by the Board for stock splits, stock dividends or other distributions, combinations and similar transactions.

Original Issue Date ” means with respect to any share of Common Stock issued to the Parent LLC or a Management Holder, the date of issuance of such share of Common Stock to the Parent LLC or such Management Holder, as applicable.

Parent LLC ” means Affinion Group Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

Person ” shall be construed broadly and shall include, without limitation, an individual, a partnership, a limited liability company, a corporation, an association, a joint stock company, a trust, a joint venture, an unincorporated organization and a governmental entity or any department, agency or political subdivision thereof.

Piggy-Back Registration Rights ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 4.

Preferred Stock ” means shares of the Company’s Preferred Stock, par value, $.01 per share, issued and outstanding as of the Original Issue Date or any exchange debentures issued in exchange for such preferred stock pursuant to its terms.

Proportionate Percentage ” means, with respect to any Person at the time of any Tag Along, a fraction (expressed as a percentage) the numerator of which is the total number of shares of Common Stock held by such Person as of such time (including any shares of Common Stock that such Person purchases pursuant to any Option exercised in connection with the Tag Along Transaction and any shares distributed to such Person pursuant to any deferred compensation plan in connection with the Tag Along Transaction) and the denominator of which is the total number of shares of Common Stock outstanding at the time of determination on a fully diluted basis.

Proxy ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 6(a).

 

4


Public Sale ” means any sale, occurring simultaneously with or after an initial public offering, of Common Stock to the public pursuant to an offering registered under the Securities Act, to the public pursuant to Rule 144(k) promulgated thereunder or to the public in the manner described by the provisions of Rule 144(f) promulgated thereunder, other than an offering relating to employee incentive plans.

Purchase Agreement ” means the Purchase Agreement dated as of July 26, 2005, by and among Affinion Group, Inc. (f/k/a Affinity Acquisition, Inc.), the Company (f/k/a Affinity Acquisition Holdings, Inc.) and Cendant Corporation, as it may be amended, supplemented, restated or otherwise modified from time to time.

Purchase Price ” means: (i) (x) in the case where a Management Holder, other than an Executive Management Holder, resigns as an employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries during the 36 month period commencing on the Original Issue Date (or, in the case of shares issued pursuant to an award under the Stock Incentive Plan or a similar plan, the 36 month period commencing on the date of grant of such award) or is terminated for Cause, or (y) in the case where an Executive Management Holder is terminated for Cause, the lower of the Original Cost or the Fair Market Value; and (ii) in all other cases, the Fair Market Value.

Qualified Public Offering ” means an underwritten public offering of Common Stock by the Company pursuant to an effective registration statement filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (other than on Forms S-4 or S-8 or successors to such forms) under the Securities Act, pursuant to which the aggregate offering price of the Common Stock sold in such offering is at least $150 million.

Repurchase Event ” means, with respect to a Management Holder, such Management Holder shall cease to be employed by the Company or any of its subsidiaries for any reason (including upon death or Disability) or a Bankruptcy Event shall have occurred with respect to such Management Holder.

Required Voting Percentage ” means (i) a majority of the shares of Common Stock outstanding owned by the Management Holders as of the date the vote is taken (including for purposes of this calculation Deemed Held Shares) and (ii) the vote of the shares of Common Stock owned by the Parent LLC. For the avoidance of doubt, the proxy described in Section 6(a) shall not be applicable for the purpose of obtaining the Required Voting Percentage.

Sale Notice ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2(a)(i).

Securities ” means, with respect to any Person, such Person’s “securities” as defined in Section 2(1) of the Securities Act and includes such Person’s capital stock or other equity interests or any options, warrants or other securities that are directly or indirectly convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for, such Person’s capital stock or other equity or equity-linked interests, including phantom stock and stock appreciation rights.

Securities Act ” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder.

Stock Incentive Plan ” means the Affinion Group Holdings, Inc. 2005 Stock Incentive Plan, as it may be amended, supplemented, restated or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

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Subject Employee ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.2(c).

Tag Along Holder ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2(a)(ii).

Tag Along Notice ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2(a)(ii).

Tag Along Transaction ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2(a)(i).

Term ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 6(a).

Section 2. Certain Dispositions .

(a) Tag Along Transaction .

(i) Subject to the provisions of Section 2(b), prior to the consummation of a Qualified Public Offering, if the Parent LLC desires to effect any sale or transfer of shares of Common Stock to any Independent Third Party following which (when aggregated with all prior such sales or transfers) the Parent LLC shall have disposed of at least 10% of the number of shares of Common Stock that the Parent LLC owned as of the Original Issue Date to a transferee or Group (a “ Tag Along Transaction ”), it shall give written notice to the Management Holders offering such Management Holders the option to participate in such Tag Along Transaction (a “ Sale Notice ”). The Sale Notice shall set forth the material terms of the proposed Tag Along Transaction and identify the contemplated transferee or Group.

(ii) Each of the Management Holders may, by written notice to the Parent LLC (a “ Tag Along Notice ”) delivered within ten (10) days after the date of the Sale Notice (each such Management Holder delivering such timely notice being a “ Tag Along Holder ”, elect to sell in such Tag Along Transaction the shares of Common Stock held by such Management Holder, provided that the number of shares to be sold by such Management Holder will not exceed (as a percentage of the total number of shares, including Deemed Held Shares (as defined below), then held by such Management Holder) the total number of shares of Common Stock that the Parent LLC proposes to sell or transfer in the applicable Tag Along Transaction (as a percentage of the total number of shares, including Deemed Held Shares, then held by the Parent LLC). The shares of Common Stock to be sold by a Tag Along Holder in a Tag Along Transaction may include shares of Common Stock which such Tag Along Holder may obtain by exercising any Options held by such Tag Along Holder that are vested as of the date of such Tag Along Notice or which would vest in connection with such Tag Along Transaction (collectively the “ Deemed Held Shares ”).

(iii) If none of the Management Holders delivers a timely Tag Along Notice, then the Parent LLC may thereafter consummate the Tag Along Transaction, at the same sale price and on substantially the same other terms and conditions as are described in the Sale Notice (including, without limitation, the number of shares of Common Stock being sold), for a period of one hundred twenty (120) days thereafter. In the event the Parent LLC has not consummated the Tag Along Transaction within such one hundred twenty (120) day period, the Parent LLC shall not thereafter consummate a Tag Along Transaction, without first providing a Sale Notice and an opportunity to the Management Holders to sell in the manner provided above. If one or more of the Management Holders gives the Parent LLC a timely Tag Along Notice, then the Parent LLC shall use all reasonable efforts to cause the prospective transferee or Group

 

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to agree to acquire all shares identified in all timely Tag Along Notices, upon the same terms and conditions as are applicable to the shares of Common Stock held by the Parent LLC. If such prospective transferee or Group is unable or unwilling to acquire all shares of Common Stock proposed to be included in the Tag Along Transaction upon such terms, then the Parent LLC may elect either to cancel such Tag Along Transaction or to allocate the maximum number of shares that such prospective transferee or Group is willing to purchase among the Parent LLC, the Tag Along Holders and any other Person entitled to transfer shares of Common Stock in connection with the Tag Along Transaction in the proportion that the Parent LLC’s, each such Tag Along Holder’s and such other Person’s Proportionate Percentage bears to the total Proportionate Percentages of the Parent LLC, the Tag Along Holders and such other Persons.

(iv) Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 2(a), during the first twelve (12) months of this Agreement, the Parent LLC may transfer up to 25% of the shares of Common Stock then owned by it without complying with the provisions of this Section 2(a).

(v) For purposes of this Section 2(a), any holder of Common Stock who has a contractual right to participate in such Tag Along Transaction or any other holder of Common Stock who is otherwise participating in such Tag Along Transaction with the consent of the Parent LLC shall be deemed to be a “ Management Holder ” under this Section 2(a).

(b) Come Along Option .

(i) If the Parent LLC desires to effect a Tag Along Transaction or any Control Disposition, then in lieu of complying with the requirements of Section 2(a), the Parent LLC at its option (the “ Come Along Option ”) may require all Management Holders to sell the same percentage of their respective shares of Common Stock (including their Deemed Held Shares) as the Parent LLC desires to sell to the transferee or Group selected by the Parent LLC, at the same price per share and on the same terms and conditions as apply to those sold by the Parent LLC.

(ii) Each Management Holder shall consent to and raise no objections against the Come Along Option, and if the Come Along Option is structured as (a) a merger or consolidation of the Company or an Asset Sale, each Management Holder shall waive any dissenters rights, appraisal rights or similar rights in connection with such merger, consolidation or Asset Sale, or (b) a sale of all the capital stock of the Company, the Management Holders shall agree to sell all their shares of Common Stock which are the subject of the Come Along Option (including their Deemed Held Shares) (the “ Come Along Shares ”). The Management Holders shall take all necessary and desirable actions reasonably requested by the Parent LLC in connection with the consummation of the Come Along Option, including obtaining Board consent to the Come Along Option and the execution of such agreements and such instruments and the taking of such other actions as are reasonably necessary to provide customary representations, warranties and indemnities regarding title, as well as escrow arrangements relating to such Come Along Option; provided, however, that (x) any indemnification obligations under such agreements applicable to any Executive Management Holder (other than with respect to such Executive Management Holder’s representations and warranties regarding title to the Come Along Shares) shall be applicable (A) in the case of a transaction structured as a merger or consolidation of the Company or Asset Sale, to all security holders of the Company and (B) in the case of a transaction structured as a sale of the capital stock of the Company, to all security holders of the Company selling shares in such transaction, in each case set forth in (A) and (B)

 

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on a pro rata basis, determined by reference to the aggregate amount of proceeds received by or distributable to such security holders in their capacity as security holders in the transaction, but in no event shall an Executive Management Holder be liable for more than the total proceeds received by such Executive Management Holder in the transaction giving rise to the Come Along Option, and (y) no such representations, warranties or indemnities shall impose on an Executive Management Holder any noncompetition, nonsolicitation or similar restrictive covenants in addition to any such covenants that might independently apply to such Executive Management Holder.

(iii) The Company and each Management Holder shall cooperate in causing any Deemed Held Shares of such Management Holder that are ultimately included in a Come Along Option to be delivered to the Management Holder immediately prior to the closing of such Come Along Option in order that the Management Holder may exercise his rights under Section 2(a) or that the Parent LLC may exercise its rights under Section 2(b), as the case may be.

(iv) Upon the closing of the sale of any shares of Common Stock (including any Deemed Held Shares) pursuant to this Section 2, the Holders shall deliver at such closing, against payment of the purchase price therefor, certificates representing their shares of Common Stock to be sold, duly endorsed for transfer or accompanied by duly endorsed stock powers, and evidence of the absence of liens, encumbrances and adverse claims with respect thereto and of such other matters as are deemed necessary by the Company for the proper transfer of such shares on the books of the Company.

Section 3. Transfers; Additional Parties .

3.1 Restrictions; Permitted Dispositions .

Without the consent of the Company, no Management Holder shall make any Disposition, directly or indirectly, through an Affiliate or otherwise. The preceding sentence shall apply with respect to all shares of Common Stock held at any time by a Management Holder (including without limitation, all shares of Common Stock acquired upon the exercise of any Option or upon a distribution pursuant to any deferred compensation plan), regardless of the manner in which such Management Holder initially acquired such shares of Common Stock. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the following Dispositions by a Management Holder shall be permitted at any time:

(a) (i) in the case of shares of Common Stock, with respect to a Public Sale in connection with the exercise of Piggy-Back Registration Rights in accordance with Section 4, (ii) subject to Section 4(c), a Public Sale of Common Stock, or (iii) any sale of Common Stock by a Management Holder following the expiration, without exercise, of the Repurchase Right in Section 5 following a Repurchase Event;

(b) to: (i) a guardian of the estate of such Management Holder, (ii) an inter-vivos trust primarily for the benefit of such Management Holder; (iii) an inter-vivos trust whose primary beneficiary is one or more of such Management Holder’s lineal descendants (including lineal descendants by adoption); (iv) the spouse of such Management Holder during marriage and not incident to divorce; or (v) one or more of such Management Holder’s Affiliates;

 

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(c) to any individual Management Holder by: (i) a guardian of the estate of such Management Holder; (ii) an inter-vivos trust whose primary beneficiary is such Management Holder or one or more of such Management Holder’s lineal descendants (including lineal descendants by adoption); (iii) the spouse of such Management Holder during marriage and not incident to divorce; or (iv) such Management Holder’s lineal descendants;

(d) with the consent of the Company, by any Management Holder to a qualified retirement plan sponsored by the Management Holder (including with respect to a qualified retirement plan referred to in this paragraph 3.1(d), to participants, alternate payees and beneficiaries to the extent required by law and the provisions of such plan);

(e) to a trust, to any successor trust or successor trustee;

(f) any Disposition permitted pursuant to Section 2(a) or required pursuant to Section 2(b); and

(g) with the consent of the Company, by any Management Holder to other Persons for tax planning purposes.

In the event of any transaction by a Management Holder involving a change of ownership interest or voting power of a Management Holder not specifically prohibited by this Section or otherwise authorized by (a) through (g) of this Section, such transaction shall be deemed a Disposition by such Management Holder and an irrevocable “ Offer .” Such Management Holder (“ Offeror ”) shall promptly notify the Company of such event and Offer, by written notice to the Company, to sell all securities subject to the Offer to the Company and/or the Parent LLC for the Purchase Price. Offers under this Section 3.1 shall (a) be in writing; (b) be irrevocable for so long as the Company or the Parent LLC has the right to purchase any securities subject to the Offer; (c) be sent by the Offeror to the Company; and (d) contain a description of the proposed transaction and change of ownership interest or voting power. The Company shall, within five (5) business days from receipt thereof (or, if no such written notice is delivered to the Company by the Management Holder, within five (5) business days from the Company’s receipt of evidence, satisfactory to it, of such a Disposition by the Offeror), deliver written notice of the Offer to the Company and the Parent LLC stating that all Common Stock registered in the name of such Management Holder are securities subject to an Offer pursuant to this Section 3.1. The date of such Offer shall be deemed to be the date such written notice of the Offer is so delivered by the Company.

3.2 Additional Parties .

(a) As a condition to the Company’s obligation to effect a transfer of shares of Common Stock permitted by this Agreement on the books and records of the Company, (other than a transfer to the Parent LLC or of any of the Parent LLC’s Affiliates, the Company or any subsidiary of the Company), the transferee shall be required to become a party to this Agreement by executing (together with such Person’s spouse, if applicable) an Adoption Agreement in substantially the form of Exhibit A or in such other form that is reasonably satisfactory to the Company.

(b) In the event that any Person acquires shares of Common Stock from (i) a Management Holder or any Affiliate or member of such Management Holder’s Group or (ii) any

 

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direct or indirect transferee of a Management Holder, such Person shall be subject to any and all obligations and restrictions of such Management Holder hereunder (other than the provisions of Section 7), as if such Person was such Management Holder named herein. Additionally, whenever a Management Holder makes a transfer of shares of Common Stock, such shares of Common Stock shall contain a legend so as to inform any transferee that such shares of Common Stock were held originally by a Management Holder and are subject to repurchase pursuant to Section 5 below based on the employment of or events relating to such Management Holder. Such legend shall not be placed on any shares of Common Stock acquired from a Management Holder by the Company, the Parent LLC or any of its Affiliates.

(c) Any shares of Common Stock acquired by an individual retirement account (“ IRA ”) on behalf of an employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries (the “ Subject Employee ”) shall be deemed to be held by a Management Holder. Additionally, such Subject Employee shall be deemed to be a Management Holder and his or her IRA shall be deemed to have acquired all shares of Common Stock it holds from such Subject Employee pursuant to a transfer that is subject to Section 3.2(b) above.

3.3 Securities Restrictions; Legends .

(a) No shares of Common Stock shall be transferable except upon the conditions specified in this Section 3.3, which conditions are intended to insure compliance with the provisions of the Securities Act.

(b) Each certificate representing shares of Common Stock shall (unless otherwise permitted by the provisions of paragraph (d) below) be stamped or otherwise imprinted with a legend in substantially the following form:

“THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE

HAVE BEEN ACQUIRED FOR INVESTMENT AND HAVE

NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF

1933, AS AMENDED, OR ANY STATE SECURITIES OR

BLUE SKY LAWS. THESE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE SOLD

OR TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH

REGISTRATION OR AN EXEMPTION THEREFROM UNDER

SAID ACT OR LAWS. THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY

THIS CERTIFICATE ARE ALSO SUBJECT TO A

MANAGEMENT INVESTOR RIGHTS AGREEMENT DATED

AS OF OCTOBER 17, 2005 AMONG THE ISSUER OF

SUCH SECURITIES (THE “ COMPANY ”), AND THE OTHER

PARTIES NAMED THEREIN. THE TERMS OF SUCH

MANAGEMENT INVESTOR RIGHTS AGREEMENT

INCLUDE, AMONG OTHER THINGS, RESTRICTIONS ON

TRANSFER. A COPY OF SUCH AGREEMENT WILL BE

FURNISHED WITHOUT CHARGE BY THE COMPANY TO

THE HOLDER HEREOF UPON WRITTEN REQUEST.”

(c) The holder of any shares of Common Stock by acceptance thereof agrees, prior to any transfer of any such shares, to give written notice to the Company of such holder’s intention to effect such transfer and to comply in all other respects with the provisions of this

 

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Section 3.3. Each such notice shall describe the manner and circumstances of the proposed transfer. Upon request by the Company, the holder delivering such notice shall deliver a written opinion, addressed to the Company, of counsel for the holder of such shares, stating that in the opinion of such counsel (which opinion and counsel shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Company) such proposed transfer does not involve a transaction requiring registration or qualification of such shares under the Securities Act. Such holder of such shares shall be entitled to transfer such shares in accordance with the terms of the notice delivered to the Company, if the Company does not reasonably object to such transfer and request such opinion within fifteen (15) days after delivery of such notice, or, if it requests such opinion, does not reasonably object to such transfer within fifteen (15) days after delivery of such opinion. Each certificate or other instrument evidencing any such transferred shares of Common Stock shall bear the legend set forth in paragraph (b) above unless (i) such opinion of counsel to the holder of such shares (which opinion and counsel shall be reasonably acceptable to the Company) states that registration of any future transfer is not required by the applicable provisions of the Securities Act or (ii) the Company shall have waived the requirement of such legends.

(d) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 3.3, the restrictions imposed by this Section 3.3 upon the transferability of any shares of Common Stock shall cease and terminate when (i) any such shares are sold or otherwise disposed of pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, or (ii) after a Qualified Public Offering, the holder of such shares has met the requirements for transfer of such shares pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act. Whenever the restrictions imposed by this Section 3.3 shall terminate, the holder of any shares as to which such restrictions have terminated shall be entitled to receive from the Company, without expense, a new certificate not bearing the restrictive legend set forth in paragraph (b) above and not containing any other reference to the restrictions imposed by this Section 3.3.

Section 4. Piggy-Back Registration Rights .

(a) Participation . Subject to Section 4(b), if at any time after the date hereof the Company files a Registration Statement (i) in connection with the exercise of any demand rights by the Parent LLC or any other Holder or Holders possessing such rights, or (ii) in connection with which the Parent LLC exercises piggy-back registration rights (other than a registration on Form S-4 or S-8 or any successor form to such Forms or any registration of securities as it relates to an offering and sale to management of the Company pursuant to any employee stock plan or other employee benefit plan arrangement) with respect to an offering that includes any shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock, then the Company shall give prompt notice (the “ Initial Notice ”) to the Management Holders and the Management Holders shall be entitled to include in such Registration Statement the Registrable Securities (as defined in Section 4(h)) held by them. If the Management Holders elect to include any or all of their Registrable Securities in such Registration Statement, then the Company shall give prompt notice (the “ Piggy-Back Notice ”) to each Holder (excluding the Management Holders) and each such Holder shall be entitled to include in such Registration Statement the Registrable Securities held by it. The Initial Notice and Piggy-Back Notice shall offer the Management Holders and the Holders, respectively, the right, subject to Section 4(b) (the “ Piggy-Back Registration Right ”), to register such number of shares of Registrable Securities as each Management Holder and each Holder may request and shall set forth (i) the anticipated filing date of such Registration Statement and (ii) the number of shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock that is proposed to be included in such Registration Statement. Subject to Section 4(b), the Company shall include

 

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in such Registration Statement such shares of Registrable Securities for which it has received written requests to register such shares within fifteen (15) days after the Initial Notice and seven (7) days after the Piggy-Back Notice has been given. A Management Holder may exercise Piggy-Back Registration Rights with respect to a Qualified Public Offering or any subsequent Public Offering.

(b) Underwriters’ Cutback . Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a registration pursuant to this Section 4 involves an Underwritten Offering (as defined in Section 4(h)) and the managing underwriter or underwriters of such proposed Underwritten Offering advises the Company that the total or kind of securities which such Holders and any other persons or entities intend to include in such offering would be reasonably likely to adversely affect the price, timing or distribution of the securities offered in such offering, then the number of securities proposed to be included in such registration shall be allocated among the Company and all of the selling Parent LLC and Management Holders proportionately, such that the number of securities that each such Person shall be entitled to sell in the Underwritten Offering (other than the initial Underwritten Offering) shall be included in the following order:

(i) In the event of an exercise of any demand rights by the Parent LLC or any other Holder or Holders possessing such rights:

(1) first, the securities held by the Persons requesting their securities be included in such registration pursuant to the terms of this Section 4, pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement of even date between the Company and the Parent LLC or pursuant to any other agreement in which the Company has granted registration rights, pro rata based upon the number of securities of each class or series owned by each such Person at the time of such registration; and

(2) second, the securities to be issued and sold by the Company in such registration.

(ii) In the event of an exercise of any piggy-back registration rights by the Parent LLC or any other Holder or Holders possessing such rights:

(1) first, the securities to be issued and sold by the Company in such registration; and

(2) second, the securities held by the Persons requesting their securities be included in such registration pursuant to the terms of this Section 4, pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement of even date between the Company and the Parent LLC or pursuant to any other agreement in which the Company ha granted registration rights, pro rata based upon the number of securities of each class or series owned by each such Person at the time of such registration.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Section 4(b), if the managing underwriter for an initial Underwritten Offering advises the Company that the inclusion of the number of shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock proposed to be included in any registration by any particular Management Holder would interfere with the successful marketing (including pricing) of such shares to be offered thereby, then the number of such shares proposed to be included in such registration by such Management Holder shall be reduced to the lower of the number of such shares that the managing underwriter advises that such holder may sell in the initial Underwritten Offering and the number of such shares calculated pursuant to the foregoing.

 

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(c) Lock-up . If the Company at any time shall register shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock under the Securities Act for sale to the public, no Management Holder shall sell publicly, make any short sale of, grant any option for the purchase of, or otherwise dispose publicly of, any capital stock of the Company without the prior written consent of the Company, for the period of time in which the Parent LLC has similarly agreed not to sell publicly, make any short sale of, grant any option for the purchase of, or otherwise dispose publicly of, any capital stock of the Company; provided, however, that if any of the capital stock of the Company held by the Parent LLC is released from such lock-up obligation, the same percentage of the capital stock of the Company held by each Executive Management Holder shall be released from the restrictions contained in this Section 4(c).

(d) Company Control . The Company may decline to file a Registration Statement after giving the Initial Notice or the Piggy-Back Notice, or withdraw a Registration Statement after filing and after such Piggy-Back Notice, but prior to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, provided that the Company shall promptly notify each Holder in writing of any such action and provided further that the Company shall bear all reasonable expenses incurred by such Holder or otherwise in connection with such withdrawn Registration Statement. Notwithstanding any other provision herein, the Company shall have sole discretion to select any and all underwriters that may participate in any Underwritten Offering.

(e) Participation in Underwritten Offerings . No Person may participate in any Underwritten Offering hereunder unless such Person (i) agrees to sell such Person’s securities on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangements approved by the Persons entitled to approve such arrangements and (ii) completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements, lock-ups and other documents required for such underwriting arrangements. Nothing in this Section 4(e) shall be construed to create any additional rights regarding the piggy-back registration of Registrable Securities in any Person otherwise than as set forth herein.

(f) Expenses . The Company will pay all registration expenses in connection with each registration of Registrable Securities requested pursuant to this Section 4; provided, that each Holder shall pay all applicable underwriting fees, discounts and similar charges.

(g) Indemnification .

(i) Indemnification by the Company . The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless, to the full extent permitted by law, each selling Holder, its officers, directors and employees and each Person who controls (within the meaning of the Securities Act) such selling Holder against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses caused by any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement, prospectus or preliminary prospectus or any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statement therein not misleading, except insofar as the same may be caused by or contained in any information furnished in writing to the Company by such selling Holder for use therein; provided, however, that the Company shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage, liability or expense arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue

 

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statement or omission or alleged omission made in any such preliminary prospectus if (A) such selling Holder failed to deliver or cause to be delivered a copy of the prospectus to the Person asserting such loss, claim, damage, liability or expense after the Company has furnished such selling Holder with a sufficient number of copies of the same and (B) the prospectus completely corrected in a timely manner such untrue statement or omission; and provided, further, that the Company shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage, liability or expense arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission in the prospectus, if such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement, omission or alleged omission is completely corrected in an amendment or supplement to the prospectus and the selling Holder thereafter fails to deliver such prospectus as so amended or supplemented prior to or concurrently with the sale of the securities to the Person asserting such loss, claim, damage, liability or expense after the Company had furnished such selling Holder with a sufficient number of copies of the same. The Company will also indemnify underwriters, selling brokers, dealer managers and similar securities industry professionals participating in the distribution, their officers and directors and each Person who controls such Persons (within the meaning of the Securities Act) to the same extent as provided above with respect to the indemnification of the selling Holder, if requested.

(ii) Indemnification by Selling Holders . Each selling Holder agrees to indemnify and hold harmless, to the full extent permitted by law, the Company, its directors and officers and each Person who controls the Company (within the meaning of the Securities Act) against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities and expenses caused by any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement or any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or omission is contained in any information or affidavit so furnished in writing by such selling Holder to the Company for inclusion in such Registration Statement, prospectus or preliminary prospectus and has not been corrected in a subsequent writing prior to or concurrently with the sale of the securities to the Person asserting such loss, claim, damage, liability or expense. In no event shall the liability of any selling Holder hereunder be greater in amount than the dollar amount of the proceeds received by such selling Holder upon the sale of the securities giving rise to such indemnification obligation. The Company and the selling Holders shall be entitled to receive indemnities from underwriters, selling brokers, dealer managers and similar securities industry professionals participating in the distribution, to the same extent as provided above with respect to information so furnished in writing by such Persons for inclusion in any prospectus or Registration Statement.

(iii) Conduct of Indemnification Proceedings . Any Person entitled to indemnification hereunder will (i) give prompt (but in any event within 30 days after such Person has actual knowledge of the facts constituting the basis for indemnification) written notice to the indemnifying party of any claim with respect to which it seeks indemnification and (ii) permit such indemnifying party to assume the defense of such claim with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party; provided, however, that any delay or failure to so notify the indemnifying party shall relieve the indemnifying party of its obligations hereunder only to the extent, if at all, that the indemnifying party is prejudiced by reason of such delay or failure; provided, further, however, that any Person entitled to indemnification hereunder shall have the right to select and employ separate counsel and to participate in the defense of such claim, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Person unless (a) the

 

14


indemnifying party has agreed in writing to pay such fees or expenses, or (b) the indemnifying party shall have failed to assume the defense of such claim within a reasonable time after receipt of notice of such claim from the Person entitled to indemnification hereunder and employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to such Person or (c) in the reasonable judgment of any such Person, based upon advice of counsel, a conflict of interest may exist between such Person and the indemnifying party with respect to such claims (in which case, if the Person notifies the indemnifying party in writing that such Person elects to employ separate counsel at the expense of the indemnifying party, the indemnifying party shall not have the right to assume the defense of such claim on behalf of such Person). If such defense is not assumed by the indemnifying party, the indemnifying party will not be subject to any liability for any settlement made without its consent (but such consent will not be unreasonably withheld), provided that an indemnified party shall not be required to consent to any settlement involving the imposition of equitable remedies or involving the imposition of any material obligations on such indemnified party other than financial obligations for which such indemnified party will be indemnified hereunder. No indemnifying party will be required to consent to entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement which does not include as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such indemnified party of a release from all liability in respect to such claim or litigation. Whenever the indemnified party or the indemnifying party receives a firm offer to settle a claim for which indemnification is sought hereunder, it shall promptly notify the other of such offer. If the indemnifying party refuses to accept such offer within 20 business days after receipt of such offer (or of notice thereof), such claim shall continue to be contested and, if such claim is within the scope of the indemnifying party’s indemnity contained herein, the indemnified party shall be indemnified pursuant to the terms hereof. If the indemnifying party notifies the indemnified party in writing that the indemnifying party desires to accept such offer, but the indemnified party refuses to accept such offer within 20 business days after receipt of such notice, the indemnified party may continue to contest such claim and, in such event, the total maximum liability of the indemnifying party to indemnify or otherwise reimburse the indemnified party hereunder with respect to such claim shall be limited to and shall not exceed the amount of such offer, plus reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and disbursements) to the date of notice that the indemnifying party desires to accept such offer, provided that this sentence shall not apply to any settlement of any claim involving the imposition of equitable remedies or to any settlement imposing any material obligations on such indemnified party other than financial obligations for which such indemnified party will be indemnified hereunder. An indemnifying party who is not entitled to, or elects not to, assume the defense of a claim will not be obligated to pay the fees and expenses of more than one counsel for all parties indemnified by such indemnifying party with respect to such claim in any one jurisdiction, unless in the written opinion of counsel to the indemnified party, reasonably satisfactory to the indemnifying party, use of one counsel would be expected to give rise to a conflict of interest between such indemnified party and any other of such indemnified parties with respect to such claim, in which even the indemnifying party shall be obligated to pay the fees and expenses of each additional counsel.

(iv) Other Indemnification . Indemnification similar to that specified in this Section 4(g) (with appropriate modifications) shall be given by the Company and each selling Holder with respect to any required registration or other qualification of securities under Federal or state law or regulation of governmental authority other than the Securities Act.

 

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(v) Contribution . If for any reason the indemnification provided for in the preceding clauses g(i) and g(ii) is unavailable to an indemnified party or insufficient to hold it harmless as contemplated by the preceding clauses g(i) and g(ii), then the indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by the indemnified party as a result of such loss, claim, damage or liability in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits received by the indemnified party and the indemnifying party, but also the relative fault of the indemnified party and the indemnifying party, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations, provided that no selling Holder shall be required to contribute in an amount greater than the dollar amount of the proceeds received by such selling Holder with respect to the sale of any securities under this Section 4. No Person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

(h) Certain Definitions . For purposes of this Section 4:

(i) “ Registrable Securities ” shall mean shares of Common Stock and Preferred Stock and any security issued or distributed in respect thereof; provided , that any Registrable Securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities when (A) a registration statement with respect to the sale of such Registrable Securities has been declared effective under the Securities Act and such Registrable Securities have been disposed of in accordance with the plan of distribution set forth in such registration statement, (B) such Registrable Securities have been disposed of in reliance upon Rule 144 (or any similar provision then in force) under the Securities Act or (C) such Registrable Securities shall have been otherwise transferred and new certificates for them not bearing a legend restricting further transfer under the Securities Act shall have been delivered by the Company; and provided, further, that any securities that have ceased to be Registrable Securities shall not thereafter become Registrable Securities and any security that is issued or distributed in respect of securities that have ceased to be Registrable Securities is not a Registrable Security. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 4(h)(i), with respect to any Registration Statement that registers shares of Common Stock, “ Registrable Securities ” shall only include shares of Common Stock and with respect to any Registration Statement that registers shares of Preferred Stock, “ Registrable Securities ” shall only include shares of Preferred Stock.

(ii) “ Underwritten Offering ” means a sale of shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock to an underwriter for reoffering to the public.

Section 5. Repurchase Rights .

(a) Company Repurchase Right . From and after a Repurchase Event with respect to any Management Holder, the Company and its subsidiaries shall have the right, but not the obligation, to repurchase all or any portion of the shares of Common Stock held by such holder (including any Deemed Held Shares) in accordance with this Section 5 for the Purchase Price. The Company or any of its subsidiaries may exercise its right to purchase such shares of Common Stock until the date that is the later of (i) six months after the Repurchase Event (but only three months after the Repurchase Event for an Executive Management Holder) and (ii) six months after the date all Options have been exercised by the applicable Management Holder or such Management Holder’s successors, assigns or representatives (but only three months after all Options have been exercised in the case of Options originally granted to an Executive Management Holder) (such date, the “ Repurchase Date ”). The determination date for purposes

 

16


of determining the Fair Market Value shall be the closing date of the purchase of the applicable shares (which closing date shall not be later than the Repurchase Date unless so required by Section 5(c)).

(b) The Parent LLC Repurchase Right . The Company or a subsidiary thereof shall give written notice to the Parent LLC stating whether the Company or any subsidiary will exercise such purchase rights pursuant to clause (a) above. If such notice states that the Company and its subsidiaries will not exercise their purchase rights for all or a portion of the shares of Common Stock then subject thereto, the Parent LLC shall have the right to purchase such shares of Common Stock not purchased by the Company or its subsidiaries on the same terms and conditions as the Company and its subsidiaries until the later of (i) the 30 th day following the receipt of such notice or (ii) the Repurchase Date (in the case of a repurchase pursuant to clause (a)(i) above).

(c) Closing . The closing date of any purchase of shares of Common Stock, pursuant to this Section 5 shall take place on a date designated by the Company, one of its subsidiaries, or the Parent LLC, as applicable, in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Section 5; provided that the closing date will be deferred until such time as the applicable Management Holder has held the shares of Common Stock for a period of at least six months and one day. The Company, one of its subsidiaries, or the Parent LLC, as applicable, will pay for the shares of Common Stock purchased by it pursuant to this Section 5 by delivery of a check or wire transfer of funds, in exchange for the delivery by the Management Holder of the certificates representing such shares of Common Stock, duly endorsed for transfer to the Company, such subsidiary or the Parent LLC, as applicable. The Company shall have the right to record such purchase on its books and records without the consent of the Management Holder.

(d) Restrictions on Repurchase . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, all purchases of shares of Common Stock by the Company shall be subject to applicable restrictions contained in federal law and the Delaware General Corporation Law and in the Company’s and its respective subsidiaries’ debt and equity financing agreements. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, if any such restrictions prohibit or otherwise delay any purchase of shares of Common Stock which the Company is otherwise entitled or required to make pursuant to this Section 5, then the Company shall have the option to make such purchases pursuant to this Section 5 within thirty (30) days of the date that it is first permitted to make such purchase under the laws and/or agreements containing such restrictions, but in no event later than the first anniversary of the applicable Repurchase Event. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the Company and its subsidiaries shall not be obligated to effectuate any transaction contemplated by this Section 5 if such transaction would violate the terms of any restrictions imposed by agreements evidencing the Company’s Indebtedness. In the event that any shares of Common Stock are sold by a Management Holder pursuant to this Section 5, the Management Holder, and such Management Holder’s successors, assigns or representatives, will take all reasonable steps necessary and desirable to obtain all required third-party, governmental and regulatory consents and approvals with respect to such Management Holder and take all other actions necessary and desirable to facilitate consummation of such sale in a timely manner.

(e) Additional Payment for Repurchased Shares . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Section 5, if (x) an Executive Management Holder experiences a Repurchase Event (other than an employment termination for Cause), (y) the Company exercises

 

17


the repurchase right triggered by such Repurchase Event, and (z) within six (6) months after the Repurchase Event, any of the following events occur (each, a “ Look-Back Event ”)—(i) the consummation of a Qualified Public Offering, (ii) the consummation of an Asset Sale, (iii) the consummation of a Control Disposition, (iv) the signing of a definitive agreement for an Asset Sale or (v) the signing of a definitive agreement for a Control Disposition—then the Company shall pay or cause to be paid to such Executive Management Holder the Additional Consideration (as defined herein); provided that, with respect to the events described in clauses (iv) and (v) above, such payment of the Additional Consideration shall be made if and only if such event is consummated on or before the first anniversary of the Repurchase Event. For purposes of this Section 5(e), the “ Additional Consideration ” shall be an amount equal to the product of (A)(x) the per share consideration for the Common Stock with respect to the Look-Back Event (which, in the case of a Qualified Public Offering, shall be the price at which the shares of Common Stock were offered to the public, and, in the case of an Asset Sale, shall be the per share amount distributable in respect of the Common Stock), less (y) the Purchase Price per share of Common Stock paid to the Management Holder at the closing of such repurchase, multiplied by (B) the number of shares of Common Stock so repurchased, provided that if the result of such calculation is zero or a negative number, no additional amount shall be paid to the Executive Management Holder.

Section 6. Voting Agreement .

(a) Proxy . Each Management Holder hereby revokes any and all prior proxies or powers of attorney in respect of any of such Management Holder’s shares of Common Stock and constitutes and appoints Parent LLC, or any nominee of Parent LLC, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, at any time from the date hereof until the earlier of (i) the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 9(h) hereof (the “ Term ”) and (ii) the consummation of a Qualified Public Offering, as its true and lawful attorney and proxy (its “ Proxy ”), and in its name, place and stead, to vote each of such shares (whether such shares are currently held or may be acquired in the future by such Management Holder) as its Proxy, at every annual, special, adjourned or postponed meeting of the stockholders of the Company, including the right to sign its name (as stockholder) to any consent, certificate or other document relating to the Company that the laws of the state of Delaware may permit or require with respect to any matter referred to be voted on by the stockholders of the Company. THE FOREGOING PROXY AND POWER OF ATTORNEY ARE IRREVOCABLE AND COUPLED WITH AN INTEREST THROUGHOUT THE TERM.

(b) No Proxies for or Encumbrances on Management Holder Shares . Except pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, during the Term and prior to a Qualified Public Offering, no Holder shall, without the prior written consent of Parent LLC, directly or indirectly, (i) grant any proxies (other than pursuant to Section 6(a) above) or enter into any voting trust or other agreement or arrangement with respect to the voting of any shares of Common Stock held by such Holder or (ii) except as permitted pursuant to Section 2 or Section 3, sell, assign, transfer, encumber or otherwise dispose of, or enter into any contract, option or other arrangement or understanding with respect to the direct or indirect sale, assignment, transfer, encumbrance or other disposition of, any such Management Holder’s Shares.

 

18


Section 7. Restrictive Covenants . Each Management Holder agrees to be bound by the restrictive covenants set forth in Annex I hereto, which restrictive covenants are hereby incorporated by reference herein.

Section 8. Notices . In the event a notice or other document is required to be sent hereunder to the Company or to any Holder or the spouse or legal representative of a Holder, such notice or other document, if sent by mail, shall be sent by registered mail, return receipt requested (and by air mail in the event the addressee is not in the continental United States), to the party entitled to receive such notice or other document at the address set forth on Annex II hereto. Any such notice shall be effective and deemed received three (3) days after proper deposit in the mails, but actual notice shall be effective however and whenever received. The Company, any Holder or any spouse or legal representative of a Holder may effect a change of address for purposes of this Agreement by giving notice of such change to the Company, and the Company shall, upon the request of any party hereto, notify such party of such change in the manner provided herein. Until such notice of change of address is properly given, the addresses set forth on Annex II shall be effective for all purposes.

Section 9. Miscellaneous Provisions .

(a) Each Management Holder that is an entity that was formed for the sole purpose of acquiring shares of Common Stock or that has no substantial assets other than the shares of Common Stock or interests in shares of Common Stock agrees that (a) certificates of shares of its common stock or other instruments reflecting equity interests in such entity (and the certificates for shares of common stock or other equity interests in any similar entities controlling such entity) will note the restrictions contained in this Agreement on the transfer of Common Stock as if such common stock or other equity interests were shares of Common Stock and (b) no such shares of common stock or other equity interests may be transferred to any Person other than in accordance with the terms and provisions of this Agreement as if such shares or equity interests were shares of Common Stock.

(b) No Holder shall enter into any stockholder agreements or arrangements of any kind with any Person with respect to any Securities of the Company on terms inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement (whether or not such agreements or arrangements are with other Holders or with Persons that are not parties to this Agreement), including agreements or arrangements with respect to the acquisition or disposition of any Securities of the Company in a manner inconsistent with this Agreement.

(c) All questions concerning the construction, interpretation and validity of this Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the domestic laws of the State of Delaware without giving effect to any choice or conflict of law provision or rule (whether of the State of Delaware or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of Delaware.

(d) Whenever the context requires, the gender of all words used herein shall include the masculine, feminine and neuter, and the number of all words shall include the singular and plural.

 

19


(e) This Agreement shall be binding upon the Company, the Parent LLC, the Management Holders, any spouses of the Management Holders, and their respective heirs, executors, administrators and permitted successors and assigns.

(f) This Agreement may be amended or waived from time to time by an instrument in writing signed by the Company and the Holders having the Required Voting Percentage, provided , that this Agreement may be amended by the Company without the consent of any Holder to cure any ambiguity or to cure, correct or supplement any defective provisions contained herein, or to make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions hereunder as the Company may deem necessary or advisable so long as such action does not affect adversely the interest of any Holder.

(g) This Agreement shall terminate automatically upon: (i) the dissolution of the Company upon the vote of the Required Voting Percentage, (ii) upon the occurrence of any event which reduces the number of Holdings to one in accordance with the terms hereof, or (iii) the consummation of a Control Disposition.

(h) Any Holder who disposes of all of his, her or its Common Stock in conformity with the terms of this Agreement shall cease to be a party to this Agreement and shall have no further rights hereunder.

(i) The spouses of the individual Management Holders are fully aware of, understand and fully consent and agree to the provisions of this Agreement and its binding effect upon any community property interests or similar marital property interests in the Common Stock they may now or hereafter own, and agree that the termination of their marital relationship with any Management Holder for any reason shall not have the effect of removing any Common Stock of the Company otherwise subject to this Agreement from the coverage of this Agreement and that their awareness, understanding, consent and agreement are evidenced by their signing this Agreement. Furthermore, each individual Management Holder agrees to cause his or her spouse (and any subsequent spouse) to execute and deliver, upon the request of the Company, a counterpart of this Agreement, or an Adoption Agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit A or in a form satisfactory to the Company.

(j) Any Disposition or attempted Disposition in breach of this Agreement shall be void and of no effect. In connection with any attempted Disposition in breach of this Agreement, the Company may hold and refuse to transfer any Common Stock or any certificate therefor, in addition to and without prejudice to any and all other rights or remedies which may be available to it or the Holders. Each party to this Agreement acknowledges that a remedy at law for any breach or attempted breach of this Agreement will be inadequate, agrees that each other party to this Agreement shall be entitled to specific performance and injunctive and other equitable relief in case of any such breach or attempted breach and further agrees to waive (to the extent legally permissible) any legal conditions required to be met for the obtaining of any such injunctive or other equitable relief (including posting any bond in order to obtain equitable relief).

(k) This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two or more counterparts, any one of which need not contain the signatures of more than one party, but all such counterparts taken together will constitute one and the same agreement. It shall not be necessary in making proof of this Agreement to produce or account for more than one such counterpart. The failure of any Holder to execute this Agreement does not make it invalid as against any other Holder.

 

20


(l) Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement will be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect under any applicable law or rule in any jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability will not affect any other provision or any other jurisdiction, and such invalid, illegal or otherwise unenforceable provisions shall be null and void as to such jurisdiction. It is the intent of the parties, however, that any invalid, illegal or otherwise unenforceable provisions be automatically replaced by other provisions which are as similar as possible in terms to such invalid, illegal or otherwise unenforceable provisions but are valid and enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law.

(m) Each party hereto shall do and perform or cause to be done and performed all such further acts and things and shall execute and deliver all such other agreements, certificates, instruments, and other documents as any other party hereto reasonably may request in order to carry out the provisions of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.

(n) The parties to this Agreement agree that jurisdiction and venue in any action brought by any party hereto pursuant to this Agreement shall exclusively and properly lie in the Delaware State Chancery Court located in Wilmington, Delaware, or (in the event that such court denies jurisdiction) any federal or state court located in the State of Delaware. By execution and delivery of this Agreement each party hereto irrevocably submit to the jurisdiction of such courts for himself and in respect of his property with respect to such action. The parties hereto irrevocably agree that venue for such action would be proper in such court, and hereby waive any objection that such court is an improper or inconvenient forum for the resolution of such action. The parties further agree that the mailing by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, of any process required by any such court shall constitute valid and lawful service of process against them, without necessity for service by any other means provided by statute or rule of court.

(o) No course of dealing between the Company, or its subsidiaries, and the Holders (or any of them) or any delay in exercising any rights hereunder will operate as a waiver of any rights of any party to this Agreement. The failure of any party to enforce any of the provisions of this Agreement will in no way be construed as a waiver of such provisions and will not affect the right of such party thereafter to enforce each and every provision of this Agreement in accordance with its terms.

(p) BECAUSE DISPUTES ARISING IN CONNECTION WITH COMPLEX FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS ARE MOST QUICKLY AND ECONOMICALLY RESOLVED BY AN EXPERIENCED AND EXPERT PERSON AND THE PARTIES WISH APPLICABLE STATE AND FEDERAL LAWS TO APPLY (RATHER THAN ARBITRATION RULES), THE PARTIES DESIRE THAT THEIR DISPUTES BE RESOLVED BY A JUDGE APPLYING SUCH APPLICABLE LAWS. THEREFORE, TO ACHIEVE THE BEST COMBINATION OF THE BENEFITS OF THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM AND OR ARBITRATION, THE PARTIES HERETO WAIVE ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING BROUGHT TO ENFORCE OR DEFEND ANY RIGHT OR REMEDIES UNDER THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY DOCUMENTS ENTERED INTO IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT AND THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREIN.

 

21


(q) This Agreement sets forth the entire agreement of the parties hereto as to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all previous agreements among all or some of the parties hereto, whether written, oral or otherwise, as to such subject matter. Unless otherwise provided herein, any consent required by the Company may be withheld by the Company in its sole discretion.

(r) Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, no Person not a party to this Agreement, as a third party beneficiary or otherwise, shall be entitled to enforce any rights or remedies under this Agreement.

(s) If, and as often as, there are any changes in the Common Stock by way of stock split, stock dividend, combination or reclassification, or through merger, consolidation, reorganization or recapitalization, or by any other means, appropriate adjustment shall be made in the provisions of this Agreement, as may be required, so that the rights, privileges, duties and obligations hereunder shall continue with respect to the Common Stock as so changed.

(t) No director of the Company shall be personally liable to the Company or any Holder as a result of any acts or omissions taken under this Agreement in good faith.

(u) In the event additional shares of Common Stock are issued by the Company to a Holder at any time during the term of this Agreement, either directly or upon the exercise or exchange of securities of the Company exercisable for or exchangeable into shares or Common Stock, such additional shares of Common Stock, as a condition to their issuance, shall become subject to the terms and provisions of this Agreement.

(v) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, but subject to Section 3.2, the Parent LLC may assign its rights or obligations, in whole or in part, under this Agreement to any member of the Apollo Group or one or more of the Parent LLC’s Affiliates.

(w) Neither the ownership of Common Stock or Options nor any provision contained in this Agreement shall entitle the Management Holder to obtain employment with or remain in the employment of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or Affiliates or affect any right the Company or any subsidiary or Affiliate of the Company may have to terminate the Management Holder’s employment, pursuant to an applicable employment agreement or otherwise for any reason.

(x) In the event that any member of the Apollo Group becomes an owner of Common Stock of the Company, such member shall automatically become party to this Agreement and this Agreement shall be amended and restated to provide that such member of the Apollo Group or a designee of such member shall have the same rights and obligations of the Parent LLC hereunder.

*    *    *    *    *

 

22


This Agreement is executed by the Company and by each Management Holder and spouse of each Management Holder to be effective as of the date first above written.

 

AFFINION GROUP HOLDINGS, INC.

By:

 

/s/ Nathaniel J. Lipman

 

Name: Nathaniel J. Lipman

Title: President and Chief Executive Officer

AFFINION GROUP HOLDINGS, LLC

By:

 

/s/ Marc Becker

 

Name: Marc Becker

Title: President

HOLDERS (as evidenced by their execution of an

Adoption Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit A)


EXHIBIT A

ADOPTION AGREEMENT

This Adoption Agreement (“ Adoption ”) is executed pursuant to the terms of the Management Investor Rights Agreement dated as of October 17, 2005, a copy of which is attached hereto (the “ Investor Rights Agreement ”), by the transferee (“ Transferee ”) executing this Adoption. By the execution of this Adoption, the Transferee agrees as follows:

 

  1. Acknowledgement. Transferee acknowledges that Transferee is acquiring certain shares of Common Stock of the Affinion Group Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), subject to the terms and conditions of the Management Investor Rights Agreement, among the Company and the Holders party thereto. Capitalized terms used herein without definition are defined in the Management Investor Rights Agreement and are used herein with the same meanings set forth therein.

 

  2. Agreement. Transferee (i) agrees that the shares of Common Stock acquired by Transferee, and certain other shares of Common Stock that may be acquired by Transferee in the future, shall be bound by and subject to the terms of the Management Investor Rights Agreement, pursuant to the terms thereof, and (ii) hereby adopts the Management Investor Rights Agreement with the same force and effect as if he were originally a party thereto.

 

  3. Notice. Any notice required as permitted by the Management Investor Rights Agreement shall be given to Transferee at the address listed beside Transferee’s signature below.

 

  4. Joinder. The spouse of the undersigned Transferee, if applicable, executes this Adoption to acknowledge its fairness and that it is in such spouse’s best interest, and to bind such spouse’s community interest, if any, in the shares of Common Stock and other securities referred to above and in the Management Investor Rights Agreement, to the terms of the Management Investor Rights Agreement.

 

            Nathaniel J. Lipman

Name of Transferee

    

 

Name of Spouse

    /s/ Nathaniel J. Lipman

Signature

    

 

Signature

            9/25/05

Date

    

 

Date


EXHIBIT A

ADOPTION AGREEMENT

This Adoption Agreement (“ Adoption ”) is executed pursuant to the terms of the Management Investor Rights Agreement dated as of October 17, 2005, a copy of which is attached hereto (the “ Investor Rights Agreement ”), by the transferee (“ Transferee ”) executing this Adoption. By the execution of this Adoption, the Transferee agrees as follows:

 

  1. Acknowledgement. Transferee acknowledges that Transferee is acquiring certain shares of Common Stock of the Affinion Group Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), subject to the terms and conditions of the Management Investor Rights Agreement, among the Company and the Holders party thereto. Capitalized terms used herein without definition are defined in the Management Investor Rights Agreement and are used herein with the same meanings set forth therein.

 

  2. Agreement. Transferee (i) agrees that the shares of Common Stock acquired by Transferee, and certain other shares of Common Stock that may be acquired by Transferee in the future, shall be bound by and subject to the terms of the Management Investor Rights Agreement, pursuant to the terms thereof, and (ii) hereby adopts the Management Investor Rights Agreement with the same force and effect as if he were originally a party thereto.

 

  3. Notice. Any notice required as permitted by the Management Investor Rights Agreement shall be given to Transferee at the address listed beside Transferee’s signature below.

 

  4. Joinder. The spouse of the undersigned Transferee, if applicable, executes this Adoption to acknowledge its fairness and that it is in such spouse’s best interest, and to bind such spouse’s community interest, if any, in the shares of Common Stock and other securities referred to above and in the Management Investor Rights Agreement, to the terms of the Management Investor Rights Agreement.

 

            Todd Siegel

Name of Transferee

    

    Karen Siegel

Name of Spouse

    /s/ Todd Siegel

Signature

    

    /s/ Karen Siegel

Signature

            9/26/05

Date

    

    9/26/05

Date


EXHIBIT A

ADOPTION AGREEMENT

This Adoption Agreement (“ Adoption ”) is executed pursuant to the terms of the Management Investor Rights Agreement dated as of October 17, 2005, a copy of which is attached hereto (the “ Investor Rights Agreement ”), by the transferee (“ Transferee ”) executing this Adoption. By the execution of this Adoption, the Transferee agrees as follows:

 

  1. Acknowledgement. Transferee acknowledges that Transferee is acquiring certain shares of Common Stock of the Affinion Group Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), subject to the terms and conditions of the Management Investor Rights Agreement, among the Company and the Holders party thereto. Capitalized terms used herein without definition are defined in the Management Investor Rights Agreement and are used herein with the same meanings set forth therein.

 

  2. Agreement. Transferee (i) agrees that the shares of Common Stock acquired by Transferee, and certain other shares of Common Stock that may be acquired by Transferee in the future, shall be bound by and subject to the terms of the Management Investor Rights Agreement, pursuant to the terms thereof, and (ii) hereby adopts the Management Investor Rights Agreement with the same force and effect as if he were originally a party thereto.

 

  3. Notice. Any notice required as permitted by the Management Investor Rights Agreement shall be given to Transferee at the address listed beside Transferee’s signature below.

 

  4. Joinder. The spouse of the undersigned Transferee, if applicable, executes this Adoption to acknowledge its fairness and that it is in such spouse’s best interest, and to bind such spouse’s community interest, if any, in the shares of Common Stock and other securities referred to above and in the Management Investor Rights Agreement, to the terms of the Management Investor Rights Agreement.

 

        Thomas J. Smith

Name of Transferee

    

    Katherine A. Smith

Name of Spouse

    /s/ Thomas J. Smith

Signature

    

    /s/ Katherine A. Smith

Signature

 

Date

    

 

Date

 

A-1-1


ADOPTION AGREEMENT

This Adoption Agreement (“ Adoption ”) is executed pursuant to the terms of the Management Investor Rights Agreement dated as of October 17, 2005, a copy of which is attached hereto (the “ Investor Rights Agreement ”), by the transferee (“ Transferee ”) executing this Adoption. By the execution of this Adoption, the Transferee agrees as follows:

 

  1. Acknowledgement. Transferee acknowledges that Transferee is acquiring certain shares of Common Stock of the Affinion Group Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), subject to the terms and conditions of the Management Investor Rights Agreement, among the Company and the Holders party thereto. Capitalized terms used herein without definition are defined in the Management Investor Rights Agreement and are used herein with the same meanings set forth therein.

 

  2. Agreement. Transferee (i) agrees that the shares of Common Stock acquired by Transferee, and certain other shares of Common Stock that may be acquired by Transferee in the future, shall be bound by and subject to the terms of the Management Investor Rights Agreement, pursuant to the terms thereof, and (ii) hereby adopts the Management Investor Rights Agreement with the same force and effect as if he were originally a party thereto.

 

  3. Notice. Any notice required as permitted by the Management Investor Rights Agreement shall be given to Transferee at the address listed beside Transferee’s signature below.

 

  4. Joinder. The spouse of the undersigned Transferee, if applicable, executes this Adoption to acknowledge its fairness and that it is in such spouse’s best interest, and to bind such spouse’s community interest, if any, in the shares of Common Stock and other securities referred to above and in the Management Investor Rights Agreement, to the terms of the Management Investor Rights Agreement.

 

            Mary C. Rusterholz

Name of Transferee

    

Craig L. Platt

Name of Spouse

    /s/ Mary C. Rusterholz

Signature

    

    /s/ Craig L. Platt

Signature

 

Date

    

 

Date

 

A-1-2


EXHIBIT A

ADOPTION AGREEMENT

This Adoption Agreement (“ Adoption ”) is executed pursuant to the terms of the Management Investor Rights Agreement dated as of October 17, 2005, a copy of which is attached hereto (the “ Investor Rights Agreement ”), by the transferee (“ Transferee ”) executing this Adoption. By the execution of this Adoption, the Transferee agrees as follows:

 

  1. Acknowledgement. Transferee acknowledges that Transferee is acquiring certain shares of Common Stock of the Affinion Group Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), subject to the terms and conditions of the Management Investor Rights Agreement, among the Company and the Holders party thereto. Capitalized terms used herein without definition are defined in the Management Investor Rights Agreement and are used herein with the same meanings set forth therein.

 

  2. Agreement. Transferee (i) agrees that the shares of Common Stock acquired by Transferee, and certain other shares of Common Stock that may be acquired by Transferee in the future, shall be bound by and subject to the terms of the Management Investor Rights Agreement, pursuant to the terms thereof, and (ii) hereby adopts the Management Investor Rights Agreement with the same force and effect as if he were originally a party thereto.

 

  3. Notice. Any notice required as permitted by the Management Investor Rights Agreement shall be given to Transferee at the address listed beside Transferee’s signature below.

 

  4. Joinder. The spouse of the undersigned Transferee, if applicable, executes this Adoption to acknowledge its fairness and that it is in such spouse’s best interest, and to bind such spouse’s community interest, if any, in the shares of Common Stock and other securities referred to above and in the Management Investor Rights Agreement, to the terms of the Management Investor Rights Agreement.

 

            Thomas J. Rusin

Name of Transferee

    

    Katrina E. Rusin

Name of Spouse

    /s/ Thomas J. Rusin

Signature

    

    /s/ Katrina E. Rusin

Signature

            9/26/05

Date

    

    9/26/05

Date

 

A-1-3


EXHIBIT A

ADOPTION AGREEMENT

This Adoption Agreement (“ Adoption ”) is executed pursuant to the terms of the Management Investor Rights Agreement dated as of October 17, 2005, a copy of which is attached hereto (the “ Investor Rights Agreement ”), by the transferee (“ Transferee ”) executing this Adoption. By the execution of this Adoption, the Transferee agrees as follows:

 

  1. Acknowledgement. Transferee acknowledges that Transferee is acquiring certain shares of Common Stock of the Affinion Group Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), subject to the terms and conditions of the Management Investor Rights Agreement, among the Company and the Holders party thereto. Capitalized terms used herein without definition are defined in the Management Investor Rights Agreement and are used herein with the same meanings set forth therein.

 

  2. Agreement. Transferee (i) agrees that the shares of Common Stock acquired by Transferee, and certain other shares of Common Stock that may be acquired by Transferee in the future, shall be bound by and subject to the terms of the Management Investor Rights Agreement, pursuant to the terms thereof, and (ii) hereby adopts the Management Investor Rights Agreement with the same force and effect as if he were originally a party thereto.

 

  3. Notice. Any notice required as permitted by the Management Investor Rights Agreement shall be given to Transferee at the address listed beside Transferee’s signature below.

 

  4. Joinder. The spouse of the undersigned Transferee, if applicable, executes this Adoption to acknowledge its fairness and that it is in such spouse’s best interest, and to bind such spouse’s community interest, if any, in the shares of Common Stock and other securities referred to above and in the Management Investor Rights Agreement, to the terms of the Management Investor Rights Agreement.

 

            Robert E. Rooney

Name of Transferee

    

    Lisa B. Rooney

Name of Spouse

    /s/ Robert E. Rooney

Signature

    

    /s/ Lisa B. Rooney

Signature

 

Date

    

 

Date

 

A-1-4


EXHIBIT A

ADOPTION AGREEMENT

This Adoption Agreement (“ Adoption ”) is executed pursuant to the terms of the Management Investor Rights Agreement dated as of October 17, 2005, a copy of which is attached hereto (the “ Investor Rights Agreement ”), by the transferee (“ Transferee ”) executing this Adoption. By the execution of this Adoption, the Transferee agrees as follows:

 

  1. Acknowledgement. Transferee acknowledges that Transferee is acquiring certain shares of Common Stock of the Affinion Group Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), subject to the terms and conditions of the Management Investor Rights Agreement, among the Company and the Holders party thereto. Capitalized terms used herein without definition are defined in the Management Investor Rights Agreement and are used herein with the same meanings set forth therein.

 

  2. Agreement. Transferee (i) agrees that the shares of Common Stock acquired by Transferee, and certain other shares of Common Stock that may be acquired by Transferee in the future, shall be bound by and subject to the terms of the Management Investor Rights Agreement, pursuant to the terms thereof, and (ii) hereby adopts the Management Investor Rights Agreement with the same force and effect as if he were originally a party thereto.

 

  3. Notice. Any notice required as permitted by the Management Investor Rights Agreement shall be given to Transferee at the address listed beside Transferee’s signature below.

 

  4. Joinder. The spouse of the undersigned Transferee, if applicable, executes this Adoption to acknowledge its fairness and that it is in such spouse’s best interest, and to bind such spouse’s community interest, if any, in the shares of Common Stock and other securities referred to above and in the Management Investor Rights Agreement, to the terms of the Management Investor Rights Agreement.

 

            Michael P. Rauscher

Name of Transferee

    

 

Name of Spouse

    /s/ Michael P. Rauscher

Signature

    

 

Signature

            9/26/05

Date

    

 

Date

 

A-1-5


EXHIBIT A

ADOPTION AGREEMENT

This Adoption Agreement (“ Adoption ”) is executed pursuant to the terms of the Management Investor Rights Agreement dated as of October 17, 2005, a copy of which is attached hereto (the “ Investor Rights Agreement ”), by the transferee (“ Transferee ”) executing this Adoption. By the execution of this Adoption, the Transferee agrees as follows:

 

  1. Acknowledgement. Transferee acknowledges that Transferee is acquiring certain shares of Common Stock of the Affinion Group Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), subject to the terms and conditions of the Management Investor Rights Agreement, among the Company and the Holders party thereto. Capitalized terms used herein without definition are defined in the Management Investor Rights Agreement and are used herein with the same meanings set forth therein.

 

  2. Agreement. Transferee (i) agrees that the shares of Common Stock acquired by Transferee, and certain other shares of Common Stock that may be acquired by Transferee in the future, shall be bound by and subject to the terms of the Management Investor Rights Agreement, pursuant to the terms thereof, and (ii) hereby adopts the Management Investor Rights Agreement with the same force and effect as if he were originally a party thereto.

 

  3. Notice. Any notice required as permitted by the Management Investor Rights Agreement shall be given to Transferee at the address listed beside Transferee’s signature below.

 

  4. Joinder. The spouse of the undersigned Transferee, if applicable, executes this Adoption to acknowledge its fairness and that it is in such spouse’s best interest, and to bind such spouse’s community interest, if any, in the shares of Common Stock and other securities referred to above and in the Management Investor Rights Agreement, to the terms of the Management Investor Rights Agreement.

 

            Marti Lee Lazear

Name of Transferee

    

 

Name of Spouse

    /s/ Marti Lee Lazear

Signature

    

 

Signature

            9/26/05

Date

    

 

Date

 

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EXHIBIT A

ADOPTION AGREEMENT

This Adoption Agreement (“ Adoption ”) is executed pursuant to the terms of the Management Investor Rights Agreement dated as of October 17, 2005, a copy of which is attached hereto (the “ Investor Rights Agreement ”), by the transferee (“ Transferee ”) executing this Adoption. By the execution of this Adoption, the Transferee agrees as follows:

 

  1. Acknowledgement. Transferee acknowledges that Transferee is acquiring certain shares of Common Stock of the Affinion Group Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), subject to the terms and conditions of the Management Investor Rights Agreement, among the Company and the Holders party thereto. Capitalized terms used herein without definition are defined in the Management Investor Rights Agreement and are used herein with the same meanings set forth therein.

 

  2. Agreement. Transferee (i) agrees that the shares of Common Stock acquired by Transferee, and certain other shares of Common Stock that may be acquired by Transferee in the future, shall be bound by and subject to the terms of the Management Investor Rights Agreement, pursuant to the terms thereof, and (ii) hereby adopts the Management Investor Rights Agreement with the same force and effect as if he were originally a party thereto.

 

  3. Notice. Any notice required as permitted by the Management Investor Rights Agreement shall be given to Transferee at the address listed beside Transferee’s signature below.

 

  4. Joinder. The spouse of the undersigned Transferee, if applicable, executes this Adoption to acknowledge its fairness and that it is in such spouse’s best interest, and to bind such spouse’s community interest, if any, in the shares of Common Stock and other securities referred to above and in the Management Investor Rights Agreement, to the terms of the Management Investor Rights Agreement.

 

            Peter Taktikos

Name of Transferee

    

    Wanda Taktikos

Name of Spouse

    /s/ Peter Taktikos

Signature

    

    /s/ Wanda Taktikos

Signature

            9/26/05

Date

    

    9/26/05

Date

 

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EXHIBIT A

ADOPTION AGREEMENT

This Adoption Agreement (“ Adoption ”) is executed pursuant to the terms of the Management Investor Rights Agreement dated as of October 17, 2005, a copy of which is attached hereto (the “ Investor Rights Agreement ”), by the transferee (“ Transferee ”) executing this Adoption. By the execution of this Adoption, the Transferee agrees as follows:

 

  1. Acknowledgement. Transferee acknowledges that Transferee is acquiring certain shares of Common Stock of the Affinion Group Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), subject to the terms and conditions of the Management Investor Rights Agreement, among the Company and the Holders party thereto. Capitalized terms used herein without definition are defined in the Management Investor Rights Agreement and are used herein with the same meanings set forth therein.

 

  2. Agreement. Transferee (i) agrees that the shares of Common Stock acquired by Transferee, and certain other shares of Common Stock that may be acquired by Transferee in the future, shall be bound by and subject to the terms of the Management Investor Rights Agreement, pursuant to the terms thereof, and (ii) hereby adopts the Management Investor Rights Agreement with the same force and effect as if he were originally a party thereto.

 

  3. Notice. Any notice required as permitted by the Management Investor Rights Agreement shall be given to Transferee at the address listed beside Transferee’s signature below.

 

  4. Joinder. The spouse of the undersigned Transferee, if applicable, executes this Adoption to acknowledge its fairness and that it is in such spouse’s best interest, and to bind such spouse’s community interest, if any, in the shares of Common Stock and other securities referred to above and in the Management Investor Rights Agreement, to the terms of the Management Investor Rights Agreement.

 

            Steven E. Upshaw

Name of Transferee

    

    Kiesha Upshaw

Name of Spouse

    /s/ Steven E. Upshaw

Signature

    

    /s/ Kiesha Upshaw

Signature

            9/26/05

Date

    

    9/26/05

Date

 

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ANNEX I

Restrictive Covenants

Each Management Holder acknowledges and agrees that it has received good and valuable consideration for the restrictive covenants set forth herein, including without limitation, the right to acquire and own Securities of the Company, the employment by the Company or its subsidiaries and the related compensation and benefits and other good and valuable consider, the sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged. Each Management Holder shall be bound by the provisions contained in this Annex I.

1. Non-Solicitation . During the period commencing on the date hereof and ending on the third anniversary of the date of termination of the Management Holder’s employment with the Company and its Affiliates for any reason, the Management Holder shall not directly or indirectly through another Person (i) induce or attempt to induce any employee of the Company or any Affiliate of the Company to leave the employ of the Company or such Affiliate, or in any way interfere with the relationship between the Company or any such Affiliate, on the one hand, and any employee thereof, on the other hand, (ii) hire any person who was an employee of the Company or any Affiliate of the Company or (iii) induce or attempt to induce any customer, supplier, licensee or other business relation of the Company or any Affiliate of the Company to cease doing business with the Company or such Affiliate, or in any way interfere with the relationship between any such customer, supplier, licensee or business relation, on the one hand, and the Company or any such Affiliate, on the other hand.

2. Non-Competition . Each Management Holder acknowledges that, in the course of his employment with the Company and/or its Affiliates and their predecessors, he has become familiar, or will become familiar, with the Company’s and its Affiliates’ and their respective predecessors’ Confidential Information and that such Management Holder’s services have been and will be of special, unique and extraordinary value to the Company and its Affiliates. Therefore, each Management Holder agrees that, during the period commencing on the date hereof and ending on the second anniversary of the Management Holder’s termination of employment with the Company and its Affiliates for any reason (the “ Non-Compete Period ”), such Management Holder shall not, directly or indirectly, engage in any business that markets, provides, administers or makes available affinity-based membership programs, affinity-based insurance programs, benefit packages as an enhancement to financial institutions or other customer accounts or loyalty-based programs (whether as of the date hereof or during the Non-Compete Period), anywhere in the world in which the Company or its subsidiaries is doing business. For purposes of this Section 2, the phrase “ directly or indirectly engage in ” shall include any direct or indirect ownership or profit participation interest in such enterprise, whether as an owner, stockholder, partner, joint venturer or otherwise, and shall include any direct or indirect participation in such enterprise as an employee, consultant, licensor of technology or otherwise; provided, however, that nothing in this Section 2 shall prohibit any Management Holder from being a passive owner of not more than 5% of the outstanding stock of any class of a corporation which is publicly traded, so long as such Management Holder has no active participation in the business of such corporation.

3. Non-Disclosure; Non-Use of Confidential Information . The Management Holder shall not disclose or use at any time, either during his employment with the Company and its Affiliates or thereafter, any Confidential Information (as hereinafter defined) of which the

 

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Management Holder is or becomes aware, whether or not such information is developed by him, except to the extent that such disclosure or use is directly related to and required by the Management Holder’s performance in good faith of duties assigned to the Management Holder by the Company. The Management Holder will take all appropriate steps to safeguard Confidential Information in his possession and to protect it against disclosure, misuse, espionage, loss and theft. The Management Holder shall deliver to the Company at the termination of his employment with the Company and its Affiliates, or at any time the Company may request, all memoranda, notes, plans, records, reports, computer tapes and software and other documents and data (and copies thereof) relating to the Confidential Information or the Work Product (as hereinafter defined) of the business of the Company or any of its Affiliates that the Management Holder may then possess or have under his control.

4. Proprietary Rights . The Management Holder recognizes that the Company and its Affiliates possess a proprietary interest all Confidential Information and Work Product and have the exclusive right and privilege to use, protect by copyright, patent or trademark, or otherwise exploit the processes, ideas and concepts described therein to the exclusion of the Management Holder, except as otherwise agreed between the Company and the Management Holder in writing. The Management Holder expressly agrees that any Work Product made or developed by the Management Holder or the Management Holder’s agents or affiliates during the course of the Management Holder’s employment, including any Work Product which is based on or arises out of Work Product, shall be the property of and inure to the exclusive benefit of the Company and its Affiliates. The Management Holder further agrees that all Work Product developed by the Management Holder (whether or not able to be protected by copyright, patent or trademark) during the course of such Management Holder’s employment, or involving the use of the time, materials or other resources of the Company or any of its Affiliates, shall be promptly disclosed to the Company and shall become the exclusive property of the Company, and the Management Holder shall execute and deliver any and all documents necessary or appropriate to implement the foregoing.

5. Certain Definitions .

(a) As used herein, the term “ Confidential Information ” means information that is not generally known to the public and that is used, developed or obtained by the Company in connection with its business, including, but not limited to, information, observations and data obtained by the Management Holder while employed by the Company or any predecessors thereof (including those obtained prior to the date of this Agreement) concerning (i) the business or affairs of the Company (or such predecessors), (ii) products or services, (iii) fees, costs and pricing structures, (iv) designs, (v) analyses, (vi) drawings, photographs and reports, (vii) computer software, including operating systems, applications and program listings, (viii) flow charts, manuals and documentation, (ix) databases, (x) accounting and business methods, (xi) inventions, devices, new developments, methods and processes, whether patentable or unpatentable and whether or not reduced to practice, (xii) customers and clients and customer or client lists, (xiii) other copyrightable works, (xiv) all production methods, processes, technology and trade secrets, and (xv) all similar and related information in whatever form. Confidential Information will not include any information that has been published in a form generally available to the public prior to the date the Management Holder proposes to disclose or use such information. Confidential Information will not be deemed to have been published or otherwise disclosed merely because individual portions of the information have been separately published, but only if all material features comprising such information have been published in combination.

 

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(b) As used herein, the term “ Work Product ” means all inventions, innovations, improvements, technical information, systems, software developments, methods, designs, analyses, drawings, reports, service marks, trademarks, trade names, logos and all similar or related information (whether patentable or unpatentable) that relates to the Company’s or any of its Affiliates’ actual or anticipated business, research and development or existing or future products or services and that are conceived, developed or made by the Management Holder (whether or not during usual business hours and whether or not alone or in conjunction with any other person) while employed by the Company (including those conceived, developed or made prior to the date of this Agreement) together with all patent applications, letters patent, trademark, trade name and service mark applications or registrations, copyrights and reissues thereof that may be granted for or upon any of the foregoing.

 

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ANNEX II

 

  1. If to the Company:

Affinion Group Holdings, Inc.

c/o Apollo Management V, L.P.

9 West 57 th Street

New York, New York 10019

Facsimile: (212) 515-3288

Attention: Marc Becker

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

O’Melveny & Myers, LLP

7 Times Square

New York, New York 10036

Facsimile: (212) 326-2061

Attention: Adam K. Weinstein, Esq.

 

  2. If to the Parent LLC:

Affinion Group Holdings, LLC

c/o Apollo Management V, L.P.

9 West 57 th Street

New York, NY 10019

Facsimile: (212) 515-3264

Attention: Marc Becker

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

O’Melveny & Myers LLP

7 Times Square

New York, New York 10036

Facsimile: (212) 326-2061

Attention: Adam K. Weinstein, Esq.

 

  3. If to any Management Holder, to the address set

forth with respect to such Management Holder

in the Company’s records.

*    *    *    *    *

 

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ANNEX III

Executive Management Holders 1

Lipman, Nathaniel J.

Lazear, Marti Lee

Rauscher, Michael P.

Rooney, Robert

Rusin, Thomas J.

Rusterholz-Platt, Mary C.

Siegel, Todd H.

Smith, Thomas

Taktikos, Peter P.

Upshaw, Steve


1 Each individual who purchased shares of the Company pursuant to a Subscription Agreement dated as of November 16, 2005 has been designated an "Executive Management Holder" by resolution of the Board as of November 16, 2005. Pursuant to the terms of this Agreement,any additional Executive Management Holders shall be so designated by the Board and said designations shall be reflected in the official minute book of the Company.

 

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Exhibit 10.5

CONSULTING AGREEMENT dated as of October 17, 2005, between AFFINION GROUP, INC. , a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), and APOLLO MANAGEMENT V, L.P. , a Delaware limited partnership (“ Apollo ”).

The Company desires to avail itself of Apollo’s expertise and consequently has requested that Apollo make such expertise available from time to time in rendering certain consulting and investment advisory services related to the business and affairs of the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates and the review and analysis of certain financial and other transactions. Apollo and the Company agree that it is in their respective best interests to enter into this Agreement whereby, for the consideration specified herein, Apollo shall provide such services as independent consultant to the Company. It is the intention of the parties that this Consulting Agreement is not for services in connection with the day-to-day business affairs of the Company.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants hereinafter set forth, the Company and Apollo agree as follows:

Section 1. Retention of Apollo.

The Company hereby retains Apollo, and Apollo accepts such retention, upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.

Section 2. Term.

This Agreement shall commence on the date hereof until the earliest of (i) the twelfth anniversary of the date hereof, (ii) such time as Apollo and its affiliates then owning beneficial economic interests in the Company own in the aggregate less than 5% of the beneficial economic interest of the Company and (iii) such earlier date as is mutually agreed upon by the Company and Apollo (the “ Term ”).

Section 3. Consulting Services.

(a) Apollo shall advise the Company concerning such matters that relate to proposed financial transactions, acquisitions, investments and financial related matters of the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates, in each case as the Company shall reasonably and specifically request by way of notice to Apollo, which notice shall specify the services required of Apollo and shall include all background material necessary for Apollo to complete such services. If requested to provide such services, Apollo shall devote such time to any such written request as Apollo shall deem, in its discretion, necessary. Such consulting services, in Apollo’s discretion, shall be rendered in person or by telephone or other communication. Apollo shall have no obligation to the Company as to the manner and time of rendering its services hereunder, and the Company shall not have any right to dictate or direct the details of the services rendered hereunder.


(b) The Company acknowledges that Apollo has (i) structured the acquisition and the other transactions contemplated by the Stock Purchase Agreement dated as of July 26, 2005 among the Company, Affinion Group Holdings, Inc. and Cendant Corporation (as amended, restated, modified or supplemented from time to time, the “ Purchase Agreement ”), (ii) has arranged for financing in connection with the acquisition, and (iii) has provided other investment advisory services in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement.

(c) Apollo shall perform all services to be provided hereunder as an independent contractor to the Company and not as an employee, agent or representative of the Company. Apollo shall have no authority to act for or to bind the Company without its prior written consent.

(d) This Agreement shall in no way prohibit Apollo or any of its partners or Affiliates or any director, officer, partner or employee of Apollo or any of its partners or Affiliates from engaging in other activities, whether or not competitive with any business of the Company or any of its respective subsidiaries or affiliates.

Section 4. Compensation.

(a) Consulting Fee . As consideration for Apollo’s agreement to render the services set forth in Section 3(a) and as compensation for any such services rendered by Apollo, the Company agrees to pay to Apollo an annual fee of $2 million (the “ Consulting Fee ”). The Consulting Fee for each calendar year shall be payable on January 1 st of that year.

(b) Transaction Fee . As consideration for services rendered pursuant to Section 3(b) , the Company agrees to pay to Apollo a fee of $20 million, which shall be earned and payable upon consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement.

(c) Expenses . Upon presentation by Apollo to the Company of such documentation as may be reasonably requested by the Company, the Company shall reimburse Apollo for all out-of-pocket expenses, including, without limitation, legal fees and expenses, and other disbursements incurred by Apollo, its Affiliates or any of Apollo’s or its Affiliates’ directors, officers, employees or agents in the performance of Apollo’s obligations hereunder, whether incurred on or prior to the date hereof, including, without limitation, out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement and each of the documents referred to therein.

(d) Change of Control or Initial Public Offering . The parties acknowledge and agree that an objective of the Company is to maximize value for its shareholders which may include consummating (or participating in the consummation of) a Change of Control or a Qualified IPO. The services provided to the Company by Apollo will help to facilitate the consummation of a Change of Control or Qualified IPO, should the Company decide to pursue such a transaction. Following the provision of notice to Apollo by the Company of the Company’s intent to enter into a Change of Control or Qualified IPO, Apollo may elect at any time in connection with or in anticipation of such Change of Control or Qualified IPO (or at any time thereafter) by the delivery of notice to the Company (such notice,

 

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the “ Notice ” and the date on which such Notice is delivered to the Company, the “ Notice Date ”) to receive the Lump Sum Payment, in lieu of annual payments of the Consulting Fee, such amount to be paid on the date on which the Change of Control or Qualified IPO is consummated, or, if the Notice occurs subsequent to such date, as soon as practicable, but in no event later than 30 days subsequent to the Notice Date.

(e) Non-Payment . Any portion of the fees or expenses payable to Apollo under this Agreement which the Company is prohibited from paying to Apollo under the Credit Agreement, the Notes or any other agreement or debt instrument shall be deferred, shall accrue and shall be payable at the earliest time permitted under the applicable agreement or debt instrument, or upon the payment in full of all obligations under any applicable debt instrument. The Company shall notify Apollo of any payment prohibition on each date on which the Company would otherwise make a payment of fees under this Agreement.

(f) Non-Exclusive . Nothing in this Agreement shall have the effect of prohibiting Apollo or any of its Affiliates from receiving from the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates any other fees, including any fee payable pursuant to Section 6 .

(g) Definitions . As used in this Section 4 the following terms have the following meanings:

(i) “ Credit Agreement ” means the Credit Agreement dated as of October 17, 2005, among the Company, Affinion Group Holdings, Inc., the Lenders from time to time party thereto, Credit Suisse, as administrative agent for the Lenders, and Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., as syndication agent.

(ii) “ Notes ” means the 10 1/8% Senior Notes due 2013 issued pursuant to the Indenture dated as of October 17, 2005 between the Company, the Guarantors party thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Trustee.

(iii) The “ Lump Sum Payment ” shall be a single lump sum cash payment equal to the present value of all Consulting Fees payable under this Agreement through the end of the Term (using a discount rate equal to the yield to maturity on the Notice Date of the class of outstanding U.S. government bonds having a final maturity closest to the end of the Term); provided, that no portion of the Lump Sum Payment shall be payable to Apollo if on the Notice Date Apollo or its Affiliates do not collectively own any beneficial economic interest in the Company.

(iv) A “ Qualified IPO ” means a public offering and sale of equity securities of the Company (or any successor entity) in any transaction or series of related transactions, pursuant to an effective registration statement (other than on Form S-4, S-8 or their equivalents) filed under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended which yield net proceeds to the Company or Apollo and its Affiliates in excess of $100 million or which results in least 10% of the total outstanding shares of common stock being sold to the public in a primary offering.

(v) A “ Change of Control ” means any of the following transactions, after which Apollo and its Affiliates collectively cease to own at least 50% of the

 

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equity interest in the Company: (i) the sale or transfer (in one or a series of related transactions) of all or substantially all of the Company’s and its subsidiaries’ consolidated assets to a person or a group of persons acting in concert, (ii) the sale or transfer (in one or a series of related transactions) of a majority of the outstanding capital stock of the Company, to one person or a group of persons acting in concert, or (iii) the merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another person that is not an affiliate of the Company.

Section 5. Indemnification.

The Company will indemnify and hold harmless Apollo and its Affiliates and each of their respective partners (both general and limited), members (both managing and otherwise), officers, directors, employees, agents and representatives (each such person an “ Indemnified Party ”) from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities, including in connection with seeking indemnification, whether joint or several (the “ Liabilities ”), related to, arising out of or in connection with the services contemplated by this Agreement or the engagement of Apollo pursuant to, and the performance Apollo of the services contemplated by, this Agreement, whether or not pending or threatened, whether or not an Indemnified Party is a party, whether or not resulting in any liability and whether or not such action, claim, suit, investigation or proceeding is initiated or brought by the Company. The Company will reimburse any Indemnified Party for all reasonable costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses) as they are incurred in connection with investigating, preparing, pursuing, defending or assisting in the defense of any action, claim, suit, investigation or proceeding for which the Indemnified Party would be entitled to indemnification under the terms of the previous sentence, or any action or proceeding arising therefrom, whether or not such Indemnified Party is a party thereto. The Company will not be liable under the foregoing indemnification provision with respect to any particular loss, claim, damage, liability, cost or expense of an Indemnified Party to the extent that such is determined by a court, in a final judgment from which no further appeal may be taken, to have resulted primarily from the willful misconduct of such Indemnified Party. The attorneys’ fees and other expenses of an Indemnified Party shall be paid by the Company as they are incurred upon receipt, in each case, of an undertaking by or on behalf of the Indemnified Party to repay such amounts if it is finally judicially determined that the Liabilities in question resulted primarily from the willful misconduct of such Indemnified Party.

Section 6. Other Services.

If the Company shall determine that it is advisable for the Company to hire a financial advisor, consultant, investment banker or any similar agent in connection with any merger, acquisition, disposition, recapitalization, issuance of securities, financing or any similar transaction, it shall notify Apollo of such determination. Promptly thereafter, upon the request of Apollo, the parties shall negotiate in good faith to agree upon appropriate services, compensation and indemnification for the Company to hire Apollo or its Affiliates for such services. The Company may not hire any person, other than Apollo or its Affiliates, for any services, unless (a) the parties are unable to agree after 30 days following receipt by Apollo of such notice, (b) such other person has a reputation that is at least equal to the reputation of Apollo in respect of such services, (c) ten business days shall have elapsed after the Company provides a written notice to Apollo of its intention to hire such other person, which notice shall identify such other person

 

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and shall describe in reasonable detail the nature of the services to be provided, the compensation to be paid and the indemnification to be provided and (d) the compensation to be paid is not more than Apollo was willing to accept in the negotiations described above, and (e) the indemnification to be provided is not more favorable to the Company than the indemnification that Apollo was willing to accept in the negotiations described above. In the absence of an express agreement to the contrary, at the closing of any merger, acquisition or similar transaction, Apollo shall receive a fee equal to 1% of the aggregate enterprise value paid or provided by the Company (including the aggregate value of (x) equity securities, warrants, rights and options acquired or retained, (y) indebtedness acquired, assumed or refinanced and (z) any other consideration or compensation paid in connection with such transaction).

Section 7. Accuracy of Information.

The Company shall furnish or cause to be furnished to Apollo such information as Apollo believes reasonably appropriate in connection with providing the services contemplated by this Agreement and to comply with Securities and Exchange Commission or other legal requirements relating to the beneficial ownership of equity securities of the Company (all such information so furnished, the “ Information ”). The Company recognizes and confirms that Apollo (a) will use and rely primarily on the Information and on information available from generally recognized public sources in performing the services contemplated by this Agreement without independent verification, (b) does not assume responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of the Information and such other information and (c) is entitled to rely upon the Information without independent verification.

Section 8. Notices.

All notices, requests, consents and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed sufficient if personally delivered, sent by nationally-recognized overnight courier, by telecopy, or by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested and postage prepaid, addressed as follows:

if to Apollo, to:

Apollo Management V, L.P.

9 West 57 th Street

New York, New York 10019

Attention: Marc Becker

Telecopier: (212) 515-3263

with a copy to:

O’Melveny & Myers LLP

7 Times Square

New York, New York 10036

Attention: Adam K. Weinstein, Esq.

Telecopier: (212) 326-2061

 

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if to the Company, to it at:

Affinion Group, Inc.

100 Connecticut Avenue

Norwalk, Connecticut 06850

Attention: Todd Siegel

Telecopier: (203) 956-1206

or to such other address as the party to whom notice is to be given may have furnished to each other party in writing in accordance herewith. Any such notice or communication shall be deemed to have been received (a) in the case of personal delivery, on the date of such delivery, (b) in the case of nationally-recognized overnight courier, on the next business day after the date when sent, (c) in the case of telecopy transmission, when received, and (d) in the case of mailing, on the third business day following that on which the piece of mail containing such communication is posted.

Section 9. Benefits of Agreement.

This Agreement shall bind and inure to the benefit of Apollo, the Company, the Indemnified Persons and any successors to or assigns of Apollo and the Company; provided , however , that this Agreement may not be assigned by either party hereto without the prior written consent of the other party, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld in the case of any assignment by Apollo.

Section 10. Governing Law.

This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New York (without giving effect to principles of conflicts of laws).

Section 11. Headings.

Section headings are used for convenience only and shall in no way affect the construction of this Agreement.

Section 12. Entire Agreement; Amendments.

This Agreement contains the entire understanding of the parties with respect to its subject matter and supersedes any and all prior agreements, and neither it nor any part of it may in any way be altered, amended, extended, waived, discharged or terminated except by a written agreement signed by each of the parties hereto.

Section 13. Counterparts.

This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, and each such counterpart shall be deemed to be an original instrument, but all such counterparts together shall constitute but one agreement.

 

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Section 14. Waivers.

Any party to this Agreement may, by written notice to the other party, waive any provision of this Agreement. The waiver by any party of a breach of any provision of this Agreement shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any subsequent breach.

Section 15. Affiliates.

For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Affiliate,” with respect to Apollo, shall include, without limitation, Apollo Investment Fund V, L.P., AP-BHI Investments, L.P., Apollo Netherlands Partners V(A), L.P., Apollo Netherlands Partners V(B), L.P., Apollo German Partners V GMBH & Co., Apollo Overseas Partners V, L.P., Apollo Advisors V, L.P., and Apollo Capital Management V, Inc. (collectively, the “ Funds ”), the general partner of Apollo, the general partner of each of the Funds and each person controlling, controlled by or under common control with any of the foregoing persons.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have duly executed this Consulting Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

AFFINION GROUP, INC.

By:

 

/s/ Nathaniel J. Lipman

 

Name:

 

Nathaniel J. Lipman

 

Title:

 

President and Chief Executive Officer

APOLLO MANAGEMENT V, L.P.

By:

 

Apollo Management V, LP, its Manager

By:

 

AIF V Management, Inc., its General Partner

By:

 

/s/ Marc Becker

 

Name:

 

Marc Becker

 

Title:

 

Manager

Exhibit 10.6

AFFINION GROUP HOLDINGS, INC.

2005 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN


ARTICLE I

PURPOSE OF THE PLAN

The purpose of the AFFINION GROUP HOLDINGS, INC. 2005 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN (the “Plan”) is (i) to further the growth and success of Affinion Group Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and its Subsidiaries (as hereinafter defined) by enabling directors and employees of, or consultants to, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to acquire Shares (as hereinafter defined), thereby increasing their personal interest in such growth and success, and (ii) to provide a means of rewarding outstanding performance by such persons to the Company and/or its Subsidiaries. Awards granted under the Plan (the “Awards”) shall be nonqualified stock options (referred to herein as “Options” or “NSOs”) and rights to purchase Shares. In the Plan, the terms “Parent” and “Subsidiary” mean “Parent Corporation” and “Subsidiary Corporation,” respectively, as such terms are defined in Sections 424(e) and (f) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”).

ARTICLE II

DEFINITIONS

As used in the Plan, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:

“Adoption Agreement” means an agreement between the Company and a holder of Shares, pursuant to which such holder agrees to become a party to the Management Investor Rights Agreement.

“Affiliate” means with respect to any Person, any other Person that, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such Person and/or one or more Affiliates thereof. As used in this definition, the term “control,” including the correlative terms “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under common control with,” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies (whether through the ownership of securities or any partnership or other ownership interests, by contract or otherwise) of a Person. The term “Affiliate” shall not include at any time any portfolio companies of Apollo Management V, L.P. or any of its Affiliates, other than Affinion Group Holdings, Inc. and its Subsidiaries.

“Award” has the meaning set forth in Article I hereof.

“Award Agreement” means any writing setting forth the terms of an Award that has been duly authorized and approved by the Board or the Committee.

“Board” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1 hereof.

“Capital Stock” means any and all shares of, interests and participations in, and other equivalents (however designated) of stock, including without limitation all Shares and preferred stock.

 

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“Cause” means, with respect to a Termination of Relationship: (i) if such Participant is at the time of termination a party to an employment agreement with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that defines such term, the meaning given in the employment agreement; (ii) otherwise if such Participant is at the time of termination a party to an Award Agreement that was entered into under the Plan and defines such term, the meaning given in the Award Agreement; and (iii) in all other cases, a Termination of Relationship by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates based on such Participant’s (A) commission of a felony or an act of moral turpitude; (B) act of dishonesty or willful misconduct; (C) material breach of the Participant’s obligations hereunder or any other agreement entered into between the Participant and the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates; or (D) breach of the Company’s policies or procedures that causes material harm to the Company or its business reputation.

“Closing Date” means October 17, 2005.

“Code” has the meaning set forth in Article I hereof.

“Committee” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1 hereof.

“Common Stock” means the common stock of the Company, par value $.01 per share.

“Company” has the meaning set forth in Article I hereof.

“Disability” means, with respect to each Participant, (i) if such Participant is at the time of termination a party to an employment agreement with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that defines such term, the meaning given in the employment agreement; (ii) otherwise if such Participant is at the time of termination a party to an Award Agreement that was entered into under the Plan and defines such term, the meaning given in the Award Agreement that the Participant, and (iii) in all other cases that such Participant (i) is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical of mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months, or (ii) is, by reason of any medically determinable physical of mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months, receiving income replacement benefits for a period of not less than three months under an accident or health plan covering employees of the Company.

“Distributed Securities” means any securities received by the Investor as a return on the Investor Investment that have been distributed to investors in investment funds managed by Apollo Management V, L.P. or any of its Affiliates.

“Effective Date” means the date the Plan is adopted by the Board.

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

“Fair Market Value” means (i) on the Closing Date, the price the Investor pays to acquire the Common Stock, and (ii) as of any subsequent date, the closing price of the Common Stock on any national securities exchange or any national market system (including, but not limited to, The NASDAQ National Market) on that date, or if no prices are reported on that date, on the last

 

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preceding date on which such prices of the Common Stock are so reported. If the Common Stock is not then listed on any national securities exchange but is traded over the counter at the time determination of its Fair Market Value is required to be made, its Fair Market Value shall be deemed to be equal to the average between the reported high and low sales prices of Common Stock on the most recent date on which Common Stock was publicly traded. If the Common Stock is not publicly traded at the time a determination of its Fair Market Value is made, the Board shall determine its Fair Market Value in such manner as it deems appropriate (such determination shall be made in a manner that satisfies Section 409A of the Code (to the extent applicable) and in good faith as required by Section 422(c)(1) of the Code, and may be based on the advice of an independent investment banker or appraiser recognized to be an expert in making such valuations).

“Good Reason” means with respect to a Termination of Relationship: (i) if such Participant is at the time of termination a party to an employment agreement with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that defines such term (or a term of like import, such as “constructive discharge”), the meaning given in the employment agreement; (ii) otherwise if such Participant is at the time of termination a party to an Award Agreement that was entered into under the Plan and defines such term, the meaning given in the Award Agreement; and (iii) in all other cases, a Termination of Relationship by the Participant following a reduction by greater than 30% of the Participant’s annual base salary (but not including any diminution related to a broader compensation reduction that is not limited to any particular employee or executive); provided, however, that such reduction described in clause (iii) shall not constitute Good Reason unless the Participant shall have notified the Company in writing describing such reduction within 60 days of its initial occurrence and then only if the Company shall have failed to cure such reduction within thirty (30) days after the Company’s receipt of such written notice.

“Independent Third Party” means any Person that (i) did not own in excess of five percent (5%) of the Common Stock deemed outstanding (on a fully diluted basis) as of the first anniversary of the Effective Date; and (ii) is not an Affiliate of any such owner.

“Investor” means, collectively, Apollo Investment Fund V, L.P., each of its Affiliates and any other investment fund or vehicle managed by Apollo Management V, L.P. or any of its Affiliates (including any successors or assigns of any such manager).

“Investor Investment” means direct or indirect investments in Shares or other Capital Stock of the Company made by the Investor on or after the Closing Date, but excluding any purchases or repurchases of Shares on any securities exchange or any national market system after an initial Public Offering. The term “Investor Investment” excludes any investment originally made by the Investor in a Person other than the Company or a Subsidiary.

“Investor IRR” means the pretax compounded annual internal rate of return calculated on a quarterly basis realized by the Investor on the Investor Investment, based on the aggregate amount invested by the Investor for all Investor Investments and the aggregate amount of cash received by, and Distributed Securities distributed to, the Investor in respect of all Investor Investments, assuming all Investor Investments were purchased by one Person and were held continuously by such Person. The Investor IRR shall be determined based on the actual time of each Investor Investment and actual cash received by, and Distributed Securities distributed to,

 

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the Investor in respect of all Investor Investments and including, as a return on each Investor Investment, any cash dividends, cash distributions, cash sales or cash interest made by the Company or any Subsidiary in respect of such Investor Investment during such period, but excluding any other amounts payable that are not directly attributable to an Investor Investment and excluding any management fees. For purposes of determining Investor IRR in respect of Distributed Securities, the fair market value of those securities on the date on which the Distributed Securities are distributed shall be used for purposes of calculating the annual internal rate of return, and such date shall be deemed the date on which the return on the Investor Investment was received by the Investor.

“Management Investor Rights Agreement” means the Management Investor Rights Agreement, dated as of the Closing Date, among the Company and the holders party thereto, as it is amended, supplemented, restated or otherwise modified from time to time.

“Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.7 hereof.

“NSOs” has the meaning set forth in Article I hereof.

“Option” has the meaning set forth in Article I hereof.

“Option Price” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.4 hereof.

“Option Shares” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.7(b) hereof.

“Participant” has the meaning set forth in Article IV hereof.

“Permitted Assignee” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.2 hereof.

“Person” shall be construed broadly and shall include, without limitation, an individual, a partnership, a corporation, an association, a joint stock company, a limited liability company, a trust, a joint venture, an unincorporated organization and a governmental entity or any department, agency or political subdivision thereof.

“Plan” has the meaning set forth in Article I hereof.

“Public Offering” means the closing of a public offering of Common Stock pursuant to a registration statement declared effective under the Securities Act, except that a Public Offering shall not include (i) an offering made primarily pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-4 in connection with a business combination or on Form S-8 in connection with an employee benefit plan of the Company or made primarily to employees or consultants of the Company; or (ii) an offering of a de minimis number of Shares.

“Purchase Price” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.2 hereof.

“Realization Event” means (i) the consummation of a Sale of the Company; or (ii) any transaction or series of related transactions in which the Investor sells at least 50% of the Shares directly or indirectly acquired by it (from the Company or otherwise) and at least 50% of the aggregate of all Investor Investments.

 

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“Reorganization” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.1 hereof.

“Reserved Shares” means, at any time, an aggregate of 2,062,500 Shares, as the same may be adjusted at or prior to such time in accordance with Section 7.1.

“Sale of the Company” means the sale of the Company to one or more Independent Third Parties, pursuant to which such party or parties acquire (i) Capital Stock of the Company possessing the voting power to elect a majority of the Board (whether by merger, consolidation, recapitalization or sale or transfer of the Company’s Capital Stock or otherwise); or (ii) all or substantially all of the Company’s assets determined on a consolidated basis.

“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

“Shares” means shares of Common Stock.

“Stock Award” means an Award of the right to purchase Shares under Article VI of the Plan.

“Subsidiary” means any corporation or other entity of which the Company owns securities or interests having a majority, directly or indirectly, of the ordinary voting power in electing the board of directors, managers, general partners or similar governing Persons thereof.

“Termination Date” means the tenth anniversary of the Effective Date.

“Termination of Relationship” means (i) if the Participant is an employee of the Company or any Subsidiary, the termination of the Participant’s employment with the Company and its Subsidiaries for any reason; (ii) if the Participant is a consultant to the Company or any Subsidiary, the termination of the Participant’s consulting relationship with the Company and its Subsidiaries for any reason; and (iii) if the Participant is a director of the Company or any Subsidiary, the termination of the Participant’s service as a director of the Company or such Subsidiary for any reason. Unless otherwise specifically provided by the Committee, a Termination of Relationship shall not be treated as having occurred to the extent that a Participant retains the status of employee, consultant or director with respect to the Company or any Subsidiary following a termination described in clause (i), (ii) or (iii).

“Vested Options” means Options that have vested in accordance with the applicable Award Agreement.

ARTICLE III

ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN; SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN

3.1 Committee .

The Plan shall be administered by the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) or the Compensation Committee (the “Committee”) appointed from time to time by the Board, in consultation with the Chief Executive Officer of the Company, in the event the Chief Executive Officer is not a member of the Compensation Committee. The term “Committee” shall, for all purposes of the Plan other than this Article III, be deemed to refer to the Board if the Board is administering the Plan.

 

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3.2 Procedures .

The Committee shall adopt such rules and regulations as it shall deem appropriate concerning the holding of meetings and the administration of the Plan. The entire Committee shall constitute a quorum and the actions of the entire Committee present at a meeting, or actions approved in writing by the entire Committee, shall be the actions of the Committee.

3.3 Interpretation; Powers of Committee .

Except as may otherwise be expressly reserved to the Board as provided herein, and with respect to any Award, except as may otherwise be provided in the Award Agreement evidencing such Award or an employment agreement between the Participant and Company, the Committee shall have all powers with respect to the administration of the Plan, including the authority to:

 

  (a) determine eligibility and the particular persons who will receive Awards;

 

  (b) grant Awards to eligible persons, determine the price and number of securities to be offered or awarded to any of such persons, determine the other specific terms and conditions of Awards consistent with the express limits of the Plan, establish the installments (if any) in which such Awards will become exercisable or will vest and the respective consequences thereof (or determine that no delayed exercisability or vesting is required), and establish the events of termination or reversion of such Awards;

 

  (c) approve the forms of Award Agreements, which need not be identical either as to type of Award or among Participants;

 

  (d) construe and interpret the provisions of the Plan and any Award Agreement or other agreement defining the rights and obligations of the Company and Participants under the Plan, make factual determinations with respect to the administration of the Plan, further define the terms used in the Plan, and prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to the administration of the Plan;

 

  (e) cancel, modify, or waive the Company’s rights with respect to, or modify, discontinue, suspend, or terminate any or all outstanding Awards held by Participants, subject to any required consent under Article X;

 

  (f) accelerate or extend the exercisability or extend the term of any or all outstanding Awards, subject to any consent required under Article X; and

 

  (g) make all other determinations and take such other action as contemplated by the Plan or as may be necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan and the effectuation of its purposes.

 

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All decisions of the Board or the Committee, as the case may be, shall be reasonable and made in good faith and shall be conclusive and binding on all Participants in the Plan. In making any determination or in taking or not taking any action under the Plan, the Committee or the Board, as the case may be, may obtain the advice of experts, including employees of and professional advisors to the Company. The Committee may delegate ministerial, non-discretionary functions to individuals who are officers or employees of the Company. No director, officer or agent of the Company or any Subsidiary will be liable for any action, omission or decision under the Plan taken, made or omitted in good faith.

3.4 Compliance with Code Section 162(m) .

In the event the Company becomes a “publicly-held corporation” as defined in Code § 162(m)(2), the Company may establish a committee of outside directors meeting the requirements of Code § 162(m)(2) to (i) approve Awards that might reasonably be anticipated to result in the payment of employee remuneration that would otherwise exceed the limit on employee remuneration deductible for income tax purposes by the Company pursuant to Code § 162(m); and (ii) administer the Plan. In such event, the powers reserved to the Committee in the Plan shall be exercised by such compensation committee. In addition, Awards under the Plan shall be granted upon satisfaction of the conditions to such grants provided pursuant to Code § 162(m) and any Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder.

3.5 Number of Shares .

Subject to the provisions of Article VII (relating to adjustments upon changes in capital structure and other corporate transactions), the aggregate number of Shares with respect to which Awards may be granted under the Plan shall not exceed the Reserved Shares. Shares that are subject to or underlie Options granted under the Plan that expire or for any reason are canceled or terminated without having been exercised (or Shares subject to or underlying the unexercised portion of any Options, in the case of Options that were partially exercised at the time of their expiration, cancellation or termination), as well as Shares that are subject to Stock Awards made under the Plan that are not actually purchased pursuant to such Stock Awards, will again, except to the extent prohibited by law or applicable listing or regulatory requirements, be available for subsequent Award grants under the Plan.

3.6 Reservation of Shares .

The number of Shares reserved for issuance with respect to Awards granted under the Plan shall at no time be less than the maximum number of Shares which may be issued or delivered at any time pursuant to outstanding Awards.

 

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ARTICLE IV

ELIGIBILITY

4.1 General .

Awards may be granted under the Plan only to persons who are employees, consultants or directors of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries on the date of the grant. Each such person to whom an Award is granted under the Plan is referred to herein as a “Participant.”

ARTICLE V

STOCK OPTIONS

5.1 General .

Options may be granted under the Plan at any time and from time to time on or prior to the Termination Date. Each Option granted under the Plan shall be designated as an NSO and shall be subject to the terms and conditions applicable to NSOs set forth in the Plan. Each Option shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement incorporating the terms and provisions of the Plan that shall be executed by the Company and the Participant. The Award Agreement shall specify the number of Shares for which such Option shall be exercisable, the exercise price for such Shares and the other terms and conditions of the Option.

5.2 Vesting .

The Committee, in its sole discretion, shall determine whether and to what extent any Options are subject to vesting based upon the Participant’s continued service to, or the Participant’s performance of duties for, the Company and its Subsidiaries, or upon any other basis.

5.3 Date of Grant .

Except as may be otherwise provided in an Award Agreement, the date of grant of an Option under the Plan shall be the date as of which the Committee approves the grant.

5.4 Option Price .

The price (the “Option Price”) at which each Share may be purchased shall be determined by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement. In no event, however, may the Committee determine an Option Price that is less than the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of grant.

5.5 Automatic Termination of Options .

Each Option granted under the Plan, to the extent not previously exercised, shall automatically terminate and shall become null and void and be of no further force or effect upon such date or dates as are set forth in the applicable Award Agreement, consistent with the terms of the Plan.

 

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5.6 Payment of Option Price .

The aggregate Option Price shall be paid in cash (by wire transfer of immediately available funds to a bank account of the Company designated by the Committee or by delivery of a personal or certified check payable to the Company); provided that at the time an Option is granted under the Plan or thereafter, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, specify one or more of the following other forms of payment that may be used by a Participant (but only to the extent permitted by applicable law) upon exercise of his or her Option:

(a) by cancellation of indebtedness of the Company owed to the Participant;

(b) by surrender of Shares that either (i) have been owned by the Participant for more than six months and have been paid for within the meaning of Rule 144 under the Securities Act (and, if such Shares were purchased from the Company or any Subsidiary thereof by means of a promissory note, such note has been fully paid with respect to such shares); or (ii) were obtained by the Participant in the public market (but, subject in any case, to the applicable limitations of Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act);

(c) by waiver of compensation due or accrued to the Participant for services rendered to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;

(d) such other method as the Committee may from time to time approve; or

(e) a combination of the methods set forth in this Section 5.6.

5.7 Notice of Exercise .

A Participant (or other person, as provided in Section 8.2) may exercise an Option (for the Shares represented thereby) granted under the Plan in whole or in part (but for the purchase of whole Shares only), as provided in the Award Agreement evidencing his or her Option, by delivering a written notice (the “Notice”) to the Secretary of the Company. The Notice shall state:

(a) That the Participant elects to exercise the Option;

(b) The number of Shares with respect to which the Option is being exercised (the “Option Shares”);

(c) The method of payment for the Option Shares (which method must be available to the Participant under the terms of his or her Award Agreement);

(d) The date upon which the Participant desires to consummate the purchase of the Option Shares (which date must be prior to the termination of such Option); and

 

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(e) Any additional provisions consistent with the Plan as the Committee may from time to time require.

The exercise date of an Option shall be the date on which the Company receives the Notice from the Participant. Such Notice shall also contain, to the extent such Participant is not then a party to the Management Investor Rights Agreement (and the Management Investor Rights Agreement has not been terminated prior to such date), an Adoption Agreement, in form and substance satisfactory to the Board pursuant to which the Participant agrees to become a party to the Management Investor Rights Agreement.

5.8 Issuance of Certificates .

The Company shall issue stock certificates in the name of the Participant (or other person exercising the applicable Option in accordance with the provisions of Section 8.2), representing the Shares purchased upon exercise of the Option as soon as practicable after receipt of the Notice and payment of the aggregate Option Price for such Shares; provided that the Company, in its sole discretion, may elect to not issue any fractional Shares upon the exercise of an Option (determining the fractional Shares after aggregating all Shares issuable to a single holder as a result of an exercise of an Option for more than one Share) and, in lieu of issuing such fractional Shares, shall pay the Participant the Fair Market Value thereof as determined by the Board in good faith. Neither the Participant nor any person exercising an Option in accordance with the provisions of Section 8.2 shall have any privileges as a stockholder of the Company with respect to any Shares of stock issuable upon exercise of an Option granted under the Plan until the date of issuance of stock certificates representing such Shares pursuant to this Section 5.8. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee reserves the right to account for Shares through book entry or other electronic means rather than the issuance of stock certificates.

ARTICLE VI

STOCK AWARDS

6.1 General .

Stock Awards may be granted under the Plan at any time and from time to time on or prior to the Termination Date. Each Stock Award shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement that shall be executed by the Company and the Participant. The Award Agreement shall specify the terms and conditions of the Stock Award, including without limitation the number of Shares covered by the Stock Award, the purchase price for such Shares and the deadline for the purchase of such Shares.

6.2 Purchase Price; Payment .

The price (the “Purchase Price”) at which each Share covered by the Stock Award may be purchased upon exercise of a Stock Award shall be determined by the Committee and set forth in the applicable Award Agreement. The Company will not be obligated to issue certificates evidencing Shares purchased under this Article VI unless and until it receives full payment of the aggregate Purchase Price therefor and all other conditions to the purchase, as determined by the Committee, have been satisfied. The Purchase Price of any shares subject to a Stock Award must be paid in full at the time of the purchase.

 

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ARTICLE VII

ADJUSTMENTS

7.1 Changes in Capital Structure .

If the Common Stock is changed by reason of a stock split, reverse stock split, stock combination or stock dividend or reclassification, or converted into or exchanged for other securities or property as a result of a merger, consolidation, recapitalization or reorganization (a “Reorganization”), or if any extraordinary dividend or other distribution is paid on or in respect of Common Stock, the Board in its sole discretion shall make such adjustments in the number and class of shares of stock available under the Plan as shall be reasonably necessary to preserve to a Participant rights substantially proportionate to his rights existing immediately prior to such transaction or event (but subject to the limitations and restrictions on such existing rights), including, without limitation, a corresponding adjustment changing the number and kind of shares of stock subject to, and the Option Price or Purchase Price applicable to, each Award or portion thereof outstanding at the time of such transaction or event, or to redeem any such award for cash or other property. The Option Price of any Option shall not be less than the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock.

7.2 Special Rules .

The following rules shall apply in connection with Section 7.1 above:

(a) No adjustment shall be made for cash dividends (except as described in Section 7.1) or the issuance to stockholders of rights to subscribe for additional Shares or other securities (except in connection with a Reorganization); and

(b) Any adjustments referred to in Section 7.1 shall be made by the Board in its discretion and shall, absent manifest error, be conclusive and binding on all Persons holding any Awards granted under the Plan.

7.3 Right to Include Options upon a Realization Event .

Upon a Realization Event, the Company may, but is not obligated to, purchase each outstanding Vested Option and unvested Option for a per share amount equal to (i) the amount per share received in respect of the Shares sold in such transaction constituting the Realization Event (ii) less the Option Price thereof. In the event the amount in (i) would not exceed the amount in (ii), Options may be cancelled for no payment. The provisions of this paragraph shall not be construed, however, to limit or reduce any rights of the Company or the Participant under the Management Investor Rights Agreement.

 

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ARTICLE VIII

RESTRICTIONS ON AWARDS

8.1 Compliance With Securities Laws .

No Awards shall be granted under the Plan, and no Shares shall be issued and delivered pursuant to Awards granted under the Plan, unless and until the Company and/or the Participant shall have complied with all applicable Federal or state registration, listing and/or qualification requirements and all other requirements of law or of any regulatory agencies having jurisdiction.

The Committee in its discretion may, as a condition to the delivery of any Shares pursuant to any Award granted under the Plan, require the applicable Participant (i) to represent in writing that the Shares received pursuant to such Award are being acquired for investment and not with a view to distribution and (ii) to make such other representations and warranties as are deemed reasonably appropriate by the Committee. Stock certificates representing Shares acquired under the Plan that have not been registered under the Securities Act shall, if required by the Committee, bear such legends as may be required by the Management Investor Rights Agreement and the applicable Award Agreement.

8.2 Nonassignability of Awards .

Unless otherwise specifically provided by the Committee in an Award Agreement, no Award granted under the Plan shall be assignable or otherwise transferable by the Participant, except by designation of a beneficiary, by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. An Award may be exercised during the lifetime of the Participant only by the Participant, unless the Participant becomes subject to a Disability. If a Participant dies or becomes subject to a Disability, his or her Options shall thereafter be exercisable, during the period specified in the applicable Award Agreement (as the case may be), by his or her designated beneficiary or if no beneficiary has been designated in writing, by his or her executors or administrators to the full extent (but only to such extent) to which such Options were exercisable by the Participant at the time of (and after giving effect to any vesting that may occur in connection with) his or her death or Disability. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Participant may assign or transfer an Award with the prior consent of the Committee to a “Family Member” as such term is defined in Rule 701 of the Securities Act (each transferee thereof, a “Permitted Assignee”); provided that such Permitted Assignee shall be bound by and subject to all of the terms and conditions of the Plan and the Award Agreement relating to the transferred Award and shall execute an agreement satisfactory to the Company evidencing such obligations; and provided further that such Participant shall remain bound by the terms and conditions of the Plan. The Company shall cooperate with any Permitted Assignee and the Company’s transfer agent in effectuating any transfer permitted under this Section 8.2.

Before issuing any Shares under the Plan to any person who is not already a party to the Management Investor Rights Agreement, the Company shall obtain an executed Adoption Agreement from such person, unless a Public Offering shall have already occurred.

8.3 No Right to an Award or Grant .

Neither the adoption of the Plan nor any action of the Board or the Committee shall be deemed to give an employee, director or consultant any right to be granted an Option to purchase Shares, receive an Award under the Plan except as may be evidenced by an Award Agreement

 

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duly executed on behalf of the Company, and then only to the extent of and on the terms and conditions expressly set forth in the Award Agreement. The Plan will be unfunded. The Company will not be required to establish any special or separate fund or to make any other segregation of funds or assets to assure the payment of any Award.

8.4 No Evidence of Employment or Service .

Nothing contained in the Plan or in any Award Agreement shall confer upon any Participant any right with respect to the continuation of his or her employment by or service with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or interfere in any way with the right of the Company or any such Subsidiary, in its sole discretion (subject to the terms of any separate agreement to the contrary), at any time to terminate such employment or service or to increase or decrease the compensation of the Participant from the rate in existence at the time of the grant of an Award.

8.5 No Restriction of Corporate Action .

Nothing contained in the Plan or in any Award Agreement will be construed to prevent the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate of the Company from taking any corporate action that is deemed by the Company or by its Subsidiaries and Affiliates to be appropriate or in its best interest, whether such action would have an adverse effect on the Plan or any Award made under the Plan. No Participant or beneficiary of a Participant will have any claim against the Company or any affiliate as a result of any corporate action.

8.6 Date of Employment Termination .

A Participant’s employment with the Company or a Subsidiary shall be considered to have terminated effective on the last day of the Participant’s actual and active employment with the Company or such Subsidiary, whether such day is selected by agreement with the Participant or unilaterally by the Company or such Subsidiary and whether with or without advance notice to the Participant. For the avoidance of doubt, no period of notice that is given or that ought to have been given under applicable law in respect of such termination of employment will be utilized in determining entitlement under the Plan.

ARTICLE IX

TERM OF THE PLAN

The Plan shall become effective on the Effective Date and shall terminate on the Termination Date. No Awards may be granted after the Termination Date. Any Award outstanding as of the Termination Date shall remain in effect and the terms of the Plan will apply until such Award terminates as provided in the applicable Award Agreement.

ARTICLE X

AMENDMENT OF PLAN

The Plan may be modified or amended in any respect by the Committee with the prior approval of the Board; provided, however, that the approval of the holders of a majority of the

 

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votes that may be cast by all of the holders of shares of Common Stock of the Company entitled to vote (voting together as a single class, with each such holder entitled to cast one vote per share held by such holder) shall be obtained prior to any such amendment becoming effective if such approval is required by law or is necessary to comply with regulations promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Plan may not be modified or amended as it pertains to any existing Award Agreement if such modification or amendment would materially impair the rights of the applicable Participant without the consent of such Participant.

ARTICLE XI

CAPTIONS

The use of captions in the Plan is for convenience. The captions are not intended to provide substantive rights.

ARTICLE XII

WITHHOLDING TAXES

The Awards granted to Participants under the Plan are subject to taxation in accordance with Section 83(a) of the Code. Accordingly, upon any exercise or payment of any Award, the Company shall have the right at its option and in its sole discretion to (i) require the Participant to pay or provide for payment of the amount of any taxes which the Company may be required to withhold with respect to such exercise or payment (which payment may be a condition precedent to an exercise); (ii) deduct from any amount payable to the Participant in cash or securities in respect of the Award the amount of any taxes which the Company may be required to withhold with respect to such exercise or payment; (iii) reduce the number of Shares to be delivered to the Participant in connection with such exercise or payment by the appropriate number of Shares, valued at their then Fair Market Value, to satisfy the minimum withholding obligation; or (iv) effect such withholding through such other method as the Committee may from time to time approve. In no event will the value of Shares withheld under clause (iii) above exceed the minimum amount of required withholding under applicable law.

ARTICLE XIII

SECTION 83(b) ELECTION

Each Participant awarded a Stock Award may, but is not obligated to, make an election under Section 83(b) of the Code to be taxed currently with respect to any Stock Award issued under the Plan. The election permitted under this Article XIII shall comply in all respects with and shall be made within the period of time prescribed under Section 83(b) of the Code. Each Participant shall prepare such forms as are required to make an election under Section 83(b) of the Code. The Company shall have no liability to any grantee who fails to make a permitted Section 83(b) election in a timely manner.

 

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ARTICLE XIV

CODE SECTION 409A COMPLIANCE

The Plan is intended to provide for non-statutory stock option benefits that are not deemed to be deferred compensation and thus are not subject to the provisions of Code § 409A. If the Plan is deemed to be subject to Code § 409A, however, the Company may modify the Plan and any Awards granted under the Plan to comply with Code § 409A guidance.

ARTICLE XV

SECTION 16 COMPLIANCE

It is intended that the Plan and any Award made to a Participant subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act meet all of the requirements of Rule 16b-3. If any provisions of the Plan or any Award would disqualify the Plan or the Award, or would otherwise not comply with Rule 16b-3, such provision or Award will be construed or deemed amended to conform to Rule 16b-3.

ARTICLE XVI

OTHER PROVISIONS

Each Award granted under the Plan may contain such other terms and conditions not inconsistent with the Plan as may be determined by the Committee, in its sole discretion.

ARTICLE XVII

NUMBER AND GENDER

With respect to words used in the Plan, the singular form shall include the plural form, the masculine gender shall include the feminine gender, and vice versa, as the context requires.

ARTICLE XVIII

GOVERNING LAW

All questions concerning the construction, interpretation and validity of the Plan and the instruments evidencing the Awards granted hereunder shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the domestic laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to any choice or conflict of law provision or rule (whether of the State of Delaware or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of Delaware. In furtherance of the foregoing, the internal law of the State of Delaware will control the interpretation and construction of the Plan, even if under such jurisdiction’s choice of law or conflict of law analysis, the substantive law of some other jurisdiction would ordinarily apply.

 

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ARTICLE XIX

MISCELLANEOUS

Shares payable under the Plan pursuant to Awards will be payable in shares of Common Stock or from the general assets of the Company, and (except as provided in Article III ) no special or separate reserve, fund or deposit will be made to assure payment of such Awards. No grantee, beneficiary or other person will have any right, title or interest in any fund or in any specific asset (including Shares) of the Company by reason of any Award hereunder. Neither the provisions of the Plan (or of any related documents), nor the creation or adoption of the Plan, nor any action taken pursuant to the provisions of the Plan will create, or be construed to create, a trust of any kind or a fiduciary relationship between the Company and any grantee, beneficiary or other person. To the extent that a grantee, beneficiary or other person acquires a right to receive payment pursuant to any Award hereunder, such right will be no greater than the right of any unsecured general creditor of the Company.

The Management Investor Rights Agreement provides for additional restrictions and limitations with respect to Shares (including additional restrictions and limitations on the voting or transfer of Shares). To the extent that such restrictions are greater than those set forth in the Plan or any Award Agreement, such restrictions and limitations shall apply to any Shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of Awards or otherwise issued or delivered pursuant to an Award and are incorporated herein by this reference.

The Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Company, as either of them may lawfully be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time, may provide for additional restrictions and limitations with respect to Shares (including additional restrictions and limitations on the voting or transfer of Shares) or priorities, rights and preferences as to securities and interests prior in rights to the Shares. To the extent that these restrictions and limitations are greater than those set forth in the Plan or any Award Agreement, such restrictions and limitations shall apply to any Shares acquired pursuant to Awards and are incorporated herein by this reference.

*        *        *        *        *         *

As adopted by the Board of Directors of Affinion Group Holdings, Inc. on October 17, 2005.

 

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Exhibit 10.7

 

 

RESTRICTED STOCK AGREEMENT  (this

Agreement ”) dated as of October 17, 2005,

between  AFFINION GROUP HOLDINGS, INC. ,

a Delaware corporation, (the “ Company ”)

and  NATHANIEL J. LIPMAN  (the “ Purchaser ”).

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Purchase Agreement made and entered into as of the 26th day of July, 2005, by and among Affinion Group, Inc. (f/k/a Affinity Acquisition, Inc.), the Company (f/k/a Affinity Acquisition Holdings, Inc.) and Cendant Corporation, the Company will acquire all of the equity interests in Cendant Marketing Group, LLC (formerly Cendant Membership Services Holdings LLC) and Cendant International Holdings Limited (the “ Transaction ”);

WHEREAS , the Company, acting through the Committee with the consent of the Company’s Board of Directors (the “ Board ”) will grant to the Purchaser, effective as of the date the Transaction closes (the “ Grant Date ”), under the Affinion Group Holdings, Inc. 2005 Stock Incentive Plan (the “ Plan ”) a number of shares of Common Stock (“ Shares ”) on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement and the Plan; and

WHEREAS , Affinion Group, Inc. and the Purchaser have executed an Employment Agreement of even date herewith;

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and of the mutual agreements contained in this Agreement, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

Section 1. The Plan . The terms and provisions of the Plan are hereby incorporated into this Agreement as if set forth herein in their entirety. In the event of a conflict between any provision of this Agreement and the Plan, the provisions of the Plan shall control. A copy of the Plan may be obtained from the Company by the Purchaser upon request. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings ascribed thereto in the Plan.

Section 2. Grant . Subject to the terms of this Agreement, the Company hereby grants to the Purchaser a Stock Award with respect to an aggregate of 50,000 restricted shares of Common Stock of the Company (subject to adjustment as provided in Article VII of the Plan) (the “ Restricted Shares ”) at a purchase price of $0.01 per share (the “ Purchase Price ”). The Purchaser agrees to promptly pay to the Company, in accordance with Section 6.2 of the Plan, the amount of the aggregate Purchase Price for the Restricted Shares.

Section 3. Vesting . The Restricted Shares shall vest, and the restrictions imposed on the Restricted Shares pursuant to this Section 3 shall lapse, on the fifth anniversary of the Grant Date, provided that the Purchaser has not previously incurred a Termination of Relationship. The Restricted Shares shall accelerate and vest in full upon a Sale of the Company, provided the Purchase has not incurred a Termination of Relationship before such time. Prior to vesting, the Restricted Shares, any interest therein, amount payable in respect thereof, and any Restricted


Property (as defined in Section 19), may not be sold or transferred by the Purchaser. After vesting, the Restricted Shares shall have the same attributes as other Shares, as set forth in the Management Investor Rights Agreement. Restricted Shares are subject to repurchase as set forth in the Management Investor Rights Agreement; provided, however, that Restricted Shares that have not yet vested shall be subject to repurchase at the “Purchase Price” as defined in Section 6.2 of the Plan rather than as defined in the Management Investor Rights Agreement.

Section 4. Purchaser’s Service . Nothing in this Agreement or in the Option shall confer upon the Purchaser any right to continue as an employee of, or other service provider to, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates or interfere in any way with the right of the Company, its Subsidiaries or its Affiliates, as the case may be, in its sole discretion, to terminate the Purchaser’s employment or service relationship or to increase or decrease the Purchaser’s compensation at any time.

Section 5. Securities Law Representations . The Purchaser acknowledges that the Option and the Restricted Shares are not being registered under the Securities Act, based, in part, in reliance upon an exemption from registration under Rule 701 promulgated under the Securities Act, and a comparable exemption from qualification under applicable state securities laws, as each may be amended from time to time. The Purchaser, by executing this Agreement, hereby makes the following representations to the Company and acknowledges that the Company’s reliance on federal and state securities law exemptions from registration and qualification is predicated, in substantial part, upon the accuracy of these representations:

 

    The Purchaser is acquiring the Restricted Shares solely for the Purchaser’s own account, for investment purposes only, and not with a view to or an intent to sell, or to offer for resale in connection with any unregistered distribution, all or any portion of the shares within the meaning of the Securities Act and/or any applicable state securities laws.

 

    The Purchaser has had an opportunity to ask questions and receive answers from the Company regarding the terms and conditions of the Restricted Shares. The Purchaser has been furnished with, and/or has access to, such information as he considers necessary or appropriate for deciding whether to purchase the Restricted Shares. However, in evaluating the merits and risks of an investment in the Restricted Shares, the Purchaser has and will rely only upon the advice of his own legal counsel, tax advisors, and/or investment advisors.

 

    The Purchaser is aware that the Restricted Shares may be of no practical value, that any value they may have depends on their vesting, and that any investment in common shares of a closely held corporation such as the Company is non-marketable, non-transferable and could require capital to be invested for an indefinite period of time, possibly without return, and at substantial risk of loss.

 

    The Purchaser understands that the Restricted Shares will be characterized as “restricted securities” under the federal securities laws, and that, under such laws and applicable regulations, such securities may be resold without registration under the Securities Act only in certain limited circumstances, including in

 

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     accordance with the conditions of Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act, as presently in effect. The Purchaser acknowledges receiving a copy of Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act, as presently in effect, and represents that he is familiar with such rule, and understands the resale limitations imposed thereby and by the Securities Act and the applicable state securities law.

 

    The Purchaser has read and understands the restrictions, limitations and Company rights set forth in the Management Investor Rights Agreement, the Plan and this Agreement that will be imposed on the Restricted Shares (including those restrictions and limitations which will continue after the shares have vested). The Purchaser acknowledges that to the extent the Purchaser is not a party to the Management Investor Rights Agreement at the time that the Purchaser purchases the Restricted Shares, such purchase shall be treated for all purposes as effecting the Purchaser’s simultaneous execution of the Management Investor Rights Agreement and the Purchaser shall be bound thereby.

 

    The Purchaser has not relied upon any oral representation made to the Purchaser relating to the Restricted Shares or upon information presented in any promotional meeting or material relating to the Restricted Shares .

 

    The Purchaser understands and acknowledges that (a) any certificate evidencing the Restricted Shares (or evidencing any other securities issued with respect thereto pursuant to any stock split, stock dividend, merger or other form of reorganization or recapitalization) when issued shall bear any legends which may be required by applicable federal and state securities laws or the Management Investor Rights Agreement, and (b) except as otherwise provided under the Management Investor Rights Agreement, the Company has no obligation to register the Shares or file any registration statement under federal or state securities laws. The Committee reserves the right to account for Shares through book entry or other electronic means rather than the issuance of stock certificates.

Section 6. Designation of Beneficiary . The Purchaser may appoint any individual or legal entity in writing as his beneficiary to receive any Shares (to the extent not previously terminated or forfeited) under this Agreement upon the Purchaser’s death or becomes subject to a Disability. The Purchaser may revoke his designation of a beneficiary at any time and a new beneficiary appointed in writing. To be effective, the Purchaser must complete the designation of a beneficiary or revocation of a beneficiary by written notice to the Company under Section 10 of this Agreement before the date of the Purchaser’s death. In the absence of a beneficiary designation, the legal representative of the Purchaser’s estate shall be deemed the beneficiary.

Section 7. Notices . All notices, claims, certifications, requests, demands and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given and delivered if personally delivered or if sent by nationally-recognized overnight courier, by telecopy, or by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested and postage prepaid, addressed as follows:

If to the Company, to it at:

Affinion Group Holdings, Inc.

c/o Apollo Management V, L.P.

9 West 57 th Street

New York, New York 10019

Facsimile: (212) 515-3264

Attention: Marc Becker

 

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With a copy to (which copy will not constitute notice):

O’Melveny & Myers LLP

Times Square Tower

7 Times Square

New York, NY 10036

Telecopy: (212) 326-2061 Attention: Adam K. Weinstein, Esq.

If to the Purchaser, to the Purchaser at the address set forth on the signature page hereto; or to such other address as the party to whom notice is to be given may have furnished to the other party in writing in accordance herewith. Any such notice or other communication shall be deemed to have been received (a) in the case of personal delivery, on the date of such delivery (or if such date is not a business day, on the next business day after the date of delivery), (b) in the case of nationally-recognized overnight courier, on the next business day after the date sent, (c) in the case of telecopy transmission, when received (or if not sent on a business day, on the next business day after the date sent), and (d) in the case of mailing, on the third business day following that on which the piece of mail containing such communication is posted.

Section 8. Waiver of Breach . The waiver by either party of a breach of any provision of this Agreement must be in writing and shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any other or subsequent breach.

Section 9. Purchaser’s Undertaking . The Purchaser hereby agrees to take whatever additional actions and execute whatever additional documents the Company may in its reasonable judgment deem necessary or advisable in order to carry out or effect one or more of the obligations or restrictions imposed on the Purchaser pursuant to the express provisions of this Agreement and the Plan.

Section 10. Modification of Rights . The rights of the Purchaser are subject to modification and termination in certain events as provided in this Agreement and the Plan (with respect to the Options granted hereby). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Purchaser’s rights under this Agreement and the Plan may not be materially impaired without the Purchaser’s prior written consent.

Section 11. Governing Law . THIS AGREEMENT WILL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE, WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO ANY CHOICE OR CONFLICT OF LAW PROVISION OR RULE (WHETHER OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION) THAT WOULD CAUSE THE LAWS OF ANY JURISDICTION OTHER THAN THE STATE

 

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OF DELAWARE TO BE APPLIED. IN FURTHERANCE OF THE FOREGOING, THE INTERNAL LAW OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE WILL CONTROL THE INTERPRETATION AND CONSTRUCTION OF THIS AGREEMENT, EVEN IF UNDER SUCH JURISDICTION’S CHOICE OF LAW OR CONFLICT OF LAW ANALYSIS, THE SUBSTANTIVE LAW OF SOME OTHER JURISDICTION WOULD ORDINARILY APPLY.

Section 12. Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, and each such counterpart shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts together shall constitute but one agreement.

Section 13. Entire Agreement . This Agreement, the Plan, and the other writings referred to herein constitute the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof and supersede all prior written or oral negotiations, commitments, representations and agreements with respect thereto.

Section 14. Severability . It is the desire and intent of the parties hereto that the provisions of this Agreement be enforced to the fullest extent permissible under the laws and public policies applied in each jurisdiction in which enforcement is sought. Accordingly, if any particular provision of this Agreement shall be adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, prohibited or unenforceable for any reason, such provision, as to such jurisdiction, shall be ineffective, without invalidating the remaining provisions of this Agreement or affecting the validity or enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if such provision could be more narrowly drawn so as not to be invalid, prohibited or unenforceable in such jurisdiction, it shall, as to such jurisdiction, be so narrowly drawn, without invalidating the remaining provisions of this Agreement or affecting the validity or enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction.

Section 15. Waiver of Jury Trial . Each party hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent it may legally and effectively do so, trial by jury in any suit, action or proceeding arising hereunder.

Section 16. Dividend and Voting Rights . After the Grant Date, the Purchaser shall be entitled to cash dividends and voting rights with respect to the Restricted Shares subject to the Award even though such Shares are not vested, provided that such rights shall terminate immediately as to any Restricted Shares that are repurchased by the Company.

Section 17. Tax Withholding . The Company shall reasonably determine the amount of any federal, state, local or other income, employment, or other taxes which the Company or any of its subsidiaries may reasonably be obligated to withhold with respect to the grant, vesting, making of an election under Section 83(b) of the Code or other event with respect to the Restricted Shares. The Company’s obligation to deliver the Restricted Shares or any certificates evidencing the Restricted Shares (or to make a book entry or other electronic notation indicating ownership of the Restricted Shares), or otherwise remove the restrictive notations or legends on such shares or certificates that refer to nontransferability as set forth in Section 3 of this Agreement, is subject to the condition precedent that the Purchaser either pay or provide for the amount of any such withholding obligations in such manner as may be authorized by the Administrator under, or as may otherwise be permitted under, Article VII of the Plan.

 

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Section 18. Stock Power; Power of Attorney . Concurrent with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Purchaser shall deliver to the Company an executed stock power in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A, in blank, with respect to the Restricted Shares and any related Restricted Property. The Purchaser, by acceptance of the Award, shall be deemed to appoint, and does so appoint by execution of this Agreement, the Company and each of its authorized representatives as the Purchaser’s attorney(s)-in-fact to (1) effect any transfer to the Company (or other purchaser, as the case may be) of the Restricted Shares acquired pursuant to this Agreement (including any related Restricted Property) that are repurchased by the Company (or other permitted purchaser), and (2) execute such documents as the Company or such representatives deem necessary or advisable in connection with any such transfer.

Section 19. Adjustments Upon Specified Events . Upon the occurrence of certain events relating to the Corporation’s stock contemplated by Section 7.3.1 of the Plan, the Committee may, to such extent (if any) it deems appropriate and equitable in the circumstances, make adjustments in the number and kind of securities that may become vested under the Award. If any adjustment is made to the Restricted Shares pursuant to Section 7.3.1 of the Plan, the restrictions applicable to the Restricted Shares will continue in effect with respect to any consideration or other securities (the “ Restricted Property ” and, for the purposes of this Agreement, “Restricted Shares” shall include “Restricted Property,” unless the context otherwise requires) received in respect of such Restricted Shares. Such Restricted Property shall vest at such times and in such proportion as the Restricted Shares to which the Restricted Property is attributable vest, or would have vested pursuant to the terms hereof if such Restricted Shares had remained outstanding. To the extent that the Restricted Property includes any cash (other than regular cash dividends provided for in Section 5 hereof), such cash shall be invested, pursuant to policies established by the Administrator, in interest bearing deposits of a depository institution selected by the Committee, the earnings on which shall be added to and become a part of the Restricted Property.

[Signature Pages Follow]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Restricted Stock Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

AFFINION GROUP HOLDINGS, INC.
By:  

/s/ Robert G. Rooney

Name:   Robert G. Rooney
Title:   Executive Vice President
PURCHASER
See attached signature page

 

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PURCHASER
 

/s/ Nathaniel J. Lipman

Name:   Nathaniel J. Lipman
  Residence Address:

 

 

Number of Restricted Shares:

     50,000

Purchase Price per Share:

   $ 0.01


EXHIBIT A

STOCK POWER

FOR VALUE RECEIVED and pursuant to that certain Restricted Stock Agreement between Affinion Group Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), and the individual named below (the “ Individual ”) dated as of                                      , the Individual hereby sells, assigns and transfers to the Company, an aggregate of              shares of Common Stock of the Company, standing in the Individual’s name on the books of the Company and represented by stock certificate number(s)                                      to which this instrument is attached, and hereby irrevocably constitutes and appoints                                                                                 as his or her attorney in fact and agent to transfer such shares on the books of the Company, with full power of substitution in the premises.

Dated                      ,                     

 

 
Signature
  
Print Name

(Instruction: Please do not fill in any blanks other than the signature line. The purpose of the assignment is to enable the Corporation to exercise its sale/purchase option set forth in the Restricted Stock Agreement without requiring additional signatures on the part of the Individual.)

Exhibit 10.8

 

   OPTION AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”)
dated as of October 17, 2005 between
AFFINION GROUP HOLDINGS, INC.
, a Delaware corporation, (the “ Company ”) and NATHANIEL J. LIPMAN (the “ Optionee ”).

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Purchase Agreement made and entered into as of the 26th day of July, 2005, by and among Affinion Group, Inc. (f/k/a Affinity Acquisition, Inc.), the Company (f/k/a Affinity Acquisition Holdings, Inc.) and Cendant Corporation, the Company will acquire all of the equity interests in Cendant Marketing Group, LLC and Cendant International Holdings Limited (the “ Transaction ”);

WHEREAS , the Company, acting through the Committee with the consent of the Company’s Board of Directors (the “ Board ”) will grant to the Optionee, effective as of the date the Transaction closes (the “ Grant Date ”), an option under the Affinion Group Holdings, Inc. 2005 Stock Incentive Plan (the “ Plan ”) to purchase a number of shares of Common Stock (“ Shares ”) on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement and the Plan; and

WHEREAS , Affinion Group, Inc. and the Optionee have executed an Employment Agreement dated as of July 26, 2005;

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and of the mutual agreements contained in this Agreement, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

Section 1. The Plan . The terms and provisions of the Plan are hereby incorporated into this Agreement as if set forth herein in their entirety. In the event of a conflict between any provision of this Agreement and the Plan, the provisions of the Plan shall control. A copy of the Plan may be obtained from the Company by the Optionee upon request. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings ascribed thereto in the Plan.

Section 2. Option; Option Price . Effective on the Grant Date, on the terms and subject to the conditions of the Plan and this Agreement, the Optionee shall have the option (the “ Option ”) to purchase Shares pursuant to Tranche A options (“ Tranche A Options ”), Tranche B options (“ Tranche B Options ”), and Tranche C options (“ Tranche C Options ”) at the price per Share (the “ Option Price ”) and in the amounts set forth on the signature page hereto. Payment of the Option Price may be made in any manner permitted by the Committee under Section 5.6 of the Plan; provided, that following the Optionee’s termination of employment for any reason other than Cause, subject to applicable law, the Optionee shall be entitled to exercise the Option in a “cashless” manner. The Option is not intended to qualify for federal income tax purposes as an “incentive stock option” within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code. Except as otherwise provided in Section 7 of this Agreement, the Option shall remain exercisable as to all Vested Options (as defined in Section 4 ) until the expiration of the Option Term (as defined in Section 3 ).


Section 3. Term . The term of the Option (the “ Option Term ”) shall commence on the Grant Date and expire on the tenth anniversary of the Grant Date, unless the Option shall have sooner been terminated in accordance with the terms of the Plan (including, without limitation, Article 5 of the Plan) or this Agreement.

Section 4. Vesting . Except as otherwise set forth in Section 7 , the Options shall become non-forfeitable (any Options that shall have become non-forfeitable pursuant to Section 4 , the “ Vested Options ”) and shall become exercisable according to the following provisions:

(a) Tranche A Options . Twenty-percent (20%) of the Tranche A Options shall become Vested Options and shall become exercisable on each of the first five anniversaries of the Grant Date. In the event of a Sale of the Company, each Tranche A Option that has not theretofore become a Vested Option pursuant to the immediately preceding sentence shall vest in full on the 18-month anniversary of the consummation of such Sale of the Company; provided , that in the event of a Termination of Relationship by the Company or its Affiliates without Cause, by the Optionee with Good Reason or as a result of the Optionee’s death or Disability at any time during the 18-month period following the consummation of such Sale of the Company, all unvested Tranche A Options shall become fully vested and exercisable as of the date of such Termination of Relationship. If no Sale of the Company has occurred during the 18 months preceding the date that the Optionee experiences a Termination of Relationship by the Company or its Affiliates without Cause or by the Optionee with Good Reason, the Optionee will continue to vest in the Optionee’s Tranche A Options as if the Optionee were employed by the Company or its Affiliates until the second anniversary of the date of such Termination of Relationship, but only to the extent that the Optionee does not violate any restrictive covenants in favor of the Company regarding confidential information, solicitation, competition, inventions or disparagement by which the Optionee is bound at such time, including by reason of Section 7 of the Management Investor Rights Agreement or Sections 5 and 6 of the Employment Agreement (“ Restrictive Covenants ”) (such portion of the Tranche A Options that vest during the extended period of up to two years, the “ Tail Options ”).

(b) Tranche B Options . All of the Tranche B Options shall become Vested Options on the eighth anniversary of the Grant Date; provided , however , that in the event the Investor IRR equals or exceeds 20% prior to the eighth anniversary, the Tranche B Options will vest as of the date that such Investor IRR is realized.

(c) Tranche C Options . All of the Tranche C Options shall become Vested Options on the eighth anniversary of the Grant Date; provided , however , that in the event the Investor IRR equals or exceeds 30% prior to the eighth anniversary, the Tranche C Options will vest as of the date that such Investor IRR is realized.

(d) All decisions by the Committee with respect to any calculations pursuant to this Section 4 (absent manifest error), including the Investor IRR and the dates the Investor IRR is equal to or exceeds 20% or 30%, shall be final and binding on the Optionee.

Section 5. Restriction on Transfer . The Option may not be transferred, pledged, assigned, hypothecated or otherwise disposed of in any way by the Optionee and (unless the Optionee becomes subject to a Disability) may be exercised during the lifetime of the Optionee

 

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only by the Optionee. If the Optionee dies or becomes subject to a Disability, the Option shall thereafter be exercisable, during the period specified in Section 7 of this Agreement, by his beneficiary, or if no beneficiary has been named, by his executors or administrators to the full extent to which the Option was exercisable by the Optionee at the time of his death or Disability. The Option shall not be subject to execution, attachment or similar process. Any attempted assignment, transfer, pledge, hypothecation or other disposition of the Option contrary to the provisions hereof, and the levy of any execution, attachment or similar process upon the Option, shall be null and void and without effect. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Optionee may assign or transfer the Option with the prior consent of the Committee to a “family member” as such term is defined in Rule 701 of the Securities Act (each transferee thereof, a “ Permitted Assignee ”), provided that such Permitted Assignee shall be bound by and subject to all of the terms and conditions of the Plan and the Option Agreement relating to the transferred Option and shall execute an agreement satisfactory to the Company evidencing such obligations, and provided further that the Optionee shall remain bound by the terms and conditions of the Plan. The Company shall cooperate with any Permitted Assignee and the Company’s transfer agent in effectuating any transfer permitted under this Section 5 .

Section 6. Optionee’s Service . Nothing in this Agreement or in the Option shall confer upon the Optionee any right to continue as an employee of, or other service provider to, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates or interfere in any way with the right of the Company, its Subsidiaries or its Affiliates, as the case may be, in its sole discretion, to terminate the Optionee’s employment or service relationship or to increase or decrease the Optionee’s compensation at any time.

Section 7. Termination .

(a) The Option shall automatically terminate and shall become null and void, be unexercisable and be of no further force and effect upon the earliest of:

(i) the tenth anniversary of the Grant Date;

(ii) the first anniversary of the Termination of Relationship in the case of a Termination of Relationship for death or Disability;

(iii) the 180 th day following the Termination of Relationship in the case of a Termination of Relationship without Cause or with Good Reason (provided, however, that any Tail Options shall not so terminate but shall remain in full force and effect and may be exercised until the 180th day following the second anniversary of such Termination of Relationship without Cause or with Good Reason unless vesting of the Tail Options ceases due to a violation of the Restrictive Covenants, in which event the Tail Options shall cease to be exercisable upon such violation);

(iv) the 90th day following of the Termination of Relationship in the case of a Termination of Relationship occurring because the Optionee resigns his employment without Good Reason; and

(v) the day of the Termination of Relationship in the case of a Termination of Relationship with Cause.

 

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(b) Except as otherwise provided in the Plan or Section 4(a) of this Agreement, upon a Termination of Relationship for any reason, the unvested portion of the Option (i.e., that portion which does not constitute Vested Options) shall terminate on the date the Termination of Relationship occurs.

Section 8. Securities Law Representations . The Optionee acknowledges that the Option and the Shares are not being registered under the Securities Act, based, in part, in reliance upon an exemption from registration under Rule 701 or Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act, and a comparable exemption from qualification under applicable state securities laws, as each may be amended from time to time. The Optionee, by executing this Agreement, hereby makes the following representations to the Company and acknowledges that the Company’s reliance on federal and state securities law exemptions from registration and qualification is predicated, in substantial part, upon the accuracy of these representations:

 

    The Optionee is acquiring the Option and, if and when he exercises the Option, will acquire the Shares solely for the Optionee’s own account, for investment purposes only, and not with a view to or an intent to sell, or to offer for resale in connection with any unregistered distribution, all or any portion of the shares within the meaning of the Securities Act and/or any applicable state securities laws.

 

    The Optionee has had an opportunity to ask questions and receive answers from the Company regarding the terms and conditions of the Option and the restrictions imposed on any Shares purchased upon exercise of the Option. The Optionee has been furnished with, and/or has access to, such information as he considers necessary or appropriate for deciding whether to exercise the Option and purchase the Shares. However, in evaluating the merits and risks of an investment in the Shares, the Optionee has and will rely only upon the advice of his own legal counsel, tax advisors, and/or investment advisors.

 

    The Optionee acknowledges that to the best of his knowledge the Option Price is not less than what the Board has determined to be the Fair Market Value of the Shares.

 

    The Optionee is aware that the Option may be of no practical value, that any value it may have depends on its vesting and exercisability as well as an increase in the Fair Market Value of the underlying Shares to an amount in excess of the Option Price, and that any investment in common shares of a closely held corporation such as the Company is non-marketable, non-transferable and could require capital to be invested for an indefinite period of time, possibly without return, and at substantial risk of loss.

 

   

The Optionee understands that any Shares acquired on exercise of the Option will be characterized as “restricted securities” under the federal securities laws, and that, under such laws and applicable regulations, such securities may be resold without registration under the Securities Act only in certain limited circumstances, including in accordance with the conditions of Rule 144

 

4


 

promulgated under the Securities Act, as presently in effect. The Optionee acknowledges receiving a copy of Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act, as presently in effect, and represents that he is familiar with such rule, and understands the resale limitations imposed thereby and by the Securities Act and the applicable state securities law.

 

    The Optionee has read and understands the restrictions and limitations set forth in the Management Investor Rights Agreement, the Plan and this Agreement. The Optionee acknowledges that to the extent the Optionee is not a party to the Management Investor Rights Agreement at the time that the Optionee exercises any portion of the Option, such exercise shall be treated for all purposes as effecting the Optionee’s simultaneous execution of the Management Investor Rights Agreement and the Optionee shall be bound thereby.

 

    The Optionee has not relied upon any oral representation made to the Optionee relating to the Option or the purchase of the Shares on exercise of the Option or upon information presented in any promotional meeting or material relating to the Option or the Shares .

 

    The Optionee understands and acknowledges that, if and when he exercises the Option, (a) any certificate evidencing the Shares (or evidencing any other securities issued with respect thereto pursuant to any stock split, stock dividend, merger or other form of reorganization or recapitalization) when issued shall bear any legends which may be required by applicable federal and state securities laws, and (b) except as otherwise provided under the Management Investor Rights Agreement, the Company has no obligation to register the Shares or file any registration statement under federal or state securities laws. The Committee reserves the right to account for Shares through book entry or other electronic means rather than the issuance of stock certificates.

Section 9. Designation of Beneficiary . The Optionee may appoint any individual or legal entity in writing as his beneficiary to receive any Option (to the extent not previously terminated or forfeited) under this Agreement upon the Optionee’s death or becomes subject to a Disability. The Optionee may revoke his designation of a beneficiary at any time and a new beneficiary appointed in writing. To be effective, the Optionee must complete the designation of a beneficiary or revocation of a beneficiary by written notice to the Company under Section 10 of this Agreement before the date of the Optionee’s death. In the absence of a beneficiary designation, the legal representative of the Optionee’s estate shall be deemed the beneficiary.

 

5


Section 10. Notices . All notices, claims, certifications, requests, demands and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given and delivered if personally delivered or if sent by nationally-recognized overnight courier, by telecopy, or by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested and postage prepaid, addressed as follows:

If to the Company, to it at:

Affinion Group Holdings, Inc.

c/o Apollo Management V, L.P.

9 West 57 th Street

New York, New York 10019

Facsimile: (212) 515-3264

Attention: Marc Becker

With a copy to (which copy will not constitute notice):

O’Melveny & Myers LLP

Times Square Tower

7 Times Square

New York, NY 10036

Telecopy: (212) 326-2061

Attention: Adam K. Weinstein, Esq.

If to the Optionee, to the Optionee at the address set forth on the signature page hereto; or to such other address as the party to whom notice is to be given may have furnished to the other party in writing in accordance herewith. Any such notice or other communication shall be deemed to have been received (a) in the case of personal delivery, on the date of such delivery (or if such date is not a business day, on the next business day after the date of delivery), (b) in the case of nationally-recognized overnight courier, on the next business day after the date sent, (c) in the case of telecopy transmission, when received (or if not sent on a business day, on the next business day after the date sent), and (d) in the case of mailing, on the third business day following that on which the piece of mail containing such communication is posted.

Section 11. Waiver of Breach . The waiver by either party of a breach of any provision of this Agreement must be in writing and shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any other or subsequent breach.

Section 12. Optionee’s Undertaking . The Optionee hereby agrees to take whatever additional actions and execute whatever additional documents the Company may in its reasonable judgment deem necessary or advisable in order to carry out or effect one or more of the obligations or restrictions imposed on the Optionee pursuant to the express provisions of this Agreement and the Plan.

Section 13. Modification of Rights . The rights of the Optionee are subject to modification and termination in certain events as provided in this Agreement and the Plan (with respect to the Options granted hereby). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Optionee’s rights under this Agreement and the Plan may not be materially impaired without the Optionee’s prior written consent.

Section 14. Governing Law . THIS AGREEMENT WILL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE, WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO ANY CHOICE OR CONFLICT OF LAW PROVISION OR RULE (WHETHER OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION) THAT WOULD CAUSE THE LAWS OF ANY JURISDICTION OTHER THAN THE STATE

 

6


OF DELAWARE TO BE APPLIED. IN FURTHERANCE OF THE FOREGOING, THE INTERNAL LAW OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE WILL CONTROL THE INTERPRETATION AND CONSTRUCTION OF THIS AGREEMENT, EVEN IF UNDER SUCH JURISDICTION’S CHOICE OF LAW OR CONFLICT OF LAW ANALYSIS, THE SUBSTANTIVE LAW OF SOME OTHER JURISDICTION WOULD ORDINARILY APPLY.

Section 15. Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, and each such counterpart shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts together shall constitute but one agreement.

Section 16. Entire Agreement . This Agreement and the Plan (and the other writings referred to herein) constitute the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof and supersede all prior written or oral negotiations, commitments, representations and agreements with respect thereto.

Section 17. Severability . It is the desire and intent of the parties hereto that the provisions of this Agreement be enforced to the fullest extent permissible under the laws and public policies applied in each jurisdiction in which enforcement is sought. Accordingly, if any particular provision of this Agreement shall be adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, prohibited or unenforceable for any reason, such provision, as to such jurisdiction, shall be ineffective, without invalidating the remaining provisions of this Agreement or affecting the validity or enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if such provision could be more narrowly drawn so as not to be invalid, prohibited or unenforceable in such jurisdiction, it shall, as to such jurisdiction, be so narrowly drawn, without invalidating the remaining provisions of this Agreement or affecting the validity or enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction.

Section 18. Waiver of Jury Trial . Each party hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent it may legally and effectively do so, trial by jury in any suit, action or proceeding arising hereunder.

Section 19. Code Section 409A . Notwithstanding anything herein or elsewhere to the contrary, to the extent the Optionee or the Company notifies the other that this Agreement may reasonably be expected to result in the Optionee’s being subject to the penalties of Section 409A of the Code, the Optionee and the Company agree to negotiate (and the Company shall cause any affiliate to negotiate) in good faith alternatives to avoid such penalties.

[Signature Pages Follow]

 

7


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Option Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

AFFINION GROUP HOLDINGS, INC.

By:

 

/s/ Nathaniel J. Lipman

 

Name:

 

Nathaniel J. Lipman

 

Title:

 
OPTIONEE

See attached signature page

 

8


OPTIONEE

/s/ Nathaniel J. Lipman

Name:

 

Nathaniel J. Lipman

Residence Address:

 

Number of Shares of Common Stock subject to Tranche A Options:

     289,000

Number of Shares of Common Stock subject to Tranche B Options:

     144,500

Number of Shares of Common Stock subject to Tranche C Options:

     144,500

Option Price for Tranche A Options, Tranche B Options, and Tranche C Options:

   $ 10.00 each

Exhibit 10.9

 

     OPTION AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”) dated as of October      , 2005 between AFFINION GROUP HOLDINGS, INC ., a Delaware corporation, (the “ Company ”) and OPTIONEE (as set forth on the signature page hereto, the “ Optionee ”).

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Purchase Agreement made and entered into as of the 26th day of July, 2005, by and among Affinion Group, Inc., the Company and Cendant Corporation, the Company will acquire all of the equity interests in Cendant Marketing Group, LLC (formerly Cendant Membership Services Holdings LLC) and Cendant International Holdings Limited (the “ Transaction ”); and

WHEREAS , the Company, acting through the Committee with the consent of the Company’s Board of Directors (the “ Board ”) will grant to the Optionee, effective as of the date the Transaction closes (the “ Grant Date ”), an option under the Affinion Group Holdings, Inc. 2005 Stock Incentive Plan (the “ Plan ”) to purchase a number of shares of Common Stock (“ Shares ”) on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement and the Plan;

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and of the mutual agreements contained in this Agreement, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

Section 1. The Plan . The terms and provisions of the Plan are hereby incorporated into this Agreement as if set forth herein in their entirety. In the event of a conflict between any provision of this Agreement and the Plan, the provisions of the Plan shall control. A copy of the Plan may be obtained from the Company by the Optionee upon request. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings ascribed thereto in the Plan.

Section 2. Option; Option Price . Effective on the Grant Date, on the terms and subject to the conditions of the Plan and this Agreement, the Optionee shall have the option (the “ Option ”) to purchase Shares pursuant to Tranche A options (“ Tranche A Options ”), Tranche B options (“ Tranche B Options ”), and Tranche C options (“ Tranche C Options ”) at the price per Share (the “ Option Price ”) and in the amounts set forth on the signature page hereto. Payment of the Option Price may be made in any manner permitted by the Committee under Section 5.6 of the Plan; provided, that following the Optionee’s termination of employment for any reason other than Cause, subject to applicable law, the Optionee shall be entitled to exercise the Option in a “cashless” manner. The Option is not intended to qualify for federal income tax purposes as an “incentive stock option” within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code. Except as otherwise provided in Section 7 of this Agreement, the Option shall remain exercisable as to all Vested Options (as defined in Section 4 ) until the expiration of the Option Term (as defined in Section 3 ).

Section 3. Term . The term of the Option (the “ Option Term ”) shall commence on the Grant Date and expire on the tenth anniversary of the Grant Date, unless the Option shall have sooner been terminated in accordance with the terms of the Plan (including, without limitation, Article 5 of the Plan) or this Agreement.


Section 4. Vesting . Except as otherwise set forth in Section 7 , the Options shall become non-forfeitable (any Options that shall have become non-forfeitable pursuant to Section 4 , the “ Vested Options ”) and shall become exercisable according to the following provisions:

(a) Tranche A Options . Twenty-percent (20%) of the Tranche A Options shall become Vested Options and shall become exercisable on each of the first five anniversaries of the Grant Date. In the event of a Sale of the Company, each Tranche A Option that has not theretofore become a Vested Option pursuant to the immediately preceding sentence shall vest in full on the 18-month anniversary of the consummation of such Sale of the Company; provided , that in the event of a Termination of Relationship by the Company or its Affiliates without Cause, by the Optionee with Good Reason or as a result of the Optionee’s death or Disability at any time during the 18-month period following the consummation of such Sale of the Company, all unvested Tranche A Options shall become fully vested and exercisable as of the date of such Termination of Relationship.

(b) Tranche B Options . All of the Tranche B Options shall become Vested Options on the eighth anniversary of the Grant Date; provided , however , that in the event the Investor IRR equals or exceeds 20% prior to the eighth anniversary, the Tranche B Options will vest as of the date that such Investor IRR is realized.

(c) Tranche C Options . All of the Tranche C Options shall become Vested Options on the eighth anniversary of the Grant Date; provided , however , that in the event the Investor IRR equals or exceeds 30% prior to the eighth anniversary, the Tranche C Options will vest as of the date that such Investor IRR is realized.

(d) All decisions by the Committee with respect to any calculations pursuant to this Section 4 (absent manifest error), including the Investor IRR and the dates the Investor IRR is equal to or exceeds 20% or 30%, shall be final and binding on the Optionee.

Section 5. Restriction on Transfer . The Option may not be transferred, pledged, assigned, hypothecated or otherwise disposed of in any way by the Optionee and (unless the Optionee becomes subject to a Disability) may be exercised during the lifetime of the Optionee only by the Optionee. If the Optionee dies or becomes subject to a Disability, the Option shall thereafter be exercisable, during the period specified in Section 7 of this Agreement, by his beneficiary, or if no beneficiary has been named, by his executors or administrators to the full extent to which the Option was exercisable by the Optionee at the time of his death or Disability. The Option shall not be subject to execution, attachment or similar process. Any attempted assignment, transfer, pledge, hypothecation or other disposition of the Option contrary to the provisions hereof, and the levy of any execution, attachment or similar process upon the Option, shall be null and void and without effect. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Optionee may assign or transfer the Option with the prior consent of the Committee to a “family member” as such term is defined in Rule 701 of the Securities Act (each transferee thereof, a “ Permitted Assignee ”), provided that such Permitted Assignee shall be bound by and subject to all of the terms and conditions of the Plan and the Option Agreement relating to the transferred Option and


shall execute an agreement satisfactory to the Company evidencing such obligations, and provided further that the Optionee shall remain bound by the terms and conditions of the Plan. The Company shall cooperate with any Permitted Assignee and the Company’s transfer agent in effectuating any transfer permitted under this Section 5 .

Section 6. Optionee’s Service . Nothing in this Agreement or in the Option shall confer upon the Optionee any right to continue as an employee of, or other service provider to, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates or interfere in any way with the right of the Company, its Subsidiaries or its Affiliates, as the case may be, in its sole discretion, to terminate the Optionee’s employment or service relationship or to increase or decrease the Optionee’s compensation at any time.

Section 7. Termination .

(a) The Option shall automatically terminate and shall become null and void, be unexercisable and be of no further force and effect upon the earliest of:

(i) the tenth anniversary of the Grant Date;

(ii) the first anniversary of the Termination of Relationship in the case of a Termination of Relationship for death or Disability;

(iii) the 180 th day following the Termination of Relationship in the case of a Termination of Relationship without Cause or with Good Reason;

(iv) the 90th day following of the Termination of Relationship in the case of a Termination of Relationship occurring because the Optionee resigns his employment without Good Reason; and

(v) the day of the Termination of Relationship in the case of a Termination of Relationship with Cause.

(b) Except as otherwise provided in the Plan or Section 4(a) of this Agreement, upon a Termination of Relationship for any reason, the unvested portion of the Option (i.e., that portion which does not constitute Vested Options) shall terminate on the date the Termination of Relationship occurs.

Section 8. Securities Law Representations . The Optionee acknowledges that the Option and the Shares are not being registered under the Securities Act, based, in part, in reliance upon an exemption from registration under Rule 701 or Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act, and a comparable exemption from qualification under applicable state securities laws, as each may be amended from time to time. The Optionee, by executing this Agreement, hereby makes the following representations to the Company and acknowledges that the Company’s reliance on federal and state securities law exemptions from registration and qualification is predicated, in substantial part, upon the accuracy of these representations:

 

    The Optionee is acquiring the Option and, if and when he exercises the Option, will acquire the Shares solely for the Optionee’s own account, for investment


purposes only, and not with a view to or an intent to sell, or to offer for resale in connection with any unregistered distribution, all or any portion of the shares within the meaning of the Securities Act and/or any applicable state securities laws.

 

    The Optionee has had an opportunity to ask questions and receive answers from the Company regarding the terms and conditions of the Option and the restrictions imposed on any Shares purchased upon exercise of the Option. The Optionee has been furnished with, and/or has access to, such information as he considers necessary or appropriate for deciding whether to exercise the Option and purchase the Shares. However, in evaluating the merits and risks of an investment in the Shares, the Optionee has and will rely only upon the advice of his own legal counsel, tax advisors, and/or investment advisors.

 

    The Optionee acknowledges that to the best of his knowledge the Option Price is not less than what the Board has determined to be the Fair Market Value of the Shares.

 

    The Optionee is aware that the Option may be of no practical value, that any value it may have depends on its vesting and exercisability as well as an increase in the Fair Market Value of the underlying Shares to an amount in excess of the Option Price, and that any investment in common shares of a closely held corporation such as the Company is non-marketable, non-transferable and could require capital to be invested for an indefinite period of time, possibly without return, and at substantial risk of loss.

 

    The Optionee understands that any Shares acquired on exercise of the Option will be characterized as “restricted securities” under the federal securities laws, and that, under such laws and applicable regulations, such securities may be resold without registration under the Securities Act only in certain limited circumstances, including in accordance with the conditions of Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act, as presently in effect. The Optionee acknowledges receiving a copy of Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act, as presently in effect, and represents that he is familiar with such rule, and understands the resale limitations imposed thereby and by the Securities Act and the applicable state securities law.

 

    The Optionee has read and understands the restrictions and limitations set forth in the Management Investor Rights Agreement, the Plan and this Agreement. The Optionee acknowledges that to the extent the Optionee is not a party to the Management Investor Rights Agreement at the time that the Optionee exercises any portion of the Option, such exercise shall be treated for all purposes as effecting the Optionee’s simultaneous execution of the Management Investor Rights Agreement and the Optionee shall be bound thereby.

 

    The Optionee has not relied upon any oral representation made to the Optionee relating to the Option or the purchase of the Shares on exercise of the Option or upon information presented in any promotional meeting or material relating to the Option or the Shares .


    The Optionee understands and acknowledges that, if and when he exercises the Option, (a) any certificate evidencing the Shares (or evidencing any other securities issued with respect thereto pursuant to any stock split, stock dividend, merger or other form of reorganization or recapitalization) when issued shall bear any legends which may be required by applicable federal and state securities laws, and (b) except as otherwise provided under the Management Investor Rights Agreement, the Company has no obligation to register the Shares or file any registration statement under federal or state securities laws. The Committee reserves the right to account for Shares through book entry or other electronic means rather than the issuance of stock certificates.

Section 9. Designation of Beneficiary . The Optionee may appoint any individual or legal entity in writing as his beneficiary to receive any Option (to the extent not previously terminated or forfeited) under this Agreement upon the Optionee’s death or becomes subject to a Disability. The Optionee may revoke his designation of a beneficiary at any time and a new beneficiary appointed in writing. To be effective, the Optionee must complete the designation of a beneficiary or revocation of a beneficiary by written notice to the Company under Section 10 of this Agreement before the date of the Optionee’s death. In the absence of a beneficiary designation, the legal representative of the Optionee’s estate shall be deemed the beneficiary.

Section 10. Notices . All notices, claims, certifications, requests, demands and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given and delivered if personally delivered or if sent by nationally-recognized overnight courier, by telecopy, or by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested and postage prepaid, addressed as follows:

If to the Company, to it at:

Affinity Acquisition Holdings, Inc.

c/o Apollo Management V, L.P.

9 West 57 th Street

New York, New York 10019

Facsimile: (212) 515-3264

Attention: Marc Becker

With a copy to (which copy will not constitute notice):

O’Melveny & Myers LLP

Times Square Tower

7 Times Square

New York, NY 10036

Telecopy: (212) 326-2061

Attention: Adam K. Weinstein, Esq.


If to the Optionee, to the Optionee at the address set forth on the signature page hereto; or to such other address as the party to whom notice is to be given may have furnished to the other party in writing in accordance herewith. Any such notice or other communication shall be deemed to have been received (a) in the case of personal delivery, on the date of such delivery (or if such date is not a business day, on the next business day after the date of delivery), (b) in the case of nationally-recognized overnight courier, on the next business day after the date sent, (c) in the case of telecopy transmission, when received (or if not sent on a business day, on the next business day after the date sent), and (d) in the case of mailing, on the third business day following that on which the piece of mail containing such communication is posted.

Section 11. Waiver of Breach . The waiver by either party of a breach of any provision of this Agreement must be in writing and shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any other or subsequent breach.

Section 12. Optionee’s Undertaking . The Optionee hereby agrees to take whatever additional actions and execute whatever additional documents the Company may in its reasonable judgment deem necessary or advisable in order to carry out or effect one or more of the obligations or restrictions imposed on the Optionee pursuant to the express provisions of this Agreement and the Plan.

Section 13. Modification of Rights . The rights of the Optionee are subject to modification and termination in certain events as provided in this Agreement and the Plan (with respect to the Options granted hereby). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Optionee’s rights under this Agreement and the Plan may not be materially impaired without the Optionee’s prior written consent.

Section 14. Governing Law . THIS AGREEMENT WILL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE, WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO ANY CHOICE OR CONFLICT OF LAW PROVISION OR RULE (WHETHER OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION) THAT WOULD CAUSE THE LAWS OF ANY JURISDICTION OTHER THAN THE STATE OF DELAWARE TO BE APPLIED. IN FURTHERANCE OF THE FOREGOING, THE INTERNAL LAW OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE WILL CONTROL THE INTERPRETATION AND CONSTRUCTION OF THIS AGREEMENT, EVEN IF UNDER SUCH JURISDICTION’S CHOICE OF LAW OR CONFLICT OF LAW ANALYSIS, THE SUBSTANTIVE LAW OF SOME OTHER JURISDICTION WOULD ORDINARILY APPLY.

Section 15. Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, and each such counterpart shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts together shall constitute but one agreement.

Section 16. Entire Agreement . This Agreement and the Plan (and the other writings referred to herein) constitute the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof and supersede all prior written or oral negotiations, commitments, representations and agreements with respect thereto.


Section 17. Severability . It is the desire and intent of the parties hereto that the provisions of this Agreement be enforced to the fullest extent permissible under the laws and public policies applied in each jurisdiction in which enforcement is sought. Accordingly, if any particular provision of this Agreement shall be adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, prohibited or unenforceable for any reason, such provision, as to such jurisdiction, shall be ineffective, without invalidating the remaining provisions of this Agreement or affecting the validity or enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if such provision could be more narrowly drawn so as not to be invalid, prohibited or unenforceable in such jurisdiction, it shall, as to such jurisdiction, be so narrowly drawn, without invalidating the remaining provisions of this Agreement or affecting the validity or enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction.

Section 18. Waiver of Jury Trial . Each party hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent it may legally and effectively do so, trial by jury in any suit, action or proceeding arising hereunder.

Section 19. Code Section 409A . Notwithstanding anything herein or elsewhere to the contrary, to the extent the Optionee or the Company notifies the other that this Agreement may reasonably be expected to result in the Optionee’s being subject to the penalties of Section 409A of the Code, the Optionee and the Company agree to negotiate (and the Company shall cause any affiliate to negotiate) in good faith alternatives to avoid such penalties.

[Signature Pages Follow]


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Option Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

AFFINION GROUP HOLDNGS, INC.
By:  

/s/ Nathaniel J. Lipman

Name:   Nathaniel J. Lipman
Title:   President and Chief Executive Officer
OPTIONEE
See attached signature page


OPTIONEE

[See Annex A]

Name:
Residence Address:

Number of Shares of Common Stock

subject to Tranche A Options:

Number of Shares of Common Stock

subject to Tranche B Options:

Number of Shares of Common Stock

subject to Tranche C Options:

Option Price for Tranche A Options,

Tranche B Options, and Tranche C Options:


Annex A

 

Optionee

  

Number of Shares of
Common Stock

subject to Tranche A
Options

  

Number of Shares of
Common Stock

subject to Tranche B
Options

  

Number of Shares of
Common Stock

subject to Tranche C
Options

  

Option Price for
Tranche A Options,

Tranche B Options,
and Tranche C
Options

Robert Rooney

   75,000    37,500    37,500    $ 10.00 each

Todd Siegel

   62,220    31,110    31,110    $ 10.00 each

Michael Raucher

   32,500    16,250    16,250    $ 10.00 each

Thomas Rusin

   40,460    20,230    20,230    $ 10.00 each

Exhibit 10.10

 

   OPTION AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”) dated as of January 2, 2006 between AFFINION GROUP HOLDINGS, INC. , a Delaware corporation, (the “ Company ”) and MAUREEN O’CONNELL (the “ Optionee ”).

WHEREAS, the Optionee has entered into an Employment Agreement dated as of December 1, 2005 with Affinion Group, Inc., pursuant to which the Company, acting through the Committee with the consent of the Company’s Board of Directors (the “ Board ”) will grant to the Optionee, effective as of the date the date hereof (the “ Grant Date ”), an option under the Affinion Group Holdings, Inc. 2005 Stock Incentive Plan (the “ Plan ”) to purchase a number of shares of Common Stock (“ Shares ”) on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement and the Plan.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and of the mutual agreements contained in this Agreement, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows.

Section 1. The Plan . The terms and provisions of the Plan are hereby incorporated into this Agreement as if set forth herein in their entirety. In the event of a conflict between any provision of this Agreement and the Plan, the provisions of the Plan shall control. A copy of the Plan may be obtained from the Company by the Optionee upon request. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings ascribed thereto in the Plan.

Section 2. Option; Option Price . Effective on the Grant Date, on the terms and subject to the conditions of the Plan and this Agreement, the Optionee shall have the option (the “ Option ”) to purchase Shares pursuant to Tranche A options (“ Tranche A Options ”), Tranche B options (“ Tranche B Options ”), and Tranche C options (“ Tranche C Options ”) at the price per Share (the “ Option Price ”) and in the amounts set forth on the signature page hereto. Payment of the Option Price may be made in any manner permitted by the Committee under Section 5.6 of the Plan; provided, that following the Optionee’s termination of employment for any reason other than Cause, subject to applicable law, the Optionee shall be entitled to exercise the Option in a “cashless” manner. The Option is not intended to qualify for federal income tax purposes as an “incentive stock option” within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code. Except as otherwise provided in Section 7 of this Agreement, the Option shall remain exercisable as to all Vested Options (as defined in Section 4 ) until the expiration of the Option Term (as defined in Section 3 ).

Section 3. Term . The term of the Option (the “ Option Term ”) shall commence on the Grant Date and expire on the tenth anniversary of the Grant Date, unless the Option shall have sooner been terminated in accordance with the terms of the Plan (including, without limitation, Article 5 of the Plan) or this Agreement.


Section 4. Vesting . Except as otherwise set forth in Section 7 , the Options shall become non-forfeitable (any Options that shall have become non-forfeitable pursuant to Section 4 , the “ Vested Options ”) and shall become exercisable according to the following provisions:

(a) Tranche A Options . Twenty-percent (20%) of the Tranche A Options shall become Vested Options and shall become exercisable on each of the first five anniversaries of the Grant Date. In the event of a Sale of the Company, each Tranche A Option that has not theretofore become a Vested Option pursuant to the immediately preceding sentence shall vest in full on the 18-month anniversary of the consummation of such Sale of the Company; provided , that in the event of a Termination of Relationship by the Company or its Affiliates without Cause, by the Optionee with Good Reason or as a result of the Optionee’s death or Disability at any time during the 18-month period following the consummation of such Sale of the Company, all unvested Tranche A Options shall become fully vested and exercisable as of the date of such Termination of Relationship.

(b) Tranche B Options . All of the Tranche B Options shall become Vested Options on the eighth anniversary of the Grant Date; provided , however , that in the event the Investor IRR equals or exceeds 20% prior to the eighth anniversary, the Tranche B Options will vest as of the date that such Investor IRR is realized.

(c) Tranche C Options . All of the Tranche C Options shall become Vested Options on the eighth anniversary of the Grant Date; provided , however , that in the event the Investor IRR equals or exceeds 30% prior to the eighth anniversary, the Tranche C Options will vest as of the date that such Investor IRR is realized.

(d) All decisions by the Committee with respect to any calculations pursuant to this Section 4 (absent manifest error), including the Investor IRR and the dates the Investor IRR is equal to or exceeds 20% or 30%, shall be final and binding on the Optionee.

Section 5. Restriction on Transfer . The Option may not be transferred, pledged, assigned, hypothecated or otherwise disposed of in any way by the Optionee and (unless the Optionee becomes subject to a Disability) may be exercised during the lifetime of the Optionee only by the Optionee. If the Optionee dies or becomes subject to a Disability, the Option shall thereafter be exercisable, during the period specified in Section 7 of this Agreement, by her beneficiary, or if no beneficiary has been named, by her executors or administrators to the full extent to which the Option was exercisable by the Optionee at the time of her death or Disability. The Option shall not be subject to execution, attachment or similar process. Any attempted assignment, transfer, pledge, hypothecation or other disposition of the Option contrary to the provisions hereof, and the levy of any execution, attachment or similar process upon the Option, shall be null and void and without effect. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Optionee may assign or transfer the Option with the prior consent of the Committee to a “family member” as such term is defined in Rule 701 of the Securities Act (each transferee thereof, a “ Permitted Assignee ”), provided that such Permitted Assignee shall be bound by and subject to all of the terms and conditions of the Plan and the Option Agreement relating to the transferred Option and shall execute an agreement satisfactory to the Company evidencing such obligations, and provided further that the Optionee shall remain bound by the terms and conditions of the Plan. The Company shall cooperate with any Permitted Assignee and the Company’s transfer agent in effectuating any transfer permitted under this Section 5 .

 

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Section 6. Optionee’s Service . Nothing in this Agreement or in the Option shall confer upon the Optionee any right to continue as an employee of, or other service provider to, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates or interfere in any way with the right of the Company, its Subsidiaries or its Affiliates, as the case may be, in its sole discretion, to terminate the Optionee’s employment or service relationship or to increase or decrease the Optionee’s compensation at any time.

Section 7. Termination .

(a) The Option shall automatically terminate and shall become null and void, be unexercisable and be of no further force and effect upon the earliest of:

(i) the tenth anniversary of the Grant Date;

(ii) the first anniversary of the Termination of Relationship in the case of a Termination of Relationship for death or Disability;

(iii) the 180 th day following the Termination of Relationship in the case of a Termination of Relationship without Cause or with Good Reason;

(iv) the 90th day following of the Termination of Relationship in the case of a Termination of Relationship occurring because the Optionee resigns her employment without Good Reason; and

(v) the day of the Termination of Relationship in the case of a Termination of Relationship with Cause.

(b) Except as otherwise provided in the Plan or Section 4(a) of this Agreement, upon a Termination of Relationship for any reason, the unvested portion of the Option (i.e., that portion which does not constitute Vested Options) shall terminate on the date the Termination of Relationship occurs.

Section 8. Securities Law Representations . The Optionee acknowledges that the Option and the Shares are not being registered under the Securities Act, based, in part, in reliance upon an exemption from registration under Rule 701 or Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act, and a comparable exemption from qualification under applicable state securities laws, as each may be amended from time to time. The Optionee, by executing this Agreement, hereby makes the following representations to the Company and acknowledges that the Company’s reliance on federal and state securities law exemptions from registration and qualification is predicated, in substantial part, upon the accuracy of these representations:

 

    The Optionee is acquiring the Option and, if and when she exercises the Option, will acquire the Shares solely for the Optionee’s own account, for investment purposes only, and not with a view to or an intent to sell, or to offer for resale in connection with any unregistered distribution, all or any portion of the shares within the meaning of the Securities Act and/or any applicable state securities laws.

 

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    The Optionee has had an opportunity to ask questions and receive answers from the Company regarding the terms and conditions of the Option and the restrictions imposed on any Shares purchased upon exercise of the Option. The Optionee has been furnished with, and/or has access to, such information as she considers necessary or appropriate for deciding whether to exercise the Option and purchase the Shares. However, in evaluating the merits and risks of an investment in the Shares, the Optionee has and will rely only upon the advice of her own legal counsel, tax advisors, and/or investment advisors.

 

    The Optionee acknowledges that to the best of her knowledge the Option Price is not less than what the Board has determined to be the Fair Market Value of the Shares.

 

    The Optionee is aware that the Option may be of no practical value, that any value it may have depends on its vesting and exercisability as well as an increase in the Fair Market Value of the underlying Shares to an amount in excess of the Option Price, and that any investment in common shares of a closely held corporation such as the Company is non-marketable, non-transferable and could require capital to be invested for an indefinite period of time, possibly without return, and at substantial risk of loss.

 

    The Optionee understands that any Shares acquired on exercise of the Option will be characterized as “restricted securities” under the federal securities laws, and that, under such laws and applicable regulations, such securities may be resold without registration under the Securities Act only in certain limited circumstances, including in accordance with the conditions of Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act, as presently in effect. The Optionee acknowledges receiving a copy of Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act, as presently in effect, and represents that she is familiar with such rule, and understands the resale limitations imposed thereby and by the Securities Act and the applicable state securities law.

 

    The Optionee has read and understands the restrictions and limitations set forth in the Management Investor Rights Agreement, the Plan and this Agreement. The Optionee acknowledges that to the extent the Optionee is not a party to the Management Investor Rights Agreement at the time that the Optionee exercises any portion of the Option, such exercise shall be treated for all purposes as effecting the Optionee’s simultaneous execution of the Management Investor Rights Agreement and the Optionee shall be bound thereby.

 

    The Optionee has not relied upon any oral representation made to the Optionee relating to the Option or the purchase of the Shares on exercise of the Option or upon information presented in any promotional meeting or material relating to the Option or the Shares.

 

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    The Optionee understands and acknowledges that, if and when she exercises the Option, (a) any certificate evidencing the Shares (or evidencing any other securities issued with respect thereto pursuant to any stock split, stock dividend, merger or other form of reorganization or recapitalization) when issued shall bear any legends which may be required by applicable federal and state securities laws, and (b) except as otherwise provided under the Management Investor Rights Agreement, the Company has no obligation to register the Shares or file any registration statement under federal or state securities laws. The Committee reserves the right to account for Shares through book entry or other electronic means rather than the issuance of stock certificates.

Section 9. Designation of Beneficiary . The Optionee may appoint any individual or legal entity in writing as her beneficiary to receive any Option (to the extent not previously terminated or forfeited) under this Agreement upon the Optionee’s death or becomes subject to a Disability. The Optionee may revoke her designation of a beneficiary at any time and a new beneficiary appointed in writing. To be effective, the Optionee must complete the designation of a beneficiary or revocation of a beneficiary by written notice to the Company under Section 10 of this Agreement before the date of the Optionee’s death. In the absence of a beneficiary designation, the legal representative of the Optionee’s estate shall be deemed the beneficiary.

Section 10. Notices . All notices, claims, certifications, requests, demands and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given and delivered if personally delivered or if sent by nationally-recognized overnight courier, by telecopy, or by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested and postage prepaid, addressed as follows:

If to the Company, to it at:

Affinion Group Holdings, Inc.

c/o Apollo Management V, L.P.

9 West 57 th Street

New York, New York 10019

Facsimile: (212) 515-3264

Attention: Marc Becker

With a copy to (which copy will not constitute notice):

O’Melveny & Myers LLP

Times Square Tower

7 Times Square

New York, NY 10036

Telecopy: (212) 326-2061

Attention: Adam K. Weinstein, Esq.

If to the Optionee, to the Optionee at the address set forth on the signature page hereto; or to such other address as the party to whom notice is to be given may have furnished to the other party in writing in accordance herewith. Any such notice or other communication shall be deemed to

 

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have been received (a) in the case of personal delivery, on the date of such delivery (or if such date is not a business day, on the next business day after the date of delivery), (b) in the case of nationally-recognized overnight courier, on the next business day after the date sent, (c) in the case of telecopy transmission, when received (or if not sent on a business day, on the next business day after the date sent), and (d) in the case of mailing, on the third business day following that on which the piece of mail containing such communication is posted.

Section 11. Waiver of Breach . The waiver by either party of a breach of any provision of this Agreement must be in writing and shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any other or subsequent breach.

Section 12. Optionee’s Undertaking . The Optionee hereby agrees to take whatever additional actions and execute whatever additional documents the Company may in its reasonable judgment deem necessary or advisable in order to carry out or effect one or more of the obligations or restrictions imposed on the Optionee pursuant to the express provisions of this Agreement and the Plan.

Section 13. Modification of Rights . The rights of the Optionee are subject to modification and termination in certain events as provided in this Agreement and the Plan (with respect to the Options granted hereby). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Optionee’s rights under this Agreement and the Plan may not be materially impaired without the Optionee’s prior written consent.

Section 14. Governing Law . THIS AGREEMENT WILL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE, WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO ANY CHOICE OR CONFLICT OF LAW PROVISION OR RULE (WHETHER OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION) THAT WOULD CAUSE THE LAWS OF ANY JURISDICTION OTHER THAN THE STATE OF DELAWARE TO BE APPLIED. IN FURTHERANCE OF THE FOREGOING, THE INTERNAL LAW OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE WILL CONTROL THE INTERPRETATION AND CONSTRUCTION OF THIS AGREEMENT, EVEN IF UNDER SUCH JURISDICTION’S CHOICE OF LAW OR CONFLICT OF LAW ANALYSIS, THE SUBSTANTIVE LAW OF SOME OTHER JURISDICTION WOULD ORDINARILY APPLY.

Section 15. Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, and each such counterpart shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts together shall constitute but one agreement.

Section 16. Entire Agreement . This Agreement and the Plan (and the other writings referred to herein) constitute the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof and supersede all prior written or oral negotiations, commitments, representations and agreements with respect thereto.

Section 17. Severability . It is the desire and intent of the parties hereto that the provisions of this Agreement be enforced to the fullest extent permissible under the laws and public policies applied in each jurisdiction in which enforcement is sought. Accordingly, if any particular provision of this Agreement shall be adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction

 

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to be invalid, prohibited or unenforceable for any reason, such provision, as to such jurisdiction, shall be ineffective, without invalidating the remaining provisions of this Agreement or affecting the validity or enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if such provision could be more narrowly drawn so as not to be invalid, prohibited or unenforceable in such jurisdiction, it shall, as to such jurisdiction, be so narrowly drawn, without invalidating the remaining provisions of this Agreement or affecting the validity or enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction.

Section 18. Waiver of Jury Trial . Each party hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent it may legally and effectively do so, trial by jury in any suit, action or proceeding arising hereunder.

Section 19. Code Section 409A . Notwithstanding anything herein or elsewhere to the contrary, to the extent the Optionee or the Company notifies the other that this Agreement may reasonably be expected to result in the Optionee’s being subject to the penalties of Section 409A of the Code, the Optionee and the Company agree to negotiate (and the Company shall cause any affiliate to negotiate) in good faith alternatives to avoid such penalties.

[Signature Pages Follow]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Option Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

AFFINION GROUP HOLDINGS, INC.
By:  

/s/ Nathaniel J. Lipman

Name:   Nathaniel J. Lipman
Title:   Chief Executive Officer
OPTIONEE  
See attached signature page

 

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OPTIONEE

/s/ Maureen O’Connell

Name: Maureen O’Connell
Residence Address:

 

Number of Shares of Common Stock subject to Tranche A Options:

     140,000

Number of Shares of Common Stock subject to Tranche B Options:

     70,000

Number of Shares of Common Stock subject to Tranche C Options:

     70,000

Option Price for Tranche A Options, Tranche B Options, and Tranche C Options:

   $ 10.00 each

Exhibit 10.11

June 28, 2005

Dear Officer:

As you know, we are very close to completing the formal bid process in connection with the proposed transaction involving the Cendant Marketing Services Division (“Cendant MSD”). We have had an extremely robust process up to this point. We are pleased to notify you, at this time, that Cendant has carefully considered your individual contribution and in consideration for you continuing your efforts to consummate the transaction, Cendant has decided to increase the amount of the bonus payable to you (and to equalize the amount of the bonus payable to you in the event of different types of transactions) pursuant to the incentive bonus program for designated officers of Cendant MSD. Now, subject to and upon the closing of a qualifying transaction, whether a Financial Transaction, Strategic Transaction or Change of Control (each, as defined the letter agreement, dated January 10, 2005, between Cendant MSD and you (the “Bonus Agreement”)), your amended bonus payment or equity value, as appropriate, (superseding the amount set forth in the Bonus Agreement) will equal $[     (1)     ]. Any such bonus is subject to, and will be paid to you in accordance with, the terms and conditions of the Bonus Agreement (as modified hereby). Accordingly, (1) in the case of Sale (as defined in the Bonus Agreement), you will receive $[     (2)     ] within 30 days of the closing date of the transaction and $[     (3)     ] upon the one year anniversary of the transaction closing date and (2) in the case of a Change of Control, an equity grant as described in the Bonus Agreement would be made as soon as practicable. All provisions of the Bonus Agreement not specifically modified by this letter shall remain in full force and effect as originally drafted.

In addition, at the sole discretion of Cendant, the amount of the bonus payable to you may be increased further if the net proceeds from the transaction involving Cendant MSD exceeds $2.3 billion.

On behalf of myself and the rest of Cendant’s senior management team, thank you for your continued focus and performance.

Good luck and best regards,

 

/s/ Thomas D. Christopoul

Thomas D. Christopoul
Chairman
Cendant Marketing Services Division
cc: Mary C. Rusterholz

[See Annex A]


ANNEX A

 

Officer

   (1)    (2)    (3)

Nathaniel Lipman

   $ 5,100,000    $ 2,550,000    $ 2,550,000

Todd Siegel

   $ 2,300,000    $ 1,150,000    $ 1,150,000

Michael Raucher

   $ 1,000,000    $ 500,000    $ 500,000

Thomas Rusin

   $ 1,450,000    $ 725,000    $ 725,000

Exhibit 10.12

June 28, 2005

Dear Robert:

As you know, we are very close to completing the formal bid process in connection with the proposed transaction involving the Cendant Marketing Services Division (“Cendant MSD”). We have had an extremely robust process up to this point. We are pleased to notify you, at this time, that Cendant has carefully considered your individual contribution and in consideration for you continuing your efforts to consummate the transaction, Cendant has decided to increase the amount of the bonus payable to you pursuant to the incentive bonus program for designated officers of Cendant MSD. Now, subject to and upon the closing of a transaction, your amended bonus payment (superseding the amount set forth in Section 2(d) of the Release Agreement) will equal $1,275,000. Any such bonus is subject to, and will be paid to you in accordance with, the terms and conditions of the Section 2(d) of the agreement and general release, dated April 5, 2005, between Cendant MSD and you (the “Release Agreement”), as modified hereby. Accordingly, you will receive $637,500 within 30 days of the closing date of the transaction and $637,500 upon the one year anniversary of the transaction closing date. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 2(d) of the Release Agreement, you will not receive the applicable payment if, prior to the closing of the transaction and prior to each applicable payment date, your employment with Cendant and Cendant MSD (or, following a transaction, the buyer or successor entity to Cendant MSD) terminates by reason of your resignation or by Cendant for Cause (as defined in your employment agreement, or otherwise as reasonably determined by Cendant consistent with Cendant’s current practice). All provisions of the Release Agreement not specifically modified by this letter shall remain in full force and effect as originally drafted.

In addition, at the sole discretion of Cendant, the amount of the bonus payable to you may be increased further if the net proceeds from the transaction involving Cendant MSD exceeds $2.3 billion.

On behalf of myself and the rest of Cendant’s senior management team, thank you for your continued focus and performance.

Good luck and best regards,

 

/s/ Thomas D. Christopoul

Thomas D. Christopoul
Chairman
Cendant Marketing Services Division

cc: Mary C. Rusterholz

Exhibit 10.13

SEVERANCE AGREEMENT

Severance Agreement dated as of May 29, 2002 (the “Agreement”), by and between Trilegiant Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Todd Siegel (the “Executive”).

WHEREAS, the Company currently employs the Executive as a Senior Vice President; and

WHEREAS, each of the Company and the Executive desires to establish severance protection rights for Executive as more fully set forth herein.

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereby agree as follows:

SECTION I

EFFECT OF TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT WITHOUT CAUSE

A. Without Cause Termination and Constructive Discharge . If the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company and its affiliates pursuant to a Without Cause Termination (as defined below) or terminates due to a Constructive Discharge (as defined below), then, subject to the Executive executing a release of claims against the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates as more fully described in Section I(D), the Company will pay the Executive a lump sum amount equal to $175,000.00 (or, if his current base salary as of the date of the Without Cause Termination is higher than $175,000, then such higher base salary amount), plus any salary and bonus amounts which are earned but unpaid through the date of such termination. For purposes of this Section I(A), bonus amounts shall be deemed to be “earned” by the Executive only to the extent that the Executive remains employed by the Company or its subsidiaries or affiliates as of the end of the applicable period for which any performance tied to such award is measured. The Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates will have no further obligations to the Executive hereunder, except (i) as provided in this paragraph, (ii) for any remaining obligations under any then applicable employee benefit, stock option, restricted stock or similar plan (and any agreements entered into in connection therewith), (iii) the reimbursement of any reasonable expenses incurred on behalf of the Company in accordance with and subject to Company policy, and (iv) as provided in Section VI below.

B. Termination for Cause; Resignation . If the Executive’s employment terminates due to a Termination for Cause or a Resignation, any salary amounts which are earned but unpaid through the date of such termination will be paid to the Executive in a lump sum. The Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates will have no further obligations to the Executive hereunder, except (i) as provided in this paragraph, (ii) for any remaining obligations under any then applicable employee benefit, stock option, restricted stock or similar plan (and any agreements entered into in connection therewith), and (iii) the reimbursement of any reasonable expenses incurred on behalf of the Company in accordance with and subject to Company policy.


C. For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms have the following meanings:

i. “Termination for Cause” means (i) the Executive’s willful failure to substantially perform his or her duties as an employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates (other than any such failure resulting from incapacity due to physical or mental illness), (ii) any act of fraud, misappropriation, dishonesty, embezzlement or similar conduct against the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates, (iii) the Executive’s conviction of a felony or any crime involving moral turpitude (which conviction, due to the passage of time or otherwise, is not subject to further appeal) or (iv) the Executive’s gross negligence in the performance of his or her duties.

ii. “Without Cause Termination” or “Terminated Without Cause” means termination of the Executive’s employment by the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates other than due to death, Disability or Termination for Cause.

iii. “Resignation” means a termination of the Executive’s employment by the Executive, other than in connection with a Constructive Discharge.

iv. “Disability” means the Executive’s inability to perform his or her duties hereunder as a result of serious physical or mental illness or injury for a period of no less than 60 consecutive days, together with a determination by an independent medical authority that (i) the Executive is currently unable to perform such duties and (ii) in all reasonable likelihood such disability will continue for an additional period in excess of 60 days beyond such original 60-day period. Such medical authority shall be selected by the Company and such opinion shall be binding on the Company and the Executive.

v. “Constructive Discharge” means (i) any reduction of the Executive’s then-applicable base salary as of the date in question or (ii) the relocation of the Executive’s primary office to any location other than Southern Connecticut or the New York metropolitan area. The Executive will provide the Company a written notice which describes the circumstances being relied on for the termination with respect to this Agreement within thirty (30) days after the event giving rise to the notice. The Company will have thirty (30) days after receipt of such notice to remedy the situation prior to the termination for Constructive Discharge.

D. Conditions to Payment and Acceleration . All payments and benefits due to the Executive under this Section I shall be made or provided as soon as reasonably practicable (and in any event within 20 days of the execution by the Executive of the release referred to below); provided that such payments and benefits shall be subject to, and contingent upon, the execution by the Executive (or the Executive’s beneficiary or estate) of a release of claims against the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates and their respective representatives in such form as shall be determined by the Company in its sole discretion. The payments due to the Executive under this Section I shall be in lieu of any other severance benefits otherwise payable to the Executive under any severance plan of the Company or its affiliates.

 

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SECTION II

OTHER DUTIES OF THE EXECUTIVE

DURING AND AFTER EMPLOYMENT WITH THE COMPANY

A. Cooperation on Legal Matters . The Executive will, with reasonable notice during or after the Executive’s employment with the Company, furnish information as may be in his or her possession and, subject to reimbursement of any reasonable expenses incurred, will fully cooperate with the Company and its affiliates to the extent reasonably requested in connection with any claims or legal action in which the Business (as defined in Section II(E) below) or the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates (collectively, the “Corporation”) is or may become a party.

B. Non-Compete Provisions . The Executive agrees that through-out the Executive’s employment with the Corporation and for a period of one (1) year following the termination of that employment (regardless of whether such termination is voluntary, involuntary or otherwise), the Executive shall not:

i. Engaging in a Competing Business - accept or maintain employment with, or act as a principal of, investor in or advisor or consultant to, or otherwise become affiliated with in any other capacity (other than as a holder of less than 1% of the total outstanding equity securities of any publicly-held company), any person, firm, corporation or other entity which competes, or undertakes to compete, in any manner with the Corporation in relation to the Business (as it may be conducted from time to time following the date hereof) (a “Competing Business”); or

ii. Soliciting Customers of the Business - solicit, induce or encourage, either directly or indirectly, any customer, client, partner or other third party having a relationship with the Business, either (i) to terminate, reduce or modify in any way adverse to the Business, any relationship such person or entity may have with the Business, or (ii) engage in business with any Competing Business (as defined in Section II(B)(i) above); or

iii. Soliciting Employees of the Business - solicit, induce or encourage, either directly or indirectly, any employee of the Business to leave his or her employment or take any action to assist any successor employer or any other entity, either directly or indirectly, in soliciting, inducing or encouraging any employee of the Business to leave his or her employment; or hire or employ, or assist in the hiring or employment of, either directly or indirectly, any individual that was employed by the Business within 180 days preceding the date of such other hiring or employment.

The provisions of this Section II(B) shall apply to and encompass those geographic areas in which the Corporation engages in the Business, or delivers services related to the Business, during the Executive’s period of employment with the Corporation (it being understood that any Internet-based business activities of the Business shall be deemed to be worldwide in their geographic scope, unless specifically limited to a specified area). The Executive acknowledges that the uniqueness of the Business, including its size and extensive business and customer relationships, makes it difficult (if not meaningless) to assign a narrower geographical limitation.

 

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C. Confidentiality Obligations . The Executive acknowledges that the Confidential Information (as defined in Section II(E) below) is confidential and is a unique and valuable asset of the Corporation. The Executive agrees that Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, (a) reveal or cause to be revealed to any person or entity the Confidential Information (except either (x) during the period of the Executive’s employment with the Corporation to the extent reasonably necessary in the performance of Executive’s duties on the Corporation’s behalf or (y) to the extent disclosure is expressly required by law and Executive provides the Corporation with prior written notice of any such compelled disclosure), and (b) make use of any Confidential Information for Executive’s own purposes or for the benefit of any person or organization other than the Corporation and its affiliates. In addition, the Executive recognizes that the Corporation has received, and may receive from time to time in the future, from third parties their confidential or proprietary information subject to a duty on the Corporation’s part to maintain the confidentiality of such information and to use it only for certain limited purposes; accordingly, the Executive agrees to hold all such third party confidential or proprietary information in the strictest confidence and not to disclose it to any person or entity or to use it, except as necessary in carrying out Executive’s work for the Corporation consistent with the Corporation’s agreement with such third party.

D. Assignment of Intellectual Property . The Executive agrees that Executive will make full written disclosure to the Corporation, will hold in trust for the sole right and benefit of the Corporation, and hereby assigns to the Corporation, or its designee, all of Executive’s right, title, and interest in and to any and all Inventions (as defined in Section II(E) below). The Executive further acknowledges that all original works of authorship which are made be Executive (solely or jointly with others) within the scope of and during the period of Executive’s employment with the Corporation and which are protectible by copyright are “works made for hire,” as that term is defined in the United States Copyright Act. The Executive agrees to assist the Corporation, or its designee, at the Corporation’s expense, in every proper way to secure the Corporation’s rights in the Inventions in any and all countries, including the disclosure to the Corporation of all pertinent information and data with respect thereto, the execution of all applications, specifications, oaths, assignments and all other instruments which the Corporation shall deem necessary in order to apply for and obtain such rights and in order to assign and convey to the Corporation, its successors, assigns and nominees the sole and exclusive rights, title and interest in and to such Inventions.

E. Defined Terms . For purposes of this Agreement, (a) the term “ Business ” shall mean (i) any business of the Corporation involving the offering of membership-based products or services to consumers, whether marketed directly to consumers or marketed through any financial institution, retailer or one or more other third parties, and whether marketed through direct mail, telemarketing methods, general advertising, the Internet, any computer online service or otherwise, as well as (ii) any other business that the Corporation engages in during Executive’s period of employment with the Corporation if the Executive is actively involved in any of the operations or activities of such other business during any portion of such period of employment, and if as a result of such active involvement in such business, the Executive is exposed to any Confidential Information relating to such other business, (b) the term “ Confidential Information ” shall mean all inventions, trade secrets, business methods, financial projections, business plans or other information (whether in written, oral, electronic or other form) pertaining to the affairs, business, clients, customers or other relationships of the

 

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Corporation and its affiliates and all other confidential and proprietary business information of the Corporation and its affiliates (whether related to the Business or otherwise); provided that the term “ Confidential Information ” shall not include any of the information referred to above that is or becomes generally available to the public, other than as a result of a breach by the Executive or his or her representatives of the provisions of this Agreement, and (c) the term “ Inventions ” shall mean all inventions, original works of authorship, developments, concepts, improvements or trade secrets, whether or not patentable or registrable under copyright or similar laws, which the Executive may solely or jointly conceive or develop or reduce to practice, or cause to be conceived or developed or reduced to practice, during the period of time the Executive is in the employ of the Corporation, together with any and all copyrights, patents, trademarks or other intellectual property rights related thereto.

F. Remedies Available . The Executive hereby acknowledges that damages at law may be an insufficient remedy to the Company if the Executive violates the terms of this Agreement and that the Company will be entitled, upon making the requisite showing, to preliminary and/or permanent injunctive relief in any court of competent jurisdiction to restrain the breach of or otherwise to specifically enforce any of the covenants contained in this Section II without the necessity of showing any actual damage or that monetary damages would not provide an adequate remedy. Such right to an injunction will be in addition to, and not in limitation of, any other rights or remedies the Company may have. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, neither party will oppose any motion the other party may make for any expedited discovery or hearing in connection with any alleged breach of this Section II.

G. Extension of Time Periods . The period of time during which the provisions of this Section II will be in effect will be extended by the length of time during which the Executive is in breach of the terms hereof as determined by any court of competent jurisdiction on the Company’s application for injunctive relief.

H. Essential Nature of Restrictions . The Executive agrees that the restrictions contained in this Section II are an essential inducement for the compensation the Executive is granted hereunder and that but for the Executive’s agreement to comply with such restrictions, the Company would not have entered into this Agreement.

SECTION III

WITHHOLDING TAXES

The Executive acknowledges and agrees that the Company may directly or indirectly withhold from any payments under this Agreement all federal, state, city or other taxes that will be required pursuant to any law or governmental regulation.

SECTION IV

EFFECT OF PRIOR AGREEMENTS

This Agreement will supersede any prior employment agreement or arrangement between the Company and the Executive and/or between the Executive and Cendant Corporation or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates, and any such prior agreement or arrangement will be deemed terminated without any remaining obligations of either party thereunder, provided that

 

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any prior agreements pertaining to noncompetition, confidentiality, works-for-hire and any other similar covenants between the Executive and Cendant, the Company or any of their respective subsidiaries or affiliates (including, without limitation, any stock subscription and/or stockholders agreements entered into between the Company and the Executive prior to the date hereof), as well as any employee benefit, stock option, restricted stock or other similar plans (as well as any agreements entered into in connection therewith), shall remain in full force and effect in accordance with their respective terms.

SECTION V

ARBITRATION

A. Any controversy, dispute or claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the breach hereof which cannot be settled by mutual agreement (other than with respect to the matters covered by Section II for which the Company may, but will not be required to, seek injunctive relief) will be finally settled by binding arbitration in accordance with the Federal Arbitration Act (or if not applicable, the applicable state arbitration law) as follows: Any party who is aggrieved will deliver a notice to the other party setting forth the specific points in dispute. Any points remaining in dispute twenty (20) days after the giving of such notice may be submitted to arbitration in New York, New York, to the American Arbitration Association, before a single arbitrator appointed in accordance with the arbitration rules of the American Arbitration Association applicable to employment disputes, modified only as herein expressly provided. After the aforesaid twenty (20) days, either party, upon ten (10) days notice to the other, may so submit the points in dispute to arbitration. The arbitrator may enter a default decision against any party who fails to participate in the arbitration proceedings.

B. The decision of the arbitrator on the points in dispute will be final, unappealable and binding, and judgment on the award may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof.

C. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, the arbitrator will be authorized to apportion its fees and expenses and the reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses of any such party as the arbitrator deems appropriate. In the absence of any such apportionment, the fees and expenses of the arbitrator will be borne equally by each party, and each party will bear the fees and expenses of its own attorney.

D. The parties agree that this Section V has been included to rapidly and inexpensively resolve any disputes between them with respect to this Agreement, and that this Section V will be grounds for dismissal of any court action commenced by either party with respect to this Agreement, other than post-arbitration actions seeking to enforce an arbitration award. In the event that any court determines that this arbitration procedure is not binding, or otherwise allows any litigation regarding a dispute, claim, or controversy covered by this Agreement to proceed, the parties hereto hereby waive any and all right to a trial by jury in or with respect to such litigation.

E. The parties will keep confidential, and will not disclose to any person, except as may be required by law, the existence of any controversy hereunder, the referral of any such controversy to arbitration or the status or resolution thereof.

 

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SECTION VI

SURVIVAL

Sections II, III, IV and V will continue in full force in accordance with their respective terms notwithstanding any termination of the Executive’s employment and regardless of the manner or circumstances of such termination.

SECTION VII

MISCELLANEOUS

A. Modification and Waiver . This Agreement may not be modified or amended except in writing signed by the parties. No term or condition of this Agreement will be deemed to have been waived except in writing by the party charged with waiver. A waiver will operate only as to the specific term or condition waived and will not constitute a waiver for the future or act on anything other than that which is specifically waived.

B. Severability . All provisions of this Agreement are intended to be severable. In the event any provision or restriction contained herein is held to be invalid or unenforceable in any respect, in whole or in part, such finding will in no way affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement. The parties hereto further agree that any such invalid or unenforceable provision will be deemed modified so that it will be enforced to the greatest extent permissible under law, and to the extent that any court of competent jurisdiction determines any restriction herein to be unreasonable in any respect or unenforceable because of its scope, duration, geographic coverage or otherwise, such court shall have the power to modify or limit this Agreement to the extent necessary so that it can be enforced to the greatest extent permissible under law.

C. Consolidation, Merger, or Sale Of Assets . Nothing in this Agreement will preclude the Company from consolidating or merging into or with, or transferring all or substantially all of its assets to, any other corporation or entity (including, without limitation, any affiliate or subsidiary of Cendant Corporation or the Company) which assumes this Agreement and all obligations and undertakings of the Company hereunder. Upon such a consolidation, merger or sale of assets the term “Company” will mean such other corporation or entity and this Agreement will continue in full force and effect.

D. Governing Law . This Agreement has been executed and delivered in the State of Connecticut and its validity, interpretation, performance and enforcement will be governed by the internal laws of that state.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

TRILEGIANT CORPORATION

/s/ Illegible

By: Illegible

Title: President and Chief Executive Officer

TODD SIEGEL

/s/ Todd Siegel

 

8

Exhibit 10.14

SEVERANCE AGREEMENT

Severance Agreement dated as of November 9, 2004 (the “Agreement”), by and between Trilegiant Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Thomas Rusin (the “Executive”).

WHEREAS, the Company currently employs the Executive as an Executive Vice President; and

WHEREAS, each of the Company and the Executive desires to establish severance protection rights for Executive as more fully set forth herein.

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereby agree as follows:

SECTION I

EFFECT OF TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT WITHOUT CAUSE

A. Without Cause Termination . If the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company and its affiliates pursuant to a Without Cause Termination (as defined below), then, subject to the Executive executing a release of claims against the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates as more fully described in Section I(D), the Company will pay the Executive a lump sum amount equal to $225,000.00 (or, if his current base salary as of the date of the Without Cause Termination is higher than $225,000, then such higher base salary amount), plus any salary and bonus amounts which are earned but unpaid through the date of such termination. For purposes of this Section I(A), bonus amounts shall be deemed to be “earned” by the Executive only to the extent that the Executive remains employed by the Company or its subsidiaries or affiliates as of the end of the applicable period for which any performance tied to such award is measured. Except as provided in this paragraph (and except for any remaining obligations under any then applicable employee benefit, stock option, restricted stock or similar plan (and any agreements entered into in connection therewith) and except as provided in Section VI below), the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates will have no further obligations to the Executive hereunder.

B. Termination for Cause; Resignation . If the Executive’s employment terminates due to a Termination for Cause or a Resignation, any salary amounts which are earned but unpaid through the date of such termination will be paid to the Executive in a lump sum. Except as provided in this paragraph (and except for any remaining obligations under any then applicable employee benefit, stock option, restricted stock or similar plan (and any agreements entered into in connection therewith), the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates will have no further obligations to the Executive hereunder.

 

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C. For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms have the following meanings:

i. “Termination for Cause” means (i) the Executive’s willful failure to substantially perform his or her duties as an employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates (other than any such failure resulting from incapacity due to physical or mental illness), (ii) any act of fraud, misappropriation, dishonesty, embezzlement or similar conduct against the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates, (iii) the Executive’s conviction of a felony or any crime involving moral turpitude (which conviction, due to the passage of time or otherwise, is not subject to further appeal) or (iv) the Executive’s gross negligence in the performance of his or her duties.

ii. “Without Cause Termination” or “Terminated Without Cause” means termination of the Executive’s employment by the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates other than due to death, Disability or Termination for Cause.

iii. “Resignation” means a termination of the Executive’s employment by the Executive, other than in connection with a Constructive Discharge.

iv. “Disability” means the Executive’s inability to perform his or her duties hereunder as a result of serious physical or mental illness or injury for a period of no less than 60 consecutive days, together with a determination by an independent medical authority that (i) the Executive is currently unable to perform such duties and (ii) in all reasonable likelihood such disability will continue for an additional period in excess of 60 days beyond such original 60-day period. Such medical authority shall be selected by the Company and such opinion shall be binding on the Company and the Executive.

v. “Constructive Discharge” means (i) any reduction of the Executive’s then-applicable base salary as of the date in question or (ii) the relocation of the Executive’s primary office to any location other than Southern Connecticut or the New York metropolitan area. The Executive will provide the Company a written notice which describes the circumstances being relied on for the termination with respect to this Agreement within thirty (30) days after the event giving rise to the notice. The Company will have thirty (30) days after receipt of such notice to remedy the situation prior to the termination for Constructive Discharge.

D. Conditions to Payment and Acceleration . All payments and benefits due to the Executive under this Section I shall be made or provided as soon as reasonably practicable (and in any event within 20 days of the execution by the Executive of the release referred to below); provided that such payments and benefits shall be subject to, and contingent upon, the execution by the Executive (or the Executive’s beneficiary or estate) of a release of claims against the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates and their respective representatives in such form as shall be determined by the Company in its sole discretion. The payments due to the Executive under this Section I shall be in lieu of any other severance benefits otherwise payable to the Executive under any severance plan of the Company or its affiliates.

 

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SECTION II

OTHER DUTIES OF THE EXECUTIVE

DURING AND AFTER EMPLOYMENT WITH THE COMPANY

A. Cooperation on Legal Matters . The Executive will, with reasonable notice during or after the Executive’s employment with the Company, furnish information as may be in his or her possession and, subject to reimbursement of any reasonable expenses incurred, will fully cooperate with the Company and its affiliates to the extent reasonably requested in connection with any claims or legal action in which the Business (as defined in Section II(E) below) or the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates (collectively, the “Corporation”) is or may become a party.

B. Non-Compete Provisions . The Executive agrees that throughout the Executive’s employment with the Corporation and for a period of one (1) year following the termination of that employment (regardless of whether such termination is voluntary, involuntary or otherwise), the Executive shall not:

i. Engaging in a Competing Business - accept or maintain employment with, or act as a principal of, investor in or advisor or consultant to, or otherwise become affiliated with in any other capacity (other than as a holder of less than 1% of the total outstanding equity securities of any publicly-held company), any person, firm, corporation or other entity which competes, or undertakes to compete, in any manner with the Corporation in relation to the Business (as it may be conducted from time to time following the date hereof) (a “Competing Business”); or

ii. Soliciting Customers of the Business - solicit, induce or encourage, either directly or indirectly, any customer, client, partner or other third party having a relationship with the Business, either (i) to terminate, reduce or modify in any way adverse to the Business, any relationship such person or entity may have with the Business, or (ii) engage in business with any Competing Business (as defined in Section II(B)(i) above); or

iii. Soliciting Employees of the Business - solicit, induce or encourage, either directly or indirectly, any employee of the Business to leave his or her employment or take any action to assist any successor employer or any other entity, either directly or indirectly, in soliciting, inducing or encouraging any employee of the Business to leave his or her employment; or hire or employ, or assist in the hiring or employment of, either directly or indirectly, any individual that was employed by the Business within 180 days preceding the date of such other hiring or employment.

The provisions of this Section II(B) shall apply to and encompass those geographic areas in which the Corporation engages in the Business, or delivers services related to the Business, during the Executive’s period of employment with the Corporation (it being understood that any Internet-based business activities of the Business shall be deemed to be worldwide in their geographic scope, unless specifically limited to a specified area). The Executive acknowledges that the uniqueness of the Business, including its size and extensive business and customer relationships, makes it difficult (if not meaningless) to assign a narrower geographical limitation.

 

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C. Confidentiality Obligations . The Executive acknowledges that the Confidential Information (as defined in Section II(E) below) is confidential and is a unique and valuable asset of the Corporation. The Executive agrees that Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, (a) reveal or cause to be revealed to any person or entity the Confidential Information (except either (x) during the period of the Executive’s employment with the Corporation to the extent reasonably necessary in the performance of Executive’s duties on the Corporation’s behalf or (y) to the extent disclosure is expressly required by law and Executive provides the Corporation with prior written notice of any such compelled disclosure), and (b) make use of any Confidential Information for Executive’s own purposes or for the benefit of any person or organization other than the Corporation and its affiliates. In addition, the Executive recognizes that the Corporation has received, and may receive from time to time in the future, from third parties their confidential or proprietary information subject to a duty on the Corporation’s part to maintain the confidentiality of such information and to use it only for certain limited purposes; accordingly, the Executive agrees to hold all such third party confidential or proprietary information in the strictest confidence and not to disclose it to any person or entity or to use it, except as necessary in carrying out Executive’s work for the Corporation consistent with the Corporation’s agreement with such third party.

D. Assignment of Intellectual Property . The Executive agrees that Executive will make full written disclosure to the Corporation, will hold in trust for the sole right and benefit of the Corporation, and hereby assigns to the Corporation, or its designee, all of Executive’s right, title, and interest in and to any and all Inventions (as defined in Section II(E) below). The Executive further acknowledges that all original works of authorship which are made be Executive (solely or jointly with others) within the scope of and during the period of Executive’s employment with the Corporation and which are protectible by copyright are “works made for hire,” as that term is defined in the United States Copyright Act. The Executive agrees to assist the Corporation, or its designee, at the Corporation’s expense, in every proper way to secure the Corporation’s rights in the Inventions in any and all countries, including the disclosure to the Corporation of all pertinent information and data with respect thereto, the execution of all applications, specifications, oaths, assignments and all other instruments which the Corporation shall deem necessary in order to apply for and obtain such rights and in order to assign and convey to the Corporation, its successors, assigns and nominees the sole and exclusive rights, title and interest in and to such Inventions.

E. Defined Terms . For purposes of this Agreement, (a) the term “ Business ” shall mean (i) any business of the Corporation involving the offering of membership-based products or services to consumers, whether marketed directly to consumers or marketed through any financial institution, retailer or one or more other third parties, and whether marketed through direct mail, telemarketing methods, general advertising, the Internet, any computer online service or other-wise, as well as (ii) any other business that the Corporation engages in during Executive’s period of employment with the Corporation if the Executive is actively involved in any of the operations or activities of such other business during any portion of such period of employment, and if as a result of such active involvement in such business, the Executive is exposed to any Confidential Information relating to such other business, (b) the term “ Confidential Information ” shall mean all inventions, trade secrets, business methods, financial projections, business plans or other information (whether in written, oral, electronic or other form) pertaining to the affairs, business, clients, customers or other relationships of the

 

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Corporation and its affiliates and all other confidential and proprietary business information of the Corporation and its affiliates (whether related to the Business or otherwise); provided that the term “ Confidential Information ” shall not include any of the information referred to above that is or becomes generally available to the public, other than as a result of a breach by the Executive or his or her representatives of the provisions of this Agreement, and (c) the term “ Inventions ” shall mean all inventions, original works of authorship, developments, concepts, improvements or trade secrets, whether or not patentable or registrable under copyright or similar laws, which the Executive may solely or jointly conceive or develop or reduce to practice, or cause to be conceived or developed or reduced to practice, during the period of time the Executive is in the employ of the Corporation, together with any and all copyrights, patents, trademarks or other intellectual property rights related thereto.

F. Remedies Available . The Executive hereby acknowledges that damages at law may be an insufficient remedy to the Company if the Executive violates the terms of this Agreement and that the Company will be entitled, upon making the requisite showing, to preliminary and/or permanent injunctive relief in any court of competent jurisdiction to restrain the breach of or otherwise to specifically enforce any of the covenants contained in this Section II without the necessity of showing any actual damage or that monetary damages would not provide an adequate remedy. Such right to an injunction will be in addition to, and not in limitation of, any other rights or remedies the Company may have. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, neither party will oppose any motion the other party may make for any expedited discovery or hearing in connection with any alleged breach of this Section II.

G. Extension of Time Periods . The period of time during which the provisions of this Section II will be in effect will be extended by the length of time during which the Executive is in breach of the terms hereof as determined by any court of competent jurisdiction on the Company’s application for injunctive relief.

H. Essential Nature of Restrictions . The Executive agrees that the restrictions contained in this Section II are an essential inducement for the compensation the Executive is granted hereunder and that but for the Executive’s agreement to comply with such restrictions, the Company would not have entered into this Agreement.

SECTION III

WITHHOLDING TAXES

The Executive acknowledges and agrees that the Company may directly or indirectly withhold from any payments under this Agreement all federal, state, city or other taxes that will be required pursuant to any law or governmental regulation.

SECTION IV

EFFECT OF PRIOR AGREEMENTS

Except for the Release, Covenant Not to Compete, Confidentiality and Waiver and Consent Agreement, dated as of January 30, 2004, by and among by and among Executive, Cendant Corporation (“Cendant”), Cendant Membership Services Holdings Subsidiary, Inc., the Company (formerly known as CMS Subsidiary Inc.) and TRL Group (formerly known as

 

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Trilegiant Corporation), this Agreement will supersede any prior employment agreement or arrangement between the Company and the Executive and/or between the Executive and Cendant Corporation or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates, and any such prior agreement or arrangement will be deemed terminated without any remaining obligations of either party thereunder; provided that any prior agreements pertaining to noncompetition, confidentiality, works-for-hire and any other similar covenants between the Executive and Cendant, the Company or any of their respective subsidiaries or affiliates (including, without limitation, any stock subscription and/or stockholders agreements entered into between the Company and the Executive prior to the date hereof), as well as any employee benefit, stock option, restricted stock or other similar plans (as well as any agreements entered into in connection therewith), shall remain in full force and effect in accordance with their respective terms.

SECTION V

SURVIVAL

Sections II, III, and IV will continue in full force in accordance with their respective terms notwithstanding any termination of the Executive’s employment and regardless of the manner or circumstances of such termination.

SECTION VI

MISCELLANEOUS

A. Modification and Waiver . This Agreement may not be modified or amended except in writing signed by the parties. No term or condition of this Agreement will be deemed to have been waived except in writing by the party charged with waiver. A waiver will operate only as to the specific term or condition waived and will not constitute a waiver for the future or act on anything other than that which is specifically waived.

B. Severability . All provisions of this Agreement are intended to be severable. In the event any provision or restriction contained herein is held to be invalid or unenforceable in any respect, in whole or in part, such finding will in no way affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement. The parties hereto further agree that any such invalid or unenforceable provision will be deemed modified so that it will be enforced to the greatest extent permissible under law, and to the extent that any court of competent jurisdiction determines any restriction herein to be unreasonable in any respect or unenforceable because of its scope, duration, geographic coverage or otherwise, such court shall have the power to modify or limit this Agreement to the extent necessary so that it can be enforced to the greatest extent permissible under law.

C. Consolidation, Merger, or Sale Of Assets . Nothing in this Agreement will preclude the Company from consolidating or merging into or with, or transferring all or substantially all of its assets to, any other corporation or entity (including, without limitation, any affiliate or subsidiary of Cendant Corporation or the Company) which assumes this Agreement and all obligations and undertakings of the Company hereunder. Upon such a consolidation, merger or sale of assets the term “Company” will mean such other corporation or entity and this Agreement will continue in full force and effect.

 

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D. Governing Law . This Agreement has been executed and delivered in the State of Connecticut and its validity, interpretation, performance and enforcement will be governed by the internal laws of that state.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

TRILEGIANT CORPORATION

/s/ Nathaniel J. Lipman

By: Nathaniel J. Lipman

Title: Chief Executive Officer

THOMAS RUSIN

/s/ Thomas Rusin

 

8

Exhibit 10.15

 

     SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”), dated as of October      , 2005 between AFFINION GROUP HOLDINGS, INC ., a Delaware Corporation, (the “ Company ”) and INVESTOR (as set forth on the Signature Page ) (“ Investor ”).

WHEREAS , Investor desires to purchase certain shares of the Company’s common stock; and

WHEREAS , pursuant to the Purchase Agreement made and entered into as of the 26th day of July, 2005, by and among Affinion Group, Inc. (f/k/a Affinity Acquisition, Inc.), the Company (f/k/a Affinity Acquisition Holdings, Inc.) and Cendant Corporation, the Company will acquire all of the equity interests in Cendant Marketing Group, LLC and Cendant International Holdings Limited (the “ Transaction ”);

WHEREAS , the Company is willing to sell the Company’s common stock to Investor on the terms and conditions provided below.

NOW, THEREFORE , in consideration of the promises and of the mutual covenants contained in this Agreement, the parties hereby agree as follows:

1. Subscription . Investor hereby subscribes for and offers to purchase as of the closing of the Transaction (the “ Closing ”) [Item 1(a) on the Signature Page ] shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share, (the “ Shares ”) at the purchase price of $[Item 1(b) on the Signature Page ] per Share for the aggregate amount indicated in Section 2 of this Agreement.

2. Tender of Consideration . Investor hereby irrevocably tenders this Agreement, and on the Closing will be deemed to pay $[Item 2 on the Signature Page ], by means of a dollar-for-dollar reduction of the Payments payable to Investor under the Retention Letter (as such terms are defined in Section 3), as aggregate consideration for the Shares.

3. Retention Letter . Investor is a party to a letter agreement with Cendant Marketing Group, LLC or its affiliate, as amended through June 28, 2005 (the “ Retention Letter ”). Notwithstanding the timing of the payments set forth in the Retention Letter (the “ Payments ”), Investor hereby acknowledges that:

(a) Investor will receive, on or about the Closing, [Item 1(a) on the Signature Page ] Shares, representing a portion of the Payments equal to $[Item 2 on the Signature Page ]);

(b) Investor will receive, on or about the Closing, an amount of the Payments in cash equal to $[Item 3 on the Signature Page ];

(c) all amounts payable to Investor are subject to applicable withholding.


4. Risk of Forfeiture . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, consistent with the Retention Letter, to the extent Investor’s employment with the Company terminates for Cause as set forth in the Retention Letter (with the Company substituted for Cendant therein) or due to Investor’s resignation prior to the first anniversary of the Closing, Investor shall immediately forfeit to the Company [Item 4 on the Signature Page] Shares, and the Company may reflect any such forfeiture on its share records without any further action required by Investor. Investor, upon purchasing the Shares, shall be deemed to appoint, and does so appoint by execution of this Agreement, the Company and each of its authorized representatives as Investor’s attorney(s) in fact to (a) effect any forfeiture by Investor to the Company of [Item 4 on the Signature Page] Shares pursuant to this Section 4, (b) effect any transfer to the Company of any Shares that are repurchased by the Company pursuant to Section 5 of the Management Investor Rights Agreement (as defined below), and (c) execute such documents as the Company or such representatives deem necessary or advisable in connection with any such transfer or forfeiture.

5. Representations and Warranties of Investor . Investor hereby represents and warrants to the Company as follows:

(a) Investor is a “United States Person” within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Internal Revenue Code, meaning that Investor is a citizen or resident of the United States;

(b) Investor understands that the Shares have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”), and that this sale is being made in reliance on one or more exemptions for private offerings;

(c) The Shares for which Investor hereby subscribes are being acquired solely for Investor’s own account and for investment only. Investor is not purchasing the Shares with a view to or for the resale, distribution, subdivision or fractionalization thereof and Investor has no plans to enter into any contract, undertaking, agreement or arrangement for any such purpose. Investor understands and agrees that the Company shall have no obligation to recognize the ownership, beneficial or otherwise, of such Shares of anyone other than Investor and that no such Shares shall be transferable except upon the conditions set forth in the Management Investor Rights Agreement by and among the Company and its stockholders, dated as of the date of this Agreement, a copy of which previously has been reviewed by Investor with counsel of his choice prior to becoming a party thereto (the “ Management Investor Rights Agreement ”);

(d) Investor (i) has adequate means of providing for Investor’s current needs and possible contingencies, and Investor has no need for liquidity in his investment in the Company, (ii) can bear the economic risk of losing his entire investment in the Company, (iii) has, alone or together with a Purchaser Representative (as defined in Rule 501(h) of the Securities Act), such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters that Investor is capable of evaluating the relative risks and merits of this investment; and (iv) is an “ Accredited Investor ” within the meaning of Section 5(g).

(e) Investor acknowledges that he has been provided with such information as he deems necessary to evaluate the merits and risks of investing in the Shares and has been afforded the opportunity to ask such questions as he deemed necessary, and to receive answers from, representatives of the Company concerning the merits and risk of investing in the Shares;


(f) In making the decision to invest in the Company, Investor has relied solely upon independent investigations made by Investor. No representations or warranties, oral or otherwise, have been made to Investor or any party acting on Investor’s behalf that are inconsistent with the written materials which have been supplied to Investor by the Company.

(g) To qualify as an Accredited Investor, Investor must satisfy at least one of the following alternative criteria:

(i) Investor is a natural person whose individual net worth (or joint net worth with Investor’s spouse) is in excess of $1,000,000 (net worth or joint net worth includes the equity in one’s home); or

(ii) Investor is a natural person whose individual income (not joint income with Investor’s spouse) in each of the prior two years was in excess of $200,000 or whose joint income with Investor’s spouse in each of the prior two years was in excess of $300,000, and who has a reasonable expectation of reaching at least the same income level in the current year; or

(iii) Investor is a trust with total assets in excess of $5,000,000, not formed for the specific purpose of acquiring the Shares, whose purchase is directed by a person with such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters that he or she is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of an investment in the Shares; or

(iv) Investor is one of our directors or executive officers; or

(v) Investor is an entity in which all of the equity owners are Accredited Investors.

6. Transferability . Investor agrees not to transfer or assign this Agreement or any of Investor’s interest in this Agreement or in the Company except as allowed by the terms of the Management Investor Rights Agreement, and further agrees that the assignment and transferability of the Shares acquired pursuant hereto shall be allowed only in accordance with applicable law and the terms of the Management Investor Rights Agreement.

7. Revocation . Investor agrees that Investor will not cancel, terminate or revoke this Agreement or any agreement made in connection with this Agreement.

8. Further Representations and Warranties of Investor .

(a) Authority . Investor has full power, legal right and authority to execute, deliver and perform the terms of this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and no consent of any third party not previously obtained is required to do so. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement have been duly and validly authorized by all requisite action and no other proceedings on the part of Investor are necessary to authorize this


Agreement or to consummate the transactions so contemplated. This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by Investor and, assuming this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the other parties hereto, constitutes a valid and binding agreement of Investor, enforceable against Investor in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws affecting creditors’ rights and remedies generally, and subject, as to enforceability, to general principles of equity, including principles of commercial reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding at law or in equity).

(b) No Conflicts . The execution, delivery and performance by Investor of this Agreement and any other agreement, certificate or document executed by Investor in connection with this Agreement, and the transactions (and the consummation of the transactions) contemplated by this Agreement and any related agreements will not: (i) violate or conflict with any laws, rules or regulations of any government authority having jurisdiction; or (ii) result in the breach of, or constitute a default (with or without notice or lapse of time, or both) under, or require any consent under, any provision of (x) any debt instrument, indenture, mortgage agreement or other instrument or arrangement to which Investor is a party or (y) any judgment, order or decree by which Investor is bound.

9. Representations and Warranties of the Company .

(a) Authority . The Company has full power, legal right and authority to execute, deliver and perform the terms of this Agreement, to issue the Shares in accordance with the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and no consent of any third party not previously obtained is required to do so. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement have been duly and validly authorized by all requisite action and no other proceedings on the part of the Company are necessary to authorize this Agreement or to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by the Company and, assuming this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the other parties hereto, constitutes a valid and binding agreement of the Company, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws affecting creditors’ rights and remedies generally, and subject, as to enforceability, to general principles of equity, including principles of commercial reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding at law or in equity).

(b) No Conflicts . The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement and any other agreement executed by the Company in connection herewith, and the transactions (and the consummation of the transactions) contemplated by this Agreement and any related agreements will not: (i) violate or conflict with any laws, rules or regulations of any government authority having jurisdiction; or (ii) result in the breach of, or constitute a default (with or without notice or lapse of time, or both) under, or require any consent under, any provision of (x) any debt instrument, indenture, mortgage agreement or other instrument or arrangement to which the Company is a party or (y) any judgment, order or decree by which the Company is bound.


(c) Capitalization . After giving effect to the transactions contemplated to take place on the Closing, the capitalization of the Company will be as set forth on Attachment A . Upon issuance, the Shares will be duly authorized and validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

10. Miscellaneous .

(a) All notices or other communications given or made hereunder shall be in writing and shall be delivered or mailed by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, to (i) the Company c/o Apollo Management V, L.P., 9 West 57 th Street, New York, New York 10019, Attention: Marc Becker and (ii) Investor at his home address most recently on file with the Company.

(b) Notwithstanding the place where this Agreement may be executed by any of the parties hereto, the parties expressly agree that all the terms and provisions hereof shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Delaware.

(c) This Agreement, the Management Investor Rights Agreement and the Retention Letter (as defined on the Signature Page ) constitute the entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and may be amended only by a writing executed by all parties.

(d) Whenever required by the context hereof, the singular shall include the plural, and vice-versa. Any gender-specific reference applies to the other gender as context requires.

(e) All covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made herein shall survive the execution and delivery hereof and transfer of any Shares.

11. Legends . All certificates evidencing Shares owned by Investor or its respective transferees permitted hereunder shall in addition to any other legend required by contract or applicable law bear a legend in substance as follows:

THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE BEEN ACQUIRED FOR INVESTMENT AND HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR PURSUANT TO ANY STATE OR BLUE SKY SECURITIES LAWS. THESE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE SOLD OR TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR AN EXEMPTION THEREFROM UNDER SAID ACT OR LAWS. THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE ALSO SUBJECT TO A MANAGEMENT INVESTOR RIGHTS AGREEMENT DATED AS OF [            ] AMONG THE ISSUER OF SUCH SECURITIES (THE “COMPANY”) AND THE OTHER PARTIES NAMED THEREIN. THE TERMS OF SUCH MANAGEMENT INVESTOR RIGHTS AGREEMENT INCLUDE AMONG OTHER THINGS, RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER. A COPY OF SUCH AGREEMENT WILL BE FURNISHED WITHOUT CHARGE BY THE COMPANY TO THE HOLDER HEREOF UPON WRITTEN REQUEST.


SIGNATURE PAGE

 

Investor :                                                             (full name in which ownership of the Shares is to be registered).
Item 1(a) :   Number of Shares to be delivered to Investor at or about the Closing:
Item 1(b) :   Price per Share: $
Item 2 :   Consideration for the Shares: $
Item 3 :   Cash payment, if any, to be received at or about the Closing (before withholding): $
Item 4 :   Shares subject to forfeiture pursuant to Section 4:
Investor’s Social Security Number or other Taxpayer Identification Number:                     

 

INVESTOR
By:  

[See Annex A]

Name:

The foregoing Subscription Agreement is accepted and agreed to by the Company as of the date set forth below.

 

AFFINION GROUP HOLDINGS, INC.
By:  

/s/ Nathaniel J. Lipman

Name:   Nathaniel J. Lipman
Title:   Chief Executive Officer

Date of Acceptance: October 17, 2005


Annex A

 

Investor

   Item 1(a)    Item 1(b)    Item 2    Item 3    Item 4

Robert Rooney

   100,000    $ 10    $ 1,000,000    $ 275,000    38,250

Todd Siegel

   73,200    $ 10    $ 732,000    $ 1,568,000    69,000

Michael Raucher

   50,000    $ 10    $ 500,000    $ 500,000    30,000

Thomas Rusin

   47,600    $ 10    $ 476,000    $ 974,000    43,500

Exhibit 10.16

 

   SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT  (this “ Agreement ”),
dated as of October 17, 2005 between
AFFINION GROUP HOLDINGS, INC., a Delaware Corporation, (the “ Company ”) and NATHANIEL J. LIPMAN (“ Investor ”).

WHEREAS , Investor desires to purchase certain shares of the Company’s common stock; and

WHEREAS , pursuant to the Purchase Agreement made and entered into as of the 26th day of July, 2005, by and among Affinion Group, Inc. (f/k/a Affinity Acquisition, Inc.) (“ Affinity ”), the Company (f/k/a Affinity Acquisition Holdings, Inc.) and Cendant Corporation, the Company will acquire all of the equity interests in Cendant Marketing Group, LLC (formerly Cendant Membership Services Holdings LLC) and Cendant International Holdings Limited (the “ Transaction ”);

WHEREAS , the Company is willing to sell the Company’s common stock to Investor on the terms and conditions provided below.

NOW, THEREFORE , in consideration of the promises and of the mutual covenants contained in this Agreement, the parties hereby agree as follows:

1. Subscription . Investor hereby subscribes for and offers to purchase as of the closing of the Transaction (the “ Closing ”) [Item 1(a) on the Signature Page ] shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share, (the “ Shares ”) at the purchase price of $[Item 1(b) on the Signature Page ] per Share for the aggregate amount indicated in Section 2 of this Agreement.

2. Tender of Consideration . Investor hereby irrevocably tenders this Agreement, and on the Closing will be deemed to pay $[Item 2 on the Signature Page ], by means of a dollar-for-dollar reduction of the Payments payable to Investor under the Retention Letter (as such terms are defined in Section 3), as aggregate consideration for the Shares.

3. Retention Letter . Investor is a party to a letter agreement with Cendant Marketing Group, LLC or its affiliate, as amended through June 28, 2005 (the “ Retention Letter ”). Notwithstanding the timing of the payments set forth in the Retention Letter (the “ Payments ”), Investor hereby acknowledges that:

(a) Investor will receive, on or about the Closing, [Item 1(a) on the Signature Page ] Shares, representing a portion of the Payments equal to $[Item 2 on the Signature Page ]);

(b) Investor will receive, on or about the Closing, an amount of the Payments in cash equal to $[Item 3 on the Signature Page ];

(c) all amounts payable to Investor are subject to applicable withholding.


4. Risk of Forfeiture . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, consistent with the Retention Letter, to the extent Investor’s employment with the Company terminates for Cause (as defined in Investor’s employment agreement with Affinity dated as of July 26, 2005) or due to Investor’s resignation prior to the first anniversary of the Closing, Investor shall immediately forfeit to the Company [Item 4 on the Signature Page] Shares, and the Company may reflect any such forfeiture on its share records without any further action required by Investor. Investor, upon purchasing the Shares, shall be deemed to appoint, and does so appoint by execution of this Agreement, the Company and each of its authorized representatives as Investor’s attorney(s) in fact to (a) effect any forfeiture by Investor to the Company of [Item 4 on the Signature Page] Shares pursuant to this Section 4, (b) effect any transfer to the Company of any Shares that are repurchased by the Company pursuant to Section 5 of the Management Investor Rights Agreement (as defined below), and (c) execute such documents as the Company or such representatives deem necessary or advisable in connection with any such transfer or forfeiture.

5. Representations and Warranties of Investor . Investor hereby represents and warrants to the Company as follows:

(a) Investor is a “United States Person” within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Internal Revenue Code, meaning that Investor is a citizen or resident of the United States;

(b) Investor understands that the Shares have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”), and that this sale is being made in reliance on one or more exemptions for private offerings;

(c) The Shares for which Investor hereby subscribes are being acquired solely for Investor’s own account and for investment only. Investor is not purchasing the Shares with a view to or for the resale, distribution, subdivision or fractionalization thereof and Investor has no plans to enter into any contract, undertaking, agreement or arrangement for any such purpose. Investor understands and agrees that the Company shall have no obligation to recognize the ownership, beneficial or otherwise, of such Shares of anyone other than Investor and that no such Shares shall be transferable except upon the conditions set forth in the Management Investor Rights Agreement by and among the Company and its stockholders, dated as of the date of this Agreement, a copy of which previously has been reviewed by Investor with counsel of his choice prior to becoming a party thereto (the “ Management Investor Rights Agreement ”);

(d) Investor (i) has adequate means of providing for Investor’s current needs and possible contingencies, and Investor has no need for liquidity in his investment in the Company, (ii) can bear the economic risk of losing his entire investment in the Company, (iii) has, alone or together with a Purchaser Representative (as defined in Rule 501(h) of the Securities Act), such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters that Investor is capable of evaluating the relative risks and merits of this investment; and (iv) is an “ Accredited Investor ” within the meaning of Section 5(g).

(e) Investor acknowledges that he has been provided with such information as he deems necessary to evaluate the merits and risks of investing in the Shares and has been

 

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afforded the opportunity to ask such questions as he deemed necessary, and to receive answers from, representatives of the Company concerning the merits and risk of investing in the Shares;

(f) In making the decision to invest in the Company, Investor has relied solely upon independent investigations made by Investor. No representations or warranties, oral or otherwise, have been made to Investor or any party acting on Investor’s behalf that are inconsistent with the written materials which have been supplied to Investor by the Company.

(g) To qualify as an Accredited Investor, Investor must satisfy at least one of the following alternative criteria:

(i) Investor is a natural person whose individual net worth (or joint net worth with Investor’s spouse) is in excess of $1,000,000 (net worth or joint net worth includes the equity in one’s home); or

(ii) Investor is a natural person whose individual income (not joint income with Investor’s spouse) in each of the prior two years was in excess of $200,000 or whose joint income with Investor’s spouse in each of the prior two years was in excess of $300,000, and who has a reasonable expectation of reaching at least the same income level in the current year; or

(iii) Investor is a trust with total assets in excess of $5,000,000, not formed for the specific purpose of acquiring the Shares, whose purchase is directed by a person with such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters that he or she is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of an investment in the Shares; or

(iv) Investor is one of our directors or executive officers; or

(v) Investor is an entity in which all of the equity owners are Accredited Investors.

6. Transferability . Investor agrees not to transfer or assign this Agreement or any of Investor’s interest in this Agreement or in the Company except as allowed by the terms of the Management Investor Rights Agreement, and further agrees that the assignment and transferability of the Shares acquired pursuant hereto shall be allowed only in accordance with applicable law and the terms of the Management Investor Rights Agreement.

7. Revocation . Investor agrees that Investor will not cancel, terminate or revoke this Agreement or any agreement made in connection with this Agreement.

8. Further Representations and Warranties of Investor .

(a) Authority . Investor has full power, legal right and authority to execute, deliver and perform the terms of this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and no consent of any third party not previously obtained is required to do so. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement have been duly and validly authorized by all requisite action and no other proceedings on the part of Investor are necessary to authorize this

 

3


Agreement or to consummate the transactions so contemplated. This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by Investor and, assuming this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the other parties hereto, constitutes a valid and binding agreement of Investor, enforceable against Investor in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws affecting creditors’ rights and remedies generally, and subject, as to enforceability, to general principles of equity, including principles of commercial reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding at law or in equity).

(b) No Conflicts . The execution, delivery and performance by Investor of this Agreement and any other agreement, certificate or document executed by Investor in connection with this Agreement, and the transactions (and the consummation of the transactions) contemplated by this Agreement and any related agreements will not: (i) violate or conflict with any laws, rules or regulations of any government authority having jurisdiction; or (ii) result in the breach of, or constitute a default (with or without notice or lapse of time, or both) under, or require any consent under, any provision of (x) any debt instrument, indenture, mortgage agreement or other instrument or arrangement to which Investor is a party or (y) any judgment, order or decree by which Investor is bound.

9. Representations and Warranties of the Company .

(a) Authority . The Company has full power, legal right and authority to execute, deliver and perform the terms of this Agreement, to issue the Shares in accordance with the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and no consent of any third party not previously obtained is required to do so. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement have been duly and validly authorized by all requisite action and no other proceedings on the part of the Company are necessary to authorize this Agreement or to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by the Company and, assuming this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the other parties hereto, constitutes a valid and binding agreement of the Company, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws affecting creditors’ rights and remedies generally, and subject, as to enforceability, to general principles of equity, including principles of commercial reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding at law or in equity).

(b) No Conflicts . The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement and any other agreement executed by the Company in connection herewith, and the transactions (and the consummation of the transactions) contemplated by this Agreement and any related agreements will not: (i) violate or conflict with any laws, rules or regulations of any government authority having jurisdiction; or (ii) result in the breach of, or constitute a default (with or without notice or lapse of time, or both) under, or require any consent under, any provision of (x) any debt instrument, indenture, mortgage agreement or other instrument or arrangement to which the Company is a party or (y) any judgment, order or decree by which the Company is bound.

 

4


(c) Capitalization . After giving effect to the transactions contemplated to take place on the Closing, the capitalization of the Company will be as set forth on Attachment A . Upon issuance, the Shares will be duly authorized and validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

10. Miscellaneous .

(a) All notices or other communications given or made hereunder shall be in writing and shall be delivered or mailed by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, to (i) the Company c/o Apollo Management V, L.P., 9 West 57 th Street, New York, New York 10019, Attention: Marc Becker and (ii) Investor at his home address most recently on file with the Company.

(b) Notwithstanding the place where this Agreement may be executed by any of the parties hereto, the parties expressly agree that all the terms and provisions hereof shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Delaware.

(c) This Agreement, the Management Investor Rights Agreement and the Retention Letter (as defined on the Signature Page ) constitute the entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and may be amended only by a writing executed by all parties.

(d) Whenever required by the context hereof, the singular shall include the plural, and vice-versa. Any gender-specific reference applies to the other gender as context requires.

(e) All covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made herein shall survive the execution and delivery hereof and transfer of any Shares.

11. Legends . All certificates evidencing Shares owned by Investor or its respective transferees permitted hereunder shall in addition to any other legend required by contract or applicable law bear a legend in substance as follows:

THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE BEEN ACQUIRED FOR INVESTMENT AND HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR PURSUANT TO ANY STATE OR BLUE SKY SECURITIES LAWS. THESE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE SOLD OR TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR AN EXEMPTION THEREFROM UNDER SAID ACT OR LAWS. THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE ALSO SUBJECT TO A MANAGEMENT INVESTOR RIGHTS AGREEMENT DATED AS OF [            ] AMONG THE ISSUER OF SUCH SECURITIES (THE “COMPANY”) AND THE OTHER PARTIES NAMED THEREIN. THE TERMS OF SUCH MANAGEMENT INVESTOR RIGHTS AGREEMENT INCLUDE AMONG OTHER THINGS, RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER. A COPY OF SUCH AGREEMENT WILL BE FURNISHED WITHOUT CHARGE BY THE COMPANY TO THE HOLDER HEREOF UPON WRITTEN REQUEST.

 

5


SIGNATURE PAGE

Investor: Nathaniel J. Lipman (full name in which ownership of the Shares is to be registered)

 

Item 1(a): Number of Shares to be delivered to Investor at or about the Closing: 205,000

 

Item 1(b): Price per Share: $10

 

Item 2: Consideration for the Shares: $2,050,000

 

Item 3: Cash payment to be received at or about the Closing (before withholding): $3,050,000

 

Item 4: Shares subject to forfeiture pursuant to Section 4: 153,000

Investor’s Social Security Number or other Taxpayer Identification Number:

 

INVESTOR

By:  

/s/ Nathaniel J. Lipman

Name:

 

Nathaniel J. Lipman

The foregoing Subscription Agreement is accepted and agreed to by the Company as of the date set forth below.

 

AFFINION GROUP HOLDINGS, INC.

By:  

/s/ Robert G. Rooney

Name:

 

Robert G. Rooney

Title:

 

Executive Vice President

Date of Acceptance by the Company: _____________, 2005

 

6


ATTACHMENT A

[TO COME]

Exhibit 10.17

 

     SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”), dated as of January 2, 2006 between AFFINION GROUP HOLDINGS, INC ., a Delaware Corporation, (the “ Company ”) and MAUREEN O’CONNELL (“ Investor ”).

WHEREAS , Investor has entered into an Employment Agreement dated as of December 1, 2005 with Affinion Group, Inc.;

WHEREAS , Investor desires to purchase certain shares of the Company’s common stock; and

WHEREAS , the Company is willing to sell the Company’s common stock to Investor on the terms and conditions provided below.

NOW, THEREFORE , in consideration of the promises and of the mutual covenants contained in this Agreement, the parties hereby agree as follows.

1. Subscription . Investor hereby subscribes for and offers to purchase 25,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share, (the “ Shares ”) at the purchase price of $10 per Share for the aggregate amount indicated in Section 2 of this Agreement.

2. Tender of Consideration . Investor hereby irrevocably tenders this Agreement, and agrees to pay $250,000 in immediately available funds as aggregate consideration for the Shares.

3. Representations and Warranties of Investor . Investor hereby represents and warrants to the Company as follows:

(a) Investor is a “United States Person” within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Internal Revenue Code, meaning that Investor is a citizen or resident of the United States;

(b) Investor understands that the Shares have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”), and that this sale is being made in reliance on one or more exemptions for private offerings;

(c) The Shares for which Investor hereby subscribes are being acquired solely for Investor’s own account and for investment only. Investor is not purchasing the Shares with a view to or for the resale, distribution, subdivision or fractionalization thereof and Investor has no plans to enter into any contract, undertaking, agreement or arrangement for any such purpose. Investor understands and agrees that the Company shall have no obligation to recognize the ownership, beneficial or otherwise, of such Shares of anyone other than Investor and that no such Shares shall be transferable except upon the conditions set forth in the Management Investor Rights Agreement by and among the Company and its stockholders, dated as of October 17, 2005, a copy of which previously has been reviewed by Investor with counsel of her choice prior to becoming a party thereto (the “ Management Investor Rights Agreement ”);


(d) Investor (i) has adequate means of providing for Investor’s current needs and possible contingencies, and Investor has no need for liquidity in her investment in the Company, (ii) can bear the economic risk of losing her entire investment in the Company, (iii) has, alone or together with a Purchaser Representative (as defined in Rule 501(h) of the Securities Act), such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters that Investor is capable of evaluating the relative risks and merits of this investment; and (iv) is an “ Accredited Investor ” within the meaning of Section 5(i).

(e) Investor acknowledges that she has been provided with such information as she deems necessary to evaluate the merits and risks of investing in the Shares and has been afforded the opportunity to ask such questions as she deemed necessary, and to receive answers from, representatives of the Company concerning the merits and risk of investing in the Shares;

(f) In making the decision to invest in the Company, Investor has relied solely upon independent investigations made by Investor. No representations or warranties, oral or otherwise, have been made to Investor or any party acting on Investor’s behalf that are inconsistent with the written materials which have been supplied to Investor by the Company;

(g) Investor understands that the Shares cannot be sold unless (i) registered or qualified under the Securities Act or applicable state securities laws or (ii) an exemption from such registration or qualification is available; and

(h) Investor understands that the Company will rely upon the accuracy and truth of the representations and warranties made by Investor herein and Investor consents to such reliance.

(i) To qualify as an Accredited Investor, Investor must satisfy at least one of the following alternative criteria:

(i) Investor is a natural person whose individual net worth (or joint net worth with Investor’s spouse) is in excess of $1,000,000 (net worth or joint net worth includes the equity in one’s home); or

(ii) Investor is a natural person whose individual income (not joint income with Investor’s spouse) in each of the prior two years was in excess of $200,000 or whose joint income with Investor’s spouse in each of the prior two years was in excess of $300,000, and who has a reasonable expectation of reaching at least the same income level in the current year; or

(iii) Investor is a trust with total assets in excess of $5,000,000, not formed for the specific purpose of acquiring the Shares, whose purchase is directed by a person with such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters that she is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of an investment in the Shares; or

(iv) Investor is one of our directors or executive officers; or

 

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(v) Investor is an entity in which all of the equity owners are Accredited Investors.

4. Transferability . Investor agrees not to transfer or assign this Agreement or any of Investor’s interest in this Agreement or in the Company except as allowed by the terms of the Management Investor Rights Agreement, and further agrees that the assignment and transferability of the Shares acquired pursuant hereto shall be allowed only in accordance with applicable law and the terms of the Management Investor Rights Agreement.

5. Revocation . Investor agrees that Investor will not cancel, terminate or revoke this Agreement or any agreement made in connection with this Agreement.

6. Further Representations and Warranties of Investor .

(a) Authority . Investor has full power, legal right and authority to execute, deliver and perform the terms of this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and no consent of any third party not previously obtained is required to do so. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement have been duly and validly authorized by all requisite action and no other proceedings on the part of Investor are necessary to authorize this Agreement or to consummate the transactions so contemplated. This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by Investor and, assuming this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the other parties hereto, constitutes a valid and binding agreement of Investor, enforceable against Investor in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws affecting creditors’ rights and remedies generally, and subject, as to enforceability, to general principles of equity, including principles of commercial reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding at law or in equity).

(b) No Conflicts . The execution, delivery and performance by Investor of this Agreement and any other agreement, certificate or document executed by Investor in connection with this Agreement, and the transactions (and the consummation of the transactions) contemplated by this Agreement and any related agreements will not: (i) violate or conflict with any laws, rules or regulations of any government authority having jurisdiction; or (ii) result in the breach of, or constitute a default (with or without notice or lapse of time, or both) under, or require any consent under, any provision of (x) any debt instrument, indenture, mortgage agreement or other instrument or arrangement to which Investor is a party or (y) any judgment, order or decree by which Investor is bound.

7. Representations and Warranties of the Company .

(a) Authority . The Company has full power, legal right and authority to execute, deliver and perform the terms of this Agreement, to issue the Shares in accordance with the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and no consent of any third party not previously obtained is required to do so. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement have been duly and validly authorized by all

 

3


requisite action and no other proceedings on the part of the Company are necessary to authorize this Agreement or to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by the Company and, assuming this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the other parties hereto, constitutes a valid and binding agreement of the Company, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws affecting creditors’ rights and remedies generally, and subject, as to enforceability, to general principles of equity, including principles of commercial reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding at law or in equity).

(b) No Conflicts . The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement and any other agreement executed by the Company in connection herewith, and the transactions (and the consummation of the transactions) contemplated by this Agreement and any related agreements will not: (i) violate or conflict with any laws, rules or regulations of any government authority having jurisdiction; or (ii) result in the breach of, or constitute a default (with or without notice or lapse of time, or both) under, or require any consent under, any provision of (x) any debt instrument, indenture, mortgage agreement or other instrument or arrangement to which the Company is a party or (y) any judgment, order or decree by which the Company is bound.

(c) Capitalization . The capitalization of the Company in effect as of November 16, 2005 is as set forth on Attachment A . Upon issuance, the Shares will be duly authorized and validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

8. Miscellaneous .

(a) All notices or other communications given or made hereunder shall be in writing and shall be delivered or mailed by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, to (i) the Company c/o Apollo Management V, L.P., 9 West 57 th Street, New York, New York 10019, Attention: Marc Becker and (ii) Investor at her home address most recently on file with the Company.

(b) Notwithstanding the place where this Agreement may be executed by any of the parties hereto, the parties expressly agree that all the terms and provisions hereof shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Delaware.

(c) Nothing in this Agreement shall confer upon Investor any right to continue as an employee of, or other service provider to, the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates or interfere in any way with the right of the Company, its subsidiaries or its affiliates, as the case may be, in its sole discretion, to terminate Investor’s employment or service relationship or to increase or decrease Investor’s compensation at any time. Nothing in this Agreement shall entitle Investor to participate in any future offering of Shares or to participate in any particular compensation program.

 

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(d) This Agreement and the Management Investor Rights Agreement constitute the entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and may be amended only by a writing executed by all parties.

(e) Whenever required by the context hereof, the singular shall include the plural, and vice-versa. Any gender-specific reference applies to the other gender as context requires.

(f) All covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made herein shall survive the execution and delivery hereof and transfer of any Shares.

9. Legends . All certificates evidencing Shares owned by Investor or its respective transferees permitted hereunder shall in addition to any other legend required by contract or applicable law bear a legend in substance as follows:

THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE BEEN ACQUIRED FOR INVESTMENT AND HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR PURSUANT TO ANY STATE OR BLUE SKY SECURITIES LAWS. THESE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE SOLD OR TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR AN EXEMPTION THEREFROM UNDER SAID ACT OR LAWS. THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE ALSO SUBJECT TO A MANAGEMENT INVESTOR RIGHTS AGREEMENT DATED AS OF OCTOBER 17, 2005, AS MAY BE AMENDED, RESTATED OR SUPPLEMENTED FROM TIME TO TIME, AMONG THE ISSUER OF SUCH SECURITIES (THE “COMPANY”) AND THE OTHER PARTIES NAMED THEREIN. THE TERMS OF SUCH MANAGEMENT INVESTOR RIGHTS AGREEMENT INCLUDE AMONG OTHER THINGS, RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER. A COPY OF SUCH AGREEMENT WILL BE FURNISHED WITHOUT CHARGE BY THE COMPANY TO THE HOLDER HEREOF UPON WRITTEN REQUEST.

 

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SIGNATURE PAGE

 

Investor:   Maureen O’Connell (full name in which ownership of the Shares is to be registered).
Item 1(a):   Number of Shares to be delivered to Investor: 25,000
Item 1(b):   Price per Share: $10.00
Item 2:   Consideration for the Shares: $250,000
Investor’s Social Security Number or other Taxpayer Identification Number:                     

 

INVESTOR
By:  

/s/ Maureen O’Connell

Name:   Maureen O’Connell

The foregoing Subscription Agreement is accepted and agreed to by the Company as of the date set forth below.

 

AFFINION GROUP HOLDINGS, INC.
By:  

/s/ Nathaniel J. Lipman

Name:   Nathaniel J. Lipman
Title:   Chief Executive Officer

Date of Acceptance:                      , 2006

 

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ATTACHMENT A

Affinion Group Holdings, Inc.

CAPITALIZATION AS OF NOVEMBER 16, 2005

 

Authorized Shares

  

Common

     50,000,000

Preferred

     1,000,000
      

Total Authorized

     51,000,000

Price per share of Common Stock:

   $ 10.00

 

     Preferred    Common

Owner

     

Affinion Group Holdings, LLC

      27,500,000

Cendant Corporation

   125,000   

Management

      936,850
         

TOTAL

   125,000.00    28,436,850
         

 

7

Exhibit 10.18

September 28, 2005

Dear Officer,

As you know, we are very close to closing the transaction involving the sale of the Cendant Marketing Services Division (“Cendant MSD”) to an affiliate of Apollo Management, L.P. We are pleased to notify you, at this time, that Cendant has carefully considered your individual contribution and in consideration for you continuing your efforts to consummate the transaction, Cendant has decided to give you a special bonus payment of $[              ]. This amount shall be payable to you in cash, subject to any applicable withholding taxes, no later than April 15, 2006. You will not receive the payment if, prior to the payment date, your employment with Cendant MSD (or, following the transaction, the successor entity to Cendant MSD) terminates for any reason.

This letter does not affect any party’s rights and obligations under the letter agreement, dated January 10, 2005, between Cendant MSD and you, and amended on June 28, 2005 (the “Bonus Agreement”). Accordingly, you shall continue to be entitled to any payments that may become due under the Bonus Agreement in accordance with the terms of such agreement.

On behalf of myself and the rest of Cendant’s senior management team, thank you for your continued focus and performance.

Good luck and best regards,

 

/s/ Thomas D. Christopoul

Thomas D. Christopoul
Chairman
Cendant Marketing Services Division

cc: Mary C. Rusterholz

[See Annex A]


Annex A

 

Officer

   Special Bonus Payment

Nathaniel Lipman

   $ 410,000.00

Todd Siegel

   $ 100,000.00

Michael Rauscher

   $ 100,000.00

Robert Rooney

   $ 125,000.00

Thomas Rusin

   $ 100,000.00

Exhibit 10.19

 

  EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”) dated as of October 17, 2005, between AFFINION GROUP, INC.
(f/k/a Affinity Acquisition, Inc.), a Delaware corporation,
(the “ Company ”) and NATHANIEL J. LIPMAN (“ Executive ”).

WHEREAS , pursuant to Purchase Agreement (the “ Purchase Agreement ”) made and entered into as of the 26th day of July, 2005, by and among the Company, Affinion Group Holdings, Inc. (f/k/a Affinity Acquisition Holdings, Inc.) (“ Parent ”), and Cendant Corporation, the Company will acquire (the “ Transaction ”) all of the equity interests in Cendant Marketing Group, LLC (formerly Cendant Membership Services Holdings LLC) and Cendant International Holdings Limited (together, the “ Subsidiaries ”);

WHEREAS , concurrently with the execution of the Purchase Agreement, as a condition and inducement to Parent’s willingness to enter into the Purchase Agreement, the Company and Executive are entering into this Agreement;

WHEREAS, in connection with the Transaction, the Company desires to employ Executive and Executive desires to be employed by the Company;

WHEREAS , Cendant Membership Services Holdings, LLC and Executive are parties to that certain employment agreement dated as of January 1, 2005, as such employment agreement has been amended or supplemented through the Effective Date (as defined in Section 1) (the “ Prior Agreement ”); and

WHEREAS , Executive, as a condition of his employment, will make a substantial investment in Parent concurrently with the closing of the Transaction by purchasing 205,000 shares of common stock of Parent, par value $0.01, at a price of $10 per share;

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

Section 1. Employment Period .

The initial term of Executive’s employment hereunder shall be for a period of five (5) years (the “ Initial Term ”) commencing on the closing of the Transaction (the “ Effective Date ”) and ending on the fifth anniversary of the Effective Date, unless terminated earlier pursuant to Section 3 (the “ Employment Period ”); provided, however, that the Employment Period shall automatically be renewed for successive one (1) year terms upon the Expiration of the Initial Term unless either party gives at least ninety (90) days’ written notice of its intention not to renew the Employment Period. Upon Executive’s termination of employment with the Company for any reason, he shall immediately resign all positions with the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates, including any position as a member of the Parent’s Board of Directors and a member of the Company’s Board of Directors (the “ Board ”).


Section 2. Terms of Employment .

(a) Position . During the term of Executive’s employment, Executive shall serve as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and shall be responsible for the management and affairs of the Company as directed by the Board. In addition to serving as President and Chief Executive Officer, prior to an initial public offering of the Parent’s common stock, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause Executive to be appointed a member of the Parent’s Board of Directors and the Board. Following an initial public offering of the Parent’s common stock, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Parent to nominate and recommend Executive to the Parent’s shareholders for election as a member of the Parent’s Board of Directors, and continue to use its reasonable best efforts to cause Executive to be appointed or elected a member of the Board. In performing his duties hereunder, Executive shall report directly to the Board.

(b) Duties . During the term of Executive’s employment, Executive agrees to devote all of his business time to the business and affairs of the Company and to use Executive’s reasonable best efforts to perform faithfully, effectively and efficiently his responsibilities and obligations hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall prohibit Executive from (i) serving on civic or charitable boards or committees and (ii) managing personal investments, so long as such activities do not materially interfere with the performance of Executive’s responsibilities hereunder.

(c) Compensation .

(i) Base Salary . During the term of Executive’s employment, Executive shall receive an initial annual base salary in an amount equal to $450,000.00, less all applicable withholdings, which shall be paid in accordance with the customary payroll practices of the Company (as in effect from time to time, the “ Annual Base Salary ”). The Annual Base Salary shall be subject to annual review and increases, and the Annual Base Salary shall not be reduced without Executive’s consent, unless the reduction is related to a broader compensation reduction that is not limited to Executive and does not exceed 10% of his Annual Base Salary.

(ii) Bonuses . For fiscal year 2005, Executive shall be eligible to receive a bonus pursuant to the bonus plan as in existence prior to the Effective Date in an amount to be determined by the Board in good faith. Thereafter, during the Employment Period, the Company shall establish a bonus plan for each fiscal year (the “ Plan ”) pursuant to which Executive will be eligible to receive an annual bonus (the “ Bonus ”). The Board or the Compensation Committee of the Board will administer the Plan and establish performance objectives for each year. In the event that the Company achieves target based on actual performance, Executive shall be entitled to receive a Bonus in an amount equal to 125% of Executive’s Annual Base Salary (“ Target Bonus ”). Subject to Section 4, Executive will be entitled to receive the Bonus only upon the Company’s achievement of the specified performance objectives and if Executive is employed on the last day of the applicable fiscal year. The Bonus shall become payable on or before March 15 following the end of the applicable fiscal year provided that the Board or Compensation Committee finally determines (x) that the Company has achieved the applicable performance objectives and (y) the amount of the bonus that shall be paid to each executive entitled to receive a bonus for the applicable fiscal year. If

 

2


the Board or Compensation Committee has not made such final determination by March 15, the Bonus (if any) shall instead be paid as soon as practicable thereafter.

(iii) Benefits . During the term of Executive’s employment hereunder, he shall be entitled to participate in all incentive, savings and retirement plans, practices, policies and programs applicable generally to other senior executives of the Company and shall be eligible for participation in and shall receive all benefits under welfare benefit plans, practices, policies and programs provided by the Company to the extent applicable generally to other senior executives of the Company. The benefits provided to Executive shall be, in the aggregate, comparable to those benefits that Executive was receiving at Cendant Membership Services Holdings, LLC immediately prior to the Effective Date. Notwithstanding anything in this Section 2(c)(iii) to the contrary, all benefit obligations are subject to guidance issued by the U.S. Department of Treasury under Section 409A of the Code. To the extent required, the Company may modify the benefits provided under this Section 2(c)(iii) to comply with such guidance.

(iv) Expenses . During the term of Executive’s employment, Executive shall be entitled to receive reimbursement for all reasonable business expenses incurred by Executive in performance of his duties hereunder provided that Executive provides all necessary documentation in accordance with Company policy.

(v) Stock Options . Concurrent with the closing of the Transaction, Parent shall grant Executive a stock option (the “ Option Grant ”) to purchase Parent’s common stock, par value $ 0.01, at an exercise price of $10 per share. The Option Grant will be pursuant to the terms and conditions set forth in the Parent’s 2005 Stock Incentive Plan (the “ Stock Incentive Plan ”) and will be subject to the terms of the Stock Incentive Plan and Executive’s option agreement associated with the Option Grant (the “ Option Agreement ”). The Option Grant will be for options to purchase 578,000 shares of the Parent’s common stock and will be exercisable for a maximum of ten years subject to the vesting, termination and other terms set forth in the Option Agreement.

(vi) Restricted Stock . Concurrent with the closing of the Transaction, Parent shall grant Executive a grant (the “ Restricted Stock Grant ”) of restricted shares of Parent’s common stock, par value $ 0.01 (“ Restricted Shares ”). The Restricted Stock Grant will be pursuant to the terms and conditions set forth in the Parent’s 2005 Stock Incentive Plan (the “ Stock Incentive Plan ”) and will be subject to the terms of the Stock Incentive Plan and the restricted stock agreement evidencing such grant (the “ Restricted Stock Agreement ”). The Restricted Stock Grant will be comprised of 50,000 Restricted Shares and shall be subject to the vesting, termination and other terms set forth in the Restricted Stock Agreement.

(vii) Investment . Concurrent with the closing of the Transaction, Executive shall purchase 205,000 shares of the Parent’s common stock, par value $0.01, at a price of $10 per share.

Section 3. Termination of Employment .

(a) Death or Disability . Executive’s employment shall terminate automatically upon Executive’s death. If Executive becomes subject to a Disability during the

 

3


Term of Employment (pursuant to the definition of Disability set forth below), the Company may give Executive written notice in accordance with Sections 3(e) and 10(h) of its intention to terminate Executive’s employment. For purposes of this Agreement, “ Disability ” means (i) Executive’s inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months, or (ii) Executive is, by reason of any medically determinable physical of mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months, receiving income replacement benefits for a period of not less than three months under an accident or health plan covering employees of the Company.

(b) Cause . Executive’s employment may be terminated at any time by the Company for Cause. For purposes of this Agreement, “ Cause ” shall mean Executive’s (i) conviction of a felony or a crime of moral turpitude; (ii) conduct that constitutes fraud or embezzlement; (iii) willful misconduct or willful gross neglect; (iv) continued willful failure to substantially perform his duties as President and Chief Executive Officer; or (v) a material breach by Executive of this Agreement; provided that in the event of a termination pursuant to clause (iv) or (v), to the extent such failure to perform duties or material breach is subject to cure, the Company shall have notified Executive in writing describing such failure to perform duties or material breach and Executive shall have failed to cure such failure to perform or breach within 30 days after his receipt of such written notice.

(c) Termination Without Cause . The Company may terminate Executive’s employment hereunder without Cause at any time.

(d) Good Reason . Executive’s employment may be terminated at any time by Executive for Good Reason or without Good Reason upon 90 days’ prior written notice, provided, in the case of a termination for Good Reason, that Executive provides such notice within 60 days after the occurrence of the event giving rise to the termination for Good Reason. For purposes of this Agreement, “ Good Reason ” means voluntary resignation after any of the following actions taken by the Company or any of its subsidiaries without Executive’s consent: (i) prior to an initial public offering of the Parent’s common stock, removal from, or failure to be elected or re-elected to, the Parent’s Board of Directors, or prior to an initial public offering of the Company’s common stock, removal from, or failure to be elected or re-elected to, the Board; (ii) following an initial public offering of the Parent’s common stock, failure of Executive to be nominated and recommended by Parent for election to the Parent’s Board of Directors, or following an initial public offering of the Company’s common stock, failure of Executive to be nominated and recommended by the Company for election to the Board; (iii) any material failure of the Company to fulfill its obligations under this Agreement, (iv) a material and adverse change to, or a material reduction of, Executive’s duties and responsibilities to the Company, (v) a reduction in Executive’s Annual Base Salary and Target Bonus (not including any diminution related to a broader compensation reduction that is not limited to Executive specifically and that is not more than 10% in the aggregate) or (vi) the relocation of Executive’s primary office to a location more than 35 miles from the prior location; provided that in the event of a termination pursuant to clause (iii) or (iv), to the extent such failure, change or reduction is subject to cure, the Company shall have failed to cure such failure, change or reduction within 30 days after its receipt of Executive’s written notice.

 

4


(e) Notice of Termination . Any termination by the Company for Cause or without Cause, or by Executive for Good Reason or without Good Reason, shall be communicated by Notice of Termination to the other party hereto given in accordance with Section 10(h). For purposes of this Agreement, a “ Notice of Termination ” means a written notice that (i) indicates the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon, (ii) to the extent applicable, sets forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of Executive’s employment under the provision so indicated and (iii) if the Date of Termination (as defined below) is other than the date of receipt of such notice, specifies the termination date. The failure by Executive or the Company to set forth in the Notice of Termination any fact or circumstance that contributes to a showing of Good Reason or Cause shall not waive any right of Executive or the Company hereunder or preclude Executive or the Company from asserting such fact or circumstance in enforcing Executive’s or the Company’s rights hereunder.

(f) Date of Termination . “ Date of Termination ” means (i) if Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company for Cause, without Cause or by reason of Disability, or by Executive for Good Reason or without Good Reason, the date of receipt of the Notice of Termination (in the case of a termination with or without Good Reason, provided such notice is in accordance with Section 3(d)) or any later date specified therein pursuant to Section 3(e), as the case may be and (ii) if Executive’s employment is terminated by reason of death, the date of death.

Section 4. Obligations of the Company upon Termination; Repurchase Rights .

(a) With Good Reason; Without Cause . If during the Employment Period, the Company shall terminate Executive’s employment without Cause or Executive shall terminate his employment for Good Reason, then the Company will provide Executive with the following severance payments and/or benefits:

(i) The Company shall pay to Executive in a lump sum, to the extent not previously paid, (i) the Annual Base Salary through the Date of Termination, and (ii) the Bonus earned for any fiscal year ended prior to the year in which the Date of Termination occurs, provided that Executive was employed on the last day of such year (“ Accrued Obligations ”); and

(ii) After the Date of Termination, the Company will pay Executive, in eight quarterly installments commencing as of the Date of Termination, an aggregate sum of 200% of Executive’s Annual Base Salary and Target Bonus.

In addition, if such termination occurs prior to an initial public offering of the Parent’s common stock, the Company shall appoint Executive to serve as an observer at all meetings of the Board and Parent’s Board of Directors (other than meetings of a committee thereof) until the earliest to occur of (w) an initial public offering of Parent’s common stock, (x) Executive’s engaging in behavior that would constitute a basis for a “Cause” termination had he remained employed by the Company, (y) Executive’s disposition of stock such that he no longer owns at least 1% of the shares of capital stock of the Company, and (z) a sale of all or substantially all of the Company’s or Parent’s shares of capital stock to an Independent Third Party, or an Asset Sale (as such terms

 

5


are used in the Management Investor Rights Agreement). Thereafter, the Company shall have no further obligation to Executive or his legal representatives.

(b) Death or Disability . If Executive’s employment shall be terminated by reason of Executive’s death or Disability, then the Company will provide Executive with the following severance payments and/or benefits: The Company shall pay Executive or his legal representatives (A) the Accrued Obligations; (B) a lump sum equal to 100% of Executive’s Annual Base Salary in the event his employment is terminated by reason of his Disability or death; and (C) the continuance of death or Disability benefits thereafter in accordance with the terms of such plans then in effect.

Thereafter, the Company shall have no further obligation to Executive or his legal representatives.

(c) Cause; Other than for Good Reason .

(i) If Executive’s employment shall be terminated by the Company for Cause or by Executive without Good Reason, then the Company shall have no further payment obligations to Executive other than for payment of the Accrued Obligations. Thereafter, the Company shall have no further obligation to Executive other than any indemnification rights he may have pursuant to Section 9.

(ii) If Executive’s employment shall be terminated by the Company for Cause, then the Company or its designee shall have the right, but not the obligation, to repurchase all or any portion of the shares of common stock of Parent held by Executive (including any shares of Parent’s common stock received upon a distribution from any deferred compensation plan, any Restricted Shares or any common stock issuable upon exercise of any options held by Executive) in accordance with the provisions of the Management Investor Rights Agreement dated as of the date hereof (the “ Management Investor Rights Agreement ”). The Company (or its designee) shall have the right to record the transfer of the shares of Parent’s common stock in connection with such purchase on its books and records without the consent of Executive.

(d) Company Repurchase Right . In the event of Executive’s death or his termination of employment for any reason other than Cause, the Company (or its designee) may, by written notice following such employment termination, elect to purchase all or any portion of the shares of common stock of Parent held by Executive (including any shares of the Parent’s common stock received upon a distribution from any deferred compensation plan, any Restricted Shares or any common stock issuable upon exercise of any options held by Executive) for Fair Market Value (as each such term is defined in the Management Investor Rights Agreement). The determination date for purposes of determining the Fair Market Value shall be the closing date of the purchase of the applicable shares. The closing date of the sale purchase pursuant to this Section 4(d) shall take place on a date designated by the Company or its designee, as applicable, in accordance with the provisions of the Management Investor Rights Agreement.

(e) Separation Agreement and General Release . The Company’s obligations to make payments under Sections 4(a) and 4(b) are conditioned on Executive’s or his legal representative’s executing a separation agreement and general release of claims against the

 

6


Company and its affiliates (and their officers and directors) in a form reasonably acceptable to the Company.

Section 5. Restrictive Covenants .

Executive shall be subject to the restrictive covenants set forth in Section 7 of the Management Investor Rights Agreement in accordance with its terms.

Section 6. Non-Disparagement .

(a) During the period commencing on the Effective Date and continuing until the third anniversary of the Date of Termination, neither Executive nor his agents, on the one hand, nor the Company formally, its senior executives, or a member of the Board, on the other hand, shall directly or indirectly issue or communicate any public statement, or statement likely to become public, that maligns, denigrates or disparages the other (including, in the case of communications by Executive or his agents, any of the Company’s officers, directors or employees). The foregoing shall not be violated by truthful responses to legal process or governmental inquiry.

Section 7. Severance Payments .

In addition to the foregoing, and not in any way in limitation of any right or remedy otherwise available to the Company, if Executive violates any provision of Section 7 of the Management Investor Rights Agreement or Section 6 hereof, any severance payments then or thereafter due from the Company to Executive shall be terminated immediately and the Company’s obligation to pay and Executive’s right to receive such severance payments shall terminate and be of no further force or effect.

Section 8. Executive’s Representations, Warranties and Covenants .

(a) Executive hereby represents and warrants to the Company and the Subsidiaries that:

(1) Executive has all requisite power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, and this Agreement has been duly executed by Executive;

(2) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by Executive does not and will not, with or without notice or the passage of time, conflict with, breach, violate or cause a default under any agreement, contract or instrument to which Executive is a party or any judgment, order or decree to which Executive is subject;

(3) Executive is not a party to or bound by any employment agreement, consulting agreement, non-compete agreement, fee for services agreement, confidentiality agreement or similar agreement with any other Person;

 

7


(4) upon the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company and Executive, this Agreement will be a legal, valid and binding obligation of Executive, enforceable in accordance with its terms;

(5) Executive understands that Parent and the Company will rely upon the accuracy and truth of the representations and warranties of Executive set forth herein and Executive consents to such reliance.

(6) as of the date of execution of this Agreement, Executive is not in breach of any of its terms, including having committed any acts that would form the basis for a Cause termination if such act had occurred after the Effective Date.

(b) The Company and the Subsidiaries hereby represent and warrant to Executive that:

(1) the Company has all requisite power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, and this Agreement has been duly executed by the Company;

(2) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Company does not and will not, with or without notice or the passage of time, conflict with, breach, violate or cause a default under any agreement, contract or instrument to which the Company is a party or any judgment, order or decree to which the Company is subject;

(3) upon the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company and Executive, this Agreement will be a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable in accordance with its terms; and

(4) the Company understands that Executive will rely upon the accuracy and truth of the representations and warranties of the Company set forth herein and the Company consents to such reliance.

Section 9. Indemnification .

The Company shall secure Directors’ and Officers’ liability insurance for the benefit of Executive on terms at least equal to those applicable to the other directors and officers of the Company (which insurance, for Executive, shall provide for advancement of defense costs) and shall indemnify Executive to the maximum extent permitted under the General Corporate Law of Delaware.

Section 10. General Provisions .

(a) Severability . It is the desire and intent of the parties hereto that the provisions of this Agreement be enforced to the fullest extent permissible under the laws and public policies applied in each jurisdiction in which enforcement is sought. Accordingly, if any particular provision of this Agreement shall be adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, prohibited or unenforceable under any present or future law, and if the rights and obligations of any party under this Agreement will not be materially and adversely affected

 

8


thereby, such provision, as to such jurisdiction, shall be ineffective, without invalidating the remaining provisions of this Agreement or affecting the validity or enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction; furthermore, in lieu of such invalid or unenforceable provision there will be added automatically as a part of this Agreement, a legal, valid and enforceable provision as similar in terms to such invalid or unenforceable provision as may be possible. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if such provision could be more narrowly drawn so as not to be invalid, prohibited or unenforceable in such jurisdiction, it shall, as to such jurisdiction, be so narrowly drawn, without invalidating the remaining provisions of this Agreement or affecting the validity or enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction.

(b) Entire Agreement . This Agreement, the Management Investor Rights Agreement, the Subscription Agreement, the Stock Incentive Plan, Option Agreement, and Restricted Stock Agreement embody the complete agreement and understanding among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede and preempt any prior understandings, agreements or representations by or among the parties, written or oral, which may have related to the subject matter hereof in any way (including, without limitation, any other employment, severance or change-in-control agreement or understanding). For the avoidance of doubt, Executive, the Company and the Subsidiaries acknowledge that any agreement between Executive and Cendant Corporation, Cendant Membership Services Holdings, LLC, Cendant Marketing Group, LLC, Cendant International Holdings Limited, or any subsidiary or affiliate of any of the foregoing, entered into prior to the Effective Date, including without limitation, the Prior Agreement, shall be void ab initio as of immediately before the Effective Date.

(c) Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in separate counterparts, each of which is deemed to be an original and all of which taken together constitute one and the same agreement.

(d) Successors and Assigns .

(i) This Agreement is personal to Executive and without the prior written consent of the Company shall not be assignable by Executive otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and distribution. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by Executive’s legal representatives.

(ii) This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Company and its successors and assigns. The Company will require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company to assume expressly and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform it if no such succession had taken place. As used in this Agreement, “Company” shall mean the Company as hereinbefore defined and any successor to its business and/or assets as aforesaid that assumes and agrees to perform this Agreement by operation of law, or otherwise.

(e) Governing Law . THIS AGREEMENT WILL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE , WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO ANY CHOICE OF LAW OR CONFLICTING PROVISION OR RULE (WHETHER OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE OR ANY OTHER

 

9


JURISDICTION) THAT WOULD CAUSE THE LAWS OF ANY JURISDICTION OTHER THAN THE STATE OF DELAWARE TO BE APPLIED. IN FURTHERANCE OF THE FOREGOING, THE INTERNAL LAW OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE WILL CONTROL THE INTERPRETATION AND CONSTRUCTION OF THIS AGREEMENT, EVEN IF UNDER SUCH JURISDICTION’S CHOICE OF LAW OR CONFLICT OF LAW ANALYSIS, THE SUBSTANTIVE LAW OF SOME OTHER JURISDICTION WOULD ORDINARILY APPLY.

(f) Enforcement .

(i) Arbitration . Except for the Company or its Affiliate’s right to obtain injunctive relief for violation of Sections 5 and 6 of this Agreement or Section 7 of the Management Investor Rights Agreement, any controversy, dispute or claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement, or its interpretation, application, implementation, breach or enforcement which the parties are unable to resolve by mutual agreement, shall be settled by submission by either party of the controversy, claim or dispute to binding arbitration in New York (unless the parties agree in writing to a different location), before a single arbitrator in accordance with the Employment Dispute Resolution Rules of the American Arbitration Association then in effect. In any such arbitration proceeding the parties agree to provide all discovery deemed necessary by the arbitrator. The decision and award made by the arbitrator shall be final, binding and conclusive on all parties hereto for all purposes, and judgment may be entered thereon in any court having jurisdiction thereof. Each party shall bear its or his costs and expenses in any such arbitration and one-half of the arbitrator’s fees and costs; provided , however , that the arbitrator shall have the discretion to award the prevailing party reimbursement of its or his reasonable attorney’s fees and costs.

(ii) Remedies . All remedies hereunder are cumulative, are in addition to any other remedies provided for by law and may, to the extent permitted by law, be exercised concurrently or separately, and the exercise of any one remedy shall not be deemed to be an election of such remedy or to preclude the exercise of any other remedy.

(iii) Waiver of Jury Trial . EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT.

(g) Amendment and Waiver . The provisions of this Agreement may be amended and waived only with the prior written consent of the Company and Executive and no course of conduct or failure or delay in enforcing the provisions of this Agreement shall be construed as a waiver of such provisions or affect the validity, binding effect or enforceability of this Agreement or any provision hereof.

(h) Notices . Any notice provided for in this Agreement must be in writing and must be either personally delivered, transmitted via telecopier, mailed by first class mail (postage prepaid and return receipt requested) or sent by reputable overnight courier service (charges prepaid) to the recipient at the address below indicated or at such other address or to the attention of such other person as the recipient party has specified by prior written notice to the

 

10


sending party. Notices will be deemed to have been given hereunder and received when delivered personally, when received if transmitted via telecopier, five days after deposit in the U.S. mail and one day after deposit for overnight delivery with a reputable overnight courier service.

If to the Company, to:

Affinion Group, Inc.

c/o Apollo Management V, L.P.

9 West 57th Street

New York, New York 10019

Facsimile: (212) 515-3288

Attention: Marc Becker

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

O’Melveny & Myers LLP

Times Square Tower

7 Times Square

New York, NY 10036

Facsimile: (212) 326-2061

Attention: Adam Weinstein, Esq.

If to Executive, to:

Executive’s home address most recently on file with the Company.

(i) Survival of Representations, Warranties and Agreements . All representations, warranties and agreements contained herein shall survive the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby indefinitely.

(j) Effectiveness . Notwithstanding the foregoing, none of Parent, the Company or the Subsidiaries shall have any obligations to Executive or his beneficiaries under this Agreement in the event Executive is unable to perform his duties hereunder or commits an act that would constitute Cause prior to the closing of the Transaction and this Agreement shall be of no force and effect. Further, this Agreement shall be null and void and of no further effect in the event that the Purchase Agreement is terminated or the Closing does not occur.

(k) Descriptive Headings . The descriptive headings of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and do not constitute a part of this Agreement. All references to a “Section” in this Agreement are to a section of the Agreement unless otherwise noted.

(l) Construction . Where specific language is used to clarify by example a general statement contained herein, such specific language shall not be deemed to modify, limit or restrict in any manner the construction of the general statement to which it relates. The language used in this Agreement shall be deemed to be the language chosen by the parties to express their mutual intent, and no rule of strict construction shall be applied against any party.

 

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(m) Code Section 409A . Notwithstanding anything herein or elsewhere to the contrary, to the extent Executive or the Company notifies the other that this Agreement, the Management Investor Rights Agreement, the Option Agreement or the Stock Incentive Plan may result in Executive being subject to the penalties of Section 409A of the Code, Executive and the Company agree to negotiate (and the Company shall cause any affiliate to negotiate) in good faith alternatives to avoid such penalties.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

AFFINION GROUP, INC.

By:

 

    /s/ Robert G. Rooney

 

Name:

 

Robert G. Rooney

 

Title:

 

Executive Vice President

 

NATHANIEL J. LIPMAN

Signature:

 

/s/ Nathaniel J. Lipman

Exhibit 10.20

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

Employment Agreement dated as of June 15, 2005 (the “Agreement”), by and between Cendant Marketing Group LLC (formerly Cendant Membership Services Holdings LLC), a Delaware limited liability company (“CMG”), Cendant International Holdings Limited, a private company limited by shares incorporated in England and Wales with registered number 3458969 (“CIMS”, and together with CMG, the “Company” or the “Companies”), and Robert Rooney (the “Executive”).

WHEREAS, the Company currently employs the Executive as an Executive Vice President; and

WHEREAS, the Company desires to employ the Executive as an executive vice president of the Company, and the Executive desires to serve the Company in such capacity, upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereby agree as follows:

SECTION I

EMPLOYMENT

The Company agrees to employ the Executive, and the Executive agrees to be employed by the Company, for the Period of Employment as provided in Section III below and upon the terms and conditions provided in this Agreement.

SECTION II

POSITION AND RESPONSIBILITIES

During the Period of Employment, the Executive will serve as Executive Vice President of the Company, and subject to the direction of the President of the Company, will perform such duties and exercise such supervision with regard to the business of the Company as are associated with such position, including activities in Finance, Marketing Analysis, Client and Partner Analysis, Information Technology and certain other finance related functions as well as such additional duties as may be prescribed from time to time by the Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) of the Company. The Executive will, during the Period of Employment, devote substantially all of the Executive’s working time and attention to the performance of services for the Company. The Executive will maintain a primary office and conduct Executive’s business in Fairfield County, Connecticut (or in such other location where the Company maintains its principal corporate offices, subject to the provisions of Section VIII(C)(ii) below), except for normal and reasonable business travel in connection with the Executive’s duties hereunder.


SECTION III

PERIOD OF EMPLOYMENT

The period of the Executive’s employment under this Agreement (the “Period of Employment”) will begin on the date hereof and end on June 15, 2007, subject to earlier termination as provided in this Agreement. This Agreement, and the Period of Employment, shall automatically renew on June 15, 2007 and on June 15 th or each year thereafter and upon each such renewal shall extend for an additional one-year period, unless either party delivers written notice of termination of the Agreement at least ninety (90) days prior to the then-applicable renewal date (a “Non-Renewal Notice”).

SECTION IV

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

A. Compensation . For all services rendered by the Executive pursuant to this Agreement during the Period of Employment, including services as an executive, officer, director or committee member of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates, the Executive will be compensated as follows:

i. Base Salary . The Company will pay the Executive a fixed base salary (“Base Salary”) of not less than Three Hundred and Twenty Five Thousand dollars ($325,000) per annum. The Executive will be eligible to receive annual increases as the Company deems appropriate, in accordance with the Company’s customary procedures regarding the salaries of officers, but with due consideration given to the published Consumer Price Index applicable to the New York/Southern Connecticut greater metropolitan area. Base Salary will be payable according to the customary payroll practices of the Company, but in no event less frequently than once each month.

ii. Annual Incentive Awards . The Executive will be eligible for discretionary annual incentive compensation awards (“Incentive Compensation Awards”); provided that the Executive will be eligible to receive an annual bonus in respect of each fiscal year of the Company based upon a target bonus of not less than fifty percent (50%) of Base Salary, subject to the attainment by the Company of applicable performance targets established and certified by the Company in its sole discretion. Notwithstanding the foregoing, for fiscal year 2005, Executive shall be paid 50% of his Incentive Compensation Award, if any, no later than March 31, 2006 and the remaining 50% of his Incentive Compensation Award, if any, no later than September 30, 2006.

iii. Employee Benefits . The Executive will be entitled to participate in all other compensation and employee benefit plans or programs and receive all benefits for which salaried employees of the Company generally are eligible under any plan or program now in effect, or later established by the Company, on the same basis as similarly situated senior officers of the Company with comparable duties and responsibilities. The Executive will participate to the extent permissible under the terms and provisions of such plans or programs, and in accordance with the terms of such plans and program. The Company agrees to include Executive under directors and officers liability insurance policy, which is obtained, or in effect, during the Period of Employment.

 

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SECTION V

BUSINESS EXPENSES

The Company will reimburse the Executive for all reasonable travel and other expenses incurred by the Executive in connection with the performance of the Executive’s duties and obligations under this Agreement. The Executive will comply with such limitations and reporting requirements with respect to expenses as may be established by the Company from time to time for its salaried employees and will promptly provide all appropriate and requested documentation in connection with such expenses.

SECTION VI

DISABILITY

If the Executive becomes Disabled, as defined below, during the Period of Employment, the Period of Employment may be terminated at the option of the Executive upon notice of resignation to the Company, or at the option of the Company upon notice of termination to the Executive. The Company’s obligation to make payments to the Executive under this Agreement will cease as of such date of termination, except for Base Salary and Incentive Compensation Awards earned but unpaid as of the date of such termination. For purposes of this Agreement, “Disabled” means the Executive’s inability to perform his or her duties hereunder as a result of serious physical or mental illness or injury for a period of no less than 60 consecutive days, together with a determination by an independent medical authority that (i) the Executive is currently unable to perform such duties and (ii) in all reasonable likelihood such disability will continue for an additional period in excess of 60 days beyond such original 60-day period. Such medical authority shall be selected by the Company and such opinion shall be binding on the Company and the Executive.

SECTION VII

DEATH

In the event of the death of the Executive during the Period of Employment, the Period of Employment will end and the Company’s obligation to make payments under this Agreement will cease as of the date of death, except for Base Salary and Incentive Compensation Awards earned but unpaid through the date of death, which amounts will be paid to the Executive’s surviving spouse, estate or personal representative, as applicable.

SECTION VIII

EFFECT OF TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT

A. Without Cause Termination and Constructive Discharge . If the Executive’s employment terminates during the Period of Employment due to either a Without Cause Termination or a Constructive Discharge (as defined below), subject to the Executive executing a release of claims against the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates as more fully described in paragraph D of this Section VIII, then the Company will pay the Executive a lump sum amount equal to one hundred and fifty percent (150%) of Executive’s then-current Base Salary, plus any and all Base Salary and Incentive Compensation Awards earned but unpaid through the date of such termination; provided that, in the event that the Company (A) delivers

 

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the Non-Renewal Notice (as defined above in Section III) to Executive at least 90 days prior to June 15, 2007, (B) Executive remains employed with the Company on or after June 15, 2007, and (C) Executive’s employment is Terminated Without Cause during the twelve (12) month period following June 15, 2007, the lump sum severance amount to be paid to Executive shall be at least equal to the product of (x) 150% of Executive’s then-current Base Salary, multiplied by (y) a fraction, the numerator of which is equal to 365 minus the number of days beyond June 15, 2007 in which Executive remains employed by the Company, and the denominator of which is equal to 365. For purposes of this Section VIII, Incentive Compensation Awards shall be deemed to be “earned” by the Executive only to the extent that the Executive remains employed by the Company or its subsidiaries or affiliates as of the end of the applicable period for which any performance tied to such award is measured. Except as provided in this paragraph (and except for any remaining obligations under any then applicable employee benefit, stock option, restricted stock or similar plan (and any agreements entered into in connection therewith) and except as provided in Section XV below) the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates will have no further obligations to the Executive hereunder.

B. Termination for Cause; Resignation . If the Executive’s employment terminates due to a Termination for Cause or a Resignation, any salary amounts which are earned but unpaid as of the date of such termination will be paid to the Executive in a lump sum. Except as provided in this paragraph (and except for any remaining obligations under any then applicable employee benefit, stock option, restricted stock or similar plan (and any agreements entered into in connection therewith) and except as provided in Section XV below) the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates will have no further obligations to the Executive hereunder.

C. For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms have the following meanings:

i. “Termination for Cause” means (i) the Executive’s willful failure to substantially perform his or her duties as an employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates (other than any such failure resulting from incapacity due to physical or mental illness), (ii) any act of fraud, misappropriation, dishonesty, embezzlement or similar conduct against the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates, (iii) the Executive’s conviction of a felony or any crime involving moral turpitude (which conviction, due to the passage of time or otherwise, is not subject to further appeal), (iv) the Executive’s gross negligence in the performance of his or her duties or (v) the Executive knowingly or negligently makes (or is found to have made) a false certification relating to the financial statements of the Companies or their respective affiliates.

ii. “Constructive Discharge” means (i) any reduction of the Executive’s then-applicable base salary as of the date in question, (ii) a material and adverse change to, or a material reduction of, the Executive’s duties and responsibilities to the Company including failure to report to the CEO of the Company or (iii) the relocation of the Executive’s primary office to any location other than Fairfield County, Connecticut. The Executive will provide the Company a written notice which describes the circumstances being relied on for the termination with respect to this Agreement within thirty (30) days after the event giving rise to the notice. The Company will have thirty (30) days after receipt of such notice to remedy the situation prior to the termination for Constructive Discharge.

 

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iii. “Without Cause Termination” or “Terminated Without Cause” means termination of the Executive’s employment by the Company other than due to death, Disability or Termination for Cause.

iv. “Resignation” means a termination of the Executive’s employment by the Executive, other than in connection with a Constructive Discharge.

v. “Disability” means the Executive’s inability to perform his or her duties hereunder as a result of serious physical or mental illness or injury for a period of no less than 60 consecutive days, together with a determination by an independent medical authority that (i) the Executive is currently unable to perform such duties and (ii) in all reasonable likelihood such disability will continue for an additional period in excess of 60 days beyond such original 60-day period. Such medical authority shall be selected by the Company and such opinion shall be binding on the Company and the Executive

D. Conditions to Payment and Acceleration . All payments and benefits due to the Executive under this Section VIII shall be made or provided as soon as practicable; provided , however , that such payments and benefits shall be subject to, and contingent upon, the execution by the Executive (or the Executive’s beneficiary or estate) of a release of claims against the Company and its affiliates in such form determined by the Company in its sole discretion. The payments due to the Executive under this Section VIII shall be in lieu of any other severance benefits otherwise payable to the Executive under any severance plan of the Company or its affiliates.

SECTION IX

OTHER DUTIES OF THE EXECUTIVE

DURING AND AFTER THE PERIOD OF EMPLOYMENT

A. Cooperation on Legal Matters . The Executive will, with reasonable notice during or after the Period of Employment, furnish information as may be in his or her possession and, subject to reimbursement of any reasonable expenses incurred, will fully cooperate with the Company and its affiliates to the extent reasonably requested in connection with any claims or legal action in which the Business (as defined in Section IX(E) below) or the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates (collectively, the “Corporation”) is or may become a party.

B. Non-Compete Provisions . The Executive agrees that throughout the Executive’s employment with the Corporation and for a period of one (1) year following the termination of that employment (regardless of whether such termination is voluntary, involuntary or otherwise), the Executive shall not:

i. Engaging in a Competing Business - accept or maintain employment with, or act as a principal of, investor in or advisor or consultant to, or otherwise become affiliated with in any other capacity (other than as a holder of less than 1% of the total outstanding equity securities of any publicly-held company), any person, firm, corporation or other entity which competes, or undertakes to compete, in any manner with the Corporation in relation to the Business (as it may be conducted from time to time following the date hereof) (a “Competing Business”); or

 

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ii. Soliciting Customers of the Business - solicit, induce or encourage, either directly or indirectly, any customer, client, partner or other third party having a relationship with the Business, either (i) to terminate, reduce or modify in any way adverse to the Business, any relationship such person or entity may have with the Business, or (ii) engage in business with any Competing Business (as defined in Section IX(B)(i) above); or

iii. Soliciting Employees of the Business - solicit, induce or encourage, either directly or indirectly, any employee of the Business to leave his or her employment or take any action to assist any successor employer or any other entity, either directly or indirectly, in soliciting, inducing or encouraging any employee of the Business to leave his or her employment; or hire or employ, or assist in the hiring or employment of, either directly or indirectly, any individual that was employed by the Business within 180 days preceding the date of such other hiring or employment.

The provisions of this Section IX(B) shall apply to and encompass those geographic areas in which the Corporation engages in the Business, or delivers services related to the Business, during the Executive’s period of employment with the Corporation (it being understood that any Internet-based business activities of the Business shall be deemed to be worldwide in their geographic scope, unless specifically limited to a specified area). The Executive acknowledges that the uniqueness of the Business, including its size and extensive business and customer relationships, makes it difficult (if not meaningless) to assign a narrower geographical limitation.

C. Confidentiality Obligations . The Executive acknowledges that the Confidential Information (as defined in Section IX(E) below) is confidential and is a unique and valuable asset of the Corporation. The Executive agrees that Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, (a) reveal or cause to be revealed to any person or entity the Confidential Information (except either (x) during the period of the Executive’s employment with the Corporation to the extent reasonably necessary in the performance of Executive’s duties on the Corporation’s behalf or (y) to the extent disclosure is expressly required by law and Executive provides the Corporation with prior written notice of any such compelled disclosure), and (b) make use of any Confidential Information for Executive’s own purposes or for the benefit of any person or organization other than the Corporation and its affiliates. In addition, the Executive recognizes that the Corporation has received, and may receive from time to time in the future, from third parties their confidential or proprietary information subject to a duty on the Corporation’s part to maintain the confidentiality of such information and to use it only for certain limited purposes; accordingly, the Executive agrees to hold all such third party confidential or proprietary information in the strictest confidence and not to disclose it to any person or entity or to use it, except as necessary in carrying out Executive’s work for the Corporation consistent with the Corporation’s agreement with such third party.

D. Assignment of Intellectual Property . The Executive agrees that Executive will make full written disclosure to the Corporation, will hold in trust for the sole right and benefit of the Corporation, and hereby assigns to the Corporation, or its designee, all of Executive’s right, title, and interest in and to any and all Inventions (as defined in Section IX(E) below). The Executive further acknowledges that all original works of authorship which are made be Executive (solely or jointly with others) within the scope of and during the period of

 

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Executive’s employment with the Corporation and which are protectible by copyright are “works made for hire,” as that term is defined in the United States Copyright Act. The Executive agrees to assist the Corporation, or its designee, at the Corporation’s expense, in every proper way to secure the Corporation’s rights in the Inventions in any and all countries, including the disclosure to the Corporation of all pertinent information and data with respect thereto, the execution of all applications, specifications, oaths, assignments and all other instruments which the Corporation shall deem necessary in order to apply for and obtain such rights and in order to assign and convey to the Corporation, its successors, assigns and nominees the sole and exclusive rights, title and interest in and to such Inventions.

E. Defined Terms . For purposes of this Agreement, (a) the term “ Business ” shall mean (i) any business of the Corporation involving the offering of insurance-based or membership-based products or services to consumers, whether marketed directly to consumers or marketed through any financial institution, retailer or one or more other third parties, and whether marketed through direct mail, telemarketing methods, in-branch, general advertising, the Internet, any computer online service or otherwise, as well as (ii) any other business that the Corporation engages in during Executive’s period of employment with the Corporation if the Executive is actively involved in any of the operations or activities of such other business during any portion of such period of employment, and if as a result of such active involvement in such business, the Executive is exposed to any Confidential Information relating to such other business, (b) the term “ Confidential Information ” shall mean all inventions, trade secrets, business methods, financial projections, business plans or other information (whether in written, oral, electronic or other form) pertaining to the affairs, business, clients, customers or other relationships of the Corporation and its affiliates and all other confidential and proprietary business information of the Corporation and its affiliates (whether related to the Business or otherwise); provided that the term “ Confidential Information ” shall not include any of the information referred to above that is or becomes generally available to the public, other than as a result of a breach by the Executive or his or her representatives of the provisions of this Agreement, and (c) the term “ Inventions ” shall mean all inventions, original works of authorship, developments, concepts, improvements or trade secrets, whether or not patentable or registrable under copyright or similar laws, which the Executive may solely or jointly conceive or develop or reduce to practice, or cause to be conceived or developed or reduced to practice, during the period of time the Executive is in the employ of the Corporation, together with any and all copyrights, patents, trademarks or other intellectual property rights related thereto.

F. Remedies Available . The Executive hereby acknowledges that damages at law may be an insufficient remedy to the Company if the Executive violates the terms of this Agreement and that the Company will be entitled, upon making the requisite showing, to preliminary and/or permanent injunctive relief in any court of competent jurisdiction to restrain the breach of or otherwise to specifically enforce any of the covenants contained in this Section IX without the necessity of showing any actual damage or that monetary damages would not provide an adequate remedy. Such right to an injunction will be in addition to, and not in limitation of, any other rights or remedies the Company may have. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, neither party will oppose any motion the other party may make for any expedited discovery or hearing in connection with any alleged breach of this Section IX.

 

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G. Extension of Time Periods . The period of time during which the provisions of this Section IX will be in effect will be extended by the length of time during which the Executive is in breach of the terms hereof as determined by any court of competent jurisdiction on the Company’s application for injunctive relief.

H. Essential Nature of Restrictions . The Executive agrees that the restrictions contained in this Section IX are an essential inducement for the compensation the Executive is granted hereunder and that but for the Executive’s agreement to comply with such restrictions, the Company would not have entered into this Agreement.

SECTION X

INDEMNIFICATION

The Company will indemnify the Executive to the fullest extent permitted by the laws of the Company’s state of incorporation in effect at that time, or by the certificate of incorporation and by-laws of the Company, whichever affords the greater protection to the Executive.

SECTION XI

MITIGATION

The Executive will not be required to mitigate the amount of any payment provided for hereunder by seeking other employment or otherwise, nor will the amount of any such payment be reduced by any compensation earned by the Executive as the result of employment by another employer after the date the Executive’s employment hereunder terminates.

SECTION XII

WITHHOLDING TAXES

The Executive acknowledges and agrees that the Company may directly or indirectly withhold from any payments under this Agreement all federal, state, city or other taxes that will be required pursuant to any law or governmental regulation.

SECTION XIII

EFFECT OF PRIOR AGREEMENTS

Except for the (x) Release, Covenant Not to Compete, Confidentiality and Waiver and Consent Agreement, dated as of January 30, 2004, by and among by and among Executive, Cendant Corporation (“Cendant”), Cendant Membership Services Holdings Subsidiary, Inc., the Company (formerly known as CMS Subsidiary Inc.) and TRL Group (formerly known as Trilegiant Corporation) and (y) the Agreement and Release, dated April 5, 2005, by and between Trilegiant, Cendant and Executive, this Agreement will supersede any prior employment agreement or arrangement between the Company and the Executive and/or between the Executive and Cendant Corporation or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates, and any such prior agreement or arrangement will be deemed terminated without any remaining obligations of either party thereunder; provided that any prior agreements pertaining to noncompetition, confidentiality, works-for-hire and any other similar covenants between the Executive and

 

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Cendant, the Company or any of their respective subsidiaries or affiliates (including, without limitation, any stock subscription and/or stockholders agreements entered into between the Company and the Executive prior to the date hereof), as well as any employee benefit, stock option, restricted stock or other similar plans (as well as any agreements entered into in connection therewith), shall remain in full force and effect in accordance with their respective terms.

SECTION XIV

ARBITRATION

A. Any controversy, dispute or claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the breach hereof which cannot be settled by mutual agreement (other than with respect to the matters covered by Section IX for which the Company may, but will not be required to, seek injunctive relief) will be finally settled by binding arbitration in accordance with the Federal Arbitration Act (or if not applicable, the applicable state arbitration law) as follows: Any party who is aggrieved will deliver a notice to the other party setting forth the specific points in dispute. Any points remaining in dispute twenty (20) days after the giving of such notice may be submitted to arbitration in New York, New York, to the American Arbitration Association, before a single arbitrator appointed in accordance with the arbitration rules of the American Arbitration Association applicable to employment disputes, modified only as herein expressly provided. After the aforesaid twenty (20) days, either party, upon ten (10) days notice to the other, may so submit the points in dispute to arbitration. The arbitrator may enter a default decision against any party who fails to participate in the arbitration proceedings.

B. The decision of the arbitrator on the points in dispute will be final, unappealable and binding, and judgment on the award may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof.

C. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, the arbitrator will be authorized to apportion its fees and expenses and the reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses of any such party as the arbitrator deems appropriate. In the absence of any such apportionment, the fees and expenses of the arbitrator will be borne equally by each party, and each party will bear the fees and expenses of its own attorney.

D. The parties agree that this Section XIV has been included to rapidly and inexpensively resolve any disputes between them with respect to this Agreement, and that this Section XIV will be grounds for dismissal of any court action commenced by either party with respect to this Agreement, other than post-arbitration actions seeking to enforce an arbitration award. In the event that any court determines that this arbitration procedure is not binding, or otherwise allows any litigation regarding a dispute, claim, or controversy covered by this Agreement to proceed, the parties hereto hereby waive any and all right to a trial by jury in or with respect to such litigation.

E. The parties will keep confidential, and will not disclose to any person, except as may be required by law, the existence of any controversy hereunder, the referral of any such controversy to arbitration or the status or resolution thereof.

 

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SECTION XV

SURVIVAL

Sections IX, X, XI, XII, XIII and XIV will continue in full force in accordance with their respective terms notwithstanding any termination of the Period of Employment and regardless of the manner or circumstances of such termination.

SECTION XVI

MISCELLANEOUS

A. Modification and Waiver . This Agreement may not be modified or amended except in writing signed by the parties. No term or condition of this Agreement will be deemed to have been waived except in writing by the party charged with waiver. A waiver will operate only as to the specific term or condition waived and will not constitute a waiver for the future or act on anything other than that which is specifically waived.

B. Consolidation, Merger, or Sale Of Assets . Nothing in this Agreement will preclude the Company from consolidating or merging into or with, or transferring all or substantially all of its assets to, any other corporation or entity (including, without limitation, any affiliate or subsidiary of Cendant or the Company) which assumes this Agreement and all obligations and undertakings of the Company hereunder. Upon such a consolidation, merger or sale of assets the term “Company” will mean such other corporation or entity and this Agreement will continue in full force and effect.

C. Severability . All provisions of this Agreement are intended to be severable. In the event any provision or restriction contained herein is held to be invalid or unenforceable in any respect, in whole or in part, such finding will in no way affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement. The parties hereto further agree that any such invalid or unenforceable provision will be deemed modified so that it will be enforced to the greatest extent permissible under law, and to the extent that any court of competent jurisdiction determines any restriction herein to be unreasonable in any respect or unenforceable because of its scope, duration, geographic coverage or otherwise, such court shall have the power to modify or limit this Agreement to the extent necessary so that it can be enforced to the greatest extent permissible under law.

D. Governing Law . This Agreement has been executed and delivered in the State of Connecticut and its validity, interpretation, performance and enforcement will be governed by the internal laws of that state.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

CENDANT MARKETING GROUP LLC

/s/ Thomas D. Christopoul

By: Thomas D. Christopoul

Title: Chairman

CENDANT INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS LIMITED

/s/ Thomas D. Christopoul

By: Thomas D. Christopoul

Title: Chairman

ROBERT ROONEY

/s/ Robert Rooney

 

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Exhibit 10.21

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

Employment Agreement dated as of September 10, 2002 (the “Agreement”) by and between Trilegiant Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Michael Rauscher (the “Executive”).

WHEREAS, the Company desires to employ the Executive as a senior executive of the Company, and the Executive desires to serve the Company in such capacity, upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereby agree as follows:

SECTION I

EMPLOYMENT

The Company agrees to employ the Executive, and the Executive agrees to be employed by the Company, for the Period of Employment as provided in Section III below and upon the terms and conditions provided in this Agreement.

SECTION II

POSITION AND RESPONSIBILITIES

During the Period of Employment, the Executive will serve as Executive Vice President - Marketing Services, and subject to the direction of the President of the Company, will perform such duties and exercise such supervision with regard to the business of the Company as are associated with such position, as well as such additional duties as may be prescribed from time to time by the President. The Executive will, during the Period of Employment, devote substantially all of the Executive’s working time and attention to the performance of services for the Company. The Executive will maintain a primary office and conduct Executive’s business in Fairfield County, Connecticut (or in such other location where the Company maintains its principal corporate offices, subject to the provisions of Section VII(C)(ii) below), except for normal and reasonable business travel in connection with the Executive’s duties hereunder.

SECTION III

PERIOD OF EMPLOYMENT

The period of the Executive’s employment under this Agreement (the “Period of Employment”) will begin on the date hereof and end on the second anniversary hereof, subject to earlier termination as provided in this Agreement. This Agreement, and the Period of Employment, shall automatically renew on the second anniversary of the date of this Agreement and on the anniversary date of each year thereafter and upon each such renewal shall extend for an additional one-year period, unless either party delivers written notice of termination of the Agreement at least ninety (90) days prior to the then-applicable renewal date.

 

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SECTION IV

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

A. Compensation . For all services rendered by the Executive pursuant to this Agreement during the Period of Employment, including services as an executive, officer, director or committee member of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates, the Executive will be compensated as follows:

i. Base Salary . The Company will pay the Executive a fixed base salary (“Base Salary”) of not less than Two Hundred Fifty Thousand dollars ($250,000) per annum. The Executive will be eligible to receive annual increases as the Company deems appropriate, in accordance with the Company’s customary procedures regarding the salaries of officers, but with due consideration given to the published Consumer Price Index applicable to the New York/Southern Connecticut greater metropolitan area. Base Salary will be payable according to the customary payroll practices of the Company, but in no event less frequently than once each month.

ii. Annual Incentive Awards . The Executive will be eligible for discretionary annual incentive compensation awards (“Incentive Compensation Awards”); provided that the Executive will be eligible to receive an annual bonus in respect of each fiscal year of the Company during the Period of Employment based upon a target bonus of not less than fifty percent (50%) of Base Salary, subject to the attainment by the Company of applicable performance targets established and certified by the Company in its sole discretion.

iii. Employee Benefits . The Executive will be entitled to participate in all other compensation and employee benefit plans or programs and receive all benefits for which salaried employees of the Company generally are eligible under any plan or program now in effect, or later established by the Company, on the same basis as similarly situated senior officers of the Company with comparable duties and responsibilities. The Executive will participate to the extent permissible under the terms and provisions of such plans or programs, and in accordance with the terms of such plans and program.

SECTION V

BUSINESS EXPENSES

The Company will reimburse the Executive for all reasonable travel and other expenses incurred by the Executive in connection with the performance of the Executive’s duties and obligations under this Agreement. The Executive will comply with such limitations and reporting requirements with respect to expenses as may be established by the Company from time to time for its salaried employees and will promptly provide all appropriate and requested documentation in connection with such expenses.

SECTION VI

DISABILITY

A. If the Executive becomes Disabled, as defined below, during the Period of Employment, the Period of Employment may be terminated at the option of the Executive upon notice of resignation to the Company, or at the option of the Company upon notice of termination

 

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to the Executive. The Company’s obligation to make payments to the Executive under this Agreement will cease as of such date of termination, except for Base Salary and Incentive Compensation Awards earned but unpaid as of the date of such termination. For purposes of this Agreement, “Disabled” means the Executive’s inability to perform Executive’s duties hereunder as a result of serious physical or mental illness or injury for a period of no less than 60 consecutive days, together with a determination by an independent medical authority that (i) the Executive is currently unable to perform such duties and (ii) in all reasonable likelihood such disability will continue for an additional period in excess of 60 days beyond such original 60-day period. Such medical authority shall be selected by the Company and such opinion shall be binding on the Company and the Executive.

SECTION VII

DEATH

In the event of the death of the Executive during the Period of Employment, the Period of Employment will end and the Company’s obligation to make payments under this Agreement will cease as of the date of death, except for Base Salary and Incentive Compensation Awards earned but unpaid through the date of death, which amounts will be paid to the Executive’s surviving spouse, estate or personal representative, as applicable.

SECTION VIII

EFFECT OF TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT

A. Without Cause Termination and Constructive Discharge . If the Executive’s employment terminates during the Period of Employment due to either a Without Cause Termination or a Constructive Discharge as defined below, subject to the Executive executing a release of claims against the Company and subsidiaries and affiliates as more fully described in paragraph D of this Section VIII, then the Company will pay the Executive a lump sum amount equal to 100% of the Base Salary, plus any and all Base Salary and Incentive Compensation Awards earned but unpaid through the date of such termination. For purposes of this Section VIII, Incentive Compensation Awards shall be deemed to be “earned” by the Executive only to the extent that the Executive remains employed by the Company or its subsidiaries or affiliates as of the end of the applicable period for which any performance tied to such award is measured. Except as provided in this paragraph (and except for any remaining obligations under any then applicable employee benefit, stock option, restricted stock or similar plan (and any agreements entered into in connection therewith) and except as provided in Section XV below) the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates will have no further obligations to the Executive hereunder.

B. Termination for Cause; Resignation . If the Executive’s employment terminates due to a Termination for Cause or a Resignation, Base Salary and any Incentive Compensation Awards earned but unpaid as of the date of such termination will be paid to the Executive in a lump sum. Except as provided in this paragraph (and except for any remaining obligations under any then applicable employee benefit, stock option, restricted stock or similar plan (and any agreements entered into in connection therewith) and except as provided in Section XV below) the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates will have no further obligations to the Executive hereunder.

 

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C. For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms have the following meanings:

i. “Termination for Cause” means (i) the Executive’s willful failure to substantially perform Executive’s duties as an employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries (other than any such failure resulting from incapacity due to physical or mental illness), (ii) any act of fraud, misappropriation, dishonesty, embezzlement or similar conduct against the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates, (iii) the Executive’s conviction of a felony or any crime involving moral turpitude (which conviction, due to the passage of time or otherwise, is not subject to further appeal) or (iv) the Executive’s gross negligence in the performance of Executive’s duties.

ii. “Constructive Discharge” means (i) any material failure of the Company to fulfill its obligations under this Agreement (including without limitation any reduction of the Base Salary, as the same may be increased during the Period of Employment, or other material element of compensation), (ii) a material and adverse change to, or a material reduction of, the Executive’s duties and responsibilities to the Company or (iii) the relocation of the Executive’s primary office to any location other than Southern Connecticut. The Executive will provide the Company a written notice which describes the circumstances being relied on for the termination with respect to this Agreement within thirty (30) days after the event giving rise to the notice. The Company will have thirty (30) days after receipt of such notice to remedy the situation prior to the termination for Constructive Discharge.

iii. “Without Cause Termination” or “Terminated Without Cause” means termination of the Executive’s employment by the Company other than due to death, Disability or Termination for Cause.

iv. “Resignation” means a termination of the Executive’s employment by the Executive, other than in connection with a Constructive Discharge.

D. Conditions to Payment and Acceleration . All payments and benefits due to the Executive under this Section VIII shall be made or provided as soon as practicable; provided , however , that such payments and benefits shall be subject to, and contingent upon, the execution by the Executive (or the Executive’s beneficiary or estate) of a release of claims against the Company and its affiliates in such form determined by the Company in its sole discretion. The payments due to the Executive under this Section VIII shall be in lieu of any other severance benefits otherwise payable to the Executive under any severance plan of the Company or its affiliates.

SECTION IX

OTHER DUTIES OF THE EXECUTIVE

DURING AND AFTER THE PERIOD OF EMPLOYMENT

A. Cooperation on Legal Matters . The Executive will, with reasonable notice during or after the Period of Employment, furnish information as may be in Executive’s possession and, subject to reimbursement of any reasonable expenses incurred, will fully cooperate with the Company and its affiliates to the extent reasonably requested in connection

 

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with any claims or legal action in which the Business (as defined in Section IX(E) below) or the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates (collectively, the “Corporation”) is or may become a party.

B. Non-Compete Provisions . The Executive agrees that throughout the Executive’s employment with the Corporation and for a period of one (1) year following the termination of that employment (regardless of whether such termination is voluntary, involuntary or otherwise), the Executive shall not:

i. Engaging in a Competing Business - accept or maintain employment with, or act as a principal of, investor in or advisor or consultant to, or otherwise become affiliated with in any other capacity (other than as a holder of less than 1% of the total outstanding equity securities of any publicly-held company), any person, firm, corporation or other entity which competes, or undertakes to compete, in any manner with the Corporation in relation to the Business (as it may be conducted from time to time following the date hereof) (a “Competing Business”); or

ii. Soliciting Customers of the Business - solicit, induce or encourage, either directly or indirectly, any customer, client, partner or other third party having a relationship with the Business, either (i) to terminate, reduce or modify in any way adverse to the Business, any relationship such person or entity may have with the Business, or (ii) engage in business with any Competing Business (as defined in Section IX(B)(i) above); or

iii. Soliciting Employees of the Business - solicit, induce or encourage, either directly or indirectly, any employee of the Business to leave his or her employment or take any action to assist any successor employer or any other entity, either directly or indirectly, in soliciting, inducing or encouraging any employee of the Business to leave his or her employment; or hire or employ, or assist in the hiring or employment of, either directly or indirectly, any individual that was employed by the Business within 180 days preceding the date of such other hiring or employment.

The provisions of this Section IX(B) shall apply to and encompass those geographic areas in which the Corporation engages in the Business, or delivers services related to the Business, during the Executive’s period of employment with the Corporation (it being understood that any Internet-based business activities of the Business shall be deemed to be worldwide in their geographic scope, unless specifically limited to a specified area). The Executive acknowledges that the uniqueness of the Business, including its size and extensive business and customer relationships, makes it difficult (if not meaningless) to assign a narrower geographical limitation.

C. Confidentiality Obligations . The Executive acknowledges that the Confidential Information (as defined in Section IX(E) below) is confidential and is a unique and valuable asset of the Corporation. The Executive agrees that Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, (a) reveal or cause to be revealed to any person or entity the Confidential Information (except either (x) during the period of the Executive’s employment with the Corporation to the extent reasonably necessary in the performance of Executive’s duties on the Corporation’s behalf or (y) to the extent disclosure is expressly required by law and Executive provides the

 

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Corporation with prior written notice of any such compelled disclosure), and (b) make use of any Confidential Information for Executive’s own purposes or for the benefit of any person or organization other than the Corporation and its affiliates. In addition, the Executive recognizes that the Corporation has received, and may receive from time to time in the future, from third parties their confidential or proprietary information subject to a duty on the Corporation’s part to maintain the confidentiality of such information and to use it only for certain limited purposes; accordingly, the Executive agrees to hold all such third party confidential or proprietary information in the strictest confidence and not to disclose it to any person or entity or to use it, except as necessary in carrying out Executive’s work for the Corporation consistent with the Corporation’s agreement with such third party.

D. Assignment of Intellectual Property . The Executive agrees that Executive will make full written disclosure to the Corporation, will hold in trust for the sole right and benefit of the Corporation, and hereby assigns to the Corporation, or its designee, all of Executive’s right, title, and interest in and to any and all Inventions (as defined in Section IX(E) below). The Executive further acknowledges that all original works of authorship which are made be Executive (solely or jointly with others) within the scope of and during the period of Executive’s employment with the Corporation and which are protectible by copyright are “works made for hire,” as that term is defined in the United States Copyright Act. The Executive agrees to assist the Corporation, or its designee, at the Corporation’s expense, in every proper way to secure the Corporation’s rights in the Inventions in any and all countries, including the disclosure to the Corporation of all pertinent information and data with respect thereto, the execution of all applications, specifications, oaths, assignments and all other instruments which the Corporation shall deem necessary in order to apply for and obtain such rights and in order to assign and convey to the Corporation, its successors, assigns and nominees the sole and exclusive rights, title and interest in and to such Inventions.

E. Defined Terms . For purposes of this Agreement, (a) the term “ Business ” shall mean (i) any business of the Corporation involving the offering of membership-based products or services to consumers, whether marketed directly to consumers or marketed through any financial institution, retailer or one or more other third parties, and whether marketed through direct mail, telemarketing methods, general advertising, the Internet, any computer online service or otherwise, as well as (ii) any other business that the Corporation engages in during Executive’s period of employment with the Corporation if the Executive is actively involved in any of the operations or activities of such other business during any portion of such period of employment, and if as a result of such active involvement in such business, the Executive is exposed to any Confidential Information relating to such other business, (b) the term “ Confidential Information ” shall mean all inventions, trade secrets, business methods, financial projections, business plans or other information (whether in written, oral, electronic or other form) pertaining to the affairs, business, clients, customers or other relationships of the Corporation and its affiliates and all other confidential and proprietary business information of the Corporation and its affiliates (whether related to the Business or otherwise); provided that the term “ Confidential Information ” shall not include any of the information referred to above that is or becomes generally available to the public, other than as a result of a breach by the Executive or his or her representatives of the provisions of this Agreement, and (c) the term “ Inventions ” shall mean all inventions, original works of authorship, developments, concepts, improvements or trade secrets, whether or not patentable or registrable under copyright or similar laws, which

 

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the Executive may solely or jointly conceive or develop or reduce to practice, or cause to be conceived or developed or reduced to practice, during the period of time the Executive is in the employ of the Corporation, together with any and all copyrights, patents, trademarks or other intellectual property rights related thereto.

F. Remedies Available . The Executive hereby acknowledges that damages at law may be an insufficient remedy to the Company if the Executive violates the terms of this Agreement and that the Company will be entitled, upon making the requisite showing, to preliminary and/or permanent injunctive relief in any court of competent jurisdiction to restrain the breach of or otherwise to specifically enforce any of the covenants contained in this Section IX without the necessity of showing any actual damage or that monetary damages would not provide an adequate remedy. Such right to an injunction will be in addition to, and not in limitation of, any other rights or remedies the Company may have. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, neither party will oppose any motion the other party may make for any expedited discovery or hearing in connection with any alleged breach of this Section IX.

G. Extension of Time Periods . The period of time during which the provisions of this Section IX will be in effect will be extended by the length of time during which the Executive is in breach of the terms hereof as determined by any court of competent jurisdiction on the Company’s application for injunctive relief.

H. Essential Nature of Restrictions . The Executive agrees that the restrictions contained in this Section IX are an essential inducement for the compensation the Executive is granted hereunder and that but for the Executive’s agreement to comply with such restrictions, the Company would not have entered into this Agreement.

SECTION X

INDEMNIFICATION

The Company will indemnify the Executive to the fullest extent permitted by the laws of the Company’s state of incorporation in effect at that time, or by the certificate of incorporation and by-laws of the Company, whichever affords the greater protection to the Executive.

SECTION XI

MITIGATION

The Executive will not be required to mitigate the amount of any payment provided for hereunder by seeking other employment or otherwise, nor will the amount of any such payment be reduced by any compensation earned by the Executive as the result of employment by another employer after the date the Executive’s employment hereunder terminates.

 

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SECTION XII

WITHHOLDING TAXES

The Executive acknowledges and agrees that the Company may directly or indirectly withhold from any payments under this Agreement all federal, state, city or other taxes that will be required pursuant to any law or governmental regulation.

SECTION XIII

EFFECT OF PRIOR AGREEMENTS

This Agreement will supersede any prior employment, severance or other agreement or arrangement between the Company and the Executive and/or between the Executive and Cendant or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates, and any such prior agreement or arrangement will be deemed terminated without any remaining obligations of either party thereunder; provided , however , that any prior agreements pertaining to noncompetition, confidentiality, works-for-hire and any other similar covenants between the Executive and Cendant, the Company or any of their respective subsidiaries or affiliates, as well as any employee benefit, stock option, restricted stock or other similar plans (as well as any agreements entered into in connection therewith), shall remain in full force and effect in accordance with their respective terms.

SECTION XIV

ARBITRATION

A. Any controversy, dispute or claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the breach hereof which cannot be settled by mutual agreement (other than with respect to the matters covered by Section IX for which the Company may, but will not be required to, seek injunctive relief) will be finally settled by binding arbitration in accordance with the Federal Arbitration Act (or if not applicable, the applicable state arbitration law) as follows: Any party who is aggrieved will deliver a notice to the other party setting forth the specific points in dispute. Any points remaining in dispute twenty (20) days after the giving of such notice may be submitted to arbitration in New York, New York, to the American Arbitration Association, before a single arbitrator appointed in accordance with the arbitration rules of the American Arbitration Association applicable to employment disputes, modified only as herein expressly provided. After the aforesaid twenty (20) days, either party, upon ten (10) days notice to the other, may so submit the points in dispute to arbitration. The arbitrator may enter a default decision against any party who fails to participate in the arbitration proceedings.

B. The decision of the arbitrator on the points in dispute will be final, unappealable and binding, and judgment on the award may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof.

C. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, the arbitrator will be authorized to apportion its fees and expenses and the reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses of any such party as the arbitrator deems appropriate. In the absence of any such apportionment, the fees and expenses of the arbitrator will be borne equally by each party, and each party will bear the fees and expenses of its own attorney.

 

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D. The parties agree that this Section XIV has been included to rapidly and inexpensively resolve any disputes between them with respect to this Agreement, and that this Section XIV will be grounds for dismissal of any court action commenced by either party with respect to this Agreement, other than post-arbitration actions seeking to enforce an arbitration award. In the event that any court determines that this arbitration procedure is not binding, or otherwise allows any litigation regarding a dispute, claim, or controversy covered by this Agreement to proceed, the parties hereto hereby waive any and all right to a trial by jury in or with respect to such litigation.

E. The parties will keep confidential, and will not disclose to any person, except as may be required by law, the existence of any controversy hereunder, the referral of any such controversy to arbitration or the status or resolution thereof.

SECTION XV

SURVIVAL

Sections IX, X, XI, XII, and XIV will continue in full force in accordance with their respective terms notwithstanding any termination of the Period of Employment and regardless of the manner or circumstances of such termination.

SECTION XVI

MISCELLANEOUS

A. Modification and Waiver . This Agreement may not be modified or amended except in writing signed by the parties. No term or condition of this Agreement will be deemed to have been waived except in writing by the party charged with waiver. A waiver will operate only as to the specific term or condition waived and will not constitute a waiver for the future or act on anything other than that which is specifically waived.

B. Consolidation, Merger, or Sale Of Assets . Nothing in this Agreement will preclude the Company from consolidating or merging into or with, or transferring all or substantially all of its assets to, any other corporation or entity (including, without limitation, any affiliate or subsidiary of Cendant or the Company) which assumes this Agreement and all obligations and undertakings of the Company hereunder. Upon such a consolidation, merger or sale of assets the term “Company” will mean such other corporation or entity and this Agreement will continue in full force and effect.

C. Severability . All provisions of this Agreement are intended to be severable. In the event any provision or restriction contained herein is held to be invalid or unenforceable in any respect, in whole or in part, such finding will in no way affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement. The parties hereto further agree that any such invalid or unenforceable provision will be deemed modified so that it will be enforced to the greatest extent permissible under law, and to the extent that any court of competent jurisdiction determines any restriction herein to be unreasonable in any respect or unenforceable because of its scope, duration, geographic coverage or otherwise, such court shall have the power to modify or limit this Agreement to the extent necessary so that it can be enforced to the greatest extent permissible under law.

 

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D. Governing Law . This Agreement has been executed and delivered in the State of Connecticut and its validity, interpretation, performance and enforcement will be governed by the internal laws of that state.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

TRILEGIANT CORPORATION

/s/ Nathaniel J. Lipman

By: Nathaniel J. Lipman

Title: Chief Executive Officer

MICHAEL RAUSCHER

/s/ Michael Rauscher

 

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Exhibit 10.22

 

  EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”) dated as of December 1, 2005, between AFFINION GROUP , INC. , a Delaware corporation, (the “ Company ”) and MAUREEN E. O’CONNELL (“ Executive ”).

WHEREAS, the Company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Affinion Group Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (f/k/a Affinity Acquisition Holdings, Inc., the “ Parent ”); and

WHEREAS, the Company desires to employ Executive and Executive desires to be employed by the Company.

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

Section 1. Employment Period .

The initial term of Executive’s employment hereunder shall be for a period of two (2) years (the “ Initial Term ”) commencing on January 2, 2006 (the “ Effective Date ”) and ending on the second anniversary of the Effective Date, unless terminated earlier pursuant to Section 3 (the “ Employment Period ”); provided, however, that the Employment Period shall automatically be renewed for successive one (1) year terms upon the Expiration of the Initial Term unless either party gives at least ninety (90) days’ written notice of its intention not to renew the Employment Period. Upon Executive’s termination of employment with the Company for any reason, she shall immediately resign all positions with the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates.

Section 2. Terms of Employment .

(a) Position . During the term of Executive’s employment, Executive shall serve as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company and shall be responsible for the operational, general and administrative matters of the Company as directed by the Chief Executive Officer. Executive’s duties shall include formulating Company financial policy and plans, directing activities associated with the investment of the Company’s assets and funds, and the general management of accounting, tax, insurance, budget, credit and treasury functions. Executive shall perform such additional duties and have the responsibilities and powers as delegated to her from time to time by the Chief Executive Officer or the Company’s Board of Directors (the “ Board ”). Executive shall report directly to the Chief Executive Officer and the Board.

(b) Duties . During the term of Executive’s employment, Executive agrees to devote all of her business time to the business and affairs of the Company and to use Executive’s reasonable best efforts to perform faithfully, effectively and efficiently her responsibilities and obligations hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall prohibit Executive from (i) serving on the board of directors of Beazer Homes USA, Inc., (ii) with the prior written consent of the Chief Executive Officer (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld),


serving on the board of directors of other for-profit companies that do not compete with the Company, (iii) serving on civic or charitable boards or committees, and (iv) managing personal investments, in each case so long as such activities do not materially interfere with the performance of Executive’s responsibilities hereunder.

(c) Compensation .

(i) Base Salary . During the term of Executive’s employment, Executive shall receive an initial annual base salary in an amount equal to $400,000.00, less all applicable withholdings, which shall be paid in accordance with the customary payroll practices of the Company (as in effect from time to time, the “ Annual Base Salary ”). The Annual Base Salary shall be subject to annual review and increases, and the Annual Base Salary shall not be reduced without Executive’s consent, unless the reduction is related to a broader compensation reduction that applies similarly to other senior executives as a group and does not exceed 10% of her Annual Base Salary.

(ii) Bonuses . Beginning with fiscal year 2006, during the Employment Period, the Company shall establish a bonus plan for each fiscal year (the “ Plan ”) pursuant to which Executive will be eligible to receive an annual bonus (the “ Bonus ”). The Board or the Compensation Committee of the Board will administer the Plan and establish performance objectives for each year. In the event that the Company achieves target based on actual performance, Executive shall be entitled to receive a Bonus in an amount equal to 75% of Executive’s Annual Base Salary (“ Target Bonus ”). Subject to Section 4, Executive will be entitled to receive the Bonus only upon the Company’s achievement of the specified performance objectives and if Executive is employed on the last day of the applicable fiscal year. The Bonus shall become payable on or before March 15 following the end of the applicable fiscal year provided that the Board or Compensation Committee finally determines (x) that the Company has achieved the applicable performance objectives and (y) the amount of the bonus that shall be paid to each executive entitled to receive a bonus for the applicable fiscal year. If the Board or Compensation Committee has not made such final determination by March 15, the Bonus (if any) shall instead be paid as soon as practicable thereafter (but not later than the last day of the calendar year containing such March 15). Executive will also receive a signing bonus of $400,000 (the “ Signing Bonus ”) which shall be paid as soon as practicable following the execution of this Agreement but not later than 30 days after the Effective Date. In the event that Executive terminates her employment without Good Reason or the Company terminates Executive’s employment for Cause on or before December 31, 2006, then Executive shall be required to repay the Signing Bonus to the Company.

(iii) Benefits . During the term of Executive’s employment hereunder, she shall be entitled to participate in all incentive, savings and retirement plans, practices, policies and programs applicable generally to other senior executives of the Company and shall be eligible for participation in and shall receive all benefits under welfare benefit plans, practices, policies and programs provided by the Company to the extent applicable generally to other senior executives of the Company. Notwithstanding anything in this Section 2(c)(iii) to the contrary, all benefit obligations are subject to guidance issued by the U.S. Department of Treasury under Section 409A of the Code. To the extent required, the Company may modify the benefits provided under this Section 2(c)(iii) to comply with such guidance. As of the date

 

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hereof, the benefit plans in which Executive is entitled to participate pursuant to this Section 2(c)(iii) (but not necessarily the level of benefits thereunder) are the same as those offered and/or provided to the Chief Executive Officer and other senior executives. To the extent consistent with applicable law and confidentiality obligations, the Chief Executive Officer shall notify Executive within thirty (30) days if at any time the Company provides additional or different benefit plans to the Chief Executive Officer and/or other senior executives.

(iv) Expenses . During the term of Executive’s employment, Executive shall be entitled to receive reimbursement for all reasonable business expenses incurred by Executive in performance of her duties hereunder provided that Executive provides all necessary documentation in accordance with Company policy.

(v) Stock Options . Concurrent with the Effective Date, Parent shall grant Executive a stock option (the “ Option Grant ”) to purchase Parent’s common stock, par value $0.01, at an exercise price of $10 per share. The Option Grant will be pursuant to the terms and conditions set forth in the Parent’s 2005 Stock Incentive Plan (the “ Stock Incentive Plan ”) and will be subject to the terms of the Stock Incentive Plan and Executive’s option agreement associated with the Option Grant (the “ Option Agreement ”). The Option Grant will be for options to purchase 280,000 shares of the Parent’s common stock and will be exercisable for a maximum of ten years subject to the vesting, termination and other terms set forth in the Option Agreement.

(vi) Investment . Concurrent with the Effective Date, Executive shall purchase 25,000 shares of the Parent’s common stock, par value $0.01, at a price of $10 per share. Such investment shall be evidenced by a Subscription Agreement by and between Executive and Parent dated as of January 2, 2006 (the “ Subscription Agreement ”).

Section 3. Termination of Employment .

(a) Death or Disability . Executive’s employment shall terminate automatically upon Executive’s death. If Executive becomes subject to a Disability during the Term of Employment (pursuant to the definition of Disability set forth below) and the Company elects to terminate Executive’s employment, the Company shall give Executive 14 days’ prior written notice in accordance with Sections 3(e) and 9(h) of its intention to terminate Executive’s employment. For purposes of this Agreement, “ Disability ” means (i) Executive’s inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected (as determined by a physician reasonably selected by the Company and reasonably acceptable to Executive) to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months, or (ii) Executive is, by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months (as determined by a physician reasonably selected by the Company and reasonably acceptable to Executive), receiving income replacement benefits for a period of not less than three months under an accident or health plan covering employees of the Company.

(b) Cause . Executive’s employment may be terminated at any time by the Company for Cause. For purposes of this Agreement, “ Cause ” shall mean Executive’s (i)

 

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conviction of a felony or a crime of moral turpitude; (ii) conduct that constitutes fraud or embezzlement; (iii) willful misconduct or willful gross neglect; (iv) continued willful failure to substantially perform her duties as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer; or (v) a material breach by Executive of this Agreement; provided that in the event of a termination pursuant to clause (iv) or (v), to the extent such failure to perform duties or material breach is subject to cure, the Company shall have notified Executive in writing describing such failure to perform duties or material breach and Executive shall have failed to cure such failure to perform or breach within 30 days after her receipt of such written notice.

(c) Termination Without Cause . The Company may terminate Executive’s employment hereunder without Cause at any time upon 14 days’ prior written notice.

(d) Good Reason . Executive’s employment may be terminated at any time by Executive for Good Reason or without Good Reason upon 14 days’ prior written notice, provided, in the case of a termination for Good Reason, that Executive provides such notice within 30 days after the occurrence of the event giving rise to the termination for Good Reason. For purposes of this Agreement, “ Good Reason ” means voluntary resignation after any of the following actions taken by the Company or any of its subsidiaries without Executive’s consent: (i) any material failure of the Company to fulfill its obligations under this Agreement, (ii) a material and adverse change to, or a material reduction of, Executive’s duties and responsibilities to the Company, (iii) a reduction in Executive’s Annual Base Salary and Target Bonus (not including any diminution related to a broader compensation reduction that is not limited to Executive specifically and that is not more than 10% in the aggregate as set forth in Section 2(c)(i)), (iv) the relocation of Executive’s primary office to a location more than 35 miles from its current location in Norwalk, Connecticut, or (v) Executive no longer reports solely and directly to the CEO and the Board; provided that in the event of a termination pursuant to clause (i) or (ii), to the extent such failure, change or reduction is subject to cure, the Company shall have failed to cure such failure, change or reduction within 30 days after its receipt of Executive’s written notice.

(e) Notice of Termination . Any termination by the Company for Cause or without Cause, or by Executive for Good Reason or without Good Reason, shall be communicated by Notice of Termination to the other party hereto given in accordance with Section 9(h). For purposes of this Agreement, a “ Notice of Termination ” means a written notice that (i) indicates the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon, (ii) to the extent applicable, sets forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of Executive’s employment under the provision so indicated and (iii) if the Date of Termination (as defined below) is other than the date of receipt of such notice, specifies the termination date. The failure by Executive or the Company to set forth in the Notice of Termination any fact or circumstance that contributes to a showing of Good Reason or Cause shall not waive any right of Executive or the Company hereunder or preclude Executive or the Company from asserting such fact or circumstance in enforcing Executive’s or the Company’s rights hereunder.

(f) Date of Termination . “ Date of Termination ” means (i) if Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company for Cause, without Cause or by reason of Disability, or by Executive for Good Reason or without Good Reason, the date of receipt of the Notice of

 

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Termination or any later date specified therein pursuant to Section 3(e), as the case may be (in the case of a termination with or without Good Reason, provided such notice is in accordance with Section 3(d)) and (ii) if Executive’s employment is terminated by reason of death, the date of death.

Section 4. Obligations of the Company upon Termination; Repurchase Rights .

(a) With Good Reason; Without Cause . If during the Employment Period, the Company shall terminate Executive’s employment without Cause or Executive shall terminate her employment for Good Reason, then the Company will provide Executive with the following severance payments and/or benefits:

(i) On or about the Date of Termination, the Company shall pay to Executive in a lump sum, to the extent not previously paid, (i) the Annual Base Salary through the Date of Termination, and (ii) any Bonus earned for any fiscal year ended prior to the year in which the Date of Termination occurs, provided that Executive was employed on the last day of such year (“ Accrued Obligations ”); and

(ii) After the Date of Termination, the Company will pay Executive, in regular monthly installments commencing as of the Date of Termination, the aggregate amount of 18 months of the sum of Executive’s Annual Base Salary and Target Bonus.

Thereafter, the Company shall have no further obligation to Executive or her legal representatives.

(b) Death or Disability . If Executive’s employment shall be terminated by reason of Executive’s death or Disability, then the Company will provide Executive with the following severance payments and/or benefits: The Company shall pay Executive or her legal representatives (A) the Accrued Obligations; (B) a lump sum equal to 100% of Executive’s Annual Base Salary; and (C) the continuance of death or Disability benefits thereafter in accordance with the terms of such plans then in effect.

Thereafter, the Company shall have no further obligation to Executive or her legal representatives.

(c) Cause; Other than for Good Reason .

(i) If Executive’s employment shall be terminated by the Company for Cause or by Executive without Good Reason, then the Company shall have no further payment obligations to Executive other than for payment of the Accrued Obligations. Thereafter, the Company shall have no further obligation to Executive.

(ii) If Executive’s employment shall be terminated by the Company for Cause, then the Company or its designee shall have the right, but not the obligation, to repurchase all or any portion of the shares of common stock of Parent held by Executive (including any shares of Parent’s common stock received upon a distribution from any deferred compensation plan, any restricted shares or any common stock issuable upon exercise of any options held by Executive) in accordance with the provisions of the Management Investor Rights

 

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Agreement dated as of October 17, 2005 (the “ Management Investor Rights Agreement ”). The Company (or its designee) shall have the right to record the transfer of the shares of Parent’s common stock in connection with such purchase on its books and records without the consent of Executive.

(d) Company Repurchase Right . In the event of Executive’s death or her termination of employment for any reason other than Cause, the Company (or its designee) may, by written notice following such employment termination, elect to purchase all or any portion of the shares of common stock of Parent held by Executive (including any shares of the Parent’s common stock received upon a distribution from any deferred compensation plan, any restricted shares or any common stock issuable upon exercise of any options held by Executive) for Fair Market Value (as each such term is defined in the Management Investor Rights Agreement). The determination date for purposes of determining the Fair Market Value shall be the closing date of the purchase of the applicable shares. The closing date of the sale purchase pursuant to this Section 4(d) shall take place on a date designated by the Company or its designee, as applicable, in accordance with the provisions of the Management Investor Rights Agreement.

(e) Separation Agreement and General Release . The Company’s obligations to make payments under Sections 4(a) and 4(b) are conditioned on Executive’s or her legal representative’s executing a separation agreement and general release of claims against the Company and its affiliates (and their officers and directors) in a form acceptable to the Company and Executive.

Section 5. Restrictive Covenants .

Executive shall be subject to the restrictive covenants set forth in Annex I of the Management Investor Rights Agreement in accordance with its terms; provided, however, that the first sentence of Section 1 of Annex I is hereby deemed modified as it applies to Executive by replacing the phrase “third anniversary” with “second anniversary.” Executive is an “Executive Management Holder” as such term is used in the Management Investor Rights Agreement.

Section 6. Non-Disparagement .

(a) During the period commencing on the Effective Date and continuing until the third anniversary of the Date of Termination, neither Executive nor her agents, on the one hand, nor the Company formally, its senior executives, or a member of the Board, on the other hand, shall directly or indirectly issue or communicate any public statement, or statement likely to become public, that maligns, denigrates or disparages the other (including, in the case of communications by Executive or her agents, any of the Company’s officers, directors or employees). The foregoing shall not be violated by truthful responses to legal process or governmental inquiry.

Section 7. Severance Payments .

In addition to the foregoing, and not in any way in limitation of any right or remedy otherwise available to the Company, if Executive violates any provision of Annex I or Section 7 of the Management Investor Rights Agreement or Section 6 hereof, any severance

 

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payments then or thereafter due from the Company to Executive shall be terminated immediately and the Company’s obligation to pay and Executive’s right to receive such severance payments shall terminate and be of no further force or effect.

Section 8. Executive’s Representations, Warranties and Covenants .

(a) Executive hereby represents and warrants to the Company and the Subsidiaries that:

(1) Executive has all requisite power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, and this Agreement has been duly executed by Executive;

(2) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by Executive does not and will not, with or without notice or the passage of time, conflict with, breach, violate or cause a default under any agreement, contract or instrument to which Executive is a party or any judgment, order or decree to which Executive is subject;

(3) Executive is not a party to or bound by any employment agreement, consulting agreement, non-compete agreement, fee for services agreement, confidentiality agreement or similar agreement with any other Person;

(4) upon the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company and Executive, this Agreement will be a legal, valid and binding obligation of Executive, enforceable in accordance with its terms;

(5) Executive understands that Parent and the Company will rely upon the accuracy and truth of the representations and warranties of Executive set forth herein and Executive consents to such reliance.

(6) as of the date of execution of this Agreement, Executive is not in breach of any of its terms, including having committed any acts that would form the basis for a Cause termination if such act had occurred after the Effective Date.

(b) The Company and the Subsidiaries hereby represent and warrant to Executive that:

(1) the Company has all requisite power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, and this Agreement has been duly executed by the Company;

(2) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Company does not and will not, with or without notice or the passage of time, conflict with, breach, violate or cause a default under any agreement, contract or instrument to which the Company is a party or any judgment, order or decree to which the Company is subject;

 

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(3) upon the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company and Executive, this Agreement will be a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable in accordance with its terms; and

(4) the Company understands that Executive will rely upon the accuracy and truth of the representations and warranties of the Company set forth herein and the Company consents to such reliance.

Section 9. General Provisions .

(a) Severability . It is the desire and intent of the parties hereto that the provisions of this Agreement be enforced to the fullest extent permissible under the laws and public policies applied in each jurisdiction in which enforcement is sought. Accordingly, if any particular provision of this Agreement shall be adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, prohibited or unenforceable under any present or future law, and if the rights and obligations of any party under this Agreement will not be materially and adversely affected thereby, such provision, as to such jurisdiction, shall be ineffective, without invalidating the remaining provisions of this Agreement or affecting the validity or enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction; furthermore, in lieu of such invalid or unenforceable provision there will be added automatically as a part of this Agreement, a legal, valid and enforceable provision as similar in terms to such invalid or unenforceable provision as may be possible. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if such provision could be more narrowly drawn so as not to be invalid, prohibited or unenforceable in such jurisdiction, it shall, as to such jurisdiction, be so narrowly drawn, without invalidating the remaining provisions of this Agreement or affecting the validity or enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction.

(b) Entire Agreement . This Agreement, the Management Investor Rights Agreement (as modified by Section 5 hereof), the Subscription Agreement, the Stock Incentive Plan and Option Agreement embody the complete agreement and understanding among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede and preempt any prior understandings, agreements or representations by or among the parties, written or oral, which may have related to the subject matter hereof in any way (including, without limitation, any other employment, severance or change-in-control agreement or understanding).

(c) Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in separate counterparts, each of which is deemed to be an original and all of which taken together constitute one and the same agreement.

(d) Successors and Assigns .

(i) This Agreement is personal to Executive and without the prior written consent of the Company shall not be assignable by Executive otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and distribution. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by Executive’s legal representatives.

(ii) This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Company and its successors and assigns. The Company will require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of

 

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the business and/or assets of the Company to assume expressly and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform it if no such succession had taken place. As used in this Agreement, “Company” shall mean the Company as hereinbefore defined and any successor to its business and/or assets as aforesaid that assumes and agrees to perform this Agreement by operation of law, or otherwise.

(e) Governing Law . THIS AGREEMENT WILL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE , WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO ANY CHOICE OF LAW OR CONFLICTING PROVISION OR RULE (WHETHER OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION) THAT WOULD CAUSE THE LAWS OF ANY JURISDICTION OTHER THAN THE STATE OF DELAWARE TO BE APPLIED. IN FURTHERANCE OF THE FOREGOING, THE INTERNAL LAW OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE WILL CONTROL THE INTERPRETATION AND CONSTRUCTION OF THIS AGREEMENT, EVEN IF UNDER SUCH JURISDICTION’S CHOICE OF LAW OR CONFLICT OF LAW ANALYSIS, THE SUBSTANTIVE LAW OF SOME OTHER JURISDICTION WOULD ORDINARILY APPLY.

(f) Enforcement .

(i) Arbitration . Except for the right of Executive or the Company or its Affiliate to obtain injunctive relief for violation of Sections 5 and 6 of this Agreement or Annex I or Section 7 of the Management Investor Rights Agreement, any controversy, dispute or claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement, or its interpretation, application, implementation, breach or enforcement which the parties are unable to resolve by mutual agreement, shall be settled by submission by either party of the controversy, claim or dispute to binding arbitration in New York (unless the parties agree in writing to a different location), before a single arbitrator in accordance with the Employment Dispute Resolution Rules of the American Arbitration Association then in effect. In any such arbitration proceeding the parties agree to provide all discovery deemed necessary by the arbitrator. The decision and award made by the arbitrator shall be final, binding and conclusive on all parties hereto for all purposes, and judgment may be entered thereon in any court having jurisdiction thereof. Each party shall bear its or her costs and expenses in any such arbitration and one-half of the arbitrator’s fees and costs; provided , however , that the arbitrator shall have the discretion to award the prevailing party reimbursement of its or her reasonable attorney’s fees and costs.

(ii) Remedies . All remedies hereunder are cumulative, are in addition to any other remedies provided for by law and may, to the extent permitted by law, be exercised concurrently or separately, and the exercise of any one remedy shall not be deemed to be an election of such remedy or to preclude the exercise of any other remedy.

(iii) Waiver of Jury Trial . EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT.

 

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(g) Amendment and Waiver . The provisions of this Agreement may be amended and waived only with the prior written consent of the Company and Executive and no course of conduct or failure or delay in enforcing the provisions of this Agreement shall be construed as a waiver of such provisions or affect the validity, binding effect or enforceability of this Agreement or any provision hereof.

(h) Notices . Any notice provided for in this Agreement must be in writing and must be personally delivered, mailed by first class mail (postage prepaid and return receipt requested) or sent by reputable overnight courier service (charges prepaid) to the recipient at the address below indicated or at such other address or to the attention of such other person as the recipient party has specified by prior written notice to the sending party. Notices will be deemed to have been given hereunder and received when delivered personally, five days after deposit in the U.S. mail and one day after deposit for overnight delivery with a reputable overnight courier service.

If to the Company, to:

Affinion Group, Inc.

c/o Apollo Management V, L.P.

9 West 57th Street

New York, New York 10019

Attention: Marc Becker

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

O’Melveny & Myers LLP

Times Square Tower

7 Times Square

New York, NY 10036

Attention: Adam Weinstein, Esq.

If to Executive, to:

Executive’s home address most recently on file with the Company.

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

Audra L. Schwartz, Esq.

Fellig, Feingold, Edelblum & Schwartz, LLC

Two University Plaza, Suite 307

Hackensack , NJ 07601

(i) Survival of Representations, Warranties and Agreements . All representations, warranties and agreements contained herein shall survive the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby indefinitely.

 

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(j) Descriptive Headings . The descriptive headings of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and do not constitute a part of this Agreement. All references to a “Section” in this Agreement are to a section of the Agreement unless otherwise noted.

(k) Construction . Where specific language is used to clarify by example a general statement contained herein, such specific language shall not be deemed to modify, limit or restrict in any manner the construction of the general statement to which it relates. The language used in this Agreement shall be deemed to be the language chosen by the parties to express their mutual intent, and no rule of strict construction shall be applied against any party.

(l) Code Section 409A . Notwithstanding anything herein or elsewhere to the contrary, to the extent Executive or the Company notifies the other that this Agreement, the Management Investor Rights Agreement, the Option Agreement or the Stock Incentive Plan may result in Executive being subject to the penalties of Section 409A of the Code, the Company and its affiliates reserve the right to amend the terms hereof as necessary or desirable to avoid such penalties.

(m) Attorney’s Fees . Promptly following presentation of proper documentation thereof, the Company shall reimburse Executive for all attorneys’ fees reasonably incurred by Executive in the negotiation of this Agreement, the Management Investor Rights Agreement, the Subscription Agreement and the Option Agreement in an amount not to exceed, in the aggregate, $14,000.

[Signature page follows]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

AFFINION GROUP, INC.
By:  

/s/ Nathaniel J. Lipman

Name:   Nathaniel J. Lipman
Title:   Chief Executive Officer
EXECUTIVE

/s/ Maureen E. O’Connell

Name: Maureen E. O’Connell

 

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Exhibit 10.23

 


PATENT LICENSE AGREEMENT

by and among

CD INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY HOLDINGS, LLC

AND

TRILEGIANT LOYALTY SOLUTIONS, INC.

Dated as of October 17, 2005

 



ARTICLE I PATENT LICENSES    1

Section 1.1.

   Non-Exclusive License.    1

Section 1.2.

   Exclusive Rights and License.    2

Section 1.3.

   Permitted Sublieensees.    2

Section 1.4.

   Bankruptcy Considerations.    2
ARTICLE II ROYALTY    3

Section 2.1.

   Royalty.    3
ARTICLE III INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY PROTECTION    3

Section 3.1.

   Patent Prosecution.    3

Section 3.2.

   Enforcement of Other Licensed Patents.    4

Section 3.3.

   Enforcement of Netcentives Patents Under Exclusive Rights.    4
ARTICLE IV TERM AND TERMINATION    5

Section 4.1.

   Termination.    5

Section 4.2.

   Survival.    5
ARTICLE V DISCLAIMER AND LIMITATION OF LIABILITY    5

Section 5.1.

   DISCLAIMER OF REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.    5

Section 5.2.

   Limitation of Consequential Damages.    6
ARTICLE VI MISCELLANEOUS    6

Section 6.1.

   Assignment.    6

Section 6.2.

   Relationship of the Parties.    6

Section 6.3.

   Governing Law and Submission to Jurisdiction.    7

Section 6.4.

   Entire Agreement.    7

Section 6.5.

   Notices.    7

Section 6.6.

   Negotiation.    8

Section 6.7.

   Equitable Relief.    8

Section 6.8.

   Severability.    9

Section 6.9.

   Interpretation.    9

Section 6.10.

   Counterparts.    9

Section 6.11.

   Further Cooperation.    9

Section 6.12.

   Amendment and Waiver.    10

Section 6.13.

   Duly Authorized Signatories.    10

Section 6.14.

   Waiver of Trial By Jury.    10

Section 6.15.

   Descriptive Headings.    10

Section 6.16.

   No Third Party Beneficiaries.    10

Section 6.17.

   Litigation Cooperation.    10

Section 6.18.

   Certain Definitions.    11

 

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PATENT LICENSE AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”), dated as of October 17, 2005, and effective if and as of the Closing (as defined in the Purchase Agreement (as defined below)) Date, by and among CD Intellectual Property Holdings, LLC, a Delaware corporation (“ Licensee ”), on the one hand, and Trilegiant Loyalty Solutions, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“TLS’) and Buyer (as defined below) (as guarantor of TLS’s obligations under this Agreement), on the other hand. Each of Licensee and TLS is sometimes referred to herein as a “ Party ” and, collectively, as the “Parties.” Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein have the meanings ascribed to them in Section 6.18 hereof.

W I T N E S S E T H :

WHEREAS, Cendant Corporation, a Delaware corporation (“Seller”), is the indirect owner of all of the membership interests of TLS (“Membership Interests”) immediately prior to the date hereof; and

WHEREAS, Buyer desires to purchase, and Seller desires to cause the sale to Affinion Group Holdings, Inc. (“Buyer”) of, the Membership Interests pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, dated as of July 26, 2005, between Seller and Buyer (the “Purchase Agreement”); and

WHEREAS, TLS owns certain Patents; and

WHEREAS, in connection with, and as a condition to entering into, the Purchase Agreement, Seller requires that Licensee be granted the right to continue using, and TLS is willing to license, certain Patents owned by TLS.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the covenants and agreements set forth herein, the Parties, intending to be legally bound hereby, agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

PATENT LICENSES

Section 1.1. Non-Exclusive License . (a) TLS hereby grants to Licensee a non-exclusive (except as set forth in Section 1.2), fully paid up, royalty-free (except as set forth in Section 2.1 with respect to the exclusive license under Section 1.2(a)), irrevocable, worldwide, non-sublicensable (except as set forth in Section 1.3) license during the Term to:

(i) the Netcentives Patents (x) in the Field and (y) subject to the non-competition provisions of Section 4.16 of the Purchase Agreement, in the Travel and Real Estate Field, and

(ii) the Other Licensed Patents in Licensee’s Business.

(b) Licenses granted in Section 1.1 (a) (the “ Non-Exclusive License ”) include the right to make, use, sell, offer to sell and import all products and devices, and to


practice all methods, as well as to otherwise exploit any and all other rights under the Licensed Patents in any jurisdiction, in the case of the Netcentives Patents in the Netcentives Field, and in the case of the Other Licensed Patents in connection with Licensee’s Business. Such rights may be exercised through any and all means, now known or hereafter created or discovered.

Section 1.2. Exclusive Rights and License .

(a) TLS hereby grants to Licensee an exclusive (even as to TLS, except as set forth in Section 1.2(b)), irrevocable, worldwide, right and license to sue for all past, present and future infringement of, or otherwise enforce or assert, the Netcentives Patents against Third Parties in the Field (the “ Exclusive Rights ”).

(b) Subject to Section 1.2(a), TLS non-exclusively may license or provide other rights under the Netcentives Patents in the Field only (i) to and in connection with customers of TLS to whom TLS directly provides loyalty programs (and without further right to sublicense by such customers), and provided further, that such loyalty programs are managed and operated by TLS, (ii) to outsourcers, applications development and maintenance providers and other contractors (“Contractors”) providing products or services for any of the foregoing in (i), but only for purposes of such persons to provide such products or services, and (iii) to Subsidiaries of Buyer, including the right for such Subsidiaries to sublicense to (x) customers to whom such Subsidiaries directly provide loyalty programs (and without further right to sublicense by such customers) and (y) Contractors solely to the extent necessary for such Contractors to provide products or services for any of the foregoing customers related to the loyalty programs provided by such Subsidiaries, and (iv) to Maritz, Inc. (“ Maritz ”) in connection with resolving Trilegiant Loyalty Solutions. Inc. vs. Maritz, Inc ., United States District Court for the District of Delaware, Civil Action No. 04-360-JJF, or any appeals, rehearings or other actions between such parties related thereto, provided that such license grant must be limited to and be no greater than TLS’s rights in the Netcentives Patents, which TLS’s rights, for the avoidance of doubt, are subject to Seller’s rights to the Netcentives Patents as set forth in this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, except as set forth in this Section 1.2(b), TLS has no right to grant any licenses under the Netcentives Patents in the Field.

Section 1.3. Permitted Sublicensees . Licensee may sublicense under the Netcentives Patents (i) within the Field without restriction, (ii) within the Travel and Real Estate Field to (1) its Affiliates, and (2) to outsourcers, applications development and maintenance providers and other contractors providing products or services for Licensee or for any of the foregoing in (1), but only for purposes of providing such products or services. Licensee may sublicense its rights under the Other Licensed Patents to (a) its Affiliates, (b) Persons in which it or any of its Affiliates has a material investment but not control, and joint venture, co-branding and other bona fide (i.e. where a principal purpose of the business relationship is not the entering into of such sublicense) business partners of such Persons or Licensee; and (c) outsourcers, applications development and maintenance providers and other contractors providing products or services for Licensee or for any of the foregoing in (a) or (b), but only for purposes of such persons to provide such products or services.

Section 1.4. Bankruptcy Considerations . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, in the event TLS becomes subject to any bankruptcy or similar

 

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proceedings: (i) all of the license rights granted under this Agreement to Licensee, including those set forth in Sections 1.1, 1.2 and 1.3 shall be deemed fully retained by and vested in Licensee as protected intellectual property rights under Section 365(n) of the United States Bankruptcy Code (and similar laws in other jurisdictions) (“ Section 365(n )”); and (ii) Licensee shall have all of the rights afforded to non-debtor licensees under Section 365(n). In the event of commencement of bankruptcy proceedings by or against Licensee, Licensee or its trustee in bankruptcy, as applicable, shall be entitled to assume the licenses granted under or pursuant to this Agreement and shall be entitled to retain all such rights hereunder.

ARTICLE II

ROYALTY

Section 2.1. Royalty . In consideration for the Exclusive Rights under the Netcentives Patents granted in Section 1.2(a), Seller shall pay to TLS a total royalty in the amount of $11,250,000 in accordance with the following schedule: $2,250,000 on each of November 15, 2005, and February 15, May 15, August 15, and November 15, 2006.

ARTICLE III

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY PROTECTION

Section 3.1. Patent Prosecution .

(a) TLS shall maintain and prosecute the Licensed Patents at its sole cost and expense. In the event that TLS desires to cease prosecution of, or cease paying maintenance fees for, or otherwise not maintain any Licensed Patent, TLS shall provide reasonable prior written notice to Licensee of such intention to abandon (which notice shall, in any event, be given no later than forty-five (45) days prior to the next deadline for any action that may be taken with respect to such Licensed Patent with the applicable patent office), and Licensee shall have the right, but not the obligation, to have assigned to it such Licensed Patent to file and/or maintain such patent or application in its own name or the name of any of its Affiliates (subject to a non-exclusive license grantback to TLS to practice in TLS’s and its permitted sublicensees’ current businesses as of the date of the assignment however such businesses may evolve (subject to, with respect to any Netcentives Patents. Licensee’s exclusive rights under Section 1.2(a)). In such event, upon written notice from Licensee to TLS, TLS shall, and hereby does, perpetually and irrevocably assign all right, title and interest throughout the world in and to such Licensed Patent to Licensee, including the right to sue, counterclaim, and recover for past, present, and future infringement of such Licensed Patent. TLS further agrees to execute all other documents and take all further action reasonably requested by Licensee for Licensee to secure and perfect its rights therein.

(b) Each Party will notify the other within thirty (30) days of receipt by such Party of material information concerning the request for, or filing or declaration of, any interference, opposition, reexamination or other prosecution-related proceeding relating to the Netcentives Patents in any jurisdiction. The Parties will thereafter fully consult and reasonably cooperate with each other to determine a course of action with respect to any such prosecution-related

 

3


proceeding. Decisions on whether to initiate or how to respond to such a proceeding, as applicable, and the course of action in such proceeding, including settlement and compromise negotiations and terms, will be made by the Party then controlling the prosecution and maintenance of such Patent in accordance with Section 3.1(a), except that TLS shall not accept any settlements or other compromises in a prosecution-related proceeding (including any interference, opposition or reexamination) involving the Netcentives Patents which narrows the scope of the claims with respect to the Field without the prior written consent of the Licensee, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned.

Section 3.2. Enforcement of Other Licensed Patents . Without limitation to Sections 3.1 and 3.3, TLS shall have the sole right to (i) initiate, defend, and control, at their own expense, all assertions, actions, suits and proceedings with respect to infringement or other violation of the Other Licensed Patents, and (ii) defend, and control, at their own expense, all assertions, actions, suits and proceedings by Third Parties that assert the invalidity or unenforceability of any of the Other Licensed Patents. TLS shall be entitled to keep all proceeds arising from any such assertions, actions, suits and proceedings brought by them and any settlements or compromises thereof. Without limitation to Section 3.1 and 3.3, TLS shall notify and keep Licensee reasonably informed of any such assertions, actions, suits or proceedings, and any settlements or compromises thereof.

Section 3.3. Enforcement of Netcentives Patents Under Exclusive Rights .

(a) TLS and Licensee shall promptly notify each other, and provide to the other all material information in their possession (subject to confidentiality obligations to Third Parties) regarding any actual or suspected infringement or other violation of the Netcentives Patents of which such Party becomes aware.

(b) Licensee shall have the exclusive right, but not the obligation, to initiate, defend, and control, at its own expense, all assertions, actions, suits and proceedings with respect to infringement or other violation of the Netcentives Patents by Third Parties in the Field. TLS shall have the exclusive right, but not the obligation, to initiate, defend, and control, at its own expense, all assertions, actions, suits and proceedings with respect to infringement or other violation of the Netcentives Patents that is solely outside of the Exclusive Field. The Parties shall cooperate, each at its own expense, with respect to defending against any assertions, actions, suits and proceedings by Third Parties that assert the invalidity or unenforceability of any Netcentives Patents.

(c) The Parties shall reasonably consult with each other prior to bringing, and during the course of, any assertion, action, suit or proceeding permitted under this Agreement regarding any Netcentives Patent. Each of the Parties will provide reasonable assistance to the other Party (as controlling Party) in connection with any assertion, action, suit or proceeding relating to the Netcentives Patents, and if required by law in order for such action, suit or proceeding to be initiated or maintained, will join in the suit or proceeding, at the controlling Party’s expense for reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses except as otherwise set forth herein. Where the non-controlling Party is not required by law to join such suit or proceeding (or where the non-controlling Party desires to participate beyond what is required to join and maintain the suit or proceeding), the non-controlling Party shall have the right at its

 

4


election to participate in and join in any assertion, action, suit or proceeding relating to any of the Netcentives Patents using counsel of its choice at its own cost and expense. The controlling Party shall not have a right to negotiate a settlement or compromise with any Third Parties in connection with any assertion, suit or proceeding contemplated by this Article III, if and to the extent the other Party’s rights would be materially adversely affected by such settlement or compromise, or if such settlement or compromise would require the payment of any amounts by the other Party or would include any admission of guilt by the other Party.

(d) Neither Party shall have any claim of any kind against the Party controlling the prosecution, assertion, action, suit or proceeding contemplated under this Article III based on or arising out of the controlling Party’s strategy, tactics and decisions concerning any such prosecution, assertion, action, suit, proceeding, settlement, or compromise (unless due to gross negligence or willful misconduct of the controlling Party), and each of the Parties hereby perpetually and irrevocably releases the controlling Party from any such claims.

ARTICLE IV

TERM AND TERMINATION

Term

This Agreement is effective on and the “Term” shall commence on the Closing Date and the Agreement and Term shall continue in effect (a) with respect to the Other Licensed Patents for the life of such Other Licensed Patents and (b) with respect to the Netcentives Patents until December 31, 2006 (the “Netcentives Term”).

Section 4.1. Termination . The licenses granted hereunder are irrevocable and may not be terminated prior to the expiration of the Term, except by mutual written agreement of the Parties. Each Party shall be entitled to equitable relief as contemplated by Section 6.7 (Equitable Relief), and other customary relief, subject to any disclaimers and limitations set forth herein.

Section 4.2. Survival . Section 6.17 and Articles V and VI shall survive any expiration or termination of this Agreement.

ARTICLE V

DISCLAIMER AND LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

Section 5.1. DISCLAIMER OF REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES . EACH OF THE PARTIES HEREBY SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIMS ANY AND ALL REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES WHATSOEVER, WHETHER EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, IN CONNECTION WITH THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THIS AGREEMENT, INCLUDING REGARDING ANY OF THE PATENTS LICENSED HEREUNDER. WITHOUT LIMITING THE GENERALITY OF THE FOREGOING, LICENSEE ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THE LICENSES GRANTED IN THIS AGREEMENT, AND THE PATENTS LICENSED HEREUNDER ARE PROVIDED “AS IS” AND LICENSEE ASSUMES ALL RISKS IN CONNECTION WITH ITS EXERCISE OF ANY RIGHTS UNDER

 

5


THE LICENSED PATENTS. NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT IS INTENDED TO LIMIT ANY RIGHTS OR REMEDIES OF EITHER PARTY UNDER THE PURCHASE AGREEMENT OR THE OTHER RELATED AGREEMENTS.

Section 5.2. Limitation of Consequential Damages . NO PARTY SHALL UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES BE LIABLE TO ANY OTHER PARTY FOR ANY SPECIAL, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, PUNITIVE OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING LOSS OF PROFITS OR REVENUE) RESULTING OR ARISING FROM THIS AGREEMENT. THIS LIMITATION APPLIES REGARDLESS OF WHETHER SUCH DAMAGES OR OTHER RELIEF ARE SOUGHT BASED ON BREACH OF WARRANTY, BREACH OF CONTRACT, NEGLIGENCE, STRICT LIABILITY IN TORT, OR ANY OTHER LEGAL OR EQUITABLE THEORY.

ARTICLE VI

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 6.1. Assignment .

(a) Licensee may not assign this Agreement or any of its rights, interests or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of Buyer; provided, however, that (i) Licensee may assign any or all of the foregoing (1) to one or more of its Affiliates or (2) in connection with a sale, transfer or other disposition of all or any part of its business or assets; (ii) Licensee may grant sublicenses under any or all of the foregoing (including grants of sublicense and assignment rights that are coextensive with the rights granted to Licensee hereunder) to any Affiliates of which Licensee or any Affiliate divests itself after the Closing Date; and (iii) Licensee and its Affiliates may retain licenses under any or all of the foregoing (including retention of sublicense and assignment rights that are coextensive with the rights granted to Licensee hereunder) in connection with any assignment or transfer of this Agreement or any of the rights, interests or obligations hereunder; provided, that in each case, each assignee or sublicensee, as applicable, agrees in writing to be subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

(b) TLS may freely assign, transfer or grant any of the Licensed patents; provided, that the assignee of such Licensed Patents agrees in writing to be subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, including all rights and obligations with respect to prosecution and enforcement rights of the Netcentives Patents as set forth herein.

(c) Any assignment or transfer in violation of the foregoing in this Section 6.1 shall be void. Subject to the foregoing, this Agreement will be binding upon, inure to the benefit of, and be enforceable by, the Parties and their respective successors and assigns.

Section 6.2. Relationship of the Parties . Nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to render any Party an agent of any other Party and or grant any Party any authority to bind any other Party, transact any business in the other Party’s name or on its behalf, or make any promises or representations on behalf of the other Party. Each Party will perform all of its respective obligations under this Agreement as an independent contractor, and no joint venture, partnership or other relationship shall be created or implied by this Agreement.

 

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Section 6.3. Governing Law and Submission to Jurisdiction . This Agreement shall be governed by, enforced under and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect (to the fullest extent provided by law) to any choice or conflict of law provision or rule thereof which might result in the application of the laws of any other jurisdiction. Subject to Section 6.7, each of the Parties hereby irrevocably and unconditionally consents to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the State of New York and of the United States of America in each case located in the County of New York for any litigation arising out of or relating to this Agreement (and agrees not to commence any litigation relating thereto except in such courts) and further agrees that service of any process, summons, notice or document by U.S. registered mail to its respective address set forth in Section 6.5 (or to such other address for notice that such Party has given the other Parties written notice of in accordance with Section 6.5) shall be effective service of process for any litigation brought against it in any such court. Each Party hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives any objection to the laying of venue of any litigation arising out of this Agreement in the courts of the State of New York or of the United States of America in each case located in the County of New York and hereby further irrevocably and unconditionally waives and agrees not to plead or claim in any such court that any such litigation brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.

Section 6.4. Entire Agreement . This Agreement, including Exhibits A, B and C to this Agreement, as such Exhibits may be amended from time to time, constitutes the entire agreement among the Parties relating to the Licensed Patents, and there are no further agreements or understandings, written or oral, among the Parties with respect thereto.

Section 6.5. Notices . All notices, requests, claims, consents, demands and other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed given if delivered personally, by facsimile (that is confirmed) or sent by overnight courier (providing proof of delivery) to the Parties at the following addresses (or at such other address for a Party as shall be specified by like notice):

If to Licensee:

CD Intellectual Property Holdings, LLC

1 Sylvan Way

Parsippany, NJ 07054

Facsimile: 973.496.4624

Attention: Andrew Hollander, Senior Counsel

 

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With a copy to:

Cendant Corporation

9 West 57th Street

New York, New York 10021

Facsimile: (212) 413-1922

Attn: Eric J. Bock,

         Executive Vice President Law and Corporate Secretary

If to TLS:

Trilegiant Loyalty Solutions, Inc.

7814 Carousel Lane

Richmond, VA 23294

Facsimile: 804-217-6420

Attention: Legal Department

With a copy to:

Affinion Group Holdings, Inc.

100 Connecticut Avenue

Norwalk, Connecticut 06850

Facsimile: 203-956-1206

Attention: Todd Siegel

All such notices, requests and other communications shall be deemed received on the date of receipt by the recipient thereof if received prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, and such day is a Business Day in the place of receipt. Otherwise, any such notice, request or communication shall be deemed not to have been received until the next succeeding Business Day in the place of receipt.

Section 6.6. Negotiation . In the event of any dispute, controversy or claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the breach, termination or validity thereof, or the transactions contemplated hereby (a “ Dispute ”), upon the written notice of any Party hereto, the Parties shall attempt in good faith to negotiate a resolution of the Dispute for a period of 20 days after the receipt of such notice.

Section 6.7. Equitable Relief . The Parties hereby expressly recognize and acknowledge that irreparable damage would result, no adequate remedy at law would exist and damages would be difficult to determine in the event that any provision of this Agreement is not performed in accordance with its specific terms or otherwise breached. Therefore, in addition to, and not in limitation of, any other remedy available to any Party, an aggrieved Party under this Agreement shall be entitled to immediate injunctive relief, without the necessity of proving the inadequacy of money damages as a remedy or the necessity of posting a bond or other security. Such remedies, and any and all other remedies provided for in this Agreement, shall be cumulative in nature and not exclusive and shall be in addition to any other remedies whatsoever which any Party may otherwise have.

 

8


Section 6.8. Severability . If any term or other provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced by any rule of law or public policy, all other conditions and provisions of this Agreement shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect so long as the economic or legal substance of the transactions contemplated hereby are not affected in any manner materially adverse to a Party. Upon such determination that any term or other provisions are invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the Parties shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the Parties as closely as possible in a mutually acceptable manner in order that the transactions be consummated as originally contemplated to the fullest extent possible.

Section 6.9. Interpretation .

(a) When a reference is made in this Agreement to an Article, Section or Exhibit, such reference shall be to an Article or Section of, or an Exhibit to, this Agreement unless otherwise indicated. Whenever the words “include”, “includes” or “including” are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation”. The words “hereof’, “herein” and “hereunder” and words of similar import when used in this Agreement shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement. All terms defined in this Agreement shall have the defined meanings when used in any certificate or other document made or delivered pursuant hereto unless otherwise defined therein. The definitions contained in this Agreement are applicable to the singular as well as the plural forms of such terms and to the masculine as well as to the feminine and neuter genders of such term. Any agreement, instrument or statute defined or referred to herein or in any agreement or instrument that is referred to herein means such agreement, instrument or statute as from time to time amended, modified or supplemented, including (in the case of agreements or instruments) by waiver or consent and (in the case of statutes) by succession of comparable successor statutes and references to all attachments thereto and instruments incorporated therein.

(b) The Parties have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement. In the event an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement shall be construed as if drafted jointly by the Parties and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring any Party by virtue of the authorship of any provisions of this Agreement.

Section 6.10. Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which when executed, shall be deemed to be an original and all of which together shall be deemed to be one and the same instrument binding upon all of the Parties hereto notwithstanding the fact that all Parties are not signatory to the original or the same counterpart. For purposes of this Agreement, facsimile signatures shall be deemed originals, and the Parties agree to exchange original signatures as promptly as possible.

Section 6.11. Further Cooperation . Each Party agrees to cooperate with the others, at any other Party’s request, to execute any and all documents or instruments, or to obtain any consents, in order to assign, transfer, perfect, record, maintain, enforce or otherwise carry out the intent of the terms of this Agreement.

 

9


Section 6.12. Amendment and Waiver . This Agreement (including the Exhibits hereto) may not be amended or modified except by a writing signed by an authorized signatory of each Party. No waiver by any Party or any breach or default hereunder shall be deemed to be a waiver of any preceding or subsequent breach or default.

Section 6.13. Duly Authorized Signatories . Each Party represents and warrants that its signatory whose signature appears below has been and is on the date of this Agreement duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other appropriate action to execute this Agreement.

Section 6.14. Waiver of Trial By Jury . TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ALL RIGHT OF TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM, ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY MATTER ARISING HEREUNDER.

Section 6.15. Descriptive Headings . The descriptive headings of the several articles and sections of this Agreement are inserted for reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.

Section 6.16. No Third Party Beneficiaries . Nothing in this Agreement shall convey any rights upon any Person or entity, which is not a Party or a permitted assignee of a Party to this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, “Affiliate” includes, with respect to any Person, any other Person that becomes an Affiliate of such Person after the Closing Date.

Section 6.17. Litigation Cooperation . The parties recognize that certain documents and other materials and evidence, including witness testimony, with potential relevance to pending or future litigation may be or will be in the possession, custody, or control of TLS. The parties further desire to maintain any privileges that apply to communications between them, and their common interests with regard to pending and future litigation, and to avoid any suggestions of waiver of the confidentiality of privileged communications, memoranda, and documents. Therefore, during pending or future litigation, TLS shall cooperate fully with Seller through any and all reasonable means. Such cooperation shall include, but not be limited to, providing documentation, witness testimony, mental impressions, fact investigation, timely compliance with litigation deadlines, and attorney files to the extent they bear on any claims or defenses, or are otherwise beneficial to Seller, in pending or future litigation. In addition, to the extent Seller asserts the patents covered by this Agreement in pending or future litigation during the term of the license grant applicable to the patents so asserted, TLS shall provide Seller with the ability to do so without the issue of legal standing being an impediment to Seller enforcing its rights, and TLS shall cooperate with Seller to effectuate any settlement agreement entered into regarding pending or future litigation, and such cooperation may include, but not be limited to, granting a license to the patents covered by this Agreement. TLS shall cause the buyer in connection with the sale of TLS and such buyer’s Affiliates and any successors to any of the above in this paragraph to comply with TLS’s obligations under this Agreement.

 

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Section 6.18. Certain Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement :

(a) “ Affiliate ” of any Person means affiliates, companies in which such Person has a material investment but not control, and joint venture, cobranding and other business partners. For the avoidance of doubt, “Affiliate” includes, with respect to any Person, any other Person that becomes an Affiliate of such Person after the Closing Date.

(b) “ Agreement ” has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement:

(c) “ Airlines in Negotiation ” means those airlines with which, as of the Closing Date, Licensee or any of its Affiliates (excluding, for avoidance of doubt, TLS and its Subsidiaries) is engaged in any license or settlement discussions that include the Netcentives Patents. Such airlines are set forth in Exhibit C .

(d) “ Business Day ” or “ business day ” means each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday which is not a day on which banking institutions in New York City are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.

(e) “ Buyer ” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

(f) “ Closing Date ” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

(g) “ Dispute ” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.6.

(h) “ Exclusive Rights ” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.2.

(i) “ Field ” means:

(i) the marketing, sale and/or distribution of any travel products and services, including airline tickets, hotel rooms, car rentals, cruises and vacation packages, directly to consumers, corporate travelers or corporate travel managers over the Internet, as an agent or other intermediary for any of such products or services; in connection with the foregoing, (1) “ agent or other intermediary ” includes businesses currently referred to in the travel industry as “ Online Travel Agencies ” (“ OTAs ”) and metasearch services as they relate to travel products and services, and (2) “ Internet ” means the Internet and any other online or other electronic marketing, sale and/or distribution channel (other than person-to-person voice telephony), now known or hereafter created or used (including any and all wireless channels); and

(ii) use in connection with, or for the benefit of, any of the businesses of the Airlines in Negotiation and any Affiliates thereof, howsoever such businesses may evolve.

(j) “ GAAP ” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, as in effect from time to time.

 

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(k) “ Governmental Entity ” means any United States federal or state government, or any foreign government, or any agency, bureau, board, commission, court, department, tribunal or instrumentality thereof.

(l) “ Licensed Patents ” means the Netcentives Patents and the Other Licensed Patents.

(m) “ Licensee’s Business ” means Licensee’s and its permitted sublicensees’ businesses, howsoever such businesses may change or evolve (including through organic growth, through mergers and acquisitions, or otherwise).

(n) “ Membership Interest ” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

(o) “ Netcentives Field ” means the Field and the Travel and Real Estate Field, collectively.

(p) “ Netcentives Patents ” means the Patents set forth in Exhibit B .

(q) “ Non-Exclusive License ” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.1.

(r) “ Other Licensed Patents ” means all Patents owned by TLS as of immediately following the Closing, other than the Netcentives Patents, including the Patents set forth in Exhibit A .

(s) “ Party ” or “ Parties ” has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.

(t) “ Patent ” means all U.S. and foreign patents and patent applications, including divisions, continuations, continuations-in-part, reissues, reexaminations, and any extensions thereof.

(u) “ Person ” means an association, a corporation, an individual, a partnership, a limited liability company, a trust, or any other entity or organization, including a Governmental Entity.

(v) “ Purchase Agreement ” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

(w) “ Seller ” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

(x) “ Shares ” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

(y) “ Subsidiary ” of any Person means, on any date, any Person (i) the accounts of which would be consolidated with and into those of the applicable Person in such Person’s consolidated financial statements if such financial statements were prepared in accordance with GAAP as of such date or (ii) of which securities or other ownership interests representing more than fifty percent of the equity or more than fifty percent of the ordinary voting power or, in the case of a partnership, more than fifty percent of the general partnership interests or more than fifty percent of the profits or losses of which are, as of such date, owned,

 

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controlled or held by the applicable Person or one or more subsidiaries of such Person. For avoidance of doubt, “Subsidiary” does not include, with respect to a Person, any other Person that controls or is under common control with, such person.

(z) “ Third Party ” means Persons other than a Party or Affiliate thereof in the case of Licensee, or Subsidiary thereof in the case of TLS.

(aa) “ Term ” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.1.

(bb) “TLS” has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.

(cc) “ Travel and Real Estate Field ” means the travel and real estate fields other than to the extent within the Field.

[Signature Page Follows]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the Parties has caused this Agreement to be executed on its behalf on the day and year first above written.

 

CD INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

HOLDINGS, LLC

By:  

/s/ Thomas D. Christopoul

Name:   Thomas D. Christopoul
Title:  

Senior Executive Vice President

Co-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Cendant Marketing Services Division

TRILEGIANT LOYALTY SOLUTIONS, INC.
By:  

/s/ Nathaniel J. Lipman

Name:   Nathaniel J. Lipman
Title:   President & Chief Executive Officer
AFFINION GROUP HOLDINGS, INC.
By:  

/s/ Nathaniel J. Lipman

Name:   Nathaniel J. Lipman
Title:   President & Chief Executive Officer


Exhibit A

Other Licensed Patents

 

Country and Type

   Patent No./
Patent Application No.

Australia Patent

   770,512

Australia Patent

   758,404

U.S. Patent Application

   10,420,901

U.S. Patent Application

   101,349,951

U.S. Patent Application

   101143,866

U.S. Patent Application

   10/127,492

U.S. Provisional Patent Application

   60/641,439

Canada Patent Application

   2,297,787

Canada Patent Application

   2,240,424

Canada Patent Application

   2,381,368

PCT Application

   US03/012435

EP Application

   96 944 791.1

EP Application

   00959 220.5

Israel Application

   137357

Mexico Application

   6780

Singapore Application

   74514

For avoidance of doubt, any and all U.S. and foreign Patents in the same family (including

parent, sibling, progeny and counterpart and equivalent Patents) as the Patents set forth above are

also included in “Other Licensed Patents”.


Exhibit B

Netcentives Patents

 

Country and Type

   Patent No./
Patent Application No.
 

U.S. Patent

   5,774,870  

U.S. Patent

   6,009,412  

U.S. Patent

   6,578,012  

U.S. Patent Application

   09/854,721  

U.S. Patent Application

   09/668,965  

U.S. Patent A location

   09/167,315  

U.S. Patent A location

   09/637,422  

U.S. Patent Application

   09/637,387  

U.S. Patent Application

   09/932,588  

U.S. Patent Application

   09/717,972 1

For avoidance of doubt, “Netcentives Patents” includes the Patents set forth above and any and

all U.S. and foreign Patents in the same family (including parent, sibling, progeny and

counterpart and equivalent Patents) as the Patents set forth above.

 


1 This Patent is abandoned, but may have progeny and/or corresponding patents still alive.


Exhibit C

Airlines in Negotiation

Southwest Airlines

Delta Airlines

United Airlines

Exhibit 12.1

COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

(Dollars in millions)

 

     The Predecessor    

The Company

For the Period
October 17, 2005 to
December 31, 2005

 
     2002     2003     2004     For the Period
January 1, 2005 to
October 16, 2005
   

Earnings:

          

Income (loss) before income taxes and minority interests

   $ 166.1     $ 214.9     $ 271.8     $ 79.0     $ (136.2 )

Fixed charges

     22.2       20.7       14.5       5.3       33.0  
                                        

Total adjustments

     22.2       20.7       14.5       5.3       33.0  
                                        

Earnings adjusted for fixed charges

   $ 188.3     $ 235.6     $ 286.3     $ 84.3     $ (103.2 )
                                        

Fixed charges:

          

Interest expense (note no interest capitalized)

   $ 15.5     $ 14.1     $ 7.3     $ 0.5     $ 31.9  

Portion of rent expense representative of interest (1)

     6.7       6.6       7.2       4.8       1.1  
                                        

Total fixed charges

   $ 22.2     $ 20.7     $ 14.5     $ 5.3     $ 33.0  
                                        

Ratio of earnings to fixed charges

     8.5 x     11.4 x     19.8 x     15.9 x     —    
                                        

(1) One third of rent expense is deemed to be representative of interest.

Exhibit 21.1

LIST OF SUBSIDIARIES OF AFFINION GROUP, INC.

 

Subsidiary

  

Jurisdiction of Origin

Affinion Group, LLC   
(fka Cendant Marketing Group, LLC)    DE
Affinion Benefits Group, Inc   
(fka Progeny Marketing Innovations Inc.)    DE
Cardwell Agency, Inc.    VA
Trilegiant Corporation    DE
Safecard Services Insurance Company    ND
Affinion Loyalty Group, Inc.   
(fka Trilegiant Loyalty Solutions, Inc.)    DE
Affinion Data Services, Inc.   
(fka Cendant Data Services, Inc.)    DE
Affinion Publishing, LLC    DE
Long Term Preferred Care, Inc.    TN
Affinion Loyalty, LLC    DE
Travelers Advantage Services, Inc.    DE
Trilegiant Insurance Services, Inc.    DE
Trilegiant Retail Services, Inc.    DE
Trilegiant Auto Services, Inc.    WY
Credit Card Sentinel Sweden AB    Sweden
CUC Asia Holdings    DE
Entertainment Publications of Argentina, S.A.    Argentina
Entertainment Publications de Mexico, S.A. de C.V.    Mexico
Consumer Alliance Group Inc.    Canada
CED Australasia Limited   
(fka Cendant Australasia Limited)    New Zealand

Exhibit 23.2

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We consent to the use in this Registration Statement on Form S- 4 of our report on the consolidated balance sheet of Affinion Group, Inc. (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2005, and the related consolidated statements of operations, changes in stockholder’s equity, and cash flows for the period from October 17, 2005 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2005, and the combined balance sheet of Cendant Marketing Services Division (a division of Cendant Corporation) (the “Predecessor”) as of December 31, 2004 and related combined statements of operations, changes in combined equity, and cash flows for the period from January 1, 2005 to October 16, 2005, and for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003, dated March 17, 2006 ( May 3, 2006 as to Note 23) (which report expresses an unqualified opinion and includes explanatory paragraphs relating to (1) the Predecessor being a division of Cendant Corporation through October 17, 2005 and following the sale of the Predecessor to the Company it continued to enter into transactions with Cendant Corporation, and (2) the Predecessor prospectively adopting the fair value method of accounting for stock-based compensation on January 1, 2003) appearing in the Prospectus, which is part of this Registration Statement.

We also consent to the reference to us under the heading “Experts” in such Prospectus.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

Stamford, CT

May 5, 2006

Exhibit 25.1

 


SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 


FORM T-1

STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY

UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939 OF A

CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE

 


CHECK IF AN APPLICATION TO DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY OF A TRUSTEE PURSUANT TO SECTION 305(b) (2)

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

(Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter)

 

A National Banking Association   94-1347393
(Jurisdiction of incorporation or
organization if not a U.S. national bank)
  (I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
101 North Phillips Avenue
Sioux Falls, South Dakota
  57104
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip code)

Wells Fargo & Company

Law Department, Trust Section

MAC N9305-175

Sixth Street and Marquette Avenue, 17 th Floor

Minneapolis, Minnesota 55479

(612) 667-4608

(Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)

 


AFFINION GROUP, INC.

(Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware   16-1732152
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
  (I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
100 Connecticut Avenue
Norwalk, CT
  06850
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip code)

 


10 1/8% Senior Notes due 2013

(Title of the indenture securities)

 



Item 1. General Information. Furnish the following information as to the trustee:

 

  (a) Name and address of each examining or supervising authority to which it is subject.

Comptroller of the Currency

Treasury Department

Washington, D.C.

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

Washington, D.C.

Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco

San Francisco, California 94120

 

  (b) Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.

The trustee is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.

 

Item 2. Affiliations with Obligor. If the obligor is an affiliate of the trustee, describe each such affiliation.

None with respect to the trustee.

No responses are included for Items 3-14 of this Form T-1 because the obligor is not in default as provided under Item 13.

 

Item 15. Foreign Trustee. Not applicable.

 

Item 16. List of Exhibits. List below all exhibits filed as a part of this Statement of Eligibility.

 

Exhibit 1.    A copy of the Articles of Association of the trustee now in effect.*
Exhibit 2.    A copy of the Comptroller of the Currency Certificate of Corporate Existence and Fiduciary Powers for Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, dated February 4, 2004.**
Exhibit 3.    See Exhibit 2
Exhibit 4.    Copy of By-laws of the trustee as now in effect.***
Exhibit 5.    Not applicable.
Exhibit 6.    The consent of the trustee required by Section 321(b) of the Act.
Exhibit 7.    A copy of the latest report of condition of the trustee published pursuant to law or the requirements of its supervising or examining authority. ****
Exhibit 8.    Not applicable.
Exhibit 9.    Not applicable.

 

* Incorporated by reference to the exhibit of the same number to the trustee’s Form T-1 filed as exhibit 25 to the Form S-4 dated December 30, 2005 of Hornbeck Offshore Services LLC file number 333-130784-06.


** Incorporated by reference to the exhibit of the same number to the trustee’s Form T-1 filed as exhibit 25 to the Form T-3 dated March 3, 2004 of Trans-Lux Corporation file number 022-28721.

 

*** Incorporated by reference to the exhibit of the same number to the trustee’s Form T-1 filed as exhibit 25 to the Form S-4 dated May 26, 2005 of Penn National Gaming Inc. file number 333-125274.

 

**** Incorporated by reference to the exhibit of the same number to the trustee’s Form T-1 filed as exhibit 25 to the Form S-1 dated April 19, 2006 of Winmark Corporation file number 333-133393.


SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, the trustee, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, a national banking association organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, has duly caused this statement of eligibility to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in the City of Minneapolis and State of Minnesota on the 28 th day of April 2006.

 

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

/s/ Lynn M. Steiner

Lynn M. Steiner

Vice President


EXHIBIT 6

April 28, 2006

Securities and Exchange Commission

Washington, D.C. 20549

Gentlemen:

In accordance with Section 321(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, the undersigned hereby consents that reports of examination of the undersigned made by Federal, State, Territorial, or District authorities authorized to make such examination may be furnished by such authorities to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon its request therefor.

 

Very truly yours,

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

/s/ Lynn M. Steiner

Lynn M. Steiner

Vice President

Exhibit 25.2

 


SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 


FORM T-1

STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY

UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939 OF A

CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE

 


CHECK IF AN APPLICATION TO DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY OF A TRUSTEE PURSUANT TO SECTION 305(b) (2)

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

(Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter)

 

A National Banking Association   94-1347393
(Jurisdiction of incorporation or
organization if not a U.S. national bank)
  (I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
101 North Phillips Avenue
Sioux Falls, South Dakota
  57104
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip code)

Wells Fargo & Company

Law Department, Trust Section

MAC N9305-175

Sixth Street and Marquette Avenue, 17 th Floor

Minneapolis, Minnesota 55479

(612) 667-4608

(Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)

 


AFFINION GROUP, INC.

(Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware   16-1732152
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
  (I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
100 Connecticut Avenue
Norwalk, CT
  06850
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip code)

 


11.5% Senior Subordinated Notes Due 2015

(Title of the indenture securities)

 



Item 1. General Information. Furnish the following information as to the trustee:

 

  (a) Name and address of each examining or supervising authority to which it is subject.

Comptroller of the Currency

Treasury Department

Washington, D.C.

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

Washington, D.C.

Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco

San Francisco, California 94120

 

  (b) Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.

The trustee is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.

 

Item 2. Affiliations with Obligor. If the obligor is an affiliate of the trustee, describe each such affiliation.

None with respect to the trustee.

No responses are included for Items 3-14 of this Form T-1 because the obligor is not in default as provided under Item 13.

 

Item 15. Foreign Trustee. Not applicable.

 

Item 16. List of Exhibits. List below all exhibits filed as a part of this Statement of Eligibility.

 

Exhibit 1.    A copy of the Articles of Association of the trustee now in effect.*
Exhibit 2.    A copy of the Comptroller of the Currency Certificate of Corporate Existence and Fiduciary Powers for Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, dated February 4, 2004.**
Exhibit 3.    See Exhibit 2
Exhibit 4.    Copy of By-laws of the trustee as now in effect.***
Exhibit 5.    Not applicable.
Exhibit 6.    The consent of the trustee required by Section 321(b) of the Act.
Exhibit 7.    A copy of the latest report of condition of the trustee published pursuant to law or the requirements of its supervising or examining authority. ****
Exhibit 8.    Not applicable.
Exhibit 9.    Not applicable.

 

* Incorporated by reference to the exhibit of the same number to the trustee’s Form T-1 filed as exhibit 25 to the Form S-4 dated December 30, 2005 of Hornbeck Offshore Services LLC file number 333-130784-06.


** Incorporated by reference to the exhibit of the same number to the trustee’s Form T-1 filed as exhibit 25 to the Form T-3 dated March 3, 2004 of Trans-Lux Corporation file number 022-28721.

 

*** Incorporated by reference to the exhibit of the same number to the trustee’s Form T-1 filed as exhibit 25 to the Form S-4 dated May 26, 2005 of Penn National Gaming Inc. file number 333-125274.

 

**** Incorporated by reference to the exhibit of the same number to the trustee’s Form T-1 filed as exhibit 25 to the Form S-1 dated April 19, 2006 of Winmark Corporation file number 333-133393.


SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, the trustee, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, a national banking association organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, has duly caused this statement of eligibility to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in the City of Minneapolis and State of Minnesota on the 28 th day of April 2006.

 

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

/s/ Lynn M. Steiner

Lynn M. Steiner

Vice President


EXHIBIT 6

April 28, 2006

Securities and Exchange Commission

Washington, D.C. 20549

Gentlemen:

In accordance with Section 321(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, the undersigned hereby consents that reports of examination of the undersigned made by Federal, State, Territorial, or District authorities authorized to make such examination may be furnished by such authorities to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon its request therefor.

 

Very truly yours,

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

/s/ Lynn M. Steiner

Lynn M. Steiner

Vice President

Exhibit 99.1

FORM OF LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL

of

AFFINION GROUP, INC.

Offer to Exchange up to $304,000,000 Aggregate Principal Amount of their

10  1 / 8 % Senior Notes Due 2013 which have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended

For Any and All of their Outstanding

10  1 / 8 % Senior Notes Due 2013

and up to $355,500,000 Aggregate Principal Amount of their

11  1 / 2 % Senior Subordinated Notes Due 2015 which have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended

For Any and All of their Outstanding

11  1 / 2 % Senior Subordinated Notes Due 2015

Pursuant to the Prospectus Dated                     , 2006

 

 
THIS OFFER WILL EXPIRE AT 5:00 P.M., NEW YORK CITY TIME, ON                     , 2006 UNLESS EXTENDED BY AFFINION GROUP, INC. IN ITS SOLE DISCRETION (THE “EXPIRATION DATE”). TENDERS OF NOTES MAY BE WITHDRAWN AT ANY TIME PRIOR TO THE EXPIRATION DATE.

The Exchange Agent for the Exchange Offer is:

WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A.

 

By Registered or

Certified Mail:

Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.

MAC - N9303-121

Corporate Trust Operations

P.O. Box 1517

Minneapolis, MN 55480-1517

Attn: Reorg

 

By Overnight Delivery or

Regular Mail:

Wells Fargo Bank, N.A

MAC - N9303-121

Corporate Trust Operations

Sixth & Marquette Avenue

Minneapolis, MN 55479

Attn: Reorg

By Facsimile:

(612) 667-4927

Attn: Bondholder Communications

Confirm by Telephone:

(800) 344-5128

Attn: Bondholder Communications

Delivery of this Letter of Transmittal to an Address other than as set forth above or transmission by facsimile to a number other than as set forth above does not constitute valid delivery.

The undersigned acknowledges receipt of the Prospectus dated         , 2006 (the “Prospectus”) of Affinion Group, Inc. (the “Issuer”), and this Letter of Transmittal (the “Letter of Transmittal”), which together describe the Issuer’s offer (the “Exchange Offer”) to (i) exchange their 10  1 / 8 % Senior Notes Due 2013 (the “New Senior Notes”) which have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), for an equal aggregate principal amount of their outstanding 10  1 / 8 % Senior Notes Due 2013 (the “Old Senior Notes”) and (ii) exchange their 11  1 / 2 % Senior Subordinated Notes Due 2015 which have been registered under the Securities Act (the “New Senior Subordinated Notes” and, together with the New Senior Notes, the “Exchange Notes”) for an equal aggregate principal amount of their outstanding 11  1 / 2 % Senior Subordinated Notes Due 2015 (the “Old Senior Subordinated Notes” and, together with the Old Senior Notes, the “Old Notes”). The Old Senior Notes were issued on October 17, 2005 and April 28, 2006, and the Old Senior Subordinated Notes were issued on April 26, 2006.


The terms of the Exchange Notes are identical in all material respects (including principal amount, interest rate and maturity) to the terms of the Old Notes for which they may be exchanged pursuant to the Exchange Offer, except that the Exchange Notes are freely tradable by holders thereof (except as provided herein or in the Prospectus).

Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the same meaning given them in the Prospectus.

YOUR BANK OR BROKER CAN ASSIST YOU IN COMPLETING THIS FORM. THE INSTRUCTIONS INCLUDED WITH THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL MUST BE FOLLOWED. QUESTIONS AND REQUESTS FOR ASSISTANCE OR FOR ADDITIONAL COPIES OF THE PROSPECTUS AND THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL MAY BE DIRECTED TO THE EXCHANGE AGENT.

The undersigned has checked the appropriate boxes below and signed this Letter of Transmittal to indicate the action the undersigned desires to take with respect to the Exchange Offer.

PLEASE READ THE ENTIRE LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL AND

THE PROSPECTUS CAREFULLY BEFORE CHECKING ANY BOX BELOW.

List below the Old Notes to which this Letter of Transmittal relates. If the space provided below is inadequate, the certificate numbers and aggregate principal amounts should be listed on a separate signed schedule affixed hereto.

 

Name(s) and address(es) of registered holder(s)

(Please fill in if blank)

  

Certificate

Number(s)*

  

Aggregate

Principal

Amount

Represented**

  

Principal

Amount

Tendered**

                   
                   
                   
                    

  *Need not be completed by Holders tendering by book-entry transfer.

**  Unless otherwise indicated, the holder will be deemed to have tendered the full aggregate principal amount represented by such Old Notes. See instruction 2.

 

Holders of Old Notes whose Old Notes are not immediately available or who cannot deliver all other required documents to the Exchange Agent on or prior to the Expiration Date or who cannot complete the procedures for book-entry transfer on a timely basis, must tender their Old Notes according to the guaranteed delivery procedures set forth in the Prospectus.

Unless the context otherwise requires, the term “holder” for purposes of this Letter of Transmittal means any person in whose name Old Notes are registered or any other person who has obtained a properly completed bond power from the registered holder or any person whose Old Notes are held of record by The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”).

 

2


If the undersigned is not a broker-dealer, the undersigned represents that it is not engaged in, and does not intend to engage in, a distribution of Exchange Notes. If the undersigned is a broker-dealer that will receive Exchange Notes for its own account in exchange for Old Notes that were acquired as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities, it acknowledges that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such Exchange Notes; however, by so acknowledging and by delivering a prospectus, the undersigned will not be deemed to admit that it is an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act. A broker-dealer may not participate in the Exchange Offer with respect to Old Notes acquired other than as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities. Any holder who is an “affiliate” of the Issuer or who has an arrangement or understanding with respect to the distribution of the Exchange Notes to be acquired pursuant to the Exchange Offer, or any broker-dealer who purchased Old Notes from the Issuer to resell pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act or any other available exemption under the Securities Act must comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements under the Securities Act.

 

¨ CHECK HERE IF TENDERED OLD NOTES ARE BEING DELIVERED PURSUANT TO A NOTICE OF GUARANTEED DELIVERY PREVIOUSLY SENT TO THE EXCHANGE AGENT AND COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING:

Name(s) of Registered Holder(s):                                                                                                                                                             

Window Ticker Number (if any):                                                                                                                                                             

 

Date of Execution of Notice of Guaranteed Delivery:                                                                                                                       

 

Name of Eligible Institution that Guaranteed Delivery:                                                                                                                    

 

¨ CHECK HERE IF YOU ARE A BROKER-DEALER AND WISH TO RECEIVE 10 ADDITIONAL COPIES OF THE PROSPECTUS AND 10 COPIES OF ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS THERETO.

 

Name:                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

 

Address:                                                                                                                                                                                                              

                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

 

3


SPECIAL EXCHANGE INSTRUCTIONS

(See Instructions 3, 4 and 5)

 

To be completed ONLY if certificates for Old Notes in a principal amount not tendered, or Exchange Notes issued in exchange for Old Notes accepted for exchange, are to be issued in the name of someone other than the undersigned.

 

Issue certificate(s) to:

 

Name 

(Please Print)

 

Address 

 

(Zip Code)

 

(Tax Identification or Social Security Number)

(See Substitute Form W-9 Herein)

    

SPECIAL DELIVERY INSTRUCTIONS

(See Instructions 3, 4 and 5)

 

To be completed ONLY if certificates for Old Notes in a principal amount not tendered, or Exchange Notes issued in exchange for Old Notes accepted for exchange, are to be sent to someone other than the undersigned, or to the undersigned at an address other than that shown above.

 

Deliver Certificate(s) to:

 

Name 

(Please Print)

 

Address 

 

(Zip Code)

 

(Tax Identification or Social Security Number)

(See Substitute Form W-9 Herein)

 

4


PLEASE READ THE ACCOMPANYING INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Exchange Offer, the undersigned hereby tenders to the Issuer the principal amount of the Old Notes indicated above. Subject to, and effective upon, the acceptance for exchange of all or any portion of the Old Notes tendered herewith in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Exchange Offer (including, if the Exchange Offer is extended or amended, the terms and conditions of any such extension or amendment), the undersigned hereby exchanges, assigns and transfers to, or upon the order of, the Issuer all right, title and interest in and to such Old Notes as are being tendered herewith. The undersigned hereby irrevocably constitutes and appoints the Exchange Agent as its true and lawful agent and attorney-in-fact of the undersigned (with full knowledge that the Exchange Agent also acts as the agent of the Issuer, in connection with the Exchange Offer) to cause the Old Notes to be assigned, transferred and exchanged.

The undersigned represents and warrants that it has full power and authority to tender, exchange, assign and transfer the Old Notes and to acquire Exchange Notes issuable upon the exchange of such tendered Old Notes, and that, when the same are accepted for exchange, the Issuer will acquire good and unencumbered title to the tendered Old Notes, free and clear of all liens, restrictions, charges and encumbrances and not subject to any adverse claim. The undersigned and any beneficial owner of the Old Notes tendered hereby further represent and warrant that (i) the Exchange Notes acquired by the undersigned and any such beneficial owner of Old Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer are being acquired in the ordinary course of business, (ii) neither the undersigned nor any such beneficial owner has an arrangement or understanding with any person to participate in the distribution of the Old Notes or the Exchange Notes within the meaning of the Securities Act, (iii) if the undersigned or any such beneficial owner is not a broker-dealer, that neither the undersigned nor any such beneficial owner nor any such other person is engaging in or intends to engage in a distribution of such Exchange Notes, (iv) neither the undersigned nor any such other person is an “affiliate,” as defined in Rule 405 promulgated under the Securities Act, of the Issuer or if the undersigned is an “affiliate,” such person will comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act to the extent applicable, and (v) if the undersigned or any such beneficial owner is a broker-dealer, that it will receive Exchange Notes for its own account in exchange for Old Notes that were acquired as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities and that it will be required to acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such Exchange Notes. The undersigned and each beneficial owner acknowledge and agree that any person who is an affiliate of the Issuer or who tenders in the Exchange Offer for the purpose of participating in a distribution of the Exchange Notes must comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act in connection with a resale transaction of the Exchange Notes acquired by such person and may not rely on the position of the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission set forth in the no-action letters discussed in the Prospectus under the caption “The Exchange Offer—Purpose and Effect of this Exchange Offer.” The undersigned and each beneficial owner will, upon request, execute and deliver any additional documents deemed by the Exchange Agent or the Issuer to be necessary or desirable to complete the sale, assignment and transfer of the Old Notes tendered hereby.

For purposes of the Exchange Offer, the Issuer shall be deemed to have accepted validly tendered Old Notes when, as and if the Issuer had given oral notice (confirmed in writing) or written notice thereof to the Exchange Agent.

If any tendered Old Notes are not accepted for exchange pursuant to the Exchange Offer because of an invalid tender, the occurrence of certain other events set forth in the Prospectus or otherwise, any such unaccepted Old Notes will be returned, without expense, to the undersigned at the address shown below or at a different address as may be indicated herein under “Special Delivery Instructions” as promptly as practicable after the Expiration Date.

All authority herein conferred or agreed to be conferred shall survive the death or incapacity of the undersigned and every obligation of the undersigned hereunder shall be binding upon the heirs, personal representatives, successors and assigns of the undersigned.

 

5


The undersigned understands that tenders of Old Notes pursuant to the procedures described under the caption “The Exchange Offer—Procedures for Tendering” in the Prospectus and in the instructions hereto will constitute a binding agreement between the undersigned and the Issuer upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Exchange Offer, subject only to withdrawal of such tenders on the terms set forth in the Prospectus under the caption “The Exchange Offer—Withdrawal of Tenders.”

Unless otherwise indicated under “Special Exchange Instructions,” please cause the Exchange Notes to be issued, and return any Old Notes not tendered or not accepted for exchange, in the name(s) of the undersigned (and, in the case of Old Notes tendered by book-entry transfer, by credit to the account at DTC). Similarly unless otherwise indicated under “Special Delivery Instructions,” please mail any certificates for Old Notes not tendered or not accepted for exchange (and accompanying documents, as appropriate), and any certificates for Exchange Notes, to the undersigned at the address shown below the undersigned’s signature(s). If both “Special Exchange Instructions” and “Special Delivery Instructions” are completed, please cause the Exchange Notes to be issued, and return any Old Notes not tendered or not accepted for exchange, in the name(s) of, and deliver any certificates for such Old Notes or Exchange Notes to, the person(s) so indicated (and in the case of Old Notes tendered by book-entry transfer, by credit to the account at DTC so indicated). The undersigned recognizes that the Issuer has no obligation, pursuant to the “Special Exchange Instructions,” to transfer any Old Notes from the name of the registered holder(s) thereof if the Issuer does not accept for exchange any of the Old Notes so tendered.

Holders of Old Notes whose Old Notes are not immediately available or who cannot deliver all other required documents to the Exchange Agent on or prior to the Expiration Date or who cannot complete the procedures for book-entry transfer on a timely basis, must tender their Old Notes according to the guaranteed delivery procedures set forth in the Prospectus.

 

6


TENDERING HOLDER(S) SIGN HERE

 

 


 

 


Signature(s) of Registered Holder(s) or Authorized Signatory

(See guarantee requirement below)

Dated: 

 

(Must be signed by registered holder(s) exactly as name(s) appear(s) on certificate(s) for Old Notes hereby tendered or in whose name Old Notes are registered on the books of DTC or one of its participants, or by any person(s) authorized to become the registered holder(s) by endorsements and documents transmitted herewith. If signature is by a trustee, executor, administrator, guardian, attorney-in-fact, officer of a corporation or other person acting in a fiduciary or representative capacity, please set forth the full title of such person. See instruction 3.)

Name(s): 

 

(Please Print)

Capacity (full title): 

 

Address: 

 

 

 


(Including Zip Code)

Area Code and Telephone No.: 

 

Tax Identification: 

 

SIGNATURE GUARANTEE

(IF REQUIRED—SEE INSTRUCTION 3)

Authorized Signature: 

 

Name(s): 

 

Address: 

 

 

 


(Including Zip Code)

 

 


Name of Firm: 

 

Area Code and Telephone No.: 

 

Dated:                      , 2006

 

 

7


INSTRUCTIONS

FORMING PART OF THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS

OF THE EXCHANGE OFFER

1. Delivery of This Letter of Transmittal and Certificates; Guaranteed Delivery Procedures.

A holder of Old Notes may tender the same by (i) properly completing, dating and signing this Letter of Transmittal or a facsimile hereof (all references in the Prospectus to the Letter of Transmittal shall be deemed to include a facsimile thereof) and mailing or delivering the same, together with the certificate or certificates, if applicable, representing the Old Notes being tendered and any required signature guarantees and any other documents required by this Letter of Transmittal, to the Exchange Agent at its address set forth above prior to the Expiration Date, or (ii) complying with the procedure for book-entry transfer described below, or (iii) complying with the guaranteed delivery procedures described below.

Holders of Old Notes may tender Old Notes by book-entry transfer by crediting the Old Notes to the Exchange Agent’s account at DTC in accordance with DTC’s Automated Tender Offer Program (“ATOP”) and by complying with applicable ATOP procedures with respect to the Exchange Offer. DTC participants that are accepting the Exchange Offer should transmit their acceptance to DTC, which will edit and verify the acceptance and execute a book-entry delivery to the Exchange Agent’s account at DTC. DTC will then send a computer-generated message (an “Agent’s Message”) to the Exchange Agent for its acceptance in which the holder of the Old Notes acknowledges and agrees to be bound by the terms of, and makes the representations and warranties contained in, this Letter of Transmittal; the DTC participant confirms on behalf of itself and the beneficial owners of such Old Notes all provisions of this Letter of Transmittal (including any representations and warranties) applicable to it and such beneficial owner as fully as if it had completed the information required herein and executed and transmitted this Letter of Transmittal to the Exchange Agent. Delivery of the Agent’s Message by DTC will satisfy the terms of the Exchange Offer as to execution and delivery of a Letter of Transmittal by the participant identified in the Agent’s Message. DTC participants may also accept the Exchange Offer by submitting a Notice of Guaranteed Delivery through ATOP.

THE METHOD OF DELIVERY OF OLD NOTES, THE LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL AND ALL OTHER REQUIRED DOCUMENTS TO THE EXCHANGE AGENT IS AT THE HOLDER’S ELECTION AND RISK. RATHER THAN MAIL THESE ITEMS, WE RECOMMEND THAT HOLDERS USE AN OVERNIGHT OR HAND DELIVERY SERVICE. IN ALL CASES, HOLDERS SHOULD ALLOW SUFFICIENT TIME TO ASSURE DELIVERY TO THE EXCHANGE AGENT BEFORE THE EXPIRATION DATE. HOLDERS SHOULD NOT SEND US THE LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL OR OLD NOTES. HOLDERS MAY REQUEST THEIR RESPECTIVE BROKERS, DEALERS, COMMERCIAL BANKS, TRUST COMPANIES OR OTHER NOMINEES TO EFFECT THE ABOVE TRANSACTIONS FOR THEM.

Holders whose Old Notes are not immediately available or who cannot deliver their Old Notes and all other required documents to the Exchange Agent on or prior to the Expiration Date or comply with book-entry transfer procedures on a timely basis must tender their Old Notes pursuant to the guaranteed delivery procedure set forth in the Prospectus. Pursuant to such procedure: (i) such tender must be made by or through an Eligible Institution (as defined below); (ii) on or prior to the Expiration Date, the Exchange Agent must have received from such Eligible Institution a properly completed and duly executed notice of guaranteed delivery by facsimile transmission, mail or hand delivery or a properly transmitted Agent’s Message and notice of guaranteed delivery setting forth the name and address of the tendering holder, the registered numbers of the Old Notes, the principal amount of Old Notes tendered; stating that the tender is being made thereby, and guaranteeing that, within three (3) New York Stock Exchange trading days after the expiration date, this Letter of Transmittal or facsimile thereof together with the Old Notes or a book-entry confirmation, and any other documents required by this Letter of Transmittal will be deposited by the eligible institution with the exchange agent; and (iii) all tendered Old Notes (or a confirmation of any book-entry transfer of such Old Notes into the Exchange Agent’s account at a book-entry transfer facility) as well as this Letter of Transmittal and all other documents required by this Letter of Transmittal, must be received by the Exchange Agent within three New York Stock Exchange trading days after the Expiration Date, all as provided in the Prospectus.

 

8


No alternative, conditional, irregular or contingent tenders will be accepted. All tendering holders, by execution of this Letter of Transmittal (or facsimile thereof), shall waive any right to receive notice of the acceptance of the Old Notes for exchange.

2. Partial Tenders; Withdrawals.

If less than the entire principal amount of Old Notes evidenced by a submitted certificate is tendered, the tendering holder must fill in the aggregate principal amount of Old Notes tendered in the box entitled “Description of Old Notes Tendered Herewith.” A newly issued certificate for the Old Notes submitted but not tendered will be sent to such holder as soon as practicable after the Expiration Date. All Old Notes delivered to the Exchange Agent will be deemed to have been tendered unless otherwise clearly indicated.

A tender pursuant to the Exchange Offer may be withdrawn at any time prior to the Expiration Date.

To be effective with respect to the tender of Old Notes, (i) a written notice of withdrawal, which notice may be by telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or letter, must be received by the Exchange Agent at the address for the Exchange Agent set forth above; or (ii) holders must comply with the appropriate procedures of DTC’s Automated Tender Offer Program system. For a notice of withdrawal to be effective, it must (i) specify the name of the person who tendered the Old Notes to be withdrawn; (ii) identify the Old Notes to be withdrawn (including the principal amount of such Old Notes, or, if applicable, the serial numbers shown on the particular certificates evidencing such Old Notes and the principal amount of Old Notes represented by such certificates); (iii) where certificates for Old Notes have been transmitted, specify the name in which such Old Notes were registered, if different from that of the withdrawing holder; (iv) include a statement that such holder is withdrawing its election to have such Old Notes exchanged; and (v) be signed by the holder in the same manner as the original signature on this Letter of Transmittal (with signatures guaranteed by an eligible institution unless such holder is an eligible institution). The Exchange Agent will return the properly withdrawn Old Notes promptly following receipt of notice of withdrawal. If Old Notes have been tendered pursuant to the procedure for book-entry transfer, any notice of withdrawal must specify the name and number of the account at DTC to be credited with the withdrawn Old Notes and otherwise comply with the procedures of such facility. All questions as to the validity of notices of withdrawals, including time of receipt, will be determined by the Issuer, and such determination will be final and binding on all parties.

Any Old Notes so withdrawn will be deemed not to have been validly tendered for exchange for purposes of the Exchange Offer. Any Old Notes which have been tendered for exchange but which are not exchanged for any reason will be returned to the holder thereof without cost to such holder (or, in the case of Old Notes tendered by book-entry transfer into the Exchange Agent’s account at DTC pursuant to the procedures described above, such Old Notes will be credited to an account maintained with DTC for Old Notes) promptly after withdrawal, rejection of tender or termination of the Exchange Offer. Properly withdrawn Old Notes may be retendered by following one of the procedures described under the caption “The Exchange Offer—Procedures for Tendering” in the Prospectus at any time prior to the Expiration Date.

3. Signature on this Letter of Transmittal; Written Instruments and Endorsements; Guarantee of Signatures.

If this Letter of Transmittal is signed by the registered holder(s) of the Old Notes tendered hereby, the signature must correspond with the name(s) as written on the face of the certificates without alteration, enlargement or any change whatsoever.

If any of the Old Notes tendered hereby are owned of record by two or more joint owners, all such owners must sign this Letter of Transmittal.

If a number of Old Notes registered in different names are tendered, it will be necessary to complete, sign and submit as many separate copies of this Letter of Transmittal as there are different registrations of Old Notes.

 

9


When this Letter of Transmittal is signed by the registered holder or holders (which term, for the purposes described herein, shall include DTC) of Old Notes listed and tendered hereby, no endorsements of certificates or separate written instruments of transfer or exchange are required unless Exchange Notes issued in exchange therefor are to be issued, or Old Notes are not tendered or not exchanged are to be returned, in the name of any person other than the registered holder.

Signatures on any such certificates or separate written instruments of transfer or exchange must be guaranteed by an Eligible Institution. Signatures on this Letter of Transmittal must be guaranteed by a member firm of a registered national securities exchange or of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., a commercial bank or trust company having an office or correspondent in the United States or another “eligible institution” within the meaning of Rule 17Ad-15 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, unless the Old Notes tendered pursuant thereto are tendered (i) by a registered holder who has not completed the box entitled “Special Issuance Instructions” or “Special Delivery Instructions” on this Letter of Transmittal or (ii) for the account of an eligible institution.

If this Letter of Transmittal is signed by a person other than the registered holder of any Old Notes listed on the Old Notes, such Old Notes must be endorsed or accompanied by a properly completed bond power. The bond power must be signed by the registered holder as the registered holder’s name appears on the Old Notes and an eligible institution must guarantee the signature on the bond power.

If this Letter of Transmittal or any Old Notes or bond powers are signed by trustees, executors, administrators, guardians, attorneys-in-fact, officers of corporations or others acting in a fiduciary or representative capacity, such persons should so indicate when signing. Unless waived by us, they should also submit evidence satisfactory to us of their authority to deliver this Letter of Transmittal.

4. Special Exchange and Delivery Instructions.

Tendering holders should indicate, as applicable, the name and address to which the Exchange Notes or certificates for Old Notes not tendered or not accepted for exchange are to be issued or sent, if different from the name and address of the person signing this Letter of Transmittal. In the case of issuance in a different name, the tax identification number of the person named must also be indicated. Holders tendering Old Notes by book-entry transfer may request that Old Notes not exchanged be credited to such account maintained at the book-entry transfer facility as such holder may designate.

5. Transfer Taxes.

The Issuer shall pay all transfer taxes, if any, applicable to the exchange of Old Notes under the Exchange Offer. If, however, certificates representing Old Notes for principal amounts not tendered or accepted for exchange are to be delivered to, or are to be issued in the name of any person other than the registered holder of the Old Notes tendered hereby, or if tendered Old Notes are registered in the name of any person other than the person signing this Letter of Transmittal, or if a transfer tax is imposed for any reason other than the exchange of Old Notes under the Exchange Offer, the amount of any such transfer taxes (whether imposed on the registered holder or any other person) will be payable by the tendering holder. If satisfactory evidence of payment of such taxes is not submitted herewith, the amount of such transfer taxes will be billed to that tendering holder.

6. Waiver of Conditions.

The Issuer reserves the absolute right to waive, in whole or in part, any of the conditions to the Exchange Offer set forth in the Prospectus.

7. Mutilated, Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Securities.

Any holder whose Old Notes have been mutilated, lost, stolen or destroyed, should contact the Exchange Agent at the address indicated above for further instructions.

 

10


8. Irregularities.

All questions as to the validity, form, eligibility (including time of receipt), and acceptance of Letters of Transmittals or Old Notes will be resolved by the Issuer whose determination will be final and binding. The Issuer reserves the absolute right to reject any or all Letters of Transmittal or tenders that are not in proper form or the acceptance of which would, in the opinion of the Issuer’s counsel, be unlawful. The Issuer also reserves the right to waive any irregularities or conditions of tender as to the particular Old Notes covered by any Letter of Transmittal or tendered pursuant to such letter. None of the Issuer, the Exchange Agent or any other person will be under any duty to give notification of any defects or irregularities in tenders or incur any liability for failure to give any such notification. The Issuer’s interpretation of the terms and conditions of the Exchange Offer shall be final and binding.

9. Substitute Form W-9.

Each holder of Old Notes whose Old Notes are accepted for exchange (or other payee) is required to provide a correct taxpayer identification number (“TIN”), generally the holder’s Social Security or federal employer identification number, and certain other information, on Substitute Form W-9, which is provided under “Important Tax Information” below, and to certify that the holder (or other payee) is not subject to backup withholding. Failure to provide the information on the Substitute Form W-9 may subject the holder (or other payee) to a $50 penalty imposed by the Internal Revenue Service and 28% federal income tax backup withholding on payments made in connection with the Old Notes. The box in Part 3 of the Substitute Form W-9 may be checked if the holder (or other payee) has not been issued a TIN and has applied for a TIN or intends to apply for a TIN in the near future. If the box in Part 3 is checked and a TIN is not provided by the time any payment is made in connection with the Old Notes, 28% of all such payments will be withheld until a TIN is provided.

10. Requests for Assistance or Additional Copies.

Questions relating to the procedure for tendering, as well as requests for additional copies of the Prospectus and this Letter of Transmittal, may be directed to the Exchange Agent at the address and telephone number set forth above. In addition, all questions relating to the Exchange Offer, as well as requests for assistance or additional copies of the Prospectus and this Letter of Transmittal, may be directed to the Exchange Agent at the address and telephone number indicated above.

IMPORTANT: THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL OR A FACSIMILE OR COPY THEREOF (TOGETHER WITH CERTIFICATES OF OLD NOTES OR CONFIRMATION OF BOOK-ENTRY TRANSFER AND ALL OTHER REQUIRED DOCUMENTS) OR A NOTICE OF GUARANTEED DELIVERY MUST BE RECEIVED BY THE EXCHANGE AGENT ON OR PRIOR TO THE EXPIRATION DATE.

 

11


IMPORTANT TAX INFORMATION

Substitute Form W-9

Each tendering holder or other payee (“Payee”) that is a U.S. Person is required to provide a correct taxpayer identification number (“TIN”) and certain other information on Substitute Form W-9, which is provided below. If the Payee is receiving payment for a tendered Note, the Payee must certify that the Payee is not subject to backup withholding by signing and dating the Form pursuant to the instructions in Part 3. A taxpayer’s TIN generally is the taxpayer’s Social Security or federal Employer Identification Number.

If the tendering Payee has not been issued a TIN and has applied for a TIN or intends to apply for a TIN in the near future write “APPLIED FOR” in Part I. In such case if a TIN has not been provided by the time of payment, tax will be withheld on all payments, until a TIN is provided.

Certain Payees, including, among others, all corporations, are not subject to backup withholding tax. See the enclosed “Guidelines for Certification of Taxpayer Identification Number on Substitute Form W-9” for additional information. Such Payees should enter the correct TIN in Part 1 of the Substitute Form W-9, check the box in Part 2 of the Substitute W-9 and sign and date form.

Payments to a Payee that is not a U.S. Person will not be subject to backup withholding tax if the Payee submits a properly completed IRS Form W-8BEN, IRS Form W-8ECI, IRS Form W-8 EXP or IRS Form W-8IMY.

Consequences of Failure to File Substitute Form W-9

Failure to provide the information on the Substitute Form W-9 may subject the Payee to a $50 penalty imposed by the Internal Revenues Service and federal income tax backup withholding on any payment. Backup withholding is not an additional Federal income tax. Rather, the Federal income tax liability of a person subject to backup withholding will be reduced by the amount of tax withheld. If withholding results in an overpayment of taxes, the Payee may claim a refund from the Internal Revenue Service.

 

12


 

SUBSTITUTE

FORM W-9

Department of the

Treasury

Internal Revenue Service

 

Payer’s Request

for Taxpayer

Identification

No. (“TIN”)

  Part 1 —PLEASE PROVIDE YOUR TIN IN THE BOX AT RIGHT AND CERTIFY BY SIGNING AND DATING BELOW.  

Social Security Number

or Employer

Identification Number

 

Part 2 —Certification—Under penalties of perjury, I certify that:

 

    
 

Part 3 —Awaiting TIN [    ]

 

(1)    The number shown on this form is my correct taxpayer identification number (or I am waiting for a number to be issued to me), and

 

(2)    I am not subject to backup withholding because: (a) I am exempt from backup withholding, or (b) I have not been notified by the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) that I am subject to backup withholding as a result of a failure to report all interest or dividends, or (c) the IRS has notified me that I am no longer subject to backup withholding.

 

Certification Instructions —You must cross out item (2) above if you have been notified by the IRS that you are currently subject to backup withholding because of under-reporting interest or dividends on your tax return.

    

Signature:                                                    

 

Date:                                                             

          

 

NOTE: FAILURE TO COMPLETE AND RETURN THIS FORM MAY RESULT IN A $50 PENALTY IMPOSED BY THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE AND BACKUP WITHHOLDING OF 30 PERCENT. PLEASE REVIEW THE ENCLOSED GUIDELINES FOR CERTIFICATION OF TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER ON SUBSTITUTE FORM W-9 FOR ADDITIONAL DETAILS.

YOU MUST COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING CERTIFICATE IF YOU WROTE “APPLIED FOR” INSTEAD OF A TIN IN THE SUBSTITUTE FORM W-9.

 

 
CERTIFICATE OF AWAITING TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER
 

I certify under penalties of perjury that a taxpayer identification number has not been issued to me, and either (1) I have mailed or delivered an application to receive a taxpayer identification number to the appropriate Internal Revenue Service Center or Social Security Administration Office, or (2) I intend to mail or deliver an application in the near future. I understand that if I do not provide a taxpayer identification number in the near future 28 percent of all reportable cash payments made to me will be withheld until a taxpayer identification number is provided.

 

 

Signature

  

 

Date

 

13

Exhibit 99.2

FORM OF NOTICE OF GUARANTEED DELIVERY

of

AFFINION GROUP, INC.

Offer to Exchange up to $304,000,000 Aggregate Principal Amount of their

10  1 / 8 % Senior Notes Due 2013 which have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended

For Any and All of their Outstanding

10  1 / 8 % Senior Notes Due 2013

and up to $355,500,000 Aggregate Principal Amount of their

11  1 / 2 % Senior Subordinated Notes Due 2015 which have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended

For Any and All of their Outstanding

11  1 / 2 % Senior Subordinated Notes Due 2015

Registered holders of (i) 10  1 / 8 % outstanding Senior Notes Due 2013 (the “Old Senior Notes”) who wish to tender their Old Senior Notes for a like principal amount of new 10  1 / 8 % Senior Notes Due 2010 (the “New Senior Notes”) which have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) or (ii) outstanding 11  1 / 2 % Senior Subordinated Notes Due 2015 (the “Old Senior Subordinated Notes” and, together with the Old Senior Notes, the “Old Notes”) who wish to tender their Old Senior Subordinated Notes for a like principal amount of 11  1 / 2 % Senior Subordinated Notes Due 2015 (the “New Senior Subordinated Notes” and, together with the New Senior Notes, the “Exchange Notes”) which have been registered under the Securities Act, in each case, whose Old Notes are not immediately available or who cannot deliver their Old Notes and Letter of Transmittal (and any other documents required by the Letter of Transmittal) to Wells Fargo Bank, National Association. (the “Exchange Agent”) prior to the Expiration Date, may use this Notice of Guaranteed Delivery or one substantially equivalent hereto. This Notice of Guaranteed Delivery may be delivered by hand or sent by facsimile transmission (receipt confirmed by telephone and an original delivered by guaranteed overnight courier) or mail to the Exchange Agent. See “The Exchange Offer—Procedures for Tendering” in the Prospectus dated                     , 2006 (the “Prospectus”) of Affinion Group, Inc. (the “Issuer”).

The Exchange Agent for the Exchange Offer is:

WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A.

By Registered or Certified Mail:

Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.

MAC - N9303-121

Corporate Trust Operations

P.O. Box 1517

Minneapolis, MN 55480-1517

Attn: Reorg

By Facsimile:

(612) 667-4927

Attn: Bondholder Communications

Confirm by Telephone:

(800) 344-5128

Attn: Bondholder Communications

By Overnight Delivery or Regular Mail:

Wells Fargo Bank, N.A

MAC - N9303-121

Corporate Trust Operations

Sixth & Marquette Avenue

Minneapolis, MN 55479

Attn: Reorg

DELIVERY OR TRANSMISSION VIA FACSIMILE OF THIS NOTICE OF GUARANTEED DELIVERY TO AN ADDRESS OTHER THAN AS SET FORTH ABOVE WILL NOT CONSTITUTE A VALID DELIVERY.


Ladies and Gentlemen:

The undersigned hereby tender(s) for exchange to the Issuer, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Prospectus and the Letter of Transmittal, receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the principal amount of the Old Notes as set forth below pursuant to the guaranteed delivery procedures set forth in the Prospectus under the caption of “The Exchange Offer—Guaranteed Delivery Procedures.”

The undersigned understands and acknowledges that the Exchange Offer will expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on                      , 2006, unless extended by the Issuer. With respect to the Exchange Offer, “Expiration Date” means such time and date, or if the Exchange Offer is extended, the latest time and date to which the Exchange Offer is so extended by the Issuer.

All authority herein conferred or agreed to be conferred by the Notice of Guaranteed Delivery shall survive the death or incapacity of the undersigned and every obligation of the undersigned under this Notice of Guaranteed Delivery shall be binding upon the heirs, personal representatives, executors, administrators, successors and assigns, trustees in bankruptcy and other legal representatives of the undersigned.

SIGNATURES

 

 

 

Signature of Holder or Authorized Signatory

 

Principal Amount of Old Notes Exchanged:

                                                                                                      

      
   

 

Signature of Holder or Authorized Signatory (if more than one)

 

Certificate Nos. of Old Notes (if available):

 

      
   

 

Dated:                      , 2006

 

Aggregate Principal Amount Represented by Certificate(s):

 

   
      
 

Name(s):                                                                                                                                                                                                       

 

 

(Please Print)
 

Address:                                                                                                                                                                                                         

(Include Zip Code)

 

 
Area Code and Telephone No.:                                                                                                                                                             
 

Capacity (full title), if signing in a representative capacity:                                                                                                       

 

Taxpayer Identification or Social Security No.:                                                                                                                              

 
IF OLD NOTES WILL BE TENDERED BY BOOK-ENTRY TRANSFER, PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION:                                                                                                                                                                                       
 

DTC Account Number:                                                                                                                                                                            

 

Transaction Number:                                                                                                                                                                                 

 


GUARANTEE

(NOT TO BE USED FOR SIGNATURE GUARANTEE)

The undersigned, a member firm of a recognized signature guarantee medallion program within the meaning of Rule 17Ad-15 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, hereby guarantees to deliver to the Exchange Agent at one of its addresses set forth on the reverse hereof, the certificates representing the Old Notes (or a confirmation of book-entry transfer of such Old Notes into the Exchange Agent’s account at the book-entry transfer facility), together with a properly completed and duly executed Letter of Transmittal (or facsimile thereof), with any required signature guarantees, and any other documents required by the Letter of Transmittal within three New York State Exchange trading days after the Expiration Date (as defined in the Letter of Transmittal).

Name of Firm                                                                                                                                                                                               

Address                                                                                                                                                                                                          

                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

Name                                                                                                                                                                                                                

Title                                                                                                                                                                                                                

Area Code and Telephone No.:                                                                                                                                                              

Date:                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

DO NOT SEND OLD NOTES WITH THIS FORM. ACTUAL SURRENDER OF OLD NOTES MUST BE MADE PURSUANT TO, AND BE ACCOMPANIED BY, THE LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL.

Exhibit 99.3

FORM OF NOTICE TO BROKERS-DEALERS

of

AFFINION GROUP, INC.

Offer to Exchange up to $304,000,000 Aggregate Principal Amount of their

10  1 / 8 % Senior Notes Due 2013 which have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended

For Any and All of their Outstanding

10  1 / 8 % Senior Notes Due 2013

and up to $355,500,000 Aggregate Principal Amount of their

11  1 / 2 % Senior Subordinated Notes Due 2015 which have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended

For Any and All of their Outstanding

11  1 / 2 % Senior Subordinated Notes Due 2015

THIS EXCHANGE OFFER WILL EXPIRE AT 5:00 P.M.,

NEW YORK CITY TIME, ON                     , 2006, UNLESS EXTENDED.

To Brokers, Dealers, Commercial Banks,

Trust Companies and Other Nominees:

Affinion Group, Inc. (the “Issuer”) is offering, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Prospectus dated                     , 2006 (the “Prospectus”) and the accompanying Letter of Transmittal enclosed herewith (which together constitute the “Exchange Offer”), to (i) exchange their 10  1 / 8 % Senior Notes Due 2013 (the “New Senior Notes”) which have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), for an equal aggregate principal amount of their outstanding 10  1 / 8 % Senior Notes Due 2013 (the “Old Senior Notes”) and (ii) exchange their 11  1 / 2 % Senior Subordinated Notes Due 2015 which have been registered under the Securities Act (the “New Senior Subordinated Notes” and, together with the New Senior Notes, the “Exchange Notes”) for an equal aggregate principal amount of their outstanding 11  1 / 2 % Senior Subordinated Notes Due 2015 (the “Old Senior Subordinated Notes” and, together with the Old Senior Notes, the “Old Notes”). As set forth in the Prospectus, the terms of the Exchange Notes are identical in all material respects to the Old Notes, except that the Exchange Notes have been registered under the Securities Act, and therefore will not bear legends restricting their transfer and will not contain certain provisions providing for the payment of additional interest to the holders of the Old Notes under certain circumstances relating to the Registration Rights Agreements, dated October 17, 2005 and April 28, 2006, each among the Issuer and the initial purchasers of the Old Senior Notes and the Registration Rights Agreement, dated April 26, 2006, among the Issuer and the initial purchasers of the Old Senior Subordinated Notes.

THE EXCHANGE OFFER IS SUBJECT TO CERTAIN CUSTOMARY CONDITIONS. SEE “THE EXCHANGE OFFER—CERTAIN CONDITIONS TO THIS EXCHANGE OFFER” IN THE PROSPECTUS.

Enclosed herewith for your information and forwarding to your clients are copies of the following documents:

1. The Prospectus, dated                     , 2006;

2. The Letter of Transmittal for your use (unless Old Notes are tendered by an Agent’s Message) and for the information of your clients (facsimile copies of the Letter of Transmittal may be used to tender Old Notes);

3. A form of letter which may be sent to your clients for whose accounts you hold Old Notes registered in your name or in the name of your nominee, with space provided for obtaining such clients’ instructions with regard to the Exchange Offer;

4. A Notice of Guaranteed Delivery;


5. Guidelines of the Internal Revenue Service for Certification of Taxpayer Identification Number on Substitute Form W-9; and

6. A return envelope addressed to Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., the Exchange Agent.

YOUR PROMPT ACTION IS REQUESTED. PLEASE NOTE THE EXCHANGE OFFER WILL EXPIRE AT 5:00 P.M., NEW YORK CITY TIME, ON                     , 2006, UNLESS EXTENDED. PLEASE FURNISH COPIES OF THE ENCLOSED MATERIALS TO THOSE OF YOUR CLIENTS FOR WHOM YOU HOLD OLD NOTES REGISTERED IN YOUR NAME OR IN THE NAME OF YOUR NOMINEE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

In all cases, exchanges of Old Notes accepted for exchange pursuant to the Exchange Offer will be made only after timely receipt by the Exchange Agent of (a) certificates representing such Old Notes, or confirmation of book entry transfer of such Old Notes, as the case may be, (b) the Letter of Transmittal (or facsimile thereof), properly completed and duly executed, or an Agent’s Message and (c) any other required documents.

Holders who wish to tender their Old Notes and (i) whose Old Notes are not immediately available or (ii) who cannot deliver their Old Notes, the Letter of Transmittal or an Agent’s Message and in either case together with any other documents required by the Letter of Transmittal to the Exchange Agent prior to the Expiration Date must tender their Old Notes according to the guaranteed delivery procedures set forth under the caption “The Exchange Offer—Guaranteed Delivery Procedures” in the Prospectus.

The Exchange Offer is not being made to, nor will tenders be accepted from or on behalf of, holders of Old Notes residing in any jurisdiction in which the making of the Exchange Offer or the acceptance thereof would not be in compliance with the laws of such jurisdiction.

The Issuer will not pay any fees or commissions to brokers, dealers or other persons for soliciting exchanges of Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer. The Issuer will, however, upon request, reimburse you for customary clerical and mailing expenses incurred by you in forwarding any of the enclosed materials to your clients. The Issuer will pay or cause to be paid any transfer taxes payable on the transfer of Notes to them except as otherwise provided in Instruction of the Letter of Transmittal.

Questions and requests for assistance with respect to the Exchange Offer or for copies of the Prospectus and Letter of Transmittal may be directed to the Exchange Agent by telephone at (800) 344-5128 (Attention: Bondholder Communications) or by facsimile (for eligible institutions only) at (612) 667-4927.

Very truly yours,

AFFINION GROUP, INC.

NOTHING CONTAINED HEREIN OR IN THE ENCLOSED DOCUMENTS SHALL CONSTITUTE YOU OR ANY OTHER PERSON AS THE AGENT, OF THE ISSUER OR ANY AFFILIATE THEREOF, OR AUTHORIZE YOU OR ANY OTHER PERSON TO MAKE ANY STATEMENTS OR USE ANY DOCUMENT ON BEHALF OF ANY OF THE ISSUER IN CONNECTION WITH THE OFFER OTHER THAN THE ENCLOSED DOCUMENTS AND THE STATEMENTS CONTAINED THEREIN.

Exhibit 99.4

FORM OF NOTICE TO INVESTORS

of

AFFINION GROUP, INC.

Offer to Exchange up to $304,000,000 Aggregate Principal Amount of their

10  1 / 8 % Senior Notes Due 2013 which have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended

For Any and All of their Outstanding

10  1 / 8 % Senior Notes Due 2013

and up to $355,500,000 Aggregate Principal Amount of their

11  1 / 2 % Senior Subordinated Notes Due 2015 which have been registered

under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended

For Any and All of their Outstanding

11  1 / 2 % Senior Subordinated Notes Due 2015

THIS EXCHANGE OFFER WILL EXPIRE AT 5:00 P.M.,

NEW YORK CITY TIME, ON                     , 2006, UNLESS EXTENDED.

To Our Clients:

Enclosed for your consideration is a Prospectus dated                     , 2006 (the “Prospectus”) and a Letter of Transmittal (which together constitute the “Exchange Offer”) relating to the offer by Affinion Group, Inc. (the “Issuer”) to (i) exchange their 10  1 / 8 % Senior Notes Due 2013 (the “New Senior Notes”) which have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), for an equal aggregate principal amount of their outstanding 10  1 / 8 % Senior Notes Due 2013 (the “Old Senior Notes”) and (ii) exchange their 11  1 / 2 % Senior Subordinated Notes Due 2015 which have been registered under the Securities Act (the “New Senior Subordinated Notes” and, together with the New Senior Notes, the “Exchange Notes”) for an equal aggregate principal amount of their outstanding 11  1 / 2 % Senior Subordinated Notes Due 2015 (the “Old Senior Subordinated Notes” and, together with the Old Senior Notes, the “Old Notes”). As set forth in the Prospectus, the terms of the Exchange Notes are identical in all material respects to the Old Notes, except that the Exchange Notes have been registered under the Securities Act, and therefore will not bear legends restricting their transfer and will not contain certain provisions providing for the payment of additional interest to the holders of the Old Notes under certain circumstances relating to the Registration Rights Agreements, dated October 17, 2005 and April 28, 2006, each among the Issuer and the initial purchasers of the Old Senior Notes and the Registration Rights Agreement, dated April 26, 2006, among the Issuer and the initial purchasers of the Old Senior Subordinated Notes (collectively, the “Registration Rights Agreements”).

The enclosed material is being forwarded to you as the beneficial owner of Old Notes carried by us for your account or benefit but not registered in your name. An exchange of any Old Notes may only be made by us as the registered Holder and pursuant to your instructions. Therefore, we urge beneficial owners of Old Notes registered in the name of a broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee to contact such Holder promptly if they wish to exchange Old Notes in the Exchange Offer.

Accordingly, we request instructions as to whether you wish us to exchange any or all such Old Notes held by us for your account or benefit, pursuant to the terms and conditions set forth in the Prospectus and Letter of Transmittal. We urge you to read carefully the Prospectus and Letter of Transmittal before instructing us to exchange your Old Notes.

Your instructions to us should be forwarded as promptly as possible in order to permit us to exchange Old Notes on your behalf in accordance with the provisions of the Exchange Offer. The Exchange Offer expires at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on                     , 2006, unless extended. The term “Expiration Date” shall mean 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on                     , 2006, unless the Exchange Offer is extended as provided in the Prospectus, in which case the term “Expiration Date” shall mean the latest date and time to which the Exchange Offer is extended. A tender of Old Notes may be withdrawn at any time prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Expiration Date.


Your attention is directed to the following:

1. The Issuer will issue a like principal amount of Exchange Notes in exchange for the principal amount of Old Notes surrendered pursuant to the Exchange Offer, of which $304,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Old Senior Notes and $355,500,000 aggregate principal amount of Old Senior Subordinated Notes were outstanding as of the date of the Prospectus. The terms of the Exchange Notes are identical in all respects to the Old Notes, except that the Exchange Notes have been registered under the Securities Act, and therefore will not bear legends restricting their transfer and will not contain certain provisions providing for the payment of additional interest to the holders of the Old Notes under certain circumstances relating to the Registration Rights Agreements.

2. THE EXCHANGE OFFER IS SUBJECT TO CERTAIN CUSTOMARY CONDITIONS. SEE “THE EXCHANGE OFFER—CERTAIN CONDITIONS TO THIS EXCHANGE OFFER” IN THE PROSPECTUS.

3. The Exchange Offer and withdrawal rights will expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on                     , 2006, unless extended.

4. The Issuer has agreed to pay the expenses of the Exchange Offer.

5. Any transfer taxes incident to the transfer of Old Notes from the tendering Holder to us will be paid by the Issuer, except as provided in the Prospectus and the Letter of Transmittal.

The Exchange Offer is not being made to, nor will tenders be accepted from or on behalf of, holders of Old Notes residing in any jurisdiction in which the making of the Exchange Offer or the acceptance thereof would not be in compliance with the laws of such jurisdiction.

If you wish us to tender any or all of your Old Notes held by us for your account or benefit, please so instruct us by completing, executing and returning to us the attached instruction form. The accompanying Letter of Transmittal is furnished to you for informational purposes only and may not be used by you to exchange Old Notes held by us and registered in our name for your account or benefit.


INSTRUCTIONS

The undersigned acknowledge(s) receipt of your letter and the enclosed material referred to therein relating to the Exchange Offer of Affinion Group, Inc.

This will instruct you to tender for exchange the aggregate principal amount of Old Notes indicated below (or, if no aggregate principal amount is indicated below, all Old Notes) held by you for the account or benefit of the undersigned, pursuant to the terms of and conditions set forth in the Prospectus and the Letter of Transmittal.

Aggregate Principal Amount of Old Notes to be tendered for exchange:

$                    

*I (we) understand that if I (we) sign this instruction form without indicating an aggregate principal amount of the Old Notes in the space above, all Old Notes held by you for my (our) account will be tendered for exchange.

 


 

 


Signature(s)

 

 


Capacity (full title), if signing in a fiduciary or representative capacity

 

 


Name(s) and address, including zip code

Date:                     

 

 


Area Code and Telephone Number

 

 


Taxpayer Identification or Social Security No.