UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): August 1, 2013

 

 

 

LOGO

Alliance One International, Inc.

(Exact name of Registrant, as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Virginia   001-13684   54-1746567

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

 

(Commission

file number)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

8001 Aerial Center Parkway

Morrisville, North Carolina 27560-8417

(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

(919) 379-4300

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Not Applicable

(Former name or address, if changed since last report)

 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

 

 


Item 2.03 Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant.

On August 1, 2013, Alliance One International, Inc. (the “Company”) completed certain refinancing transactions, which are described below.

Senior Secured Revolving Credit Facility

On July 26, 2013, the Company entered into an Amendment and Restatement Agreement dated as of July 26, 2013 (the “Amendment and Restatement Agreement”) between the Company, its subsidiaries, Intabex Netherlands B.V. and Alliance One International AG, certain lenders party thereto and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as administrative agent. The Amendment and Restatement Agreement provides for the amendment of certain financial covenants (as identified below) effective upon the execution of the Amendment and Restatement Agreement and for the amendment and restatement of the agreement governing the Company’s senior secured revolving credit facility to be effective on the date of the satisfaction of certain conditions. Those conditions were satisfied on August 1, 2013 (the “Effective Date”), and the Amendment and Restatement Agreement became fully effective on that date.

At the Effective Date, the agreement governing the Company’s senior secured revolving credit facility was amended and restated to provide for a senior secured revolving credit facility with a syndicate of banks of approximately $303.9 million that will automatically reduce to approximately $210.3 million on April 15, 2014 and will mature in April 15, 2017, subject to a springing maturity on April 15, 2014 if by that date the Company has not deposited in the Blocked Account (as defined below) sufficient amounts to fund the repayment at maturity of all then outstanding 5  1 / 2 % Convertible Senior Subordinated Notes due 2014 of the Company (the “Convertible Notes”). Borrowings under the amended and restated senior secured revolving credit facility initially bear interest at an annual rate of LIBOR plus 3.75% and base rate plus 2.75%, as applicable, though the interest rate under the amended and restated senior secured revolving credit facility is subject to increase or decrease according to a consolidated interest coverage ratio.

The agreement governing the amended and restated senior secured revolving credit facility requires the Company to deposit with the lenders, in a segregated account that the Company may not use other than for specified purposes (the “Blocked Account”), the net proceeds from the sale of $735 million in aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 9.875% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes due 2021 (the “Second Lien Notes”) that are not immediately applied to redeem all of the Company’s outstanding 10% Senior Notes due 2016 (the “Senior Notes”). Amounts held in the Blocked Account may be used solely to purchase any and all Convertible Notes tendered in the Company’s pending cash tender offer to purchase up to $30.0 million in aggregate principal amount of the Convertible Notes commenced on July 17, 2013 (the “Convertible Notes Tender Offer”) and, subject to conditions, to retire any remaining Convertible Notes not purchased in the Convertible Notes Tender Offer, including repayment at maturity.

Borrowers and Guarantors . The Company’s primary foreign holding company, Intabex Netherlands B.V. (“Intabex”), is a co-borrower under the amended and restated senior secured revolving credit facility, and the Company’s portion of the borrowings under the amended senior secured revolving credit facility is limited to $200 million outstanding at any one time. One of the Company’s other primary foreign trading companies, Alliance One International AG (“AOIAG”), is a guarantor of Intabex’s obligations under the amended and restated senior secured revolving credit facility. Such

 

2


obligations are also guaranteed by the Company and such obligations and the obligations of the Company are required to be guaranteed by any of its material direct or indirect domestic subsidiaries (of which there are none at this time).

Collateral . The Company’s borrowings under the amended and restated senior secured revolving credit facility are secured by a first priority pledge of:

 

   

100% of the capital stock of any material domestic subsidiary (of which there are none at this time) and 100% of the capital stock of any domestic subsidiary directly held by Alliance One or by any material domestic subsidiary;

 

   

100% of the non-voting capital stock (other than directors’ qualifying shares and/or other nominal amounts of shares required to be held by local nationals, in each case to the extent required by law) and 65% of the voting capital stock of any material first tier foreign subsidiaries;

 

   

U.S. accounts receivable and U.S. inventory owned by the Company or its material domestic subsidiaries (other than inventory the title of which has passed to a customer and inventory financed through customer advances);

 

   

intercompany notes evidencing loans or advances made by the Company or a material domestic subsidiary;

 

   

the real property, fixtures, equipment and other property related to the Company’s cut rag facility located adjacent to Baldree Road in Wilson, North Carolina; and

 

   

the Blocked Account and all funds deposited therein (at the Effective Date, the Company deposited approximately $31.1 million into the Blocked Account).

In addition, Intabex’s borrowings and other obligations under the amended and restated senior secured revolving credit facility is secured by a first priority pledge of the assets described above and a pledge of 100% of the capital stock of Intabex, AOIAG, and certain of the Company’s, Intabex’s and AOIAG’s foreign subsidiaries.

Financial covenants . The following financial covenants and required financial ratios are included in the agreement governing the amended and restated senior secured revolving credit facility:

 

   

a minimum consolidated interest coverage ratio of not less than the following:

 

Period

   Ratio  

January 1, 2013 through and including June 30, 2013

     1.90 to 1.00   

July 1, 2013 through and including September 30, 2013

     1.80 to 1.00   

October 1, 2013 through and including December 31, 2013

     1.85 to 1.00   

January 1, 2014 and thereafter

     1.90 to 1.00   

 

 

3


   

a maximum consolidated leverage ratio for a respective period of no more than the amount set forth in the following table:

 

Period

   Ratio  

April 1, 2013 through and including June 30, 2013

     7.25 to 1.00   

July 1, 2013 through and including September 30, 2013

     7.80 to 1.00   

October 1, 2013 through and including December 31, 2013

     6.95 to 1.00   

January 1, 2014 through and including March 31, 2014

     6.10 to 1.00   

April 1, 2014 through and including June 30, 2014

     6.95 to 1.00   

July 1, 2014 through and including September 30, 2014

     7.25 to 1.00   

October 1, 2014 through and including December 31, 2014

     6.95 to 1.00   

January 1, 2015 through and including March 31, 2015

     5.85 to 1.00   

April 1, 2015 through and including June 30, 2015

     6.75 to 1.00   

July 1, 2015 through and including September 30, 2015

     6.95 to 1.00   

October 1, 2015 through and including December 31, 2015

     6.45 to 1.00   

January 1, 2016 through and including March 31, 2016

     5.50 to 1.00   

April 1, 2016 through and including June 30, 2016

     6.25 to 1.00   

July 1, 2016 through and including September 30, 2016

     6.45 to 1.00   

October 1, 2016 through and including December 31, 2016

     6.25 to 1.00   

January 1, 2017 and thereafter

     5.10 to 1.00   

 

   

a maximum consolidated total senior debt to working capital ratio of not more than 0.80 to 1.00 other than during periods in which the consolidated leverage ratio is less than 4.00 to 1.00 if the consolidated leverage ratio has been less than 4.00 to 1.00 for the prior two consecutive fiscal quarters; and

 

   

a maximum amount of the Company’s annual capital expenditures of $50.8 million during the fiscal year ending March 31, 2014 and $40 million during any fiscal year thereafter, in each case with a one-year carry-forward (not in excess of $40 million) for unused capital expenditures in any fiscal year below the maximum amount.

Certain of these financial covenants are calculated on a rolling twelve-month basis and certain of these financial covenants and required financial ratios adjust over time in accordance with schedules in the agreement governing the amended and restated senior secured revolving credit facility.

Affirmative and restrictive covenants . The agreement governing the amended and restated senior secured revolving credit facility contain affirmative and negative covenants (subject, in each case, to exceptions and qualifications), including covenants that limit the Company’s ability to, among other things:

 

   

incur additional indebtedness;

 

   

incur certain guarantees;

 

   

merge, consolidate or dispose of substantially all of its assets;

 

   

grant liens on its assets;

 

   

pay dividends, redeem stock or make other distributions or restricted payments;

 

4


   

create certain dividend and payment restrictions on its subsidiaries;

 

   

repurchase or redeem capital stock or prepay subordinated debt;

 

   

make certain investments;

 

   

agree to restrictions on the payment of dividends to it by its subsidiaries;

 

   

sell or otherwise dispose of assets, including equity interests of its subsidiaries;

 

   

enter into transactions with its affiliates; and

 

   

enter into certain sale and leaseback transactions.

The description of the Amendment and Restatement Agreement set forth herein is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Amendment and Restatement Agreement filed as Exhibit 4.1 hereto, which is incorporated by reference herein.

Senior Secured Second Lien Notes

On August 1, 2013, the Company issued $735 million in aggregate principal amount of the Second Lien Notes pursuant to an Indenture (the “Indenture”) dated as of August 1, 2013 among the Company, Law Debenture Trust Company of New York, as trustee, Law Debenture Trust Company of New York, as collateral trustee, and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as registrar and paying agent. The description of the Indenture set forth herein is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Indenture, which includes the form of the Second Lien Notes, filed as Exhibit 4.1 hereto, which is incorporated by reference herein.

The Second Lien Notes were sold at 98.000% of the face value, for gross proceeds of approximately $720.3 million. The Second Lien Notes bear interest at a rate of 9.875% per year, payable semi-annually in arrears in cash on January 15 and July 15 of each year, beginning January 15, 2014, to holders of record at the close of business on the preceding January 1 and July 1, respectively. The Second Lien Notes mature on July 15, 2021.

Ranking . The Second Lien Notes are senior secured second lien obligations of the Company and the guarantors of the Second Lien Notes, if any, and

 

   

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

 

   

rank senior in right of payment to all of the Company’s and the guarantors’ existing and future subordinated indebtedness, including any Convertible Notes that remain outstanding after the Convertible Notes Tender Offer;

 

   

are effectively senior to all of the Company’s and the guarantors’ existing and future unsecured indebtedness to the extent of the value of the collateral securing the Second Lien Notes;

 

   

are effectively subordinated to the Company’s and the guarantors’ existing and future indebtedness that is secured by first priority liens on the collateral securing the notes, including indebtedness under the Company’s senior secured revolving credit facility, to the extent of the value of the collateral securing such indebtedness; and

 

   

are structurally subordinated to all of the liabilities, including trade payables, of our existing and future subsidiaries that do not guarantee the Second Lien Notes.

 

5


Subsidiary Guarantees . Each of the Company’s existing and future material domestic subsidiaries is required to guarantee the Second Lien Notes. The Company currently has no material domestic subsidiaries. The Company’s foreign subsidiaries are not required to guarantee the Second Lien Notes. Accordingly, the Second Lien Notes are not presently guaranteed by any of the Company’s subsidiaries.

Collateral . The Company’s and any guarantor’s obligations under the Second Lien Notes are, or upon the completion of certain events permitted to be completed after the closing of the issuance and sale of the Second Lien Notes will be, secured by a second priority pledge of the following assets of the Company and any such guarantors:

 

   

all capital stock of each domestic subsidiary and material foreign subsidiary of the Company owned directly by the Company or any guarantor (limited, in the case of material foreign subsidiaries, to 65% of the voting capital stock and 100% of the nonvoting capital stock (subject to certain exceptions) of each material foreign subsidiary);

 

   

all U.S. accounts receivable and U.S. inventory of the Company and any guarantors (other than inventory the title of which has passed to a customer and inventory financed through customer advances);

 

   

intercompany notes evidencing loans or advances made by the Company or a guarantor;

 

   

the real property, fixtures, equipment and other property related to the Company’s cut rag facility located adjacent to Baldree Road in Wilson, North Carolina;

 

   

the Blocked Account; and

 

   

to the extent not otherwise included, all proceeds and products of any and all of the foregoing, however and whenever acquired and in whatever form.

Restrictive Covenants . The Indenture contains covenants that impose restrictions on the Company’s business. These covenants, which are subject to certain exceptions and limitations, restrict the Company’s ability and the ability of its restricted subsidiaries to, among other things:

 

   

incur additional indebtedness or issue disqualified stock or preferred stock;

 

   

pay dividends and make other restricted payments (including restricted investments);

 

   

sell assets;

 

   

create liens;

 

   

consolidate, merge, sell or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its assets;

 

   

enter into transactions with its affiliates;

 

   

enter into certain sale and leaseback transactions;

 

   

create certain dividend and payment restrictions on its restricted subsidiaries; and

 

   

designate its subsidiaries as unrestricted subsidiaries.

 

6


Repurchase Right upon a Change of Control . If a change of control (as defined in the Indenture) occurs at any time, holders of the Second Lien Notes will have the right, at their option, to require the Company to repurchase all or a portion of the Second Lien Notes for cash at a price equal to 101% of the principal amount of Second Lien Notes being repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest and special interest, if any, to, but excluding, the date of repurchase.

Optional Redemption . On or after July 15, 2017, the Company may on any one or more occasions redeem all or a part of the Second Lien Notes at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount) set forth below, plus accrued and unpaid interest and special interest, if any, on the Second Lien Notes redeemed, to the applicable date of redemption, if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on July 15 of the years indicated below:

 

Year

   Percentage  

2017

     104.938

2018

     102.469

2019 and thereafter

     100.000

At any time prior to July 15, 2017, the Company may redeem the Second Lien Notes, in whole or in part, at a redemption price equal to the principal amount thereof plus a make-whole premium plus accrued and unpaid interest and special interest, if any, to the redemption date. In addition, the Company may redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of the Second Lien Notes using net proceeds from certain equity offerings completed on or prior to July 15, 2016 at a redemption price equal to 109.875% of the principal amount of the Second Lien Notes redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest and special interest, if any.

Registration Rights . In connection with the issuance of the Second Lien Notes, the Company entered into a registration rights agreement (the “Registration Rights Agreement”) in which it agreed to:

 

   

use commercially reasonable efforts to file a registration statement on or about 180 days after August 1, 2013, to offer holders of the Second Lien Notes the opportunity to exchange the Second Lien Notes issued on August 1, 2013 for publicly registered Second Lien Notes with identical terms;

 

   

use all commercially reasonable efforts to cause the registration statement to become effective on or prior to 270 days after August 1, 2013;

 

   

use all commercially reasonable efforts to consummate the exchange offer within 30 business days after the effective date of the registration statement; and

 

   

use all commercially reasonable efforts to file a shelf registration statement for the resale of Second Lien Notes if we cannot effect an exchange offer within the time periods listed above and in certain other circumstances.

If the appropriate registration statement does not become or remain effective, or if the exchange offer is not completed, in each case within specified time periods, special interest will accrue and be payable with respect to the Second Lien Notes. With respect to the first 90-day period immediately following the occurrence of the first event causing special interest to accrue, special interest will be paid at a rate of 0.50% per annum, which will increase by an additional 0.25% per annum with respect to each subsequent 90-day period until the Company cures these defaults, up to a maximum rate of 1.0% per annum.

 

7


The description of the Registration Rights Agreement set forth herein is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Registration Rights Agreement filed as Exhibit 10.2 hereto and incorporated by reference herein.

 

Item 8.01 Other Items.

On August 1, 2013, the Company used a portion of the net proceeds from the offering of the Second Lien Notes to fund the redemption (the “Redemption”) of all $635 million in aggregate principal amount of the Senior Notes pursuant to its previously announced conditional call for redemption on August 2, 2013 of all of its outstanding Senior Notes. The conditions for the Redemption have been satisfied, and the Company has taken all steps necessary to effect the Redemption on August 2, 2013. In connection with the Redemption, on August 1, 2013, the Company effected a covenant defeasance of the Senior Notes and the satisfaction and discharge of the indenture governing the Senior Notes.

On August 1, 2013, Alliance One issued a press release announcing the completion of certain previously announced refinancing transactions and the satisfaction of certain conditions of the Convertible Notes Tender Offer. The press release is filed as Exhibit 99.1 hereto and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 9.01 Exhibits .

 

Exhibit 4.1    Indenture dated as of August 1, 2013 among Alliance One International, Inc., Law Debenture Trust Company of New York, as trustee, Law Debenture Trust Company of New York, as collateral trustee, and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as registrar and paying agent
Exhibit 10.1    Amendment and Restatement Agreement dated as of July 26, 2013 among Alliance One International, Inc., Intabex Netherlands B.V., Alliance One International AG, the Lenders party thereto and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as administrative agent.
Exhibit 10.2    Registration Rights Agreement dated as of August 1, 2013 between Alliance One International, Inc. and Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., as Representative of the initial purchasers
Exhibit 99.1    Press release dated August 1, 2013

 

8


SIGNATURES

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

Date: August 1, 2013

 

ALLIANCE ONE INTERNATIONAL, INC.
By:  

/s/ Robert A. Sheets

  Robert A. Sheets
  Executive Vice President – Chief Financial Officer and Chief Administrative Officer

 

9


EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit
Number

  

Exhibit

Exhibit 4.1    Indenture dated as of August 1, 2013 among Alliance One International, Inc., Law Debenture Trust Company of New York, as trustee, Law Debenture Trust Company of New York, as collateral trustee, and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as registrar and paying agent
Exhibit 10.1    Amendment and Restatement Agreement dated as of July 26, 2013 among Alliance One International, Inc., Intabex Netherlands B.V., Alliance One International AG, the Lenders party thereto and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as administrative agent.
Exhibit 10.2    Registration Rights Agreement dated as of August 1, 2013 between Alliance One International, Inc. and Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., as Representative of the initial purchasers
Exhibit 99.1    Press release dated August 1, 2013

 

10

Exhibit 4.1

 

 

ALLIANCE ONE INTERNATIONAL, INC.

9.875% SENIOR SECURED SECOND LIEN NOTES DUE 2021

 

 

INDENTURE

Dated as of August 1, 2013

 

 

LAW DEBENTURE TRUST COMPANY OF NEW YORK

as Trustee,

LAW DEBENTURE TRUST COMPANY OF NEW YORK

as Collateral Trustee,

and

DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS

as Registrar and Paying Agent

 

 

 

 


CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE*

 

Trust Indenture Act Section    Indenture Section

310(a)(1)

   7.10

      (a)(2)

   7.10

      (a)(3)

   N.A.

      (a)(4)

   N.A.

      (a)(5)

   7.10

      (b)

   7.10

      (c)

   N.A.

311(a)

   7.11

      (b)

   7.11

      (c)

   N.A.

312(a)

   2.05

      (b)

   13.03

      (c)

   13.03

313(a)

   7.06

      (b)(1)

   10.06

      (b)(2)

   7.06; 7.07

      (c)

   7.06; 13.02

      (d)

   7.06

314(a)

   4.03;13.05

      (b)

   10.01

      (c)(3)

   10.06

      (d)

   10.06

      (e)

   13.05

      (f)

   N.A.

315(a)

   7.01

      (b)

   7.05; 13.02

318(c)

   13.01

N.A. means not applicable.

 

* This Cross Reference Table is not part of the Indenture.

 

i


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.

     30   

Section 1.04

  

Rules of Construction.

     31   

ARTICLE 2

THE NOTES

  

  

Section 2.01

  

Form and Dating.

     31   

Section 2.02

  

Execution and Authentication.

     32   

Section 2.03

  

Registrar and Paying Agent.

     32   

Section 2.04

  

Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust.

     33   

Section 2.05

  

Holder Lists.

     33   

Section 2.06

  

Transfer and Exchange.

     33   

Section 2.07

  

Replacement Notes.

     45   

Section 2.08

  

Outstanding Notes.

     45   

Section 2.09

  

Treasury Notes.

     46   

Section 2.10

  

Temporary Notes.

     46   

Section 2.11

  

Cancellation.

     46   

Section 2.12

  

Defaulted Interest.

     46   

Section 2.13

  

Authorization of Additional Notes.

     46   

ARTICLE 3

REDEMPTION AND PREPAYMENT

  

  

Section 3.01

  

Notices to Trustee.

     47   

Section 3.02

  

Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed or Purchased.

     47   

Section 3.03

  

Notice of Redemption.

     47   

Section 3.04

  

Effect of Notice of Redemption.

     48   

Section 3.05

  

Deposit of Redemption or Purchase Price.

     48   

Section 3.06

  

Notes Redeemed or Purchased in Part.

     49   

Section 3.07

  

Optional Redemption.

     49   

Section 3.08

  

Mandatory Redemption.

     50   

Section 3.09

  

Offer to Purchase by Application of Excess Proceeds.

     50   

ARTICLE 4

COVENANTS

  

  

Section 4.01

  

Payment of Notes.

     51   

Section 4.02

  

Maintenance of Office or Agency.

     52   

Section 4.03

  

Reports.

     52   

Section 4.04

  

Compliance Certificate.

     53   

Section 4.05

  

Taxes.

     54   

 

ii


Section 4.06

  

Stay, Extension and Usury Laws.

     54   

Section 4.07

  

Restricted Payments.

     54   

Section 4.08

  

Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Subsidiaries.

     58   

Section 4.09

  

Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock.

     59   

Section 4.10

  

Asset Sales.

     63   

Section 4.11

  

Transactions with Affiliates.

     65   

Section 4.12

  

Liens.

     65   

Section 4.13

  

Business Activities.

     65   

Section 4.14

  

Corporate Existence.

     65   

Section 4.15

  

Offer to Repurchase Upon Change of Control.

     66   

Section 4.16

  

Limitation on Sale and Leaseback Transactions.

     67   

Section 4.17

  

Additional Note Guarantees.

     68   

Section 4.18

  

Designation of Restricted and Unrestricted Subsidiaries.

     68   

Section 4.19

  

Changes in Covenants When Notes Rated Investment Grade

     68   

ARTICLE 5

SUCCESSORS

  

  

Section 5.01

  

Merger, Consolidation, or Sale of Assets.

     70   

Section 5.02

  

Successor Corporation Substituted.

     71   

ARTICLE 6

DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

  

  

Section 6.01

  

Events of Default.

     71   

Section 6.02

  

Acceleration.

     73   

Section 6.03

  

Other Remedies.

     73   

Section 6.04

  

Waiver of Past Defaults.

     73   

Section 6.05

  

Control by Majority.

     74   

Section 6.06

  

Limitation on Suits.

     74   

Section 6.07

  

Rights of Holders of Notes to Receive Payment.

     74   

Section 6.08

  

Collection Suit by Trustee.

     74   

Section 6.09

  

Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.

     75   

Section 6.10

  

Priorities.

     75   

Section 6.11

  

Undertaking for Costs.

     75   

ARTICLE 7

TRUSTEE

  

  

Section 7.01

  

Duties of Trustee.

     76   

Section 7.02

  

Rights of Trustee.

     77   

Section 7.03

  

Individual Rights of Trustee.

     77   

Section 7.04

  

Trustee’s Disclaimer.

     77   

Section 7.05

  

Notice of Defaults.

     78   

Section 7.06

  

Reports by Trustee to Holders of the Notes.

     78   

Section 7.07

  

Compensation and Indemnity.

     78   

Section 7.08

  

Replacement of Trustee.

     79   

Section 7.09

  

Successor Trustee by Merger, etc.

     80   

Section 7.10

  

Eligibility; Disqualification.

     80   

Section 7.11

  

Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company.

     80   

 

iii


ARTICLE 8

LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

  

  

Section 8.01

  

Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

     80   

Section 8.02

  

Legal Defeasance and Discharge.

     80   

Section 8.03

  

Covenant Defeasance.

     81   

Section 8.04

  

Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance.

     81   

Section 8.05

  

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

     82   

Section 8.06

  

Repayment to Company.

     83   

Section 8.07

  

Reinstatement.

     83   

ARTICLE 9

AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER

  

  

Section 9.01

  

Without Consent of Holders of Notes.

     83   

Section 9.02

  

With Consent of Holders of Notes.

     84   

Section 9.03

  

Compliance with Trust Indenture Act.

     86   

Section 9.04

  

Revocation and Effect of Consents.

     86   

Section 9.05

  

Notation on or Exchange of Notes.

     86   

Section 9.06

  

Trustee, Paying Agent and Registrar to Sign Amendments, etc.

     86   

ARTICLE 10

COLLATERAL AND SECURITY

  

  

Section 10.01

  

Security Interest.

     87   

Section 10.02

  

Intercreditor Agreement.

     87   

Section 10.03

  

Collateral Trust Agreement.

     88   

Section 10.04

  

Equal and Ratable Sharing of Collateral by Holders of Parity Lien Debt.

     88   

Section 10.05

  

Ranking of Parity Liens.

     88   

Section 10.06

  

Release of Liens in Respect of Notes.

     89   

Section 10.07

  

Relative Rights.

     90   

Section 10.08

  

Collateral Trustee.

     90   

Section 10.09

  

Further Assurances; Liens on Additional Property.

     91   

Section 10.10

  

Establishment of Blocked Account; Etc.

     91   

ARTICLE 11

NOTE GUARANTEES

  

  

Section 11.01

  

Guarantee.

     93   

Section 11.02

  

Limitation on Guarantor Liability.

     94   

Section 11.03

  

Execution and Delivery of Note Guarantee.

     94   

Section 11.04

  

Guarantors May Consolidate, etc., on Certain Terms.

     95   

Section 11.05

  

Releases.

     95   

ARTICLE 12

satisfaction and discharge

  

  

Section 12.01

  

Satisfaction and Discharge.

     96   

Section 12.02

  

Application of Trust Money.

     97   

 

iv


ARTICLE 13

MISCELLANEOUS

 

  

  

Section 13.01

  

Trust Indenture Act Controls.

     97   

Section 13.02

  

Notices.

     98   

Section 13.03

  

Communication by Holders of Notes with Other Holders of Notes.

     99   

Section 13.04

  

Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent.

     99   

Section 13.05

  

Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion.

     99   

Section 13.06

  

Rules by Trustee and Agents.

     100   

Section 13.07

  

No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Stockholders.

     100   

Section 13.08

  

Governing Law.

     100   

Section 13.09

  

No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements.

     100   

Section 13.10

  

Successors.

     100   

Section 13.11

  

Severability.

     100   

Section 13.12

  

Counterpart Originals.

     101   

Section 13.13

  

Table of Contents, Headings, etc.

     101   

Section 13.14

  

USA Patriot Act.

     101   

Section 13.15

  

Force Majeure.

     101   

EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit A    FORM OF NOTE
Exhibit B    FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER
Exhibit C    FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF EXCHANGE
Exhibit D    FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF ACQUIRING INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR
Exhibit E    FORM OF NOTATION OF GUARANTEE
Exhibit F    FORM OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

 

v


INDENTURE dated as of August 1, 2013 among Alliance One International, Inc., a Virginia corporation, the Guarantors (as defined), Law Debenture Trust Company of New York, as trustee, Law Debenture Trust Company of New York, as collateral trustee and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as registrar and paying agent.

Each of the parties agree as follows for the benefit of the other parties and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders (as defined) of the 9.875% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes due 2021 (the “ Notes ”):

ARTICLE 1

DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION

BY REFERENCE

Section 1.01 Definitions.

“144A Global Note” means a Global Note substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto bearing the Global Note Legend and the Private Placement Legend and deposited with or on behalf of, and registered in the name of, the Depositary or its nominee that will be issued in a denomination equal to the outstanding principal amount of the Notes sold in reliance on Rule 144A.

“Acquired Debt” means, with respect to any specified Person:

(1) Indebtedness of any other Person existing at the time such other Person is merged with or into or became a Subsidiary of such specified Person, whether or not such Indebtedness is incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such other Person merging with or into, or becoming a Restricted Subsidiary of, such specified Person; and

(2) Indebtedness secured by a Lien encumbering any asset acquired by such specified Person.

Act of Required Secured Parties ” means, as to any matter at any time, a direction in writing delivered to the Collateral Trustee by or with the written consent of the holders of (or the Parity Lien Representatives representing the holders of) Parity Lien Debt representing the Required Parity Lien Debtholders.

For purposes of this definition, (a) Parity Lien Debt registered in the name of, or beneficially owned by, the Company or any Affiliate of the Company will be deemed not to be outstanding, and neither the Company nor any Affiliate of the Company will be entitled to vote such Parity Lien Debt and (b) votes will be determined in accordance with the Collateral Trust Agreement.

Additional Secured Debt Designation ” means the written agreement of the holders of any Series of Parity Lien Debt, as set forth in the indenture, credit agreement or other agreement governing such Series of Parity Lien Debt, for the benefit of, and enforceable by, all holders of each existing and future Series of Priority Lien Debt, the Priority Lien Agent and each existing and future holder of Permitted Prior Liens:

(1) that all Parity Lien Obligations will be and are secured equally and ratably by all Parity Liens at any time granted by the Company or any Guarantor to secure any Obligations in respect of such Series of Parity Lien Debt, whether or not upon property otherwise constituting collateral for such Series of Parity Lien Debt, and that all such Parity Liens will be enforceable by the Collateral Trustee for the benefit of all holders of Parity Lien Obligations equally and ratably;

 

1


(2) that the holders of Obligations in respect of such Series of Parity Lien Debt are bound by the provisions of the Collateral Trust Agreement, including the provisions relating to the ranking of Parity Liens and the order of application of proceeds from the enforcement of Parity Liens; and

(3) consenting to and directing the Collateral Trustee to perform its obligations under the Collateral Trust Agreement and the other Parity Lien Security Documents.

“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,” 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 definition, the terms “ controlling, ” “ controlled by ” and “ under common control with ” have correlative meanings.

“Agent” means any Registrar, co-registrar, Paying Agent or additional paying agent.

“Applicable Premium” means, with respect to any Note on any redemption date, the greater of:

(1) 1.0% of the principal amount of the Note; or

(2) the excess of: (a) the present value at such redemption date of (i) the redemption price of the Note at July 15, 2017, (such redemption price being set forth in the table appearing in Section 3.07 hereof) plus (ii) all required interest payments due on the Note through July 15, 2017, (excluding accrued but unpaid interest to the redemption date), computed using a discount rate equal to the Treasury Rate as of such redemption date plus 50 basis points; over (b) the principal amount of the Note.

“Applicable Procedures” means, with respect to any transfer or exchange of or for beneficial interests in any Global Note, the rules and procedures of the Depositary, Euroclear and Clearstream that apply to such transfer or exchange.

Asset Sale ” means:

(1) the sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition of any assets or rights by the Company or any of the Company’s Restricted Subsidiaries; provided that the sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole shall be subject to Sections 4.15 and 5.01 and not Sections 3.09 and 4.10; and

(2) the issuance of Equity Interests by any of the Company’s Restricted Subsidiaries or the sale by the Company or any of the Company’s Restricted Subsidiaries of Equity Interests in any of the Company’s Subsidiaries.

Notwithstanding the preceding, none of the following items will be deemed to be an Asset Sale:

(1) any single transaction or series of related transactions that involves assets having a Fair Market Value of less than $20.0 million;

(2) a transfer of assets between or among the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

2


(3) an issuance of Equity Interests by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to the Company or to a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company;

(4) the sale, lease or other transfer of products, services or accounts receivable in the ordinary course of business and any sale or other disposition of damaged, worn-out, obsolete, surplus, redundant or excess property or assets in the ordinary course of business (including the abandonment or other disposition of intellectual property that is, in the reasonable judgment of the Company, no longer economically practicable to maintain or useful in the conduct of the business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as whole);

(5) (a) the sale of accounts receivable permitted pursuant to clause (11) of the definition of Permitted Debt and (b) the sale of accounts receivable arising from sales of tobacco, which accounts receivable are sold pursuant to a factoring arrangement without recourse;

(6) any surrender or waiver of contract rights or settlement, release, recovery on or surrender of contract, tort or other claims in the ordinary course of business;

(7) the granting of Liens not prohibited pursuant to Section 4.12;

(8) the sale or other disposition of cash or Cash Equivalents;

(9) a Restricted Payment that does not violate Section 4.07 or a Permitted Investment;

(10) Specified Sales; and

(11) the sale, lease or other transfer of property or assets (a) to an unrelated party not in the ordinary course of business (other than Specified Sales), where and to the extent that they are the result of a Recovery Event or (b) the sale, lease or other transfer of machinery, parts and equipment no longer used or useful in the conduct of business of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, as appropriate, in its reasonable discretion.

“Attributable Debt” in respect of a sale and leaseback transaction means, at the time of determination, the present value of the obligation of the lessee for net rental payments during the remaining term of the lease included in such sale and leaseback transaction including any period for which such lease has been extended or may, at the option of the lessor, be extended. Such present value shall be calculated using a discount rate equal to the rate of interest implicit in such transaction, determined in accordance with GAAP; provided, however , that if such sale and leaseback transaction results in a Capital Lease Obligation, the amount of Indebtedness represented thereby will be determined in accordance with the definition of “Capital Lease Obligation.”

Bank Product Obligations ” means, all obligations and liabilities (whether direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, due or to become due or now existing or hereafter incurred) of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, whether on account of principal, interest, reimbursement obligations, fees, indemnities, costs, expenses or otherwise, which may arise under, out of, or in connection with any treasury, investment, depository, clearing house, wire transfer, cash management or automated clearing house transfers of funds services or any related services, to any person.

“Bankruptcy Code” means Title 11 of the United States Code entitled “Bankruptcy,” as now and hereafter in effect, or any successor statute.

 

3


Beneficial Owner ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Rule 13d-3 and Rule 13d-5 under the Exchange Act, except that in calculating the beneficial ownership of any particular “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), such “person” will be deemed to have beneficial ownership of all securities that such “person” has the right to acquire by conversion or exercise of other securities, whether such right is currently exercisable or is exercisable only after the passage of time. The terms “Beneficially Owns” and “Beneficially Owned” have a corresponding meaning.

Blocked Account ” means the segregated account created under the Credit Agreement to which certain net proceeds of the offering of the Notes are required to be deposited pursuant to the Credit Agreement.

Blocked Account Collateral ” shall mean and include the Blocked Account and all Blocked Account Proceeds.

Blocked Account Control Agreement ” shall mean the account control agreement among the Company, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Administrative Agent, the Collateral Trustee and the financial institution acting as a depository bank with respect to the Blocked Account

Blocked Account Proceeds ” shall mean any and all assets of whatever type or kind deposited in the Blocked Account, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, including all moneys, checks, drafts, instruments, securities or interests therein of any type or nature deposited in the Blocked Account and all investments and all certificates and other instruments from time to time representing or evidencing the same, and all interest, distributions, cash and other property from time to time received, receivable or otherwise distributed in respect of or in exchange for any or all of the foregoing and all Proceeds (as defined in Section 9 102(a)(64) of the Uniform Commercial Code of New York as in effect on the date hereof) of any or all of the foregoing.

Board of Directors ” means:

(1) with respect to a corporation, the board of directors of the corporation or any committee thereof duly authorized to act on behalf of such board;

(2) with respect to a partnership, the Board of Directors of the general partner of the partnership;

(3) with respect to a limited liability company, the managing member or members or any controlling committee of managing members thereof; and

(4) with respect to any other Person, the board or committee of such Person serving a similar function.

“Broker-Dealer” means any broker or dealer registered under the Exchange Act.

“Business Day” means any day other than a Legal Holiday.

“Capital Lease Obligation” means, at the time any determination is to be made, the amount of the liability in respect of a capital lease that would at that time be required to be capitalized on a balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP, and the Stated Maturity thereof shall be the date of the last payment of rent or any other amount due under such lease prior to the first date upon which such lease may be prepaid by the lessee without payment of a penalty.

 

4


“Capital Stock” means:

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

(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 interests (whether general or limited) or membership interests; 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, but excluding from all of the foregoing any debt securities convertible into Capital Stock, whether or not such debt securities include any right of participation with Capital Stock.

“Cash Equivalents” means:

(1) United States dollars, UK pounds sterling, Euro, Japanese Yen, Hong Kong dollar and Chinese Renminbi;

(2) securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the United States government or any agency or instrumentality of the United States government ( provided that the full faith and credit of the United States is pledged in support of those securities) having maturities of not more than six months from the date of acquisition;

(3) certificates of deposit and eurodollar time deposits with maturities of six months or less from the date of acquisition, bankers’ acceptances with maturities not exceeding six months and overnight bank deposits, in each case, with any lender party to the Credit Agreement or with any domestic commercial bank having capital and surplus in excess of $500.0 million and a Thomson Bank Watch Rating of “B” or better;

(4) repurchase obligations with a term of not more than seven days 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 having one of the two highest ratings obtainable from Moody’s or Standard & Poor’s Financial Services, LLC and, in each case, maturing within six months after the date of acquisition; and

(6) money market funds at least 95% of the assets of which constitute Cash Equivalents of the kinds described in clauses (1) through (5) of this definition.

Change of Control ” means the occurrence of any of the following:

(1) the direct or indirect sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of merger or consolidation), in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole to any Person (including any “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act));

(2) the adoption of a plan relating to the liquidation or dissolution of the Company;

 

5


(3) the consummation of any transaction (including, without limitation, any merger or consolidation), the result of which is that any Person (including any “person” (as defined above)) becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the Voting Stock of the Company, measured by voting power rather than number of shares; or

(4) the first day on which a majority of the members of the Board of Directors of the Company are not Continuing Directors.

Clearstream ” means Clearstream Banking, S.A.

Collateral ” means the “Pledged Collateral” as defined in the Pledge and Security Agreement and any other collateral that is identified in, and at any time will be covered by, any Parity Lien Security Document and any other collateral that may from time to time secure any Parity Lien Obligations.

Collateral Trust Agreement ” means the Collateral Trust Agreement dated August 1, 2013, among the Company and Law Debenture Trust Company of New York, as trustee under this Indenture and Collateral Trustee.

Collateral Trustee ” means Law Debenture Trust Company of New York, in its capacity as collateral trustee under the Collateral Trust Agreement, together with its successors in such capacity.

“Company” means Alliance One International, Inc., a Virginia corporation, and any and all successors thereto.

Confirmed Order ” means an order or other indication of interest, in accordance with industry standards, by a customer not an Affiliate of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries which has been accepted in the ordinary course of business by representatives of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries.

Consolidated EBITDA ” means, with respect to any specified Person for any period, the Consolidated Net Income of such Person for such period plus , without duplication:

(1) an amount equal to any extraordinary loss plus any net loss realized by such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with an Asset Sale or any other disposition of assets not constituting an Asset Sale for such period, to the extent such losses were deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income; plus

(2) provision for taxes based on income or profits of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, to the extent that such provision for taxes was deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income; plus

(3) the Fixed Charges of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, to the extent that such Fixed Charges were deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income; plus

(4) any foreign currency translation losses (including losses related to currency remeasurements of Indebtedness) of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, to the extent that such losses were taken into account in computing such Consolidated Net Income; plus

(5) depreciation, amortization (including amortization of intangibles but excluding amortization of prepaid cash expenses that were paid in a prior period) and other non-cash

 

6


charges and expenses (excluding any such non-cash charge or expense to the extent that it represents an accrual of or reserve for cash charges or expenses in any future period or amortization of a prepaid cash charge or 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 charges or expenses were deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income; minus

(6) any foreign currency translation gains (including gains related to currency remeasurements of Indebtedness) of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, to the extent that such gains were taken into account in computing such Consolidated Net Income; minus

(7) non-cash items increasing such Consolidated Net Income for such period, other than the accrual of revenue in the ordinary course of business,

in each case, on a consolidated basis and determined in accordance with GAAP.

Consolidated Net Income ” means, with respect to any specified Person for any period, the aggregate of the net income (loss) of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, on a consolidated basis (excluding the net income (loss) of any Unrestricted Subsidiary of such Person), determined in accordance with GAAP and without any reduction in respect of preferred stock dividends, plus , to the extent deducted in determining such net income (or net loss), the Transaction Costs; provided that:

(1) all extraordinary gains (but not losses) and all gains (but not losses) realized in connection with any Asset Sale or any other disposition of assets not constituting an Asset Sale or the disposition of securities or the early extinguishment of Indebtedness, together with any related provision for taxes on any such gain, will be excluded;

(2) the net income (but not loss) of any Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary or that is accounted for by the equity method of accounting will be included only to the extent of the amount of dividends or similar distributions paid in cash to the specified Person or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Person;

(3) solely for the purpose of determining the amount available for Restricted Payments under Section 4.07, the net income (but not loss) of any Restricted Subsidiary will be excluded to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by that Restricted Subsidiary of that net income is not at the date of determination permitted without any prior governmental approval (that has not been obtained) or, directly or indirectly, by operation of the terms of its charter or any agreement, instrument, judgment, decree, order, statute, rule or governmental regulation applicable to that Restricted Subsidiary or its stockholders;

(4) the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles will be excluded; and

(5) non-cash gains and losses attributable to movement in the mark-to-market valuation of Hedging Obligations (including the application of FASB ASC Topic 815) will be excluded.

 

7


Consolidated Net Worth ” means, with respect to any specified Person as of any date, the sum of:

(1) the consolidated equity of the common stockholders of such Person and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of such date; plus

(2) the respective amounts reported on such Person’s balance sheet as of such date with respect to any series of preferred stock (other than Disqualified Stock) that by its terms is not entitled to the payment of dividends unless such dividends may be declared and paid only out of net earnings in respect of the year of such declaration and payment, but only to the extent of any cash received by such Person upon issuance of such preferred stock, less (a) all write-ups subsequent to the date hereof in the book value of any asset owned by such Person or a consolidated Subsidiary of such Person (other than purchase accounting adjustments made, in connection with any acquisition of any entity that becomes a consolidated Subsidiary of such Person after the date hereof, to the book value of the assets of such entity), (b) all investments as of such date in unconsolidated Subsidiaries and in Persons that are not Subsidiaries (except, in each case, Permitted Investments), and (c) all unamortized debt discount and expense and unamortized deferred charges as of such date, all of the foregoing determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

Consolidated Secured Leverage Ratio ” means with respect to any specified Person as of any date, the ratio of the (1) Consolidated Total Indebtedness of such Person that is secured by a Lien as of such date to (2) Consolidated EBITDA of such Person for the most recently ended period of four full consecutive fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date of determination, with such adjustments to the amount of Consolidated Total Indebtedness and Consolidated EBITDA as are consistent with the adjustment provisions set forth in the definition of Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio.

Consolidated Tangible Net Worth ” means, with respect to any Person as of any date, the sum of (1) Consolidated Net Worth, minus (2) the amount of such Person’s intangible assets at such date, including, without limitation, goodwill (whether representing the excess of cost over book value of assets acquired or otherwise), capitalized expenses, patents, trademarks, trade names, copyrights, franchises, licenses and deferred charges (such as, without limitation, unamortized costs and costs of research and development), all determined for such Person on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

Consolidated Total Indebtedness ” means, as of any date of determination, the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries outstanding on such date, determined on a consolidated basis, to the extent required to be recorded on a balance sheet in accordance with GAAP, consisting of Indebtedness for borrowed money, Capital Lease Obligations and debt obligations evidenced by promissory notes or similar instruments.

continuing ” means, with respect to any Default or Event of Default, that such Default or Event of Default has not been cured or waived.

“Continuing Directors” means, as of any date of determination, any member of the Board of Directors of the Company who:

(1) was a member of such Board of Directors on the date hereof; or

(2) was nominated for election or elected to such Board of Directors with the approval of a majority of the Continuing Directors who were members of such Board of Directors at the time of such nomination or election.

 

8


Convertible Notes ” means the aggregate principal amount of the Company’s Convertible Senior Subordinated Notes due 2014, issued by the Company pursuant to the Convertible Notes Indenture, outstanding on the date hereof, until such amounts are repaid.

Convertible Notes Indenture ” means the indenture relating to the Convertible Notes, dated as of July 2, 2009, among the Company, the guarantors thereto, Law Debenture Trust Company of New York, as trustee, and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as registrar, paying agent and conversion agent, as in effect on the date hereof, and as thereafter amended, modified and/or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof.

“Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee” will be at the address of the Trustee specified in Section 13.02 hereof or such other address as to which the Trustee may give notice to the Company.

Credit Agreement ” means that certain Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated the date hereof, among the Company, Intabex Netherlands B.V., the guarantors party thereto, the lenders from time to time parties thereto, and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Administrative Agent, providing for revolving credit borrowings, including any related notes, Guarantees, collateral documents, instruments and agreements executed in connection therewith, and, in each case, as amended, restated, modified, renewed, refunded, replaced in any manner (whether upon or after termination or otherwise) or refinanced (including by means of sales of debt securities to institutional investors) in whole or in part from time to time.

“Credit Facilities” means, one or more debt facilities (including, without limitation, any Credit Agreement), indentures or commercial paper facilities, in each case with banks or other institutional lenders, accredited investors or institutional investors providing for revolving credit loans, term loans, term debt, debt securities, receivables financing (including through the sale of receivables to such lenders or to special purpose entities formed to borrow from such lenders against such receivables) or letters of credit, in each case, as amended, restated, modified, renewed, extended, increased, refunded, replaced in any manner (whether upon or after termination or otherwise) or refinanced (including by means of sales of debt securities to institutional investors) in whole or in part from time to time.

“Custodian” means the Registrar, as custodian with respect to the Notes in global form, or any successor entity thereto.

“Deemed Capitalized Leases” means obligations of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that are classified as “capital lease obligations” under GAAP due to the application of FASB ASC Topic 840 or any subsequent pronouncement having similar effect and, except for such regulation or pronouncement, such obligation would not constitute a Capital Lease Obligation.

“Default” means any event that is, or with the passage of time or the giving of notice or both would be, an Event of Default.

“Definitive Note” means a certificated Note registered in the name of the Holder thereof and issued in accordance with Section 2.06 hereof, substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto except that such Note shall not bear the Global Note Legend and shall not have the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto.

“Depositary” means, with respect to the Notes issuable or issued in whole or in part in global form, the Person specified in Section 2.03 hereof as the Depositary with respect to the Notes, and any and all successors thereto appointed as depositary hereunder and having become such pursuant to the applicable provision of this Indenture.

 

9


“Disqualified Stock” means any Capital Stock that, by its terms (or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible, or for which it is exchangeable, in each case at the option of the holder of the Capital Stock), or upon the happening of any event, matures or is mandatorily redeemable, pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, or redeemable at the option of the holder of the Capital Stock, in whole or in part, on or prior to the date that is 91 days after the date on which the Notes mature. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, any Capital Stock that would constitute Disqualified Stock solely because the holders of the Capital Stock have the right to require the Company to repurchase such Capital Stock upon the occurrence of a change of control or an asset sale will not constitute Disqualified Stock if the terms of such Capital Stock provide that the Company may not repurchase or redeem any such Capital Stock pursuant to such provisions unless such repurchase or redemption complies with Section 4.07 hereof. The amount of Disqualified Stock deemed to be outstanding at any time for purposes of this Indenture will be the maximum amount that the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries may become obligated to pay upon the maturity of, or pursuant to any mandatory redemption provisions of, such Disqualified Stock, exclusive of accrued dividends.

“Domestic Subsidiary” means any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that was formed under the laws of the United States or any state of the United States or the District of Columbia or that guarantees or otherwise provides direct credit support for any Indebtedness of the Company.

Eligible Inventory ” means, as of any date, all inventory of the Company and any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, wherever located, valued in accordance with GAAP and shown on the balance sheet of the Company for the quarterly period most recently ended prior to such date for which financial statements of the Company are available.

Eligible Receivables ” means, as of any date, all accounts receivable of the Company and any of its Subsidiaries arising out of the sale of inventory in the ordinary course of business, valued in accordance with GAAP and shown on the balance sheet of the Company for the quarterly period most recently ended prior to such date for which financial statements of the Company are available.

“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); provided that no Indebtedness of the Company shall constitute an Equity Interest by virtue of being convertible into Capital Stock.

Equity Offering ” means a public or private sale either (1) of Equity Interests of the Company by the Company (other than Disqualified Stock and other than to a Subsidiary of the Company) or (2) of Equity Interests of a direct or indirect parent entity of the Company (other than to the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company) to the extent that the net proceeds therefrom are contributed to the common equity capital of the Company.

“Euroclear” means Euroclear Bank, S.A./N.V., as operator of the Euroclear system.

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

“Exchange Notes” means the Notes issued in the Registered Exchange Offer pursuant to Section 2.06(f) hereof.

“Exchange Offer Registration Statement” has the meaning set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement.

 

10


Existing Indebtedness ” means all Indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries (other than Indebtedness under the Credit Agreement, the Existing Senior Notes 2016 and the Convertible Notes) in existence on the date hereof, until such amounts are repaid.

Existing Senior Indenture 2016 ” means that certain indenture, dated as of July 2, 2009, by and among the Company, Law Debenture Trust Company of New York, as trustee, and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as registrar and paying agent, with respect to the Existing Senior Notes 2016 as supplemented, amended, restated, extended, renewed, replaced or otherwise modified from time to time prior to the date hereof.

Existing Senior Notes 2016 ” means the 10% Senior Notes due 2016, issued by the Company pursuant to the Existing Senior Indenture 2016, as such Existing Senior Notes 2016 may be supplemented, amended, restated, extended, renewed, replaced or otherwise modified from time to time prior to the date hereof.

“Fair Market Value” means the value that would be paid by a willing buyer to an unaffiliated willing seller in a transaction not involving distress or necessity of either party, determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company (unless otherwise provided in this Indenture).

Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio ” means with respect to any specified Person for any period, the ratio of the Consolidated EBITDA 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, assumes, guarantees, repays, repurchases, redeems, defeases or otherwise discharges any Indebtedness (other than ordinary working capital borrowings, borrowings under Seasonal Subsidiary Debt and Guarantees of Grower Indebtedness) or issues, repurchases or redeems 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 (in accordance with Regulation S-X under the Securities Act) to such incurrence, assumption, Guarantee, repayment, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other discharge of Indebtedness, or such issuance, repurchase or redemption of preferred stock, and the use of the proceeds therefrom, as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter reference period.

In addition, for purposes of calculating the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio:

(1) acquisitions that have been made by the specified Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, including through mergers or consolidations, or any Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries acquired by the specified Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, and including all related financing transactions and including increases in ownership of Restricted Subsidiaries, during the four-quarter reference period or subsequent to such reference period and on or prior to the Calculation Date, or that are to be made on the Calculation Date, will be given pro forma effect (in accordance with Regulation S-X under the Securities Act, but giving effect to Pro Forma Cost Savings) as if they had occurred on the first day of the four-quarter reference period;

(2) the Consolidated EBITDA attributable to discontinued operations, as determined in accordance with GAAP, and operations or businesses (and ownership interests therein) disposed of prior to the Calculation Date, will be excluded;

(3) the Fixed Charges attributable to discontinued operations, as determined in accordance with GAAP, and operations or businesses (and ownership interests therein) disposed of prior to the Calculation Date, will be excluded, but only to the extent that the obligations giving rise to such Fixed Charges will not be obligations of the specified Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries following the Calculation Date;

 

11


(4) any Person that is a Restricted Subsidiary on the Calculation Date will be deemed to have been a Restricted Subsidiary at all times during such four-quarter period;

(5) any Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary on the Calculation Date will be deemed not to have been a Restricted Subsidiary at any time during such four-quarter period; and

(6) if any Indebtedness bears a floating rate of interest, the interest expense on such Indebtedness will 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 Obligation applicable to such Indebtedness if such Hedging Obligation has a remaining term as at the Calculation Date in excess of 12 months).

Fixed Charges ” means, with respect to any specified Person for any period, the sum, without duplication, of:

(1) the consolidated interest expense (other than interest expense in respect of letters of credit) of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, 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, imputed interest with respect to Attributable Debt, commissions, discounts and other fees and charges incurred in respect of bankers’ acceptance financings, and net of the effect of all payments made or received pursuant to Hedging Obligations in respect of interest rates; plus

(2) the consolidated interest expense of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries that was capitalized during such period; plus

(3) any interest 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) the product of (a) all dividends, whether paid or accrued and whether or not in cash, on any series of preferred stock of such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, other than dividends on Equity Interests payable solely in Equity Interests of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock) 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, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP; minus

(5) to the extent added in consolidated interest expense in clause (3) above, contingent obligations so long as such obligations remain contingent; minus

(6) the interest income of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period.

“Foreign Subsidiary” means any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that is not a Domestic Subsidiary.

 

12


Funded Debt ” means, with respect to any specified Person, any indebtedness of such Person (excluding accrued expenses and trade payables), whether or not contingent:

(1) in respect of borrowed money or advances; or

(2) evidenced by loan agreements, bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments or letters of credit (or reimbursement agreements in respect thereof).

For the avoidance of doubt, “Funded Debt” shall not include Hedging Obligations or Bank Product Obligations.

“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or in such other statements by such other entity as have been approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession, which are in effect from time to time.

“Global Note Legend” means the legend set forth in Section 2.06(g)(2) hereof, which is required to be placed on all Global Notes issued under this Indenture.

“Global Notes” means, individually and collectively, each of the Restricted Global Notes and the Unrestricted Global Notes deposited with or on behalf of and registered in the name of the Depository or its nominee, substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto and that bears the Global Note Legend and that has the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto, issued in accordance with Section 2.01, 2.06(b)(3), 2.06(b)(4), 2.06(d)(2) or 2.06(f) hereof.

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

Grower Indebtedness ” means indebtedness incurred by tobacco farmers that supply tobacco to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries for the purpose of financing the growing of tobacco crop.

“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, by way of a pledge of assets or through letters of credit or reimbursement agreements in respect thereof, of all or any part of any Indebtedness (whether arising by virtue of partnership arrangements, or by agreements to keep-well, to purchase assets, goods, securities or services, to take or pay or to maintain financial statement conditions or otherwise).

Guarantors ” means any Subsidiary of the Company that executes a Note Guarantee in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture, and their respective successors and assigns, in each case, until the Note Guarantee of such Person has been released in accordance with the provisions in this Indenture.

Hedge Agreement ” means, with respect to any Person, any agreement entered into to protect such Person against fluctuations in interest rates, or currency or raw materials values, including, without limitation, any interest rate swap, cap or collar agreement, or similar arrangement between such Person and one or more counterparties, any foreign currency exchange agreement, currency protection agreements, commodity purchase or option agreements, or other interest or exchange rate or commodity price hedging agreements. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term “Hedge Agreement” shall not include any Permitted Bond Hedge Transactions or any other hedging agreements (or substantively equivalent derivative transactions) with respect to the Company’s Equity Interests.

 

13


“Hedging Obligations” means, with respect to any specified Person, the obligations of such Person under any Hedge Agreement.

“Holder” means a Person in whose name a Note is registered.

Indebtedness ” means, with respect to any specified Person, any indebtedness of such Person (excluding accrued expenses and trade payables), whether or not contingent:

(1) in respect of borrowed money;

(2) evidenced by or issued in exchange for bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments or letters of credit (or reimbursement agreements in respect thereof);

(3) in respect of banker’s acceptances;

(4) representing Capital Lease Obligations or Attributable Debt in respect of sale and leaseback transactions;

(5) representing the balance deferred and unpaid of the purchase price of any property or services due more than six months after such property is acquired or such services are completed; or

(6) representing any Hedging Obligations or other Bank Product Obligations,

if and to the extent any of the preceding items (other than letters of credit, Attributable Debt and Hedging Obligations) would appear as a liability upon a balance sheet of the specified Person prepared in accordance with GAAP, but excluding Deemed Capitalized Leases. In addition, the term “Indebtedness” includes all Indebtedness of others secured by a Lien on any asset of the specified Person (whether or not such Indebtedness is assumed by the specified Person) and, to the extent not otherwise included, the Guarantee by the specified Person of any Indebtedness of any other Person. Indebtedness shall be calculated without giving effect to the effects of FASB ASC Topic 815 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.

“IAI Global Note” means a Global Note substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto bearing the Global Note Legend and the Private Placement Legend and deposited with or on behalf of and registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee that will be issued in a denomination equal to the outstanding principal amount of the Notes sold to Institutional Accredited Investors.

“Indenture” means this Indenture, as amended or supplemented from time to time.

“Indirect Participant” means a Person who holds a beneficial interest in a Global Note through a Participant.

“Initial Purchasers” means Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., as the representative of the several initial purchasers listed on Schedule A of the Purchase Agreement.

 

14


“Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding means:

(1) any voluntary or involuntary case commenced by or against the Company or any Guarantor under the Bankruptcy Code or any similar federal or state law for the relief of debtors, any other proceeding for the reorganization, recapitalization, receivership, liquidation or adjustment or marshaling of the assets or liabilities of the Company or any Guarantor, any receivership or assignment for the benefit of creditors relating to the Company or any Guarantor or any similar case or proceeding relative to the Company or any Guarantor or its creditors, as such, in each case whether or not voluntary;

(2) any liquidation, dissolution, marshaling of assets or liabilities or other winding up of or relating to the Company or any Guarantor, in each case whether or not voluntary and whether or not involving bankruptcy or insolvency; or

(3) any other proceeding of any type or nature in which substantially all claims of creditors of the Company or any Guarantor are determined and any payment or distribution is or may be made on account of such claims

“Institutional Accredited Investor” means an institution that is an “accredited investor” as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act, who are not also QIBs.

Intercreditor Agreement ” means the Intercreditor Agreement dated August 1, 2013, among the Company, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as senior representative for the credit agreement secured parties, and Law Debenture Trust Company of New York, as the initial second priority representative.

Investments ” means, with respect to any Person, all direct or indirect investments by such Person in other Persons (including Affiliates) in the forms of loans (including Guarantees or other obligations), advances or capital contributions (excluding commission, travel and similar advances to officers and employees made in the ordinary course of business), purchases or other acquisitions for consideration of Indebtedness, Equity Interests or other securities, together with all items that are or would be classified as investments on a balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP. If the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company sells or otherwise disposes of any Equity Interests of any direct or indirect Restricted Subsidiary of the Company such that, after giving effect to any such sale or disposition, such Person is no longer a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, the Company will be deemed to have made an Investment on the date of any such sale or disposition equal to the Fair Market Value of the Company’s Investments in such Restricted Subsidiary that were not sold or disposed of in an amount determined as provided in the final paragraph of Section 4.07. The acquisition by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company of a Person that holds an Investment in a third Person will be deemed to be an Investment by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary in such third Person in an amount equal to the Fair Market Value of the Investments held by the acquired Person in such third Person in an amount determined according to the final paragraph of Section 4.07. Except as otherwise provided in this Indenture, the amount of an Investment will be determined at the time the Investment is made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value.

“Legal Holiday” means a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in the City of New York or at a place of payment are authorized by law, regulation or executive order to remain closed. If a payment date is a Legal Holiday at a place of payment, payment may be made at that place on the next succeeding day that is not a Legal Holiday, and no interest shall accrue on such payment for the intervening period.

 

15


“Letter of Transmittal” means the letter of transmittal to be prepared by the Company and sent to all Holders of the Notes for use by such Holders in connection with the Registered Exchange Offer.

“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 option or other agreement to sell or give a security interest in and any filing of or agreement to give any financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code (or equivalent statutes) of any jurisdiction.

Lien Sharing and Priority Confirmation ” means, as to any Series of Parity Lien Debt, the written agreement of the holders of such Series of Parity Lien Debt, as set forth in the indenture, credit agreement or other agreement governing such Series of Parity Lien Debt, for the enforceable benefit of all holders of each existing and future Series of Parity Lien Debt:

(1) that all Parity Lien Obligations will be and are secured equally and ratably by all Parity Liens at any time granted by the Company or any Guarantor to secure any Obligations in respect of such Series of Parity Lien Debt, whether or not upon property otherwise constituting collateral for such Series of Parity Lien Debt, and that all such Parity Liens will be enforceable by the Collateral Trustee for the benefit of all Parity Lien Secured Parties equally and ratably; provided, however , that notwithstanding the foregoing, this provision will not be violated with respect to any particular Collateral and any particular Series of Parity Lien Debt if the Parity Lien Documents in respect thereof prohibit the applicable Parity Lien Representative from accepting the benefit of a Lien on any particular asset or property or such Parity Lien Representative otherwise expressly declines in writing to accept the benefit of a Lien on such asset or property;

(2) that the holders of Obligations in respect of such Series of Parity Lien Debt are bound by the provisions of the Collateral Trust Agreement, including the provisions relating to the ranking of Parity Liens and the order of application of proceeds from the enforcement of Parity Liens; and

(3) consenting to and directing the Collateral Trustee to perform its obligations under the Collateral Trust Agreement and the other Parity Lien Security Documents.

Material Domestic Restricted Subsidiary ” means any Wholly-Owned Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that was formed under the laws of the United States or any state of the United States or the District of Columbia or that guarantees or otherwise provides direct credit support for any Indebtedness of the Company, which would constitute a Significant Subsidiary, except that for purposes of this definition all references therein to 10.0% shall be deemed to be references to 5.0%.

Material Foreign Subsidiary ” means any Foreign Subsidiary of the Company that would constitute a Significant Subsidiary.

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

Net Proceeds ” means the aggregate cash proceeds and Cash Equivalents received by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of any Asset Sale (including, without limitation, any cash or Cash Equivalents received upon the sale or other disposition of any non-cash consideration received in any Asset Sale), net of the direct costs relating to such Asset Sale, including, without limitation, legal, accounting and investment banking fees, and sales commissions, and any relocation expenses incurred as a result of the Asset Sale, taxes paid or payable as a result of the Asset Sale, in each case, after taking into account any available tax credits or deductions and any tax sharing arrangements,

 

16


and amounts required to be applied to the repayment of Indebtedness, other than Indebtedness under a Credit Facility, secured by a Lien on the asset or assets that were the subject of such Asset Sale and any reserve for adjustment or indemnification obligations in respect of the sale price of such asset or assets established in accordance with GAAP.

“Non-U.S. Person” means a Person who is not a U.S. Person.

Note Documents ” means this Indenture, the Notes and the Parity Lien Security Documents securing the Obligations in respect thereof.

“Note Guarantee” means the Guarantee by each Guarantor of the Company’s Obligations under this Indenture and the Notes, executed pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture.

“Notes” has the meaning assigned to it in the preamble to this Indenture.

“Obligations” means any principal (including reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit whether or not drawn), interest (including, to the extent legally permitted, all interest accrued thereon after the commencement of any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding at the rate, including any applicable post-default rate, specified in the applicable Secured Debt Documents, even if such interest is not enforceable, allowable or allowed as a claim in such proceeding), premium (if any), fees, indemnifications, reimbursements, expenses and other liabilities payable under the documentation governing any Secured Obligations.

OECD ” means the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and any successor thereto.

“Officer” means, with respect to any Person, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Operating Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, the Controller, the Secretary or any Vice-President of such Person.

“Officers’ Certificate” means a certificate signed on behalf of the Company by two Officers of the Company, one of whom must be the principal executive officer, the principal financial officer, the treasurer or the principal accounting officer of the Company, that meets the requirements of Section 13.05 hereof.

“Opinion of Counsel” means an opinion from legal counsel who is reasonably acceptable to the Trustee, that meets the requirements of Section 13.05 hereof. The counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company or the Trustee.

Parity Lien ” means a Lien granted, or purported to be granted, by a Parity Lien Security Document to the Collateral Trustee, at any time, upon any property of the Company or any Guarantor to secure Parity Lien Obligations.

Parity Lien Cap ” means the maximum amount of Parity Lien Debt that may be incurred by the Company such that, after giving pro forma effect to such incurrence and the application of the net proceeds therefrom, the Consolidated Secured Leverage Ratio for the period for the most recently ended four full consecutive fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date of such incurrence would not exceed 4.5 to 1.0.

 

17


Parity Lien Debt ” means:

(1) the Notes issued on the date hereof (including any related Exchange Notes); and

(2) any other Funded Debt (including additional notes, and letter of credit and reimbursement Obligations with respect thereto) that is secured by a Parity Lien and that was permitted to be incurred and permitted to be so secured under each applicable Secured Debt Document;

provided , in the case of any Funded Debt referred to in clause (2) of this definition, that:

 

  (a) on or before the date on which such Funded Debt is incurred by the Company or by a Restricted Subsidiary, such Funded Debt is designated by the Company, in an officers’ certificate in the form required under the Collateral Trust Agreement delivered to each Parity Lien Representative and the Collateral Trustee, as “Parity Lien Debt” for the purposes of this Indenture and the Collateral Trust Agreement; provided , that no Funded Debt may be designated as both Parity Lien Debt and Priority Lien Debt;

 

  (b) unless such Funded Debt is issued under an existing Parity Lien Document for any Series of Parity Lien Debt whose Parity Lien Representative is already party to the Collateral Trust Agreement, the Parity Lien Representative for such Funded Debt executes and delivers a joinder in the form required under the Collateral Trust Agreement; and

 

  (c) all other requirements set forth in the Collateral Trust Agreement as to the confirmation, grant or perfection of the Collateral Trustee’s Liens to secure such Funded Debt in respect thereof are satisfied (and the satisfaction of such requirements and the other provisions of this clause (c) will be conclusively established if the Company delivers to the Collateral Trustee an officers’ certificate in the form required under the Collateral Trust Agreement stating that such requirements and other provisions have been satisfied and that such Funded Debt is “Parity Lien Debt”).

Parity Lien Documents ” means, collectively, the Note Documents and any other indenture, credit agreement or other agreement pursuant to which any Parity Lien Debt is incurred and the Parity Lien Security Documents.

Parity Lien Obligations ” means Parity Lien Debt and all other Obligations in respect thereof including, without limitation interest and premium (if any), and all guarantees of any of the foregoing.

Parity Lien Representative ” means:

(1) in the case of the Notes, the Trustee; and

(2) in the case of any other Series of Parity Lien Debt, the trustee, agent or representative of the holders of such Series of Parity Lien Debt who maintains the transfer register for such Series of Parity Lien Debt and (a) is appointed as a Parity Lien Representative (for purposes related to the administration of the Parity Lien Security Documents) pursuant to the indenture, credit agreement or other agreement governing such Series of Parity Lien Debt, together with its successors in such capacity, and (b) has become a party to the Collateral Trust Agreement by executing a joinder in the form required under the Collateral Trust Agreement.

 

18


Parity Lien Secured Parties ” means the holders of Parity Lien Obligations and each Parity Lien Representative.

Parity Lien Security Documents ” means all security agreements, pledge agreements, collateral assignments, mortgages, deeds of trust, collateral trust or agency agreements, intercreditor agreements, control agreements, Lien Sharing and Priority Confirmations or other grants or transfers for security executed and delivered by the Company or any Guarantor creating (or purporting to create) a Lien upon Collateral in favor of the Collateral Trustee, for the benefit of any of the Parity Lien Secured Parties, in each case, as amended, modified, renewed, restated or replaced, in whole or in part, from time to time, in accordance with its terms and in accordance with the terms of the Collateral Trust Agreement.

“Participant” means, with respect to the Depositary, Euroclear or Clearstream, a Person who has an account with the Depositary, Euroclear or Clearstream, respectively (and, with respect to DTC, shall include Euroclear and Clearstream).

Permitted Advances on Purchases of Tobacco ” means advances of cash or crop-related materials made by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to growers and other suppliers of tobacco (including Affiliates) and tobacco growers’ cooperatives in the ordinary course of business to finance the growing or processing of tobacco only to the extent that the aggregate principal amount of such advances outstanding at any time to any Person and such Person’s Affiliates does not exceed 30% of the Consolidated Tangible Net Worth of the Company for the most recently ended fiscal quarter for which internal financial statements are available.

Permitted Bond Hedge Transaction ” means any purchase or unwinding by the Company of a call or capped call option (or substantively equivalent derivative transaction) on the Company’s common stock in connection with the Convertible Notes.

Permitted Business ” means any business that is the same as, or reasonably related, ancillary or complementary to, any of the businesses in which the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries are engaged on the date hereof.

Permitted Investments ” means:

(1) any Investment in the Company or in a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company;

(2) any Investment in Cash Equivalents;

(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 is merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into, or transfers or conveys substantially all of its assets to, or is liquidated into, the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company;

 

19


(4) any Investment made as a result of the receipt of non-cash consideration from an Asset Sale that was made pursuant to and in compliance with Section 4.10 or any other disposition of assets not constituting an Asset Sale;

(5) any acquisition of assets or Capital Stock solely in exchange for the issuance of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company;

(6) any Investments received in compromise or resolution of (a) obligations of trade creditors or customers that were incurred in the ordinary course of business of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, including pursuant to any plan of reorganization or similar arrangement upon the bankruptcy or insolvency of any trade creditor or customer; or (b) litigation, arbitration or other disputes;

(7) Investments represented by Hedging Obligations;

(8) loans or advances to employees made in the ordinary course of business of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $5.0 million at any one time outstanding;

(9) loans and advances to growers and other suppliers of tobacco (including Affiliates) in the ordinary course of its business in an aggregate outstanding principal amount consistent with past practice of the Company and Intabex Netherlands B.V.;

(10) repurchases of the Notes;

(11) any guarantee and any guarantee of Indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 4.09;

(12) any Investment existing on, or made pursuant to binding commitments existing on, the date hereof and any Investment consisting of an extension, modification or renewal of any Investment existing on, or made pursuant to a binding commitment existing on, the date hereof; provided that the amount of any such Investment may be increased (a) as required by the terms of such Investment as in existence on the date hereof or (b) as otherwise permitted under this Indenture;

(13) Investments acquired after the date hereof as a result of the acquisition by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company of another Person, including by way of a merger, amalgamation or consolidation with or into the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in a transaction that is not prohibited by Section 5.01 after the date hereof 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;

 

20


(14) Investments made in the ordinary course of such Person’s business in export notes, trade credit assignments, bankers’ acceptances, guarantees and instruments of a similar nature issued in connection with the financing of international trading transactions by:

 

  (a) any commercial bank or trust company (or any Affiliate thereof) organized under the laws of the United States of America, any state thereof, or the District of Columbia having capital and surplus in excess of $100.0 million; or

 

  (b) any international bank organized under the laws of any country which is a member of the OECD or a political subdivision of any such country, and having a combined capital and surplus in excess of $100.0 million; and

(15) any Investment for consideration consisting of cash or Cash Equivalents, common stock of the Company (valued at the market value thereof as the date of the issuance thereof), other securities or properties of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (valued in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company), the assumption of any Indebtedness (valued at the principal amount thereof), any other consideration (valued in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company) or any combination of the foregoing; provided that (a) the aggregate value of all such consideration for all Investments of the Company and any of its Restricted Subsidiaries made during any fiscal year, when taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (15) that are at the time outstanding, shall not exceed 12.5% of Consolidated Tangible Net Worth as at the end of the previous fiscal year, (b) no Default or Event of Default shall exist immediately before or after giving effect to such Investment on a pro forma basis and (c) the Company would, at the time of such Investment, if the aggregate amount of the Investment (including cash and non-cash amounts) is in excess of $20.0 million, and after giving pro forma effect thereto as if such Investment had been made at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period, have been permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio set forth in Section 4.09;

Permitted Liens ” means:

(1) Priority Liens held by any Priority Lien Representative securing Priority Lien Debt that was permitted by the terms of this Indenture to be incurred pursuant to clause (1) of the definition of Permitted Debt and/or securing Hedging Obligations and/or securing Banking Product Obligations;

(2) Parity Liens held by the Collateral Trustee securing (a) Parity Lien Debt in an aggregate principal amount (as of the date of incurrence of any Parity Lien Debt and after giving pro forma effect to the application of the net proceeds therefrom), not exceeding the Parity Lien Cap and all other Parity Lien Obligations related thereto and (b) any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness of the Convertible Notes permitted to be incurred under this Indenture so long as such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness is Parity Lien Debt;

(3) Liens in favor of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(4) Liens on property of a Person existing at the time such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company or is merged with or into or consolidated with the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company; provided that such Liens were in existence prior to the contemplation of such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company or such merger or consolidation and do not extend to any assets other than those of the Person that becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company or is merged with or into or consolidated with the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company;

 

21


(5) any Lien on any asset of any Person existing at the time such Person is merged or consolidated with or into the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and not created in contemplation of such event;

(6) any Lien existing on any asset prior to the acquisition thereof by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and not created in contemplation of such event;

(7) Liens securing the performance of bids, tenders, leases, contracts (other than for the repayment of Indebtedness), statutory obligations, and other obligations of like nature, incurred as an incident to and in the ordinary course of business;

(8) Liens to secure Indebtedness (including Capital Lease Obligations) permitted by clause (5) of the definition of Permitted Debt covering only the assets acquired with or financed by such Indebtedness;

(9) Liens existing on the date hereof (other than Liens on assets of Foreign Subsidiaries securing foreign lines of credit of such Foreign Subsidiaries and Liens securing Indebtedness and other obligations incurred pursuant to clause (1) of the definition of Permitted Debt);

(10) Liens for taxes, assessments or governmental charges or claims that are not yet delinquent or that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings promptly instituted and diligently concluded; provided that any reserve or other appropriate provision as is required in conformity with GAAP has been made therefor;

(11) Liens imposed by law, such as carriers’, warehousemen’s, landlord’s and mechanics’ Liens, in each case, incurred in the ordinary course of business;

(12) zoning restrictions, easements, licenses, reservations, covenants, conditions, waivers, restrictions on the use of property or other minor encumbrances or irregularities of title which do not materially impair the use of any material property in the operation of the business of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or the value of such property for the purpose of such businesses or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings;

(13) Liens to secure any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness permitted to be incurred under this Indenture; provided, however, that:

 

  (a) the new Lien is limited to all or part of the same property and assets that secured or, under the written agreements pursuant to which the original Lien arose, could secure the original Lien (plus improvements and accessions to, such property or proceeds or distributions thereof);

 

  (b) the Indebtedness secured by the new Lien is not increased to any amount greater than the sum of (x) the outstanding principal amount, or, if greater, committed amount, of the Indebtedness renewed, refunded, refinanced, replaced, defeased or discharged with such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness and (y) an amount necessary to pay any fees and expenses, including premiums, related to such renewal, refunding, refinancing, replacement, defeasance or discharge;

 

  (c) the new Lien is not senior in priority to the Lien it is replacing; and

 

  (d) the original Lien was not incurred under clause (1), (21) or (22) of this definition of “Permitted Liens”.

 

22


(14) Liens (not securing Indebtedness) which are incurred in the ordinary course of business in connection with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance, old-age pensions, social security and public liability laws and similar legislation;

(15) attachment, judgment or similar Liens arising in connection with court proceedings; provided , that the execution or other enforcement of such Liens with respect to judgments or decrees involving in the aggregate a liability of $40.0 million or more is effectively stayed, the claims secured thereby are being actively contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, as the case may be, shall have set aside on its books, if required by GAAP, appropriate reserves for such Liens;

(16) Liens on cash, Cash Equivalents or other property arising in connection with the defeasance, discharge or redemption of Indebtedness;

(17) Liens on specific items of inventory or other goods (and the proceeds thereof) of any Person securing such Person’s obligations in respect of bankers’ acceptances issued or created in the ordinary course of business for the account of such Person to facilitate the purchase, shipment or storage of such inventory or other goods;

(18) any Lien securing any obligations and liabilities arising under or in connection with any cash management arrangements entered into prior to, on or after the date hereof, including, without limitation, any netting or set-off system for the calculation of interest with respect to debit balances and credit balances under such arrangements; provided that the assets subject to any such Lien shall be limited to the assets held from time to time at the financial institution providing such cash management arrangements;

(19) Liens arising in the ordinary course of business solely with respect to cash and Cash Equivalents in favor of a creditor depositary institution solely by virtue of any statutory or common law provision relating to banker’s liens, rights of set-off or similar rights and remedies as to deposit accounts or other funds maintained with such creditor depository institution, provided that such deposit account is not intended by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, as the case may be, to provide collateral to the depository institution;

(20) Liens securing Attributable Debt of the Company incurred pursuant to Section 4.16, provided that such Lien does not extend to or cover any property other than the property sold and leased back pursuant to such sale and leaseback transaction;

(21) Liens not otherwise permitted under Section 4.12 with respect to obligations that do not exceed $10.0 million at any one time outstanding;

(22) any Lien on the assets of a Foreign Subsidiary securing foreign lines of credit of the Foreign Subsidiaries that was permitted by the terms of this Indenture to be incurred pursuant to clause (15) of the definition of Permitted Debt;

(23) (a) leases, licenses, subleases or sublicenses granted to other Persons in the ordinary course of business which do not (i) interfere in any material respect with the business of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or (ii) secure any Indebtedness for borrowed money or (b) the rights reserved or vested in any Person by the terms of any lease, license,

 

23


franchise, grant or permit held by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or by a statutory provision, to terminate any such lease, license, franchise, grant or permit, or to require annual or periodic payments as a condition to the continuance thereof;

(24) Liens arising out of conditional sale, title retention, consignment or similar arrangements for sale of goods entered into by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business not prohibited by this Indenture to the extent such Liens do not attach to any assets other than the goods subject to such arrangements and are not intended as security for financing transactions; and

(25) any Lien on accounts receivable arising from transactions permitted by the terms of this Indenture to be incurred pursuant to clause (11) of the definition of Permitted Debt.

Permitted Prior Lien ” means any Lien that has priority over the Lien of the Collateral Trustee for the benefit of the Parity Lien Secured Parties which Lien was permitted under each Parity Lien Document.

Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness ” means any Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries issued in exchange for, or the net proceeds of which are used to renew, refund, refinance, replace, defease or discharge other Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than intercompany Indebtedness); provided that:

(1) 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 renewed, refunded, refinanced, replaced, defeased or discharged (plus all accrued interest on the Indebtedness and the amount of all fees and expenses, including premiums, incurred in connection therewith);

(2) such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness has a final maturity date later than the final maturity date of, and has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity that is (a) equal to or greater than the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of, the Indebtedness being renewed, refunded, refinanced, replaced, defeased or discharged or (b) more than 90 days after the final maturity date of the Notes;

(3) if the Indebtedness being renewed, refunded, refinanced, replaced, defeased or discharged is subordinated in right of payment to the Notes, such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness is subordinated in right of payment to the Notes on terms at least as favorable to the holders of Notes as those contained in the documentation governing the Indebtedness being renewed, refunded, refinanced, replaced, defeased or discharged; provided that the provisions of this clause (3) will not apply to any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness of the Convertible Notes; and

(4) such Indebtedness is incurred either by the Company or by the Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that was the obligor on the Indebtedness being renewed, refunded, refinanced, replaced, defeased or discharged and is guaranteed only by Persons who were obligors on the Indebtedness being renewed, refunded, refinanced, replaced, defeased or discharged.

Permitted Warrant Transaction ” means any sale by the Company of a call option or warrant (or substantively equivalent derivative transaction) on the Company’s common stock substantially concurrently with any purchase of a Permitted Bond Hedge Transaction, provided, that the purchase price for the Permitted Bond Hedge Transaction, less the proceeds from the sale of the Permitted Warrant Transaction, does not exceed the net proceeds from the Convertible Notes.

 

24


“Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, limited liability company or government or other entity.

Pledge and Security Agreement ” means the Second Lien Pledge and Security Agreement, dated August 1, 2013, by and between the Company and Law Debenture Trust Company of New York, as Collateral Trustee for the Parity Lien Secured Parties.

Priority Lien ” means all Liens that secure the Priority Lien Obligations.

Priority Lien Agent ” means Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas and any successor or assign thereof in such capacity under the Credit Agreement, or if there is no Credit Agreement, the “Priority Lien Agent” designated pursuant to the terms of the Priority Lien Debt.

Priority Lien Debt ” means:

(1) any Funded Debt now or hereafter incurred under the Credit Agreement (including letters of credit and reimbursement obligations with respect thereto) that was permitted to be incurred and secured under each applicable Secured Debt Document (or as to which the lenders under the Credit Agreement or their Priority Lien Representative obtained an officers’ certificate at the time of incurrence (or with respect to any revolving credit obligations, as of the time of commitment) to the effect that such Funded Debt was permitted to be incurred and secured by all applicable Secured Debt Documents); and

(2) any other Funded Debt (including, without limitation (x) Funded Debt incurred under any replacement Credit Agreement and (y) borrowings under any other Credit Facility) that is secured by a Priority Lien and that was permitted to be incurred and secured under each applicable Secured Debt Document; provided , in the case of any Funded Debt referred to in this clause (2), that:

 

  (a) on or before the date on which such Funded Debt is incurred by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary, such Funded Debt is designated by the Company, in an officers’ certificate delivered to each Priority Lien Representative and the Collateral Trustee, as “Priority Lien Debt” for the purposes of the Secured Debt Documents; provided , that no Funded Debt may be designated as both Parity Lien Debt and Priority Lien Debt;

 

  (b) all other requirements set forth in the Intercreditor Agreement as to the confirmation, grant or perfection of the Priority Lien Agent’s Lien to secure such Funded Debt in respect thereof are satisfied (and the satisfaction of such requirements and the other provisions of this clause (b) will be conclusively established if the Company delivers to the Priority Lien Agent an officers’ certificate stating that such requirements and other provisions have been satisfied and that such Funded Debt is “Priority Lien Debt”).

 

25


For the avoidance of doubt, Hedging Obligations and Bank Product Obligations do not constitute Priority Lien Debt but may constitute Priority Lien Obligations. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, Priority Lien Debt only includes Funded Debt that was permitted by the terms of this Indenture to be incurred pursuant to clause (1) of the definition of Permitted Debt.

Priority Lien Documents ” means the Credit Agreement and any other indenture, credit agreement or other agreement pursuant to which any Priority Lien Debt is incurred and the guaranty and security documents applicable to the Priority Lien Obligations.

Priority Lien Obligations ” means the Priority Lien Debt and all other Obligations in respect of Priority Lien Debt, including without limitation any post-petition interest whether or not allowable, together with all Hedging Obligations and Bank Product Obligations and all guarantees of any of the foregoing.

Priority Lien Representative ” means (1) in the case of the Credit Agreement, the Priority Lien Agent and (2) in the case of any other Series of Priority Lien Debt, the trustee, agent or representative of the holders of such Series of Priority Lien Debt who maintains the transfer register for such Series of Priority Lien Debt and is appointed as a representative of the Priority Lien Debt (for purposes related to the administration of the Security Documents) pursuant to the credit agreement or other agreement governing such Series of Priority Lien Debt, and who has delivered a joinder to the Intercreditor Agreement in the form required under the Intercreditor Agreement.

“Private Placement Legend” means the applicable legend set forth in Section 2.06(g)(1) hereof to be placed on all Notes issued under this Indenture except where otherwise permitted by the provisions of this Indenture.

Pro Forma Cost Savings ” means, with respect to any four-quarter period, the reduction in net costs and expenses that:

(1) were directly attributable to an acquisition, Investment, disposition, merger, consolidation or discontinued operation or other specified action that occurred during the four-quarter period or after the end of the four-quarter period and on or prior to the Calculation Date, and that would properly be reflected in a pro forma income statement prepared in accordance with Regulation S-X under the Securities Act;

(2) were actually implemented prior to the Calculation Date, in connection with or as a result of an acquisition, Investment, disposition, merger, consolidation or discontinued operation or other specified action and that are supportable and quantifiable by the underlying accounting records; or

(3) relate to an acquisition, Investment, disposition, merger, consolidation or discontinued operation or other specified action and that are reasonably expected to be realized within 12 months of the date of the closing of the acquisition, Investment, disposition, merger, consolidation or discontinued operation or specified action.

Purchase Agreement ” means the Purchase Agreement, dated August 1, 2013, by and between the Company and the Initial Purchasers.

“QIB” means a “qualified institutional buyer” as defined in Rule 144A.

Qualifying Equity Interests ” means Equity Interests of the Company other than Disqualified Stock.

 

26


Recovery Event ” means the receipt by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of any cash insurance proceeds or condemnation award payable by reason of theft, loss, physical destruction or damage, taking or similar event with respect to any of their respective property or assets.

Registered Exchange Offer ” has the meaning set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement.

“Registration Rights Agreement” means the Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of August 1, 2013, between the Company and the other parties named on the signature pages thereof, as such agreement may be amended, modified or supplemented from time to time.

“Regulation S” means Regulation S promulgated under the Securities Act.

“Regulation S Global Note” means a Global Note substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto bearing the Global Note Legend and the Private Placement Legend and deposited with or on behalf of and registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee, issued in a denomination equal to the outstanding principal amount of the Notes sold in reliance on Rule 903 of Regulation S.

Required Parity Lien Debtholders ” means, at any time, the holders of more than 50% of the sum of:

(1) the aggregate outstanding principal amount of Parity Lien Debt (including outstanding letters of credit whether or not then available or drawn); and

(2) other than in connection with the exercise of remedies, the aggregate unfunded commitments to extend credit which, when funded, would constitute Parity Lien Debt.

For purposes of this definition, (a) Parity Lien Debt registered in the name of, or beneficially owned by, the Company or any Affiliate of the Company will be deemed not to be outstanding, and neither the Company nor any Affiliate of the Company will be entitled to vote any of the Parity Lien Debt and (b) votes will be determined in accordance with the provisions of Section 7.2 of the Collateral Trust Agreement.

“Responsible Officer,” when used with respect to the Trustee, means any officer within the corporate trust department of the Trustee (or any successor group of the Trustee) or any other officer of the Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above designated officers and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of his knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.

“Restricted Definitive Note” means a Definitive Note bearing the Private Placement Legend.

“Restricted Global Note” means a Global Note bearing the Private Placement Legend.

“Restricted Investment” means an Investment other than a Permitted Investment.

“Restricted Period” means the 40-day distribution compliance period as defined in Regulation S.

Restricted Subsidiary ” of a Person means any Subsidiary of the referent Person that is not an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

“Rule 144” means Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act.

“Rule 144A” means Rule 144A promulgated under the Securities Act.

“Rule 903” means Rule 903 promulgated under the Securities Act.

“Rule 904” means Rule 904 promulgated under the Securities Act.

Seasonal Subsidiary Debt ” means seasonal Indebtedness (under bank facilities) incurred by the Company’s Restricted Subsidiaries and having maturities of no more than one year.

“SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

27


Secured Debt ” means Parity Lien Debt and Priority Lien Debt.

Secured Debt Documents ” means the Parity Lien Documents and the Priority Lien Documents.

Secured Obligations ” means Parity Lien Obligations and Priority Lien Obligations.

“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

Series of Parity Lien Debt ” means, severally, the Notes and each other issue or series of Parity Lien Debt for which a single transfer register is maintained.

Series of Priority Lien Debt” means, severally, Funded Debt under the Credit Agreement and each other issue or series of Priority Lien Debt for which a single transfer register is maintained.

“Shelf Registration Statement” means the Shelf Registration Statement as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement.

Significant Subsidiary ” means any Restricted Subsidiary that would be a “significant subsidiary” as defined in Article 1, Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X, promulgated pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Regulation is in effect on the date hereof.

“Special Interest” has the meaning assigned to that term pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement.

Specified Sales ” means (1) the sale, transfer, lease or other disposition of inventory and materials in the ordinary course of business and (2) the conversion of cash into Cash Equivalents or Cash Equivalents into cash.

Stated Maturity ” means, with respect to any installment of interest or principal on any series of Indebtedness, the date on which the payment of interest or principal was scheduled to be paid in the documentation governing such Indebtedness as of the date hereof, and will not include any contingent obligations to repay, redeem or repurchase any such interest or principal prior to the date originally scheduled for the payment thereof.

“Subsidiary” means, with respect to any specified Person:

(1) any corporation, association or other business entity of which more than 50% of the total voting power of shares of Capital Stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency and after giving effect to any voting agreement or stockholders’ agreement that effectively transfers voting power) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees of the corporation, association or other business entity is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by that Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person (or a combination thereof); and

(2) any partnership or limited liability company of which (a) 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 (b) such Person or any Subsidiary of such Person is a controlling general partner or otherwise controls such entity.

 

28


“TIA” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (15 U.S.C. §§ 77aaa-77bbbb).

Transaction Costs ” means the costs, fees, expenses and premiums associated with the Transactions.

Transactions ” means the refinancing transactions contemplated in the Final Offering Memorandum dated July 26, 2013 related to the Notes offered hereby.

Treasury Rate ” means, as of any redemption date, the yield to maturity as of such redemption date of United States Treasury securities with a constant maturity (as compiled and published in the most recent Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15 (519) that has become publicly available at least two business days prior to the redemption date (or, if such Statistical Release is no longer published, any publicly available source of similar market data)) most nearly equal to the period from the redemption date to July 15, 2017; provided, however , that if the period from the redemption date to July 15, 2017, is less than one year, the weekly average yield on actually traded United States Treasury securities adjusted to a constant maturity of one year will be used.

“Trustee” means Law Debenture Trust Company of New York, until a successor replaces it in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Indenture and thereafter means the successor serving hereunder.

Uncommitted Inventories ” means tobacco inventories for which the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries has not received a Confirmed Order, which such inventories are reflected on the books and records of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries as uncommitted inventories in accordance with GAAP.

“Unrestricted Definitive Note” means a Definitive Note that does not bear and is not required to bear the Private Placement Legend.

“Unrestricted Global Note” means a Global Note that does not bear and is not required to bear the Private Placement Legend.

Unrestricted Subsidiary ” means any Subsidiary of the Company that is designated by the Board of Directors of the Company as an Unrestricted Subsidiary pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Directors, but only to the extent that such Subsidiary:

(1) except as permitted under Section 4.11, is not party to any agreement, contract, arrangement or understanding with the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company unless the terms of any such agreement, contract, arrangement or understanding are no less favorable to the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary than those that might be obtained at the time from Persons who are not Affiliates of the Company;

(2) is a Person with respect to which neither the Company nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries has any direct or indirect obligation (a) to subscribe for additional Equity Interests or (b) to maintain or preserve such Person’s financial condition or to cause such Person to achieve any specified levels of operating results; and

(3) has not guaranteed or otherwise directly or indirectly provided credit support for any Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries.

 

29


“U.S. Person” means a U.S. Person as defined in Rule 902(k) promulgated under the Securities Act.

“Voting Stock” of any specified 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 at any date, the number of years obtained by dividing:

(1) the sum of the products obtained by multiplying (a) the amount of each then remaining installment, sinking fund, serial maturity or other required payments of principal, including payment at final maturity, in respect of the Indebtedness, by (b) the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth) that will elapse between such date and the making of such payment; by

(2) the then outstanding principal amount of such Indebtedness.

Wholly-Owned Restricted Subsidiary ” of any specified Person means a Restricted Subsidiary of such Person all of the outstanding Capital Stock or other ownership interests of which (other than directors’ qualifying shares) will at the time be owned by such Person or by one or more Wholly-Owned Restricted Subsidiaries of such Person.

Section 1.02 Other Definitions.

 

Term

  

Defined in
Section

“Asset Sale Offer”    3.09
“Authentication Order”    2.02
“Change of Control Offer”    4.15
“Change of Control Payment”    4.15
“Change of Control Payment Date”    4.15
“Covenant Defeasance”    8.03
“DTC”    2.03
“Event of Default”    6.01
“Excess Proceeds”    4.10
“incur”    4.09
“Legal Defeasance”    8.02
“Offer Amount”    3.09
“Offer Period”    3.09
“Paying Agent”    2.03
“Payment Default”    6.01
“Permitted Debt”    4.09
“Purchase Date”    3.09
“Registrar”    2.03
“Restricted Payments”    4.07

Section 1.03 Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act.

Whenever this Indenture refers to a provision of the TIA, the provision is incorporated by reference in and made a part of this Indenture.

 

30


The following TIA terms used in this Indenture have the following meanings:

“indenture securities” means the Notes;

“indenture security Holder” means a Holder of a Note;

“indenture to be qualified” means this Indenture;

“indenture trustee” or “institutional trustee” means the Trustee; and

“obligor” on the Notes and the Note Guarantees means the Company and the Guarantors, respectively, and any successor obligor upon the Notes and the Note Guarantees, respectively.

All other terms used in this Indenture that are defined by the TIA, defined by TIA reference to another statute or defined by SEC rule under the TIA have the meanings so assigned to them.

Section 1.04 Rules of Construction.

Unless the context otherwise requires:

(1) a term has the meaning assigned to it;

(2) an accounting term not otherwise defined has the meaning assigned to it in accordance with GAAP;

(3) “or” is not exclusive;

(4) “including” is not limiting;

(5) words in the singular include the plural, and in the plural include the singular;

(6) “will” shall be interpreted to express a command;

(7) provisions apply to successive events and transactions; and

(8) references to sections of or rules under the Securities Act will be deemed to include substitute, replacement or successor sections or rules adopted by the SEC from time to time.

ARTICLE 2

THE NOTES

Section 2.01 Form and Dating.

(a) General . The Notes and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication will be substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto. The Notes may have notations, legends or endorsements required by law, stock exchange rule or usage. Each Note will be dated the date of its authentication. The Notes shall be in denominations of $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof.

The terms and provisions contained in the Notes will constitute, and are hereby expressly made, a part of this Indenture and the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee, by their execution and delivery of this Indenture, expressly agree to such terms and provisions and to be bound thereby. However, to the extent any provision of any Note conflicts with the express provisions of this Indenture, the provisions of this Indenture shall govern and be controlling.

 

31


(b) Global Notes . Notes issued in global form will be substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto (including the Global Note Legend thereon and the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto). Notes issued in definitive form will be substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto (but without the Global Note Legend thereon and without the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto). Each Global Note will represent such of the outstanding Notes as will be specified therein and each shall provide that it represents the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes from time to time endorsed thereon and that the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes represented thereby may from time to time be reduced or increased, as appropriate, to reflect exchanges and redemptions. Any endorsement of a Global Note to reflect the amount of any increase or decrease in the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes represented thereby will be made by the Trustee or the Custodian, at the direction of the Trustee, in accordance with instructions given by the Holder thereof as required by Section 2.06 hereof.

Section 2.02 Execution and Authentication.

At least one Officer must sign the Notes for the Company by manual or facsimile signature.

If an Officer whose signature is on a Note no longer holds that office at the time a Note is authenticated, the Note will nevertheless be valid.

A Note will not be valid until authenticated by the manual signature of the Trustee. The signature will be conclusive evidence that the Note has been authenticated under this Indenture.

The Trustee will, upon receipt of a written order of the Company signed by two Officers (an “ Authentication Order ”), authenticate Notes for original issue that may be validly issued under this Indenture up to the aggregate principal amount stated in paragraph 4 of the Notes. The aggregate principal amount of Notes outstanding at any time may not exceed the aggregate principal amount of Notes authorized for issuance by the Company pursuant to one or more Authentication Orders, except as provided in Section 2.07 hereof.

The Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent acceptable to the Company to authenticate Notes. 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 an Agent to deal with Holders or an Affiliate of the Company.

Section 2.03 Registrar and Paying Agent.

The Company will maintain an office or agency where Notes may be presented for registration of transfer or for exchange (“ Registrar ”) and an office or agency where Notes may be presented for payment (“ Paying Agent ”). The Registrar will keep a register of the Notes and of their transfer and exchange. The Company may appoint one or more co-registrars and one or more additional paying agents. The term “Registrar” includes any co-registrar and the term “Paying Agent” includes any additional paying agent. The Company may change any Paying Agent or Registrar without notice to any Holder. The Company will notify the Trustee in writing of the name and address of any Agent not a party to this Indenture. If the Company fails to appoint or maintain another entity as Registrar or Paying Agent, the Trustee shall act as such. The Company or any of its Subsidiaries may act as Paying Agent or Registrar.

 

32


The Company initially appoints Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas to act as Paying Agent and Registrar.

The Company initially appoints The Depository Trust Company ( “DTC” ) to act as Depositary with respect to the Global Notes.

The Company initially appoints the Registrar to act as Custodian with respect to the Global Notes.

Section 2.04 Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust.

The Paying Agent shall (or if the Paying Agent is not a party hereto, the Company will require such Paying Agent to agree in writing that such Paying Agent will) hold in trust for the benefit of Holders or the Trustee all money held by the Paying Agent for the payment of principal, premium or Special Interest, if any, or interest on the Notes, and will notify the Trustee of any default by the Company in making any such payment. While any such default continues, the Trustee may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee. The Company at any time may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee. Upon payment over to the Trustee, the Paying Agent (if other than the Company or a Subsidiary) will have no further liability for the money. If the Company or a Subsidiary acts as Paying Agent, it will segregate and hold in a separate trust fund for the benefit of the Holders all money held by it as Paying Agent. Upon any bankruptcy or reorganization proceedings relating to the Company, the Trustee will serve as Paying Agent for the Notes.

Section 2.05 Holder Lists.

The Trustee will preserve in as current a form as is reasonably practicable the most recent list available to it of the names and addresses of all Holders and shall otherwise comply with TIA § 312(a). If the Trustee is not the Registrar, the Company will furnish to the Trustee at least seven 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 the Holders of Notes and the Company shall otherwise comply with TIA § 312(a).

Section 2.06 Transfer and Exchange.

(a) Transfer and Exchange of Global Notes . A Global Note may not be transferred except as a whole by the Depositary to a nominee of the Depositary, by a nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or to another nominee of the Depositary, or by the Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary or a nominee of such successor Depositary. All Global Notes will be exchanged by the Company for Definitive Notes if:

(1) the Company delivers to the Trustee notice from the Depositary that it is unwilling or unable to continue to act as Depositary or that it is no longer a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act and, in either case, a successor Depositary is not appointed by the Company within 120 days after the date of such notice from the Depositary;

(2) the Company in its sole discretion determines that the Global Notes (in whole but not in part) should be exchanged for Definitive Notes and delivers a written notice to such effect to the Trustee; or

(3) there has occurred and is continuing a Default or Event of Default with respect to the Notes.

 

33


Upon the occurrence of either of the preceding events in (1) or (2) above, Definitive Notes shall be issued in such names as the Depositary shall instruct the Trustee. Global Notes also may be exchanged or replaced, in whole or in part, as provided in Sections 2.07 and 2.10 hereof. Every Note authenticated and delivered in exchange for, or in lieu of, a Global Note or any portion thereof, pursuant to this Section 2.06 or Section 2.07 or 2.10 hereof, shall be authenticated and delivered in the form of, and shall be, a Global Note. A Global Note may not be exchanged for another Note other than as provided in this Section 2.06(a), however, beneficial interests in a Global Note may be transferred and exchanged as provided in Section 2.06(b), (c) or (f) hereof.

(b) Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in the Global Notes . The transfer and exchange of beneficial interests in the Global Notes will be effected through the Depositary, in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture and the Applicable Procedures. Beneficial interests in the Restricted Global Notes will be subject to restrictions on transfer comparable to those set forth herein to the extent required by the Securities Act. Transfers of beneficial interests in the Global Notes also will require compliance with either subparagraph (1) or (2) below, as applicable, as well as one or more of the other following subparagraphs, as applicable:

(1) Transfer of Beneficial Interests in the Same Global Note . Beneficial interests in any Restricted Global Note may be transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in the same Restricted Global Note in accordance with the transfer restrictions set forth in the Private Placement Legend. Beneficial interests in any Unrestricted Global Note may be transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note. No written orders or instructions shall be required to be delivered to the Registrar to effect the transfers described in this Section 2.06(b)(1).

(2) All Other Transfers and Exchanges of Beneficial Interests in Global Notes. In connection with all transfers and exchanges of beneficial interests that are not subject to Section 2.06(b)(1) above, the transferor of such beneficial interest must deliver to the Registrar either:

(A) both:

(i) a written order from a Participant or an Indirect Participant given to the Depositary in accordance with the Applicable Procedures directing the Depositary to credit or cause to be credited a beneficial interest in another Global Note in an amount equal to the beneficial interest to be transferred or exchanged; and

(ii) instructions given in accordance with the Applicable Procedures containing information regarding the Participant account to be credited with such increase; or

(B) both:

(i) a written order from a Participant or an Indirect Participant given to the Depositary in accordance with the Applicable Procedures directing the Depositary to cause to be issued a Definitive Note in an amount equal to the beneficial interest to be transferred or exchanged; and

(ii) instructions given by the Depositary to the Registrar containing information regarding the Person in whose name such Definitive Note shall be registered to effect the transfer or exchange referred to in (1) above.

 

34


Upon consummation of an Registered Exchange Offer by the Company in accordance with Section 2.06(f) hereof, the requirements of this Section 2.06(b)(2) shall be deemed to have been satisfied upon receipt by the Registrar of the instructions contained in the Letter of Transmittal delivered by the Holder of such beneficial interests in the Restricted Global Notes. Upon satisfaction of all of the requirements for transfer or exchange of beneficial interests in Global Notes contained in this Indenture and the Notes or otherwise applicable under the Securities Act, the Trustee shall adjust the principal amount of the relevant Global Note(s) pursuant to Section 2.06(h) hereof.

(3) Transfer of Beneficial Interests to Another Restricted Global Note. A beneficial interest in any Restricted Global Note may be transferred to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Restricted Global Note if the transfer complies with the requirements of Section 2.06(b)(2) above and the Registrar receives the following:

(A) if the transferee will take delivery in the form of a beneficial interest in the 144A Global Note, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (1) thereof;

(B) if the transferee will take delivery in the form of a beneficial interest in the Regulation S Global Note, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (2) thereof; and

(C) if the transferee will take delivery in the form of a beneficial interest in the IAI Global Note, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications, certificates and Opinion of Counsel required by item (3) thereof, if applicable.

(4) Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in a Restricted Global Note for Beneficial Interests in an Unrestricted Global Note. A beneficial interest in any Restricted Global Note may be exchanged by any holder thereof for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note or transferred to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note if the exchange or transfer complies with the requirements of Section 2.06(b)(2) above and:

(A) such exchange or transfer is effected pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement and the holder of the beneficial interest to be transferred, in the case of an exchange, or the transferee, in the case of a transfer, certifies in the applicable Letter of Transmittal that it is not (i) a Broker-Dealer, (ii) a Person participating in the distribution of the Exchange Notes or (iii) a Person who is an affiliate (as defined in Rule 144) of the Company;

(B) such transfer is effected pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement;

(C) such transfer is effected by a Broker-Dealer pursuant to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement; or

(D) the Registrar receives the following:

(i) if the holder of such beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note, a certificate from such holder in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (1)(a) thereof; or

(ii) if the holder of such beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note, a certificate from such holder in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (4) thereof;

 

35


and, in each such case set forth in this subparagraph (D), if the Registrar so requests or if the Applicable Procedures so require, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Registrar 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 Private Placement Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.

If any such transfer is effected pursuant to subparagraph (B) or (D) above at a time when an Unrestricted Global Note has not yet been issued, the Company shall issue and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance with Section 2.02 hereof, the Trustee shall authenticate one or more Unrestricted Global Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of beneficial interests transferred pursuant to subparagraph (B) or (D) above.

Beneficial interests in an Unrestricted Global Note cannot be exchanged for, or transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of, a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note.

(c) Transfer or Exchange of Beneficial Interests for Definitive Notes.

(1) Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes to Restricted Definitive Notes. If any holder of a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a Restricted Definitive Note or to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Restricted Definitive Note, then, upon receipt by the Registrar of the following documentation:

(A) if the holder of such beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a Restricted Definitive Note, a certificate from such holder in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (2)(a) thereof;

(B) if such beneficial interest is being transferred to a QIB in accordance with Rule 144A, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (1) thereof;

(C) if such beneficial interest is being transferred to a Non-U.S. Person in an offshore transaction in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (2) thereof;

(D) if such beneficial interest is being transferred pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act in accordance with Rule 144, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (3)(a) thereof;

 

36


(E) if such beneficial interest is being transferred to an Institutional Accredited Investor in reliance on an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act other than those listed in subparagraphs (B) through (D) above, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications, certificates and Opinion of Counsel required by item (3) thereof, if applicable;

(F) if such beneficial interest is being transferred to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (3)(b) thereof; or

(G) if such beneficial interest is being transferred pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (3)(c) thereof,

the Trustee shall cause the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Global Note to be reduced accordingly pursuant to Section 2.06(h) hereof, and the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Person designated in the instructions a Definitive Note in the appropriate principal amount. Any Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note pursuant to this Section 2.06(c) shall be registered in such name or names and in such authorized denomination or denominations as the holder of such beneficial interest shall instruct the Registrar through instructions from the Depositary and the Participant or Indirect Participant. The Trustee shall deliver such Definitive Notes to the Persons in whose names such Notes are so registered. Any Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note pursuant to this Section 2.06(c)(1) shall bear the Private Placement Legend and shall be subject to all restrictions on transfer contained therein.

(2) [Reserved].

(3) Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes to Unrestricted Definitive Notes. A holder of a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note may exchange such beneficial interest for an Unrestricted Definitive Note or may transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note only if:

(A) such exchange or transfer is effected pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement and the holder of such beneficial interest, in the case of an exchange, or the transferee, in the case of a transfer, certifies in the applicable Letter of Transmittal that it is not (i) a Broker-Dealer, (ii) a Person participating in the distribution of the Exchange Notes or (iii) a Person who is an affiliate (as defined in Rule 144) of the Company;

(B) such transfer is effected pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement;

(C) such transfer is effected by a Broker-Dealer pursuant to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement; or

(D) the Registrar receives the following:

(i) if the holder of such beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for an Unrestricted Definitive Note, a certificate from such holder in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (1)(b) thereof; or

(ii) if the holder of such beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note, a certificate from such holder in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (4) thereof;

 

37


and, in each such case set forth in this subparagraph (D), if the Registrar so requests or if the Applicable Procedures so require, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Registrar 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 Private Placement Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.

(4) Beneficial Interests in Unrestricted Global Notes to Unrestricted Definitive Notes. If any holder of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a Definitive Note or to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Definitive Note, then, upon satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 2.06(b)(2) hereof, the Trustee will cause the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Unrestricted Global Note to be reduced accordingly pursuant to Section 2.06(h) hereof, and the Company will execute and the Trustee will authenticate and deliver to the Person designated in the instructions a Definitive Note in the appropriate principal amount. Any Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest pursuant to this Section 2.06(c)(4) will be registered in such name or names and in such authorized denomination or denominations as the holder of such beneficial interest requests through instructions to the Registrar from or through the Depositary and the Participant or Indirect Participant. The Trustee will deliver such Definitive Notes to the Persons in whose names such Notes are so registered. Any Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest pursuant to this Section 2.06(c)(4) will not bear the Private Placement Legend.

(d) Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Notes for Beneficial Interests.

(1) Restricted Definitive Notes to Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes. If any Holder of a Restricted Definitive Note proposes to exchange such Note for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note or to transfer such Restricted Definitive Notes to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note, then, upon receipt by the Registrar of the following documentation:

(A) if the Holder of such Restricted Definitive Note proposes to exchange such Note for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note, a certificate from such Holder in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (2)(b) thereof;

(B) if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred to a QIB in accordance with Rule 144A, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (1) thereof;

(C) if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred to a Non-U.S. Person in an offshore transaction in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (2) thereof;

 

38


(D) if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act in accordance with Rule 144, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (3)(a) thereof;

(E) if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred to an Institutional Accredited Investor in reliance on an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act other than those listed in subparagraphs (B) through (D) above, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications, certificates and Opinion of Counsel required by item (3) thereof, if applicable;

(F) if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (3)(b) thereof; or

(G) if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (3)(c) thereof,

the Trustee will cancel the Restricted Definitive Note, increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount of, in the case of clause (A) above, the appropriate Restricted Global Note, in the case of clause (B) above, the 144A Global Note, in the case of clause (C) above, the Regulation S Global Note, and in all other cases, the IAI Global Note.

(2) Restricted Definitive Notes to Beneficial Interests in Unrestricted Global Notes. A Holder of a Restricted Definitive Note may exchange such Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note or transfer such Restricted Definitive Note to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note only if:

(A) such exchange or transfer is effected pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement and the Holder, in the case of an exchange, or the transferee, in the case of a transfer, certifies in the applicable Letter of Transmittal that it is not (i) a Broker-Dealer, (ii) a Person participating in the distribution of the Exchange Notes or (iii) a Person who is an affiliate (as defined in Rule 144) of the Company;

(B) such transfer is effected pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement;

(C) such transfer is effected by a Broker-Dealer pursuant to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement; or

(D) the Registrar receives the following:

(i) if the Holder of such Definitive Notes proposes to exchange such Notes for a beneficial interest in the Unrestricted Global Note, a certificate from such Holder in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (1)(c) thereof; or

(ii) if the Holder of such Definitive Notes proposes to transfer such Notes to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in the Unrestricted Global Note, a certificate from such Holder in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (4) thereof;

 

39


and, in each such case set forth in this subparagraph (D), if the Registrar so requests or if the Applicable Procedures so require, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Registrar 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 Private Placement Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.

Upon satisfaction of the conditions of any of the subparagraphs in this Section 2.06(d)(2), the Trustee will cancel the Definitive Notes and increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount of the Unrestricted Global Note.

(3) Unrestricted Definitive Notes to Beneficial Interests in Unrestricted Global Notes. A Holder of an Unrestricted Definitive Note may exchange such Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note or transfer such Definitive Notes to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note at any time. Upon receipt of a request for such an exchange or transfer, the Trustee will cancel the applicable Unrestricted Definitive Note and increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount of one of the Unrestricted Global Notes.

If any such exchange or transfer from a Definitive Note to a beneficial interest is effected pursuant to subparagraphs (2)(B), (2)(D) or (3) above at a time when an Unrestricted Global Note has not yet been issued, the Company will issue and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance with Section 2.02 hereof, the Trustee will authenticate one or more Unrestricted Global Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of Definitive Notes so transferred.

(e) Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Notes for Definitive Notes. Upon request by a Holder of Definitive Notes and such Holder’s compliance with the provisions of this Section 2.06(e), the Registrar will register the transfer or exchange of Definitive Notes. Prior to such registration of transfer or exchange, the requesting Holder must present or surrender to the Registrar the Definitive Notes duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instruction of transfer in form satisfactory to the Registrar duly executed by such Holder or by its attorney, duly authorized in writing. In addition, the requesting Holder must provide any additional certifications, documents and information, as applicable, required pursuant to the following provisions of this Section 2.06(e).

(1) Restricted Definitive Notes to Restricted Definitive Notes. Any Restricted Definitive Note may be transferred to and registered in the name of Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a Restricted Definitive Note if the Registrar receives the following:

(A) if the transfer will be made pursuant to Rule 144A, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (1) thereof;

(B) if the transfer will be made pursuant to Rule 903 or Rule 904, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (2) thereof; and

(C) if the transfer will be made pursuant to any other exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications, certificates and Opinion of Counsel required by item (3) thereof, if applicable.

 

40


(2) Restricted Definitive Notes to Unrestricted Definitive Notes. Any Restricted Definitive Note may be exchanged by the Holder thereof for an Unrestricted Definitive Note or transferred to a Person or Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note if:

(A) such exchange or transfer is effected pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement and the Holder, in the case of an exchange, or the transferee, in the case of a transfer, certifies in the applicable Letter of Transmittal that it is not (i) a Broker-Dealer, (ii) a Person participating in the distribution of the Exchange Notes or (iii) a Person who is an affiliate (as defined in Rule 144) of the Company;

(B) any such transfer is effected pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement;

(C) any such transfer is effected by a Broker-Dealer pursuant to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement; or

(D) the Registrar receives the following:

(i) if the Holder of such Restricted Definitive Notes proposes to exchange such Notes for an Unrestricted Definitive Note, a certificate from such Holder in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (1)(d) thereof; or

(ii) if the Holder of such Restricted Definitive Notes proposes to transfer such Notes to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note, a certificate from such Holder in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (4) thereof;

and, in each such case set forth in this subparagraph (D), if the Registrar so requests, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Registrar 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 Private Placement Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.

(3) Unrestricted Definitive Notes to Unrestricted Definitive Notes. A Holder of Unrestricted Definitive Notes may transfer such Notes to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note. Upon receipt of a request to register such a transfer, the Registrar shall register the Unrestricted Definitive Notes pursuant to the instructions from the Holder thereof.

 

41


(f) Registered Exchange Offer. Upon the occurrence of the Registered Exchange Offer in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement, the Company will issue and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance with Section 2.02 hereof, the Trustee will authenticate:

(1) one or more Unrestricted Global Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the beneficial interests in the Restricted Global Notes accepted for exchange in the Registered Exchange Offer by Persons that certify in the applicable Letters of Transmittal that (A) they are not Broker-Dealers, (B) they are not participating in a distribution of the Exchange Notes and (C) they are not affiliates (as defined in Rule 144) of the Company; and

(2) Unrestricted Definitive Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Restricted Definitive Notes accepted for exchange in the Registered Exchange Offer by Persons that certify in the applicable Letters of Transmittal that (A) they are not Broker-Dealers, (B) they are not participating in a distribution of the Exchange Notes and (C) they are not affiliates (as defined in Rule 144) of the Company.

Concurrently with the issuance of such Notes, the Trustee will cause the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Restricted Global Notes to be reduced accordingly, and the Company will execute and the Trustee will authenticate and deliver to the Persons designated by the Holders of Definitive Notes so accepted Unrestricted Definitive Notes in the appropriate principal amount.

(g) Legends. The following legends will appear on the face of all Global Notes and Definitive Notes issued under this Indenture unless specifically stated otherwise in the applicable provisions of this Indenture.

(1) Private Placement Legend .

(A) Except as permitted by subparagraph (C) below, each Global Note and each Definitive Note (and all Notes issued in exchange therefor or substitution thereof) issued in reliance on Rule 144A shall bear the 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 (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) IN 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, (II) OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 904 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (III) PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED BY RULE 144 THEREUNDER (IF AVAILABLE) OR (IV) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, IN EACH OF CASES (I) THROUGH (IV) IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANY APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES, AND (B) THE HOLDER WILL, AND EACH SUBSEQUENT HOLDER IS REQUIRED TO, NOTIFY ANY PURCHASER OF THIS NOTE FROM IT OF THE RESALE RESTRICTIONS REFERRED TO IN (A) ABOVE.”

 

42


(B) Except as permitted by subparagraph (C) below, each Global Note and each Definitive Note (and all Notes issued in exchange therefor or substitution thereof) issued in reliance on Regulation S shall bear the 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.

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) IN 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, (II) OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 904 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (III) PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED BY RULE 144 THEREUNDER (IF AVAILABLE) OR (IV) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, IN EACH OF CASES (I) THROUGH (IV) IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANY APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES, AND (B) THE HOLDER WILL, AND EACH SUBSEQUENT HOLDER IS REQUIRED TO, NOTIFY ANY PURCHASER OF THIS NOTE FROM IT OF THE RESALE RESTRICTIONS REFERRED TO IN (A) ABOVE.”

(C) Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Global Note or Definitive Note issued pursuant to subparagraphs (b)(4), (c)(3), (c)(4), (d)(2), (d)(3), (e)(2), (e)(3) or (f) of this Section 2.06 (and all Notes issued in exchange therefor or substitution thereof) will not bear the Private Placement Legend.

(2) Global Note Legend . Each Global Note will bear a legend in substantially the following form:

“THIS GLOBAL NOTE IS HELD BY THE DEPOSITARY (AS DEFINED IN THE INDENTURE GOVERNING THIS NOTE) OR ITS NOMINEE IN CUSTODY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE BENEFICIAL OWNERS HEREOF, AND IS NOT TRANSFERABLE TO ANY PERSON UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES EXCEPT THAT (1) THE TRUSTEE MAY MAKE SUCH NOTATIONS HEREON AS MAY BE REQUIRED PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.06 OF THE INDENTURE, (2) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE BUT NOT IN PART PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.06(a) OF THE INDENTURE, (3) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE DELIVERED TO THE TRUSTEE FOR CANCELLATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.11 OF THE INDENTURE AND (4) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE TRANSFERRED TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY WITH THE PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE COMPANY.

UNLESS AND UNTIL IT IS EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR NOTES IN DEFINITIVE FORM, THIS NOTE MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY

 

43


THE DEPOSITARY OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY. UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (55 WATER STREET, NEW YORK, NEW YORK) (“DTC”), TO THE COMPANY OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.”

(h) Cancellation and/or Adjustment of Global Notes. At such time as all beneficial interests in a particular Global Note have been exchanged for Definitive Notes or a particular Global Note has been redeemed, repurchased or canceled in whole and not in part, each such Global Note will be returned to or retained and canceled by the Trustee in accordance with Section 2.11 hereof. At any time prior to such cancellation, if any beneficial interest in a Global Note is exchanged for or transferred to a Person who will take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Global Note or for Definitive Notes, the principal amount of Notes represented by such Global Note will be reduced accordingly and an endorsement will be made on such Global Note by the Trustee or by the Depositary at the direction of the Trustee to reflect such reduction; and if the beneficial interest is being exchanged for or transferred to a Person who will take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Global Note, such other Global Note will be increased accordingly and an endorsement will be made on such Global Note by the Trustee or by the Depositary at the direction of the Trustee to reflect such increase.

(i) General Provisions Relating to Transfers and Exchanges.

(1) To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Company will execute and the Trustee will authenticate Global Notes and Definitive Notes upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance with Section 2.02 hereof or at the Registrar’s request.

(2) No service charge will be made to a Holder of a beneficial interest in a Global Note or to a Holder of a Definitive Note for any registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or similar governmental charge payable in connection therewith (other than any such transfer taxes or similar governmental charge payable upon exchange or transfer pursuant to Sections 2.10, 3.06, 3.09, 4.10, 4.15 and 9.05 hereof).

(3) The Registrar will not be required to register the transfer of or exchange of any Note selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part.

(4) All Global Notes and Definitive Notes issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange of Global Notes or Definitive Notes will be the valid obligations of the Company, evidencing the same debt, and entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture, as the Global Notes or Definitive Notes surrendered upon such registration of transfer or exchange.

(5) Neither the Registrar nor the Company will be required:

(A) to issue, to register the transfer of or to exchange any Notes during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of any selection of Notes for redemption under Section 3.02 hereof and ending at the close of business on the day of selection;

 

44


(B) to register the transfer of or to exchange any Note selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part; or

(C) to register the transfer of or to exchange a Note between a record date and the next succeeding interest payment date.

(6) Prior to due presentment for the registration of a transfer of any Note, the Trustee, any Agent and the Company may deem and treat the Person in whose name any Note is registered as the absolute owner of such Note for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of and interest on such Notes and for all other purposes, and none of the Trustee, any Agent or the Company shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

(7) The Trustee will authenticate Global Notes and Definitive Notes in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.02 hereof.

(8) All certifications, certificates and Opinions of Counsel required to be submitted to the Registrar pursuant to this Section 2.06 to effect a registration of transfer or exchange may be submitted by facsimile.

Section 2.07 Replacement Notes.

If any mutilated Note is surrendered to the Trustee or the Company and the Trustee receives evidence to its satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Note, the Company will issue and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, will authenticate a replacement Note if the Trustee’s requirements are met. If required by the Trustee or the Company, an indemnity bond must be supplied by the Holder that is sufficient in the judgment of the Trustee and the Company to protect the Company, the Trustee, any Agent and any authenticating agent from any loss that any of them may suffer if a Note is replaced. The Company may charge for its expenses in replacing a Note.

Every replacement Note is an additional obligation of the Company and will be entitled to all of the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with all other Notes duly issued hereunder.

Section 2.08 Outstanding Notes.

The Notes outstanding at any time are all the Notes authenticated by the Trustee except for those canceled by it, those delivered to it for cancellation, those reductions in the interest in a Global Note effected by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions hereof, and those described in this Section 2.08 as not outstanding. Except as set forth in Section 2.09 hereof, a Note does not cease to be outstanding because the Company or an Affiliate of the Company holds the Note.

If a Note is replaced pursuant to Section 2.07 hereof, it ceases to be outstanding unless the Trustee receives proof satisfactory to it that the replaced Note is held by a protected purchaser.

If the principal amount of any Note is considered paid under Section 4.01 hereof, it ceases to be outstanding and interest on it ceases to accrue.

 

45


If the Paying Agent (other than the Company, a Subsidiary or an Affiliate of any thereof) holds, on a redemption date or maturity date, money sufficient to pay Notes payable on that date, then on and after that date such Notes will be deemed to be no longer outstanding and will cease to accrue interest.

Section 2.09 Treasury Notes.

In determining whether the Holders of the required principal amount of Notes have concurred in any direction, waiver or consent, Notes owned by the Company or any Guarantor, or by any Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Company or any Guarantor, will be considered as though not outstanding, except that for the purposes of determining whether the Trustee will be protected in relying on any such direction, waiver or consent, only Notes that the Trustee knows are so owned will be so disregarded.

Section 2.10 Temporary Notes.

Until certificates representing Notes are ready for delivery, the Company may prepare and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, will authenticate temporary Notes. Temporary Notes will be substantially in the form of certificated Notes but may have variations that the Company considers appropriate for temporary Notes and as may be reasonably acceptable to the Trustee. Without unreasonable delay, the Company will prepare and the Trustee will authenticate definitive Notes in exchange for temporary Notes.

Holders of temporary Notes will be entitled to all of the benefits of this Indenture.

Section 2.11 Cancellation.

The Company at any time may deliver Notes to the Trustee for cancellation. The Registrar and Paying Agent will forward to the Trustee any Notes surrendered to them for registration of transfer, exchange or payment. The Trustee and no one else will cancel all Notes surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange, payment, replacement or cancellation and will destroy canceled Notes (subject to the record retention requirements of the Exchange Act). Certification of the destruction of all canceled Notes will be delivered to the Company. The Company may not issue new Notes to replace Notes that it has paid or that have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.

Section 2.12 Defaulted Interest.

If the Company defaults in a payment of interest on the Notes, it will pay the defaulted interest in any lawful manner plus, to the extent lawful, interest payable on the defaulted interest, to the Persons who are Holders on a subsequent special record date, in each case at the rate provided in the Notes and in Section 4.01 hereof. The Company will notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of defaulted interest proposed to be paid on each Note and the date of the proposed payment. The Company will fix or cause to be fixed each such special record date and payment date; provided that no such special record date may be less than 10 days prior to the related payment date for such defaulted interest. At least 15 days before the special record date, the Company (or, upon the written request of the Company, the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Company) will mail or cause to be mailed to Holders a notice that states the special record date, the related payment date and the amount of such interest to be paid.

Section 2.13 Authorization of Additional Notes.

The Company may issue additional notes under this Indenture from time to time. Any issuance of additional notes is subject to all of the covenants in this Indenture. The Notes and any additional notes

 

46


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 provided that the Notes and additional notes are fungible for United States federal income tax purposes.

ARTICLE 3

REDEMPTION AND PREPAYMENT

Section 3.01 Notices to Trustee.

If the Company elects to redeem Notes pursuant to the optional redemption provisions of Section 3.07 hereof, it must furnish to the Trustee, with a copy to the Paying Agent, at least 45 days but not more than 60 days before a redemption date, an Officers’ Certificate setting forth:

 

  (1) the clause of this Indenture pursuant to which the redemption shall occur;

 

  (2) the redemption date;

 

  (3) the principal amount of Notes to be redeemed; and

 

  (4) the redemption price.

Section 3.02 Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed or Purchased.

If less than all of the Notes are to be redeemed or purchased in an offer to purchase at any time, the Trustee will select Notes for redemption or purchase in compliance with the requirements of DTC, or if such Notes are not held through DTC or DTC prescribes no method of selection, on a pro rata basis.

In the event of partial redemption or purchase by lot, the particular Notes to be redeemed or purchased will be selected, unless otherwise provided herein, not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the redemption or purchase date by the Trustee from the outstanding Notes not previously called for redemption or purchase. No Notes in amounts of $2,000 or less may be redeemed in part.

The Trustee will promptly notify the Company in writing of the Notes selected for redemption or purchase and, in the case of any Note selected for partial redemption or purchase, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed or purchased. Notes and portions of Notes selected will be in amounts of $2,000 or whole multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof; except that if all of the Notes of a Holder are to be redeemed or purchased, the entire outstanding amount of Notes held by such Holder, shall be redeemed or purchased. Except as provided in the preceding sentence, provisions of this Indenture that apply to Notes called for redemption or purchase also apply to portions of Notes called for redemption or purchase.

Section 3.03 Notice of Redemption.

Subject to the provisions of Section 3.09 hereof, at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before a redemption date, the Company will mail or cause to be mailed, by first class mail, a notice of redemption to each Holder whose Notes are to be redeemed at its registered address, except that redemption notices may be mailed more than 60 days prior to a redemption date if the notice is issued in connection with a defeasance of the Notes or a satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture pursuant to Articles 8 or 12 hereof.

 

47


The notice will identify the Notes to be redeemed and will state:

(1) the redemption date;

(2) the redemption price;

(3) if any Note is being redeemed in part, the portion of the principal amount of such Note to be redeemed and that, after the redemption date upon surrender of such Note, a new Note or Notes in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion will be issued upon cancellation of the original Note;

(4) the name and address of the Paying Agent;

(5) that Notes called for redemption must be surrendered to the Paying Agent to collect the redemption price;

(6) that, unless the Company defaults in making such redemption payment, interest on Notes called for redemption ceases to accrue on and after the redemption date;

(7) the paragraph of the Notes and/or Section of this Indenture pursuant to which the Notes called for redemption are being redeemed; and

(8) that no representation is made as to the correctness or accuracy of the CUSIP number, if any, listed in such notice or printed on the Notes.

At the Company’s request, the Trustee will give the notice of redemption in the Company’s name and at its expense; provided, however , that the Company has delivered to the Trustee, at least 45 days prior to the redemption date, an Officers’ Certificate requesting that the Trustee give such notice and setting forth the information to be stated in such notice as provided in the preceding paragraph.

Section 3.04 Effect of Notice of Redemption.

Any redemption and notice may, at the Company’s discretion, be subject to the satisfaction of one or more conditions precedent (including, in the case of a redemption related to an Equity Offering, the consummation of such Equity Offering). Once notice of redemption is mailed in accordance with Section 3.03 hereof, Notes called for redemption become irrevocably due and payable on the redemption date at the redemption price, subject to any conditions set forth in the notice of redemption.

Section 3.05 Deposit of Redemption or Purchase Price.

On the redemption or purchase date, the Company will deposit with the Trustee or with the Paying Agent money sufficient to pay the redemption or purchase price of and accrued interest and Special Interest, if any, on all Notes to be redeemed or purchased on that date. The Trustee or the Paying Agent will promptly return to the Company any money deposited with the Trustee or the Paying Agent by the Company in excess of the amounts necessary to pay the redemption or purchase price of, and accrued interest and Special Interest, if any, on, all Notes to be redeemed or purchased.

If the Company complies with the provisions of the preceding paragraph, on and after the redemption or purchase date, interest will cease to accrue on the Notes or the portions of Notes called for redemption or purchase. If a Note is redeemed or purchased on or after an interest record date but on or prior to the related interest payment date, then any accrued and unpaid interest shall be paid to the Person in whose name such Note was registered at the close of business on such record date. If any Note called for redemption or purchase is not so paid upon surrender for redemption or purchase because of the

 

48


failure of the Company to comply with the preceding paragraph, interest shall be paid on the unpaid principal, from the redemption or purchase date until such principal is paid, and to the extent lawful on any interest not paid on such unpaid principal, in each case at the rate provided in the Notes and in Section 4.01 hereof.

Section 3.06 Notes Redeemed or Purchased in Part.

Upon surrender of a Note that is redeemed or purchased in part, the Company will issue and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, the Trustee will authenticate for the Holder at the expense of the Company a new Note equal in principal amount to the unredeemed or unpurchased portion of the Note surrendered.

Section 3.07 Optional Redemption.

(a) At any time prior to July 15, 2016, the Company may on any one or more occasions redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes issued under this Indenture, at a redemption price equal to 109.875% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Special Interest, if any, to the applicable redemption date (subject to the rights of Holders on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date), with the net cash proceeds of an Equity Offering by the Company; provided that:

(1) at least 65% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes originally issued under this Indenture (excluding Notes held by the Company and its Subsidiaries) remains outstanding immediately after the occurrence of such redemption; and

(2) the redemption occurs within 90 days of the date of the closing of such Equity Offering.

At any time prior to July 15, 2017, the Company may on one or more occasions redeem all or a part of the Notes, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ notice, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of Notes redeemed plus the Applicable Premium as of, and accrued and unpaid interest and Special Interest, if any, to the applicable date of redemption, subject to the rights of Holders on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date.

(b) Except pursuant to the preceding paragraphs, the Notes will not be redeemable at the Company’s option prior to July 15, 2017.

(c) On or after July 15, 2017, the Company may on one or more occasions redeem all or a part of the Notes, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ notice, at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount) set forth below, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Special Interest, if any, on the Notes redeemed, to the applicable redemption date, if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on July 15th of the years indicated below, subject to the rights of Holders on the relevant record date to receive interest on the relevant interest payment date:

 

Year

   Percentage  

2017

     104.938

2018

     102.469

2019 and thereafter

     100.000

Unless the Company defaults in the payment of the redemption price, interest will cease to accrue on the Notes or portions thereof called for redemption on the applicable redemption date.

(d) Any redemption pursuant to this Section 3.07 shall be made pursuant to the provisions of Sections 3.01 through 3.06 hereof.

 

49


Section 3.08 Mandatory Redemption.

The Company is not required to make mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to the Notes.

Section 3.09 Offer to Purchase by Application of Excess Proceeds.

In the event that, pursuant to Section 4.10 hereof, the Company is required to commence an offer to all Holders to purchase Notes (an “ Asset Sale Offer ”), it will follow the procedures specified below.

The Asset Sale Offer shall be made to all Holders and all holders of Parity Lien Debt containing provisions similar to those set forth in this Indenture with respect to offers to purchase or redeem with the proceeds of sales of assets. The Asset Sale Offer will remain open for a period of at least 20 Business Days following its commencement and not more than 30 Business Days, except to the extent that a longer period is required by applicable law (the “ Offer Period ”). No later than three Business Days after the termination of the Offer Period (the “ Purchase Date ”), the Company will apply all Excess Proceeds (the “Offer Amount” ) to the purchase of Notes and such other Parity Lien Debt (on a pro rata basis, if applicable) or, if less than the Offer Amount has been tendered, all Notes and other Parity Lien Debt tendered in response to the Asset Sale Offer. Payment for any Notes so purchased will be made in the same manner as interest payments are made.

If the Purchase Date is on or after an interest record date and on or before the related interest payment date, any accrued and unpaid interest and Special Interest, if any, will be paid to the Person in whose name a Note is registered at the close of business on such record date, and no additional interest will be payable to Holders who tender Notes pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer.

Upon the commencement of an Asset Sale Offer, the Company will send, by first class mail, a notice to the Trustee and each of the Holders, with a copy to the Trustee and the Paying Agent. The notice will contain all instructions and materials necessary to enable such Holders to tender Notes pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer. The notice, which will govern the terms of the Asset Sale Offer, will state:

(1) that the Asset Sale Offer is being made pursuant to this Section 3.09 and Section 4.10 hereof and the length of time the Asset Sale Offer will remain open;

(2) the Offer Amount, the purchase price and the Purchase Date;

(3) that any Note not validly tendered or accepted for payment will continue to accrue interest;

(4) that, unless the Company defaults in making such payment, any Note accepted for payment pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer will cease to accrue interest after the Purchase Date;

(5) that Holders electing to have a Note purchased pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer may elect to have Notes purchased in denominations of $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof only;

 

50


(6) that Holders electing to have Notes purchased pursuant to any Asset Sale Offer will be required to surrender the Note, with the form entitled “Option of Holder to Elect Purchase” attached to the Notes completed, or transfer by book-entry transfer, to the Company, a Depositary, if appointed by the Company, or the Paying Agent at the address specified in the notice at least three days before the Purchase Date;

(7) that Holders will be entitled to withdraw their election if the Company, the Depositary or the Paying Agent, as the case may be, receives, not later than the expiration of the Offer Period, a telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of the Holder, the principal amount of the Note the Holder delivered for purchase and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing his election to have such Note purchased;

(8) that, if the aggregate principal amount of Notes and other Parity Lien Debt surrendered by holders thereof exceeds the Offer Amount, the Company will select the Notes and other Parity Lien Debt to be purchased on a pro rata basis based on the principal amount of Notes and such other Parity Lien Debt surrendered (with such adjustments as may be deemed appropriate by the Company so that only Notes denominations of $2,000 or integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof, will be purchased); and

(9) that Holders whose Notes were purchased only in part will be issued new Notes equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered (or transferred by book-entry transfer).

On or before the Purchase Date, the Company will, to the extent lawful, accept for payment, on a pro rata basis to the extent necessary, the Offer Amount of Notes or portions thereof tendered pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer, or if less than the Offer Amount has been tendered, all Notes tendered, and will deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee the Notes properly accepted together with an Officers’ Certificate stating that such Notes or portions thereof were accepted for payment by the Company in accordance with the terms of this Section 3.09. The Company, the Depositary or the Paying Agent, as the case may be, will promptly (but in any case not later than five days after the Purchase Date) mail or deliver to each tendering Holder an amount equal to the purchase price of the Notes tendered by such Holder and accepted by the Company for purchase, and the Company will promptly issue a new Note, and the Trustee, upon written request from the Company, will authenticate and mail or deliver (or cause to be transferred by book entry) such new Note to such Holder, in a principal amount equal to any unpurchased portion of the Note surrendered. Any Note not so accepted shall be promptly mailed or delivered by the Company to the Holder thereof. The Company will publicly announce the results of the Asset Sale Offer on the Purchase Date.

Other than as specifically provided in this Section 3.09, any purchase pursuant to this Section 3.09 shall be made pursuant to the provisions of Sections 3.01 through 3.06 hereof.

ARTICLE 4

COVENANTS

Section 4.01 Payment of Notes.

The Company will pay or cause to be paid the principal of, premium, if any, and interest and Special Interest, if any, on, the Notes on the dates and in the manner provided in the Notes. Principal, premium, if any, and interest and Special Interest, if any will be considered paid on the date due if the Paying Agent, if other than the Company or a Subsidiary thereof, holds as of 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time on the due date money deposited by the Company in immediately available funds and designated for and

 

51


sufficient to pay all principal, premium, if any, and interest then due. The Company will pay all Special Interest, if any, in the same manner on the dates and in the amounts set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement.

The Company will pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under the Bankruptcy Code) on overdue principal at the rate equal to 1% per annum in excess of the then applicable interest rate on the Notes to the extent lawful; it will pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under the Bankruptcy Code) on overdue installments of interest and Special Interest (without regard to any applicable grace period) at the same rate to the extent lawful.

Section 4.02 Maintenance of Office or Agency.

The Company will maintain in the Borough of Manhattan, the City of New York, an office or agency (which may be an office of the Trustee or an affiliate of the Trustee, Registrar or co-registrar) where Notes may be surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Notes and this Indenture may be served. The Company will 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 Company fails to maintain any such required office or agency or fails 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.

The Company 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 will in any manner relieve the Company of its obligation to maintain an office or agency in the Borough of Manhattan, the City of New York for such purposes. The Company will 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.

The Company hereby designates the Office of the Paying Agent as one such office or agency of the Company in accordance with Section 2.03 hereof.

Section 4.03 Reports.

(a) Whether or not required by the rules and regulations of the SEC, so long as any Notes are outstanding, the Company will furnish to the Holders of Notes or cause the Trustee to furnish to the Holders of Notes (or file with the SEC for public availability), within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and regulations:

(1) all quarterly and annual reports that would be required to be filed with the SEC on Forms 10-Q and 10-K if the Company were required to file such reports; and

(2) all current reports that would be required to be filed with the SEC on Form 8-K if the Company were required to file such reports.

All such reports shall be prepared by the Company in all material respects in accordance with all of the rules and regulations applicable to such reports. Each annual report on Form 10-K shall include a report on the Company’s consolidated financial statements by the Company’s certified independent accountants. In addition, the Company will file a copy of each of the reports referred to in clauses (1) and (2) above with the SEC for public availability within the time periods specified in the rules and regulations applicable to such reports (unless the SEC will not accept such a filing) and will post the reports on its website within those time periods. The Company will at all times comply with TIA § 314(a).

 

52


If, at any time, the Company is no longer subject to the periodic reporting requirements of the Exchange Act for any reason, the Company will nevertheless continue filing the reports specified in the preceding paragraph with the SEC within the time periods specified above unless the SEC will not accept such a filing. The Company will not take any action for the purpose of causing the SEC not to accept any such filings. If, notwithstanding the foregoing, the SEC will not accept the Company’s filings for any reason, the Company will post the reports referred to in the preceding paragraphs on its website within the time periods that would apply if the Company were required to file those reports with the SEC.

(b) If the Company has designated any of its Subsidiaries as Unrestricted Subsidiaries, then the quarterly and annual financial information required by paragraph (a) of this Section 4.03 will include a reasonably detailed presentation, either on the face of the financial statements or in the footnotes thereto, and in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, of the financial condition and results of operations of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries separate from the financial condition and results of operations of the Unrestricted Subsidiaries of the Company.

(c) For so long as any Notes remain outstanding, if at any time they are not required to file with the SEC the reports required by paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section 4.03, the Company and the Guarantors will furnish to the Holders and to securities analysts and prospective investors, upon their request, the information required to be delivered pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act.

(d) In the event that any direct or indirect parent of the Company fully and irrevocably Guarantees the Obligations under the Notes, the Company may satisfy its obligations under this Section 4.03 with respect to financial information of the Company by furnishing financial information relating to such direct or indirect parent; provided that the same is accompanied by consolidating financial information that explains in reasonable detail the differences between the information relating to such direct or indirect parent and any of its Subsidiaries other than the Company and its Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and the information relating to the Company, the Guarantors and the other Subsidiaries of the Company on a standalone basis.

Section 4.04 Compliance Certificate.

(a) The Company and each Guarantor (to the extent that such Guarantor is so required under the TIA) shall deliver to the Trustee, with a copy to the Paying Agent, within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year, an Officers’ Certificate stating that a review of the activities of the Company and its Subsidiaries during the preceding fiscal year has been made under the supervision of the signing Officers with a view to determining whether the Company has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled its obligations under this Indenture, and further stating, as to each such Officer signing such certificate, that to the best of his or her knowledge the Company has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled each and every covenant contained in this Indenture and is not in default in the performance or observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions of this Indenture (or, if a Default or Event of Default has occurred, describing all such Defaults or Events of Default of which he or she may have knowledge and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto) and that to the best of his or her knowledge no event has occurred and remains in existence by reason of which payments on account of the principal of or interest, if any, on the Notes is prohibited or if such event has occurred, a description of the event and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto.

 

53


(b) So long as not contrary to the then current recommendations of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the year-end financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 4.03 above shall be accompanied by a written statement of the Company’s independent public accountants (who shall be a firm of established national reputation) that in making the examination necessary for certification of such financial statements, nothing has come to their attention that would lead them to believe that the Company has violated any provisions of Article 4 or Article 5 hereof or, if any such violation has occurred, specifying the nature and period of existence thereof, it being understood that such accountants shall not be liable directly or indirectly to any Person for any failure to obtain knowledge of any such violation.

(c) So long as any of the Notes are outstanding, the Company will deliver to the Trustee, with a copy to the Paying Agent, forthwith upon any Officer becoming aware of any Default or Event of Default, an Officers’ Certificate specifying such Default or Event of Default that remains uncured for five (5) days and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto.

Section 4.05 Taxes.

The Company will pay, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to pay, prior to delinquency, all material taxes, assessments, and governmental levies except such as are contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings or where the failure to effect such payment is not adverse in any material respect to the Holders of the Notes.

Section 4.06 Stay, Extension and Usury Laws.

The Company and each of the Guarantors covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it will not at any time insist upon, plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay, extension or usury law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, that may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and the Company and each of the Guarantors (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law, and covenants that it will not, by resort to any such law, hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but will suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law has been enacted.

Section 4.07 Restricted Payments.

(a) 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 other payment or distribution on account of the Company’s or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries’ Equity Interests (including, without limitation, any payment in connection with any merger or consolidation involving the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries) or to the direct or indirect holders of the Company’s or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries’ Equity Interests in their capacity as such (other than dividends or distributions payable in Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company and other than dividends or distributions payable to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company);

(2) purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire or retire for value (including without limitation, in connection with any merger or consolidation involving the Company) any Equity Interests of the Company or any direct or indirect parent of the Company;

 

54


(3) make any payment on or with respect to, or purchase, redeem, defease or otherwise acquire or retire for value any Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor that is contractually subordinated to the Notes or to any Note Guarantee (excluding any intercompany Indebtedness between or among the Company and any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and the Convertible Notes), except a payment of interest or principal at the Stated Maturity thereof; or

(4) make any Restricted Investment

(all such payments and other actions set forth in these clauses (1) through (4) above being collectively referred to as “ Restricted Payments ”), unless, at the time of and after giving effect to such Restricted Payment:

(1) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would occur as a consequence of such Restricted Payment;

(2) the Company would, at the time of such Restricted Payment and after giving pro forma effect thereto as if such Restricted Payment had been made at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period, have been permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in Section 4.09(a) hereof; and

(3) such Restricted Payment, together with the aggregate amount of all other Restricted Payments made by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries since August 1, 2013 (excluding Restricted Payments permitted by clauses (2), (3), (4), (9) and (10) of paragraph (b) of this Section 4.07), 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, 2013 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); plus

(B) 100% of the aggregate net cash proceeds received by the Company since August 1, 2013 as a contribution to its common equity capital or from the issue or sale of Qualifying Equity Interests of the Company or from the issue or sale of convertible or exchangeable Disqualified Stock of the Company or convertible or exchangeable debt securities of the Company, in each case that have been converted into or exchanged for Qualifying Equity Interests of the Company (other than Qualifying Equity Interests and convertible or exchangeable Disqualified Stock or debt securities sold to a Subsidiary of the Company); plus

(C) to the extent that any Restricted Investment that was made after August 1, 2013 is (a) sold for cash or otherwise cancelled, liquidated or repaid for cash, or (b) made in an entity that subsequently becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, the initial amount of such Restricted Investment (or, if less, the amount of cash received upon repayment or sale); plus

(D) to the extent that any Unrestricted Subsidiary of the Company designated as such after August 1, 2013 is redesignated as a Restricted Subsidiary after the date hereof, the lesser of (i) the Fair Market Value of the Company’s Investment in such Subsidiary as of the date of such redesignation or (ii) such Fair Market Value as of the date on which such Subsidiary was originally designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary after the date hereof; plus

 

55


(E) 50% of any dividends received in cash by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that is a Guarantor after August 1, 2013 from an Unrestricted Subsidiary of the Company, to the extent that such dividends were not otherwise included in the Consolidated Net Income of the Company for such period; plus

(F) $45.0 million for the purposes of making Restricted Investments only.

(b) The provisions of Section 4.07(a) hereof will not prohibit:

(1) the payment of any dividend or the consummation of any irrevocable redemption within 60 days after the date of declaration of the dividend or giving of the redemption notice, as the case may be, if at the date of declaration or notice, the dividend or redemption payment would have complied with the provisions of this Indenture;

(2) the making of any Restricted Payment in exchange for, or out of or with the net cash proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale (other than to a Subsidiary of the Company) of, Equity Interests of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock) or from the substantially concurrent contribution of common equity capital to the Company; provided that the amount of any such net cash proceeds that are utilized for any such Restricted Payment will not be deemed to be net proceeds of Qualifying Equity Interests for purposes of clause (3)(B) of the preceding paragraph and will not be deemed to be net cash proceeds from an Equity Offering for purposes of Section 3.07 of this Indenture;

(3) the payment of any dividend (or, in the case of any partnership or limited liability company, any similar distribution) by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to the holders of its Equity Interests on a pro rata basis;

(4) the repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement for value of Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor that is contractually subordinated to the Notes or to any Note Guarantee with the net cash proceeds from a substantially concurrent incurrence of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness;

(5) so long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the repurchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value of any Equity Interests of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company held by any current or former officer, director or employee of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to any equity subscription agreement, stock option agreement, shareholders’ agreement or similar agreement; provided, that the aggregate amounts paid under this clause (5) do not exceed $7.5 million in any fiscal year; provided, further , that the amount paid for such repurchase, retirement or other acquisition in any twelve-month period may be increased by an amount not to exceed:

(a) the cash proceeds from the sale of Qualifying Equity Interests of the Company and, to the extent contributed to the Company as common equity capital, the cash proceeds from the sale of Qualifying Equity Interests of any of the Company’s direct or indirect parent companies, in each case to members of management, directors or consultants of the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any of its direct or indirect parent companies that occurs after the date hereof to the extent the cash proceeds from the sale of Qualifying Equity Interests have not otherwise been applied to the making of Restricted Payments pursuant to clause (3) of the preceding paragraph or clause (2) of this paragraph or to an optional redemption of Notes pursuant to Section 3.07; plus

(b) the cash proceeds of key man life insurance policies received by the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries after the date hereof; and

 

56


in addition, cancellation of Indebtedness owing to the Company from any current or former officer, director or employee (or any permitted transferees thereof) of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (or any direct or indirect parent company thereof), in connection with a repurchase of Equity Interests of the Company from such Persons will not be deemed to constitute a Restricted Payment for purposes of this covenant or any other provisions of this Indenture;

(6) the repurchase of Equity Interests deemed to occur upon the exercise of stock options or warrants to the extent such Equity Interests represent a portion of the exercise price of those stock options or warrants;

(7) so long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the declaration and payment of regularly scheduled or accrued dividends to holders of any class or series of Disqualified Stock of the Company or any preferred stock of any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company issued on or after the date hereof in accordance with the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in Section 4.09(a) or any other Permitted Debt;

(8) payments of cash, dividends, distributions, advances or other Restricted Payments by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to allow the payment of cash in lieu of the issuance of fractional shares upon (a) the exercise of options or warrants or (b) the conversion or exchange of Capital Stock of any such Person;

(9) the making of cash payments in connection with any conversions of the Convertible Notes; provided , that immediately prior and after giving effect to any such payment, no Default or Event of Default shall exist or result therefrom;

(10) a Permitted Bond Hedge Transaction and the settlement of any related Permitted Warrant Transaction (a) by delivery of shares of the Company’s common stock upon net share settlement thereof or (b) by (x) set-off against the related Permitted Bond Hedge Transaction, (y) payment of an early termination amount thereof in common stock upon any early termination thereof and (z) payment of an early termination amount thereof in cash upon an early termination thereof; provided , that (i) immediately prior and after giving effect to any such payment, no Default or Event of Default shall exist or result therefrom and (ii) solely with respect to clause (10)(b)(z), the aggregate amount of such Restricted Payments does not exceed $50.0 million since the date hereof; and

(11) so long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, other Restricted Payments in an aggregate amount, taken together with all Restricted Payments made pursuant to this clause (11), not to exceed $25.0 million since the date hereof.

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 Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, pursuant to the Restricted Payment. The Fair Market Value of any assets or securities that are required to be valued by this Section 4.07 will be determined by the Board of Directors of the Company whose resolution with respect thereto will be

 

57


delivered to the Trustee. The Board of Directors’ determination must be based upon an opinion or appraisal issued by an accounting, appraisal or investment banking firm of national standing if the Fair Market Value exceeds $20.0 million.

Section 4.08 Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Subsidiaries.

(a) The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create or permit to exist or become effective any consensual encumbrance or restriction on the ability of any Restricted Subsidiary to:

(1) pay dividends or make any other distributions on its Capital Stock to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, or with respect to any other interest or participation in, or measured by, its profits, or pay any indebtedness owed to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (except for waiving or deferring in the ordinary course of business subrogation and reimbursement rights in connection with the guarantee obligations permitted pursuant to Section 4.09);

(2) make loans or advances to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; or

(3) sell, lease or transfer any of its properties or assets to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries.

(b) The restrictions in Section 4.08(a) hereof will not apply to encumbrances or restrictions existing under or by reason of:

(1) agreements governing Existing Indebtedness and Credit Facilities as in effect on the date hereof and any amendments, restatements, modifications, renewals, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings of those agreements; provided that the amendments, restatements, modifications, renewals, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings are not materially more restrictive, taken as a whole, with respect to such dividend and other payment restrictions than those contained in those agreements on the date hereof;

(2) this Indenture, the Notes and the Note Guarantees;

(3) agreements governing other Indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 4.09 and any amendments, restatements, modifications, renewals, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings of those agreements; provided that (a) the restrictions are ordinary and customary with respect to the type of Indebtedness being incurred and (b) such encumbrances or restrictions will not materially affect the Company’s ability to make payments of principal or interest on the Notes, as determined at the time such Indebtedness is incurred in good faith by the senior management of the Company;

(4) applicable law, rule, regulation or order;

(5) any instrument governing Indebtedness or Capital Stock of a Person acquired by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries as in effect at the time of such acquisition (except to the extent such Indebtedness or Capital Stock was incurred in connection with or in contemplation of such acquisition), 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; provided that, in the case of Indebtedness, such Indebtedness was permitted by the terms of this Indenture to be incurred;

 

58


(6) customary non-assignment provisions in contracts and licenses entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(7) purchase money obligations for property acquired in the ordinary course of business and Capital Lease Obligations that impose restrictions on the property purchased or leased of the nature described in clause (3) of Section 4.08(a) hereof;

(8) any agreement for the sale or other disposition of a Restricted Subsidiary that restricts distributions by that Restricted Subsidiary pending its sale or other disposition;

(9) Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness; provided that the restrictions contained in the agreements governing such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness are not materially more restrictive, taken as a whole, than those contained in the agreements governing the Indebtedness being refinanced;

(10) Liens permitted to be incurred under the provisions of Section 4.12 hereof that limit the right of the debtor to dispose of the assets subject to such Liens;

(11) provisions limiting the disposition or distribution of assets or property in joint venture agreements, asset sale agreements, sale-leaseback agreements, stock sale agreements and other similar agreements (including agreements entered into in connection with a Restricted Investment) entered into with the approval of the Company’s Board of Directors, which limitation is applicable only to the assets that are the subject of such agreements; and

(12) restrictions on cash or other deposits or net worth imposed by customers under contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business.

Section 4.09 Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock.

(a) The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, issue, assume, guarantee or otherwise become directly or indirectly liable, contingently or otherwise, with respect to (collectively, “ incur ”) any Indebtedness (including Acquired Debt), and the Company will not issue any Disqualified Stock and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to issue any shares of preferred stock; provided , however , that the Company may incur Indebtedness (including Acquired Debt) or issue Disqualified Stock, and the Guarantors may incur Indebtedness (including Acquired Debt) or issue preferred stock, 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 such preferred stock is issued, as the case may be, 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 the preferred stock had been issued, as the case may be, at the beginning of such four-quarter period.

(b) The provisions of Section 4.09(a) hereof will not prohibit the incurrence of any of the following items of Indebtedness (collectively, “ Permitted Debt ”):

(1) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of additional Indebtedness and letters of credit under Credit Facilities in an aggregate amount at any one time outstanding under this clause (1) (with letters of credit being deemed to have a principal amount equal to the maximum potential liability of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries thereunder) not to exceed $350.0 million, less the aggregate amount of all Net Proceeds of Asset

 

59


Sales applied by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries since the date hereof to repay any term Indebtedness under a Credit Facility, or to repay any revolving credit Indebtedness under a Credit Facility, and effect a corresponding commitment reduction thereunder pursuant to Sections 3.09 and 4.10;

(2) the incurrence by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries of the Existing Indebtedness;

(3) the incurrence by the Company and the Guarantors of Indebtedness represented by the Notes and the related Note Guarantees to be issued on the date hereof and the Exchange Notes and the related Note Guarantees to be issued pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement;

(4) the incurrence by the Company of the Convertible Notes;

(5) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness represented by Capital Lease Obligations, mortgage financings or purchase money obligations, in each case, incurred for the purpose of financing all or any part of the purchase price or cost of design, construction, installation or improvement of property, plant or equipment used in the business of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, in an aggregate principal amount, including all Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to renew, refund, refinance, replace, defease or discharge any Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (5), not to exceed $21.0 million at any time outstanding;

(6) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in exchange for, or the net proceeds of which are used to renew, refund, refinance, replace, defease or discharge any Indebtedness (other than intercompany Indebtedness) that was permitted by this Indenture to be incurred under Section 4.09(a) hereof or clauses (2), (3), (4), (5) or (6) of this Section 4.09(b); provided that to the extent any Convertible Notes are renewed, refunded, refinanced, replaced, defeased or discharged with the proceeds of the Notes such portion of the Convertible Notes may not be renewed, refunded, refinanced, replaced, defeased or discharged pursuant to this clause (6);

(7) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of intercompany Indebtedness between or among the Company and any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; provided , that any such Indebtedness shall be to the extent owed by the Company or any Guarantor, unsecured and expressly subordinated to the prior payment in full in cash of all Obligations then due with respect to the Notes, in the case of the Company, or the Note Guarantee, in the case of a Guarantor; provided, further, that if as of any date any Person other than the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or the lenders or administrative agent under the Credit Agreement owns or holds any such Indebtedness, such date shall be deemed the date of incurrence of Indebtedness by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, that was not permitted by this clause (7);

(8) the issuance by any of the Company’s Restricted Subsidiaries to the Company or to any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of shares of preferred stock; provided, however, that:

(A) any subsequent issuance or transfer of Equity Interests that results in any such preferred stock being held by a Person other than the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company; and

(B) any sale or other transfer of any such preferred stock to a Person that is not either the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company,

 

60


will be deemed, in each case, to constitute an issuance of such preferred stock by such Restricted Subsidiary that was not permitted by this clause (8);

(9) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Hedging Obligations entered into in order to manage existing or anticipated interest rate, exchange rate or commodity price risks and not for speculative purposes;

(10) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness owing under documentary or standby letters of credit for the purchase of goods or other merchandise generally;

(11) (a) Indebtedness in respect of OECD accounts receivable financings with recourse against the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount not to exceed $50.0 million at any time outstanding and (b) non-OECD accounts receivable financings with recourse against the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount not to exceed $50.0 million at any time outstanding;

(12) the Guarantee by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to the extent that the guaranteed Indebtedness was permitted to be incurred by another provision of this Section 4.09; provided that if the Indebtedness being guaranteed is subordinated to or pari passu with the Notes, then the Guarantee must be subordinated or pari passu , as applicable, to the same extent as the Indebtedness guaranteed;

(13) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness in respect of workers’ compensation claims, self-insurance obligations, bankers’ acceptances, performance and surety bonds in the ordinary course of business;

(14) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness owing under overdraft facilities in connection with cash management arrangements;

(15) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of additional Indebtedness in an aggregate amount (or accreted value, as applicable) at any time outstanding not to exceed the sum of (a) 65% of Eligible Inventory, plus (b) 65% of Permitted Advances on Purchases of Tobacco, plus (c) 85% of Eligible Receivables;

(16) Guarantees by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary which are incurred in the ordinary course of business in an aggregate amount not to exceed $250.0 million in the aggregate at any time outstanding; and

(17) Guarantees by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary which are incurred in the ordinary course of business for the purpose of carrying unsold tobacco inventories held against Confirmed Orders and other Guarantees by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary incurred in the ordinary course of business with respect to Uncommitted Inventories in an aggregate amount not to exceed the amount of such Uncommitted Inventories.

The Company will not incur, and will not permit any Guarantor to incur, any Indebtedness (including Permitted Debt) that is contractually subordinated in right of payment to any other

 

61


Indebtedness of the Company or such Guarantor unless such Indebtedness is also contractually subordinated in right of payment to the Notes and the applicable Note Guarantee on substantially identical terms; provided, however , that no Indebtedness will be deemed to be contractually subordinated in right of payment to any other Indebtedness of the Company solely by virtue of being unsecured or by virtue of being secured on junior priority basis.

For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 4.09, in the event that an item of Indebtedness meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of Permitted Debt described in clauses (1) through (3) and (5) through (17) above, or is entitled to be incurred pursuant to Section 4.09(a) hereof, the Company will be permitted to classify such item of Indebtedness on the date of its incurrence, or later reclassify all or a portion of such item of Indebtedness, in any manner that complies with this Section 4.09. Indebtedness under Credit Facilities outstanding on the date on which Notes are first issued and authenticated under this Indenture will initially be deemed to have been incurred on such date in reliance on the exception provided by clause (1) of the definition of Permitted Debt. Convertible Notes outstanding on the date on which Notes are first issued and authenticated under this Indenture will initially be deemed to have been incurred on such date in reliance on the exception provided by clause (4) of the definition of Permitted Debt. Indebtedness incurred in respect of (i) Eligible Inventory, (ii) Permitted Advances on Purchase of Tobacco and (iii) Eligible Receivables outstanding on the date on which Notes are first issued and authenticated under this Indenture will initially be deemed to have been incurred on such date in reliance on the exception provided by clause (15) of the definition of Permitted Debt. The accrual of interest or preferred stock dividends, the accretion or amortization of original issue discount, the payment of interest on any Indebtedness in the form of additional Indebtedness with the same terms, the reclassification of preferred stock as Indebtedness due to a change in accounting principles, and the payment of dividends on preferred stock or Disqualified Stock in the form of additional shares of the same class of preferred stock or Disqualified Stock will not be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness or an issuance of preferred stock or Disqualified Stock for purposes of this covenant; provided, in each such case, that the amount of any such accrual, accretion or payment is included in Fixed Charges of the Company as accrued. 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 utilized, calculated based on the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date such Indebtedness was incurred. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 4.09, the maximum amount of Indebtedness that the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary may incur pursuant to this Section 4.09 shall not be deemed to be exceeded solely as a result of fluctuations in exchange rates or currency values.

The amount of any Indebtedness outstanding as of any date will be:

(1) the accreted value of the Indebtedness, in the case of any Indebtedness issued with original issue discount;

(2) the principal amount of the Indebtedness, in the case of any other Indebtedness; and

(3) in respect of Indebtedness of another Person secured by a Lien on the assets of the specified Person, the lesser of:

(A) the Fair Market Value of such assets at the date of determination; and

(B) the amount of the Indebtedness of the other Person.

 

62


Section 4.10 Asset Sales.

The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, consummate an Asset Sale unless:

(1) the Company (or the Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be) receives consideration at the time of the Asset Sale at least equal to the Fair Market Value (measured as of the date of the definitive agreement with respect to such Asset Sale) of the assets or Equity Interests issued or sold or otherwise disposed of; and

(2) at least 75% (100% in the case of lease payments) of the consideration received in the Asset Sale by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary is in the form of cash or Cash Equivalents; provided , however , that in the event of an Asset Sale of any property or assets of the Company that are surplus from the standpoint of the Company as a whole, in the good faith determination of the Board of Directors of the Company (as evidenced by a resolution of such Board of Directors set forth in an Officers’ Certificate delivered to the Trustee), at least 60% of the consideration therefor received is in the form of cash or Cash Equivalents. For purposes of this provision, each of the following will be deemed to be cash:

(A) any liabilities, as shown on the Company’s most recent consolidated balance sheet, of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than contingent liabilities and liabilities that are by their terms subordinated to the Notes or any Note Guarantee) that are assumed by the transferee of any such assets pursuant to a customary novation or indemnity agreement that releases the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary from or indemnifies against further liability;

(B) any securities, notes or other obligations received by the Company or any such Restricted Subsidiary from such transferee that are contemporaneously, subject to ordinary settlement periods, converted by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary into cash, to the extent of the cash received in that conversion; and

(C) any stock or assets of the kind referred to in clauses (2) or (4) of the next paragraph of this Section 4.10.

Within 365 days after the receipt of any Net Proceeds from an Asset Sale other than a sale of Collateral, the Company (or the applicable Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be) may apply such Net Proceeds:

(1) to repay Priority Lien Debt and, if such Priority Lien Debt is revolving credit Indebtedness, to correspondingly reduce commitments with respect thereto;

(2) to acquire all or substantially all of the assets of, or any Capital Stock of, another Permitted Business, if, after giving effect to any such acquisition of Capital Stock, the Permitted Business is or becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company;

(3) to make a capital expenditure; or

(4) to acquire other assets that are not classified as current assets under GAAP and that are used or useful in a Permitted Business;

provided , that the Company or the applicable Restricted Subsidiary will be deemed to have complied with the provisions described in clauses (2), (3) or (4) above if and to the extent that, within 365 days after the Asset Sale that generated the Net Proceeds, the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary has entered into

 

63


and not abandoned or rejected a binding agreement irrevocably committing the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary to an application of funds of the kind described in clauses (2), (3) or (4) above so long as such application of funds is consummated within 545 days of the receipt of such Net Proceeds.

Within 365 days after the receipt of any Net Proceeds from an Asset Sale that constitutes a sale of Collateral, the Company (or the applicable Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be) may apply such Net Proceeds:

(1) to repay Priority Lien Debt and, if such Priority Lien Debt is revolving credit Indebtedness, to correspondingly reduce commitments with respect thereto;

(2) to acquire all or substantially all of the assets of, or any Capital Stock of, another Permitted Business, if, after giving effect to any such acquisition of Capital Stock, the Permitted Business is or becomes a Guarantor or is merged into or amalgamated or consolidated with the Company or any Guarantor;

(3) to make a capital expenditure to purchase assets that constitute Collateral; or

(4) to acquire other assets that would constitute Collateral that are not classified as current assets under GAAP and that are used or useful in a Permitted Business;

provided , that the Company or the applicable Restricted Subsidiary will be deemed to have complied with the provision described in clauses (2), (3) or (4) above if and to the extent that, within 365 days after the Asset Sale that generated the Net Proceeds, the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary has entered into and not abandoned or rejected a binding agreement irrevocably committing the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary to an application of funds of the kind described in clauses (2), (3) or (4) above so long as such application of funds is consummated within 545 days of the receipt of such Net Proceeds.

Pending the final application of any Net Proceeds, the Company (or the applicable Restricted Subsidiary) may temporarily reduce revolving credit borrowings or otherwise invest the Net Proceeds in any manner that is not prohibited by this Indenture.

Any Net Proceeds from Asset Sales that are not applied or invested as provided in the second or third paragraphs of this Section 4.10 will constitute “ Excess Proceeds .” When the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds exceeds $20.0 million, within five days thereof, the Company will make an Asset Sale Offer to all holders of Notes and all holders of other Parity Lien Debt containing provisions similar to those set forth in this Indenture with respect to offers to purchase, prepay or redeem with the proceeds of sales of assets in accordance with Section 3.09 hereof to purchase, prepay or redeem the maximum principal amount of Notes and such other Parity Lien Debt (plus all accrued interest on the Indebtedness and the amount of all fees and expenses, including premiums, incurred in connection therewith) that may be purchased, prepaid or redeemed out of the Excess Proceeds. The offer price in any Asset Sale Offer will be equal to 100% of the principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Special Interest, if any, to the date of purchase, prepayment or redemption, subject to the rights of holders of Notes on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date, and will be payable in cash. If any Excess Proceeds remain after consummation of an Asset Sale Offer, the Company may use those Excess Proceeds for any purpose not otherwise prohibited by this Indenture. If the aggregate principal amount of Notes and other Parity Lien Debt tendered into (or required to be prepaid or redeemed in connection with) such Asset Sale Offer exceeds the amount of Excess Proceeds, the Trustee will select the Notes and such other Parity Lien Debt to be purchased on a pro rata basis, based on the amounts tendered or required to be prepaid or redeemed (with such adjustments as may be deemed appropriate by the Company so that only Notes in denominations of $2,000, or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof, will be purchased). Upon completion of each Asset Sale Offer, the amount of Excess Proceeds will be reset at zero.

 

64


The Company will comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent such laws and regulations are applicable in connection with each repurchase of Notes pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the provisions of Section 3.09 hereof or this Section 4.10, the Company will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached its obligations under Section 3.09 hereof or this Section 4.10 by virtue of such compliance.

Section 4.11 Transactions with Affiliates.

The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, enter into any transaction or series of transactions with any officer, director, shareholder or Affiliate other than (1) transactions between the Company and any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices as of the date hereof, (2) transactions on terms and conditions substantially as favorable as would be obtainable in a comparable arm’s-length transaction with a Person other than an officer, director, shareholder or Affiliate and (3) loans or advances to employees in the ordinary course of business not to exceed $5.0 million in the aggregate at any one time outstanding.

Section 4.12 Liens.

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) securing Indebtedness, Attributable Debt or trade payables upon any of their property or assets, now owned or hereafter acquired.

Section 4.13 Business Activities.

The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, engage directly or indirectly in any business other than the businesses engaged in by it and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of the date hereof and reasonable extensions thereof and businesses ancillary or complementary thereto.

Section 4.14 Corporate Existence.

Subject to Article 5 hereof, the Company shall do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect:

(1) its corporate existence, and the corporate, partnership or other existence of each of its Subsidiaries, in accordance with the respective organizational documents (as the same may be amended from time to time) of the Company or any such Subsidiary; and

(2) the rights (charter and statutory), licenses and franchises of the Company and its Subsidiaries; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to preserve any such right, license or franchise, or the corporate, partnership or other existence of any of its Subsidiaries, if the Board of Directors shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and that the loss thereof is not adverse in any material respect to the Holders of the Notes.

 

65


Section 4.15 Offer to Repurchase Upon Change of Control.

(a) Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, the Company will make an offer (a “Change of Control Offer” ) to each Holder to repurchase all or any part (equal to $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof) of that Holder’s Notes at a purchase price in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes repurchased plus accrued and unpaid interest and Special Interest, if any, on the Notes repurchased to the date of purchase, subject to the rights of Holders on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date (the “Change of Control Payment” ). Within ten days following any Change of Control, the Company will mail a notice to each Holder describing the transaction or transactions that constitute the Change of Control and stating:

(1) that the Change of Control Offer is being made pursuant to this Section 4.15 and that all Notes tendered will be accepted for payment;

(2) the purchase price and the purchase date, which shall be no earlier than 30 days and no later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed (the “Change of Control Payment Date” );

(3) that any Note not tendered will continue to accrue interest;

(4) that, unless the Company defaults in the payment of the Change of Control Payment, all Notes accepted for payment pursuant to the Change of Control Offer will cease to accrue interest after the Change of Control Payment Date;

(5) that Holders electing to have any Notes purchased pursuant to a Change of Control Offer will be required to surrender the Notes, with the form entitled “Option of Holder to Elect Purchase” attached to the Notes completed, or transfer by book-entry transfer, to the Paying Agent at the address specified in the notice prior to the close of business on the third Business Day preceding the Change of Control Payment Date;

(6) that Holders will be entitled to withdraw their election if the Paying Agent receives, not later than the close of business on the second Business Day preceding the Change of Control Payment Date, a telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of the Holder, the principal amount of Notes delivered for purchase, and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing his election to have the Notes purchased; and

(7) that Holders whose Notes are being purchased only in part will be issued new Notes equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered, which unpurchased portion must be equal to $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof.

The Company will comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent those laws and regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of the Notes as a result of a Change in Control. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the provisions of Sections 3.09 or 4.15 hereof, the Company will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached its obligations under Section 3.09 hereof or this Section 4.15 by virtue of such compliance.

(b) On the Change of Control Payment Date, the Company will, to the extent lawful:

(1) accept for payment all Notes or portions of Notes properly tendered and not withdrawn pursuant to the Change of Control Offer;

 

66


(2) deposit with the Paying Agent an amount equal to the Change of Control Payment in respect of all Notes or portions of Notes properly tendered; and

(3) deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee the Notes properly accepted together with an Officers’ Certificate stating the aggregate principal amount of Notes or portions of Notes being purchased by the Company.

The Paying Agent will promptly mail (but in any case not later than five days after the Change of Control Payment Date) to each Holder of Notes properly tendered the Change of Control Payment for such Notes, and the Trustee will promptly authenticate and mail (or cause to be transferred by book entry) to each Holder a new Note equal in principal amount to any unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered, if any. The Company will publicly announce the results of the Change of Control Offer on or as soon as practicable after the Change of Control Payment Date.

(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 4.15, the Company will not be required to make a Change of Control Offer upon a Change of Control if (1) 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 Section 4.15 and Section 3.09 hereof and purchases all Notes properly tendered and not withdrawn under the Change of Control Offer, or (2) notice of redemption has been given pursuant to Section 3.07 hereof, unless and until there is a default in payment of the applicable redemption price. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, a Change of Control Offer may be made in advance of a Change of Control, conditioned upon the consummation of such Change of Control, if a definitive agreement is in place for the Change of Control at the time the Change of Control Offer is made.

Section 4.16 Limitation on Sale and Leaseback Transactions.

The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, enter into any sale and leaseback transaction; provided that the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary may enter into a sale and leaseback transaction if:

(1) the Company or that Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable, could have (a) incurred Indebtedness in an amount equal to the Attributable Debt relating to such sale and leaseback transaction under the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test in Section 4.09(a) hereof and (b) incurred a Lien to secure such Indebtedness pursuant to the provisions of Section 4.12 hereof;

(2) the gross cash proceeds of that sale and leaseback transaction are at least equal to the Fair Market Value, as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company and set forth in an Officers’ Certificate delivered to the Trustee, of the property that is the subject of that sale and leaseback transaction;

(3) the aggregate rent payable by the Company or that Restricted Subsidiary relating to such sale and leaseback transaction is not in excess of the Fair Market Value of the property leased pursuant to such sale and leaseback transaction; and

(4) the transfer of assets in that sale and leaseback transaction is permitted by, and the Company applies the proceeds of such transaction in compliance with, Section 4.10 hereof.

 

67


Section 4.17 Additional Note Guarantees.

If the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries acquires or creates a Material Domestic Restricted Subsidiary after the date hereof, then that newly acquired or created Material Domestic Restricted Subsidiary will become a Guarantor and (1) execute and deliver a supplemental indenture and supplemental Parity Lien Security Documents (including title insurance and surveys, if applicable) to the Collateral Trustee pursuant to which that Subsidiary will unconditionally guarantee all of the Company’s Obligations under the Notes, this Indenture and the Parity Lien Security Documents on the terms set forth in this Indenture which will be secured by a Parity Lien on terms substantially similar to the other Guarantors, (2) deliver an opinion of counsel satisfactory to the Trustee that, subject to customary assumptions and exclusions, such supplemental indenture is enforceable against such Subsidiary and has been duly executed and delivered by such Subsidiary and (3) deliver an opinion of counsel satisfactory to the Collateral Trustee that, subject to customary assumptions and exclusions, such Parity Lien Security Documents are enforceable against such Subsidiary and have been duly executed and delivered by such Subsidiary, in each case, within 20 business days of the date on which it was acquired or created. The form of such Note Guarantee is attached as Exhibit E hereto.

Section 4.18 Designation of Restricted and Unrestricted Subsidiaries.

The Board of Directors of the Company may designate any Restricted Subsidiary to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary if that designation would not cause a Default. If a Restricted Subsidiary is designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, the aggregate Fair Market Value of all outstanding Investments owned by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in the Subsidiary designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary will be deemed to be an Investment made as of the time of the designation and will reduce the amount available for Restricted Payments under Section 4.07 hereof or under one or more clauses of the definition of Permitted Investments, as determined by the Company. That designation will only be permitted if the Investment would be permitted at that time and if the Restricted Subsidiary otherwise meets the definition of an Unrestricted Subsidiary. The Board of Directors of the Company may redesignate any Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary if that redesignation would not cause a Default.

Any designation of a Subsidiary of the Company as an Unrestricted Subsidiary will be evidenced to the Trustee by filing with the Trustee a certified copy of a resolution of the Board of Directors giving effect to such designation and an Officers’ Certificate certifying that such designation complied with the preceding conditions and was permitted by Section 4.07 hereof. If, at any time, any Unrestricted Subsidiary would fail to meet the preceding requirements as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, it will thereafter cease to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary for purposes of this Indenture and any Indebtedness of such Subsidiary will be deemed to be incurred by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company as of such date and, if such Indebtedness is not permitted to be incurred as of such date under Section 4.09 hereof, the Company will be in default of such covenant. The Board of Directors of the Company may at any time designate any Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that such designation will be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company of any outstanding Indebtedness of such Unrestricted Subsidiary and such designation will only be permitted if (1) such Indebtedness is permitted under Section 4.09 hereof, calculated on a pro forma basis as if such designation had occurred at the beginning of the applicable reference period; and (2) no Default or Event of Default would be in existence following such designation.

Section 4.19 Changes in Covenants When Notes Rated Investment Grade

If on any date following the date hereof:

(a) the Notes are rated Baa3 or better by Moody’s and BBB- or better by Standard & Poor’s Financial Services, LLC (or, if either such entity ceases to rate the Notes for reasons outside of the control

 

68


of the Company, the equivalent investment grade credit rating from any other “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” registered under Section 15E of the Exchange Act selected by the Company as a replacement agency); and

(b) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing,

then, beginning on that day and subject to the provisions of the following paragraph, the covenants under the following Sections of this Indenture will be suspended (collectively, the “Suspended Covenants”):

(1) Section 3.09;

(2) Section 4.07;

(3) Section 4.08;

(4) Section 4.09;

(5) Section 4.10;

(6) Section 4.11;

(7) Section 4.18; and

(8) clause (4) of Section 5.01.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if on any subsequent date (the “ Reinstatement Date ”), the rating assigned by either such rating agency should subsequently decline to below Baa3 or BBB-, respectively, the Suspended Covenants will be reinstated as of and from the date of such rating decline. No Default, Event of Default or breach of any kind shall be deemed to exist under this Indenture, the Notes or the Note Guarantees with respect to the Suspended Covenants based on, and the Company shall not bear any liability for, any actions taken or events occurring during the Suspension Period, or any actions taken at any time pursuant to any contractual obligation arising prior to the Reinstatement Date, regardless of whether such actions or events would have been permitted if the applicable Suspended Covenants remained in effect during such period. The period of time between the date of suspension of the covenants and the Reinstatement Date is referred to as the “ Suspension Period .”

During the Suspension Period, the Company’s Board of Directors may not designate any of its Subsidiaries as Unrestricted Subsidiaries pursuant to Section 4.18.

On the Reinstatement Date, all Indebtedness incurred during the Suspension Period will be classified to have been incurred pursuant to Section 4.09(a) or one of the clauses set forth in Section 4.09(b) (to the extent such Indebtedness would be permitted to be incurred thereunder as of the Reinstatement Date and after giving effect to the Indebtedness incurred prior to the Suspension Period and outstanding on the Reinstatement Date). To the extent such Indebtedness would not be so permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 4.09(a) or Section 4.09(b), such Indebtedness will be deemed to have been outstanding on the date hereof, so that it is classified as permitted under clause (2) of Section 4.09(b). Calculations made after the Reinstatement Date of the amount available to be made as Restricted Payments under Section 4.07 will be made as though such covenant had been in effect since the date hereof and throughout the Suspension Period. Accordingly, Restricted Payments made during the Suspension Period will reduce the amount available to be made as Restricted Payments under Section 4.07(a). Additionally, upon commencement of a Suspension Period, the amount of Excess Proceeds will be reset to zero.

 

69


ARTICLE 5

SUCCESSORS

Section 5.01 Merger, Consolidation, or Sale of Assets.

The Company will not, directly or indirectly: (1) consolidate or merge with or into another Person (whether or not the Company is the surviving corporation), or (2) sell, assign, transfer, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole, in one or more related transactions, to another Person, unless:

(1) either:

(A) the Company is the surviving corporation; or

(B) the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than the Company) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition has been made is an entity organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state of the United States or the District of Columbia; and, if such entity is not a corporation, a co-obligor of the Notes is a corporation organized or existing under any such laws;

(2) the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than the Company) or the Person to which such sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition has been made assumes all the obligations of the Company under the Notes, this Indenture and the Registration Rights Agreement pursuant to agreements reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee;

(3) immediately after such transaction, no Default or Event of Default exists; and

(4) the Company or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than the Company), or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition has been made: would, on the date of such transaction after giving pro forma effect thereto and any related financing transactions as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period, (a) be permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in Section 4.09(a) hereof or (b) have had a Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio greater than the actual Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Company for such four-quarter period.

In addition, the Company will not, directly or indirectly, lease all or substantially all of the properties and assets of it and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole, in one or more related transactions, to any other Person.

This Section 5.01 will not apply to any sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance, lease or other disposition of assets between or among the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries. Clauses (3) and (4) of the first paragraph of this Section 5.01 will not apply to:

(1) a merger or consolidation of the Company with or into an Affiliate solely for the purpose of reincorporating the Company in another jurisdiction; or

(2) any consolidation or merger of the Company with or into one of its Restricted Subsidiaries for any purpose.

 

70


Section 5.02 Successor Corporation Substituted.

Upon any consolidation or merger, or any sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of the Company in a transaction that is subject to, and that complies with the provisions of, Section 5.01 hereof, the successor Person formed by such consolidation or into or with which the Company is merged or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for (so that from and after the date of such consolidation, merger, sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition, the provisions of this Indenture referring to the “Company” shall refer instead to the successor Person and not to the Company), and may exercise every right and power of the Company under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor Person had been named as the Company herein; provided, however , that the predecessor Company shall not be relieved from the obligation to pay the principal of and interest on the Notes except in the case of a sale of all of the Company’s assets in a transaction that is subject to, and that complies with the provisions of, Section 5.01 hereof.

ARTICLE 6

DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

Section 6.01 Events of Default.

Each of the following is an “ Event of Default ”:

(1) default for 30 days in the payment when due of interest (including Special Interest, if any) on the Notes;

(2) default in the payment when due (at maturity, upon redemption or otherwise) of the principal of, or premium, if any, on, the Notes;

(3) failure by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to comply with the provisions of Sections 4.10, 4.15 or 5.01 hereof;

(4) failure by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries for 60 days after notice to the Company by the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding voting as a single class to comply with any of the other agreements in this Indenture;

(5) default under any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there may be issued or by which there may be secured or evidenced any Indebtedness for money borrowed by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (or the payment of which is guaranteed by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries), whether such Indebtedness or Guarantee now exists, or is created after the date hereof, if that default:

(A) is caused by a failure to pay at its Stated Maturity the principal of such Indebtedness prior to the expiration of the grace period provided in such Indebtedness on the date of such default (a “ Payment Default ”); or

(B) results in the acceleration of such Indebtedness prior to its express maturity,

 

71


and, in each case, the principal amount of any such Indebtedness, together with the principal amount of any other such Indebtedness under which there has been a Payment Default or the maturity of which has been so accelerated, aggregates $40.0 million or more;

(6) failure by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of its Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary, to pay final judgments entered by a court or courts of competent jurisdiction aggregating in excess of $40.0 million, which judgments are not paid, discharged or stayed for a period of 60 days;

(7) the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary pursuant to or within the meaning of Bankruptcy Code:

(A) commences a voluntary case,

(B) consents to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary case,

(C) consents to the appointment of a custodian of it or for all or substantially all of its property,

(D) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors, or

(E) generally is not paying its debts as they become due;

(8) a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under the Bankruptcy Code that:

(A) is for relief against the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary in an involuntary case;

(B) appoints a custodian of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary or for all or substantially all of the property of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary; or

(C) orders the liquidation of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary;

and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60 consecutive days;

(9) except as permitted by this Indenture, any Note Guarantee is held in any judicial proceeding to be unenforceable or invalid or ceases for any reason to be in full force and effect, or any Guarantor, or any Person acting on behalf of any Guarantor, denies or disaffirms its obligations under its Note Guarantee; and

 

72


(10) the occurrence of any of the following:

(A) except as permitted by this Indenture, any Parity Lien Security Document ceases for any reason to be fully enforceable; provided that it will not be an Event of Default under this clause (10)(A) if the sole result of the failure of one or more Parity Lien Security Documents to be fully enforceable is that any Parity Lien purported to be granted under such Parity Lien Security Documents on Collateral, individually or in the aggregate, having a Fair Market Value of not more than $10.0 million ceases to be an enforceable and perfected second-priority Lien, subject only to Permitted Prior Liens;

(B) any Parity Lien purported to be granted under any Parity Lien Security Document on Collateral, individually or in the aggregate, having a Fair Market Value in excess of $10.0 million ceases to be an enforceable and perfected second-priority Lien, subject only to Permitted Prior Liens; or

(C) the Company or any Guarantor, or any Person acting on behalf of any of them, denies or disaffirms, in writing, any obligation of the Company or any Guarantor set forth in or arising under any Parity Lien Security Document.

Section 6.02 Acceleration.

In the case of an Event of Default specified in clause (7) or (8) of Section 6.01 hereof, with respect to the Company, any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary, all outstanding Notes will become due and payable immediately without further action or notice. If any other Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may declare all the Notes to be due and payable immediately. Upon any such declaration, the Notes shall become due and payable immediately.

Section 6.03 Other Remedies.

If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may pursue any available remedy to collect the payment of principal, premium and Special Interest, if any, and 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 of a Note 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. All remedies are cumulative to the extent permitted by law.

Section 6.04 Waiver of Past Defaults.

Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes by notice to the Trustee may on behalf of the Holders of all of the Notes rescind an acceleration or waive an existing Default or Event of Default and its consequences hereunder, except a continuing Default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal of, premium and Special Interest, if any, or interest on, the Notes (including in connection with an offer to purchase); provided, however , that the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may rescind an acceleration and its consequences, including any related payment default that resulted from such acceleration. Upon any such waiver, such Default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured for every purpose of this Indenture; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or impair any right consequent thereon.

 

73


Section 6.05 Control by Majority.

Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for exercising any remedy available to the Trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on it. However, the Trustee may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or this Indenture that the Trustee determines may be unduly prejudicial to the rights of other Holders of Notes or that may involve the Trustee in personal liability.

Section 6.06 Limitation on Suits.

A Holder may pursue a remedy with respect to this Indenture or the Notes only if:

(1) such Holder has previously given the Trustee notice that an Event of Default is continuing;

(2) Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes 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 receipt of the request and the offer of security or indemnity; and

(5) Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes have not given the Trustee a direction inconsistent with such request within such 60-day period.

A Holder of a Note may not use this Indenture to prejudice the rights of another Holder of a Note or to obtain a preference or priority over another Holder of a Note.

Section 6.07 Rights of Holders of Notes to Receive Payment.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, the right of any Holder of a Note to receive payment of principal, premium and Special Interest, if any, and interest on the Note, on or after the respective due dates expressed in the Note (including in connection with an offer to purchase), 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(1) or (2) hereof occurs and is continuing, the Trustee is authorized to recover judgment in its own name and as trustee of an express trust against the Company for the whole amount of principal of, premium and Special Interest, if any, and interest remaining unpaid on, the Notes and interest on overdue principal and, to the extent lawful, interest and such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel.

 

74


Section 6.09 Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.

The Trustee is authorized to 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 the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel) and the Holders of the Notes allowed in any judicial proceedings relative to the Company (or any other obligor upon the Notes), its creditors or its property and shall be entitled and empowered to collect, receive and distribute any money or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and any custodian in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such 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 to it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.07 hereof. To the extent that the payment of any such compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.07 hereof out of the estate in any such proceeding, shall be denied for any reason, payment of the same shall be secured by a Lien on, and shall be paid out of, any and all distributions, dividends, money, securities and other properties that the Holders may be entitled to receive in such proceeding whether in liquidation or under any plan of reorganization or arrangement or otherwise. Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Notes or the rights of any Holder, or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.

Section 6.10 Priorities.

If the Trustee collects any money pursuant to this Article 6, it shall pay out the money in the following order:

First : to the Trustee, the Paying Agent and the Registrar, its agents and attorneys for amounts due under Section 7.07 hereof, including payment of all compensation, expenses and liabilities incurred, and all advances made, by the Trustee and the costs and expenses of collection;

Second : to Holders of Notes for amounts due and unpaid on the Notes for principal, premium and Special Interest, if any, and interest, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on the Notes for principal, premium and Special Interest, if any and interest, respectively; and

Third : to the Company or to such party as a court of competent jurisdiction shall direct.

The Trustee may fix a record date and payment date for any payment to Holders of Notes pursuant to this Section 6.10.

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 a 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, 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 6.11 does not apply to a suit by the Trustee, a suit by a Holder of a Note pursuant to Section 6.07 hereof, or a suit by Holders of more than 10% in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes.

 

75


ARTICLE 7

TRUSTEE

Section 7.01 Duties of Trustee.

(a) If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee will exercise such of 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:

(1) the duties of the Trustee will be determined solely by the express provisions of this Indenture and the Trustee need perform only those duties that are specifically set forth in this Indenture and no others, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and

(2) 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 hereof. However, the Trustee will 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 liabilities for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that:

(1) this paragraph does not limit the effect of paragraph (b) of this Section 7.01;

(2) the Trustee will not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer, unless it is proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts; and

(3) the Trustee will 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 hereof.

(d) Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture that in any way relates to the Trustee is subject to paragraphs (a), (b), and (c) of this Section 7.01.

(e) No provision of this Indenture will require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or incur any liability. The Trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights and powers under this Indenture at the request of any Holders, unless such Holder has offered to the Trustee security and indemnity satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense.

(f) The Trustee will not be liable for interest on any money received by it except as the Trustee may agree in writing with the Company. 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 Article 7, and the provisions of Article 7 shall apply to the Registrar and Paying Agent.

 

76


Section 7.02 Rights of Trustee.

(a) The Trustee may conclusively rely upon 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 or an Opinion of Counsel or both. The Trustee will not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on such Officers’ Certificate or Opinion of Counsel. The Trustee may consult with counsel and the written advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel will be full and complete authorization and protection from liability in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon.

(c) The Trustee may act through its attorneys and agents and will not be responsible for the misconduct or negligence of any agent appointed with due care.

(d) The Trustee will not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith that it believes to be authorized or within the rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture.

(e) Unless otherwise specifically provided in this Indenture, any demand, request, direction or notice from the Company will be sufficient if signed by an Officer of the Company.

(f) The Trustee will 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 unless such Holders have offered to the Trustee reasonable indemnity or security against the losses, liabilities and expenses that might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction.

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 Company or any Affiliate of the Company with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. However, in the event that the Trustee acquires any conflicting interest it must eliminate such conflict within 90 days, apply to the SEC for permission to continue as trustee (if this Indenture has been qualified under the TIA) or resign. Any Agent may do the same with like rights and duties. The Trustee is also subject to Sections 7.10 and 7.11 hereof.

Section 7.04 Trustee’s Disclaimer.

The Trustee will not be responsible for and makes no representation as to the validity or adequacy of this Indenture or the Notes, it shall not be accountable for the Company’s use of the proceeds from the Notes or any money paid to the Company or upon the Company’s direction under any provision of this Indenture, it will not be responsible for the use or application of any money received by any Paying Agent other than the Trustee, and it will not be responsible for any statement or recital herein or any statement in the Notes or any other document in connection with the sale of the Notes or pursuant to this Indenture other than its certificate of authentication.

 

77


Section 7.05 Notice of Defaults.

If a Default or Event of Default occurs and is continuing and if it is actually known to the Trustee, the Trustee will mail to Holders of Notes a notice of the Default or Event of Default within 90 days after it occurs. Except in the case of a Default or Event of Default in payment of principal of, premium or Special Interest, if any, or interest on, any Note, the Trustee may withhold the notice if and so long as a committee of its Responsible Officers in good faith determines that withholding the notice is in the interests of the Holders of the Notes.

Section 7.06 Reports by Trustee to Holders of the Notes.

(a) Within 60 days after each May 15 beginning with the May 15 following the date hereof, and for so long as Notes remain outstanding, the Trustee will mail to the Holders of the Notes a brief report dated as of such reporting date that complies with TIA § 313(a) (but if no event described in TIA § 313(a) has occurred within the twelve months preceding the reporting date, no report need be transmitted). The Trustee also will comply with TIA § 313(b)(2). The Trustee will also transmit by mail all reports as required by TIA § 313(c).

(b) A copy of each report at the time of its mailing to the Holders of Notes will be mailed by the Trustee to the Company and filed by the Trustee with the SEC and each stock exchange on which the Notes are listed in accordance with TIA § 313(d). The Company will promptly notify the Trustee when the Notes are listed on any stock exchange.

Section 7.07 Compensation and Indemnity.

(a) The Company will pay to the Trustee from time to time reasonable compensation for its acceptance of this Indenture and services hereunder. The Trustee’s compensation will not be limited by any law on compensation of a trustee of an express trust. The Company will reimburse the Trustee promptly upon request for all reasonable disbursements, advances and expenses incurred or made by it in addition to the compensation for its services. Such expenses will include the reasonable compensation, disbursements and expenses of the Trustee’s agents and counsel.

(b) The Company and the Guarantors will indemnify the Trustee against any and all losses, liabilities or expenses incurred by it arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of its duties under this Indenture, including the costs and expenses of enforcing this Indenture against the Company and the Guarantors (including this Section 7.07) and defending itself against any claim (whether asserted by the Company, the Guarantors, any Holder or any other Person) or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder, except to the extent any such loss, liability or expense may be attributable to its negligence or bad faith. The Trustee will notify the Company promptly of any claim for which it may seek indemnity. Failure by the Trustee to so notify the Company will not relieve the Company or any of the Guarantors of their obligations hereunder. The Company or such Guarantor will defend the claim and the Trustee will cooperate in the defense. The Trustee may have separate counsel and the Company will pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel. Neither the Company nor any Guarantor need pay for any settlement made without its consent, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld.

(c) The obligations of the Company and the Guarantors under this Section 7.07 will survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture.

(d) To secure the Company’s and the Guarantors’ payment obligations in this Section 7.07, the Trustee will have a Lien prior to the Notes on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee, except that held in trust to pay principal and interest on particular Notes. Such Lien will survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture.

 

78


(e) When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(7) or (8) hereof occurs, the expenses and the compensation for the services (including the fees and expenses of its agents and counsel) are intended to constitute expenses of administration under the Bankruptcy Code.

(f) The Trustee will comply with the provisions of TIA § 313(b)(2) to the extent applicable.

Section 7.08 Replacement of Trustee.

(a) A resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a successor Trustee will become effective only upon the successor Trustee’s acceptance of appointment as provided in this Section 7.08.

(b) The Trustee may resign in writing at any time and be discharged from the trust hereby created by so notifying the Company. The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may remove the Trustee by so notifying the Trustee and the Company in writing. The Company may remove the Trustee if:

(1) the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10 hereof;

(2) the Trustee is adjudged a bankrupt or an insolvent or an order for relief is entered with respect to the Trustee under the Bankruptcy Code;

(3) a custodian or public officer takes charge of the Trustee or its property; or

(4) the Trustee becomes incapable of acting.

(c) If the Trustee resigns or is removed or if a vacancy exists in the office of Trustee for any reason, the Company will promptly appoint a successor Trustee. Within one year after the successor Trustee takes office, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may appoint a successor Trustee to replace the successor Trustee appointed by the Company.

(d) If a successor Trustee does not take office within 60 days after the retiring Trustee resigns or is removed, the retiring Trustee, the Company, or the Holders of at least 10% in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee.

(e) If the Trustee, after written request by any Holder who has been a Holder for at least six months, fails to comply with Section 7.10 hereof, such Holder may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee.

(f) A successor Trustee will deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Company. Thereupon, the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee will become effective, and the successor Trustee will have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee under this Indenture. The successor Trustee will mail a notice of its succession to Holders. The retiring Trustee will promptly transfer all property held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee; provided all sums owing to the Trustee hereunder have been paid and subject to the Lien provided for in Section 7.07 hereof. Notwithstanding replacement of the Trustee pursuant to this Section 7.08, the Company’s obligations under Section 7.07 hereof will continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee.

 

79


Section 7.09 Successor Trustee by Merger, etc.

If the Trustee consolidates, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all of its corporate trust business to, another corporation, the successor corporation without any further act will be the successor Trustee.

Section 7.10 Eligibility; Disqualification.

There will at all times be a Trustee hereunder that is a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America or of any state thereof that is authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trustee power, that is subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authorities and that has a combined capital and surplus of at least $50.0 million as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition or is a direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of a bank holding company having a combined capital and surplus of $50.0 million as set forth in its most recent published statement of condition.

This Indenture will always have a Trustee who satisfies the requirements of TIA § 310(a)(1), (2) and (5) and at all times the Trustee will have a combined capital and surplus in excess of the amount required by TIA § 310(a)(2). The Trustee is subject to TIA § 310(b).

Section 7.11 Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company.

The Trustee is subject to TIA § 311(a), excluding any creditor relationship listed in TIA § 311(b). A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to TIA § 311(a) to the extent indicated therein.

ARTICLE 8

LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

Section 8.01 Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

The Company may at any time, at the option of its Board of Directors evidenced by a resolution set forth in an Officers’ Certificate, elect to have either Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof be applied to all outstanding Notes upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article 8.

Section 8.02 Legal Defeasance and Discharge.

Upon the Company’s exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.02, the Company and each of the Guarantors will, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof, be deemed to have been discharged from their obligations with respect to all outstanding Notes (including the Note Guarantees) on the date the conditions set forth below are satisfied (hereinafter, “ Legal Defeasance ”). For this purpose, Legal Defeasance means that the Company and the Guarantors will be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire Indebtedness represented by the outstanding Notes (including the Note Guarantees), which will thereafter be deemed to be “outstanding” only for the purposes of Section 8.05 hereof and the other Sections of this Indenture referred to in clauses (1) and (2) below, and to have satisfied all their other obligations under such Notes, the Note Guarantees and this Indenture (and the Trustee, on demand of and at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except for the following provisions which will survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder:

(1) the rights of Holders of outstanding Notes to receive from the trust referred to in Section 8.04 payments in respect of the principal of, or interest or premium and Special Interest, if any, on, such Notes when such payments are due;

 

80


(2) the Company’s obligations with respect to such Notes under Article 2 and Section 4.02 hereof;

(3) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder and the Company’s and the Guarantors’ obligations in connection therewith; and

(4) this Article 8.

Subject to compliance with this Article 8, the Company may exercise its option under this Section 8.02 notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option under Section 8.03 hereof.

Section 8.03 Covenant Defeasance.

Upon the Company’s exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.03, the Company and each of the Guarantors will, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof, be released from each of their obligations under the covenants contained in Sections 3.09, 4.07, 4.08, 4.09, 4.10, 4.11, 4.12, 4.13, 4.15, 4.16, 4.17 and 4.18 hereof and clause (4) of Section 5.01 hereof with respect to the outstanding Notes on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof are satisfied (hereinafter, “ Covenant Defeasance ”), and the Notes will thereafter be deemed not “outstanding” for the purposes of any direction, waiver, consent or declaration or act of Holders (and the consequences of any thereof) in connection with such covenants, but will continue to be deemed “outstanding” for all other purposes hereunder (it being understood that such Notes will not be deemed outstanding for accounting purposes). For this purpose, Covenant Defeasance means that, with respect to the outstanding Notes and Note Guarantees, the Company and the Guarantors may omit to comply with and will have no liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set forth in any such covenant, whether directly or indirectly, by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such covenant or by reason of any reference in any such covenant to any other provision herein or in any other document and such omission to comply will not constitute a Default or an Event of Default under Section 6.01 hereof, but, except as specified above, the remainder of this Indenture and such Notes and Note Guarantees will be unaffected thereby. In addition, upon the Company’s exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.03, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof, Sections 6.01(3) through 6.01(6) and 6.01(9) through 6.01(10) hereof will not constitute Events of Default.

Section 8.04 Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance.

In order to exercise either Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance under either Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof:

(1) the Company must irrevocably deposit with the Trustee, in trust, for the benefit of the Holders, cash in U.S. dollars, non-callable Government Securities, or a combination thereof, in such amounts as will be sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized investment bank, appraisal firm, or firm of independent public accountants, to pay the principal of, premium and Special Interest, if any, and interest on, the outstanding Notes on the stated date for payment thereof or on the applicable redemption date, as the case may be, and the Company must specify whether the Notes are being defeased to such stated date for payment or to a particular redemption date;

 

81


(2) in the case of an election under Section 8.02 hereof, the Company must deliver to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel confirming that:

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

(B) since the date hereof, 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 of the outstanding Notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such Legal Defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Legal Defeasance had not occurred;

(3) in the case of an election under Section 8.03 hereof, the Company must deliver to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel confirming that the Holders of the outstanding Notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such Covenant Defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Covenant Defeasance had not occurred;

(4) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit (other than a Default or Event of Default resulting from the borrowing of funds to be applied to such deposit (and any similar concurrent deposit relating to other Indebtedness) and the granting of Liens to secure such borrowings);

(5) such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any material agreement or instrument (other than this Indenture and the agreements governing any other Indebtedness being defeased, discharged or replaced) to which the Company or any of its Guarantors is a party or by which the Company or any of the Guarantors is bound;

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

(7) the Company must deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent relating to the Legal Defeasance or the Covenant Defeasance have been complied with.

Section 8.05 Deposited Money and Government Securities to be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions.

Subject to Section 8.06 hereof, all money and non-callable Government Securities (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee, collectively for purposes of this Section 8.05, the “ Trustee ”) pursuant to Section 8.04 hereof in respect of the outstanding Notes will be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such Notes and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such Notes of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal, premium and Special Interest, if any, and interest, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

 

82


The Company will pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the cash or non-callable Government Securities deposited pursuant to Section 8.04 hereof or the principal and interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other charge which by law is for the account of the Holders of the outstanding Notes.

Notwithstanding anything in this Article 8 to the contrary, the Trustee will deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon the request of the Company any money or non-callable Government Securities held by it as provided in Section 8.04 hereof which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee (which may be the opinion delivered under Section 8.04(1) hereof), are in excess of the amount thereof that would then be required to be deposited to effect an equivalent Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

Section 8.06 Repayment to Company.

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

Section 8.07 Reinstatement.

If the Trustee or the Paying Agent is unable to apply any U.S. dollars or non-callable Government Securities in accordance with Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof, as the case may be, by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, then the Company’s and the Guarantors’ obligations under this Indenture and the Notes and the Note Guarantees will be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof until such time as the Trustee or the Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money in accordance with Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof, as the case may be; provided, however , that, if the Company makes any payment of principal of, premium or Special Interest, if any, or interest on, any Note following the reinstatement of its obligations, the Company will be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Notes to receive such payment from the money held by the Trustee or the Paying Agent.

ARTICLE 9

AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER

Section 9.01 Without Consent of Holders of Notes.

Notwithstanding Section 9.02 hereof, the Company, the Guarantors, the Trustee, the Paying Agent and the Registrar may amend or supplement this Indenture or the Notes or the Note Guarantees without the consent of any Holder of Notes:

(1) to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency;

 

83


(2) to provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated Notes;

(3) to provide for the assumption or Guarantee of the Company’s or a Guarantor’s obligations to the Holders of the Notes and Note Guarantees by a successor to the Company or such Guarantor pursuant to Article 5 or Article 11 hereof;

(4) to make any change that would provide any additional rights or benefits to the Holders of the Notes or that does not adversely affect the legal rights hereunder of any Holder;

(5) to comply with requirements of the SEC in order to effect or maintain the qualification of this Indenture under the TIA;

(6) to conform the text hereof, the Parity Lien Security Documents, the Note Guarantees or the Notes to the terms thereof contained in the “Description of Notes” section of the Company’s Final Offering Memorandum dated July 26, 2013, when authorized by a resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company and upon a request to the Trustee set forth in an Officers’ Certificate to that effect;

(7) to provide for the issuance of additional notes in accordance with the limitations set forth in this Indenture as of the date hereof;

(8) to allow any Guarantor to execute a supplemental indenture and/or a Note Guarantee with respect to the Notes;

(9) to make, complete or confirm any grant of Collateral permitted or required by this Indenture or any of the Parity Lien Security Documents or any release of Collateral that becomes effective as set forth in this Indenture or any of the Parity Lien Security Documents; or

(10) to enter into additional or supplemental Parity Lien Security Documents and to add any Parity Lien Obligation to the Parity Lien Security Documents and the Intercreditor Agreement on the terms set forth herein.

Upon the request of the Company accompanied by a resolution of its Board of Directors authorizing the execution of any such amended or supplemental indenture, and upon receipt by the Trustee of the documents described in Section 7.02 hereof, the Trustee, the Paying Agent and the Registrar will join with the Company and the Guarantors in the execution of any amended or supplemental indenture authorized or permitted by the terms of this Indenture and to make any further appropriate agreements and stipulations that may be therein contained, but the Trustee, the Paying Agent and the Registrar will not be obligated to enter into such amended or supplemental indenture that affects its own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.

Section 9.02 With Consent of Holders of Notes.

Except as provided below in this Section 9.02, the Company, the Trustee, the Paying Agent and the Registrar may amend or supplement this Indenture (including, without limitation, Section 3.09, 4.10 and 4.15 hereof) or the Notes or the Note Guarantees with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes voting as a single class (including, without limitation, consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for, or purchase of, the Notes), and, subject to Sections 6.04 and 6.07 hereof, any existing Default or Event of Default (other than a Default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal of, premium or Special Interest, if any, or interest on, the Notes, except a payment default resulting from an acceleration that has been rescinded) or

 

84


compliance with any provision of this Indenture or the Notes or the Note Guarantees may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes voting as a single class (including, without limitation, consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for, or purchase of, the Notes). Section 2.08 hereof shall determine which Notes are considered to be “outstanding” for purposes of this Section 9.02.

It is not necessary for the consent of the Holders of Notes under this Section 9.02 to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment, supplement or waiver, but it is sufficient if such consent approves the substance thereof.

Subject to Sections 6.04 and 6.07 hereof, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding voting as a single class may waive compliance in a particular instance by the Company with any provision of this Indenture or the Notes or the Note Guarantees. However, without the consent of each Holder affected, an amendment, supplement or waiver under this Section 9.02 may not (with respect to any Notes held by a non-consenting Holder):

(1) reduce the principal amount of Notes whose Holders must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver;

(2) reduce the principal of or change the fixed maturity of any Note or alter or waive any of the provisions with respect to the redemption of the Notes (except as provided above with respect to Sections 3.09, 4.10 and 4.15 hereof);

(3) reduce the rate of or change the time for payment of interest, including default interest, on any Note;

(4) waive a Default or Event of Default in the payment of principal of, or premium or Special Interest, if any, or interest on, the Notes (except a rescission of acceleration of the Notes by the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes and a waiver of the payment default that resulted from such acceleration);

(5) make any Note payable in money other than that stated in the Notes;

(6) make any change in the provisions of this Indenture relating to waivers of past Defaults or the rights of Holders of Notes to receive payments of principal of, or interest or premium or Special Interest, if any, on, the Notes;

(7) waive a redemption payment with respect to any Note (other than a payment required by Sections 3.09, 4.10 or 4.15 hereof);

(8) release any Guarantor from any of its obligations under its Note Guarantee or this Indenture, except in accordance with the terms of this Indenture; or

(9) make any change in the preceding amendment and waiver provisions.

In addition, any amendment to, or waiver of, the provisions of this Indenture or any Parity Lien Security Document that has the effect of releasing all or substantially all of the Collateral from the Liens securing the Notes will require the consent of the holders of at least 66 2/3% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding.

 

85


The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, pay or cause to be paid any consideration to or for the benefit of any holder of Notes for or as an inducement to any consent, waiver or amendment of any of the terms or provisions of this 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.

Section 9.03 Compliance with Trust Indenture Act.

Every amendment or supplement to this Indenture or the Notes will be set forth in a supplemental indenture that complies with the TIA as then in effect.

Section 9.04 Revocation and Effect of Consents.

A consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver by a Holder of a Note is a continuing consent by the Holder of a Note and every subsequent Holder of a Note or portion of a Note that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Note, even if notation of the consent is not made on any Note. However, any such Holder of a Note or subsequent Holder of a Note may revoke the consent as to its Note if the Trustee receives written notice of revocation before the date that the supplemental indenture setting forth the amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective. An amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective under a supplemental indenture in accordance with the terms of the supplemental indenture and thereafter binds every Holder. After an amendment, supplement or waiver under this Section 9.04 becomes effective, the Company will mail to the Holders of Notes affected thereby a notice briefly describing the amendment, supplement or waiver. Any failure of the Company to mail such notice, or any defect therein, will not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such supplemental indenture.

Section 9.05 Notation on or Exchange of Notes.

The Trustee may place an appropriate notation about an amendment, supplement or waiver on any Note thereafter authenticated. The Company in exchange for all Notes may issue and the Trustee shall, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, authenticate new Notes that reflect the amendment, supplement or waiver.

Failure to make the appropriate notation or issue a new Note will not affect the validity and effect of such amendment, supplement or waiver.

Section 9.06 Trustee, Paying Agent and Registrar to Sign Amendments, etc.

Upon the request of the Company accompanied by an Officers’ Certificate and Opinion of counsel stating that such amendment, supplement or waiver is authorized or permitted under this Indenture, and upon the filing with the Trustee of evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee of the consent of the Holders of Notes as aforesaid, the Trustee, the Paying Agent and the Registrar shall join with the Company and the Guarantors in the execution of a supplemental indenture setting forth such amendment, supplement or waiver unless such supplemental indenture directly affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case the Trustee, the Paying Agent and the Registrar may in their discretion, but will not be obligated to, enter into such supplemental indenture. Unless otherwise expressly stated therein, a supplemental indenture shall become effective upon execution and delivery thereof by the Company, the Guarantors, if any, the Trustee, the Paying Agent and the Registrar.

 

86


ARTICLE 10

COLLATERAL AND SECURITY

Section 10.01 Security Interest.

(a) The due and punctual payment of the principal of, premium on, if any, and interest and Special Interest, if any, on the Notes when and as the same shall be due and payable, whether on an interest payment date, at maturity, by acceleration, repurchase, redemption or otherwise, and interest on the overdue principal of, premium on, if any, and interest and Special Interest, if any (to the extent permitted by law), on the Notes and performance of all other obligations of the Company and the Guarantors to the Holders of Notes or the Trustee under this Indenture and the Notes (including, without limitation, the Note Guarantees), according to the terms hereunder or thereunder, are secured as provided in the Parity Lien Security Documents. Each Holder of Notes, by its acceptance thereof, consents and agrees to the terms of the Parity Lien Security Documents (including, without limitation, the provisions providing for foreclosure and release of Collateral) as the same may be in effect or may be amended from time to time in accordance with their terms and authorizes and appoints Law Debenture Trust Company of New York as the Trustee and as the Collateral Trustee. The Trustee hereby authorizes and appoints Law Debenture Trust Company of New York as Collateral Trustee and each Holder of Notes and the Trustee direct the Collateral Trustee to enter into the Parity Lien Security Documents and to perform its obligations and exercise its rights thereunder in accordance therewith, subject to the terms and conditions thereof, including, without limitation, the limitations on duties of the Collateral Trustee provided in Section 5.12 of the Collateral Trust Agreement. The Company and each of the Guarantors consent and agree to be bound by the terms of the Parity Lien Security Documents, as the same may be in effect from time to time, and agree to perform their obligations thereunder in accordance therewith. The Company will deliver to the Trustee copies of all documents delivered to the Collateral Trustee pursuant to the Parity Lien Security Documents, and will do or cause to be done all such acts and things as may be required by the provisions of the Parity Lien Security Documents, to assure and confirm to the Collateral Trustee the security interest in the Collateral contemplated by the Parity Lien Security Documents or any part thereof, as from time to time constituted, so as to render the same available for the security and benefit of this Indenture and of the Notes. The Company shall take, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to take, any and all actions reasonably required to cause the Parity Lien Security Documents to create and maintain, as security for the Obligations under the Notes and the Note Guarantees and any other Parity Lien Obligations, a valid and enforceable perfected Lien in and on all the Collateral, in favor of the Collateral Trustee for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes and holders of any Parity Lien Obligations, junior in priority to the Liens securing Priority Lien Obligations, subject to all other Permitted Prior Liens.

(b) The Company will comply with the provisions of TIA §314(b).

Section 10.02 Intercreditor Agreement.

This Article 10 and the provisions of each other Parity Lien Security Document are subject to the terms, conditions and benefits set forth in the Intercreditor Agreement. The Company and each Guarantor consents to, and agrees to be bound by, the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement, as the same may be in effect from time to time, and to perform its obligations thereunder in accordance with the terms thereof. Each Holder of the Notes, by its acceptance of the Notes (a) consents to the subordination of Liens provided for in the Intercreditor Agreement, (b) agrees that it will be bound by, and will take no actions contrary to, the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement and (c) authorizes and instructs the Collateral Trustee on behalf of each Parity Lien Secured Party to enter into the Intercreditor Agreement as Collateral Trustee on behalf of such Parity Lien Secured Parties.

 

87


Section 10.03 Collateral Trust Agreement.

This Article 10 and the provisions of each other Parity Lien Security Document are subject to the terms, conditions and benefits set forth in the Collateral Trust Agreement. The Company and each Guarantor consents to, and agrees to be bound by, the terms of the Collateral Trust Agreement, as the same may be in effect from time to time, and to perform its obligations thereunder in accordance with the terms therewith.

Section 10.04 Equal and Ratable Sharing of Collateral by Holders of Parity Lien Debt.

Notwithstanding:

(a) anything to the contrary contained in the Parity Lien Security Documents;

(b) the time of incurrence of any Series of Parity Lien Debt;

(c) the order or method of attachment or perfection of any Liens securing any Series of Parity Lien Debt;

(d) the time or order of filing or recording of financing statements, deeds of trusts, mortgages or other documents filed or recorded to perfect any Lien upon any Collateral;

(e) the time of taking possession or control over any Collateral;

(f) that any Parity Lien may not have been perfected or may be or have become subordinated, by equitable subordination or otherwise, to any other Lien; or

(g) the rules for determining priority under any law governing relative priorities of Liens:

(i) all Parity Liens granted at any time by the Company or any Guarantor will secure, equally and ratably, all present and future Parity Lien Obligations; and

(ii) all proceeds of all Parity Liens granted at any time by the Company or any Guarantor will be allocated and distributed equally and ratably on account of the Parity Lien Debt and other Parity Lien Obligations.

This Section 10.04 is intended for the benefit of, and will be enforceable as a third party beneficiary by, each present and future holder of Parity Lien Obligations, each present and future Parity Lien Representative and the Collateral Trustee as holder of Parity Liens. The Parity Lien Representative of each future Series of Parity Lien Debt will be required to deliver an Additional Secured Debt Designation to the Collateral Trustee and the Trustee at the time of incurrence of such Series of Parity Lien Debt.

Section 10.05 Ranking of Parity Liens.

(a) The Intercreditor Agreement shall provide that, notwithstanding:

(1) anything to the contrary contained in the security documents;

(2) the time of incurrence of any Series of Secured Debt;

 

88


(3) the order or method of attachment or perfection of any Liens securing any Series of Secured Debt;

(4) the time or order of filing or recording of financing statements, deeds of trust, mortgages or other documents filed or recorded to perfect any Lien upon any Collateral;

(5) the time of taking possession or control over any Collateral;

(6) that any Parity Lien may not have been perfected or may be or have become subordinated, by equitable subordination or otherwise, to any other Lien; or

(7) the rules for determining priority under any law governing relative priorities of Liens,

(A) all Parity Liens at any time granted by the Company or any Guarantor will be subject and subordinate to all Priority Liens securing Priority Lien Obligations and (B) all proceeds of all Parity Liens granted at any time by the Company or any Guarantor will be allocated and distributed equally and ratably on account of the Parity Lien Debt and other Parity Lien Obligations.

This Section 10.05 is intended for the benefit of, and will be enforceable as a third party beneficiary by, each present and future holder of Priority Lien Obligations and each present and future Priority Lien Agent as holder of Priority Liens. No other Person will be entitled to rely on, have the benefit of or enforce those provisions.

In addition, this Section 10.05 is intended solely to set forth the relative ranking, as Liens, of the Liens securing Parity Lien Debt as against the Priority Liens. Neither the Notes nor any other Parity Lien Obligations are intended to be, or will ever be by reason of this Section 10.05, in any respect subordinated, deferred, postponed, restricted or prejudiced in right of payment.

Section 10.06 Release of Liens in Respect of Notes.

(a) The Collateral Trustee’s other Liens upon the Collateral will no longer secure the Notes outstanding under this Indenture or any other Obligations under this Indenture, and the right of the Holders of the Notes and holders of such other Obligations to the benefits and proceeds of the Collateral Trustee’s Liens on the Collateral will terminate and be discharged:

(1) upon satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture in accordance with Article 12 hereof;

(2) upon a Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance of the Notes in accordance with Article 8 hereof;

(3) upon payment in full and discharge of all Notes outstanding under this Indenture and all Obligations that are outstanding, due and payable under this Indenture at the time the Notes are paid in full and discharged;

(4) in whole or in part, with the consent of the Holders of the requisite percentage of Notes in accordance with Article 9 hereof; and

(5) if and to the extent required by Section 5.01 of the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

89


In addition, the Collateral Trustee’s Liens on the Collateral will be released upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in Section 4.1 of the Collateral Trust Agreement.

(b) The release of any Collateral from the terms of this Indenture will not be deemed to impair the security under this Indenture in contravention of provisions hereof if and to the extent the Collateral is released pursuant to the terms of the Parity Lien Security Documents. To the extent applicable, the Company will cause TIA §313(b)(1), relating to reports, and TIA §314(d), relating to the release of property or securities subject to the Lien of the Parity Lien Security Documents, to be complied with any certificate or opinion required by TIA §314(d) may be made by an Officer of the Company except in cases where TIA §314(d) requires that such certificate or opinion be made by an independent Person, which Person will be an independent engineer, appraiser or other expert selected by or reasonably satisfactory to the trustee (in which case the Company shall comply with TIA §314(c)(3) to the extent applicable). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this paragraph, the Company will not be required to comply with all or any portion of TIA §314(d) if it determines, in good faith based on advice of counsel, that under the terms of TIA §314(d) and/or any interpretation or guidance as to the meaning thereof of the SEC and its staff, including “no action” letters or exemptive orders, all or any portion of TIA §314(d) is inapplicable to one or a series of released Collateral.

Section 10.07 Relative Rights.

Nothing in the Note Documents will:

(a) impair, as between the Company and the Holders of the Notes, the obligation of the Company to pay principal of, premium, accrued and unpaid interest and Special Interest, if any, on the Notes in accordance with their terms or any other obligation of the Company or any Guarantor;

(b) affect the relative rights of Holders of Notes as against any other creditors of the Company or any Guarantor (other than holders of Priority Liens, other Permitted Prior Liens or other Parity Liens);

(c) restrict the right of any Holder of Notes to sue for payments that are then due and owing (but not enforce any judgment in respect thereof against any Collateral to the extent specifically prohibited by Section 3.01 of the Intercreditor Agreement or Section 3.3 of the Collateral Trust Agreement);

(d) restrict or prevent any Holder of Notes or other Parity Lien Obligations, the Collateral Trustee or any Parity Lien Representative from exercising any of its rights or remedies upon a Default or Event of Default not specifically restricted or prohibited by Section 3.01 of the Intercreditor Agreement or Section 3.3 of the Collateral Trust Agreement; or

(e) restrict or prevent any Holder of Notes of other Parity Lien Obligations, the Collateral Trustee or any Parity Lien Representative from taking any lawful action in an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding not specifically restricted or prohibited by Section 6.01 of the Intercreditor Agreement or Section 3.3 of the Collateral Trust Agreement.

Section 10.08 Collateral Trustee.

(a) The Collateral Trustee will hold (directly or through co-trustees or agents) and, subject to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement, will be entitled to enforce all Liens on the Collateral created by the Parity Lien Security Documents.

 

90


(b) Except as provided in the Collateral Trust Agreement or as directed by an Act of Required Secured Parties in accordance with the Collateral Trust Agreement, the Collateral Trustee will not be obligated:

(1) to act upon directions purported to be delivered to it by any Person;

(2) to foreclose upon or otherwise enforce any Lien; or

(3) to take any other action whatsoever with regard to any or all of the Parity Lien Security Documents, the Liens created thereby or the Collateral.

Section 10.09 Further Assurances; Liens on Additional Property.

(a) The Company and each of the Guarantors shall do or cause to be done all acts and things that may be required, or that the Collateral Trustee from time to time may reasonably request, to assure and confirm that the Collateral Trustee holds, for the benefit of the holders of Parity Lien Obligations, duly created and enforceable and perfected Liens upon the Collateral (including any property or assets that are acquired or otherwise become, or are required by any Parity Lien Document to become, Collateral after the Notes are issued), in each case, as contemplated by, and with the Lien priority required under, the Parity Lien Documents.

Without limiting the foregoing, to the extent that any Lien on the Collateral cannot be perfected on or prior to the date hereof after the use of all commercially reasonable efforts, the Company and each of the Guarantors will use their respective commercially reasonable efforts to do or cause to be done all acts and things that may be required, including obtaining any required consents from third parties, to have all security interests in the Collateral duly created and enforceable and perfected, to the extent required by the Parity Lien Security Documents, and obtain title insurance promptly following the date hereof, but in no event later than 60 days thereafter.

(b) Upon the reasonable request of the Collateral Trustee or any Parity Lien Representative at any time and from time to time, the Company and each of the Guarantors shall promptly execute, acknowledge and deliver such Parity Lien Security Documents, instruments, certificates, notices and other documents, and take such other actions as shall be reasonably required, or that the Collateral Trustee may reasonably request, to create, perfect, protect, assure or enforce the Liens and benefits intended to be conferred, in each case as contemplated by the Parity Lien Documents for the benefit of the holders of Parity Lien Obligations; provided , that no such Parity Lien Security Document, instrument or other document shall be materially more burdensome upon the Company and the Guarantors than the Parity Lien Documents executed and delivered by the Company and the Guarantors in connection with the issuance of the Notes on or about the Issue Date.

(c) Upon reasonable request by the Collateral Trustee, the Company shall, within a reasonable amount of time after receipt of such request, use their commercially reasonable efforts (i) to correct any material defect or error that may be discovered in the execution, acknowledgment, filing or recordation of any document or instrument relating to any Collateral, and (ii) do, execute, acknowledge, deliver, record, re-record, file, re-file, register and re-register any and all such further acts, deeds, certificates, assurances and other instruments as the Collateral Trustee may reasonably require from time to time in order to carry out more effectively the purposes of the Parity Lien Security Documents.

Section 10.10 Establishment of Blocked Account; Etc.

(a) The Company has established in its own name the Blocked Account, which Blocked Account is maintained at the office of Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas located at 60 Wall Street, New York, New York 10005. The Blocked Account is subject to the Blocked Account Control Agreement.

 

91


(b) The Company may, from time to time after the date hereof, deposit additional funds into the Blocked Account. The Blocked Account Proceeds from time to time in the Blocked Account shall constitute part of the Collateral.

(c) In the event that the Collateral Trustee is the Controlling Agent (as defined in the Blocked Account Control Agreement), the Collateral Trustee shall within two Business Days of receiving a written request from the Company for release of all or a portion of the Blocked Account Proceeds deliver a Written Instruction (as defined in the Blocked Account Control Agreement) to release such amounts in accordance with the requirements in the Blocked Account Control Agreement to the Company (or as it otherwise shall direct) so long as such written request is accompanied by certificate of a Responsible Officer of the Company certifying that such requested Blocked Account Proceeds shall be used within three Business Days of receipt thereof by the Company to (x) so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or will result therefrom, effect the repurchase of the Convertible Notes or (y) so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or will result therefrom, repay in full all Indebtedness under the Convertible Notes on the final stated maturity thereof; provided that , to the extent the Company does not use such Blocked Account Proceeds to redeem or repay such Convertible Notes within three Business Days of receipt of such Blocked Account Proceeds, the Company shall immediately deposit such Blocked Account Proceeds back into the Blocked Account.

(d) At any time following the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default and in the event that the Collateral Trustee is the Controlling Agent (as defined in the Blocked Account Control Agreement), the Collateral Trustee shall deliver a Notice of Exclusive Control under, and as defined in, the Blocked Account Control Agreement and apply or cause to be applied (subject to collection) the Blocked Account Proceeds to the credit of the Blocked Account to the payment of the Parity Lien Obligations in the manner specified in the Parity Lien Security Documents.

(e) The Company shall have no right to withdraw, transfer or otherwise receive any funds deposited in the Blocked Account except to the extent specifically provided in this Section 10.10.

(f) Amounts on deposit in the Blocked Account shall be invested and reinvested from time to time in Cash Equivalents as the Company (or, after the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default and in the event that the Collateral Trustee is the Controlling Agent (as defined in the Blocked Account Control Agreement), the Collateral Trustee) shall determine by written instruction to the Collateral Trustee, or if no such instructions are given, then, in the event that the Collateral Trustee is the Controlling Agent (as defined in the Blocked Account Control Agreement), as the Collateral Trustee, in its sole and reasonable discretion, shall determine, which Cash Equivalents shall be held in the name and be under the control of the Collateral Trustee (or any sub-agent); provided that at any time after the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, and in the event that the Collateral Trustee is the Controlling Agent (as defined in the Blocked Account Control Agreement), the Collateral Trustee may at any time and from time to time elect to liquidate any such Cash Equivalents and to apply or cause to be applied the proceeds thereof to the payment of the Parity Lien Obligations in the manner specified in the Parity Lien Security Documents. All investments made pursuant to this clause (f) (and any instruments evidencing same), and all proceeds thereof, shall be held in the Blocked Account. Under no circumstances shall the Collateral Trustee be liable or accountable to the Company for any decrease in the value of the Blocked Account or for any loss resulting from the investment of the funds deposited therein.

(g) On the first Business Day following the date on which no Indebtedness under the Convertible Notes is outstanding, and in the event that the Collateral Trustee is the Controlling Agent (as

 

92


defined in the Blocked Account Control Agreement), the Collateral Trustee shall promptly deliver a Written Instruction (as defined in the Blocked Account Control Agreement) to release all amounts in the Blocked Account in accordance with the requirements in the Blocked Account Control Agreement to the Company (or as it otherwise shall direct) and such Blocked Account shall thereafter be closed. Any Written Instruction to transfer and release any amounts in the Blocked Account (or any of the Blocked Account Collateral) by the Collateral Trustee pursuant to this clause (g) shall be made without recourse, representation or warranty. At any time on or after the first Business Day following the date on which no Indebtedness under the Convertible Notes is outstanding, upon receipt by the Collateral Trustee of written confirmation from the Company that (x) no Indebtedness under the Convertible Notes is outstanding and (y) the other Agent (as defined in the Blocked Account Control Agreement) has terminated the Blocked Account Control Agreement as to such Agent (together with a copy of such notice of termination), the Collateral Trustee shall promptly deliver written notice to the Securities Intermediary (as defined in the Blocked Account Control Agreement) of the termination of the Blocked Account Control Agreement as to the Collateral Trustee.

ARTICLE 11

NOTE GUARANTEES

Section 11.01 Guarantee.

(a) Subject to this Article 11, each of the Guarantors hereby, jointly and severally, unconditionally guarantees to each Holder of a Note authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and to the Trustee and its successors and assigns, irrespective of the validity and enforceability of this Indenture, the Notes or the obligations of the Company hereunder or thereunder, that:

(1) the principal of, premium and Special Interest, if any, and interest on, the Notes will be promptly paid in full when due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, redemption or otherwise, and interest on the overdue principal of and interest on the Notes, if any, if lawful, and all other obligations of the Company to the Holders or the Trustee hereunder, thereunder or under the Parity Lien Security Documents will be promptly paid in full or performed, all in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof; and

(2) in case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any Notes or any of such other obligations, that same will be promptly paid in full when due or performed in accordance with the terms of the extension or renewal, whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise.

Failing payment when due of any amount so guaranteed or any performance so guaranteed for whatever reason, the Guarantors will be jointly and severally obligated to pay the same immediately. Each Guarantor agrees that this is a guarantee of payment and not a guarantee of collection.

(b) The Guarantors hereby agree that their obligations hereunder are unconditional, irrespective of the validity, regularity or enforceability of the Notes or this Indenture, the absence of any action to enforce the same, any waiver or consent by any Holder of the Notes with respect to any provisions hereof or thereof, the recovery of any judgment against the Company, any action to enforce the same or any other circumstance which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a guarantor. Each Guarantor hereby waives diligence, presentment, demand of payment, filing of claims with a court in the event of insolvency or bankruptcy of the Company, any right to require a

 

93


proceeding first against the Company, protest, notice and all demands whatsoever and covenant that this Note Guarantee will not be discharged except by complete performance of the obligations contained in the Notes and this Indenture.

(c) If any Holder or the Trustee is required by any court or otherwise to return to the Company, the Guarantors or any custodian, trustee, liquidator or other similar official acting in relation to either the Company or the Guarantors, any amount paid by either to the Trustee or such Holder, this Note Guarantee, to the extent theretofore discharged, will be reinstated in full force and effect.

(d) Each Guarantor agrees that it will not be entitled to any right of subrogation in relation to the Holders in respect of any obligations guaranteed hereby until payment in full of all obligations guaranteed hereby. Each Guarantor further agrees that, as between the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Holders and the Trustee, on the other hand, (1) the maturity of the obligations guaranteed hereby may be accelerated as provided in Article 6 hereof for the purposes of this Note Guarantee, notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such acceleration in respect of the obligations guaranteed hereby, and (2) in the event of any declaration of acceleration of such obligations as provided in Article 6 hereof, such obligations (whether or not due and payable) will forthwith become due and payable by the Guarantors for the purpose of this Note Guarantee. The Guarantors will have the right to seek contribution from any non-paying Guarantor so long as the exercise of such right does not impair the rights of the Holders under the Note Guarantee.

Section 11.02 Limitation on Guarantor Liability.

Each Guarantor, and by its acceptance of Notes, each Holder, hereby confirms that it is the intention of all such parties that the Note Guarantee of such Guarantor not constitute a fraudulent transfer or conveyance for purposes of Bankruptcy Code, the Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act, the Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act or any similar federal or state law to the extent applicable to any Note Guarantee. To effectuate the foregoing intention, the Trustee, the Holders and the Guarantors hereby irrevocably agree that the obligations of such Guarantor will be limited to the maximum amount that will, after giving effect to such maximum amount and all other contingent and fixed liabilities of such Guarantor that are relevant under such laws, and after giving effect to any collections from, rights to receive contribution from or payments made by or on behalf of any other Guarantor in respect of the obligations of such other Guarantor under this Article 11, result in the obligations of such Guarantor under its Note Guarantee not constituting a fraudulent transfer or conveyance.

Section 11.03 Execution and Delivery of Note Guarantee.

To evidence its Note Guarantee set forth in Section 11.01 hereof, each Guarantor hereby agrees that a notation of such Note Guarantee substantially in the form attached as Exhibit E hereto will be endorsed by an Officer of such Guarantor on each Note authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and that this Indenture will be executed on behalf of such Guarantor by one of its Officers.

Each Guarantor hereby agrees that its Note Guarantee set forth in Section 11.01 hereof will remain in full force and effect notwithstanding any failure to endorse on each Note a notation of such Note Guarantee.

If an Officer whose signature is on this Indenture or on the Note Guarantee no longer holds that office at the time the Trustee authenticates the Note on which a Note Guarantee is endorsed, the Note Guarantee will be valid nevertheless.

 

94


The delivery of any Note by the Trustee, after the authentication thereof hereunder, will constitute due delivery of the Note Guarantee set forth in this Indenture on behalf of the Guarantors.

In the event that the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries creates or acquires any Material Domestic Restricted Subsidiary after the date hereof, if required by Section 4.17 hereof, the Company will cause such Material Domestic Restricted Subsidiary to comply with the provisions of Section 4.17 hereof and this Article 11, to the extent applicable.

Section 11.04 Guarantors May Consolidate, etc., on Certain Terms.

Except as otherwise provided in Section 11.05 hereof, no Guarantor may sell or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its assets to, or consolidate with or merge with or into (whether or not such Guarantor is the surviving Person) another Person, other than the Company or another Guarantor, unless:

(1) immediately after giving effect to that transaction, no Default or Event of Default exists; and

(2) either:

(a) subject to Section 11.05 hereof, the Person acquiring the property in any such sale or disposition or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger unconditionally assumes all the obligations of that Guarantor under this Indenture, its Note Guarantee, the Registration Rights Agreement and the Parity Lien Security Documents on the terms set forth herein or therein, pursuant to a supplemental indenture and appropriate Parity Lien Security Documents in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee; or

(b) the Net Proceeds of such sale or other disposition are applied in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Indenture, including without limitation, Section 4.10 hereof.

In case of any such consolidation, merger, sale or conveyance and upon the assumption by the successor Person, by supplemental indenture, executed and delivered to the Trustee and satisfactory in form to the Trustee, of the Note Guarantee endorsed upon the Notes and the due and punctual performance of all of the covenants and conditions of this Indenture to be performed by the Guarantor, such successor Person will succeed to and be substituted for the Guarantor with the same effect as if it had been named herein as a Guarantor. Such successor Person thereupon may cause to be signed any or all of the Note Guarantees to be endorsed upon all of the Notes issuable hereunder which theretofore shall not have been signed by the Company and delivered to the Trustee. All the Note Guarantees so issued will in all respects have the same legal rank and benefit under this Indenture as the Note Guarantees theretofore and thereafter issued in accordance with the terms of this Indenture as though all of such Note Guarantees had been issued at the date of the execution hereof.

Except as set forth in Articles 4 and 5 hereof, and notwithstanding clauses 2(a) and (b) above, nothing contained in this Indenture or in any of the Notes will prevent any consolidation or merger of a Guarantor with or into the Company or another Guarantor, or will prevent any sale or conveyance of the property of a Guarantor as an entirety or substantially as an entirety to the Company or another Guarantor.

Section 11.05 Releases.

(a) In connection with (i) any sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of any Guarantor (including by way of merger or consolidation), or (ii) a sale or other disposition of Capital Stock of any Guarantor where the Guarantor ceases to be a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company,

 

95


in each case to a Person that is not (either before or after giving effect to such transaction) the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, then the Note Guarantee of such Guarantor will be automatically and unconditionally released; provided that the Note Guarantee of such Guarantor shall not be automatically and unconditionally released if such sale or disposition violates Section 3.09 or Section 4.10 of this Indenture. Upon delivery by the Company to the Trustee of an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that such sale or other disposition was made by the Company in a manner that does not violate Section 3.09 or 4.10 of this Indenture, the Trustee will execute any documents reasonably required in order to evidence the release of any Guarantor from its obligations under its Note Guarantee.

(b) Upon designation of any Guarantor as an Unrestricted Subsidiary in accordance with the terms of this Indenture, such Guarantor will be automatically and unconditionally released and relieved of any obligations under its Note Guarantee.

(c) Upon Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance in accordance with Article 8 hereof or satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture in accordance with Article 12 hereof, each Guarantor will be automatically and unconditionally released and relieved of any obligations under its Note Guarantee.

Any Guarantor not released from its obligations under its Note Guarantee as provided in this Section 11.05 will remain liable for the full amount of principal of and interest and premium and Special Interest, if any, on the Notes and for the other obligations of any Guarantor under this Indenture as provided in this Article 11.

ARTICLE 12

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

Section 12.01 Satisfaction and Discharge.

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

(1) either:

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

(b) all Notes that have not been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation have become due and payable by reason of the mailing of a notice of redemption or otherwise or will become due and payable within one year and the Company or any Guarantor has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust solely for the benefit of the Holders, cash in U.S. dollars, non-callable Government Securities, or a combination thereof, in such amounts as will be sufficient, without consideration of any reinvestment of interest, to pay and discharge the entire Indebtedness on the Notes not delivered to the Trustee for cancellation for principal, premium and Special Interest, if any, and accrued interest to the date of maturity or redemption;

(2) in respect of clause 1(b), no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing on the date of the deposit (other than a Default or Event of Default resulting from the borrowing of funds to be applied to such deposit and any similar deposit relating to other Indebtedness and, in each case, the granting of Liens to secure such borrowings) and the deposit

 

96


will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any other instrument to which the Company or any Guarantor is a party or by which the Company or any Guarantor is bound (other than with respect to the borrowing of funds to be applied concurrently to make the deposit required to effect such satisfaction and discharge and any similar concurrent deposit relating to other Indebtedness, and in each case the granting of Liens to secure such borrowings);

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

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

In addition, the Company must deliver an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel to the Trustee stating that all conditions precedent to satisfaction and discharge have been satisfied.

Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, if money has been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to subclause (b) of clause (1) of this Section 12.01, the provisions of Sections 12.02 and 8.06 hereof will survive. In addition, nothing in this Section 12.01 will be deemed to discharge those provisions of Section 7.07 hereof, that, by their terms, survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture.

Section 12.02 Application of Trust Money.

Subject to the provisions of Section 8.06 hereof, all money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 12.01 hereof shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Notes and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Persons entitled thereto, of the principal (and premium and Special Interest, if any) and interest for whose payment such money has been deposited with the Trustee; but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

If the Trustee or the Paying Agent is unable to apply any money or Government Securities in accordance with Section 12.01 hereof 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 Company’s and any Guarantor’s obligations under this Indenture and the Notes shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 12.01 hereof; provided that if the Company has made any payment of principal of, premium or Special Interest, if any, or interest on, any Notes because of the reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Notes to receive such payment from the money or Government Securities held by the Trustee or the Paying Agent.

ARTICLE 13

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 13.01 Trust Indenture Act Controls.

If any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by TIA §318(c), the imposed duties will control.

 

97


Section 13.02 Notices.

Any notice or communication by the Company, any Guarantor or the Trustee to the others is duly given if in writing and delivered in Person or by first class mail (registered or certified, return receipt requested), facsimile transmission or overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery, to the others’ address:

If to the Company and/or any Guarantor:

Alliance One International, Inc.

8001 Aerial Center Parkway

Morrisville, NC 27560-2009

Facsimile No.: (919) 379-4131

Attention: Joel Thomas, Vice President - Treasurer

With a copy to:

Robinson, Bradshaw & Hinson, P.A.

101 North Tyron Street, Suite 1900

Charlotte, NC 28246

Facsimile No.: (704) 373-3955

Attention: Stephen M. Lynch, Esq.

If to the Trustee:

Law Debenture Trust Company of New York

400 Madison Avenue

New York, New York 10017

Facsimile No.: (212) 750-1361

Attention: James Heaney

If to the Agent:

Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas

Trust & Agency Services

60 Wall Street, 27th Floor

MS NYC60-2710

New York, New York 10005

Fax: 732-578-4635

Attn: Corporates Team – Alliance One

copy to:

Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas

c/o Deutsche Bank National Trust Company

Trust & Agency Services

100 Plaza One, Mailstop JCY03-0699

Jersey City, New Jersey 07311

Fax: 732-578-4635

Attn: Corporates Team – Alliance One

The Company, any Guarantor or the Trustee, by notice to the others, may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.

 

98


All notices and communications (other than those sent to Holders) will be deemed to have been duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five Business Days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when receipt acknowledged, if transmitted by facsimile; and the next Business Day after timely delivery to the courier, if sent by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery.

Any notice or communication to a Holder will be mailed by first class mail, certified or registered, return receipt requested, or by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery to its address shown on the register kept by the Registrar. Any notice or communication will also be so mailed to any Person described in TIA § 313(c), to the extent required by the TIA. Failure to mail a notice or communication to a Holder or any defect in it will not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Holders.

If a notice or communication is mailed in the manner provided above within the time prescribed, it is duly given, whether or not the addressee receives it.

If the Company mails a notice or communication to Holders, it will mail a copy to the Trustee and each Agent at the same time.

Section 13.03 Communication by Holders of Notes with Other Holders of Notes.

Holders may communicate pursuant to TIA § 312(b) with other Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or the Notes. The Company, the Trustee, the Registrar and anyone else shall have the protection of TIA § 312(c).

Section 13.04 Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent.

Upon any request or application by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee:

(1) an Officers’ Certificate in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee (which must include the statements set forth in Section 13.05 hereof) stating that, in the opinion of the signers, all conditions precedent and covenants, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been satisfied; and

(2) an Opinion of Counsel in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee (which must include the statements set forth in Section 13.05 hereof) stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent and covenants, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been satisfied.

Section 13.05 Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion.

Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture (other than a certificate provided pursuant to TIA § 314(a)(4)) must comply with the provisions of TIA § 314(e) and must include:

(1) a statement that the Person making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition;

(2) 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;

 

99


(3) a statement that, in the opinion of such Person, he or she has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him or her to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been satisfied; and

(4) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such Person, such condition or covenant has been satisfied.

Section 13.06 Rules by Trustee and Agents.

The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or at a meeting of Holders. The Registrar or the Paying Agent may make reasonable rules and set reasonable requirements for its functions.

Section 13.07 No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Stockholders.

No past, present or future director, officer, employee, incorporator or stockholder of the Company or any Guarantor, as such, will have any liability for any obligations of the Company or the Guarantors under the Note Documents, the Note Guarantees, the Parity Lien Security Documents 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 13.08 Governing Law.

THE INTERNAL LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WILL GOVERN AND BE USED TO CONSTRUE THIS INDENTURE, THE NOTES AND THE NOTE GUARANTEES WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO APPLICABLE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW TO THE EXTENT THAT THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION WOULD BE REQUIRED THEREBY.

Section 13.09 No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements.

This Indenture may not be used to interpret any other indenture, loan or debt agreement of the Company or its Subsidiaries or of any other Person. Any such indenture, loan or debt agreement may not be used to interpret this Indenture.

Section 13.10 Successors.

All agreements of the Company in this Indenture and the Notes will bind its successors. All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture will bind its successors. All agreements of each Guarantor in this Indenture will bind its successors, except as otherwise provided in Section 11.05 hereof.

Section 13.11 Severability.

In case any provision in this Indenture or in the Notes is invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions will not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

 

100


Section 13.12 Counterpart Originals.

The parties may sign any number of copies hereof. Each signed copy will be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement.

Section 13.13 Table of Contents, Headings, etc.

The Table of Contents, Cross-Reference Table and Headings of the Articles and Sections hereof have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part hereof and will in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.

Section 13.14 USA Patriot Act.

The parties hereto acknowledge that in accordance with Section 326 of the USA Patriot Act the Paying Agent, like all financial institutions and in order to help fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering , is required to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person or legal entity that establishes a relationship or opens an account with Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas. The parties to this Agreement agree that they will provide the Paying Agent with such information as it may request in order for the Agent to satisfy the requirements of the USA Patriot Act.

Section 13.15 Force Majeure.

The Trustee, the Paying Agent and the Registrar shall not incur any liability for not performing any act or fulfilling any duty, obligation or responsibility hereunder by reason of any occurrence beyond the control of the Paying Agent (including but not limited to any act or provision of any present or future law or regulation or governmental authority, any act of God or war, civil unrest, local or national disturbance or disaster, any act of terrorism, or the unavailability of the Federal Reserve Bank wire or facsimile or other wire or communication facility).

[Signatures on following page]

 

101


SIGNATURES

Dated as of August 1, 2013

 

ALLIANCE ONE INTERNATIONAL, INC.
By:  

/s/ Robert A. Sheets

  Name:   Robert A. Sheets
  Title:   Executive Vice President – Chief Financial Officer and Chief Administrative Officer
LAW DEBENTURE TRUST COMPANY OF NEW YORK, as trustee
By:  

/s/ Frank Godino

  Name:   Frank Godino
  Title:   Vice President
LAW DEBENTURE TRUST COMPANY OF NEW YORK, as collateral trustee
By:  

/s/ Frank Godino

  Name:   Frank Godino
  Title:   Vice President

DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS

As registrar and paying agent

By:   DEUTSCHE BANK NATIONAL TRUST COMPANY
By:  

/s/ Robert S. Peschler

  Name:   Robert S. Peschler
  Title:   Vice President
By:  

/s/ Rodney Gaughan

  Name:   Rodney Gaughan
  Title:   Vice President


EXHIBIT A

Face of Note

 

THIS SECURITY WAS ISSUED WITH ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT UNDER SECTION 1272, 1273 AND 1275 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED. YOU MAY CONTACT ROBERT A. SHEETS, THE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER OF THE COMPANY, AT 8001 AERIAL CENTER PARKWAY, MORRISVILLE, NC 27560-2009, 919-379-4300, WHO WILL PROVIDE YOU WITH ANY REQUIRED INFORMATION REGARDING THE ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT.

CUSIP/CINS             

9.875% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes due 2021

 

No.        $        

ALLIANCE ONE INTERNATIONAL, INC.

promises to pay to CEDE & CO. or registered assigns,

the principal sum of                      on July 15, 2021.

Interest Payment Dates: January 15th and July 15th

Record Dates: January 1st and July 1st

 

Dated:  

 

  

 

ALLIANCE ONE INTERNATIONAL, INC.
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

This is one of the Notes referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture:

LAW DEBENTURE TRUST COMPANY OF NEW YORK

as Trustee

By:  

 

  Authorized Signatory

 

A-1


Back of Note

9.875% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes due 2021

[Insert the Global Note Legend, if applicable pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture]

[Insert the Private Placement Legend, if applicable pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture]

Capitalized terms used herein have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture referred to below unless otherwise indicated.

(1) Interest . Alliance One International, Inc., a Virginia corporation (the “ Company ”), promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this Note at 9.875% per annum from August 1, 2013 until maturity and shall pay the Special Interest, if any, payable pursuant to Section 6 of the Registration Rights Agreement referred to below. The Company will pay interest and Special Interest, if any, semi-annually in arrears on January 15th and July 15th of each year, or if any such day is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day (each, an “ Interest Payment Date ”). 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 the date of issuance; provided that if there is no existing Default in the payment of interest, and if this Note is authenticated between a record date referred to on the face hereof and the next succeeding Interest Payment Date, interest shall accrue from such next succeeding Interest Payment Date; provided further that the first Interest Payment Date shall be January 15, 2014. The Company will pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under the Bankruptcy Code) on overdue principal and premium, if any, from time to time on demand at a rate that is 1% per annum in excess of the rate then in effect to the extent lawful; it will pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under the Bankruptcy Code) on overdue installments of interest and Special Interest, if any, (without regard to any applicable grace periods) from time to time on demand at the same rate to the extent lawful. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

(2) Method of Payment . The Company will pay interest on the Notes and Special Interest, if any, to the Persons who are registered Holders of Notes at the close of business on the January 1st or July 1st next preceding the Interest Payment Date, even if such Notes are canceled after such record date and on or before such Interest Payment Date, except as provided in Section 2.12 of the Indenture with respect to defaulted interest. The Notes will be payable as to principal, premium and Special Interest, if any, and interest at the office or agency of the Company maintained for such purpose within or without the City and State of New York, or, at the option of the Company, payment of interest and Special Interest, if any, may be made by check mailed to the Holders at their addresses set forth in the register of Holders; provided that payment by wire transfer of immediately available funds will be required with respect to principal of and interest, premium and Special Interest, if any, on, all Global Notes and all other Notes the Holders of which will have provided wire transfer instructions to the Company or the Paying Agent. Such payment will be in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts.

(3) Paying Agent and Registrar . Initially, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, will act as Paying Agent and Registrar. The Company may change any Paying Agent or Registrar without notice to any Holder. The Company or any of its Subsidiaries may act in any such capacity.

 

A-2


(4) Indenture . The Company issued the Notes under an Indenture dated as of August 1, 2013 (the “ Indenture ”) among the Company, the Guarantors, the Trustee, the Collateral Trustee and the Registrar and Paying Agent. The terms of the Notes include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of the Indenture by reference to the TIA. The Notes are subject to all such terms, and Holders are referred to the Indenture and such Act for a statement of such terms. To the extent any provision of this Note conflicts with the express provisions of the Indenture, the provisions of the Indenture shall govern and be controlling. The Notes are senior secured obligations of the Company limited to $         million in aggregate principal amount, plus amounts, if any, issued to pay Special Interest on outstanding Notes as set forth in Paragraph 2 hereof. The Notes are secured by a second lien pledge of Collateral pursuant to the Parity Lien Security Documents referred to in the Indenture.

(5) Optional Redemption.

(a) Except as set forth in subparagraph (b) and (c) of this Paragraph 5, the Company will not have the option to redeem the Notes prior to July 15, 2017. On or after July 15, 2017, the Company will have the option on one or more occasions to redeem all or a part of the Notes, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ notice, at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount) set forth below, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Special Interest, if any, on the Notes redeemed, to the applicable redemption date, if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on July 15th of the years indicated below, subject to the rights of Holders on the relevant record date to receive interest on the relevant interest payment date:

 

Year

   Percentage  

2017

     104.938

2018

     102.469

2019 and thereafter

     100.000

Unless the Company defaults in the payment of the redemption price, interest will cease to accrue on the Notes or portions thereof called for redemption on the applicable redemption date.

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph 5, at any time prior to July 15, 2016, the Company may on any one or more occasions redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes issued under the Indenture at a redemption price equal to 109.875% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Special Interest, if any, to the applicable redemption date (subject to the rights of Holders of Notes on the relevant record date to receive interest on the relevant interest payment date), with the net cash proceeds of an Equity Offering by the Company; provided that: at least 65% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes originally issued under the Indenture (excluding Notes held by the Company and its Subsidiaries) remains outstanding immediately after the occurrence of such redemption; and the redemption occurs within 90 days of the date of the closing of such Equity Offering.

(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph 5, at any time prior to July 15, 2017, the Company may on one or more occasions redeem all or a part of the Notes, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days notice, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of Notes redeemed plus the Applicable Premium as of, and accrued and unpaid interest and Special Interest, if any, to the applicable date of redemption, subject to the rights of Holders on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date.

 

A-3


(6) Mandatory Redemption.

The Company is not required to make mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to the Notes.

(7) Repurchase at the Option of Holder.

(a) If a Change of Control occurs, the Company will be required to make an offer (a “ Change of Control Offer ”) to each Holder to repurchase all or any part (equal to $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof) of each Holder’s Notes at a purchase price in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest and Special Interest, if any, thereon to the date of purchase, subject to the rights of Holders on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date (the “ Change of Control Payment ”). Within 10 days following any Change of Control, the Company will mail a notice to each Holder setting forth the procedures governing the Change of Control Offer as required by the Indenture.

(b) If the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company consummates any Asset Sales, within five days of each date on which the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds exceeds $20.0 million, the Company will commence an offer to all Holders of Notes and all holders of Parity Lien Debt containing provisions similar to those set forth in the Indenture with respect to offers to purchase, prepay or redeem with the proceeds of sales of assets (an “ Asset Sale Offer ”) pursuant to Sections 3.09 and 4.10 of the Indenture to purchase, prepay or redeem the maximum principal amount of Notes and such other Parity Lien Debt plus all accrued interest on the Indebtedness and the amount of all fees and expenses, including premiums incurred in connection therewith that may be purchased, prepaid or redeemed out of the Excess Proceeds at an offer price in cash in an amount equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest and Special Interest, if any, thereon to the date of purchase, prepayment or redemption, subject to the rights of Holders of Notes on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date, in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Indenture. To the extent that the aggregate amount of Notes and other Parity Lien Debt tendered into (or required to be prepaid or redeemed in connection with) an Asset Sale Offer is less than the Excess Proceeds, the Company (or such Restricted Subsidiary) may use such deficiency for any purpose not otherwise prohibited by the Indenture. If the aggregate principal amount of Notes and other Parity Lien Debt tendered into (or required to be prepaid or redeemed in connection with) such Asset Sale Offer exceeds the amount of Excess Proceeds, the Trustee shall select the Notes and such other Parity Lien Debt to be purchased on a pro rata basis, based on the amounts tendered or required to be prepaid or redeemed (with such adjustments as may be deemed appropriate by the Company so that only Notes in denominations of $2,000, or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof, will be purchased). Holders of Notes that are the subject of an offer to purchase will receive an Asset Sale Offer from the Company prior to any related purchase date and may elect to have such Notes purchased by completing the form entitled “ Option of Holder to Elect Purchase ” attached to the Notes.

(8) Notice of Redemption . Subject to the provisions of Section 3.09 of the Indenture, notice of redemption will be mailed at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each Holder whose Notes are to be redeemed at its registered address, except that redemption notices may be mailed more than 60 days prior to a redemption date if the notice is issued in connection with a defeasance of the Notes or a satisfaction or discharge of the Indenture. Notes in denominations larger than $2,000 may be redeemed in part but only in whole multiples of $1,000, unless all of the Notes held by a Holder are to be redeemed.

 

A-4


(9) Denominations, Transfer, Exchange . The Notes are in registered form without coupons in denominations of $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof. The transfer of Notes may be registered and Notes may be exchanged as provided in the Indenture. The Registrar and the Trustee may require a Holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents and the Company may require a Holder to pay any taxes and fees required by law or permitted by the Indenture. The Company need not exchange or register the transfer of any Note or portion of a Note selected for redemption, except for the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part. Also, the Company need not exchange or register the transfer of any Notes for a period of 15 days before a selection of Notes to be redeemed or during the period between a record date and the corresponding Interest Payment Date.

(10) Persons Deemed Owners . The registered Holder of a Note may be treated as its owner for all purposes.

(11) Amendment, Supplement and Waiver . Subject to certain exceptions, the Indenture or the Notes or the Note Guarantees may be amended or supplemented with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes voting as a single class, and any existing Default or Event or Default or compliance with any provision of the Indenture or the Notes or the Note Guarantees may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes voting as a single class. Without the consent of any Holder of a Note, the Indenture or the Notes or the Note Guarantees may be amended or supplemented to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency, to provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated Notes, to provide for the assumption or Guarantee of the Company’s or a Guarantor’s obligations to Holders of the Notes and Note Guarantees in case of a merger or consolidation, to make any change that would provide any additional rights or benefits to the Holders of the Notes or that does not adversely affect the legal rights under the Indenture of any such Holder, to comply with the requirements of the SEC in order to effect or maintain the qualification of the Indenture under the TIA, to conform the text of the Indenture, the Parity Lien Security Documents, the Note Guarantees or the Notes to the terms thereof contained in the “Description of Notes” section of the Company’s Final Offering Memorandum dated July 26, 2013, when authorized by a resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company and upon a request to the Trustee set forth in an Officers’ Certificate to that effect; to provide for the issuance of additional Notes in accordance with the limitations set forth in the Indenture as of the date hereof; to allow any Guarantor to execute a supplemental indenture to the Indenture and/or a Note Guarantee with respect to the Notes; to make, complete or confirm any grant of Collateral permitted or required by the Indenture or any of the Parity Lien Security Documents or any release of Collateral that becomes effective as set forth in the Indenture or any of the Parity Lien Security Documents; or to enter into additional or supplemental Parity Lien Security Documents and to add any Parity Lien Obligation to the Parity Lien Security Documents and the Intercreditor Agreement on the terms set forth in the Indenture.

(12) Defaults and Remedies . Events of Default include: (i) default for 30 days in the payment when due of interest (including Special Interest, if any) on the Notes; (ii) default in the payment when due (at maturity, upon redemption or otherwise) of the principal of, or premium, if any, on, the Notes; (iii) failure by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to comply with Sections 4.10, 4.15 or 5.01 of the Indenture; (iv) failure by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries for 60 days after notice to the Company by the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding voting as a single class to comply with any of the other agreements in the Indenture; (v) default under certain other agreements relating to Indebtedness of the Company which default is a payment default with

 

A-5


respect to the principal of such Indebtedness or results in the acceleration of such Indebtedness prior to its express maturity; (vi) certain final judgments for the payment of money that remain undischarged for a period of 60 days; (vii) certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency with respect to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary, (viii) except as permitted by the Indenture, any Note Guarantee is held in any judicial proceeding to be unenforceable or invalid or ceases for any reason to be in full force and effect or any Guarantor or any Person acting on its behalf denies or disaffirms its obligations under such Guarantor’s Note Guarantee and (ix) the occurrence of any of the following: (A) except as permitted by the Indenture, any Parity Lien Security Document ceases for any reason to be fully enforceable; provided that it will not be an Event of Default under this clause (A) if the sole result of the failure of one or more Parity Lien Security Documents to be fully enforceable is that any Parity Lien purported to be granted under such Parity Lien Security Documents on Collateral, individually or in the aggregate, having a Fair Market Value of not more than $10.0 million ceases to be an enforceable and perfected second-priority Lien, subject only to Permitted Prior Liens; (B) any Parity Lien purported to be granted under any Parity Lien Security Document on Collateral, individually or in the aggregate, having a Fair Market Value in excess of $10.0 million ceases to be an enforceable and perfected second-priority Lien, subject only to Permitted Prior Liens; or (C) the Company or any Guarantor, or any Person acting on behalf of any of them, denies or disaffirms, in writing, any obligation of the Company or any Guarantor set forth in or arising under any Parity Lien Security Document. If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may declare all the Notes to be due and payable immediately. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of an Event of Default arising from certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency, all outstanding Notes will become due and payable immediately without further action or notice. Holders may not enforce the Indenture or the Notes except as provided in the Indenture. Subject to certain limitations, Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may direct the Trustee in its exercise of any trust or power. The Trustee may withhold from Holders of the Notes notice of any continuing Default or Event of Default (except a Default or Event of Default relating to the payment of principal or interest or premium or Special Interest, if any,) if it determines that withholding notice is in their interest. The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes by notice to the Trustee may, on behalf of the Holders of all of the Notes, rescind an acceleration or waive any existing Default or Event of Default and its consequences under the Indenture except a continuing Default or Event of Default in the payment of interest or premium or Special Interest, if any, on, or the principal of, the Notes. The Company is required to deliver to the Trustee annually a statement regarding compliance with the Indenture, and the Company is required, upon becoming aware of any Default or Event of Default, to deliver to the Trustee a statement specifying such Default or Event of Default that remains uncured for five (5) days.

(13) Trustee Dealings with Company . The Trustee, in its individual or any other capacity, may make loans to, accept deposits from, and perform services for the Company or its Affiliates, and may otherwise deal with the Company or its Affiliates, as if it were not the Trustee.

(14) No Recourse Against Others . A director, officer, employee, incorporator or stockholder of the Company or any of the Guarantors, as such, will not have any liability for any obligations of the Company or the Guarantors under the Note Documents, the Note Guarantees, the Parity Lien Security Documents or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issuance of the Notes.

 

A-6


(15) Authentication . This Note will not be valid until authenticated by the manual signature of the Trustee or an authenticating agent.

(16) 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 right of survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUST (= Custodian), and U/G/M/A (= Uniform Gifts to Minors Act).

(17) Additional Rights of Holders of Restricted Global Notes and Restricted Definitive Notes . In addition to the rights provided to Holders of Notes under the Indenture, Holders of Restricted Global Notes and Restricted Definitive Notes will have all the rights set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement dated as of August 1, 2013, among the Company, the Guarantors and the other parties named on the signature pages thereof (the “ Registration Rights Agreement ”).

(18) CUSIP Numbers . Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Company has caused CUSIP numbers to be printed on the Notes, and the Trustee may 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.

(19) GOVERNING LAW. THE INTERNAL LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WILL GOVERN AND BE USED TO CONSTRUE THE INDENTURE, THIS NOTE AND THE NOTE GUARANTEES WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO APPLICABLE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW TO THE EXTENT THAT THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION WOULD BE REQUIRED THEREBY.

The Company will furnish to any Holder upon written request and without charge a copy of the Indenture and/or the Registration Rights Agreement. Requests may be made to:

ALLIANCE ONE INTERNATIONAL, INC.

8001 Aerial Center Parkway

Morrisville, NC 27560-2009

Attention: Joel Thomas, Vice President - Treasurer

 

A-7


A SSIGNMENT F ORM

To assign this Note, fill in the form below:

 

(I) or (we) assign and transfer this Note to:  

 

  (Insert assignee’s legal name)

 

 

 

(Insert assignee’s soc. sec. or tax I.D. no.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Print or type assignee’s name, address and zip code)

 

and irrevocably appoint  

 

to transfer this Note on the books of the Company. The agent may substitute another to act for him.

 

Date:  

 

 

Your Signature:  

 

(Sign exactly as your name appears on the face of this Note)

 

Signature Guarantee*:  

 

 

* Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee).

 

A-8


Option of Holder to Elect Purchase

If you want to elect to have this Note purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 4.10 or 4.15 of the Indenture, check the appropriate box below:

¨    Section 4.10                     ¨   Section 4.15

If you want to elect to have only part of the Note purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 4.10 or Section 4.15 of the Indenture, state the amount you elect to have purchased:

$        

 

Date:  

 

 

   Your Signature:  

 

   (Sign exactly as your name appears on the face of this  Note)
   Tax Identification No.:  

 

 

Signature Guarantee*:  

 

 

* Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee).

 

A-9


S CHEDULE OF E XCHANGES OF I NTERESTS IN THE G LOBAL N OTE

The following exchanges of a part of this Global Note for an interest in another Global Note or for a Definitive Note, or exchanges of a part of another Global Note or Definitive Note for an interest 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
Custodian
           
           
           

 

A-10


EXHIBIT B

FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER

Alliance One International, Inc.

8001 Aerial Center Parkway

Morrisville, NC 27560-2009

Law Debenture Trust Company of New York

400 Madison Avenue

New York, NY 10017

Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas

Trust & Agency Services

60 Wall Street, 27th Floor

MS NYC60-2710

New York, New York 10005

Fax: 732-578-4635

Attn: Corporates Team – Alliance One

Copy to:

DB Services Americas, Inc.

5022 Gate Parkway, Suite 200

Jacksonville, FL 32256

Attn: Transfer Department

Re: 9.875% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes due 2021

Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of August 1, 2013 (the “ Indenture ”), among Alliance One International, Inc. as issuer (the “ Company ”), Law Debenture Trust Company of New York as trustee and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as registrar and paying agent. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Indenture.

                    , (the “ Transferor ”) owns and proposes to transfer the Note[s] or interest in such Note[s] specified in Annex A hereto, in the principal amount of $         in such Note[s] or interests (the “ Transfer ”), to                                          (the “ Transferee ”), as further specified in Annex A hereto. In connection with the Transfer, the Transferor hereby certifies that:

[CHECK ALL THAT APPLY]

1. ¨ Check if Transferee will take delivery of a beneficial interest in the 144A Global Note or a Restricted Definitive Note pursuant to Rule 144A . The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”), and, accordingly, the Transferor hereby further certifies that the beneficial interest or Definitive Note is being transferred to a Person that the Transferor reasonably believes is purchasing the beneficial interest or Definitive Note for its own account, or for one or more accounts with respect to which such Person exercises sole investment discretion, and such Person and each such account is a “qualified institutional buyer” within the meaning of Rule 144A in a transaction meeting the requirements of Rule 144A, and such Transfer is in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States. Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the 144A Global Note and/or the Restricted Definitive Note and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.

 

B-1


2. ¨ Check if Transferee will take delivery of a beneficial interest in the Regulation S Global Note or a Restricted Definitive Note pursuant to Regulation S . The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904 under the Securities Act and, accordingly, the Transferor hereby further certifies that (i) the Transfer is not being made to a Person in the United States and (x) at the time the buy order was originated, the Transferee was outside the United States or such Transferor and any Person acting on its behalf reasonably believed and believes that the Transferee was outside the United States or (y) the transaction was executed in, on or through the facilities of a designated offshore securities market and neither such Transferor nor any Person acting on its behalf knows that the transaction was prearranged with a buyer in the United States, (ii) no directed selling efforts have been made in contravention of the requirements of Rule 903(b) or Rule 904(b) of Regulation S under the Securities Act [and/,] (iii) the transaction is not part of a plan or scheme to evade the registration requirements of the Securities Act [and (iv) if the proposed transfer is being made prior to the expiration of the Restricted Period, the transfer is not being made to a U.S. Person or for the account or benefit of a U.S. Person (other than an Initial Purchaser)]. Upon consummation of the proposed transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will be subject to the restrictions on Transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Regulation S Global Note and/or the Restricted Definitive Note and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.

3. ¨ Check and complete if Transferee will take delivery of a beneficial interest in the Restricted Global Note or a Restricted Definitive Note pursuant to any provision of the Securities Act other than Rule 144A or Regulation S . The Transfer is being effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to beneficial interests in Restricted Global Notes and Restricted Definitive Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States, and accordingly the Transferor hereby further certifies that (check one):

(a) ¨ such Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act;

or

(b) ¨ such Transfer is being effected to the Company or a subsidiary thereof;

or

(c) ¨ such Transfer is being effected pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act and in compliance with the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act;

or

(d) ¨ such Transfer is being effected to an Institutional Accredited Investor and pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act other than Rule 144A, Rule 144, Rule 903 or Rule 904, and the Transferor hereby further certifies that it has not engaged in any general solicitation within the meaning of Regulation D under the Securities Act and the Transfer complies with the transfer restrictions applicable to beneficial interests in a Restricted Global Note or Restricted Definitive Notes and the requirements of the

 

B-2


exemption claimed, which certification is supported by (1) a certificate executed by the Transferee in the form of Exhibit D to the Indenture and (2) an Opinion of Counsel provided by the Transferor or the Transferee (a copy of which the Transferor has attached to this certification), to the effect that such Transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act. Upon consummation of the proposed transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the IAI Global Note and/or the Restricted Definitive Notes and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.

4. ¨ Check if Transferee will take delivery of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note or of an Unrestricted Definitive Note .

(a) ¨ Check if Transfer is pursuant to Rule 144 . (i) The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act and in compliance with the transfer restrictions contained in the Indenture and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States and (ii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act. Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will no longer be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Global Notes, on Restricted Definitive Notes and in the Indenture.

(b) ¨ Check if Transfer is Pursuant to Regulation S . (i) The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904 under the Securities Act and in compliance with the transfer restrictions contained in the Indenture and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States and (ii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act. Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will no longer be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Global Notes, on Restricted Definitive Notes and in the Indenture.

(c) ¨ Check if Transfer is Pursuant to Other Exemption . (i) The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in compliance with an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act other than Rule 144, Rule 903 or Rule 904 and in compliance with the transfer restrictions contained in the Indenture and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any State of the United States and (ii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act, which certification is supported by (1) a certificate executed by the Transferee in the form of Exhibit D to the Indenture and (2) an Opinion of Counsel provided by the Transferor or the Transferee (a copy of which the Transferor has attached to this certification), to the effect that such Transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act. Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will not be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Global Notes or Restricted Definitive Notes and in the Indenture.

This certificate and the statements contained herein are made for your benefit and the benefit of the Company.

 

 

[Insert Name of Transferor]

 

B-3


By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

Dated:

 

 

 

B-4


ANNEX A TO CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER

 

1. The Transferor owns and proposes to transfer the following:

 

[CHECK ONE OF (a) OR (b)]   
(a)    ¨    a beneficial interest in the:   
   (i)    ¨    144A Global Note (CUSIP             ), or   
   (ii)    ¨    Regulation S Global Note (CUSIP             ), or   
(b)    ¨    a Restricted Definitive Note.   

 

2. After the Transfer the Transferee will hold:

 

[CHECK ONE]   
(a)    ¨    a beneficial interest in the:   
   (i)    ¨    144A Global Note (CUSIP             ), or   
   (ii)    ¨    Regulation S Global Note (CUSIP             ), or   
   (iii)    ¨    Unrestricted Global Note (CUSIP             ); or   
(b)    ¨    a Restricted Definitive Note; or   
(c)    ¨    an Unrestricted Definitive Note,   
in accordance with the terms of the Indenture.   

 

B-5


EXHIBIT C

FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF EXCHANGE

Alliance One International, Inc.

8001 Aerial Center Parkway

Morrisville, NC 27560-2009

Law Debenture Trust Company of New York

400 Madison Avenue

New York, NY 10017

Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas

Trust & Agency Services

60 Wall Street, 27th Floor

MS NYC60-2710

New York, New York 10005

Fax: 732-578-4635

Attn: Corporates Team – Alliance One

Copy to:

DB Services Americas, Inc.

5022 Gate Parkway, Suite 200

Jacksonville, FL 32256

Attn: Transfer Department

Re: 9.875% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes due 2021

(CUSIP             )

Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of August 1, 2013 (the “ Indenture ”), among Alliance One International, Inc. as issuer (the “ Company ”), Law Debenture Trust Company of New York as trustee and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as registrar and paying agent. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Indenture.

                    , (the “ Owner ”) owns and proposes to exchange the Note[s] or interest in such Note[s] specified herein, in the principal amount of $         in such Note[s] or interests (the “ Exchange ”). In connection with the Exchange, the Owner hereby certifies that:

1. Exchange of Restricted Definitive Notes or Beneficial Interests in a Restricted Global Note for Unrestricted Definitive Notes or Beneficial Interests in an Unrestricted Global Note

(a) ¨ Check if Exchange is from beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note to beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note . In connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note in an equal principal amount, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the beneficial interest is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to the Global Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”), (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.

 

C-1


(b) ¨ Check if Exchange is from beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note to Unrestricted Definitive Note . In connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note for an Unrestricted Definitive Note, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the Definitive Note is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to the Restricted Global Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the Definitive Note is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.

(c) ¨ Check if Exchange is from Restricted Definitive Note to beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note . In connection with the Owner’s Exchange of a Restricted Definitive Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the beneficial interest is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to Restricted Definitive Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the beneficial interest is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.

(d) ¨ Check if Exchange is from Restricted Definitive Note to Unrestricted Definitive Note . In connection with the Owner’s Exchange of a Restricted Definitive Note for an Unrestricted Definitive Note, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the Unrestricted Definitive Note is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to Restricted Definitive Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the Unrestricted Definitive Note is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.

2. Exchange of Restricted Definitive Notes or Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes for Restricted Definitive Notes or Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes

(a) ¨ Check if Exchange is from beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note to Restricted Definitive Note. In connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note for a Restricted Definitive Note with an equal principal amount, the Owner hereby certifies that the Restricted Definitive Note is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer. Upon consummation of the proposed Exchange in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the Restricted Definitive Note issued will continue to be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Definitive Note and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.

(b) ¨ Check if Exchange is from Restricted Definitive Note to beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note . In connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s Restricted Definitive Note for a beneficial interest in the [CHECK ONE] ¨ 144A Global Note, ¨ Regulation S Global Note, with an equal principal amount, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the beneficial interest is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer and (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to the Restricted Global Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the

 

C-2


Securities Act, and in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States. Upon consummation of the proposed Exchange in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the beneficial interest issued will be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the relevant Restricted Global Note and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.

This certificate and the statements contained herein are made for your benefit and the benefit of the Company.

 

 

 

  [Insert Name of Transferor]
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

Dated:  

 

 

C-3


EXHIBIT D

FORM OF CERTIFICATE FROM

ACQUIRING INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR

Alliance One International, Inc.

8001 Aerial Center Parkway

Morrisville, NC 27560-2009

Law Debenture Trust Company of New York

400 Madison Avenue

New York, NY 10017

Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas

Trust & Agency Services

60 Wall Street, 27th Floor

MS NYC60-2710

New York, New York 10005

Fax: 732-578-4635

Attn: Corporates Team – Alliance One

Copy to:

DB Services Americas, Inc.

5022 Gate Parkway, Suite 200

Jacksonville, FL 32256

Attn: Transfer Department

Re: 9.875% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes due 2021

Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of August 1, 2013 (the “ Indenture ”), among Alliance One International, Inc. as issuer (the “ Company ”), Law Debenture Trust Company of New York as trustee and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as registrar and paying agent. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Indenture.

In connection with our proposed purchase of $         aggregate principal amount of:

(a) ¨ a beneficial interest in a Global Note, or

(b) ¨ a Definitive Note,

we confirm that:

1. We understand that any subsequent transfer of the Notes or any interest therein is subject to certain restrictions and conditions set forth in the Indenture and the undersigned agrees to be bound by, and not to resell, pledge or otherwise transfer the Notes or any interest therein except in compliance with, such restrictions and conditions and the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”).

2. We understand that the offer and sale of the Notes have not been registered under the Securities Act, and that the Notes and any interest therein may not be offered or sold except as permitted in the following sentence. We agree, on our own behalf and on behalf of any accounts for which we are acting as hereinafter stated, that if we should sell the Notes or any interest therein, we will do so only (A)

 

D-1


to the Company or any subsidiary thereof, (B) in accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act to a “qualified institutional buyer” (as defined therein), (C) to an institutional “accredited investor” (as defined below) that, prior to such transfer, furnishes (or has furnished on its behalf by a U.S. broker-dealer) to you and to the Company a signed letter substantially in the form of this letter and[, if such transfer is in respect of a principal amount of Notes, at the time of transfer of less than $250,000,] 1 an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Company to the effect that such transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act, (D) outside the United States in accordance with Rule 904 of Regulation S under the Securities Act, (E) pursuant to the provisions of Rule 144(k) under the Securities Act or (F) pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, and we further agree to provide to any Person purchasing the Definitive Note or beneficial interest in a Global Note from us in a transaction meeting the requirements of clauses (A) through (E) of this paragraph a notice advising such purchaser that resales thereof are restricted as stated herein.

3. We understand that, on any proposed resale of the Notes or beneficial interest therein, we will be required to furnish to you and the Company such certifications, legal opinions and other information as you and the Company may reasonably require to confirm that the proposed sale complies with the foregoing restrictions. We further understand that the Notes purchased by us will bear a legend to the foregoing effect.

4. We are an institutional “accredited investor” (as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) of Regulation D under the Securities Act) and 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 and any accounts for which we are acting are each able to bear the economic risk of our or its investment.

5. We are acquiring the Notes or beneficial interest therein purchased by us for our own account or for one or more accounts (each of which is an institutional “accredited investor”) as to each of which we exercise sole investment discretion.

You and the Company are entitled to rely upon this letter and are irrevocably authorized to produce this letter or a copy hereof to any interested party in any administrative or legal proceedings or official inquiry with respect to the matters covered hereby.

 

 

  [Insert Name of Accredited Investor]
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

Dated:  

 

 

1   Some Initial Purchasers will permit an IAI transaction over a certain amount to be effected without an Opinion of Counsel on the theory that the size of the transfer is evidence of investment intent. See footnote 6 in Article 2.

 

D-2


EXHIBIT E

[FORM OF NOTATION OF GUARANTEE]

For value received, each Guarantor (which term includes any successor Person under the Indenture) has, jointly and severally, unconditionally guaranteed, to the extent set forth in the Indenture and subject to the provisions in the Indenture dated as of August 1, 2013 (as supplemented and amended from time to time, the “ Indenture ”) among Alliance One International, Inc. (the “Company” ), Law Debenture Trust Company of New York, as trustee (the “ Trustee ”) and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as registrar and paying agent, (a) the due and punctual payment of the principal of, premium and Special Interest, if any, and interest on, the Notes, whether at maturity, by acceleration, redemption or otherwise, the due and punctual payment of interest on overdue principal of and interest on the Notes, if any, if lawful, and the due and punctual performance of all other obligations of the Company under the Indenture, the Notes, the Registration Rights Agreement and the Parity Lien Security Documents to the Holders or the Trustee all in accordance with the terms thereof and (b) in case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any Notes or any of such other obligations, that the same will be promptly paid in full when due or performed in accordance with the terms of the extension or renewal, whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise. The obligations of the Guarantors to the Holders of Notes and to the Trustee pursuant to the Note Guarantee and the Indenture are expressly set forth in Article 11 of the Indenture and reference is hereby made to the Indenture for the precise terms of the Note Guarantee. Each Holder of a Note, by accepting the same, (a) agrees to and shall be bound by such provisions (b) authorizes and directs the Trustee, on behalf of such Holder, to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate the subordination as provided in the Indenture and (c) appoints the Trustee attorney-in-fact of such Holder for such purpose; provided, however , that the Indebtedness evidenced by this Note Guarantee shall cease to be so subordinated and subject in right of payment upon any defeasance of this Note in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture.

Capitalized terms used but not defined herein have the meanings given to them in the Indenture.

 

[Name of Guarantor(s)]
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

E-1


EXHIBIT F

[FORM OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

TO BE DELIVERED BY SUBSEQUENT GUARANTORS]

Supplemental Indenture (this “ Supplemental Indenture ”), dated as of             , 20    , among                      (the “ Guaranteeing Subsidiary ”), a subsidiary of                      (or its permitted successor), a Virginia corporation (the “ Company ”), the Company, the other Guarantors (as defined in the Indenture referred to herein) and                     , as trustee under the Indenture referred to below (the “ Trustee ”).

W I T N E S S E T H

WHEREAS, the Company has heretofore executed and delivered to the Trustee an indenture (the “ Indenture ”), dated as of August 1, 2013, providing for the issuance of 9.875% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes due 2021 (the “ Notes ”);

WHEREAS, the Indenture provides that under certain circumstances the Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture pursuant to which the Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall unconditionally guarantee all of the Company’s Obligations under the Notes and the Indenture on the terms and conditions set forth herein (the “ Note Guarantee ”); and

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 9.01 of the Indenture, the Trustee is authorized to execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the Guaranteeing Subsidiary and the Trustee mutually covenant and agree for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the Notes as follows:

1. Capitalized Terms. Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

2. Agreement to Guarantee. The Guaranteeing Subsidiary hereby agrees to provide an unconditional Guarantee on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Note Guarantee and in the Indenture including but not limited to Article 11 thereof.

3. No Recourse Against Others. No past, present or future director, officer, employee, incorporator, stockholder or agent of the Guaranteeing Subsidiary, as such, shall have any liability for any obligations of the Company or any Guaranteeing Subsidiary under the Notes, any Note Guarantees, the Indenture or this Supplemental Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder of the 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. Such waiver may not be effective to waive liabilities under the federal securities laws and it is the view of the SEC that such a waiver is against public policy.

4. NEW YORK LAW TO GOVERN. THE INTERNAL LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SHALL GOVERN AND BE USED TO CONSTRUE THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO APPLICABLE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW TO THE EXTENT THAT THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION WOULD BE REQUIRED THEREBY.

5. 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.

 

F-1


6. Effect of Headings. The Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

7. The Trustee. The Trustee shall not be responsible in any manner whatsoever for or in respect of the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture or for or in respect of the recitals contained herein, all of which recitals are made solely by the Guaranteeing Subsidiary and the Company.

 

F-2


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

Dated:             , 20    

 

[Guaranteeing Subsidiary]
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:
ALLIANCE ONE INTERNATIONAL, INC.
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:
[Existing Guarantors]
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:
LAW DEBENTURE TRUST COMPANY OF NEW YORK, as trustee
By:  

 

  Authorized Signatory

 

F-3

Exhibit 10.1

AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT AGREEMENT

AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT AGREEMENT (this “ Amendment and Restatement Agreement ”), dated as of July 26, 2013, by and among ALLIANCE ONE INTERNATIONAL, INC. , a Virginia corporation (the “ Company ”), INTABEX NETHERLANDS B.V. , a company formed under the laws of The Netherlands and a Subsidiary of the Company (the “ Dutch Borrower ”; together with the Company, collectively the “ Borrowers ,” and each individually, a “ Borrower ”), ALLIANCE ONE INTERNATIONAL AG , a Swiss corporation (“ Alliance AG ”), the Lenders (as defined below) party hereto, the New Lenders (as defined below) and DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS , as administrative agent (together with any successor administrative agent, the “ Administrative Agent ”). Unless otherwise indicated, all capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the respective meanings provided such terms in the Original Credit Agreement referred to below or the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement referred to below after giving effect to this Amendment and Restatement Agreement (the “ Restated Credit Agreement ”). For the purposes hereof, “ Credit Agreement ” shall mean (i) before giving full effect to this Amendment and Restatement Agreement, the Original Credit Agreement and (ii) after giving full effect to this Amendment and Restatement Agreement, the Restated Credit Agreement.

W I T N E S S E T H :

WHEREAS, the Borrowers, Alliance AG, the lenders party thereto (the “ Lenders ”), the Administrative Agent and others are parties to that certain Credit Agreement dated as of July 2, 2009, (as amended by that certain First Amendment to Credit Agreement dated as of August 24, 2009, that certain Second Amendment to Credit Agreement dated as of June 9, 2010, that certain Third Amendment to Credit Agreement dated as of June 6, 2011, that certain Fourth Amendment to Credit Agreement dated as of November 3, 2011, that certain Fifth Amendment to Credit Agreement dated as of June 13, 2012, and, upon effectiveness thereof pursuant to Section 6 hereof, Part I Section 1 of this Amendment and Restatement Agreement, the “ Original Credit Agreement ”);

WHEREAS, the Company has requested that the Lenders amend certain provisions of the Original Credit Agreement and thereafter amend and restate the Original Credit Agreement; and

WHEREAS, the Lenders party hereto have consented to amend certain provisions of the Original Credit Agreement and thereafter amend and restate the Original Credit Agreement on the terms and conditions contained herein.

NOW, THEREFORE, it is agreed:

 

I. Amendments and Agreements with respect to the Original Credit Agreement.

1. On the Initial Effective Date (as defined below), the Original Credit Agreement is hereby amended as set forth in in Annex I hereto.


2. On the Effective Date (as defined below):

(i) (x) At the election of each Revolving Lender, all or a portion of the Existing Revolving Commitment (as defined in the Restated Credit Agreement) of such Revolving Lender (together with its related Existing Revolving Exposure (as defined in the Restated Credit Agreement)) shall be converted on such date into an Extended Revolving Commitment (as defined in the Restated Credit Agreement) of such Revolving Lender denominated in Dollars in an aggregate amount (if any) as is set forth on such Revolving Lender’s signature page hereto (such Revolving Lender, an “ Extended Revolving Lender ”) and (y) all or a portion of the Existing Revolving Commitment (as defined in the Restated Credit Agreement) of each Revolving Lender (together with its related Existing Revolving Exposure (as defined in the Restated Credit Agreement)) shall be automatically converted on such date into a Non-Extended Revolving Commitment (as defined in the Restated Credit Agreement) of such Revolving Lender denominated in Dollars in an aggregate amount equal to the difference of (I) such Revolving Lender’s Existing Revolving Commitment (as defined in the Restated Credit Agreement) less (II) if such Revolving Lender is an Extended Revolving Lender, such Revolving Lender’s Extended Revolving Commitment (as defined in the Restated Credit Agreement) as is set forth on such Revolving Lender’s signature page hereto as an Extended Revolving Lender;

(ii) Each Extended Revolving Lender may elect to provide Extended Revolving Commitments in an amount in excess of the aggregate principal amount of such Extended Revolving Lender’s Existing Revolving Commitment (as such terms are defined in the Restated Credit Agreement) as such excess amount is set forth opposite its name on its signature page hereto (each such Extended Revolving Lender, together with each New Lender, the “ Additional Extended Revolving Lenders ”, and, such excess commitment amount, together with Extended Revolving Commitments provided by the New Lenders on the Effective Date pursuant to clause (iii) below, the “ Additional Extended Revolving Commitments ”) and hereby severally agree to provide its Additional Extended Revolving Commitments (which are provided in the form of Incremental Revolving Commitments on the Effective Date) on the terms, and subject to the conditions, set forth in the Restated Credit Agreement and in this Amendment and Restatement Agreement;

(iii) Each other party hereto that is not a Credit Party or Revolving Lender (each as defined in the Original Credit Agreement) with a signature page hereto (any such Person, a “ New Lender ”) hereby severally agree to provide Extended Revolving Commitments in an amount set forth opposite its name on its signature page hereto (which are provided in the form of Incremental Revolving Commitments on the Effective Date) on the terms, and subject to the conditions, set forth in the Restated Credit Agreement and in this Amendment and Restatement Agreement.

(iv) The Additional Extended Revolving Commitments provided pursuant to this Amendment and Restatement Agreement shall be provided in the form of Incremental Revolving Commitments on the Effective Date and thereafter constitute Extended Revolving Commitments and, on the Effective Date (immediately after giving effect to clause (i) above) shall be added to (and thereafter become a part of), the Extended Revolving Commitment of such Additional Extended Revolving Lender for all purposes of the Restated Credit Agreement and the other applicable Credit Documents.

 

-2-


(v) Each New Lender party to this Amendment and Restatement Agreement, (A) confirms that it is an Eligible Assignee (as defined in the Restated Credit Agreement), (B) confirms that it has received a copy of the Restated Credit Agreement and the other Credit Documents, together with copies of the financial statements referred to therein and such other documents and information as it has deemed appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter into the Restated Credit Agreement and to become a Lender thereunder, (C) agrees that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not taking action under the Restated Credit Agreement and the other Credit Documents, (D) appoints and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such action as agent on its behalf and to exercise such powers under the Restated Credit Agreement and the other Credit Documents as are delegated to the Administrative Agent, by the terms hereof, together with such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto, and (E) agrees that it will perform in accordance with their terms all of the obligations which by the terms of the Restated Credit Agreement and the other Credit Documents are required to be performed by it as a Lender and Extended Revolving Lender, as applicable.

(vi) Each Additional Extended Revolving Lender (A) shall be obligated to make the Revolving Loans provided to be made by it as provided herein on the terms, and subject to the conditions, set forth herein and in the Restated Credit Agreement and (B) shall have the rights and obligations of a Lender and Extended Revolving Lender under the Restated Credit Agreement and under the other applicable Credit Documents.

(vii) Each Borrower acknowledges and agrees that (A) a Borrower shall be severally liable for all of such Borrower’s Credit Party Obligations with respect to the Additional Extended Revolving Commitments provided under this Amendment and Restatement Agreement as provided in the Restated Agreement including, without limitation, all of such Borrower’s Revolving Loans made pursuant thereto, and (B) all applicable Credit Party Obligations (including all applicable Revolving Loans) shall be entitled to the benefits of the Security Documents and the Guaranties (to the extent provided in accordance with the express terms thereof).

(viii) Each Guarantor acknowledges and agrees that all Credit Party Obligations with respect to the Additional Extended Revolving Commitments provided under this Amendment and Restatement Agreement and all Revolving Loans made pursuant thereto shall (A) be fully guaranteed pursuant to the Guaranties as, and to the extent, provided in this Agreement and (B) be entitled to the benefits of the Credit Documents as, and to the extent, provided therein and in this Agreement.

(ix) The Original Credit Agreement, including all schedules thereto, is hereby amended and restated in its entirety in the form of the Restated Credit Agreement set forth in Annex II hereto.

(x) The Required Lenders hereby consent to, authorize and direct the Administrative Agent to enter into the Intercreditor Agreement (as defined in the Restated Credit Agreement) on the Effective Date substantially in the form of Schedule 1 to this Amendment and Restatement Agreement.

 

-3-


II. Miscellaneous Provisions .

1. In order to induce the Administrative Agent and the Lenders to enter into this Amendment and Restatement Agreement, each Credit Party hereby represents and warrants that (i) no Default or Event of Default exists as of the Initial Effective Date and the Effective Date, both immediately before and after giving effect to the applicable provisions in this Amendment and Restatement Agreement on each such date, (ii) all of the representations and warranties contained in the Credit Agreement and in the other Credit Documents are true and correct in all material respects on the Initial Effective Date and the Effective Date, both immediately before and after giving effect to the applicable provisions in this Amendment and Restatement Agreement on each such date, with the same effect as though such representations and warranties had been made on and as of the Initial Effective Date and the Effective Date, respectively, or, to the extent such representations and warranties expressly relate to an earlier date, on and as of such earlier date, (iii) the execution, delivery and performance of this Amendment and Restatement Agreement has been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of each Credit Party, has been duly executed and delivered by each Credit Party and constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of each Credit Party, enforceable against each of them in accordance with its terms, except to the extent that the enforceability hereof may be subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and subject to general principles of equity, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law and (iv) the execution and delivery hereof by each Credit Party and the performance and observance by each Credit Party of the provisions hereof do not violate or conflict with (A) any organizational document of any Credit Party or (B) any Requirement of Law applicable to such Credit Party or result in a breach of any provision of or constitute a default under any Contractual Obligation of any Credit Party.

2. The Credit Parties acknowledge and agree and hereby represent and warrant that (x) this Amendment and Restatement Agreement, the Credit Agreement and each other Credit Document, and all Credit Party Obligations and Liens thereunder, are valid and enforceable against the Credit Parties in every respect and all of the terms and conditions thereof are legally binding upon the Credit Parties, in each case all without offset, counterclaims or defenses of any kind and (y) the perfected status and priority of each Lien and security interest created under any Credit Document remains in full force and effect in accordance with the requirements of the Credit Agreement and the other Credit Documents on a continuous basis, unimpaired, uninterrupted and undischarged, in each case as of the Initial Effective Date and the Effective Date, both immediately before and immediately after giving effect to the applicable provisions in this Amendment and Restatement Agreement on each such date.

3. This Amendment and Restatement Agreement is limited precisely as written and, except as expressly set forth herein (including in the Annexes hereto), shall not constitute or be deemed to constitute a modification, acceptance or waiver of any other provision of the Credit Agreement or any other Credit Document and shall not prejudice any right or rights that the Administrative Agent or the Lenders may have now or in the future under or in connection with the Credit Agreement or any other Credit Document.

 

-4-


4. This Amendment and Restatement Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by the different parties hereto on separate counterparts, each of which counterparts when executed and delivered shall be an original, but all of which shall together constitute one and the same instrument. A complete set of counterparts shall be lodged with the Company and the Administrative Agent.

5. THIS AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT AGREEMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES HEREUNDER SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH AND GOVERNED BY THE INTERNAL LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICTS OF LAW PRINCIPLES.

6. This Amendment and Restatement Agreement (other than Part I Section 2 hereof) shall become effective on the first date (the “ Initial Effective Date ”) when each of the following conditions shall have been satisfied:

(i) the Administrative Agent shall have received executed signature pages from Extended Revolving Lenders and Additional Extended Revolving Lenders for Extended Revolving Commitments and Additional Extended Revolving Commitments in an aggregate principal amount of at least $150,000,000;

(ii) the Company shall have paid to the Administrative Agent for the benefit of each Extended Revolving Lender (other than New Lenders) which has executed and delivered a counterpart hereof as provided in following clause (ix) on or prior to 10:00 a.m. (New York City time) on July 25, 2013, an amendment fee in an amount equal to 1.50% of the Existing Revolving Commitment of such Extended Revolving Lender that it elects to extend pursuant to Part I Section 2(i) hereof as in effect on such time and date;

(iii) the Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate or certificates executed by a Responsible Officer of the Company dated the Initial Effective Date stating that both before and immediately after giving effect to this Amendment and Restatement Agreement and all amendments to the Credit Agreement and other Credit Documents, and other transactions contemplated to occur on the Initial Effective Date, (A) each of the Credit Parties is Solvent, (B) no Default or Event of Default exists, (C) all representations and warranties contained herein, in the Credit Agreement and in the other Credit Documents are true and correct in all material respects, (D) the conditions set forth in clauses (v), (vi), (vii) and (viii) are satisfied and (E) the Credit Parties are in compliance with each of the financial covenants set forth in Section 5.9 of the Original Credit Agreement (as amended by Part I Section 1);

(iv) the Administrative Agent shall have received (A) true and complete copies of resolutions of the board of directors of each of the Borrowers and Alliance AG approving and authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of this Amendment and Restatement Agreement, the Credit Agreement and the Credit Documents, in each case as modified by this Amendment and Restatement Agreement, certified as of the Initial Effective Date by a Responsible Officer, secretary or assistant secretary of each

 

-5-


such party as being in full force and effect without modification or amendment and (B) good standing certificates (or the equivalent thereof) for each of the Borrowers and Alliance AG from each jurisdiction in which such Borrower or Alliance AG, as the case may be, is organized;

(v) there shall not exist any pending or, to the knowledge of a Responsible Officer of the Company, threatened litigation, investigation, injunction, order or claim affecting or relating to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, this Agreement or the other Credit Documents that could materially adversely affect the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, this Agreement or the other Credit Documents, or such Person’s ability to perform their obligations under the Credit Documents, that has not been settled, dismissed, vacated, discharged or terminated prior to the Initial Effective Date;

(vi) the Administrative Agent shall have received evidence that (A) all governmental, shareholder and material third party consents and approvals necessary in connection with the closing of the Credit Agreement have been obtained and (B) no law or regulation (including any requirement of the Securities Exchange Commission or other applicable regulatory authority), or event shall have occurred that, enjoins, restrains, restricts, sets aside or prohibits, or seeks to enjoin, restrain, restrict, set aside or prohibit, or impose materially adverse conditions upon, the consummation of the Initial Effective Date;

(vii) there shall be no bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings with respect to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;

(viii) no material adverse change shall have occurred since March 31, 2013 in the business, assets, liabilities, or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole;

(ix) the Borrowers, Alliance AG, the other Credit Parties, each Extended Revolving Lender, each New Lender (if any) and the Lenders constituting the Required Lenders and the Administrative Agent shall have signed a counterpart hereof (whether the same or different counterparts) and shall have delivered (including by way of facsimile or other electronic transmission) the same to White & Case LLP, 1155 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10036 Attention: Michael Brown (facsimile number: 212-354-8113 / e-mail address: michael.brown@whitecase.com);

(x) the Company shall have paid to the Administrative Agent all fees, costs and expenses (including, without limitation, legal fees and expenses of White and Case LLP, payable to the Administrative Agent to the extent then due and payable (including the Arranger Fee (as defined in the Fee Letter dated June 13, 2013 among the Company and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas) payable to Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas);

 

-6-


7. Part I Section 2 of this Amendment and Restatement Agreement shall become effective on the first date (the “ Effective Date ”) when each of the following conditions shall have been satisfied:

(i) the Initial Effective Date shall have occurred on, or not more than 10 days prior to, the Effective Date;

(ii) the Company shall have paid to each Additional Extended Revolving Lender (including any New Lender) an initial yield payment equal to 1.50% of the Additional Extended Revolving Commitment of such Additional Extended Revolving Lender on the Effective Date with such payment being earned by, and payable to, such Additional Extended Revolving Lender on the Effective Date (it being understood that for tax purposes only the initial yield payment shall be treated as a payment described in Treas. Reg. Section 1.1273-2(g)(2));

(iii) the Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate or certificates executed by a Responsible Officer of the Company dated the Effective Date stating that both before and immediately after giving effect to this Amendment and Restatement Agreement and all amendments to the Credit Agreement and other Credit Documents, and other transactions contemplated to occur on the Effective Date, (A) each of the Credit Parties is Solvent, (B) no Default or Event of Default exists, (C) all representations and warranties contained herein, in the Restated Credit Agreement and in the other Credit Documents are true and correct in all material respects (except to the extent such representations and warranties expressly relate to another date in which case such representations and warranties shall be true and correct as of such date), (D) the conditions set forth in clauses (v), (vi), (vii), (viii), (ix), (xvii), (xx) and (xxi) are satisfied and (E) the Credit Parties are in compliance with each of the financial covenants set forth in Section 5.9 of the Restated Credit Agreement (with the foregoing compliance with the financial covenants calculated on a pro forma basis after giving effect to the issuance of Senior Secured Notes (as defined in the Restated Credit Agreement));

(iv) the Administrative Agent shall have received (A) a certification as of the Effective Date by a Responsible Officer, secretary or assistant secretary of each of the Borrowers and Alliance AG that the resolutions of the board of directors of each of the Borrowers and Alliance AG delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Part II Section 6(iv) are in full force and effect without modification or amendment and (B) good standing certificates (or the equivalent thereof) for each of the Borrowers and Alliance AG from each jurisdiction in which such Borrower or Alliance AG, as the case may be, is organized;

(v) there shall not exist any pending or, to the knowledge of a Responsible Officer of the Company, threatened litigation, investigation, injunction, order or claim affecting or relating to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, this Agreement or the other Credit Documents that could materially adversely affect the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, this Agreement or the other Credit Documents, or such Person’s ability to perform their obligations under the Credit Documents, that has not been settled, dismissed, vacated, discharged or terminated prior to the Effective Date;

 

-7-


(vi) the Administrative Agent shall have received evidence that (A) all governmental, shareholder and material third party consents and approvals necessary in connection with the closing of the Credit Agreement have been obtained, (B) all applicable waiting periods have expired without any action being taken by any authority or third party that could restrain, prevent or impose any material adverse conditions on the Refinancing or that could seek or threaten any of the foregoing and (C) no law or regulation (including any requirement of the Securities Exchange Commission or other applicable regulatory authority), or event shall have occurred that, enjoins, restrains, restricts, sets aside or prohibits, or seeks to enjoin, restrain, restrict, set aside or prohibit, or impose materially adverse conditions upon, the consummation of the Effective Date;

(vii) there shall be no bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings with respect to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;

(viii) no material adverse change shall have occurred since March 31, 2013 in the business, assets, liabilities, or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole;

(ix) the Credit Documents, the Senior Secured Notes Documents (as defined in the Restated Credit Agreement) and the financings contemplated thereby shall be in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations (including all applicable securities and banking laws, rules and regulations);

(x) the Administrative Agent shall have received (A) an opinion (including an opinion as to no conflict with the Senior Secured Notes Documents and the Original Credit Agreement (as in effect immediately prior to giving effect to the Amendment and Restatement Agreement)) from Robinson, Bradshaw & Hinson, P.A., U.S. counsel to the Credit Parties, (B) an opinion of Clifford Chance LLP, special Dutch legal advisor to the Dutch Borrower, (C) an opinion of Bär & Karrer, special Swiss legal advisor to Alliance AG, in each case addressed to the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders party to the Restated Credit Agreement on the Effective Date covering such matters incidental to this Amendment and Restatement Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request;

(xi) each Credit Party shall have delivered such documents and agreements, and taken such other actions, as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request in order to create, continue or maintain the effectiveness of each Guaranty and the security interests of the Administrative Agent in the Collateral and the perfection thereof, including (in each case in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent):

a) Except as set forth on Schedule 5.13 to the Restated Credit Agreement set forth in Annex II hereto, the third amendment to the Quota Pledge Agreement by and among Intabex Netherlands B.V., Alliance One International Tabak B.V. and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas and Alliance One Brasil Exportadora de Tabacos Ltda. as consenting intervening party;

 

-8-


b) deed of confirmation by Alliance One International AG in favor of Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas;

c) addendum to the Charge of Shares by and between Standard Commercial Tobacco Company (UK) Limited and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas; and

d) security confirmation by Standard Commercial AG in favor of Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas in connection with pledge of shares in Alliance One Tütün Anonim Sirketi;

(xii) all outstanding Swingline Loans under, and as defined in, the Credit Agreement shall have been repaid in full and all accrued but unpaid interest thereon accruing prior to the Effective Date shall have been paid in accordance with the terms of the Credit Agreement;

(xiii) the Company shall have paid to the Administrative Agent all fees, costs and expenses (including, without limitation, legal fees and expenses of White and Case LLP) payable to the Administrative Agent to the extent due under the Credit Agreement;

(xiv) the Company shall have delivered (x) a fully executed counterpart of an amendment to the existing Mortgage and (y) a date down and modification endorsement in connection with each existing lender’s title insurance policy insuring the existing Mortgage, in each case, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent;

(xv) on the Effective Date, the issuance of the Senior Secured Notes shall have been consummated in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Senior Secured Notes Documents and all applicable law providing gross cash proceeds of not less than $650,000,000;

(xvi) on the Effective Date, (x) the Administrative Agent shall have received true and correct copies of all Senior Secured Notes Documents (as defined in the Restated Credit Agreement) to be in the form so executed (and finalized), in each case certified as such by an officer of the Company, (y) all terms and conditions thereof shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Required Lenders (provided that the terms and conditions in the draft offering memorandum dated July 17, 2013 (as supplemented by the pricing supplement dated July 26, 2013) is reasonably satisfactory to the Required Lenders (as such terms and conditions may be amended or modified so long as such amended and modified terms and conditions are is no less favorable in any material respect to the Company or the Lenders than the terms and conditions of such draft offering memorandum (as supplemented by such pricing supplement)) and (z) all such documents shall be in full force and effect;

(xvii) all conditions precedent to the consummation of the issuance of the Senior Secured Notes (as defined in the Restated Credit Agreement), as set forth in the Senior Secured Notes Documents (as defined in the Restated Credit Agreement), shall have been satisfied, and not waived unless consented to by the Required Lenders, to the reasonable satisfaction of the Administrative Agent;

 

-9-


(xviii) on the Effective Date, (x) the proceeds from the issuance of the Senior Notes (as defined in the Restated Credit Agreement), the Company shall have irrevocably deposited with the Trustee under the Existing Senior Notes (as defined in the Restated Credit Agreement) Dollars in an amount sufficient to pay the principal of, redemption premium and interest on the Existing Senior Notes (together with the redemption of any Existing Convertible Notes pursuant to the Existing Convertible Notes Tender Offer, collectively (the “ Refinancing ”) and (y) the Company shall have deposited in the Blocked Account (as defined in the Restated Credit Agreement) any remaining proceeds of the Senior Notes (as defined in the Restated Credit Agreement) after giving effect to the Transactions on the Effective Date;

(xix) on the Effective Date and after giving effect to the consummation of the Refinancing, the Company and its Subsidiaries shall have no outstanding Indebtedness, except for (x) Indebtedness pursuant to or in respect of the Credit Documents, (y) the Senior Secured Notes (as defined in the Restated Credit Agreement) and (z) certain other indebtedness (including, without limitation, (I) the Indebtedness set forth on Schedule 6.1(a) to the Restated Credit Agreement and (II) the Existing Convertible Notes (as defined in the Restated Credit Agreement), provided that the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness outstanding under such Existing Convertible Notes shall not exceed $115,000,000 on the Effective Date) existing on the Effective Date to the extent permitted under the Restated Credit Agreement (with the Indebtedness described in this sub-clause (z) being herein called the “ Existing Indebtedness ”);

(xx) on and as of the Effective Date, all of the Existing Indebtedness shall remain outstanding after giving effect to the transactions contemplated by this Amendment and Restatement Agreement without any breach, required repayment, required offer to purchase, default, event of default or termination rights existing thereunder or arising as a result of the transactions contemplated by this Amendment and Restatement Agreement;

(xxi) after giving effect to the Effective Date, and to any prepayments of the Revolving Loans made on the Effective Date, the sum of the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Revolving Loans plus outstanding Swingline Loans plus outstanding LOC Obligations shall not exceed the lesser of (x) the Revolving Committed Amount or (y) the Working Capital Amount;

(xxii) the Intercreditor Agreement shall have been executed and delivered on the Effective Date by the Administrative Agent, the collateral trustee for the Senior Secured Notes, the Company and the Domestic Guarantors; and

(xxiii) at the request of the Administrative Agent, the Administrative Agent, the Company and the financial institution with respect to the Blocked Account shall have entered into an account control agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

 

-10-


8. This Amendment and Restatement Agreement constitutes a “Credit Document” for purposes of the Credit Agreement and the other Credit Documents. No provision of this Amendment and Restatement Agreement may be amended, modified, waived or supplemented, except as provided in Section 9.1 of the Credit Agreement.

9. By executing and delivering a copy hereof, each Credit Party (a) consents to the terms of this Amendment and Restatement Agreement and the Credit Documents (as modified by this Amendment and Restatement Agreement), (b) reaffirms all of its obligations and liabilities under each Credit Document (as such Credit Documents are modified by this Amendment and Restatement Agreement), all of which obligations and liabilities shall remain in full force and effect and (c) hereby agrees that all Credit Party Obligations of the Credit Parties shall be fully guaranteed pursuant to the Guarantees and shall be fully secured pursuant to the Credit Documents, in each case in accordance with the respective terms and provisions thereof and that this Amendment and Restatement Agreement does not in any manner constitute a novation of any Credit Party Obligations under any of the Credit Documents.

10. For the avoidance of doubt, in furtherance of (and not for purposes of limiting) Part II Section 9 above, the Parties hereby confirm and agree that, at the time of the entering into the deed of share pledge between Intabex Netherlands B.V. as pledgor, Alliance One International Tabak B.V. as company and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas as pledgee and the deed of share pledge between International Tobacco Funding, S.L.U. as pledgor, Intabex Netherlands B.V. as company and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas as pledgee (the “ Deeds ”), it was their intention and agreement (and it is still their intention and agreement) that:

(i) the security rights created pursuant to the Deeds secure the Secured Obligations (as defined in the Deeds) corresponding to any obligations of a Debtor (as defined in the Deeds) to a Secured Party (as defined in the Deeds) under any Finance Document (as defined in the Deeds) as they may be so varied, amended, modified or restated from time to time (however fundamentally and whether or not more onerously, including any change in the purpose of, extension of, or any increase in any facility or the addition of any facility under them) including but not limited to any obligations of a Debtor to a Secured Party under the Restated Credit Agreement; and

(ii) the validity and enforceability of the security rights created under the Deeds will not be affected by this Amendment and Restatement Agreement and that those security rights are and remain valid and in full force and effect in respect of the Secured Obligations (which include, but are not limited to, the corresponding obligations to any obligations of a Debtor to a Secured Party under the Restated Credit Agreement).

 

-11-


11. For the avoidance of doubt, in furtherance of (and not for purposes of limiting) Part II Section 9 above, the parties hereby confirm and agree that, at the time of the entering into the pledge of shares between Alliance One International AG as pledger and Deutsche Bank AG, Abu Dhabi Branch, as UAE Security Agent (the “ Pledge ”), it was their intention and agreement (and it is still their intention and agreement) that:

(i) the security rights created pursuant to the Pledge secure the Secured Obligations (as defined in the Pledge) corresponding to all Credit Party Obligations of Alliance One International AG and Intabex Netherlands B.V. under any Finance Document and the Secured Hedging Agreement (each as defined in the Pledge) as they may be so varied, amended, modified or restated from time to time (however fundamentally and whether or not more onerously, including any change in the purpose of, extension of, or any increase in any facility or the addition of any facility under them) including but not limited to any obligations of a Obligor to a Finance Party under the Restated Credit Agreement; and

(ii) the validity and enforceability of the Security (as defined in the Pledge) created under the Pledge will not be affected by this Amendment and Restatement Agreement and that such Security will remain valid and in full force and effect in respect of the Secured Obligations (as defined in the Pledge) (which include, but are not limited to, the corresponding Credit Party Obligations of Alliance One International AG and Intabex Netherlands B.V. under the Restated Credit Agreement).

12. For the avoidance of doubt, in furtherance of (and not for purposes of limiting) Part II Section 9 above, the parties hereby confirm and agree that, the security created pursuant to the Share Pledge Agreement between Standard Commercial AG as pledger, Alliance One Tutun Anomin Sirketi as company and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas as administrative agent for the Secured Parties, dated August 10, 2009, shall (a) remain in full force and effect notwithstanding the amendments referred to herein and (b) continue to secure its Secured Obligations under the Restated Credit Agreement.

13. From and after (i) the Initial Effective Date, all references in the Credit Agreement and each of the other Credit Documents to the Credit Agreement shall be deemed to be references to the Restated Credit Agreement as modified hereby on the Initial Effective Date and (ii) the Effective Date, all references in the Credit Agreement and each of the other Credit Documents to the Credit Agreement shall be deemed to be references to the Restated Credit Agreement.

14. No Lender party hereto may assign any Revolving Commitment from and after the Initial Effective Date until the earlier to occur of (x) the Effective Date and (y) 10 days after the Initial Effective Date, without the consent of the Administrative Agent (which may be withheld in its sole discretion).

[SIGNATURE PAGES TO FOLLOW]

 

-12-


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused their duly authorized officers to execute and deliver this Amendment and Restatement Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

ALLIANCE ONE INTERNATIONAL, INC.
By:  

/s/ Robert A. Sheets

Name:   Robert A. Sheets
Title:   Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
By:  

/s/ Joel Thomas

Name:   Joel Thomas
Title:   Vice President and Treasurer
DUTCH BORROWER :
INTABEX NETHERLANDS B.V.
By:  

/s/ Joel Thomas

Name:   Joel Thomas
Title:   Authorized Signatory
FOREIGN GUARANTOR :
ALLIANCE ONE INTERNATIONAL AG
By:  

/s/ Robert A. Sheets

Name:   Robert A. Sheets
Title:   Authorized Signatory

Signature page to AOI Amendment and Restatement Agreement


Each of the undersigned, each being a pledgor of certain Pledged Foreign Subsidiaries hereby consents to the entering into of the Amendment and Restatement Agreement and agrees to the provisions thereof.

 

ALLIANCE ONE INTERNATIONAL, INC.
By:  

/s/ Robert A. Sheets

Name:   Robert A. Sheets
Title:   Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
By:  

/s/ Joel Thomas

Name:   Joel Thomas
Title:   Vice President and Treasurer

 

Signature page to Amendment and Restatement Agreement


Each of the undersigned, each being a pledgor of certain Pledged Foreign Subsidiaries hereby consents to the entering into of the Amendment and Restatement Agreement and agrees to the provisions thereof.

 

INTABEX NETHERLANDS B.V.
By:  

/s/ Joel Thomas

Name:   Joel Thomas
Title:   Authorized Signatory

 

Signature page to Amendment and Restatement Agreement


Each of the undersigned, each being a pledgor of certain Pledged Foreign Subsidiaries hereby consents to the entering into of the Amendment and Restatement Agreement and agrees to the provisions thereof.

 

ALLIANCE ONE INTERNATIONAL AG
By:  

/s/ Robert A. Sheets

Name:   Robert A. Sheets
Title:   Authorized Signatory

 

Signature page to Amendment and Restatement Agreement


Each of the undersigned, each being a pledgor of certain Pledged Foreign Subsidiaries hereby consents to the entering into of the Amendment and Restatement Agreement and agrees to the provisions thereof.

 

STANDARD COMMERCIAL TOBACCO COMPANY (UK) LIMITED
By:  

/s/ Christian Cypher

Name:   Christian Cypher
Title:   Regional Director, Europe
By:  

/s/ Carol Hosier

Name:   Carol Hosier
Title:   Company Secretary

 

Signature page to Amendment and Restatement Agreement


Each of the undersigned, each being a pledgor of certain Pledged Foreign Subsidiaries hereby consents to the entering into of the Amendment and Restatement Agreement and agrees to the provisions thereof.

 

INTERNATIONAL TOBBACO FUNDING, S.L.U.
By:  

/s/ José María Costa

Name:   José María Costa
Title:   Chairman
By:  

/s/ Luis de Azua

Name:   Luis de Azua
Title:   Director

 

Signature page to Amendment and Restatement Agreement


Each of the undersigned, each being a pledgor of certain Pledged Foreign Subsidiaries hereby consents to the entering into of the Amendment and Restatement Agreement and agrees to the provisions thereof.

 

STANDARD COMMERCIAL AG
By:  

/s/ B. Lynne Finney

Name:   B. Lynne Finney
Title:   Authorized Signatory

 

Signature page to Amendment and Restatement Agreement


Each of the undersigned, each being a pledgor of certain Pledged Foreign Subsidiaries hereby consents to the entering into of the Amendment and Restatement Agreement and agrees to the provisions thereof.

 

ALLIANCE ONE INTERNATIONAL TABAK B.V.
By:  

/s/ B. Lynne Finney

Name:   B. Lynne Finney
Title:   Authorized Signatory

 

Signature page to Amendment and Restatement Agreement


DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS,
as Administrative Agent, as Swingline Lender and as Issuing Lender
By:  

/s/ Dusan Lazarov

Name:   Dusan Lazarov
Title:   Director
By:  

/s/ Michael Getz

Name:   Michael Getz
Title:   Vice President

 

Signature page to Amendment and Restatement Agreement


SIGNATURE PAGE TO THE AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT AGREEMENT TO ORIGINAL CREDIT AGREEMENT, DATED AS OF THE DATE FIRST REFERENCED ABOVE, AMONG ALLIANCE ONE INTERNATIONAL, INC., INTABEX NETHERLANDS B.V., ALLIANCE ONE INTERNATIONAL AG, THE OTHER CREDIT PARTIES THERETO, VARIOUS LENDERS AND DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

By executing the signature page below:

 

A. as an existing Revolving Lender that is an Extended Revolving Lender, the undersigned institution agrees (i) to the terms of the Amendment and Restatement Agreement and the Restated Credit Agreement, (ii) on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Amendment and Restatement Agreement and the Restated Credit Agreement, to extend and convert all or a portion of its Existing Revolving Commitment (and related Existing Revolving Exposure) in the aggregate amount set forth below under the heading “Amount of Existing Revolving Commitment to be Extended”, together with all related Revolving Exposure and (iii) if applicable, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Amendment and Restatement Agreement and the Restated Credit Agreement to increase its Existing Revolving Commitment in the aggregate amount set forth below under the heading “Amount of Additional Extended Revolving Commitment”; or

 

B. as an existing Revolving Lender that is a Non-Extended Revolving Lender, the undersigned institution agrees to the terms of the Amendment and Restatement Agreement and the Restated Credit Agreement, but NOT to extend and convert any of its Existing Revolving Commitment (and related Existing Revolving Exposure) into Extended Revolving Commitments (and related Revolving Exposure); or

 

C. as a New Lender that is an Extended Revolving Lender, the undersigned institution agrees (i) to the terms of the Amendment and Restatement Agreement and the Restated Credit Agreement and (ii) on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Amendment and Restatement Agreement and the Restated Credit Agreement, to provide Extended Revolving Commitments in the aggregate amount set forth below under the heading “Amount of Extended Revolving Commitment”.

 

Signature page to Amendment and Restatement Agreement


SIGNATURE PAGE FOR EXTENDED REVOLVING LENDER

NAME OF LENDER: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH

Executing as an EXTENDED REVOLVING LENDER:

 

  By:  

/s/ Vipul Dhadda

 
    Name:   Vipul Dhadda  
    Title:   Authorized Signatory  
    For any Lender requiring a second signature line:  
  By:  

/s/ Michael D-Onofrio

 
    Name:   Michael D’Onofrio  
    Title:   Authorized Signatory  
  Existing Revolving Commitment  

 

Principal amount of Existing
Revolving Commitment held by
Extended Revolving Lender
    Amount of Existing  Revolving
Commitment to be Extended
 
$ 30,172,413.79      $ 30,172,413.79   

Additional Extended Revolving Commitments

 

Amount of Additional Extended
Revolving Commitment

 
$ None   

 

Signature page to Amendment and Restatement Agreement


SIGNATURE PAGE FOR EXTENDED REVOLVING LENDER

NAME OF LENDER: Standard Chartered Bank

Executing as an EXTENDED REVOLVING LENDER:

 

  By:  

/s/ Brendan Herley

 
    Name:   Brendan Herley  
    Title:   Director - Syndications  
    For any Lender requiring a second signature line:  
  By:  

/s/ Andrew Y. Ng

 
    Name:   Andrew Y. Ng  
    Title:   Director  
  Existing Revolving Commitment  

 

Principal amount of Existing
Revolving Commitment held by
Extended Revolving Lender
    Amount of Existing Revolving
Commitment to be Extended
 
$ 17,241,379.31      $ 17,241,379.31   

Additional Extended Revolving Commitments

 

Amount of Additional Extended
Revolving Commitment
 
US$ 2,758,620.69   

 

Signature page to Amendment and Restatement Agreement


SIGNATURE PAGE FOR EXTENDED REVOLVING LENDER

NAME OF LENDER: NATIXIS, New York Branch

Executing as an EXTENDED REVOLVING LENDER:

 

  By:  

/s/ Stephen A. Jendras

 
    Name:   Stephen A. Jendras  
    Title:   Managing Director  
    For any Lender requiring a second signature line:  
  By:  

/s/ Alisa Trani

 
    Name:   Alisa Trani  
    Title:   Director  
  Existing Revolving Commitment  

 

Principal amount of Existing
Revolving Commitment held by
Extended Revolving Lender
    Amount of Existing Revolving
Commitment to be Extended
 
$ 38,706,896.55      $ 38,706,896.55   

Additional Extended Revolving Commitments

 

Amount of Additional Extended
Revolving Commitment
 
$ 1,293,103.45   

 

Signature page to Amendment and Restatement Agreement


SIGNATURE PAGE FOR EXTENDED REVOLVING LENDER

 

NAME OF LENDER:    ING Belgium, Brussels
  

Geneva Branch

6, rue Petitot

P.O. Box 5613

CH-1211 GENEVA 11

Executing as an EXTENDED REVOLVING LENDER:

 

  By:  

/s/ Michele Provinciael

 
    Name:   Michele Provinciael  
    Title:   Head of Credit Risk  
    For any Lender requiring a second signature line:  
  By:  

/s/ Serge Stolitza

 
    Name:   Serge Stolitza  
    Title:   Group Head  
  Existing Revolving Commitment  

 

Principal amount of Existing
Revolving Commitment held by
Extended Revolving Lender
    Amount of Existing Revolving
Commitment to be Extended
 
$ 43,103,448.28      $ 40,000,000.00   

Additional Extended Revolving Commitments

 

Amount of Additional Extended
Revolving Commitment
None

 

Signature page to Amendment and Restatement Agreement


SIGNATURE PAGE FOR EXTENDED REVOLVING LENDER

NAME OF LENDER: Goldman Sachs Bank USA

Executing as an EXTENDED REVOLVING LENDER:

 

  By:  

/s/ Lauren Havens

 
    Name:   Lauren Havens  
    Title:   Authorized Signatory  
    For any Lender requiring a second signature line:  
  By:  

 

 
    Name:    
    Title:    
  Existing Revolving Commitment  

 

Principal amount of Existing
Revolving Commitment held by
Extended Revolving Lender
    Amount of Existing Revolving
Commitment to be Extended
 
$ 86,206.90      $ 86,206.90   

Additional Extended Revolving Commitments

 

Amount of Additional Extended
Revolving Commitment
None

 

Signature page to Amendment and Restatement Agreement


SIGNATURE PAGE FOR EXTENDED REVOLVING LENDER

NAME OF LENDER: Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas

Executing as an EXTENDED REVOLVING LENDER:

 

  By:  

/s/ Dusan Lazarov

 
    Name:   Dusan Lazarov  
    Title:   Director  
    For any Lender requiring a second signature line:  
  By:  

/s/ Michael Getz

 
    Name:   Michael Getz  
    Title:   Vice President  
  Existing Revolving Commitment  

 

Principal amount of Existing
Revolving Commitment held by
Extended Revolving Lender
    Amount of Existing Revolving
Commitment to be Extended
 
$ 30,172,413.79      $ 30,172,413.79   

Additional Extended Revolving Commitments

 

Amount of Additional Extended
Revolving Commitment
 
  9,827,586.21   

 

Signature page to Amendment and Restatement Agreement


SIGNATURE PAGE FOR NON-EXTENDED REVOLVING LENDER

NAME OF LENDER: AgFirst Farm Credit Bank

Executing as a NON-EXTENDED REVOLVING LENDER:

 

  By:  

/s/ Steven J. O’Shea

    Name:   Steven J. O’Shea
    Title:   Vice President

 

Signature page to Amendment and Restatement Agreement


SIGNATURE PAGE FOR NEW LENDER

NAME OF LENDER: ICBC (London) PLC

Executing as a NEW LENDER:

 

  By:  

/s/ Bo Jiang

    Name:   Bo Jiang
    Title:   Deputy Managing Director

For any Lender requiring a second signature line:

 

  By:  

/s/ Julian Madgett

    Name:   Julian Madgett
    Title:   Head Commodities & Structured Finance

 

Amount of Additional Extended
Revolving Commitment
 
$ 40,000,000   

 

Signature page to Amendment and Restatement Agreement


ANNEX I

Amendments to the Credit Agreement

1. Section 1.1 of the Original Credit Agreement is hereby amended by inserting the following definitions in the appropriate alphabetical order:

Amendment and Restatement Agreement ” means the Amendment and Restatement Agreement, dated as of July 26, 2013, among the Borrowers, the Guarantors, the Extended Revolving Lenders (as defined therein), each Additional Extended Revolving Lender (as defined therein), the “Required Lenders” under this Agreement immediately prior to the Initial Effective Date (as defined therein) and the Administrative Agent.

Commodity Exchange Act ” shall mean the Commodity Exchange Act (7 U.S.C. § 1 et seq.), as amended from time to time, and any successor statute.

ECP ” shall have the meaning set forth in the definition of Excluded Swap Obligation.

Excluded Swap Obligation ” shall mean, with respect to any Guarantor, any Swap Obligation if, and to the extent that, all or a portion of the Guaranty of such Guarantor of, or the grant by such Guarantor of a security interest to secure, such Swap Obligation (or any Guaranty thereof) is or becomes illegal under the Commodity Exchange Act or any rule, regulation or order of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (or the application or official interpretation of any thereof) by virtue of such Guarantor’s failure for any reason to constitute an “eligible contract participant” as defined in the Commodity Exchange Act and the regulations thereunder (each, an “ ECP ”) at the time the Guaranty of such Guarantor or the grant of such security interest becomes effective with respect to such Swap Obligation. If a Swap Obligation arises under a master agreement governing more than one swap, such exclusion shall apply only to the portion of such Swap Obligation that is attributable to swaps for which such Guaranty or security interest is or becomes illegal.

Minority Interest Consolidated Entity ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.3 .

Swap Obligation ” shall mean, with respect to any Guarantor, any obligations under any interest rate protection agreement or other Hedging Agreement to pay or perform under any agreement, contract or transaction that constitutes a “swap” within the meaning of Section 1a(47) of the Commodity Exchange Act.

2. The definition of “ Consolidated EBIT ” appearing in Section 1.1 of the Original Credit Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety as follows:

Consolidated EBIT ” shall mean, as of the last day of any fiscal quarter of the Company for the Calculation Period ending on such date, the sum (without duplication) of (a) Consolidated Net Income plus (b) to the extent included in the determination of such Consolidated Net Income, (i) Consolidated Income Tax Expense plus (ii) Consolidated Interest Expense minus (iii) any extraordinary items of gain minus (iv) any


items of gain attributable to Financial Accounting Standards Board Statements No. 121, 123R, 133 (solely with respect to any interest rate swap, cap or collar agreement), 142 and 144 plus (v) any items of loss attributable to Financial Accounting Standards Board Statements No. 121, 123R, 133 (solely with respect to any interest rate swap, cap or collar agreement), 142 and 144 plus (vi) costs and expenses incurred in connection with (A) exit and disposal activities associated with discontinued foreign operations and/or (B) making minority-ownership Investments in joint ventures with customers of the Company and its Subsidiaries, in each case referred to in (A) and (B) of this clause (vi), determined for the Company and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, provided that not more than $5,000,000 in the aggregate for any Calculation Period may be added back pursuant to this clause (vi) plus (vii) the Permitted Allowance, provided that not more than $10,000,000 in the aggregate for any Calculation Period may be added back pursuant to this clause (vii) plus (viii) out-of-pocket costs and expenses paid in cash relating to Permitted Acquisitions and Investments, in each case which would have been capitalized under GAAP prior to the application of Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement No. 141(R) minus (ix) write-ups of the Permitted Allowance minus (x) write downs of the Permitted Allowance plus (xi) for any Calculation Period ended on or prior to December 31, 2014, any FCPA Settlement Expenses incurred during such Calculation Period so long as not in excess of $6,000,000 during such Calculation Period, plus (xii) for any Calculation Period ended on or prior to December 31, 2014, any losses of Alliance AG with respect to Investments made in WLT pursuant to Section 6.5(p) of the Existing Credit Agreement incurred during such Calculation Period so long as not in excess of $10,000,000 in the aggregate for all fiscal quarters, plus (xiii) if the transaction contemplated by Section 6.4(a)(x) occurred during such Calculation Period, any amounts that are deducted in Consolidated Net Income in such Calculation Period pursuant to clause (e) of the definition of Consolidated Net Income that would not have been deducted if such transaction had not occurred during such Calculation Period.

3. The definition of “ Consolidated Net Income ” appearing in Section 1.1 of the Original Credit Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety as follows:

Consolidated Net Income ” shall mean, as of the last day of any fiscal quarter of the Company for the Calculation Period ending on such date, the sum (without duplication) of (a) the net income (or net loss) of the Company and its Subsidiaries, as determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP plus (b) to the extent deducted in determining such net income (or net loss), (i) any non-cash charge related to the write-off of deferred financing cost plus (ii) to the extent deducted in determining such net income (or net loss), the Transaction Costs incurred during such Calculation Period, plus (c) any dividends or distributions to the extent paid in cash by WLT to Alliance AG, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries minus (d) for the avoidance of doubt, to the extent included in determining net income (or net loss) in clause (a) above, the net income (or net loss) of WLT (other than any amounts described in clause (c) above), minus , (e) any amounts exceeding $10,000,000 with respect to each fiscal year, commencing with the fiscal year ending March 31, 2013, to the extent added in determining such net income as a result of the sale by the Company and its Subsidiaries of

 

2


property, plant, equipment and growers’ contracts. Notwithstanding the above, for the purposes of Sections 6.5(k) , 6.5(l) and 6.10(d) Consolidated Net Income of the Company shall be determined based on (x) for all periods ending on or prior to June 30, 2013, Consolidated Net Income (as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement immediately prior to giving effect to the Effective Date), and (y) for all periods ending after June 30, 2013, Consolidated Net Income (as defined herein).

4. The definition of “ Consolidated Total Senior Debt to Working Capital Amount Ratio ” appearing in Section 1.1 of the Original Credit Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety as follows:

Consolidated Total Senior Debt to Working Capital Amount Ratio ” shall mean, at any date, the ratio of (a) Consolidated Total Senior Debt on such date minus cash and Cash Equivalents of the Company and its Subsidiaries on such date to (b) the Working Capital Amount on such date.

5. The definition of “ Credit Documents ” appearing in Section 1.1 of the Original Credit Agreement is hereby amended by inserting the text “, the Amendment and Restatement Agreement” immediately after the text “the Fifth Amendment” appearing therein.

6. The definition of “ FCPA Settlement ” appearing in Section 1.1 of the Original Credit Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety as follows:

FCPA Settlement ” shall mean those certain settlements by the Company in 2010 with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the U.S. Department of Justice regarding potential criminal and civil violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, 15 U.S.C. §§ 78dd-1, et seq. , that resulted in the disgorgement in profits and fines totaling $19,450,000.

7. The definition of “ FCPA Settlement Expense ” appearing in Section 1.1 of the Original Credit Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety as follows:

“FCPA Settlement Expense” shall mean the incurrence by the Company and its Subsidiaries of all monitoring and legal expenses incurred in connection with compliance with the FCPA Settlement.

8. The definition of “ Guaranty Obligations ” is hereby amended by inserting the following new sentence at the end thereof:

“Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in any other Credit Document, in no event will Guaranty Obligations include any Excluded Swap Obligations.”

9. The definition of “ Hedging Agreement Provider ” appearing in Section 1.1 of the Original Credit Agreement is hereby amended by replacing the text “the Credit Agreement” appearing therein with the text “this Agreement” in lieu thereof.

 

3


10. Section 1.3 of the Original Credit Agreement is hereby amended by (i) replacing the text “, each Zimbabwe Subsidiary” appearing therein with the text “and any of the calculations of Consolidated Net Income, Consolidated EBITDA or any financial ratio, (i) each Zimbabwe Subsidiary” in lieu thereof and (ii) inserting the text “and (ii) each Person that is not a Subsidiary of the Company shall not be consolidated with the Company and its Subsidiaries (notwithstanding the fact that such Person may actually be consolidated for purposes of GAAP) (any such Person, a “ Minority Interest Consolidated Entity ”)” immediately before the text “; provided further ” appearing therein.

11. Section 5.1 of the Original Credit Agreement is hereby amended by (i) replacing the text “(other than the Zimbabwe Subsidiaries)” in each instance that it appears therein with the text “(other than the Zimbabwe Subsidiaries but including Minority Interest Consolidated Entities)” in lieu thereof and (ii) replacing the text “(other than the Zimbabwe Subsidiary)” appearing therein with the text “(other than the Zimbabwe Subsidiaries but including Minority Interest Consolidated Entities)” in lieu thereof.

12. Section 5.2(b) of the Original Credit Agreement is hereby amended by (i) replacing the text “shall (t)” appearing therein with the text “shall (s)” in lieu thereof, (ii) replacing the text “(u)” appearing therein with the text “(t)” in lieu thereof, (iii) replacing the text “preceding clause (t)” appearing therein with the text “preceding clause (s)” in lieu thereof and insert the following new clause (u) immediately before clause (v) appearing therein:

“(u) include related financial statements (which may be in summary form) reflecting adjustments necessary to eliminate the accounts of Minority Interest Consolidated Entities (if any) (together with supporting detail as may be requested by the Administrative Agent),”.

13. Section 5.9(a) of the Original Credit Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety as follows:

(a) Minimum Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio . Maintain at all times a Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio of not less than the following:

 

Period

  

Ratio

January 1, 2013 through and including June 30, 2013

   1.90 to 1.00

July 1, 2013 through and including September 30, 2013

   1.80 to 1.00

October 1, 2013 through and including December 31, 2013

   1.85 to 1.00

January 1, 2014 and thereafter

   1.90 to 1.00

 

4


14. Section 5.9(b) of the Original Credit Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety as follows:

(b) Maximum Consolidated Leverage Ratio . Maintain at all times a Consolidated Leverage Ratio of not more than the following:

 

Period

  

Ratio

January 1, 2013 through and including March 31, 2013

   5.90 to 1.00

April 1, 2013 through and including June 30, 2013

   7.25 to 1.00

July 1, 2013 through and including September 30, 2013

   7.80 to 1.00

October 1, 2013 through and including December 31, 2013

   6.95 to 1.00

January 1, 2014 through and including March 31, 2014

   6.10 to 1.00

April 1, 2014 through and including June 30, 2014

   6.95 to 1.00

July 1, 2014 through and including September 30, 2014

   7.25 to 1.00

October 1, 2014 through and including December 31, 2014

   6.95 to 1.00

January 1, 2015 through and including March 31, 2015

   5.85 to 1.00

April 1, 2015 through and including June 30, 2015

   6.75 to 1.00

July 1, 2015 through and including September 30, 2015

   6.95 to 1.00

October 1, 2015 through and including December 31, 2015

   6.45 to 1.00

January 1, 2016 through and including March 31, 2016

   5.50 to 1.00

April 1, 2016 through and including June 30, 2016

   6.25 to 1.00

July 1, 2016 through and including September 30, 2016

   6.45 to 1.00

October 1, 2016 through and including December 31, 2016

   6.25 to 1.00

January 1, 2017 and thereafter

   5.10 to 1.00

15. Section 5.9(e) of the Original Credit Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety as follows:

“[Reserved]”.

16. Section 5.11(b) of the Original Credit Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety as follows:

“(b) The Company and its Subsidiaries will cause 100% of the Capital Stock (other than directors’ qualifying shares and/or other nominal amounts of shares required to be held

 

5


by local nationals, in each case to the extent required by applicable law) of (i) the Dutch Borrower, (ii) Alliance AG, (iii) the Foreign Subsidiaries set forth on Schedule 1.1(b) , (iv) each of their respective Material Foreign Subsidiaries, and (v) WLT to be subject at all times to a first priority, perfected Lien in favor of the Administrative Agent for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties to secure the Dutch Borrower’s and Alliance AG’s obligations pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Security Documents or such other security documents as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request; provided , however , that (x) a pledge of the Capital Stock of China Brasil Tabacos Exportadora Ltda. shall not be required pursuant to this clause (b) prior to August 1, 2014, and (y) if at any time more than 65% of the aggregate issued and outstanding Voting Stock of any Foreign Subsidiary is pledged (any such excess Voting Stock being herein called “ Excess Material Foreign Subsidiary Voting Stock ”), such Excess Material Foreign Subsidiary Voting Stock shall only secure Credit Party Obligations consisting of the Credit Party Obligations of the Dutch Borrower and guarantees by one or more Guarantors of Credit Party Obligations of the Dutch Borrower.”

17. Section 6.1(l) of the Original Credit Agreement is hereby amended by (i) replacing the text “$675,000,000” appearing therein with the text “$875,000,000” in lieu thereof and (ii) replacing the text “$500,000,000” appearing therein with the text “$550,000,000” in lieu thereof.

18. Section 6.2(p) of the Original Credit Agreement is hereby amended by (i) inserting the text “securities,” immediately before the text “cash and Cash Equivalents” appearing therein, (ii) inserting the text “securities accounts,” immediately before the text “deposit accounts” appearing therein and (iii) replacing the text “ provided that such deposit account” appearing therein with the text “ provided that such securities account or deposit account” in lieu thereof.

19. Section 6.2 of the Original Credit Agreement is hereby further amended by (i) deleting the text “and” appearing at end of clause (s) therein, (ii) replacing the period appearing at the end of clause (t) therein with the text “; and” in lieu thereof and (iii) inserting the following new clause (u) at the end thereof:

“(u) 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 or exportation of goods in the ordinary course of business.”

20. Section 6.5 of the Original Credit Agreement is hereby amended by (i) replacing the text “ Section 5.9(a) , (b) , (c)   and (e) ” appearing therein with the text “ Section 5.9(a) , (b)  and (c) ” in lieu thereof and (ii) replacing the text “ Sections 5.9(a) , (b) , (c)  and (e) ” in each instance that it appears therein with the text “ Sections 5.9(a) , (b)  and (c) ” in lieu thereof.

21. Section 6.10 of the Original Credit Agreement is hereby amended by replacing the text “ Sections 5.9(a) , (b) , (c)  and (e) ” in each instance that it appears therein with the text “ Sections 5.9(a) , (b)  and (c) ” in lieu thereof.

 

6


22. Section 9.6(b)(iii) of the Original Credit Agreement is hereby amended by inserting the following text immediately after the text “Approved Fund” appearing therein:

“; provided that the Administrative Borrower shall be deemed to have consented to any such assignment unless it shall object thereto by written notice to the Administrative Agent within five Business Days after having received notice thereof”.

 

7


ANNEX II

AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT

among

ALLIANCE ONE INTERNATIONAL, INC.,

as the Company and a Borrower,

INTABEX NETHERLANDS B.V.,

as the Dutch Borrower

THE MATERIAL DOMESTIC SUBSIDIARIES OF THE COMPANY

FROM TIME TO TIME PARTIES HERETO,

as Domestic Guarantors,

ALLIANCE ONE INTERNATIONAL AG, as a Guarantor,

THE LENDERS FROM TIME TO TIME PARTIES HERETO,

DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS,

as Administrative Agent,

CREDIT SUISSE SECURITIES (USA) LLC,

NATIXIS,

ING BELGIUM, BRUSSELS, GENEVA BRANCH,

INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL BANK OF CHINA LIMITED, LONDON BRANCH,

as Syndication Agents,

STANDARD CHARTERED BANK,

as Documentation Agent

DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC.,

as Sole Lead Arranger and Sole Book Manager,

and

CREDIT SUISSE SECURITIES (USA) LLC,

NATIXIS,

ING BELGIUM, BRUSSELS, GENEVA BRANCH,

INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL BANK OF CHINA LIMITED, LONDON BRANCH,

STANDARD CHARTERED BANK,

as Co-Arrangers

Dated as of August [    ], 2013 1 ,

 

1   First date on which all of the conditions set forth in Part II Section 7 of the Amendment and Restated Agreement are either satisfied or waived by the Required Lenders to be inserted into final document.


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         Page  

ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS

     2   

Section 1.1

 

Defined Terms

     2   

Section 1.2

 

Other Definitional Provisions

     40   

Section 1.3

 

Accounting Terms

     41   

Section 1.4

 

Time References

     41   

Section 1.5

 

Execution of Documents

     42   

Section 1.6

 

Dutch Terms

     42   

ARTICLE II THE LOANS; AMOUNT AND TERMS

     42   

Section 2.1

 

Revolving Loans

     42   

Section 2.2

 

Swingline Loan Subfacility

     45   

Section 2.3

 

Letter of Credit Subfacility

     48   

Section 2.4

 

Fees

     52   

Section 2.5

 

Commitment Reductions

     55   

Section 2.6

 

Prepayments

     56   

Section 2.7

 

Default Rate and Payment Dates

     59   

Section 2.8

 

Conversion Options

     59   

Section 2.9

 

Computation of Interest and Fees

     60   

Section 2.10

 

Pro Rata Treatment and Payments

     60   

Section 2.11

 

Non-Receipt of Funds by the Administrative Agent

     63   

Section 2.12

 

Failure to Satisfy Conditions Precedent

     64   

Section 2.13

 

Inability to Determine Interest Rate

     64   

Section 2.14

 

Illegality

     64   

Section 2.15

 

Requirements of Law

     65   

Section 2.16

 

Indemnity

     67   

Section 2.17

 

Taxes

     67   

Section 2.18

 

Indemnification; Nature of Issuing Lenders’ Duties

     70   

Section 2.19

 

Administrative Borrower as Agent for the Dutch Borrower

     72   

Section 2.20

 

Obligations of Borrowers

     72   

Section 2.21

 

Parallel Debt

     73   

Section 2.22

 

Substitution of Lender; Removal of Lender

     74   

Section 2.23

 

Incremental Revolving Commitments

     76   

Section 2.24

 

Special Provisions Relating to Conversion of Revolving Commitments and Revolving Loans

     78   

Section 2.25

 

Excess Senior Secured Notes Proceeds

     79   

ARTICLE III REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

     82   

Section 3.1

 

Financial Condition

     82   

Section 3.2

 

No Change

     82   

Section 3.3

 

Corporate Existence; Compliance with Law

     82   

 

i


Section 3.4

 

Corporate Power; Authorization; Enforceable Obligations; No Consents

     83   

Section 3.5

 

No Legal Bar; No Default

     83   

Section 3.6

 

No Material Litigation

     83   

Section 3.7

 

Investment Company Act; etc.

     84   

Section 3.8

 

Margin Regulations

     84   

Section 3.9

 

ERISA

     84   

Section 3.10

 

Environmental Matters

     85   

Section 3.11

 

Use of Proceeds

     86   

Section 3.12

 

Subsidiaries

     86   

Section 3.13

 

Ownership

     86   

Section 3.14

 

Taxes

     86   

Section 3.15

 

Intellectual Property

     86   

Section 3.16

 

Solvency

     87   

Section 3.17

 

No Burdensome Restrictions

     87   

Section 3.18

 

Accuracy and Completeness of Information

     87   

Section 3.19

 

Security Documents

     87   

Section 3.20

 

Senior Debt

     88   

Section 3.21

 

Anti-Terrorism Laws

     88   

Section 3.22

 

Compliance with OFAC Rules and Regulations

     89   

Section 3.23

 

Compliance with FCPA

     89   

Section 3.24

 

Secured Hedging Agreements

     89   

ARTICLE IV CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

     89   

Section 4.1

 

Conditions to Effective Date

     89   

Section 4.2

 

Conditions to All Extensions of Credit

     89   

ARTICLE V AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

     91   

Section 5.1

 

Financial Statements

     91   

Section 5.2

 

Certificates; Other Information

     93   

Section 5.3

 

Payment of Obligations

     95   

Section 5.4

 

Conduct of Business and Maintenance of Existence

     95   

Section 5.5

 

Maintenance of Property; Insurance

     95   

Section 5.6

 

Inspection of Property; Books and Records; Discussions

     96   

Section 5.7

 

Notices

     96   

Section 5.8

 

Environmental Laws

     97   

Section 5.9

 

Financial Covenants

     98   

Section 5.10

 

Additional Guarantors; etc.

     100   

Section 5.11

 

Pledged Assets

     101   

Section 5.13

 

Post-Closing Covenant

     102   

ARTICLE VI NEGATIVE COVENANTS

     102   

Section 6.1

 

Indebtedness

     102   

Section 6.2

 

Liens

     104   

Section 6.3

 

Guaranty Obligations

     107   

 

ii


Section 6.4

 

Consolidation, Merger, Sale or Purchase of Assets, etc.

     108   

Section 6.5

 

Acquisitions, Advances, Investments and Loans

     110   

Section 6.6

 

Transactions with Affiliates

     113   

Section 6.7

 

Ownership of Subsidiaries; Restrictions

     113   

Section 6.8

 

Fiscal Year; Changes to Business of Alliance

     113   

Section 6.9

 

Limitation on Restricted Actions

     114   

Section 6.10

 

Restricted Payments

     115   

Section 6.11

 

Amendments to Indebtedness, etc.

     116   

Section 6.12

 

Sale Leasebacks

     116   

Section 6.13

 

No Further Negative Pledges

     117   

Section 6.14

 

Maximum Uncommitted Inventories

     117   

ARTICLE VII EVENTS OF DEFAULT

     118   

Section 7.1

 

Events of Default

     118   

Section 7.2

 

Acceleration; Remedies

     120   

ARTICLE VIII THE AGENT

     121   

Section 8.1

 

Appointment and Authority

     121   

Section 8.2

 

Nature of Duties

     121   

Section 8.3

 

Exculpatory Provisions

     122   

Section 8.4

 

Reliance by Administrative Agent

     123   

Section 8.5

 

Notice of Default

     123   

Section 8.6

 

Non-Reliance on Administrative Agent and Other Lenders

     124   

Section 8.7

 

Indemnification

     124   

Section 8.8

 

Administrative Agent in Its Individual Capacity

     124   

Section 8.9

 

Successor Administrative Agent

     125   

Section 8.10

 

Collateral and Guaranty Matters

     126   

ARTICLE IX MISCELLANEOUS

     127   

Section 9.1

 

Amendments and Waivers

     127   

Section 9.2

 

Notices

     129   

Section 9.3

 

No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies

     130   

Section 9.4

 

Survival of Representations and Warranties

     130   

Section 9.5

 

Payment of Expenses and Taxes

     130   

Section 9.6

 

Successors and Assigns; Participations

     131   

Section 9.7

 

Adjustments; Set-off

     136   

Section 9.8

 

Table of Contents and Section Headings

     137   

Section 9.9

 

Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness; Electronic Execution

     137   

Section 9.10

 

Severability

     138   

Section 9.11

 

Governing Law

     138   

Section 9.12

 

Consent to Jurisdiction and Service of Process

     138   

Section 9.13

 

Confidentiality

     138   

Section 9.14

 

Acknowledgments

     140   

Section 9.15

 

Waivers of Jury Trial

     140   

 

iii


Section 9.16

 

Patriot Act Notice

     140   

Section 9.17

 

Judgment Currency

     141   

Section 9.18

 

Continuing Agreement

     141   

Section 9.19

 

Foreign Pledge Agreement

     142   

Section 9.20

 

Special Provisions Relating to the Amendment and Restatement Agreement

     142   

ARTICLE X GUARANTY OF COMPANY OBLIGATIONS

     143   

Section 10.1

 

The Domestic Guaranty

     143   

Section 10.2

 

Bankruptcy

     144   

Section 10.3

 

Nature of Liability

     145   

Section 10.4

 

Independent Obligation

     145   

Section 10.5

 

Authorization

     145   

Section 10.6

 

Reliance

     146   

Section 10.7

 

Waiver

     146   

Section 10.8

 

Limitation on Enforcement

     148   

Section 10.9

 

Confirmation of Payment

     148   

Section 10.10

 

Continuing Guaranty

     149   

Section 10.11

 

Subordination of Indebtedness Held by Guarantors

     149   

Section 10.12

 

Payments

     150   

ARTICLE XI GUARANTY OF THE DUTCH BORROWER OBLIGATIONS

     150   

Section 11.1

 

The Foreign Guaranty

     150   

Section 11.2

 

Bankruptcy

     151   

Section 11.3

 

Nature of Liability

     151   

Section 11.4

 

Independent Obligation

     152   

Section 11.5

 

Authorization

     152   

Section 11.6

 

Reliance

     152   

Section 11.7

 

Waiver

     153   

Section 11.8

 

Limitation on Enforcement

     155   

Section 11.9

 

Limitation on Guaranty of Alliance AG

     155   

Section 11.10

 

Confirmation of Payment

     157   

Section 11.11

 

Continuing Guaranty

     158   

Section 11.12

 

Subordination of Indebtedness Held by Guarantors

     158   

Section 11.13

 

Payments

     159   

 

iv


Schedules

 

Schedule 1.1(a)   Form of Account Designation Letter
Schedule 1.1(b)   Pledged Foreign Subsidiaries
Schedule 1.1(c)   Foreign Pledge Agreements
Schedule 1.1(d)   Revolving Commitment Schedule
Schedule 2.1(b)(i)   Form of Notice of Borrowing
Schedule 2.1(e)   Form of Revolving Note
Schedule 2.2(d)   Form of Swingline Note
Schedule 2.3(b)   Form of Letter of Credit Request
Schedule 2.8   Form of Notice of Conversion/Extension
Schedule 2.23   Form of Incremental Revolving Commitment Agreement
Schedule 3.12   Subsidiaries
Schedule 3.24   Secured Hedging Agreements
Schedule 5.2(c)   Form of Working Capital Amount Certificate
Schedule 5.10   Form of Joinder Agreement
Schedule 5.13   Post-Closing Covenant
Schedule 6.1(b)   Indebtedness
Schedule 6.1(d)   Form of Intercompany Note
Schedule 6.2(b)   Liens
Schedule 6.5(o)   Investments
Schedule 9.6   Form of Assignment and Assumption
Schedule 9.19   Form of Argentinean Power of Attorney

 

v


AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT

AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT , dated as of July 2, 2009, among ALLIANCE ONE INTERNATIONAL, INC. , a Virginia corporation (the “ Company ”), INTABEX NETHERLANDS B.V. , a company formed under the laws of The Netherlands and a Subsidiary of the Company (the “ Dutch Borrower ”; together with the Company, collectively the “ Borrowers ,” and individually, a “ Borrower ”), those Material Domestic Subsidiaries of the Company identified as a “ Domestic Guarantor ” on the signature pages hereto and such other Domestic Subsidiaries of the Company as may from time to time become a party hereto (collectively the “ Domestic Guarantors ”), ALLIANCE ONE INTERNATIONAL AG , a Swiss corporation (“ Alliance AG ”; together with the Company and the Domestic Guarantors, collectively the “ Guarantors ” and individually, a “ Guarantor ”), the several banks and other financial institutions from time to time party hereto (collectively the “ Lenders ,” and individually, a “ Lender ”), and DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS , as administrative agent for the Lenders hereunder (in such capacity, the “ Administrative Agent ”) and as the Swingline Lender and as an Issuing Lender, as amended by First Amendment To Credit Agreement, dated as of August 24, 2009, by Second Amendment To Credit Agreement, dated as of June 9, 2010, by Third Amendment To Credit Agreement, dated as of June 6, 2011, by Fourth Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated as of November 3, 2011 and effective as of September 29, 2011, and by Fifth Amendment To Credit Agreement, dated as of June 13, 2012 (as so amended, the “ Existing Credit Agreement ”), and as amended and restated by the Amendment and Restatement Agreement, dated as of August [    ], 2013 2 .

W I T N E S S E T H :

WHEREAS , the Borrowers have requested that the Lenders and the Administrative Agent amend and restate the Existing Credit Agreement as more particularly described herein pursuant to the terms of the Amendment and Restated Agreement (defined below).

NOW, THEREFORE , in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants contained in the Amendment and Restatement Agreement and herein, the Borrowers, the Guarantors, the Extended Revolving Lenders , each Additional Extended Revolving Lender (as defined therein), the “Required Lenders” under the Existing Credit Agreement immediately prior to the Initial Effective Date (as defined therein) and the Administrative Agent hereby agree as follows:

 

2   First date on which all of the conditions set forth in Part II Section 7 of the Amendment and Restated Agreement are either satisfied or waived by the Required Lenders to be inserted into final document.


ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

Section 1.1 Defined Terms . As used in this Agreement, terms defined in the preamble to this Agreement have the meanings therein indicated, and the following terms have the following meanings:

Account Designation Letter ” shall mean the Account Designation Letter dated as of the Original Effective Date from the Administrative Borrower to the Administrative Agent substantially in the form attached hereto as Schedule 1.1 (a) .

Acquisition ” shall mean any transaction, or any series of related transactions, by which the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries directly or indirectly (a) acquires any ongoing business or all or substantially all of the assets of any Person or division thereof, whether through purchase of assets, merger or otherwise, (b) acquires (in one transaction or as the most recent transaction in a series of transactions) control of at least a majority in ordinary voting power of the securities of a Person which have ordinary voting power for the election of directors or (c) otherwise acquires control of a 50% or more ownership interest in any such Person.

Additional Credit Party ” shall mean each Person that becomes a Guarantor by execution of a Joinder Agreement in accordance with Section 5.10 .

Additional Extended Revolving Commitment ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Amendment and Restatement Agreement.

Additional Extended Revolving Lender ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Amendment and Restatement Agreement.

Administrative Agent ” shall have the meaning set forth in the first paragraph of this Agreement and any successors in such capacity.

Administrative Borrower ” shall mean the Company.

Administrative Questionnaire ” shall mean an administrative questionnaire in a form supplied by the Administrative Agent.

Advances on Tobacco ” shall mean loans, advances and extensions of credit made by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to growers and other suppliers of tobacco (including Affiliates) and tobacco growers’ cooperatives, whether short-term or long-term, in the ordinary course of business to finance the growing or processing of tobacco.

Affiliate ” shall mean, 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.

Agents ” shall mean the Administrative Agent, and Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Natixis, ING Belgium, Brussels, Geneva Branch and Industrial and Commercial Bank Of China Limited, London Branch , as Syndication Agents, and Standard Chartered Bank, as Documentation Agent.

 

2


Agreement ” or “ Credit Agreement ” shall mean this Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time in accordance with its terms.

Alliance AG ” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble of this Agreement.

Alliance AG Guaranty ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11.9 .

Alliance AG Guaranty Payments ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11.9(b) .

Allocable Revolving Percentage ” shall mean, at any time, (a) with respect to the Non-Extended Revolving Commitments or the Non-Extended Revolving Lenders, the percentage of the Revolving Commitments represented at such time by the Non-Extended Revolving Commitments and (b) with respect to the Extended Revolving Commitments or the Extended Revolving Lenders, the percentage of the Revolving Commitments represented at such time by the Extended Revolving Commitments; provided that if any such Revolving Commitment, Non-Extended Revolving Commitment or Extended Revolving Commitment, as the case may be, has been terminated, then the Allocable Revolving Percentage of each applicable Lender shall be determined based on the Allocable Revolving Percentage of such Lender immediately prior to such termination and after giving effect to any subsequent assignments made pursuant to the terms hereof.

Alternate Base Rate ” shall mean, for any day, a rate per annum equal to the greater of (a) the Prime Rate in effect on such day and (b) the Federal Funds Effective Rate in effect on such day plus 1/2 of 1%. For purposes hereof: “ Prime Rate ” shall mean, at any time, the rate of interest per annum publicly announced from time to time by the Administrative Agent, as its prime lending rate. Each change in the Prime Rate shall be effective as of the opening of business on the day such change in the Prime Rate occurs. The parties hereto acknowledge that the rate announced publicly by the Administrative Agent as its Prime Rate is an index or base rate and shall not necessarily be its lowest or best rate charged to its customers or other banks; and “ Federal Funds Effective Rate ” shall mean, for any day, 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 on the next succeeding Business Day by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or, if such rate is not so published on the next succeeding Business Day, the average of the quotations for the day of such transactions received by the Administrative Agent from three (3) federal funds brokers of recognized standing selected by it. If for any reason the Administrative Agent shall have determined (which determination shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error) that it is unable to ascertain the Federal Funds Effective Rate, for any reason, including the inability or failure of the Administrative Agent to obtain sufficient quotations in accordance with the terms thereof, the Alternate Base Rate shall be determined without regard to clause (b) of the first sentence of this definition, as appropriate, until the circumstances giving rise to such inability no longer exist. Any change in the Alternate Base Rate due to a change in the Prime Rate or the Federal Funds Effective Rate shall be effective on the opening of business on the date of such change.

 

3


Alternate Base Rate Loans ” shall mean Loans that bear interest at an interest rate based on the Alternate Base Rate.

Amendment and Restatement Agreement ” means the Amendment and Restatement Agreement, dated as of July 26, 2013, among the Borrowers, the Guarantors, the Extended Revolving Lenders (as defined therein), each Additional Extended Revolving Lender, the “Required Lenders” under the Existing Credit Agreement immediately prior to the Initial Effective Date (as defined therein) and the Administrative Agent.

Applicable Borrower ” shall mean, (a) with respect to any Revolving Loan or Swingline Loan, the Borrower that has borrowed such Revolving Loan or Swingline Loan and (b) with respect to any Letter of Credit, the Borrower for whose account the Administrative Borrower has requested such Letter of Credit be issued.

Applicable Lending Office ” shall mean, with respect to each Lender, such Lender’s Domestic Lending Office in the case of an Alternate Base Rate Loan and such Lender’s LIBOR Lending Office in the case of LIBOR Rate Loans.

Applicable Percentage ” shall mean, at any time, the rate set forth below opposite the applicable Level then in effect, and based on the Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio as follows:

 

Level

   Consolidated
Interest Coverage
Ratio
   Applicable Percentage for
Revolving Loans
    Commitment
Fee
 
      Alternate
Base Rate
Margin
    LIBOR Rate
Margin and
Letter of
Credit Fees
   

I

   < 1.75 to 1.0      3.00     4.00     1.00

II

   ³  1.75 to 1.0 but
< 2.25 to 1.0
     2.75     3.75     1.00

III

   ³  2.25 to 1.0 but

< 2.75 to 1.0

     2.50     3.50     1.00

IV

   ³ 2.75 to 1.0      2.25     3.25     1.00

The Applicable Percentages for Revolving Loans, Letter of Credit Fees and the Commitment Fee shall be those set forth in Level II from and after the Effective Date until the Interest Determination Date occurring after the delivery of the officer’s compliance certificate pursuant to Section 5.2(b) for the fiscal quarter ending September 30, 2013. The Applicable Percentage shall, in each case, be determined and adjusted quarterly on the date five (5) Business Days after the date on which the Administrative Agent has received from the Company the annual or quarterly financial information and certifications required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders in accordance with the provisions of Sections 5.1(a) and (b)  and Section 5.2(b) , in each case with respect to a fiscal quarter or fiscal year ending on or after September 30, 2013 (each an “ Interest Determination Date ”). Such Applicable Percentage shall be effective from such Interest Determination Date until the next such Interest

 

4


Determination Date. After the Effective Date, if the Company shall fail to provide the annual or quarterly financial information and certifications in accordance with the provisions of Sections 5.1(a) and (b)  and Section 5.2(b) , the Applicable Percentage from the date five (5) Business Days after the date by which the Company was so required to provide such financial information and certifications to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, shall, in each case, be based on Level I until such time as such information and certifications are provided, whereupon the Level shall be determined by the then current Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio (it being understood that, in the case of any late delivery of the financial statements and officer’s certificate as so required, any reduction in the Applicable Percentage shall apply only from and after the date of the delivery of the complying financial statements and officer’s certificate). In the event that any financial statement or certification delivered pursuant to Section 5.1 or 5.2(b) is shown to be inaccurate (regardless of whether this Agreement or any Revolving Commitments are in effect when such inaccuracy is discovered), and such inaccuracy, if corrected, would have led to the application of a higher Applicable Percentage for any period (an “ Applicable Period ”) than the Applicable Percentage applied for such Applicable Period, and only in such case, then the Company shall immediately (i) deliver to the Administrative Agent a corrected compliance certificate for such Applicable Period, and (ii) determine the Applicable Percentage for such Applicable Period based upon the corrected compliance certificate, and (iii) then for all purposes of this Agreement, the “ Applicable Percentage ” for any day occurring within the Applicable Period shall retroactively be deemed to be the relevant percentage as based upon the accurately determined Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio for such Applicable Period; and any shortfall in the interest or fees theretofore paid by the Applicable Borrower for the relevant Applicable Period pursuant to Sections 2.1(d) , 2.2(c) , 2.4(a) and 2.4(b) as a result of the miscalculation of the Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio shall be deemed to be (and shall be) due and payable under the relevant provisions of Sections 2.1(d) , 2.2(c) , 2.4(a) or 2.4(b) , as applicable, at the time the interest or fees for such Applicable Period were required to be paid pursuant to said Section (and shall remain due and payable until paid in full, together with all amounts owing under Section 2.7 , in accordance with the terms of this Agreement).

It is understood and agreed that (x) the “Applicable Percentage” (as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement immediately prior to giving effect to the Effective Date) shall apply for all periods prior to the Effective Date, and (y) the “Applicable Percentage” (as defined herein) shall apply for all periods on and after the Effective Date.

Approved Accounting Firm ” shall mean Deloitte & Touche or any other independent public accountants selected by the Company and reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

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

Arrangers ” shall mean the Sole Lead Arranger and the Co-Arrangers.

Asset Disposition ” shall mean the disposition of any or all of the assets (including, without limitation, the Capital Stock of a Subsidiary or any ownership interest in a joint venture) of any Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries, whether by sale, lease, transfer or

 

5


otherwise, in a single transaction or in a series of related transactions. The term “ Asset Disposition ” shall not include (a) the sale, lease, transfer or other disposition of assets permitted by Section 6.4(a)(i) , (ii) , (iii) , (iv) , (v) , (vi)  or (vii)  or (b) any Equity Issuance.

Assignment and Assumption ” shall mean an assignment and assumption entered into by a Lender and an Eligible Assignee and accepted by the Administrative Agent, in substantially the form of Schedule 9.6 or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.

Back-Stop Arrangements ” shall mean, collectively, Letter of Credit Back-Stop Arrangements and Swingline Back-Stop Arrangements.

Bankruptcy Code ” shall mean the Bankruptcy Code in Title 11 of the United States Code, as amended, modified, succeeded or replaced from time to time.

Bankruptcy Event ” shall mean the occurrence of an Event of Default under Section 7.1(e) .

Blocked Account ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.25(a) .

Blocked Account Collateral ” shall mean and include the Blocked Account and all Blocked Account Proceeds.

Blocked Account Control Agreement ” shall mean the account control agreement among the Company, the Administrative Agent and the financial institution acting as a depository bank with respect to the Blocked Account, entered into pursuant to Part II Section 7(xxiii) of the Amendment and Restatement Agreement.

Blocked Account Proceeds ” shall mean any and all assets of whatever type or kind deposited in the Blocked Account, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, including all moneys, checks, drafts, instruments, securities or interests therein of any type or nature deposited in the Blocked Account and all investments and all certificates and other instruments from time to time representing or evidencing the same, and all interest, distributions, cash and other property from time to time received, receivable or otherwise distributed in respect of or in exchange for any or all of the foregoing and all Proceeds (as defined in Section 9 102(a)(64) of the Uniform Commercial Code of New York as in effect on the date hereof) of any or all of the foregoing.

Borrower ” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble of this Agreement.

Borrowing Date ” shall mean, in respect of any Loan, the date such Loan is made.

Business Day ” shall mean a day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York, New York are authorized or required by law to close; provided , however , that when used in connection with a rate determination, borrowing or payment in respect of a LIBOR Rate Loan, the term “ Business Day ” shall also exclude any day on which banks in London, England are not open for dealings in Dollar deposits in the London interbank market.

 

6


Calculation Period ” shall mean as of the last day of any fiscal quarter the four (4) fiscal quarter period of the Company ending on such date.

Capital Expenditure ” shall mean all expenditures for the acquisition or leasing of any fixed assets or improvements, or for replacements, substitutions or additions thereto, which are or should be reflected on the Company’s consolidated statement of cash flows for such period as capital expenditures in accordance with GAAP.

Capital Lease ” shall mean any lease of property, real or personal, the obligations with respect to which are required to be capitalized on a balance sheet of the lessee in accordance with GAAP.

Capital Stock ” shall mean (a) in the case of a corporation, capital stock, (b) in the case of an association or business entity, any and all shares, interests, participations, rights or other equivalents (however designated) of capital stock, (c) in the case of a partnership, partnership interests (whether general or limited), (d) in the case of a limited liability company, shares or membership interests, as the case may be, and (e) 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.

Cash Equivalents ” shall mean (a) securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the United States of America or any agency or instrumentality thereof ( provided that the full faith and credit of the United States of America is pledged in support thereof) having maturities of not more than twelve (12) months from the date of acquisition (“ Government Obligations ”), (b) Investments in deposits in (including money market funds of), or certificates of deposits or bankers’ acceptances of, (i) any bank or trust company organized under the laws of the United States or any state thereof having capital and surplus in excess of $100,000,000, (ii) any international bank organized under the laws of any country which is a member of the OECD or a political subdivision of any such country, and having a combined capital and surplus of at least $100,000,000, or (iii) leading banks in a country where the Company or the Subsidiary making such Investment does business; provided , that all such Investments mature within 270 days of the date of such Investment; and provided , further , that all Investments pursuant to clause (iii) above are (A) solely of funds generated in the ordinary course of business by operations of the relevant investor in the country where such Investment is made, and (B) denominated in the currency of the country in which such Investment is made or in Dollars, (c) commercial paper maturing within 270 days and having one of the two highest ratings of either S&P, Moody’s or Fitch Investors’ Service, Inc., (d) money market funds (other than those referred to in clause (c) above) that have assets in excess of $2,000,000,000, are managed by recognized and responsible institutions and invest solely in obligations of the types referred to in clauses (a), (b)(i) and (ii) and (c) above, (e) repurchase agreements with a bank or trust company (including a Lender) or recognized securities dealer having capital and surplus in excess of $500,000,000 for direct obligations issued by or directly and fully guaranteed by the United States of America, and (f) obligations of any state of the United States or any political subdivision thereof for the payment of the principal and redemption price of and interest on which there shall have been irrevocably deposited Government Obligations maturing as to principal and interest at times and in amounts sufficient to provide such payment.

 

7


Change of Control ” shall mean such time as:

(a) any Person or group (within the meaning of Section l3(d) or 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act) has become, directly or indirectly, the beneficial owner, by way of merger, consolidation or otherwise, of 35% or more of the voting power of the Voting Stock of the Company on a fully-diluted basis, after giving effect to the conversion and exercise of all outstanding warrants, options and other securities of the Company convertible into or exercisable for Voting Stock of the Company (whether or not such securities are then currently convertible or exercisable); or

(b) the sale, lease or transfer of all or substantially all of the consolidated assets of the Company to any Person or group; or

(c) during any period of two (2) consecutive calendar years, individuals who at the beginning of such period constituted the Board of Directors of the Company, together with any new members of such Board of Directors whose election by such Board of Directors or whose nomination for election by the stockholders of the Company was approved by a vote of a majority of the members of such Board of Directors then still in office who either were directors at the beginning of such period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved, cease for any reason to constitute a majority of the directors of the Company then in office; or

(d) the Company consolidates with or merges with or into another Person or any Person consolidates with, or merges with or into, the Company (in each case, whether or not in compliance with the terms of this Agreement), in any such event pursuant to a transaction in which immediately after the consummation thereof Persons owning a majority of the Voting Stock of the Company immediately prior to such consummation shall cease to own a majority of the Voting Stock of the Company; or

(e) the Company shall fail to own and control, directly or indirectly, 100% of the outstanding Capital Stock of the Dutch Borrower.

Co-Arrangers ” shall mean Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Natixis, ING Belgium, Brussels, Geneva Branch, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Limited, London Branch and Standard Chartered Bank, as Co-Arrangers.

Code ” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.

Collateral ” shall mean a collective reference to the collateral that is identified in, and at any time will be covered by, any Security Document and any other collateral that may from time to time secure any Credit Party Obligations (including the Blocked Account Collateral).

Commitment Fee ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.4(a) .

Commitment Period ” shall mean (a) with respect to the Non-Extended Revolving Commitment, the period from and including the Effective Date to but not including

 

8


the Non-Extended Maturity Date, and (b) with respect to the Extended Revolving Commitment, the period from and including the Effective Date to but not including the Extended Maturity Date.

Commodity Exchange Act ” shall mean the Commodity Exchange Act (7 U.S.C. § 1 et seq.), as amended from time to time, and any successor statute.

Committed Inventories ” shall mean tobacco inventories for which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has received a Confirmed Order, which such inventories have been reflected on the books and records of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries as committed inventories in accordance with GAAP.

Commonly Controlled Entity ” shall mean an entity, whether or not incorporated, which is under common control of any Credit Party or any Subsidiary of a Credit Party within the meaning of Section 4001 of ERISA or is part of a group which includes the any Credit Party or any Subsidiary of a Credit Party and which is treated as a single employer under Section 414 of the Code.

Company ” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble hereof.

Company LOC Obligations ” shall mean the LOC Obligations in respect of Letters of Credit issued for the account of the Company.

Compliance Certificate ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.2(b) .

Confirmed Order ” shall mean an order or other indication of interest, in accordance with industry standards, by a customer not an Affiliate of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries which has been accepted in the ordinary course of business by representatives of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

Consolidated Capital Expenditures ” shall mean, as of the last day of any fiscal quarter of the Company for the Calculation Period ending on such date, all Capital Expenditures by the Company and its Subsidiaries.

Consolidated EBIT ” shall mean, as of the last day of any fiscal quarter of the Company for the Calculation Period ending on such date, the sum (without duplication) of (a) Consolidated Net Income plus (b) to the extent included in the determination of such Consolidated Net Income, (i) Consolidated Income Tax Expense plus (ii) Consolidated Interest Expense minus (iii) any extraordinary items of gain minus (iv) any items of gain attributable to Financial Accounting Standards Board Statements No. 121, 123R, 133 (solely with respect to any interest rate swap, cap or collar agreement), 142 and 144 plus (v) any items of loss attributable to Financial Accounting Standards Board Statements No. 121, 123R, 133 (solely with respect to any interest rate swap, cap or collar agreement), 142 and 144 plus (vi) costs and expenses incurred in connection with (A) exit and disposal activities associated with discontinued foreign operations and/or (B) making minority-ownership Investments in joint ventures with customers of the Company and its Subsidiaries, in each case referred to in (A) and (B) of this clause (vi), determined for the Company and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, provided that not more than $5,000,000 in the aggregate for any

 

9


Calculation Period may be added back pursuant to this clause (vi) plus (vii) the Permitted Allowance, provided that not more than $10,000,000 in the aggregate for any Calculation Period may be added back pursuant to this clause (vii) plus (viii) out-of-pocket costs and expenses paid in cash relating to Permitted Acquisitions and Investments, in each case which would have been capitalized under GAAP prior to the application of Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement No. 141(R) minus (ix) write-ups of the Permitted Allowance minus (x) write downs of the Permitted Allowance plus (xi) for any Calculation Period ended on or prior to December 31, 2014, any FCPA Settlement Expenses incurred during such Calculation Period so long as not in excess of $6,000,000 during such Calculation Period, plus (xii) for any Calculation Period ended on or prior to December 31, 2014, any losses of Alliance AG with respect to Investments made in WLT pursuant to Section 6.5(p) of the Existing Credit Agreement incurred during such Calculation Period so long as not in excess of $10,000,000 in the aggregate for all fiscal quarters, plus (xiii) if the transaction contemplated by Section 6.4(a)(x) occurred during such Calculation Period, any amounts that are deducted in Consolidated Net Income in such Calculation Period pursuant to clause (e) of the definition of Consolidated Net Income that would not have been deducted if such transaction had not occurred during such Calculation Period.

Consolidated EBITDA ” shall mean, as of the last day of any fiscal quarter of the Company for the Calculation Period ending on such date, the sum of (a) Consolidated EBIT, plus (b) the aggregate amount of the depreciation expense and amortization expense of the Company and its Subsidiaries to the extent deducted in determining Consolidated Net Income, in each case determined for the Company and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

Consolidated Income Tax Expense ” shall mean, as of the last day of any fiscal quarter of the Company for the Calculation Period ending on such date, the income tax expense of the Company and its Subsidiaries, determined for the Company and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio ” shall mean, as of the last day of any fiscal quarter of the Company for the Calculation Period ending on such date, the ratio of (a) Consolidated EBITDA minus Consolidated Interest Income to (b) Consolidated Net Interest Expense, in each case determined for the Company and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

Consolidated Interest Expense ” shall mean, as of the last day of any fiscal quarter of the Company for the Calculation Period ending on such date, the cash interest expense of the Company and its Subsidiaries (including, without limitation, the cash interest component of payments under Capital Leases and interest expense related to sales of receivables), determined for the Company and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

Consolidated Interest Income ” shall mean, as of the last day of any fiscal quarter of the Company for the Calculation Period ending on such date, the cash interest income of the Company and its Subsidiaries, determined for the Company and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

 

10


Consolidated Leverage Ratio ” shall mean, as of the last day of any fiscal quarter of the Company, the ratio of (i) (x) Consolidated Total Debt as of such date, provided that the outstanding principal amount of Existing Convertible Notes included on such date in the definition of Consolidated Total Debt shall be reduced by the amounts in the Blocked Account on such date minus (y) the aggregate amount on such date of cash and Cash Equivalents of the Company and its Subsidiaries (other than amounts in the Blocked Account) to the extent such cash and Cash Equivalents under this clause (y) exceeds $25,000,000, to (ii) Consolidated EBITDA for the Calculation Period ending on such date.

Consolidated Net Income ” shall mean, as of the last day of any fiscal quarter of the Company for the Calculation Period ending on such date, the sum (without duplication) of (a) the net income (or net loss) of the Company and its Subsidiaries, as determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP plus (b) to the extent deducted in determining such net income (or net loss), (i) any non-cash charge related to the write-off of deferred financing cost plus (ii) to the extent deducted in determining such net income (or net loss), the Transaction Costs incurred during such Calculation Period, plus (c) any dividends or distributions to the extent paid in cash by WLT to Alliance AG, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries minus (d) for the avoidance of doubt, to the extent included in determining net income (or net loss) in clause (a) above, the net income (or net loss) of WLT (other than any amounts described in clause (c) above), minus , (e) any amounts exceeding $10,000,000 with respect to each fiscal year, commencing with the fiscal year ending March 31, 2013, to the extent added in determining such net income as a result of the sale by the Company and its Subsidiaries of property, plant, equipment and growers’ contracts. Notwithstanding the above, for the purposes of Sections 6.5(k) , 6.5(l) and 6.10(d) Consolidated Net Income of the Company shall be determined based on (x) for all periods ending on or prior to June 30, 2013, Consolidated Net Income (as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement immediately prior to giving effect to the Effective Date), and (y) for all periods ending after June 30, 2013, Consolidated Net Income (as defined herein).

Consolidated Net Interest Expense ” shall mean, as of the last day of any fiscal quarter of the Company for the Calculation Period ending on such date, Consolidated Interest Expense minus Consolidated Interest Income, determined for the Company and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

Consolidated Net Worth ” shall mean, at any date, the Company’s total stockholders’ equity at such date, without giving effect to (a) foreign currency translation adjustments under Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement No. 52, “Foreign Currency Translation”, (b) adjustments to the value of the investments of the Company and its Subsidiaries in debt and equity securities under Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement No. 115, “Accounting For Certain Investments In Debt And Equity Securities”, (c) the cost of postretirement benefits to employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries under Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement No. 106, “Employer’s Accounting for Postretirement Benefits Other Than Pensions”, and (c) derivative transactions adjustments under Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement No. 133, determined for the Company and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

 

11


Consolidated Tangible Net Worth ” shall mean, at any date, the sum of (a) Consolidated Net Worth, minus (b) the amount of the intangible assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries at such date, including, without limitation, goodwill (whether representing the excess of cost over book value of assets acquired, or otherwise), capitalized expenses, patents, trademarks, tradenames, copyrights, franchises, licenses and deferred charges (such as, without limitation, unamortized costs and costs of research and development), all determined for the Company and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

Consolidated Total Assets ” shall mean, at any date, the total assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries on such date, as determined for the Company and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

Consolidated Total Debt ” shall mean, at any date, and without duplication, the sum of (a) the outstanding principal amount of Loans on such date, (b) the outstanding principal amount of local revolving credit facility borrowings in jurisdictions outside the United States and other outstanding revolving Indebtedness for borrowed money of Foreign Subsidiaries on such date, (c) the outstanding principal amount of the Existing Notes and the Senior Secured Notes on such date and (d) the outstanding amount of all other Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness as describe in clauses (a), (b), and (c) above) of the Company and its Subsidiaries as same would be shown on a consolidated balance sheet of the Company in accordance with GAAP on such date.

Consolidated Total Senior Debt ” shall mean, at any date, and without duplication, the aggregate principal amount of (a) outstanding Loans on such date, (b) outstanding local credit facility borrowings in jurisdictions outside the United States on such date and other outstanding Indebtedness for borrowed money of Foreign Subsidiaries on such date, (c) customer advances on such date, in each case as determined for the Company and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP and (d) other outstanding Indebtedness (excluding the Subordinated Indebtedness, the Existing Notes and the Senior Secured Notes) of the Company and its Subsidiaries as same would be shown on a consolidated balance sheet of the Company in accordance with GAAP on such date.

Consolidated Total Senior Debt to Working Capital Amount Ratio ” shall mean, at any date, the ratio of (a) Consolidated Total Senior Debt on such date minus cash and Cash Equivalents of the Company and its Subsidiaries (other than amounts in the Blocked Account) on such date to (b) the Working Capital Amount on such date.

Constructive Profit Distribution ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11.9(a) .

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

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 ability to exercise voting power, by contract or otherwise. “ Controlling ” and “ Controlled ” have meanings correlative thereto.

 

12


Corresponding Debt ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.21(b) .

Credit Documents ” shall mean a collective reference to this Agreement, the Intercreditor Agreement, the Notes, the Security Documents, the Original Fee Letter, each Incremental Revolving Commitment Agreement, any Joinder Agreement, each Notice of Borrowing, each Letter of Credit Request, each Notice of Conversion, the Amendment and Restatement Agreement and all other documents delivered by any Credit Party to the Administrative Agent or any Lender in connection herewith or therewith, excluding any Hedging Agreement.

Credit Party ” shall mean any of (i) the Borrowers, (ii) the Guarantors and (iii) the pledgors of the Pledged Foreign Subsidiaries in their capacity as such.

Credit Party Obligations ” shall mean, without duplication, (a) all of the obligations of the Credit Parties to any Lender, the Swingline Lender, any Issuing Lender and any Agent, whenever arising, under this Agreement, the Notes or any of the other Credit Documents (including, but not limited to, any interest accruing after the occurrence of a filing of a petition of bankruptcy under the Bankruptcy Code with respect to any Credit Party, regardless of whether such interest is an allowed claim under the Bankruptcy Code) and (b) all liabilities and obligations, whenever arising, owing from any Borrower or any Guarantor to any Hedging Agreement Provider arising under any Secured Hedging Agreement.

Debt Issuance ” shall mean the issuance of any Indebtedness for borrowed money by any Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries (excluding, for purposes hereof, any Equity Issuance or any Indebtedness of any Credit Party and its Subsidiaries permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 6.1 ).

Debt Rating ” shall mean the debt rating for the Company’s senior, unsecured, non credit enhanced long term Indebtedness for money borrowed as determined by Moody’s and S&P.

Debtor Relief Law ” means the Bankruptcy Code, and all other liquidation, conservatorship, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors, moratorium, rearrangement, receivership, insolvency, reorganization, or similar debtor relief laws of the United States or other applicable jurisdictions from time to time in effect and affecting the rights of creditors generally.

Decree ” shall mean the Besluit definitiebepalingen Wft , dated 12 October 2006, as amended from time to time.

Default ” shall mean any of the events specified in Section 7.1 , whether or not any requirement for the giving of notice or the lapse of time, or both, or any other condition, has been satisfied.

Defaulting Lender ” shall mean any Lender that (i) has failed (which failure has not been cured) to fund any Loan or any participation interest in Letters of Credit or Swingline Loans requested and permitted to be made hereunder in accordance with the terms hereof, (ii) has notified the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Lender or the Swingline

 

13


Lender that it does not intend to comply with any of its funding obligations under this Agreement or has made a public statement to the effect that it does not intend to comply with its funding obligations under this Agreement or generally under other agreements in which it commits to extend credit, (iii) has failed, within five Business Days after written request by the Administrative Agent, to confirm that it will comply with the terms of this Agreement relating to its obligations to fund prospective Loans or participations in Letters of Credit and Swingline Loans, (iv) has failed to pay to the Administrative Agent or any Lender when due an amount owed by such Lender pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, or (v) has become the subject of a proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, or has had a receiver, conservator, trustee or custodian appointed for it; provided that for purposes of Section 2.2 and Section 2.3 only and any documentation extended into pursuant to Back-Stop Arrangements/and the term “ Defaulting Lender ” as used therein, the term “ Defaulting Lender ” shall also include (a) any Lender with an Affiliate that (x) either (A) Controls such Lender or (B) at the election of the Administrative Agent, is under common Control with such Lender and (y) has become the subject of a proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, or has had a receiver, conservator, trustee or custodian appointed for it or is subject to a takeover by a Governmental Authority or does not meet a capital adequacy or liquidity requirement applicable to such Affiliate as determined by the relevant Governmental Authority, (b) any Lender that previously constituted a “ Defaulting Lender ” under this Agreement, unless such Lender has ceased to constitute a “ Defaulting Lender ” for a period of at least 90 consecutive days, and (c) any Lender that the Swingline Lender, any Issuing Lender or Administrative Agent believes in good faith has defaulted in its obligations under any other credit facility to which such Lender is a party.

Deutsche Bank ” shall mean Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, together with its successors and assigns.

Disqualified Stock ” shall mean any Capital Stock that, by its terms (or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible, or for which it is exchangeable, in each case, at the option of the holder of the Capital Stock), or upon the happening of any event, matures or is mandatorily redeemable, pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, or redeemable at the option of the holder of the Capital Stock, in whole or in part, on or prior to the date that is 91 days after the date on which the Senior Secured Notes mature. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, any Capital Stock that would constitute Disqualified Stock solely because the holders of the Capital Stock have the right to require the Company to repurchase such Capital Stock upon the occurrence of a change of control or an asset sale will not constitute Disqualified Stock if the terms of such Capital Stock provide that the Company may not repurchase or redeem any such Capital Stock pursuant to such provisions unless such repurchase or redemption is permitted under Section 6.9 .

Dollars ” and “ $ ” shall mean dollars in lawful currency of the United States of America.

Domestic Guaranteed Party ” shall mean the Company and each Subsidiary of the Company party to any Secured Hedging Agreements.

Domestic Guarantor ” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble of this Agreement.

 

14


Domestic Guaranty ” shall mean the guaranty of the Domestic Guarantors set forth in ARTICLE X.

Domestic Lending Office ” shall mean, initially, the office of each Lender designated as such Lender’s Domestic Lending Office shown on such Lender’s Administrative Questionnaire; and thereafter, such other office of such Lender as such Lender may from time to time specify to the Administrative Agent and the Administrative Borrower as the office of such Lender at which Alternate Base Rate Loans of such Lender are to be made.

Domestic Subsidiary ” shall mean any Subsidiary that is organized and existing under the laws of the United States or any state or commonwealth thereof or under the laws of the District of Columbia.

Dutch Banking Act ” shall mean the Act on the Supervision of the Financial Markets of 28 September 2006 ( Wet op het financieel toezicht ), as amended from time to time, including any regulations pursuant to it.

Dutch Borrower ” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble hereof.

ECP ” shall have the meaning set forth in the definition of Excluded Swap Obligation.

Effective Date ” shall mean August [    ], 2013 3 .

Eligible Assignee ” shall mean (a) a Lender, and (b) (i) an Affiliate of a Lender, (ii) an Approved Fund, and (iii) any other Person (other than a natural person), in each case, approved by (I) the Administrative Agent, (II) each Issuing Lender, (III) the Swingline Lender and (IV) unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and so long as the primary syndication of the Loans has been completed, the Administrative Borrower (each such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed); provided that notwithstanding the foregoing, “ Eligible Assignee ” shall not include the Borrowers or any of the Borrowers’ Affiliates or Subsidiaries.

Eligible Inventory ” shall mean, as of any date of determination and without duplication, the lower of the aggregate book value (based on an average cost valuation, consistently applied in accordance with GAAP principles) or fair market value of all raw materials and finished goods inventory owned by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries less appropriate reserves determined in accordance with GAAP but excluding in any event (i) inventory subject to a Lien that is not a Permitted Lien, (ii) inventory which is not in good condition or fails to meet standards for sale or use imposed by governmental agencies, departments or divisions having regulatory authority over such goods, (iii) inventory which is not useable or salable and (iv) inventory which fails to meet such other specifications and requirements as may from time to time be established by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion.

 

3   First date on which all of the conditions set forth in Part II Section 7 of the Amendment and Restated Agreement are either satisfied or waived by the Required Lenders to be inserted into final document.

 

15


Eligible Receivables ” shall mean, as of any date of determination and without duplication, the aggregate book value of all accounts receivable, receivables, and obligations for payment created or arising from the sale of inventory or the rendering of services in the ordinary course of business (collectively, the “ Receivables ”), owned by or owing to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, net of allowances and reserves for doubtful or uncollectible accounts and sales adjustments consistent with such Person’s internal policies and in any event in accordance with GAAP, but excluding in any event (i) any Receivable which is subject to a Lien that is not a Permitted Lien, (ii) Receivables which are more than ninety (90) days past due (net of reserves for bad debts in connection with any such Receivables), (iii) Receivables owing by an account debtor which is not solvent or is subject to any bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding of any kind, (iv) Receivables which are contingent or subject to offset, deduction, counterclaim, dispute or other defense to payment, in each case to the extent of such offset, deduction, counterclaim, dispute or other defense, (v) Receivables for which any direct or indirect Subsidiary or any Affiliate of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is the account debtor and (vi) Receivables which fail to meet such other specifications and requirements as may from time to time be established by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion.

Environmental Claim ” shall mean any claim, however asserted, by any Governmental Authority or other Person alleging potential liability or responsibility for violation of any Environmental Law or for release into or injury to the environment or threat to public health, personal injury (including sickness, disease or death), property damage, natural resources damage, or otherwise alleging liability or responsibility for damages (punitive or otherwise), cleanup, investigation, removal, remedial or response costs, litigation costs, restitution, civil or criminal penalties, injunctive relief, or other type of relief, resulting from or based upon (a) the presence, placement, discharge, emission or release (including intentional and unintentional, negligent and non-negligent, sudden or non-sudden, accidental or non-accidental placement, spills, leaks, discharges, emissions, releases or threatened releases) of any Hazardous Material at, in, or from property, whether or not owned by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or (b) any other circumstances forming the basis of any violation, or alleged violation, of any Environmental Law.

Environmental Law ” shall mean any federal, state or local law, statute, ordinance, code, rule, regulation, decree, order, judgment, or principles of common law relating to (i) releases or threatened releases of Hazardous Materials or materials containing Hazardous Materials; (ii) the manufacture, handling, transport, use, treatment, storage or disposal of Hazardous Materials or materials containing Hazardous Materials; or (iii) otherwise relating to the environment or to the protection of human health.

Environmental Permits ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.10(b) .

Equity Interests ” of any Person shall mean any and all shares, interests, rights to purchase, warrants, options, participation or other equivalents of or interest in (however designated) equity of such Person, including any common stock, preferred stock, any limited or general partnership interest and any limited liability company membership interest.

Equity Issuance ” shall mean any issuance by any Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries to any Person which is not a Credit Party of (a) shares of or interests in its Capital

 

16


Stock, (b) any shares of or interests in its Capital Stock pursuant to the exercise of options or warrants or other similar rights, (c) any shares of or interests in its Capital Stock pursuant to the conversion of any debt securities to equity or (d) warrants or options or other similar rights which are exercisable for or convertible into shares of or interests in its Capital Stock. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term “ Equity Issuance ” shall not include (i) any Asset Disposition, (ii) any Debt Issuance, (iii) any equity issuance to officers or employees of any Credit Party, (iv) the conversion of the Existing Convertible Notes, or (v) the delivery of the Company’s common stock in any settlement of the Permitted Warrants.

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

Eurodollar Reserve Percentage ” shall mean for any day, the percentage (expressed as a decimal and rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next higher 1/100th of 1%) which is in effect for such day as prescribed by the Federal Reserve Board (or any successor) for determining the maximum reserve requirement (including, without limitation, any basic, supplemental or emergency reserves) in respect of Eurocurrency liabilities, as defined in Regulation D of such Board as in effect from time to time, or any similar category of liabilities for a member bank of the Federal Reserve System in New York City.

Event of Default ” shall mean any of the events specified in Section 7.1 ; provided , however , that any requirement contained in said Section 7.1 for the giving of notice or the lapse of time, or both, or any other condition, has been satisfied.

Excluded Inventory ” shall mean (a) tobacco inventories for which title has passed to a customer and (b) Committed Inventories to the extent a customer is providing financing to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries for such Committed Inventories.

Excluded Swap Obligation ” shall mean, with respect to any Guarantor, any Swap Obligation if, and to the extent that, all or a portion of the Guaranty of such Guarantor of, or the grant by such Guarantor of a security interest to secure, such Swap Obligation (or any Guaranty thereof) is or becomes illegal under the Commodity Exchange Act or any rule, regulation or order of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (or the application or official interpretation of any thereof) by virtue of such Guarantor’s failure for any reason to constitute an “eligible contract participant” as defined in the Commodity Exchange Act and the regulations thereunder (each, an “ECP”) at the time the Guaranty of such Guarantor or the grant of such security interest becomes effective with respect to such Swap Obligation. If a Swap Obligation arises under a master agreement governing more than one swap, such exclusion shall apply only to the portion of such Swap Obligation that is attributable to swaps for which such Guaranty or security interest is or becomes illegal.

Excluded Taxes ” means any of the following Taxes imposed on or with respect to a Lender or the Administrative Agent or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to a Lender or the Administrative Agent, (a) Taxes imposed on or measured by net income (however denominated), franchise Taxes, and branch profits Taxes, in each case, (i) imposed as a result of such Lender or the Administrative Agent being organized under the laws of, or having its principal office or, in the case of any Lender, its Applicable Lending Office, located in, the

 

17


jurisdiction imposing such Tax (or any political subdivision thereof) or (ii) that are Other Connection Taxes, (b) in the case of a Lender, withholding Taxes imposed on amounts payable to or for the account of such Lender with respect to an applicable interest in a Loan or other Extension of Credit pursuant to a law in effect on the date on which (i) such Lender acquires such interest in the Loan or other Extension of Credit (other than pursuant to an assignment request by the Borrower under Section 2.22 ) or (ii) such Lender changes its Applicable Lending Office, except in each case to the extent that, pursuant to Section 2.17 , amounts with respect to such Taxes were payable either to such Lender’s assignor immediately before such Lender became a party hereto or to such Lender immediately before it changed its Applicable Lending Office, (c) Taxes attributable to the failure of such Lender or the Administrative Agent to comply with Section 2.17(f) and (d) any U.S. federal withholding Taxes imposed under FATCA.

Existing Convertible Notes ” shall mean the Company’s 5  1 / 2 % convertible senior subordinated Notes due 2014, in an original principal amount of up to $115,000,000, issued by the Company pursuant to the Existing Convertible Notes Indenture.

Existing Convertible Notes Documents ” shall mean the Existing Convertible Notes, the Existing Convertible Notes Indenture and all other documents executed and delivered with respect to the Existing Convertible Notes or Existing Convertible Notes Indenture, as in effect on the Effective Date and as the same may be amended, modified and/or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof.

Existing Convertible Notes Indenture ” shall mean the Indenture, dated July 2, 2009, among the Company, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as registrar, conversion agent and paying agent, and Law Debenture Trust Company of New York, as trustee, as supplemented, amended or otherwise modified from time to time prior to the date hereof.

Existing Convertible Notes Tender Offer ” shall mean the cash tender offer to purchase and repay the Existing Convertible Notes commenced on July 17, 2013 without modification thereto (other than (i) any amendment to the size of the tender offer (to the extent such redemption is permitted under clause (d) of the definition of Restricted Payment), (ii) any amendment to extend the expiration date of the tender offer to a date ending on or before September 30, 2013 or (iii) a waiver of any condition thereto).

Existing Credit Agreement ” shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals hereto.

Existing Notes ” shall mean the Existing Senior Notes and the Existing Convertible Notes.

Existing Revolving Commitment ” shall mean, with respect to each Revolving Lender, the Revolving Commitment of such Revolving Lender as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement, and as in effect, in each case immediately prior to giving effect to the Effective Date.

Existing Revolving Exposure ” shall mean, as to each Revolving Lender, the sum of such Revolving Lender’s Revolving Commitment Percentage of the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Revolving Loans plus outstanding Swingline Loans plus outstanding LOC Obligations, in each case as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement, and as in effect, in each case immediately prior to giving effect to the Effective Date.

 

18


Existing Revolving Loan ” shall mean, with respect to each Revolving Lender, each Revolving Loan of such Revolving Lender as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement and as in effect, in each case, immediately prior to giving effect to the Effective Date.

Existing Senior Indenture ” shall mean that certain Indenture, dated as of July 2, 2009, by and among the Company, as issuer, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as registrar and paying agent, and Law Debenture Trust Company of New York, as trustee with respect to the Existing Senior Notes as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of August 26, 2009 and as further supplemented, amended, restated, extended, renewed, replaced or otherwise modified from time to time prior to the date hereof.

Existing Senior Notes ” shall mean, collectively, the 10.00% initial Senior Secured Notes due 2016 in an original principal amount of $670,000,000, issued by the Company pursuant to the Existing Senior Indenture, as such Existing Senior Notes may be supplemented, amended, restated, extended, renewed, replaced or otherwise modified from time to time prior to the date hereof.

Existing Senior Notes Documents ” shall mean the Existing Senior Notes, the Existing Senior Indenture and all other documents executed and delivered with respect to the Existing Senior Notes or Existing Senior Notes Indenture, as in effect on the Effective Date.

Extended Maturity Date ” shall mean April 15, 2017; provided , that if on April 15, 2014 the funds in the Blocked Account on such date would be insufficient to repay in full all of the Company’s outstanding Existing Convertible Notes on such date upon final maturity thereof, then the Extended Maturity Date shall be April 15, 2014.

Extended Revolving Commitment ” shall mean, with respect to each Revolving Lender, the commitment of such Revolving Lender to make Revolving Loans in an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding not to exceed the amount of such Revolving Lender’s Existing Revolving Commitment subject to a Revolver Extension Election plus the amount of such Revolving Lender’s Additional Extended Revolving Commitments (if any) (with such Revolving Lender’s Extended Revolving Commitment on the Effective Date set forth beside such Revolving Lender’s name on Schedule 1.1(d) under the heading “Extended Revolving Commitment”) or the amount in the Assignment and Assumption relating to Extended Revolving Commitments pursuant to which such Lender becomes a party hereto on or after the Effective Date, as applicable, as such amount may be adjusted from time to time in accordance with this Agreement, including, if applicable, pursuant to Section 2.5 or 2.23 .

Extended Revolving Commitment Percentage ” shall mean, with respect to each Revolving Lender at any time a fraction (expressed as a percentage, carried out to the ninth decimal place), the numerator of which is the amount of the Extended Revolving Commitment of such Revolving Lender at such time and the denominator of which is the amount of the Extended Revolving Commitments of all Revolving Lenders at such time; provided that if such Extended Revolving Commitment has been terminated, then the Extended Revolving Commitment

 

19


Percentage of each Revolving Lender shall be determined based on the Extended Revolving Commitment Percentage of such Revolving Lender immediately prior to such termination and after giving effect to any subsequent assignments made pursuant to the terms hereof.

Extended Revolving Committed Amount ” shall mean, on the Effective Date, $[        ], as such amount may be adjusted from time to time in accordance with this Agreement, including, if applicable, pursuant to Section 2.5 or 2.23 .

Extended Revolving Lender ” shall mean, as of any date of determination, a Lender (including any Additional Extended Revolving Lenders) holding an Extended Revolving Commitment, a portion of the outstanding Extended Revolving Loans and/or a participation in any outstanding Swingline Loans and/or outstanding LOC Obligations relating to Extended Revolving Commitments, in each case, on such date.

Extended Revolving Loans ” shall mean a Revolving Loan made by an Extended Revolving Lender pursuant to its Extended Revolving Commitment.

Extension of Credit ” shall mean, as to any Lender, the making of a Loan by such Lender, the participation by such Lender in a Swingline Loan or the issuance of, or participation in, a Letter of Credit by such Lender.

Fair Market Value ” shall mean, with respect to any asset (including any Capital Stock of any Person), the price at which a willing buyer, not an Affiliate of the seller, and a willing seller who does not have to sell, would agree to purchase and sell such asset.

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

FCPA Settlement ” shall mean those certain settlements by the Company in 2010 with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the U.S. Department of Justice regarding potential criminal and civil violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, 15 U.S.C. §§ 78dd-1, et seq. , that resulted in the disgorgement in profits and fines totaling $19,450,000.

FCPA Settlement Expense ” shall mean the incurrence by the Company and its Subsidiaries of all monitoring and legal expenses incurred in connection with compliance with the FCPA Settlement.

Federal Funds Effective Rate ” shall have the meaning set forth in the definition of “ Alternate Base Rate ”.

Fees ” shall mean all amounts payable pursuant to or referred to in Section 2.4 .

Foreign Guaranteed Party ” shall mean the Dutch Borrower and each Foreign Subsidiary party to any Secured Hedging Agreements.

 

20


Foreign Guaranty ” shall mean the guaranty of the Guarantors set forth in ARTICLE XI.

Foreign Pledge Agreements ” shall mean (a) those pledge agreements and charges listed on Schedule 1.1(c) , (as amended, restated, supplemented or modified from time to time), executed by certain Subsidiaries of the Company in favor of the Administrative Agent and (b) any other Pledge Agreement, Memorandum of Charge Over Shares or similar document or instrument entered into by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries with respect to the Pledged Foreign Subsidiaries.

Foreign Subsidiary ” shall mean any Subsidiary of the Company that is not a Domestic Subsidiary.

Fronting Fee ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.4(b) .

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

GAAP ” shall mean generally accepted accounting principles in effect in the United States of America applied on a consistent basis, subject to the provisions of Section 1.3 .

Governmental Authority ” shall mean the government of the United States of America or any other nation, or of any political subdivision thereof, whether state or local, and any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government (including any supra-national bodies such as the European Union or the European Central Bank).

Guarantor ” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble of this Agreement.

Guaranty ” shall mean, collectively, the Domestic Guaranty and the Foreign Guaranty.

Guaranty Obligations ” shall mean, with respect to any Person, without duplication, any obligations of such Person (other than endorsements in the ordinary course of business of negotiable instruments for deposit or collection) guaranteeing or intended to guarantee any Indebtedness of any other Person in any manner, whether direct or indirect, and including, without limitation, any obligation, whether or not contingent, (i) to purchase any such Indebtedness or any property constituting security therefor, (ii) to advance or provide funds or other support for the payment or purchase of any such Indebtedness or to maintain working capital, solvency or other balance sheet condition of such other Person (including, without limitation, keep well agreements, maintenance agreements, comfort letters or similar agreements or arrangements) for the benefit of any holder of Indebtedness of such other Person, (iii) to lease or purchase property, securities or services primarily for the purpose of assuring the holder of such Indebtedness, or (iv) to otherwise assure or hold harmless the holder of such Indebtedness against loss in respect thereof. The amount of any Guaranty Obligation hereunder shall (subject to any limitations set forth therein) be deemed to be an amount equal to the outstanding principal

 

21


amount (or maximum principal amount, if larger) of the Indebtedness in respect of which such Guaranty Obligation is made. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in any other Credit Document, in no event will Guaranty Obligations include any Excluded Swap Obligations.

Hazardous Materials ” shall mean (i) those substances defined in or regulated as toxic or hazardous under the following federal statutes and their state counterparts, as well as the statutes’ implementing regulations, as amended from time to time: the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act; the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act; the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act; the Clean Water Act; the Safe Drinking Water Act; the Toxic Substances Control Act; the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act; the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act; and the Clean Air Act; and (ii) any pollutant, contaminant or other substance with respect to which a Governmental Authority requires environmental investigation, monitoring, reporting or remediation.

Hedging Agreement ” shall mean, with respect to any Person, any agreement entered into to protect such Person against fluctuations in interest rates, or currency or raw materials values, including, without limitation, any interest rate swap, cap or collar agreement, or similar arrangement between such Person and one or more counterparties, any foreign currency exchange agreement, currency protection agreements, commodity purchase or option agreements, or other interest or exchange rate or commodity price hedging agreements. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term “ Hedging Agreement ” shall not include any Permitted Bond Hedges or any other hedging agreements (or substantively equivalent derivative transactions) with respect to the Company’s Equity Interests.

Hedging Agreement Provider ” shall mean any Person that enters into a Hedging Agreement with any Borrower or any Guarantor that is permitted by Section 6.1(e) to the extent such Person is (a) a Lender, (b) an Affiliate of a Lender, (c) a Person (or an Affiliate of such Person) that becomes a Lender subsequent to entering into the Hedging Agreement or (d) a Person that was a Lender (or an Affiliate of a Lender) at the time it entered into such Hedging Agreement but has ceased to be a Lender (or whose Affiliate has ceased to be a Lender) under this Agreement.

Hostile Acquisition ” shall mean any Acquisition involving a tender offer or proxy contest that has not been recommended or approved by the board of directors of the Person that is the subject of the Acquisition prior to the first public announcement or disclosure relating to such Acquisition.

Immaterial Subsidiary ” shall mean, at any date of determination, any Subsidiary (other than a Credit Party) that (i) contributed, (x) together with its Subsidiaries, less than 4.0% of Consolidated EBITDA or (y) together with its Subsidiaries and each other Subsidiary which the Company is treating as an “ Immaterial Subsidiary ” for purposes of one or more of the Subject Provisions and their respective Subsidiaries (without duplication), less than 8.0% of Consolidated EBITDA, in each case, for the Calculation Period most recently ended for which the Company has delivered financial statements to the Administrative Agent prior to the date of determination, (ii) contributed, (x) together with its Subsidiaries, less than 4.0% of Consolidated Net Income or (y) together with its Subsidiaries and each other Subsidiary which the Company is

 

22


treating as an “ Immaterial Subsidiary ” for purposes of one or more of the Subject Provisions and their respective Subsidiaries (without duplication), less than 8.0% of Consolidated Net Income, in each case, for the Calculation Period most recently ended for which the Company has delivered financial statements to the Administrative Agent prior to the date of determination, or (iii) had, (x) together with its Subsidiaries, total assets (as determined in accordance with GAAP) representing less than 4.0% of Consolidated Total Assets or (y) together with its Subsidiaries and each other Subsidiary which the Company is treating as an “ Immaterial Subsidiary ” for purposes of one or more of the Subject Provisions and their respective Subsidiaries (without duplication), total assets (as determined in accordance with GAAP) representing less than 8.0% of Consolidated Total Assets, in each case, as of the last day of the calculation period most recently ended for which the Company has delivered financial statements to the Administrative Agent prior to the date of determination.

Incremental Lender ” shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.23(b) .

Incremental Revolving Commitment ” shall mean, for any Lender, any Extended Revolving Commitment provided by such Lender on or after the Effective Date in an Incremental Revolving Commitment Agreement delivered pursuant to Section 2.23 ; it being understood, however, that on each date upon which an Incremental Revolving Commitment of any Lender becomes effective, such Incremental Revolving Commitment of such Lender shall be added to (and thereafter become a part of) the Extended Revolving Commitment of such Lender for all purposes of this Agreement as contemplated by Section 2.23 .

Incremental Revolving Commitment Agreement ” shall mean the Amendment and Restatement Agreement and each Incremental Revolving Commitment Agreement in substantially the form of Schedule 2.23 (appropriately completed, and with such modifications as may be reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent) executed and delivered in accordance with Section 2.23 .

Incremental Revolving Commitment Date ” shall mean each date upon which an Incremental Revolving Commitment under an Incremental Revolving Commitment Agreement becomes effective as provided in Section 2.23(b) .

Incremental Revolving Commitment Requirements ” shall mean, with respect to any provision of an Incremental Revolving Commitment on a given Incremental Revolving Commitment Date, the satisfaction of each of the following conditions on the Incremental Revolving Commitment Date of the respective Incremental Revolving Commitment Agreement: (i) no Default or Event of Default exists or would exist after giving effect thereto; (ii) all of the representations and warranties contained in the Credit Documents shall be true and correct in all material respects at such time (unless stated to relate to a specific earlier date, in which case such representations and warranties shall have been true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date); (iii) the delivery by the Company to the Administrative Agent of an acknowledgment, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and executed by each Credit Party, acknowledging that such Incremental Revolving Commitment and/or Revolving Loans subsequently incurred, and Letters of Credit issued, as applicable, pursuant to such Incremental Revolving Commitment shall constitute Credit Party Obligations under the Credit Documents and secured on a pari passu basis with the Credit Party Obligations

 

23


under the Security Documents; (iv) the delivery by the Company to the Administrative Agent of an opinion or opinions, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, from counsel to the Credit Parties reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and dated such date, covering such matters incident to the transactions contemplated thereby as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request; (v) the delivery by each Credit Party to the Administrative Agent of such other officers’ certificates, board of director (or equivalent governing body) resolutions and evidence of good standing (to the extent available under applicable law) as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request; (vi) the Company shall have delivered a certificate executed by an Responsible Officer of the Company, certifying to the knowledge of the Company, compliance with the requirements of preceding clauses (i) and (ii); and (vii) the completion by each Credit Party of such other actions as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request in connection with such Incremental Revolving Commitment in order to create, continue or maintain the security interests of the Administrative Agent in the Collateral and the perfection thereof (including such other documents reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent to be delivered in connection therewith).

Indebtedness ” of any Person shall mean, at any date, without duplication, (a) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money, (b) all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments, (c) all obligations of such Person to pay the deferred purchase price of property or services (except trade accounts payable arising in the ordinary course of business), (d) all obligations of such Person as lessee under Capital Leases, (e) all obligations of such Person to purchase securities or other property which arise out of or in connection with the sale of the same or substantially similar securities or property, (f) all non-contingent obligations of such Person to reimburse any other Person in respect of amounts paid under letters of credit, surety and appeal bonds and performance bonds or similar instruments assuring any other Person of the performance of any act or acts or the payment of any obligation, (g) all obligations of others secured by a Lien on any asset of such Person, whether or not such obligation is assumed by such Person, (h) the principal portion of all obligations of such Person under any synthetic lease or other similar off-balance sheet financing product and (i) all obligations owing under Secured Hedging Agreements and other Hedging Agreements.

Indemnified Taxes ” shall mean (a) Taxes, other than Excluded Taxes, imposed on or with respect to any payment made by or on account of any obligation of any Credit Party under any Credit Document and (b) to the extent not otherwise described in (a), Other Taxes.

Insolvency ” shall mean, with respect to any Multiemployer Plan, the condition that such Plan is insolvent within the meaning of such term as used in Section 4245 of ERISA.

Insolvent ” shall mean being in a condition of Insolvency.

Intercompany Note ” shall mean the intercompany note substantially in the form of Schedule 6.1(d) .

Intercreditor Agreement ” shall mean the Intercreditor Agreement dated as of the Effective Date among the Administrative Agent, the collateral trustee for the Senior Secured Notes, the Company and the Domestic Guarantors substantially in the form of Schedule 1 to the Amendment and Restatement Agreement (as amended, restated, supplemented or modified from time to time).

 

24


Interest Payment Date ” shall mean (a) as to any Alternate Base Rate Loan, the last day of each March, June, September and December and on (i) in the case of Alternate Base Rate Loans made by a Non-Extended Revolving Lender pursuant to its Non-Extended Revolving Commitment, the Non-Extended Maturity Date and (ii) in the case of Alternate Base Rate Loans made by a Extended Revolving Lender pursuant to its Extended Revolving Commitment, the Extended Maturity Date, (b) as to any LIBOR Rate Loan having an Interest Period of three months or less, the last day of such Interest Period, and (c) as to any LIBOR Rate Loan having an Interest Period longer than three (3) months, each day which is three (3) months after the first day of such Interest Period and the last day of such Interest Period.

Interest Period ” shall mean, with respect to any LIBOR Rate Loan,

(a) initially, the period commencing on the Borrowing Date or conversion date, as the case may be, with respect to such LIBOR Rate Loan and ending one, two, three or six months thereafter, as selected by the Administrative Borrower in the Notice of Borrowing or Notice of Conversion given with respect thereto; and

(b) thereafter, each period commencing on the last day of the immediately preceding Interest Period applicable to such LIBOR Rate Loan and ending (x) one or two weeks thereafter to the extent agreed to by each Lender, or (y) one, two, three or six months thereafter, in each case, as selected by the Administrative Borrower by irrevocable notice to the Administrative Agent not less than three Business Days prior to the last day of the then current Interest Period with respect thereto;

provided that the foregoing provisions are subject to the following:

(i) if any Interest Period pertaining to a LIBOR Rate Loan would otherwise end on a day that is not a Business Day, such Interest Period shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless the result of such extension would be to carry such Interest Period into another calendar month in which event such Interest Period shall end on the immediately preceding Business Day;

(ii) any Interest Period pertaining to a LIBOR Rate Loan that begins on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period) shall end on the last Business Day of the relevant calendar month;

(iii) if the Administrative Borrower shall fail to give notice as provided above, the Administrative Borrower shall be deemed to have selected an Alternate Base Rate Loan to replace the affected LIBOR Rate Loan;

(iv) any Interest Period in respect of any Loan that would otherwise extend beyond a Maturity Date with respect to such Loan shall end on (i) in the case of LIBOR Rate Loans made by a Non-Extended Revolving Lender pursuant to its Non-Extended Revolving Commitment, the Non-Extended Maturity Date and (ii) in the case of LIBOR Rate Loans made by a Extended Revolving Lender pursuant to its Extended Revolving Commitment, the Extended Maturity Date; and

 

25


(v) no more than ten (10) LIBOR Rate Loans may be in effect at any one time. For purposes hereof, LIBOR Rate Loans with different Interest Periods shall be considered as separate LIBOR Rate Loans, even if they shall begin on the same date and have the same duration, although borrowings, extensions and conversions may, in accordance with the provisions hereof, be combined at the end of existing Interest Periods to constitute a new LIBOR Rate Loan.

Investment ” shall mean all investments, in cash or by delivery of property made, directly or indirectly in, to or from any Person, whether by acquisition of shares of Capital Stock, property, assets, indebtedness or other obligations or securities or by loan, advance, capital contribution or otherwise.

Investment Grade Status ” exists as to any Person at any date if all senior long-term unsecured debt securities of such Person outstanding at such date which had been rated by S&P or Moody’s are rated BBB- or higher by S&P or Baa3 or higher by Moody’s, as the case may be, or if such Person does not have a rating of its long-term unsecured debt securities, then if the corporate credit rating of such Person, if any exists, from S&P is BBB- or higher or the issuer rating of such Person, if any exists, from Moody’s is Baa3 or higher.

Issuing Lender ” shall mean Deutsche Bank (or an affiliate thereof) and any such other Lender as agreed to by the Administrative Agent and the Administrative Borrower.

Joinder Agreement ” shall mean a Joinder Agreement substantially in the form of Schedule 5.10 , executed and delivered by an Additional Credit Party in accordance with the provisions of Section 5.10 .

Judgment Currency ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9.17 .

Leaseholds ” of any Person shall mean all right, title and interest of such Person as lessee or licensee in, to and under leases or licenses of land, improvements and/or fixtures.

Lender ” shall have the meaning set forth in the first paragraph of this Agreement.

Letter of Credit Back-Stop Arrangements ” shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.3(a) .

Letter of Credit Fee ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.4(b) .

Letters of Credit ” shall mean any letter of credit issued by any Issuing Lender pursuant to the terms hereof, as such letter of credit may be amended, modified, extended, renewed or replaced from time to time.

Letter of Credit Request ” shall mean a request for the issuance of a Letter of Credit, in substantially the form of the letter of credit request attached hereto as Schedule 2.3(b) .

 

26


LIBOR ” shall mean, for any LIBOR Rate Loan for any Interest Period therefor, the rate per annum (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the nearest 1/100 of 1%) appearing on Reuters Page LIBOR 01 (or any successor page) as the London interbank offered rate for deposits in Dollars at approximately 11:00 A.M. (London time) two Business Days prior to the first day of such Interest Period for a term comparable to such Interest Period. If for any reason such rate is not available, the term “ LIBOR ” shall mean, for any LIBOR Rate Loan for any Interest Period therefor, the rate per annum (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the nearest 1/100 of 1%) appearing on Reuters Screen LIBO Page as the London interbank offered rate for deposits in Dollars at approximately 11:00 A.M. (London time) two (2) Business Days prior to the first day of such Interest Period for a term comparable to such Interest Period; provided , however , if more than one rate is specified on Reuters Screen LIBO Page, the applicable rate shall be the arithmetic mean of all such rates (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the nearest 1/100 of 1%). If, for any reason, neither of such rates is available, then “ LIBOR ” shall mean the rate per annum at which, as determined by the Administrative Agent, Dollars in an amount comparable to the Loans then requested are being offered to leading banks at approximately 11:00 AM. London time, two (2) Business Days prior to the commencement of the applicable Interest Period for settlement in immediately available funds by leading banks in the London interbank market for a period equal to the Interest Period selected.

LIBOR Lending Office ” shall mean, initially, the office of each Lender designated as such Lender’s LIBOR Lending Office shown on such Lender’s Administrative Questionnaire; and thereafter, such other office of such Lender as such Lender may from time to time specify to the Administrative Agent and the Administrative Borrower as the office of such Lender at which the LIBOR Rate Loans of such Lender are to be made.

LIBOR Rate ” shall mean a rate per annum (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next higher 1/100th of 1%) determined by the Administrative Agent pursuant to the following formula:

 

LIBOR Rate =  

LIBOR

  
  1.00 - Eurodollar Reserve Percentage   

LIBOR Rate Loan ” shall mean Loans the rate of interest applicable to which is based on the LIBOR Rate.

Lien ” shall mean any deed of trust, mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, assignment, deposit arrangement, encumbrance, lien (statutory or other), charge or other security interest or any preference, priority or other security agreement or preferential arrangement of any kind or nature whatsoever (including, without limitation, any conditional sale or other title retention agreement and any Capital Lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing).

Loan ” shall mean each Revolving Loan and each Swingline Loan, as appropriate.

LOC Committed Amount ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(a) .

 

27


LOC Obligations ” shall mean, at any time, the sum of (a) the maximum amount that is, or at any time thereafter may become, available to be drawn under Letters of Credit then outstanding, assuming compliance with all requirements for drawings referred to in such Letters of Credit plus (b) the aggregate amount of all drawings under Letters of Credit honored by the Issuing Lender but not theretofore reimbursed.

Mandatory LOC Borrowing ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(e) .

Mandatory Swingline Borrowing ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(b)(ii) .

Material Adverse Effect ” shall mean a material adverse effect on (a) the business, operations, property or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Credit Parties and their Subsidiaries taken as a whole, (b) the ability of any Credit Party to perform its obligations, when such obligations are required to be performed, under this Agreement, any of the Notes or any other Credit Document or (c) the validity or enforceability of this Agreement, any of the Notes or any of the other Credit Documents or the material rights or remedies of the Administrative Agent or the Lenders hereunder or thereunder.

Material Domestic Subsidiary ” shall mean any Domestic Subsidiary of the Company (or, for purposes of Sections 5.10 and 5.11 and Article X , but not for purposes of Article VI, any Foreign Subsidiary of the Company that guarantees or otherwise provides direct credit support for any Indebtedness of the Company), in each case that would constitute a “significant subsidiary” of the Company as defined in Rule 1.02 of Regulation S-X promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission except that for purposes of this definition all references in such Rule 1.02 to “ten percent (10%)” shall be deemed to be references to “five percent (5%)”.

Material Foreign Subsidiary ” shall mean any Foreign Subsidiary of the Company that would constitute a “significant subsidiary” of the Company as defined in Rule 1.02 of Regulation S-X promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Material Local Credit Facilities ” shall mean those local credit facilities of any of the Company’s Subsidiaries with an outstanding principal balance at any time after the Effective Date of more than $15,000,000.

Maturity Date ” shall mean (a) with respect to the Non-Extended Revolving Commitments and the Non-Extended Revolving Loans, the Non-Extended Maturity Date, and (b) with respect to the Extended Revolving Commitments and the Extended Revolving Loans, the Extended Maturity Date.

Minority Interest Consolidated Entity ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.3 .

Moody’s ” shall mean Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.

 

28


Mortgage ” shall mean a mortgage, leasehold mortgage, deed of trust, leasehold deed of trust, deed to secure debt, leasehold deed to secure debt, debenture or similar security instrument.

Mortgage Policy ” shall mean a Lender’s title insurance policy (Form 2006).

Mortgaged Property ” shall mean the Value Added Processing Facility of the Company which is encumbered (or required to be encumbered) by the Mortgage pursuant to the terms hereof.

Multiemployer Plan ” shall mean a Plan which is a multiemployer plan as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA to which the Credit Party, any Subsidiary of a Credit Party or any Commonly Controlled Entity is making or accruing an obligation to make contributions, or has within any of the immediately preceding five (5) plans years made or accrued an obligation to make contributions.

Net Cash Proceeds ” shall mean the aggregate cash proceeds received by the Credit Parties and their Subsidiaries in respect of any Asset Disposition or Recovery Event, net of (a) direct costs paid or payable as a result thereof (including, without limitation, legal, accounting and investment banking fees, and sales commissions) and (b) taxes paid or payable as a result thereof; it being understood that “ Net Cash Proceeds ” shall include, without limitation, any cash received upon the sale or other disposition of any non-cash consideration received by the Credit Parties and their Subsidiaries in respect of any Asset Disposition or Recovery Event and any cash released from escrow as part of the purchase price in connection with any Asset Disposition.

Non-Extended Maturity Date ” shall mean April 15, 2014.

Non-Extended Revolving Commitment ” shall mean, with respect to each Revolving Lender, the commitment of such Revolving Lender to make Revolving Loans in an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding not to exceed (i) an amount equal to the sum of (x) the Existing Revolving Commitment of such Revolving Lender on the Effective Date (immediately prior to giving effect thereto) minus (y) if such Revolving Lender is an Extended Revolving Lender, the amount of such Revolving Lender’s Existing Revolving Commitment subject to a Revolver Extension Election (with such Revolving Lender’s Non-Extended Revolving Commitment on the Effective Date set forth beside such Revolving Lender’s name on Schedule 1.1(d) under the heading “Non-Extended Revolving Commitment”) or (ii) the amount in the Assignment and Assumption relating to Non-Extended Revolving Commitments pursuant to which such Revolving Lender becomes a party hereto on or after the Effective Date, as applicable, in each case as such amount may be adjusted from time to time in accordance with this Agreement, including, if applicable, pursuant to Section 2.5 .

Non-Extended Revolving Commitment Percentage ” shall mean, with respect to each Revolving Lender at any time a fraction (expressed as a percentage, carried out to the ninth decimal place), the numerator of which is the amount of the Non-Extended Revolving Commitment of such Revolving Lender at such time and the denominator of which is the amount of the Non-Extended Revolving Commitments of all Revolving Lenders at such time; provided

 

29


that if such Non-Extended Revolving Commitment has been terminated, then the Non-Extended Revolving Commitment Percentage of each Revolving Lender shall be determined based on the Non-Extended Revolving Commitment Percentage of such Revolving Lender immediately prior to such termination and after giving effect to any subsequent assignments made pursuant to the terms hereof.

Non-Extended Revolving Committed Amount ” shall mean, on the Effective Date, $[            ], as such amount may be adjusted from time to time in accordance with this Agreement, including, if applicable, pursuant to Section 2.5 .

Non-Extended Revolving Lender ” shall mean, as of any date of determination, a Lender holding a Non-Extended Revolving Commitment, a portion of the outstanding Non-Extended Revolving Loans and/or a participation in any outstanding Swingline Loans and/or outstanding LOC Obligations relating to Non-Extended Revolving Commitments, in each case, on such date.

Non-Extended Revolving Loans ” shall mean a Revolving Loan made by a Non-Extended Revolving Lender pursuant to its Non-Extended Revolving Commitment.

Non-U.S. Plan ” shall mean any plan, fund (including, without limitation, any superannuation fund) or other similar program established, contributed to (regardless of whether through direct contributions or through employee withholding) or maintained outside the United States by any Credit Party, any Subsidiary of a Credit Party or any Commonly Controlled Entity primarily for the benefit of its employees residing outside the United States, which plan, fund or other similar program provides, or results in, retirement income, a deferral or income in contemplation or retirement or payments to be made upon termination or employment, and which plan is not subject to ERISA or the Code.

Note ” or “ Notes ” shall mean the Revolving Notes and/or the Swingline Note, collectively, separately or individually, as appropriate.

Notice of Borrowing ” shall mean (a) a request for a Revolving Loan borrowing pursuant to Section 2.1(b)(i) , or (b) a request for a Swingline Loan borrowing pursuant to Section 2.2(b)(i) , as appropriate, in substantially the form of the notice of borrowing attached hereto as Schedule 2.1(b)(i) .

Notice of Conversion ” shall mean the written notice of extension or conversion as referenced in Section 2.8 .

Notice Office ” shall mean (i) for credit notices, the office of the Administrative Agent located at 60 Wall Street, NYC60-0208, 2nd Floor, New York, New York 10005-2858, Attention Scottye Lindsey, Telephone No.: (212) 250-6115, Telecopier No.: (646) 736-7095, and email: scottye.d.lindsey@db.com and (ii) for operational notices, the office of the Administrative Agent located at 5022 Gate Parkway, Suite 400, Jacksonville, Florida 32256, Attention Francisco Lam, Telephone No.: (904) 527 6868, email: francisco.lam@db.com, or (in either case) such office or person as the Administrative Agent may hereafter designate in writing as such to the other parties hereto.

 

30


OECD ” shall mean the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and any successor thereto.

OFAC ” shall mean the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control.

Original Effective Date ” shall mean July 2, 2009.

Original Fee Letter ” shall mean that certain Fee Letter dated July 2, 2009 among the Company, Deutsche Bank and Deutsche Bank Securities Inc (as amended, restated, supplemented or modified from time to time).

Other Allocable Percentage ” shall mean, at any time, (a) with respect to any Non-Extended Revolving Lender (or its Non-Extended Revolving Commitment (and related Revolving Exposure)), its Non-Extended Revolving Commitment Percentage and (b) with respect to any Extended Revolving Lender (or its Extended Revolving Commitment (and related Revolving Exposure)), its Extended Revolving Commitment Percentage; provided that if such Extended Revolving Commitment or Non-Extended Revolving Commitment, as the case may be, has been terminated, then the Other Allocable Percentage of each applicable Lender shall be determined based on the Other Allocable Percentage of such Lender immediately prior to such termination and after giving effect to any subsequent assignments made pursuant to the terms hereof.

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

Parallel Debt ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.21(b) .

Participant ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in clause (d) of Section 9.6 .

Participation Interest ” shall mean a participation interest purchased by a Revolving Lender in LOC Obligations as provided in Section 2.3 and in Swingline Loans as provided in Section 2.2 .

Participant Register ” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.6(d) .

Patriot Act ” shall mean the USA Patriot Act, Title III of Pub. L. 107-56, signed into law October 26, 2001.

PBGC ” shall mean the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation established pursuant to Subtitle A of Title IV of ERISA.

 

31


Permitted Acquisition ” shall mean an Acquisition permitted pursuant to the terms of Section 6.5(a) .

Permitted Allowance ” shall mean, an allowance offsetting long-term advances to tobacco farmers guaranteed by Foreign Subsidiaries that were brought onto the balance sheet on March 31, 2008 or from time to time thereafter excluding any adjustments for foreign currency changes.

Permitted Bond Hedges ” shall mean the call or capped call options (or substantively equivalent derivative transactions) on the Company’s common stock purchased by the Company (i) on or prior to the date of the initial issuance of the Existing Convertible Notes in connection with an issuance of Existing Convertible Notes and (ii) on or prior to the 13th day after the date of the initial issuance of the Existing Convertible Notes, in connection with an issuance of Existing Convertible Notes following the exercise by initial purchasers of all or a portion of their overallotment option with respect to the Existing Convertible Notes.

Permitted Encumbrance ” shall mean, with respect to the Mortgaged Property, (i) the liens securing ad valorem real estate taxes and assessments by any taxing authority for the year in which the Mortgage Policy is issued and subsequent years, which are not yet due and payable (ii) all restrictions, covenants, conditions, easements, zoning restrictions and other matters of record affecting the Mortgaged Property, in each case not securing Indebtedness and which do not materially impair the value of the Mortgaged Property or the operations conducted on the Mortgaged Property; and (iii) such state of facts as are disclosed by the survey of the Mortgaged Property delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 5.12(d) of the Existing Credit Agreement and which do not materially impair the value of the Mortgaged Property or the operations conducted on the Mortgaged Property.

Permitted Investments ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.5 .

Permitted Liens ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.2 .

Permitted Warrants ” shall mean the call options or warrants (or substantively equivalent derivative transactions) on the Company’s common stock sold by the Company substantially concurrently with the Permitted Bond Hedges.

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

Plan ” shall mean, at any particular time, any employee benefit plan which is covered by Title IV of ERISA and in respect of which any Credit Party, any Subsidiary of a Credit Party or any Commonly Controlled Entity is (or, if such plan were terminated at such time, would under Section 4069 of ERISA be deemed to be) an “employer” as defined in Section 3(5) of ERISA.

Pledge Agreement ” shall mean (a) the Pledge and Security Agreement, (b) the Foreign Pledge Agreements, and (c) any other pledge agreement or security agreement entered into by a Credit Party or a Subsidiary thereof pursuant to the terms of this Agreement and/or the Credit Documents, in each case as amended, modified, restated or supplemented from time to time.

 

32


Pledge and Security Agreement ” shall mean the Pledge and Security Agreement dated as of the Original Effective Date, entered into by the Company and the Domestic Guarantors in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders, as amended, modified, restated or supplemented from time to time.

Pledged Foreign Subsidiaries ” shall mean the Foreign Subsidiaries set forth on Schedule 1.1(b) and any other Material Foreign Subsidiaries the Capital Stock of which are pledged pursuant to the Foreign Pledge Agreements.

PMP ” shall mean a professional market party, as defined in the Dutch Banking Act, being (a) a qualified investor, including, but not limited to, a legal person or a company that holds a license or is otherwise regulated to be active in the financial markets; (b) a subsidiary of a qualified investor that is included in the supervision of the qualified investor on a consolidated basis; or (c) any other person or company designated by the Decree as a professional market party.

Prime Rate ” shall have the meaning set forth in the definition of Alternate Base Rate.

Pro Forma Basis ” shall mean, with respect to any transaction, that such transaction (together with each other transaction that occurred after the first day of the four (4) fiscal-quarter period referenced below to the extent previously given effect (or tested) on a Pro Forma Basis for the purposes of (or pursuant to the requirements of this Agreement) shall be deemed to have occurred as of the first day of the four (4) fiscal-quarter period ending as of the last day of the most recent fiscal quarter preceding the date of such transaction with respect to which the Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall have received the financial statements referred to in Section 5.1(a) or (b) , as applicable.

Qualifying Equity Interests ” shall mean Equity Interests of the Company other than Disqualified Stock.

Real Property ” of any Person shall mean all the right, title and interest of such Person in and to land, improvements and fixtures, including Leaseholds, in each case located in the United States (including any state or territory thereof).

Recovery Event ” shall mean the receipt by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of any cash insurance proceeds or condemnation award payable by reason of theft, loss, physical destruction or damage, taking or similar event with respect to any of their respective property or assets.

Refinancing ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Amendment and Restatement Agreement.

 

33


Refinancing Documents ” shall mean all pay-off letters, guaranty releases, Lien releases (including, without limitation, UCC termination statements) and other documents and agreements entered into in connection with the Refinancing.

Register ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9.6(c) .

Reimbursement Obligation ” shall mean, with respect to a Letter of Credit issued for the account of a Borrower, the obligation of such Borrower to reimburse the Issuing Lender of such Letter of Credit for a drawing under such Letter of Credit plus accrued (but unpaid) interest on the amount so paid or disbursed by such Issuing Lender.

Related Parties ” shall mean, with respect to any Person, such Person’s Affiliates and the partners, directors, officers, employees, agents and advisors of such Person and of such Person’s Affiliates.

Removed Lender ” shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.22(a)(B) .

Reorganization ” shall mean, with respect to any Multiemployer Plan, the condition that such Plan is in reorganization within the meaning of such term as used in Section 4241 of ERISA.

Replaced Lender ” shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.22(a) .

Replacement Lender ” shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.22(a) .

Reportable Event ” shall mean any of the events set forth in Section 4043(c) of ERISA, other than those events as to which the thirty-day notice period is waived under PBGC Reg. § 4043.22, .23, .25, .27 or .28.

Required Lenders ” shall mean, as of any date of determination, Lenders holding in the aggregate greater than 50% of the sum of (i) the Revolving Commitments or (ii) if the Revolving Commitments have been terminated, the outstanding Revolving Loans and Participation Interests (including the Participation Interests of Deutsche Bank, in its capacity as a Lender, in any Letters of Credit and Swingline Loans); provided , however , that if any Lender shall be a Defaulting Lender at such time, then there shall be excluded from the determination of Required Lenders, such Defaulting Lender’s Revolving Commitment or, after termination of the Revolving Commitments, the principal balance of the Revolving Loans owing to such Defaulting Lender and such Defaulting Lender’s Participation Interests.

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

Responsible Officer ” shall mean, as to (a) a Borrower, the President, the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer or the Treasurer or (b) any other Credit Party, any duly authorized officer thereof.

 

34


Restricted Payment ” shall mean (a) any dividend or other distribution, direct or indirect, on account of any shares of any class of Capital Stock of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, now or hereafter outstanding, (b) any redemption, retirement, sinking fund or similar payment, purchase or other acquisition for value, direct or indirect, of any shares of any class of Capital Stock of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, now or hereafter outstanding, or (c) any payment made to retire, or to obtain the surrender of, any outstanding warrants, options or other rights to acquire shares of any class of Capital Stock of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, now or hereafter outstanding or (d) any payment or prepayment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on, redemption, purchase, retirement, defeasance, sinking fund or similar payment with respect to, any Senior Secured Notes or any Subordinated Indebtedness (excluding, in each case, any payments made as part of the Refinancing on the Effective Date with respect to the Existing Senior Notes and the payments made with respect to the Existing Convertible Notes pursuant to the Existing Convertible Notes Tender Offer, in each case, to the extent funded with the proceeds of the Senior Secured Notes and up to $[            ] 4 of the Company’s cash on hand) or (e) any cash payments by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries with respect to any Permitted Bond Hedge (other than any payments made as part of the Refinancing with respect to the Permitted Bond Hedges).

Revolver Extension Election ” shall mean an election by a Revolving Lender provided in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Amendment and Restatement Agreement to have all or a portion of its Existing Revolving Commitment (together with all related Revolving Exposure) converted into an Extended Revolving Commitment (and related Revolving Exposure, as applicable) pursuant to Part I Section 1 of the Amendment and Restatement Agreement.

Revolving Commitment ” shall mean an Extended Revolving Commitment and/or a Non-Extended Revolving Commitment, as the context may require.

Revolving Commitment Percentag e” shall mean, with respect to each Revolving Lender at any time a fraction (expressed as a percentage, carried out to the ninth decimal place), the numerator of which is the amount of the Revolving Commitments of such Revolving Lender at such time and the denominator of which is the amount of the Revolving Commitments of all Revolving Lenders at such time; provided that if such Revolving Commitments have been terminated, then the Revolving Commitment Percentage of each Revolving Lender shall be determined based on the Revolving Commitment Percentage of such Revolving Lender immediately prior to such termination and after giving effect to any subsequent assignments made pursuant to the terms hereof.

Revolving Committed Amount ” shall mean, at any time, the sum of (a) the Extended Revolving Committed Amount at such time and (b) the Non-Extended Revolving Committed Amount at such time.

Revolving Exposure ” shall mean, at any time, as to each Revolving Lender, the sum of the outstanding principal amount of such Revolving Lender’s Revolving Loans at such time and its Revolving Commitment Percentage of the LOC Obligations and the outstanding Swingline Loans at such time.

 

4   To insert number equal to $807 million less the gross proceeds of the Senior Secured Notes.

 

35


Revolving Lender ” shall mean, as of any date of determination, a Lender holding a Revolving Commitment, a portion of the outstanding Revolving Loans and/or a participation in any outstanding Swingline Loans and/or outstanding LOC Obligations, in each case, on such date.

Revolving Loan ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.1 .

Revolving Note ” or “ Revolving Notes ” shall mean each of the promissory notes of the Borrowers in favor of each of the Revolving Lenders evidencing the Revolving Loans provided pursuant to Section 2.1(e) , individually or collectively, as appropriate, as such promissory notes may be amended, modified, supplemented, extended, renewed or replaced from time to time.

S&P ” shall mean Standard & Poor’s Ratings Group, a division of The McGraw Hill, Inc.

Sanctioned Country ” shall mean a country subject to a sanctions program identified on the list maintained by OFAC and made publicly available from time to time.

Sanctioned Person ” shall mean (a) a Person named on the list of “Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons” maintained by OFAC and made publicly available from time to time, or (b) (i) an agency of the government of a Sanctioned Country, (ii) an organization controlled by a Sanctioned Country, or (iii) a person resident in a Sanctioned Country, to the extent subject to a sanctions program administered by OFAC.

Secured Hedging Agreement ” shall mean any Hedging Agreement between any Borrower or any Guarantor and any Hedging Agreement Provider; provided , in the case of a Secured Hedging Agreement with a Hedging Agreement Provider who is no longer a Lender, such Secured Hedging Agreement shall cease to be a Secured Hedging Agreement hereunder after the stated maturity date (without extension or renewal) of such Secured Hedging Agreement (unless there are and remain uncured defaults in payment thereunder).

Secured Parties ” shall mean the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Lenders, the Swingline Lenders, the Lenders and the Hedging Agreement Providers.

Security Documents ” shall mean Section 2.25 of this Agreement, the Pledge Agreements, the Mortgage and such other documents executed and delivered and/or filed in connection with the attachment and perfection of the Administrative Agent’s security interests and liens arising thereunder, including, without limitation, UCC financing statements; provided , that any cash collateral or other agreements entered into pursuant to the Back-Stop Arrangements shall constitute “ Credit Documents ” solely for purpose of Sections 3.4 , 3.18 , 6.1(a) , 6.2(a) and 9.5 .

Senior Indenture ” shall mean that certain Indenture, dated as of the Effective Date, by and among the Company, as issuer, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as

 

36


registrar and paying agent, and Law Debenture Trust Company of New York, as trustee with respect to the Senior Secured Notes as in effect on the Effective Date, as supplemented, amended, restated, extended, renewed, replaced or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof.

Senior Secured Notes ” shall mean, collectively, the [            ]% 5 initial Senior Secured Notes due 2021 in an original principal amount of [            ] 6 , issued by the Company pursuant to the Senior Indenture, as such Senior Secured Notes are in effect on the Effective Date and as the same may be supplemented, amended, restated, extended, renewed, replaced or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof.

Senior Secured Notes Documents ” shall mean the Senior Secured Notes, the Senior Indenture and all other documents executed and delivered with respect to the Senior Secured Notes or Senior Secured Notes Indenture, as in effect on the Effective Date and as the same may be amended, modified and/or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof.

Shortfall on Enforcement ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11.9(e) .

Single Employer Plan ” shall mean any Plan which is not a Multiemployer Plan.

Sole Lead Arranger ” shall mean Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. as Sole Lead Arranger.

Solvent ” shall mean, with respect to any Person, that (a) the fair saleable value of each such Person’s assets, measured on a going concern basis, exceeds all debts of such Person (including any liabilities to be incurred pursuant to this Agreement), (b) such Person does not have unreasonably small capital in relation to the business in which it is or proposes to be engaged and (c) such Person has not incurred debts beyond its ability to pay such debts as such debts mature.

Specified Default ” shall mean any Event of Default or Default under Section 7.1(a) or (e) .

Specified Sales ” shall mean (a) the sale, transfer, lease or other disposition of inventory and materials in the ordinary course of business and (b) the conversion of cash into Cash Equivalents or Cash Equivalents into cash.

Subject Provisions ” shall mean and include each of Sections 6.9(vi) , 6.13(e) , 7.1(e) , and 7.1(f) .

Subordinated Indebtedness ” shall mean any Indebtedness incurred by any Credit Party which by its terms is subordinated in right of payment to the prior payment of the Credit

 

5   To insert final rate for Senior Secured Notes when issued on Effective Date.
6  

To insert original principal amount of Senior Secured Notes issued on the Effective Date which in any event shall not exceed $790,000,000.

 

37


Party Obligations (for purposes of the definition of “ Consolidated Total Senior Debt ”, on terms acceptable to the Administrative Agent), including, without limitation, the Existing Convertible Notes.

Subsidiary ” shall mean, as to any Person, a corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity of which shares of stock or other ownership interests having ordinary voting power (other than stock or such other ownership interests having such power only by reason of the happening of a contingency) to elect a majority of the board of directors or other managers of such corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity are at the time owned, or the management of which is otherwise controlled, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, or both, by such Person. Unless otherwise qualified, all references to a “ Subsidiary ” or to “ Subsidiaries ” in this Agreement shall refer to a Subsidiary or Subsidiaries of the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, except for purposes of Sections 3.6 , 3.9 , 3.10 , 3.14 , 5.4(d) , 5.7(b) , 5.8 and 7.1(g) (and, solely for the purposes of such Sections, any definitions used therein), WLT shall be deemed not to be a Subsidiary of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries for purposes of this Agreement.

Swap Obligation ” shall mean, with respect to any Guarantor, any obligations under any interest rate protection agreement or other Hedging Agreement to pay or perform under any agreement, contract or transaction that constitutes a “swap” within the meaning of Section 1a(47) of the Commodity Exchange Act.

Swingline Back-Stop Arrangements ” shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.2(a) .

Swingline Committed Amount ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(a) .

Swingline Lender ” shall mean Deutsche Bank, in its capacity as such, or any successor swingline lender hereunder.

Swingline Loan ” or “ Swingline Loans ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(a) .

Swingline Note ” shall mean the promissory notes of the Borrowers in favor of the Swingline Lender evidencing the Swingline Loans provided pursuant to Section 2.2(d) , as such promissory note may be amended, modified, supplemented, extended, renewed or replaced from time to time.

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

Transaction Costs ” shall mean the costs, fees, expenses and premiums (including tender premiums in an amount not to exceed 3% of the principal amount of the Indebtedtedness then being redeemed under the Existing Convertible Notes and redemption premiums in an amount not to exceed 5% of the principal amount of the Indebtededness then being redeemed under the Existing Senior Notes) associated with the Refinancing, including, without limitation,

 

38


the issuance of the Senior Secured Notes, the termination or unwinding by the Company of the Permitted Bond Hedges, the cash tender process with respect of the Existing Notes, the entry into and funding under the Credit Documents on the Effective Date, and the other transactions in connection with the foregoing.

Unasserted Obligations ” shall mean, at any time, Credit Party Obligations for taxes, costs, indemnifications, reimbursements, damages and other liabilities (except for (i) the principal of and interest on, and fees relating to, any Loan and (ii) contingent reimbursement obligations in respect of amounts that may be drawn under, and fees relating to, Letters of Credit) in respect of which no claim or demand for payment has been made (or, in the case of Credit Party Obligations for indemnification, no notice for indemnification has been issued by the indemnitee) at such time.

Uncommitted Inventories ” shall mean tobacco inventories for which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has not received a Confirmed Order, which such inventories are reflected on the books and records of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries as uncommitted inventories in accordance with GAAP.

Unutilized Existing Revolving Loan Commitment Amount ” shall mean, with respect to any Revolving Lender at any time prior to the Effective Date, such Revolving Lender’s portion of Revolving Commitment Amount at such time less the sum of (i) the aggregate outstanding principal amount of all Revolving Loans made by such Revolving Lender at such time, (ii) such Revolving Lender’s Revolving Commitment Percentage of the LOC Obligations outstanding at such time and (iii) solely in the case the Revolving Lender that is the Swingline Lender, its Revolving Commitment Percentage of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of Swingline Loans at such time

Unutilized Extended Revolving Loan Commitment Amount ” shall mean, with respect to any Extended Revolving Lender at any time, such Extended Revolving Lender’s portion of the Extended Revolving Committed Amount at such time less the sum of (i) the aggregate outstanding principal amount of all Extended Revolving Loans made by such Extended Revolving Lender at such time, (ii) such Extended Revolving Lender’s Extended Revolving Commitment Percentage of the Allocable Revolving Percentage of the LOC Obligations outstanding at such time and (iii) solely in the case the Revolving Lender that is the Swingline Lender, its Extended Revolving Commitment Percentage of the Allocable Revolving Percentage of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of Swingline Loans at such time.

Unutilized Non-Extended Revolving Loan Commitment Amount ” shall mean, with respect to any Non-Extended Revolving Lender at any time, such Non-Extended Revolving Lender’s portion of the Non-Extended Revolving Committed Amount at such time less the sum of (i) the aggregate outstanding principal amount of all Non-Extended Revolving Loans made by such Non-Extended Revolving Lender at such time, (ii) such Non-Extended Revolving Lender’s Non-Extended Revolving Commitment Percentage of the Allocable Revolving Percentage of the LOC Obligations outstanding at such time and (iii) solely in the case the Non-Extended Revolving Lender that is the Swingline Lender, its Non-Extended Revolving Commitment Percentage of the Allocable Revolving Percentage of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of Swingline Loans at such time.

 

39


Value Added Processing Facility ” shall the tobacco processing facility located along Baldree Road and Wilco Boulevard in Wilson, North Carolina.

Voting Stock ” shall mean, with respect to any Person, Capital Stock issued by such Person the holders of which are ordinarily, in the absence of contingencies, entitled to vote for the election of directors (or persons performing similar functions) of such Person, even though the right so to vote has been suspended by the happening of such a contingency.

WLT ” shall mean World Leaf Tobacco, which, to the extent formed, will at all times be a wholly owned subsidiary of Alliance AG; provided that, to the extent reasonably requested by the Company for the purposes of providing a pledge of the equity interests in WLT, Alliance AG may form a direct wholly owned subsidiary which shall be a passive holding company whose sole material assets shall consist of 100% of the equity interests in World Leaf Tobacco, with such passive holding company and World Leaf Tobacco being collectively referred to herein as “ WLT ”.

Working Capital Amount ” shall mean, as of any day, the sum of (a) 80% of Eligible Receivables, plus (b) 80% of total Advances on Tobacco, plus (c) 90% of Committed Inventories constituting Eligible Inventory, plus (d) 60% of Uncommitted Inventories constituting Eligible Inventory, in each case as set forth in the most recent Working Capital Amount Certificate delivered to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders in accordance with the terms of Section 5.2(c) .

Working Capital Amount Certificate ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.2(c) .

Zimbabwe Subsidiaries ” shall mean any Subsidiaries (so long as they remain Subsidiaries) that (x) are organized in Zimbabwe and (y) have been, and for so long as they continue to be, deconsolidated from the Company’s consolidated financial statements for the purposes of (and in accordance with) GAAP.

Section 1.2 Other Definitional Provisions . The definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms. The words “include,” “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation.” The word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall.” Unless the context requires otherwise (a) any definition of or reference to any agreement, instrument or other document herein shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or other document as from time to time amended, supplemented or otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, supplements or modifications set forth herein), (b) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person’s successors and assigns, (c) the words “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder,” and words of similar import, shall be construed to refer to this Agreement in its entirety and not to any particular provision hereof, (d) all references herein to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles and Sections

 

40


of, and Exhibits and Schedules to, this Agreement, (e) any reference to any law or regulation herein shall, unless otherwise specified, refer to such law or regulation as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time and (f) the words “asset” and “property” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect and to refer to any and all tangible and intangible assets and properties, including cash, securities, accounts and contract rights.

Section 1.3 Accounting Terms . 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 applied on a basis consistent with the most recent audited consolidated financial statements of the Company delivered to the Lenders prior to the Original Effective Date; provided that, for the purposes of calculating the financial covenants set forth in Section 5.9 and the Applicable Percentages and any of the calculations of Consolidated Net Income, Consolidated EBITDA or any financial ratio, (i) each Zimbabwe Subsidiary shall be treated as if it was a consolidated Subsidiary of the Company in accordance with GAAP (notwithstanding the fact that it is actually deconsolidated for purposes of GAAP) and (ii) each Person that is not a Subsidiary of the Company shall not be consolidated with the Company and its Subsidiaries (notwithstanding the fact that such Person may actually be consolidated for purposes of GAAP) (any such Person, a “ Minority Interest Consolidated Entity ”); provided further that, if the Administrative Borrower notifies the Administrative Agent that it wishes to amend any covenant in Section 5.9 or any financial term as used in the definition of Applicable Percentages to eliminate the effect of any change in GAAP on the operation of such covenant or financial term (or if the Administrative Agent notifies the Administrative Borrower that the Required Lenders wish to amend Section 5.9 for such purpose), then the Borrowers’ compliance with such covenant or financial term shall be determined on the basis of GAAP in effect immediately before the relevant change in GAAP became effective, until either such notice is withdrawn or such covenant is amended in a manner satisfactory to the Borrowers and the Required Lenders.

The Administrative Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent and each Lender at the same time as the delivery of any annual or quarterly financial statements given in accordance with the provisions of Section 5.1 , (i) a description in reasonable detail of any material change in the application of accounting principles employed in the preparation of such financial statements from those applied in the most recently preceding quarterly or annual financial statements as to which no objection shall have been made in accordance with the provisions above and (ii) a reasonable estimate of the effect on the financial statements on account of such changes in application.

Section 1.4 Time References . Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to times of day shall be references to Eastern time (daylight or standard, as applicable).

 

41


Section 1.5 Execution of Documents . Unless otherwise specified, all Credit Documents and all other certificates executed in connection therewith must be signed by a Responsible Officer; provided that the Assistant Treasurer of the Company may execute Notices of Borrowing and/or Notices of Conversion in conjunction with a Responsible Officer’s execution of the same.

Section 1.6 Dutch Terms . In this Agreement, where it relates to an entity organized under the laws of the Netherlands, a reference to:

(a) a winding-up, administration or dissolution includes an entity organized under the laws of the Netherlands being:

(i) declared bankrupt ( failliet verklaard );

(ii) dissolved ( ontbonden );

(b) a moratorium includes surseance van betaling and granted a moratorium includes surseance verleend ;

(c) a trustee in bankruptcy includes a curator ;

(d) an administrator (or similar person) includes a bewindvoerder ;

(e) a receiver or an administrative receiver does not include a curator or bewindvoerder ; and

(f) an attachment includes a beslag .

ARTICLE II

THE LOANS; AMOUNT AND TERMS

Section 2.1 Revolving Loans .

(a) Revolving Commitment . During the Commitment Period, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, each Revolving Lender severally agrees to make revolving credit loans (“ Revolving Loans ”) to the Borrowers from time to time for the purposes hereinafter set forth; provided , however , that (i) the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Revolving Loans and Swingline Loans made to the Company plus the outstanding Company LOC Obligations shall not exceed $200,000,000 at any time outstanding, (ii) no Revolving Loans shall be made if after incurrence of such Revolving Loans (but after giving effect to the expected uses of the

 

42


proceeds thereof within 2 Business Days of the respective Revolving Loans for purposes other than investing in Cash Equivalents) there will be more than $160,000,000 of unrestricted cash and Cash Equivalents in the aggregate on the consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries (excluding any amounts held in the Blocked Account that are included on such balance sheet as cash or Cash Equivalents); provided that in making calculations pursuant to this clause (ii), the Company may disregard changes in the consolidated balances of cash and Cash Equivalents of the Company and its Subsidiaries to the extent the Company is not actually aware of a material increase in such balances during the period beginning 24 hours before the time the respective Notice of Borrowing for such respective Revolving Loans is required to be delivered and ending on (but including) the date on which such respective Revolving Loans are to be made, (iii) with regard to each Revolving Lender individually, the sum of such Revolving Lender’s Revolving Commitment Percentage of the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Revolving Loans plus outstanding Swingline Loans plus outstanding LOC Obligations shall not exceed such Revolving Lender’s Revolving Commitment and (iv) with regard to the Revolving Lenders collectively, the sum of the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Revolving Loans plus outstanding Swingline Loan plus outstanding LOC Obligations shall not exceed the lesser of (A) the Revolving Committed Amount and (B) the Working Capital Amount. For purposes hereof, the aggregate amount of Revolving Loans available hereunder shall be the Revolving Committed Amount. Revolving Loans may consist of Alternate Base Rate Loans or LIBOR Rate Loans, or a combination thereof, as the Administrative Borrower may request, and may be repaid and reborrowed in accordance with the provisions hereof. LIBOR Rate Loans shall be made by each Lender at its LIBOR Lending Office and Alternate Base Rate Loans at its Domestic Lending Office. For the avoidance of doubt, all Revolving Loans will be made by Revolving Lenders (including both Extended Revolving Lenders and Non-Extended Revolving Lenders) in accordance with their Revolving Commitment Percentage (acting as a single class) until the Non-Extended Maturity Date; thereafter, all Revolving Loans will be made by the Extended Revolving Lenders in accordance with their Extended Revolving Commitment Percentage.

(b) Revolving Loan Borrowings .

(i) Notice of Borrowing . The Administrative Borrower shall request a Revolving Loan borrowing by delivering to the Administrative Agent a Notice of Borrowing (or telephone notice promptly confirmed in writing by delivering to the Administrative Agent a Notice of Borrowing, which delivery may be by fax) not later than 11:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the Business Day prior to the date of the requested borrowing in the case of Alternate Base Rate Loans, and on the third Business Day prior to the date of the requested borrowing in the case of LIBOR Rate Loans. Each such Notice of Borrowing shall be irrevocable and shall specify (A) that a Revolving Loan is requested, (B) the date of the requested borrowing (which shall be a Business Day), (C) the aggregate principal amount to be borrowed, (D) whether the borrowing shall be comprised of Alternate Base Rate Loans, LIBOR Rate Loans or a combination thereof, and if LIBOR Rate Loans are requested, the Interest Period(s) therefor and (E) the Borrower requesting such borrowing. If the Administrative Borrower shall fail to specify in any such Notice of Borrowing (I) an applicable Interest Period in the case of a LIBOR Rate Loan, then such notice shall be deemed to be a request for an Interest Period of one month, or (II) the type of Revolving Loan requested, then such notice shall be

 

43


deemed to be a request for an Alternate Base Rate Loan hereunder. The Administrative Agent shall give notice to each Revolving Lender promptly upon receipt of each Notice of Borrowing, the contents thereof and each such Revolving Lender’s share thereof.

(ii) Minimum Amounts . Each Revolving Loan borrowing shall be in a minimum aggregate principal amount of (A) with respect to LIBOR Rate Loans, $3,000,000 and integral multiples of $1,000,000 in excess thereof (or the remaining amount of the Revolving Committed Amount, if less) or (B) with respect to Alternate Base Rate Loans, $1,000,000 and integral multiples of $500,000 in excess thereof (or the remaining amount of the Revolving Committed Amount, if less). More than one borrowing may occur on the same date, but at no time shall there be outstanding more than ten borrowings of LIBOR Rate Loans in the aggregate for all Loans.

(iii) Advances . Each Revolving Lender will make its Revolving Commitment Percentage of each Revolving Loan borrowing available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Applicable Borrower at the office of the Administrative Agent specified in Section 9.2 , or at such other office as the Administrative Agent may designate in writing, by 1:00 P.M. (New York City time) on the date specified in the applicable Notice of Borrowing in Dollars and in funds immediately available to the Administrative Agent. Such borrowing will then be made available in Dollars to the Applicable Borrower by the Administrative Agent by crediting the account of such Borrower on the books of such office with the aggregate of the amounts made available to the Administrative Agent by the Revolving Lenders and in like funds as received by the Administrative Agent; provided that, if, on the date of a borrowing of Revolving Loans (other than a Mandatory Swingline Borrowing), there are outstanding Reimbursement Obligations or Swingline Loans then outstanding with respect to such Borrower, then the proceeds of such borrowing shall be applied, first , to the payment in full of any such outstanding Reimbursement Obligations with respect to Letters of Credit, second , to the payment in full of any such Swingline Loans, and third , to such Borrower as otherwise provided above.

(c) Repayment . The principal amount of (i) all Non-Extended Revolving Loans shall be due and payable in full on the Non-Extended Maturity Date and (ii) all Extended Revolving Loans shall be due and payable in full on the Extended Maturity Date.

(d) Interest . Subject to the provisions of Section 2.7 , Revolving Loans shall bear interest as follows:

(i) Alternate Base Rate Loans . During such periods as Revolving Loans shall be comprised of Alternate Base Rate Loans, each such Alternate Base Rate Loan shall bear interest at a per annum rate equal to the sum of the Alternate Base Rate plus the Applicable Percentage; and

(ii) LIBOR Rate Loans . During such periods as Revolving Loans shall be comprised of LIBOR Rate Loans, each such LIBOR Rate Loan shall bear interest at a per annum rate equal to the sum of the LIBOR Rate plus the Applicable Percentage.

 

44


(iii) Interest on Revolving Loans shall be payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date.

(e) Revolving Notes . Each Revolving Lender’s Revolving Commitment shall, if requested by such Revolving Lender, be evidenced by duly executed promissory notes of the Borrowers to such Revolving Lender in substantially the form of Schedule 2.1(e) (with such modifications thereto as may be necessary to reflect differing classes of Revolving Commitments).

Section 2.2 Swingline Loan Subfacility .

(a) Swingline Commitment . During the Commitment Period of the Extended Revolving Commitment, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Swingline Lender, in its individual capacity, agrees to make certain revolving credit loans to the Borrowers (each a “ Swingline Loan ” and, collectively, the “ Swingline Loans ”) from time to time for the purposes hereinafter set forth; provided , however , (i) the aggregate amount of Swingline Loans outstanding at any time shall not exceed FORTY MILLION DOLLARS ($40,000,000) (the “ Swingline Committed Amount ”), (ii) the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Revolving Loans and Swingline Loans made to the Company plus the outstanding Company LOC Obligations shall not exceed $200,000,000 at any time outstanding, and (iii) the sum of the aggregate amount of outstanding Revolving Loans plus Swingline Loans plus LOC Obligations shall not exceed the lesser of (A) the Revolving Committed Amount and (B) the Working Capital Amount and (iv) no Swingline Loans shall be made if after incurrence of such Swingline Loans (but after giving effect to the expected uses of the proceeds thereof within 2 Business Days of the respective Swingline Loans for purposes other than investing in Cash Equivalents) there will be more than $160,000,000 of unrestricted cash and Cash Equivalents in the aggregate on the consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries (excluding any amounts held in the Blocked Account that are included on such balance sheet as cash or Cash Equivalents); provided that in making calculations pursuant to this clause (iv), the Company may disregard changes in the consolidated balances of cash and Cash Equivalents of the Company and its Subsidiaries to the extent the Company is not actually aware of a material increase in such balances during the period beginning 24 hours before the time the respective Notice of Borrowing for such respective Swingline Loans is required to be delivered and ending on (but including) the date on which such respective Swingline Loans are to be made. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 2.2 , (i) the Swingline Lender shall not be obligated to make any Swingline Loans at a time when a Lender is a Defaulting Lender unless the Swingline Lender has entered into arrangements with one or more Borrowers satisfactory to it and the Administrative Borrower to eliminate the Swingline Lender’s risk with respect to each Defaulting Lender’s participation in such Swingline Loans (which arrangements are hereby consented to by the Lenders), including by a Borrower cash collateralizing such Defaulting Lender’s Revolving Commitment Percentage of the outstanding Swingline Loans (such arrangements, the “ Swingline Back-Stop Arrangements ”), and (ii) the Swingline Lender shall not make any Swingline Loan after it has received written notice from the Administrative Borrower, or the Required Lenders stating that a Default or an Event of Default exists and is continuing until such time as the Swingline Lender shall have received written notice (A) of rescission of all such notices from the party or parties originally delivering such notice or notices or (B) of the waiver of such Default or Event of Default by the Required Lenders.

 

45


(b) Swingline Loan Borrowings .

(i) Notice of Borrowing and Disbursement . The Administrative Borrower shall request a Swingline Loan borrowing by delivering to the Administrative Agent a Notice of Borrowing (or telephone notice promptly confirmed in writing by delivering to the Administrative Agent a Notice of Borrowing, which delivery may be by fax) not later than 12:00 Noon (New York City time) on the date of the requested borrowing. Each such Notice of Borrowing shall be irrevocable and shall specify (A) that a Swingline Loan is requested, (B) the date of the requested borrowing (which shall be a Business Day), (C) the aggregate principal amount to be borrowed and (D) the Borrower requesting such borrowing. The Administrative Agent shall give notice to the Swingline Lender promptly upon receipt of each Notice of Borrowing and the contents thereof. Swingline Loan borrowings hereunder shall be made in minimum amounts of $100,000 and in integral amounts of $100,000 in excess thereof.

(ii) Repayment of Swingline Loans . The principal amount of all Swingline Loans shall be due and payable in full on the Extended Maturity Date. The Swingline Lender may, at any time, in its sole discretion, by written notice to the Administrative Borrower and the Administrative Agent, demand repayment of its Swingline Loans by way of a Revolving Loan borrowing, in which case the Applicable Borrower or Applicable Borrowers shall be deemed to have requested a Revolving Loan borrowing comprised entirely of Alternate Base Rate Loans in the amount of such Swingline Loans; provided , however , that any such demand shall also be deemed to have been given one (1) Business Day prior to each of the following: (i) the Extended Maturity Date, (ii) the occurrence of any Event of Default described in Section 7.1(e) , (iii) the acceleration of the Credit Party Obligations hereunder, whether on account of an Event of Default described in Section 7.1(e) or any other Event of Default and (iv) the exercise of remedies in accordance with the provisions of Section 7.2 hereof (each such Revolving Loan borrowing made on account of any such deemed request therefor as provided herein being hereinafter referred to as a “ Mandatory Swingline Borrowing ”). The Administrative Agent shall give notice to each Revolving Lender promptly upon receipt from the Swingline Lender of demand for repayment of its Swingline Loans and upon any deemed request for repayment through a Mandatory Swingline Borrowing. Each Revolving Lender hereby irrevocably agrees to fund its Revolving Commitment Percentage (determined after giving effect to the termination of the Non-Extended Revolving Commitments on the Non-Extended Maturity Date pursuant to Section 2.5(d) ) of each such Revolving Loan on the date such notification is received if such notification is received by such Revolving Lender at or before 12:00 Noon (New York City time), otherwise such payment shall be made at or before 12:00 Noon (New York City time) on the next succeeding Business Day, in each case notwithstanding (I) the amount of such Revolving Loan may not comply with the minimum amount for borrowings of Revolving Loans otherwise required hereunder, (II) whether any conditions specified in Section 4.2 are then satisfied, (III) whether a Default or an Event of Default then exists, (IV) failure of any such request or deemed request for a Revolving Loan to be made by the Extended

 

46


Maturity Date, (V) the date of such Revolving Loan borrowing, or (VI) any reduction in the Revolving Committed Amount or termination of the Revolving Commitments immediately prior to such Revolving Loan borrowing or contemporaneously therewith (other than the termination of the Non-Extended Revolving Commitments on the Non-Extended Maturity Date pursuant to Section 2.5(d) ). In the event that any Mandatory Swingline Borrowing cannot for any reason be made on the date otherwise required above (including, without limitation, as a result of the commencement of a proceeding under the Bankruptcy Code with respect to a Borrower) (it being understood and agreed that a Mandatory Swingline Borrowing cannot be made, if on the Non-Extended Maturity Date any Specified Default exists, during the period commencing on the Non-Extended Maturity Date and ending on the first date thereafter on which no Specified Default exists), then each Revolving Lender hereby agrees that it shall forthwith purchase (as of the date the Mandatory Swingline Borrowing would otherwise have occurred, but adjusted for any payments received from the Applicable Borrower on or after such date and prior to such purchase) from the Swingline Lender such Participation Interest in the outstanding Swingline Loans as shall be necessary to cause each such Revolving Lender to share in such Swingline Loans ratably based upon its respective Revolving Commitment Percentage (determined before giving effect to any termination of the Revolving Commitments pursuant to Section 7.2 and, if a Specified Default has existed from and after the Non-Extended Maturity Date to and including such time, the termination of the Non-Extended Revolving Commitments on the Non-Extended Maturity Date pursuant to Section 2.5(d) ); provided that (A) all interest payable on the Swingline Loans shall be for the account of the Swingline Lender until the date as of which the respective Participation Interest is purchased, (B) at the time any purchase of a Participation Interest pursuant to this sentence is actually made, the purchasing Revolving Lender shall be required to pay to the Swingline Lender interest on the principal amount of such Participation Interest purchased for each day from and including the day upon which the Mandatory Swingline Borrowing would otherwise have occurred to but excluding the earlier to occur of (x) the date of payment for such Participation Interest and (y) the reallocation of such Participation Interest pursuant to clause (C) below, at the rate equal to, if paid within two (2) Business Days of the date of the Mandatory Swingline Borrowing, the Federal Funds Effective Rate, and thereafter at a rate equal to the Alternate Base Rate and (C) the Participation Interest of each Non-Extended Revolving Lender in all outstanding Swingline Loans shall automatically terminate with respect to such Non-Extended Revolving Lender and be reallocated in accordance with Section 2.5(d) .

(c) Interest on Swingline Loans . Subject to the provisions of Section 2.7 , Swingline Loans shall bear interest at a per annum rate equal to the Alternate Base Rate plus the Applicable Percentage for Revolving Loans that are Alternate Base Rate Loans. Interest on Swingline Loans shall be payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date or as may be mutually agreed upon by the Borrowers and the Swingline Lender.

(d) Swingline Note . The Swingline Loans shall be evidenced by duly executed promissory notes of the Borrowers to the Swingline Lender in the original amount of the Swingline Committed Amount and substantially in the form of Schedule 2.2(d) .

 

47


Section 2.3 Letter of Credit Subfacility .

(a) Issuance . Subject to the terms and conditions hereof and any other terms and conditions which an Issuing Lender may reasonably require, during the Commitment Period of the Extended Revolving Commitment such Issuing Lender shall issue (in the case of trade Letters of Credit, subject to the Issuing Lender of such respective Letter of Credit and the Applicable Borrower agreeing on Trade Fronting Fees to be payable with respect thereto), and the Revolving Lenders shall participate in the manner provided in clause (c) below in, trade or standby Letters of Credit for the account of the Applicable Borrower from time to time upon request by the Administrative Borrower in a form acceptable to such Issuing Lender; provided , however , that (i) the aggregate amount of LOC Obligations shall not at any time exceed FORTY MILLION DOLLARS ($40,000,000) (the “ LOC Committed Amount ”), (ii) the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Revolving Loans and Swingline Loans made to the Company plus the outstanding Company LOC Obligations shall not exceed $200,000,000 at any time outstanding, (iii) the sum of the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Revolving Loans plus outstanding Swingline Loans plus outstanding LOC Obligations shall not at any time exceed the lesser of (A) the Revolving Committed Amount and (B) the Working Capital Amount, (iv) all Letters of Credit shall be denominated in Dollars and shall be issued on a sight basis only and (v) Letters of Credit shall be issued for any lawful corporate purposes of the Applicable Borrower and its Subsidiaries and may be issued as standby letters of credit, including in connection with workers’ compensation and other insurance programs, and trade letters of credit. Except as otherwise agreed upon by all the Revolving Lenders, no Letter of Credit shall have an original expiry date more than twelve (12) months from the date of issuance; provided , however , so long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and subject to the other terms and conditions of the issuance of Letters of Credit hereunder, the expiry dates of Letters of Credit may be extended annually or periodically from time to time on the request of the Administrative Borrower or by operation of the terms of the applicable Letter of Credit to a date not more than twelve (12) months from the date of extension; provided , further , that (A) no Letter of Credit, as originally issued or as extended, shall have an expiry date extending beyond the date which is five (5) Business Days prior to the Extended Maturity Date and (B) no Letter of Credit as originally issued or as extended shall have a stated expiry date extend beyond the date which is five (5) Business Days prior to the Non-Extended Maturity Date if at the time of such issuance or extension, the aggregate stated amount of all Letters of Credit having stated expiry dates after the Non-Extended Maturity Date, when added to the aggregate Revolving Exposure of all Extended Revolving Lenders (exclusive of LOC Obligations) as of such date, would exceed the aggregate amount of the Extended Revolving Commitments then in effect. The issuance and expiry date of each Letter of Credit shall be a Business Day. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, in the event that a Lender is a Defaulting Lender, no Issuing Lender shall be required to issue, renew, extend or amend any Letter of Credit, unless such Issuing Lender has entered into arrangements with one or more Borrowers satisfactory to it and the Administrative Borrower to eliminate such Issuing Lender’s risk with respect to each Defaulting Lender’s participation in Letters of Credit issued by such Issuing Lender (which arrangements are hereby consented to by the Lenders), including by a Borrower cash collateralizing each Defaulting Lender’s Revolving Commitment Percentage of the LOC

 

48


Obligations with respect to such Letters of Credit (such arrangements, the “ Letter of Credit Back-Stop Arrangements ”). Unless otherwise agreed, Deutsche Bank shall be the Issuing Lender on all Letters of Credit issued on or after the Effective Date; provided , however , to the extent Deutsche Bank (or an affiliate thereof) shall be unable to provide any Letter of Credit requested by a Borrower, any other Issuing Lender may serve as the Issuing Lender for such Letter of Credit.

(b) Notice and Reports . The request for the issuance of a Letter of Credit shall be submitted by the Administrative Borrower to an Issuing Lender at least five (5) Business Days prior to the requested date of issuance pursuant to a Letter of Credit Request or other form of request acceptable to such Issuing Lender. The initial face amount of each Letter of Credit shall not be less than $100,000 or such lesser amount as is acceptable to the respective Issuing Lender. Each Issuing Lender will provide on a quarterly basis, and otherwise will promptly upon request provide, to the Administrative Agent for dissemination to the Revolving Lenders a detailed report specifying the Letters of Credit which are then issued by such Issuing Lender and outstanding and any activity with respect thereto which may have occurred since the date of any prior report, and including therein, among other things, the account party, the beneficiary, the face amount, expiry date as well as any payments or expirations which may have occurred. Each Issuing Lender will further provide to the Administrative Agent promptly upon request copies of the Letters of Credit issued by such Issuing Lender. Each Issuing Lender will provide to the Administrative Agent promptly upon request a summary report of the nature and extent of LOC Obligations with respect to the Letters of Credit issued by such Issuing Lender then outstanding.

(c) Participations . Each Revolving Lender upon issuance of any Letter of Credit by an Issuing Lender, shall be deemed to have purchased without recourse a risk participation from such Issuing Lender in such Letter of Credit and the amount available to be drawn thereunder and any collateral relating thereto, in each case in an amount equal to its Revolving Commitment Percentage of the amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit and shall absolutely, unconditionally and irrevocably assume, as primary obligor and not as surety, and be obligated to pay to such Issuing Lender therefor and discharge when due, its Revolving Commitment Percentage of the amounts drawn under such Letter of Credit; provided that any Person that becomes a Revolving Lender after the Effective Date shall be deemed to have purchased a risk participation in all outstanding Letters of Credit on the date it becomes a Revolving Lender hereunder and any Letter of Credit issued on or after such date, in each case in accordance with the foregoing terms; provided further that the Participation Interest of each Non-Extended Revolving Lender in all outstanding Letters of Credit shall automatically terminate with respect to such Non-Extended Revolving Lender and be reallocated in accordance with Section 2.5(d) . Without limiting the scope and nature of each Revolving Lender’s participation in any Letter of Credit, to the extent that an Issuing Lender has not been reimbursed as required hereunder, each such Revolving Lender shall pay to such Issuing Lender its Revolving Commitment Percentage of such unreimbursed drawing in same day funds on the day of notification by such Issuing Lender of an unreimbursed drawing pursuant to the provisions of subsection (d) hereof if such notification is received by such Revolving Lender at or before 12:00 Noon (New York City time), otherwise such payment shall be made at or before 12:00 Noon (New York City time) on the next succeeding Business Day. The obligation of each Revolving Lender to so reimburse each Issuing Lender shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by the occurrence of a Default, an Event of Default or any other occurrence

 

49


or event. Any such reimbursement shall not relieve or otherwise impair the obligation of the Applicable Borrower to reimburse each Issuing Lender under any Letter of Credit issued by such Issuing Lender, together with interest as hereinafter provided.

(d) Reimbursement . In the event of any drawing under any Letter of Credit, the Issuing Lender of such Letter of Credit will promptly notify the Administrative Borrower and the Administrative Agent, provided that the failure to give any such notice shall in no way affect, impair or diminish the Applicable Borrower’s obligations hereunder. The Applicable Borrower shall reimburse each Issuing Lender not later than one Business Day following receipt by the Applicable Borrower of notice of such payment or disbursement (with the proceeds of a Revolving Loan obtained hereunder or otherwise) in same day funds as provided herein ( provided that no such notice shall be required to be given if a Default or an Event of Default under Section 7.1(e) shall have occurred and be continuing, in which case the Reimbursement Obligations shall be due and payable immediately without presentment, demand, protest or notice of any kind (all of which are hereby waived by the Applicable Borrower)), with interest on the amount so paid or disbursed by such Issuing Lender, to the extent not reimbursed prior to 12:00 Noon (New York City time) on the date of such payment or disbursement, from and including the date paid or disbursed to but excluding the date such Issuing Lender was reimbursed by the Applicable Borrower therefor at a rate per annum equal to, subject to the immediately succeeding sentence the Alternate Base Rate as in effect from time to time plus the Applicable Percentage as in effect from time to time for Revolving Loans that are maintained as Alternate Base Rate Loans. If the Applicable Borrower shall fail to reimburse the Issuing Lender prior to 12:00 Noon (New York City time) on or before the second Business Day following the receipt by the Applicable Borrower of notice of such payment or disbursement or following the occurrence of a Default or an Event of Default under Section 7.1(e) , the unreimbursed amount of such drawing shall bear interest at a per annum rate equal to the Default Rate for Alternate Base Rate Loans set forth in Section 2.7 . Any such Reimbursement Obligation shall be deemed satisfied (but nevertheless subject to the payment of interest thereon as provided herein below) if paid in full with proceeds from a Mandatory LOC Borrowing. Unless the Administrative Borrower shall immediately notify the respective Issuing Lender and the Administrative Agent of the Applicable Borrower’s intent to otherwise reimburse such Issuing Lender, the Applicable Borrower shall be deemed to have requested a Mandatory LOC Borrowing in the amount of the drawing as provided in subsection (e) hereof, the proceeds of which will be used to satisfy the Reimbursement Obligations. The Applicable Borrower’s Reimbursement Obligations hereunder shall be absolute and unconditional under all circumstances irrespective of any rights of set-off, counterclaim or defense to payment the Applicable Borrower may claim or have against the applicable Issuing Lender, the Administrative Agent, the Revolving Lenders, the beneficiary of the Letter of Credit issued by such Issuing Lender drawn upon or any other Person, including, without limitation, any defense based on any failure of the Applicable Borrower to receive consideration or the legality, validity, regularity or unenforceability of the Letter of Credit issued by such Issuing Lender. Each Issuing Lender will promptly notify the other Revolving Lenders of the amount of any unreimbursed drawing not paid by the Applicable Borrower when due and each Revolving Lender shall promptly pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of such Issuing Lender in Dollars and in immediately available funds, the amount of such Revolving Lender’s Revolving Commitment Percentage (determined, unless a Specified Default has existed from and after the Non-Extended Maturity Date to and including the time such payment is required to be made, after giving effect to the termination of the Non-Extended Revolving

 

50


Commitments on the Non-Extended Maturity Date pursuant to Section 2.5(d) ) of such unreimbursed drawing. Such payment shall be made on the day such notice is received by such Revolving Lender from the applicable Issuing Lender if such notice is received at or before 12:00 Noon (New York City time), otherwise such payment shall be made at or before 12:00 Noon (New York City time) on the Business Day next succeeding the day such notice is received. If such Revolving Lender does not pay such amount to the applicable Issuing Lender in full upon such request, such Revolving Lender shall, on demand, pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of such Issuing Lender interest on the unpaid amount during the period from the date of such drawing until such Revolving Lender pays such amount to such Issuing Lender in full at a rate per annum equal to, if paid within two (2) Business Days of the date of drawing, the Federal Funds Effective Rate and thereafter at a rate equal to the Alternate Base Rate. Each Revolving Lender’s obligation to make such payment to the applicable Issuing Lender, and the right of such Issuing Lender to receive the same, shall be absolute and unconditional, shall not be affected by any circumstance whatsoever and without regard to the termination of this Credit Agreement or the Revolving Commitments hereunder (other than, unless a Specified Default has existed from and after the Non-Extended Maturity Date to and including the time such payment is required to be made, the termination of the Non-Extended Revolving Commitments on the Non-Extended Maturity Date pursuant to Section 2.5(d) ), the existence of a Default or Event of Default or the acceleration of the Credit Party Obligations hereunder and shall be made without any offset, abatement, withholding or reduction whatsoever.

(e) Repayment with Revolving Loans . On any day on which a Borrower shall have requested, or been deemed to have requested, a Revolving Loan to reimburse a drawing under a Letter of Credit, the Administrative Agent shall give notice to the Revolving Lenders that a Revolving Loan has been requested or deemed requested in connection with a drawing under a Letter of Credit, in which case a Revolving Loan borrowing comprised entirely of Alternate Base Rate Loans (each such borrowing, a “ Mandatory LOC Borrowing ”) shall be immediately made (without giving effect to any termination of the Revolving Commitments pursuant to Section 7.2 ) pro rata based on each Revolving Lender’s respective Revolving Commitment Percentage (determined (x) before giving effect to any termination of the Revolving Commitments pursuant to Section 7.2 and (y) after giving effect to the termination of the Non-Extended Revolving Commitments on the Non-Extended Maturity Date pursuant to Section 2.5(d) ) and the proceeds of such Mandatory LOC Borrowing shall be paid directly to the Issuing Lender of such drawn Letter of Credit for application to the respective LOC Obligations. Each Revolving Lender hereby irrevocably agrees to make such Revolving Loans on the day such notice is received by the Revolving Lenders from the Administrative Agent if such notice is received at or before 12:00 Noon (New York City time), otherwise such payment shall be made at or before 12:00 Noon (New York City time) on the Business Day next succeeding the day such notice is received, in each case notwithstanding (i) the amount of Mandatory LOC Borrowing may not comply with the minimum amount (or integral amount in excess thereof) for borrowings of Revolving Loans otherwise required hereunder, (ii) whether any conditions specified in Section 4.2 are then satisfied, (iii) whether a Default or an Event of Default then exists, (iv) failure of any such request or deemed request for Revolving Loan to be made by the time otherwise required in Section 2.1(b)(i) , (v) the date of such Mandatory LOC Borrowing, or (vi) any reduction in the Revolving Committed Amount after any such Letter of Credit may have been drawn upon (other than the termination of the Non-Extended Revolving Commitments on

 

51


the Non-Extended Maturity Date pursuant to Section 2.5(d )). In the event that any Mandatory LOC Borrowing cannot for any reason be made on the date otherwise required above (including, without limitation, as a result of the commencement of a proceeding under the Bankruptcy Event) (it being understood and agreed that a Mandatory LOC Borrowing cannot be made, if on the Non-Extended Maturity Date any Specified Default exists, during the period commencing on the Non-Extended Maturity Date and ending on the first date thereafter on which no Specified Default exists), then, in satisfaction of its obligations under Section 2.3(c) , each such Revolving Lender hereby agrees that it shall forthwith fund (on the Business Day notice to fund is received by such Revolving Lender from the Issuing Lender of such drawn Letter of Credit if such notice is received at or before 12:00 Noon (New York City time), otherwise such payment shall be made at or before 12:00 Noon (New York City time) on the Business Day next succeeding the Business Day such notice is received) its Participation Interests in the outstanding LOC Obligations; provided , further , that in the event any Revolving Lender shall fail to fund its Participation Interest on the day the Mandatory LOC Borrowing would otherwise have occurred, then the amount of such Revolving Lender’s unfunded Participation Interest therein shall bear interest payable by such Revolving Lender to such Issuing Lender upon demand, at the rate equal to, if paid within two (2) Business Days of such date, the Federal Funds Effective Rate, and thereafter at a rate equal to the Alternate Base Rate.

(f) Modification, Extension . The issuance of any supplement, modification, amendment, renewal, or extension to any Letter of Credit shall, for purposes hereof, be treated in all respects the same as the issuance of a new Letter of Credit hereunder.

(g) Uniform Customs and Practices . Each Issuing Lender shall have the right to require that the Letters of Credit issued by such Issuing Lender be subject to The Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary Credits, as published as of the date of issue by the International Chamber of Commerce (the “ UCP ”), in which case the UCP may be incorporated therein and deemed in all respects to be a part thereof.

Section 2.4 Fees .

(a) Commitment Fee . The Borrowers agree to pay to the Administrative Agent:

(i) for the ratable benefit of each Revolving Lender (other than any Revolving Lender which is a Defaulting Lender for the period it is a Defaulting Lender), a commitment fee (it being understood that 50% of such commitment fees shall be severally owing by each Borrower, with the amounts owing by each Borrower to be guaranteed as, and to the extent, otherwise provided herein) for the period from and including the Original Effective Date to, but not including, the Effective Date (or such earlier date on which the entire Revolving Commitment has been terminated) with respect to such Revolving Lender’s Existing Revolving Commitment in an aggregate amount equal to the Applicable Percentage (as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Date) per annum of the Unutilized Existing Revolving Loan Commitment Amount of such Revolving Lender as in effect from time to time; and

 

52


(ii) for the ratable benefit of each Non-Extended Revolving Lender and Extended Revolving Lender (in each case, other than any Revolving Lender which is a Defaulting Lender for the period it is a Defaulting Lender) in accordance with its Other Allocable Percentage of the Non-Extended Revolving Commitments and the Extended Revolving Commitments, respectively, a commitment fee (it being understood that 50% of such commitment fees shall be severally owing by each Borrower, with the amounts owing by each Borrower to be guaranteed as, and to the extent, otherwise provided herein) for the period from and including the Effective Date to and including the Non-Extended Maturity Date and the Extended Maturity Date, as the case may be, with respect to such Non-Extended Revolving Commitment and Extended Revolving Commitment, as the case may be, (or such earlier date on which the entire Revolving Commitments has been terminated) in an aggregate amount equal to the Applicable Percentage with respect to such Non-Extended Revolving Commitment and Extended Revolving Commitment, as the case may be, per annum of (x) the Unutilized Non-Extended Revolving Loan Commitment Amount of such Non-Extended Revolving Lender as in effect from time to time or (y) the Unutilized Extended Revolving Loan Commitment Amount of such Extended Revolving Lender as in effect from time to time, as the case may be.

The commitment fees set forth in clauses (i) and (ii) above, collectively the “ Commitment Fee ”.

The Commitment Fee shall be payable quarterly in arrears on the 15th day following the last day of each calendar quarter for the prior calendar quarter and (x) with respect to commitment fees accrued for the accounts of the Non-Extended Revolving Lenders, on the Non-Extended Maturity Date (in arrears for the portion of such fiscal quarter in which the Non-Extended Maturity Date occurs) and (y) with respect to commitment fees accrued for the accounts of the Extended Revolving Lenders, on the Extended Maturity Date (in arrears for the portion of such fiscal quarter in which the Extended Maturity Date occurs).

(b) Letter of Credit Fees . The Applicable Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent:

(i) for the ratable benefit of each Revolving Lender (based on each such Revolving Lender’s respective Revolving Commitment Percentage (as in effect prior to the Effective Date)) in respect of each Letter of Credit issued for the account of such Applicable Borrower, a fee for the period from and including the date of issuance of such Letter of Credit to and including the earlier of (x) the Effective Date and (y) date of termination or expiration of such Letter of Credit, computed at a rate per annum equal to the Applicable Percentage as in effect from time to time during such period prior to the Effective Date with respect to Revolving Loans that are maintained as LIBOR Rate Loans on the daily LOC Obligations of each such Letter of Credit; and

(ii) for the ratable benefit of each Non-Extended Revolving Lender and Extended Revolving Lender (in accordance with its Other Allocable Percentage (determined in the event that a Specified Default exists on the Non-Extended Maturity

 

53


Date, from the Non-Extended Maturity Date to the first date on which no Specified Default exists, without giving effect to the termination of the Non-Extended Revolving Commitments on the Non-Extended Maturity Date pursuant to Section 2.5(d) ) of the Non-Extended Revolving Commitments and the Extended Revolving Commitments, respectively) in respect of each Letter of Credit issued for the account of such Applicable Borrower, a fee for the period from and including the later of (x) the Effective Date and (y) date of issuance of such Letter of Credit to and including the date of termination or expiration of such Letter of Credit, computed at a rate per annum equal to the Applicable Percentage as in effect from time to time during such period with respect to Non-Extended Revolving Loans or Extended Revolving Loans, as the case may be, that are maintained as LIBOR Rate Loans on the daily LOC Obligations of each such Letter of Credit.

The fees set forth in clauses (i) and (ii) above with respect to a Letter of Credit, collectively, the “ Letter of Credit Fee ”.

In addition to such Letter of Credit Fee, the Applicable Borrower agrees to pay to each Issuing Lender, for its own account without sharing by the other Lenders, (x) in respect of each standby Letter of Credit issued by it for the account of such Applicable Borrower, an additional fronting fee (the “ Standby Fronting Fee ”) for the period from and including the date of issuance of such standby Letter of Credit to and including the date of termination or expiration of such standby Letter of Credit, computed at a rate per annum equal to 1/4 of 1% (0.25%) per annum on the daily LOC Obligations of such Letter of Credit, provided that in any event the minimum amount of Standby Fronting Fees payable in any twelve-month period for each Letter of Credit shall be not less than $500, it being agreed that, on the day of issuance of any Letter of Credit and on each anniversary thereof prior to the termination or expiration of such Letter of Credit, if $500 will exceed the amount of Standby Fronting Fees that will accrue with respect to such Letter of Credit for the immediately succeeding twelve-month period, the full $500 shall be payable on the date of issuance of such Letter of Credit and on each such anniversary thereof and (y) in respect of each trade Letter of Credit issued by it for the account of such Applicable Borrower, an additional fronting fee (the “ Trade Fronting Fee ” and together with the Standby Fronting Fee, the “ Fronting Fees ”) as shall be agreed to in writing from time to time by the Applicable Borrowers and such Issuing Lender. The Letter of Credit Fee and the Fronting Fees shall each be payable quarterly in arrears on the last Business Day of each calendar quarter and (x) with respect to Letter of Credit Fees accrued for the accounts of the Non-Extended Revolving Lenders, on the Non-Extended Maturity Date (in arrears for the portion of such fiscal quarter in which the Non-Extended Maturity Date occurs) and (y) with respect to Letter of Credit Fees accrued for the accounts of the Extended Revolving Lenders, on the Extended Maturity Date (in arrears for the portion of such fiscal quarter in which the Extended Maturity Date occurs).

(c) Issuing Lender Fees . In addition to the Letter of Credit Fees and Fronting Fees payable pursuant to subsection (b) hereof, the Applicable Borrower shall pay to each Issuing Lender, for its own account without sharing by the other Lenders, the reasonable and customary charges from time to time of such Issuing Lender with respect to the amendment,

 

54


transfer, administration, cancellation and conversion of, and drawings under, the Letters of Credit issued by such Issuing Lender for the account of such Borrower (collectively, the “ Issuing Lender Fees ”).

(d) Administrative Fee . Each Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent 50% of the annual administrative fee as described in the Original Fee Letter.

(e) Other Fees . Each Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent such other fees as may be agreed to in writing from time to time by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and the Administrative Agent.

Section 2.5 Commitment Reductions .

(a) Voluntary Reductions . The Administrative Borrower shall have the right to terminate or permanently reduce the unused portion of the Revolving Committed Amount at any time or from time to time upon not less than five (5) Business Days’ prior notice to the Administrative Agent (which shall notify the Lenders thereof as soon as practicable) of each such termination or reduction, which notice shall specify the effective date thereof and the amount of any such reduction which shall be in a minimum amount of $10,000,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof and shall be irrevocable and effective upon receipt by the Administrative Agent; provided that no such reduction or termination shall be permitted if after giving effect thereto, and to any prepayments of the Revolving Loans made on the effective date thereof, the sum of the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Revolving Loans plus outstanding Swingline Loans plus outstanding LOC Obligations would exceed the lesser of (i) the Revolving Committed Amount or (ii) the Working Capital Amount.

(b) Maturity Date . The Revolving Commitment shall automatically terminate on the Extended Maturity Date.

(c) Senior Secured Notes and Permitted Refinancings thereof . In addition to any Revolving Commitment reductions described above and any mandatory repayments required pursuant to Section 2.6(b) , if at any time, because of an Asset Sale, Recovery Event or similar occurrence, the Company would become required to make a mandatory offer to purchase all or any portion of the Senior Secured Notes or any permitted refinancing thereof pursuant to Section 6.1(h) and at such time the Company is not permitted to repurchase or redeem Senior Secured Notes pursuant to Section 6.10 in the aggregate amount required to finance the repurchase or redemption of Senior Secured Notes as a result of such occurrence (assuming for such purposes 100% acceptance of such mandatory offer by the holders of the Senior Secured Notes), then before such obligation to make any mandatory offer to purchase arises, the Company shall reduce the Revolving Commitment in such amounts, and make corresponding repayments of outstanding Loans as may be required, in each case so that no such mandatory offer to repurchase is required to be made.

(d) Termination of the Non-Extended Revolving Credit Commitments . On the Non-Extended Maturity Date, the Non-Extended Revolving Commitments will terminate and the Non-Extended Revolving Lenders will have no further obligation to make Revolving Loans,

 

55


Mandatory Swingline Borrowings, Mandatory LOC Borrowings, fund participations in LOC Obligations pursuant to Section 2.3(d) and (e)  or Swingline Loans pursuant to Section 2.2(b) ; provided that (x) the foregoing will not release any Non-Extended Revolving Lender from any such obligation to fund Revolving Loans, Mandatory Swingline Borrowings, Mandatory LOC Borrowings, participations in LOC Obligations or Swingline Loans that was required to be performed on or prior to the Non-Extended Maturity Date and (y) the foregoing will not release any such Non-Extended Revolving Lender from any such obligation to fund its participations in LOC Obligations or Swingline Loans if on the Non-Extended Maturity Date any Specified Default exists until the first date thereafter on which no Specified Default exist. Unless clause (y) of the proviso in the immediately preceding sentence is applicable, on the Non-Extended Maturity Date, all outstanding Swingline Loans and LOC Obligations shall be deemed to be outstanding with respect to (and reallocated under) the Extended Revolving Commitments and the Revolving Commitment Percentage of the Revolving Lenders shall be determined to give effect to the termination of the Non-Extended Revolving Commitments (in each case, so long as after giving effect to such reallocation, the Revolving Exposure of each Extended Revolving Lender does not exceed such Lender’s Extended Revolving Commitment). On and after the Non-Extended Maturity Date of the Non-Extended Revolving Commitments, the Extended Revolving Lenders (and so long as clause (y) of the proviso in the second preceding sentence is applicable, the Non-Extended Revolving Lenders) will be required, in accordance with their Revolving Commitment Percentage (so long clause (y) of the proviso in the second preceding sentence is applicable, determined without giving effect to the termination of the Non-Extended Revolving Commitments) to fund participations in LOC Obligations pursuant to Section 2.3(d) and (e)  to the extent such funding obligation arises on or after such date and fund participations in Swingline Loans pursuant to Section 2.2(b) to the extent such funding obligation arises on or after such date, regardless of whether any Default existed on the Non-Extended Maturity Date; provided that the Revolving Exposure of each Extended Revolving Lender does not exceed such Lender’s Revolving Commitment.

Section 2.6 Prepayments .

(a) Optional Prepayments . Each Borrower shall have the right to prepay Loans made to it in whole or in part from time to time; provided , however , that (i) each partial prepayment of Revolving Loans shall be in a minimum principal amount of $1,000,000 and integral multiples of $500,000 in excess thereof and (ii) each prepayment of Swingline Loans shall be in a minimum principal amount of $100,000 and integral multiples of $100,000 in excess thereof. The Administrative Borrower shall give three (3) Business Days’ irrevocable notice in the case of LIBOR Rate Loans and one (1) Business Day’s irrevocable notice in the case of Alternate Base Rate Loans, to the Administrative Agent (which shall notify the Lenders thereof as soon as practicable). All prepayments under this Section 2.6(a) shall be subject to Section 2.16 , but otherwise without premium or penalty. Interest accrued through the date of prepayment on the principal amount prepaid shall be payable (A) with respect to any LIBOR Rate Loan, on such date of prepayment and (B) with respect to any Alternate Base Rate Loan, on the next occurring Interest Payment Date that would have occurred had such Loan not been prepaid or, at the request of the Administrative Agent or if there is a corresponding permanent reduction of the Revolving Commitment, such interest shall be payable on such date of prepayment. Amounts prepaid on the Revolving Loans and Swingline Loans may be reborrowed

 

56


in accordance with the terms hereof. All amounts prepaid pursuant to this Section 2.6(a) shall be applied first to Alternate Base Rate Loans and then to LIBOR Rate Loans in direct order of Interest Period maturities; provided that at such Borrower’s election in connection with any prepayment of Revolving Loans pursuant to this Section 2.6(a) , such prepayment shall not, so long as no Default and no Event of Default then exists, be applied to any Revolving Loan of a Defaulting Lender.

(b) Mandatory Prepayments .

(i) Revolving Committed Amount . Each Borrower shall repay to the Administrative Agent for the ratable account of (x) the Non-Extended Revolving Lenders on the Non-Extended Maturity Date with respect to the Non-Extended Revolving Commitments, the aggregate principal amount of all of the Non-Extended Revolving Loans outstanding on such date and (y) the Extended Revolving Lenders on the Extended Maturity Date with respect to the Extended Revolving Commitments, the aggregate principal amount of all of the Extended Revolving Loans outstanding on such date. In addition, (A) if at any time after the Effective Date, the sum of the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Revolving Loans plus outstanding Swingline Loans plus LOC Obligations shall exceed the lesser of (I) the Revolving Committed Amount (including as a result of the termination of the Non-Extended Revolving Commitments on the Non-Extended Maturity Date) or (II) the Working Capital Amount, each Borrower, immediately shall prepay its Revolving Loans and the Swingline Loans in an amount sufficient to eliminate such excess or (B) if the amount of unrestricted cash and Cash Equivalents in the aggregate on the consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries (excluding any amounts held in the Blocked Account that are included on such balance sheet as cash or Cash Equivalents) exceeds $160,000,000 for a period of 7 consecutive Business Days, each Borrower immediately shall prepay on such day (x) first, its outstanding Swingline Loans and, (y) second, after all of its Swingline Loans have been repaid in full or if none of its Swingline Loans are outstanding, its outstanding Revolving Loans, in an amount sufficient to eliminate such excess. In respect of any prepayment pursuant to the immediately preceding sentence, each Revolving Lender shall receive its pro rata share of any such prepayment based on its Revolving Commitment Percentage; provided that at such Borrower’s election in connection with any prepayment of Revolving Loans pursuant to this Section 2.6(b)(i) (other than a prepayment pursuant to Section 2.6(b)(i)(A) to the extent clause (I) thereof would require such prepayment), such prepayment shall not, so long as no Default and no Event of Default then exists, be applied to any Revolving Loan of a Defaulting Lender. If for any reason, at any time during the five (5) Business Day period immediately preceding the Non-Extended Maturity Date, (x) the Non-Extended Revolving Lenders’ Allocable Revolving Percentage of the Revolving Exposure attributable to LOC Obligations and outstanding Swingline Loans exceeds (y) the amount of the Extended Revolving Commitments minus the Extended Revolving Lenders’ Allocable Revolving Percentage of the total Revolving Exposure at such time, then each Borrower shall promptly prepay or cause to be promptly prepaid Revolving Loans, Swingline Loans and/or cash collateralize the LOC Obligations in an aggregate amount necessary to eliminate such excess; provided that the Borrowers shall not be required to cash collateralize the LOC Obligations pursuant to this sentence unless after the prepayment in full of the Revolving Loans and Swingline Loans such excess has not been eliminated.

 

57


(ii) Asset Dispositions . Promptly following the receipt by a Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries of the proceeds of any Asset Disposition, the Loans shall be prepaid in an aggregate amount equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the Net Cash Proceeds derived from such Asset Disposition (such prepayment to be applied as set forth in clause (v) below); provided that the Net Cash Proceeds from Asset Dispositions in any fiscal year shall not be required to be so applied until the aggregate amount of such Net Cash Proceeds exceeds $10,000,000 for such fiscal year and only such excess amounts shall be required to be applied.

(iii) Recovery Event . Promptly following any Recovery Event, the Loans shall be prepaid in an aggregate amount equal to one-hundred percent (100%) of the Net Cash Proceeds derived from such Recovery Event (such prepayment to be applied as set forth in clause (v) below); provided that the Net Cash Proceeds from Recovery Events in any fiscal year shall not be required to be so applied until the aggregate amount of such Net Cash Proceeds exceeds $10,000,000 for such fiscal year and only such excess amounts shall be required to be applied.

(iv) Certain Additional Required Repayments . In addition to the mandatory repayments required above, mandatory prepayments of Loans shall be required on the dates, and in the amounts, provided in Section 2.5(c) (such prepayment to be applied as set forth in clause (v) below).

(v) Application of Mandatory Prepayments . All amounts required to be paid pursuant to Section 2.6(b)(ii) , Section 2.6(b)(iii) and Section 2.6(b)(iv) shall be applied on such day (x) first, to the outstanding Swingline Loans and, (y) second, after all of the Swingline Loans have been repaid in full or if none of the Swingline Loans are outstanding, the outstanding Revolving Loans, in each case (except as otherwise required pursuant to Section 2.5(c) in the circumstances described therein), without a corresponding reduction in the Revolving Commitments or the Revolving Committed Amount. Within the parameters of the applications set forth above, prepayments shall be applied first to Alternate Base Rate Loans and then to LIBOR Rate Loans in direct order of Interest Period maturities. Each Lender shall receive its pro rata share of any such prepayment based on its applicable Revolving Commitment Percentage; provided that at such Borrower’s election in connection with any prepayment of Revolving Loans pursuant to Section 2.6(b)(ii) or Section 2.6(b)(iii) , such prepayment shall not, so long as no Default and no Event of Default then exists, be applied to any Revolving Loan of a Defaulting Lender. All prepayments under this Section 2.6(b) shall be subject to Section 2.16 .

(c) If any Revolving Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender at any time that any Letter of Credit issued by any Issuing Lender is outstanding, the Applicable Borrower on which account such Letters of Credit are issued shall enter into the applicable Letter of Credit Back-Stop Arrangements with such Issuing Lender no later than 10 Business Days after the date such Revolving Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender.

 

58


Section 2.7 Default Rate and Payment Dates . Upon the occurrence, and during the continuance, of an Event of Default, the Required Lenders may elect that the principal of and, to the extent permitted by law, interest on the Loans and any other amounts owing hereunder or under the other Credit Documents shall bear interest, payable on demand, at a per annum rate 2% greater than the rate which would otherwise be applicable (or if no rate is applicable, whether in respect of interest, fees or other amounts, then the Alternate Base Rate plus the highest Applicable Percentage (Level I) plus 2%) (the “ Default Rate ”); provided , however , that the Default Rate shall apply to the Loans and other amounts owing hereunder and under the other Credit Documents to the extent that either Borrower shall fail to pay any principal, reimbursement obligation, interest, fee or other amount upon the same becoming due and payable (whether at the stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise).

Section 2.8 Conversion Options .

(a) The Administrative Borrower may, in the case of Revolving Loans, elect from time to time to convert Alternate Base Rate Loans to LIBOR Rate Loans, by giving the Administrative Agent irrevocable written notice of such election not later than 11:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the date which is three Business Days prior to the requested date of conversion. A form of Notice of Conversion/Extension is attached as Schedule 2.8 . If the date upon which an Alternate Base Rate Loan is to be converted to a LIBOR Rate Loan is not a Business Day, then such conversion shall be made on the next succeeding Business Day and during the period from such last day of an Interest Period to such succeeding Business Day such Loan shall bear interest as if it were an Alternate Base Rate Loan. All or any part of outstanding Alternate Base Rate Loans may be converted as provided herein, provided that (i) no Loan may be converted into a LIBOR Rate Loan when any Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and (ii) partial conversions shall be in an aggregate principal amount of $3,000,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof.

(b) Any LIBOR Rate Loans may be continued as such upon the expiration of an Interest Period with respect thereto by the Administrative Borrower giving the Administrative Agent irrevocable written notice of such election not later than 11:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the date which is three Business Days prior to the requested date of continuation; provided , that no LIBOR Rate Loan may be continued as such when any Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, in which case such Loan shall be automatically converted to an Alternate Base Rate Loan at the end of the applicable Interest Period with respect thereto. If the Administrative Borrower shall fail to give timely notice of an election to continue a LIBOR Rate Loan, or the continuation of LIBOR Rate Loans is not permitted hereunder, such LIBOR Rate Loans shall be automatically converted to Alternate Base Rate Loans at the end of the applicable Interest Period with respect thereto.

 

59


Section 2.9 Computation of Interest and Fees .

(a) Interest payable hereunder with respect to Alternate Base Rate Loans based on the Prime Rate shall be calculated on the basis of a year of 365 days (or 366 days, as applicable) for the actual days elapsed. All other fees, interest and all other amounts payable hereunder shall be calculated on the basis of a 360 day year for the actual days elapsed. The Administrative Agent shall as soon as practicable notify the Administrative Borrower and the Lenders of each determination of a LIBOR Rate on the Business Day of the determination thereof. Any change in the interest rate on a Loan resulting from a change in the Alternate Base Rate shall become effective as of the opening of business on the day on which such change in the Alternate Base Rate shall become effective. The Administrative Agent shall as soon as practicable notify the Administrative Borrower and the Lenders of the effective date and the amount of each such change.

(b) Each determination of an interest rate by the Administrative Agent pursuant to any provision of this Agreement shall be conclusive and binding on the Borrowers and the Lenders in the absence of manifest error. The Administrative Agent shall, at the request of a Borrower, deliver to such Borrower a statement showing the computations used by the Administrative Agent in determining any interest rate.

Section 2.10 Pro Rata Treatment and Payments .

(a) Each borrowing of Loans and any reduction of the Revolving Commitments shall be made pro rata according to the respective Revolving Commitment Percentages of the Lenders. Each payment under this Agreement or any Note made by an Applicable Borrower shall be applied, first , to any fees then due and owing by such Borrower pursuant to Section 2.4 , second , to interest then due and owing in respect of its Loans and, third , to principal then due and owing in respect of its Loans. Each payment made by an Applicable Borrower on account of any fees pursuant to Section 2.4 shall be made pro rata in accordance with the respective amounts due and owing by such Borrower. Each payment made by an Applicable Borrower on the principal amount of and interest on its Revolving Loans shall be made pro rata according to the respective amounts due and owing (to be applied pro rata among the Lenders entitled to receive such payment). Each optional prepayment made by an Applicable Borrower on the principal amount of its Loans shall be applied in accordance with the terms of Section 2.6(a) . Each mandatory prepayment made by an Applicable Borrower on the principal amount of its Loans shall be applied in accordance with Section 2.6(b) ; provided , that prepayments made pursuant to Section 2.14 shall be applied in accordance with such Section. All payments (including prepayments) to be made by the Borrowers on account of principal, interest and fees shall be made without defense, set-off or counterclaim and shall be made to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders at the Administrative Agent’s office specified in Section 9.2 in Dollars and in immediately available funds not later than 1:00 P.M. (New York City time) on the date when due. The Administrative Agent shall distribute such payments to the Lenders entitled thereto promptly upon receipt in like funds as received. If any payment hereunder (other than payments on the LIBOR Rate Loans) becomes due and payable on a day other than a Business Day, such payment shall be extended to the next succeeding

 

60


Business Day, and, with respect to payments of principal, interest thereon shall be payable at the then applicable rate during such extension. If any payment on a LIBOR Rate Loan becomes due and payable on a day other than a Business Day, the maturity thereof shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless the result of such extension would be to extend such payment into another calendar month, in which event such payment shall be made on the immediately preceding Business Day. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the provisions of this Section 2.10(a) shall be subject to the express provisions of this Agreement which (i) require, or permit, differing payments to be made to Lenders which are not Defaulting Lenders as opposed to Defaulting Lenders, (ii) permit different payments to be made to Removed Lenders pursuant to Section 2.22(b)(B) , (iii) require commitment reductions to be made with respect to Non-Extended Revolving Commitments of Non-Extended Revolving Lenders pursuant to 2.5(d) and (iv) require differing payments to be made to Lenders which are Non-Extended Revolving Lenders as opposed to Extended Revolving Lenders (and vice versa).

(b) Allocation of Payments After Exercise of Remedies . Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Credit Agreement to the contrary (except Section 2.20 ), after the exercise of remedies (other than the invocation of default interest pursuant to Section 2.7 ) by the Administrative Agent or the Lenders pursuant to Section 7.2 (or after the Revolving Commitments shall automatically terminate and the Loans (with accrued interest thereon) and all other amounts under the Credit Documents shall automatically become due and payable in accordance with the terms of such Section), all amounts collected or received by the Administrative Agent or any Lender on account of the Credit Party Obligations or any other amounts outstanding under any of the Credit Documents or in respect of the Collateral shall be paid over or delivered as follows (irrespective of whether the following costs, expenses, fees, interest, premiums, scheduled periodic payments or Credit Party Obligations are allowed, permitted or recognized as a claim in any proceeding resulting from the occurrence of a Bankruptcy Event):

FIRST, to the payment of all reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees) of the Administrative Agent in connection with enforcing the rights of the Lenders under the Credit Documents and any protective advances made by the Administrative Agent with respect to the Collateral under or pursuant to the terms of the Security Documents;

SECOND, to payment of any fees owed to the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Lenders;

THIRD, to the payment of all reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees) of each of the Lenders in connection with enforcing its rights under the Credit Documents or otherwise with respect to the Credit Party Obligations owing to such Lender;

FOURTH, to the payment of all of the Credit Party Obligations consisting of accrued fees and interest, including, with respect to any Secured Hedging Agreement, any fees, premiums and scheduled periodic payments due under such Secured Hedging Agreement and any interest accrued thereon;

 

61


FIFTH, to the payment of the outstanding principal amount of the Credit Party Obligations, including the payment or cash collateralization of the outstanding LOC Obligations and, with respect to any Secured Hedging Agreement, any breakage, termination or other payments due under such Secured Hedging Agreement and any interest accrued thereon;

SIXTH, to all other Credit Party Obligations and other obligations which shall have become due and payable under the Credit Documents or otherwise and not repaid pursuant to clauses “FIRST” through “FIFTH” above; and

SEVENTH, to the payment of the surplus, if any, to whomever may be lawfully entitled to receive such surplus.

In carrying out the foregoing, (i) amounts received shall be applied in the numerical order provided until exhausted prior to application to the next succeeding category; (ii) each of the Lenders and Hedging Agreement Providers shall receive an amount equal to its pro rata share (based on the proportion that the then outstanding Loans and LOC Obligations held by such Lender or the outstanding obligations payable to such Hedging Agreement Provider bears to the aggregate then outstanding Loans, LOC Obligations and obligations payable under all Secured Hedging Agreements) of amounts available to be applied pursuant to clauses “THIRD”, “FOURTH”, “FIFTH” and “SIXTH” above; and (iii) to the extent that any amounts available for distribution pursuant to clause “FIFTH” above are attributable to the issued but undrawn amount of outstanding Letters of Credit, such amounts shall be held by the Administrative Agent in a cash collateral account and applied (A) first, to reimburse the Issuing Lender which issued such Letter of Credit from time to time for any drawings under such Letters of Credit and (B) then, following the expiration of all Letters of Credit, to all other obligations of the types described in clauses “FIFTH” and “SIXTH” above in the manner provided in this Section 2.10(b) . Notwithstanding the foregoing terms of this Section 2.10 , (1) the Administrative Agent shall direct the application of the Collateral proceeds in respect of Collateral of the Company and the Domestic Guarantors and payments by the Company or Domestic Guarantors, as same are applied pursuant to any clauses “FIRST” through “SIXTH” above, same shall be applied within the respective such clause (I) first, to outstanding obligations of Company and its Domestic Subsidiaries (other than in their capacities as guarantors of obligations of the Dutch Borrower or any other Foreign Subsidiary) and (II) second, after all obligations pursuant to the respective clause as described in preceding clause (I) have been repaid in full, ratably among all other obligations of the type otherwise described in the respective such clause, and (2) neither the Dutch Borrower nor Alliance AG shall be required to repay or prepay, or to guarantee, nor shall any amount paid by the Dutch Borrower, Alliance AG or any other Foreign Subsidiary be applied to, direct obligations (excluding obligations as guarantor of the Dutch Borrower or Alliance AG or any other Foreign Subsidiary) of the Company or any of its Domestic Subsidiaries.

 

62


Section 2.11 Non-Receipt of Funds by the Administrative Agent .

(a) Funding by Lenders; Presumption by Administrative Agent . Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received written notice from a Lender prior to the proposed date of any Extension of Credit that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lender’s share of such Extension of Credit, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such share available on such date in accordance with this Agreement and may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Applicable Borrower a corresponding amount. In such event, if a Lender has not in fact made its share of the applicable Extension of Credit available to the Administrative Agent, then the applicable Lender and the Applicable Borrower agree to pay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding amount with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is made available to the Applicable Borrower to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at (i) in the case of a payment to be made by such Lender, the greater of the Federal Funds Effective Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation and (ii) in the case of a payment to be made by the Applicable Borrower, the interest rate applicable to Alternate Base Rate Loans. If the Applicable Borrower and such Lender shall pay such interest to the Administrative Agent for the same or an overlapping period, the Administrative Agent shall promptly remit to the Applicable Borrower the amount of such interest paid by the Applicable Borrower for such period. If such Lender pays its share of the applicable Extension of Credit to the Administrative Agent, then the amount so paid shall constitute such Lender’s Loan included in such Extension of Credit. Any payment by the Applicable Borrower shall be without prejudice to any claim the Applicable Borrower may have against a Lender that shall have failed to make such payment to the Administrative Agent.

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

A notice of the Administrative Agent to any Lender or the Applicable Borrower with respect to any amount owing under subsections (a) and (b) of this Section shall be conclusive, absent manifest error.

 

63


Section 2.12 Failure to Satisfy Conditions Precedent . If any Lender makes available to the Administrative Agent funds for any Loan to be made by such Lender as provided in the foregoing provisions of this ARTICLE II, and such funds are not made available to the Applicable Borrower by the Administrative Agent because the conditions to the applicable Extension of Credit set forth in ARTICLE IV are not satisfied or waived in accordance with the terms thereof, the Administrative Agent shall return such funds (in like funds as received from such Lender) to such Lender.

(a) Obligations of Lenders Several . The obligations of the Lenders hereunder to make Revolving Loans, to fund participations in Letters of Credit and Swingline Loans and to make payments pursuant to Section 9.7 are several and not joint. The failure of any Lender to make any Loan, to fund any such participation or to make any such payment under Section 9.7 on any date required hereunder shall not relieve any other Lender of its corresponding obligation to do so on such date, and no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to so make its Loan, to purchase its participation or to make its payment under Section 9.7 .

(b) Funding Source . Nothing herein shall be deemed to obligate any Lender to obtain the funds for any Loan in any particular place or manner or to constitute a representation by any Lender that it has obtained or will obtain the funds for any Loan in any particular place or manner.

Section 2.13 Inability to Determine Interest Rate . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if (i) the Administrative Agent shall reasonably determine (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) that, by reason of circumstances affecting the relevant market, reasonable and adequate means do not exist for ascertaining LIBOR for such Interest Period, or (ii) the Required Lenders shall reasonably determine that the LIBOR Rate does not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of funding LIBOR Rate Loans that the Administrative Borrower has requested be outstanding as a LIBOR Rate Loan during such Interest Period, the Administrative Agent shall forthwith give telephone notice of such determination, confirmed in writing, to the Applicable Borrower and the Lenders at least two (2) Business Days prior to the first day of such Interest Period. Unless the Administrative Borrower shall have notified the Administrative Agent upon receipt of such telephone notice that it wishes to rescind or modify its request regarding such LIBOR Rate Loans, any Loans that were requested to be made as LIBOR Rate Loans shall be made as Alternate Base Rate Loans and any Loans that were requested to be converted into or continued as LIBOR Rate Loans shall be converted into Alternate Base Rate Loans. Until any such notice has been withdrawn by the Administrative Agent, no further Loans shall be made as, continued as, or converted into, LIBOR Rate Loans for the Interest Periods so affected.

Section 2.14 Illegality . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if the adoption of or any change after the Effective Date in any Requirement of Law or in the interpretation or application

 

64


thereof by the relevant Governmental Authority to any Lender shall make it unlawful for such Lender or its LIBOR Lending Office to make or maintain LIBOR Rate Loans as contemplated by this Agreement or to obtain in the interbank eurodollar market through its LIBOR Lending Office the funds with which to make such Loans, (a) such Lender shall promptly notify the Administrative Agent and the Administrative Borrower thereof, (b) the commitment of such Lender hereunder to make LIBOR Rate Loans or continue LIBOR Rate Loans as such shall forthwith be suspended until the Administrative Agent shall give notice that the condition or situation which gave rise to the suspension shall no longer exist, and (c) such Lender’s Loans then outstanding as LIBOR Rate Loans, if any, shall be converted on the last day of the Interest Period for such Loans or within such earlier period as required by law as Alternate Base Rate Loans. The Applicable Borrower hereby agrees promptly to pay any Lender, upon its demand, any additional amounts necessary to compensate such Lender for actual and direct costs (but not including anticipated profits) reasonably incurred by such Lender in making any repayment in accordance with this Section including, but not limited to, any interest or fees payable by such Lender to lenders of funds obtained by it in order to make or maintain its LIBOR Rate Loans hereunder. A certificate as to any additional amounts payable pursuant to this Section submitted by such Lender, through the Administrative Agent, to the Administrative Borrower shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error. Each Lender agrees to use reasonable efforts (including reasonable efforts to change its LIBOR Lending Office) to avoid or to minimize any amounts which may otherwise be payable pursuant to this Section; provided , however , that such efforts shall not cause the imposition on such Lender of any additional costs or legal or regulatory burdens reasonably deemed by such Lender to be material.

Section 2.15 Requirements of Law .

(a) If the adoption of or any change in any Requirement of Law or in the interpretation or application thereof or compliance by any Lender with any request or directive (whether or not having the force of law) from any central bank or other Governmental Authority made subsequent to the Effective Date:

(i) shall subject such Lender to any Tax (other than Indemnified Taxes and Excluded Taxes) with respect to any Letter of Credit, any Participation Interest therein or any application relating thereto, any LIBOR Rate Loan made by it;

(ii) shall impose, modify or hold applicable any reserve, special deposit, compulsory loan or similar requirement against assets held by, deposits or other liabilities in or for the account of, advances, loans or other extensions of credit by, or any other acquisition of funds by, any office of such Lender which is not otherwise included in the determination of the LIBOR Rate hereunder; or

(iii) shall impose on such Lender any other condition;

and the result of any of the foregoing is to increase the cost to such Lender of making or maintaining LIBOR Rate Loans or the Letters of Credit (or the Participation Interests therein) or to reduce any amount receivable hereunder or under any Note in respect thereof, then, in any such case, the Applicable Borrower shall promptly pay such Lender, upon its demand, any

 

65


additional amounts necessary to compensate such Lender for such additional cost or reduced amount receivable which such Lender reasonably deems to be material as determined by such Lender with respect to its LIBOR Rate Loans or Letters of Credit; provided that no such amount shall be payable to the extent incurred more than 90 days prior to the date such Lender (or the Administrative Agent) first notifies the Applicable Borrower of its intention to demand compensation therefor under this Section 2.15(a) ; provided further that, if the change, interpretation or introduction giving rise to such increased costs, reductions or other amounts is retroactive, then the 90 day period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof. A certificate as to any additional amounts payable pursuant to this Section submitted by such Lender, through the Administrative Agent, to the Administrative Borrower shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error.

(b) If any Lender shall have reasonably determined that the adoption of or any change in any Requirement of Law regarding capital adequacy or in the interpretation or application thereof or compliance by such Lender or any corporation controlling such Lender with any request or directive regarding capital adequacy (whether or not having the force of law) from any central bank or Governmental Authority made subsequent to the Effective Date does or shall have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lender’s or such corporation’s capital as a consequence of its Loans, Participation Interests and other obligations hereunder to a level below that which such Lender or such corporation could have achieved but for such adoption, change or compliance (taking into consideration such Lender’s or such corporation’s policies with respect to capital adequacy) by an amount reasonably deemed by such Lender to be material, then from time to time, within fifteen (15) days after demand by such Lender, the Applicable Borrower shall pay to such Lender such additional amount as shall be certified by such Lender as being required to compensate it for such reduction; provided that no such amount shall be payable to the extent incurred more than 90 days prior to the date such Lender (or the Administrative Agent) first notifies the Applicable Borrower of its intention to demand compensation under this Section 2.15(b) ; provided further that, if the change, interpretation or introduction giving rise to such increased costs, reductions or other amounts is retroactive, then the 90 day period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof. Such a certificate as to any additional amounts payable under this Section submitted by a Lender (which certificate shall include a description of the basis for the computation), through the Administrative Agent, to the Administrative Borrower shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Borrower hereby agrees to pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender in connection with any such designation or assignment.

(c) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, (x) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, guidelines, requirements and directives thereunder, issued in connection therewith or in implementation thereof and (y) all requests rules, guidelines or directives promulgated by the Bank for International Settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any successor or similar authority) or the United States regulatory authorities, in each case pursuant to Basel III, shall be deemed to be a change after the Effective Date in a requirement of law or government rule, regulation or order, regardless of the date enacted, adopted, issued or implemented (including for purposes of this Section 2.15 ).

 

66


Section 2.16 Indemnity .

(a) The Company hereby agrees to indemnify each Lender and to hold such Lender harmless from any funding loss or expense which such Lender may sustain or incur as a consequence of (i) default by the Company in payment of the principal amount of or interest on any Loan by such Lender in accordance with the terms hereof, (ii) default by the Company in accepting a borrowing after the Company has given a Notice of Borrowing in accordance with the terms hereof, (iii) default by the Company in making any prepayment after the Company has given a notice therefor in accordance with the terms hereof, (iv) the making by the Company of a prepayment of a Loan, or the conversion thereof, on a day which is not the last day of the Interest Period with respect thereto, in each case including, but not limited to, any such loss or expense arising from interest or fees payable by such Lender to lenders of funds obtained by it in order to maintain its Loans hereunder and/or (v) the replacement or removal of any Lender in accordance with Section 2.22 . A certificate as to any additional amounts payable pursuant to this Section submitted by any Lender, through the Administrative Agent, to the Administrative Borrower (which certificate must be delivered to the Administrative Agent within sixty (60) days following such default, prepayment or conversion) shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error. The agreements in this Section shall survive termination of this Agreement and payment of the Notes and all other amounts payable hereunder.

(b) The Dutch Borrower hereby agrees to indemnify each Lender and to hold such Lender harmless from any funding loss or expense which such Lender may sustain or incur as a consequence of (i) default by the Dutch Borrower in payment of the principal amount of or interest on any Loan by such Lender in accordance with the terms hereof, (ii) default by the Dutch Borrower in accepting a borrowing after the Dutch Borrower (or the Administrative Borrower on behalf of the Dutch Borrower) has given a Notice of Borrowing in accordance with the terms hereof, (iii) default by the Dutch Borrower in making any prepayment after the Dutch Borrower (or the Administrative Borrower on behalf of the Dutch Borrower) has given a notice therefor in accordance with the terms hereof, (iv) the making by the Dutch Borrower of a prepayment of a Loan, or the conversion thereof, on a day which is not the last day of the Interest Period with respect thereto, in each case including, but not limited to, any such loss or expense arising from interest or fees payable by such Lender to lenders of funds obtained by it in order to maintain its Loans hereunder and/or (v) the replacement or removal of any Lender in accordance with Section 2.22 . A certificate as to any additional amounts payable pursuant to this Section submitted by any Lender, through the Administrative Agent, to the Administrative Borrower (which certificate must be delivered to the Administrative Agent within sixty (60) days following such default, prepayment or conversion) shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error. The agreements in this Section shall survive termination of this Agreement and payment of the Notes and all other amounts payable hereunder.

Section 2.17 Taxes .

(a) Any and all payments by the Credit Parties hereunder or under the Notes shall be made, except as provided in Section 2.17(g) , free and clear of and without deduction for any Taxes, except as required by applicable law. If a Credit Party shall be required by law to deduct any Taxes from or in respect of any sum payable hereunder or under any Note to any

 

67


Lender or the Administrative Agent, (i) if such Taxes are Indemnified Taxes, the sum payable shall be increased as may be necessary so that after making all required deductions (including deductions applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 2.17 ) such Lender or the Administrative Agent (as the case may be) receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deductions been made, (ii) such Credit Party shall make such deductions and (iii) such Credit Party shall pay the full amount deducted to the relevant taxation authority or other authority in accordance with applicable law.

(b) In addition, notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or any other Credit Document to the contrary, each of the Borrowers agrees to pay (i) any present or future stamp, documentary or intangibles taxes or any other similar taxes, charges or levies which arise from any payment made hereunder or under the Notes or from the execution, delivery or registration of, or otherwise similarly with respect to, this Agreement, the Notes or any of the other Credit Documents and (ii) any present or future stamp, documentary or intangibles taxes, withholding taxes (to the extent not recovered or recoverable by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders through applicable tax treaties) or any other similar taxes, charges or levies which arise from the enforcement of the rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders under this Agreement or any other Credit Document (such taxes, charges and levies referred to in clauses (i) and (ii), hereinafter referred to as “ Other Taxes ”), in each case with respect to such Borrower’s Loans.

(c) Each of the Credit Parties will indemnify each Lender and the Administrative Agent for the full amount of Indemnified Taxes (including, without limitation, any Indemnified Taxes imposed by any jurisdiction on amounts payable under this Section 2.17 ) paid by such Lender or the Administrative Agent (as the case may be) and any liability (including penalties, interest and expenses, but excluding any liability resulting from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as applicable) arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes were correctly or legally asserted. This indemnification shall be made within sixty (60) days from the date such Lender or the Administrative Agent (as the case may be) makes written demand therefor. The Administrative Agent or any Lender claiming indemnification pursuant to this Section 2.17(c) shall make written demand therefor no later than one (1) year after the earlier of (i) the date on which such Lender or the Administrative Agent makes payment of such Taxes or Other Taxes and (ii) the date on which the appropriate Governmental Authority makes written demand on such Lender or the Administrative Agent for payment of such Taxes or Other Taxes.

(d) If a Lender or the Administrative Agent determines in its sole discretion than it has actually received or realized a refund in respect of Taxes or Other Taxes as to which it has been indemnified by a Credit Party, or with respect to which a Credit Party has made payments pursuant to this Section 2.17 , such Lender or the Administrative Agent shall pay over the amount of such refund to such Credit Party (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made or other amounts paid by such Credit Party under this Section 2.17 with respect to such Taxes or Other Taxes), net of all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses of such Lender or the Administrative Agent and without interest (other than interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund); provided that such Credit Party (upon the written request of such Lender or the Administrative Agent) agrees to repay the amount paid over to such Credit Party by such Lender or the Administrative Agent (together with any interest payable to the

 

68


relevant Governmental Authority) in the event such Lender or the Administrative Agent is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this paragraph (d), in no event will the Lender or Administrative Agent be required to pay any amount to a Credit Party pursuant to this paragraph (d) the payment of which would place the Lender or Administrative Agent in a less favorable net after-Tax position than the Lender or Administrative Agent would have been in if the Tax subject to indemnification and giving rise to such refund had not been deducted, withheld or otherwise imposed and the indemnification payments or additional amounts with respect to such Tax had never been paid. Nothing in this Section 2.17 shall require a Lender to provide its tax returns or confidential tax planning information to a Credit Party.

(e) Within forty-five (45) days after the date of any payment of Taxes by a Credit Party, such Credit Party will furnish to the Administrative Agent, at its address set forth in Section 9.2 , the original or a certified copy of a receipt (if any) evidencing payment thereof.

(f) With respect to any Loan or other Extension of Credit to the Company, each Lender that is a non-resident alien or is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction outside the United States, on or prior to the Effective Date (or, in the case of any Person becoming a Lender after the Effective Date, on or prior to the effective date of the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which it becomes a Lender), from time to time thereafter if requested in writing by the Company, and upon any change in designation of the Lender’s Applicable Lending Office (but, in each case, only if such Lender is lawfully able to do so), shall provide the Administrative Borrower and the Administrative Agent (i) if such Lender is not a bank within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, a duly completed original U.S. Treasury Department Form W-8 BEN (or successor form) certifying that such Lender is not a United States citizen or resident (or that such Lender is filing for a foreign corporation, partnership, estate or trust) and providing the name and address of the Lender, together with a certificate representing that it is not a bank within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code and is not a ten percent (10%) shareholder (within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Code) with respect to the Company, or (ii) if such Lender is a bank within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, a duly completed original U.S. Treasury Department Form W-8 BEN or Form W-8 ECI (or successor form), whichever is applicable, properly claiming complete exemption from United States withholding tax on payments by the Company pursuant to this Agreement and under the Notes.

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

 

69


(h) In the event that a Lender that originally provided such form as may be required under Section 2.17(f) thereafter ceases to qualify for complete exemption from United States withholding tax, such Lender may assign its interest under this Agreement to any Eligible Assignee in accordance with Section 9.6 and such Eligible Assignee shall be entitled to the same benefits under this Section 2.17 as the assignor provided that the rate of United States withholding tax (and the rate of any Taxes or Other Taxes) applicable to such Eligible Assignee on the date of such assignment shall not exceed the rate then applicable to the assignor.

(i) The agreements in this Section 2.17 shall survive the termination of this Agreement and the payment of the Credit Party Obligations for a period of sixty (60) days after the Extended Maturity Date.

(j) With respect to any Loan or other Extension of Credit to the Dutch Borrower, if, as a result of a change in any Requirement of Law, any Lender or the Administrative Agent shall become entitled to payment pursuant to this Section 2.17 , such Lender or the Administrative Agent shall, following the written request of the Dutch Borrower, provide documentation reasonably necessary to obtain any available exemption from or reduction of the Taxes or Other Taxes resulting in such payments; provided , however , that such efforts shall not cause the imposition on such Lender of any additional costs that are not reimbursed by the Dutch Borrower or legal or regulatory burdens reasonably deemed by such Lender to be material.

(k) Each Lender shall severally indemnify the Administrative Agent, within 10 days after demand therefor, for (i) any Indemnified Taxes attributable to such Lender (but only to the extent that any Credit Party has not already indemnified the Administrative Agent for such Indemnified Taxes and without limiting the obligation of the Credit Parties to do so), (ii) any Taxes attributable to such Lender’s failure to comply with the provisions of Section 9.6(d) relating to the maintenance of a Participant Register and (iii) any Excluded Taxes attributable to such Lender, in each case, that are payable or paid by the Administrative Agent in connection with any Credit Document, and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to any Lender by the Administrative Agent shall be conclusive absent manifest error. Each Lender hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to set off and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Lender under any Credit Document or otherwise payable by the Administrative Agent to the Lender from any other source against any amount due to the Administrative Agent under this paragraph (k).

Section 2.18 Indemnification; Nature of Issuing Lenders’ Duties .

(a) In addition to its other obligations under Section 2.3 , the Applicable Borrower hereby agrees to protect, indemnify, pay and save each Issuing Lender and each Revolving Lender, as the case may be, harmless from and against any and all claims, demands, liabilities, damages, losses, costs, charges and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) that such Issuing Lender or such Revolving Lender may incur or be subject to as a consequence, direct or indirect, of (i) the issuance of any Letter of Credit issued by such Issuing Lender for the

 

70


account of such Borrower, or (ii) the failure of such Issuing Lender to honor a drawing under a Letter of Credit issued by such Issuing Lender as a result of any act or omission, whether rightful or wrongful, of any present or future de jure or de facto government or governmental authority (all such acts or omissions, herein called “ Government Acts ”).

(b) As between any Applicable Borrower and each Issuing Lender and each Revolving Lender, as the case may be, such Applicable Borrower shall assume all risks of the acts, omissions or misuse of any Letter of Credit by the beneficiary thereof. Neither any Issuing Lender nor any Revolving Lender shall be responsible for: (i) the form, validity, sufficiency, accuracy, genuineness or legal effect of any document submitted by any party in connection with the application for and issuance of any Letter of Credit, even if it should in fact prove to be in any or all respects invalid, insufficient, inaccurate, fraudulent or forged; (ii) the validity or sufficiency of any instrument transferring or assigning or purporting to transfer or assign any Letter of Credit or the rights or benefits thereunder or proceeds thereof, in whole or in part, that may prove to be invalid or ineffective for any reason; (iii) failure of the beneficiary of a Letter of Credit to comply fully with conditions required in order to draw upon a Letter of Credit; (iv) errors, omissions, interruptions or delays in transmission or delivery of any messages, by mail, cable, telegraph, telex or otherwise, whether or not they be in cipher; (v) errors in interpretation of technical terms; (vi) any loss or delay in the transmission or otherwise of any document required in order to make a drawing under a Letter of Credit or of the proceeds thereof; and (vii) any consequences arising from causes beyond the control of any Issuing Lender or any Revolving Lender, including, without limitation, any Government Acts. None of the above shall affect, impair, or prevent the vesting of the Issuing Lender’s rights or powers hereunder.

(c) In furtherance and extension and not in limitation of the specific provisions hereinabove set forth, any action taken or omitted by any Issuing Lender or any Revolving Lender, as the case may be, under or in connection with any Letter of Credit or the related certificates, if taken or omitted in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct, shall not put such Issuing Lender or such Revolving Lender under any resulting liability to a Borrower. It is the intention of the parties that this Credit Agreement shall be construed and applied to protect and indemnify each Issuing Lender and each Revolving Lender against any and all risks involved in the issuance of the Letters of Credit, all of which risks are hereby assumed by the Applicable Borrower, including, without limitation, any and all risks of the acts or omissions, whether rightful or wrongful, of any Governmental Authority. The Issuing Lenders and the Revolving Lenders shall not, in any way, be liable for any failure by such Issuing Lender or anyone else to pay any drawing under any Letter of Credit issued by such Issuing Lender as a result of any Government Acts or any other cause beyond the control of such Issuing Lender and the Revolving Lenders.

(d) Nothing in this Section 2.18 is intended to limit the Reimbursement Obligation of the Applicable Borrower contained in Section 2.3(d) hereof. The obligations of any Applicable Borrower under this Section 2.18 shall survive the termination of this Credit Agreement. No act or omissions of any current or prior beneficiary of a Letter of Credit shall in any way affect or impair the rights of the Issuing Lender which issued such Letter of Credit and the Revolving Lenders to enforce any right, power or benefit under this Credit Agreement.

 

71


(e) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 2.18 , the Applicable Borrower shall have no obligation to indemnify any Issuing Lender or any Revolving Lender in respect of any liability incurred by such Issuing Lender or such Revolving Lender, as the case may be, to the extent it arises out of the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Issuing Lender or such Revolving Lender as the case may be, respectively, as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final judgment.

Section 2.19 Administrative Borrower as Agent for the Dutch Borrower .

(a) The Dutch Borrower hereby irrevocably appoints the Administrative Borrower as its borrowing agent and attorney–in–fact which appointment shall remain in full force and effect unless and until the Administrative Agent shall have received prior written notice signed by the Administrative Borrower that it has resigned such position. The Dutch Borrower hereby irrevocably appoints and authorizes the Administrative Borrower to (i) provide all notices and instructions under this Agreement or any other Credit Document and (ii) take such action as the Administrative Borrower deems appropriate on its behalf to obtain Loans and to exercise such other powers as are reasonably incidental thereto to carry out the purposes of this Agreement and the other Credit Documents.

(b) The Dutch Borrower hereby agrees to indemnify each Lender, each Issuing Lender, the Swingline Lender and the Administrative Agent and hold each Lender, each Issuing Lender, the Swingline Lender and the Administrative Agent harmless against any and all liability, expense, loss or claim of damage or injury, made against the Lenders, the Issuing Lenders, the Swingline Lender and the Administrative Agent by the Dutch Borrower or any third party, arising from or incurred by reason of the (i) Lenders’, the Issuing Lenders’, the Swingline Lender’s, or the Administrative Agent’s relying on any instructions of the Administrative Borrower on behalf of the Dutch Borrower or (ii) any other action taken by the Lenders hereunder or under the other Credit Documents, except that the Dutch Borrower will have no liability under this Section 2.19(b) with respect to any liability to the extent arising out of the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Lender, such Issuing Lender, the Swingline Lender or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final judgment.

Section 2.20 Obligations of Borrowers . Notwithstanding anything in this Credit Agreement or in the other Credit Documents to the contrary (including, without limitation, Section 2.6 , Section 2.10 and ARTICLE XI), the parties hereto acknowledge and agree that (a) each of the Borrowers, in its capacity as a Borrower hereunder, is not jointly and severally liable for the Credit Party Obligations of the other Borrower; provided that it is acknowledged and agreed that the Company has guaranteed the Credit Party Obligations of the Dutch Borrower pursuant to ARTICLE XI and that the Dutch Borrower has not guaranteed the Credit Party Obligations of the Company and (b) neither the Dutch Borrower nor Alliance AG shall be required to repay or prepay, or to guarantee, nor shall any amount paid by the Dutch Borrower or Alliance AG be applied to, any Credit Party Obligations of the Company.

 

72


Section 2.21 Parallel Debt .

(a) Each Credit Party hereby irrevocably and unconditionally undertakes to pay to the Administrative Agent amounts equal to any amounts owing by such Credit Party to any Lender with respect to the Credit Party Obligations as and when those amounts become due for payment so that the Administrative Agent shall be the obligee of such covenant to pay and shall be entitled to claim performance thereof in its own name and on behalf of itself and not only as trustee, agent or representative acting on behalf of the Lenders.

(b) Each Credit Party and the Administrative Agent acknowledge that the monetary obligations of each Credit Party to the Administrative Agent under Section 2.21(a) are and/or shall be several and are and/or shall be separate and independent from, and do and/or shall not in any way affect, the corresponding monetary obligations of such Credit Party to any Lender with respect to the Credit Party Obligations (such Credit Party’s “ Corresponding Debt ”) provided that:

(i) the amounts for which such Credit Party is liable under Section 2.21(a) (such Credit Party’s “ Parallel Debt ”) shall be decreased to the extent that such Credit Party’s Corresponding Debt has been irrevocably paid or (in the case of any guaranty obligations) discharged;

(ii) the Corresponding Debt of such Credit Party shall be decreased to the extent that such Credit Party’s Parallel Debt has been irrevocably paid or (in the case of guaranty obligations) discharged;

(iii) the Parallel Debt of any Credit Party shall not exceed the Corresponding Debt of such Credit Party; and

(iv) each Credit Party shall have the same defenses against the Parallel Debt which it has against the Corresponding Debt.

(c) For purposes of this Section 2.21 , the Administrative Agent acts in its own name and on behalf of itself and not as a trustee, agent or representative of any party hereto, and any claim made by the Administrative Agent in respect of the Parallel Debt shall not be held in trust. The security interests granted under the Security Documents to the Administrative Agent to secure the Parallel Debt is granted to the Administrative Agent in its capacity as creditor in respect of the Parallel Debt and shall not be held in trust.

(d) All monies received or recovered by the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section 2.21 , and all amounts received or recovered by the Administrative Agent from or by the enforcement of any security interests granted to secure the Parallel Debt, shall be applied in accordance with Section 2.10 .

 

73


(e) Without limiting or affecting the Administrative Agent’s rights against the Credit Parties (whether under this Section 2.21 or under any other provision of the Credit Documents), each Credit Party acknowledges that:

(i) nothing in this Section 2.21 shall impose any obligation on the Administrative Agent to advance any sum to any Credit Party or otherwise under any Credit Document in its capacity as Administrative Agent; and

(ii) for the purpose of any vote taken under any Credit Document, the Administrative Agent shall not have any participation or commitment in its capacity as Administrative Agent.

(f) Each Credit Party and the Administrative Agent acknowledge and agree, for the avoidance of doubt, that the rules under Netherlands law that apply in the event of a common property ( gemeenschap ) are not applicable, and shall not apply by analogy, to the relationship between the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties and the relationship among the Credit Parties.

Section 2.22 Substitution of Lender; Removal of Lender . If (i) the obligation of any Lender to make or to convert or continue outstanding Loans as or into LIBOR Rate Loans has been suspended pursuant to Section 2.14 (unless generally suspended for all Lenders), (ii) any Lender has demanded compensation under Section 2.15 or Section 2.17 of amounts which are in excess of corresponding amounts, if any, demanded by the other Lenders generally, (iii) any Lender is a Defaulting Lender or (iv) Investment Grade Status ceases to exist as to any Lender, then:

(a) the Company shall have the right to replace such Lender (the “ Replaced Lender ”) with one or more Eligible Assignees, mutually satisfactory to the Company, the Administrative Agent, the Swingline Lender and each Issuing Lender (whose consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed) none of whom shall constitute a Defaulting Lender at the time of such replacement (collectively, the “ Replacement Lender ”) to replace the Revolving Commitments and/or outstanding Loans of such Lender where the consent of such Lender would otherwise be individually required, with identical Commitments and/or Loans provided by the Replacement Lender; provided that:

(A) at the time of any replacement pursuant to this Section 2.22(a) , the Replacement Lender shall enter into one or more Assignment and Assumption Agreements pursuant to Section 9.6(b) (and with all fees payable pursuant to said Section 9.6(b) to be paid by the Replacement Lender and/or the Replaced Lender (as may be agreed to at such time by and among the Borrower, the Replacement Lender and the Replaced Lender)) pursuant to which the Replacement Lender shall acquire all of the Revolving Commitments and outstanding Loans of, and in each case all participations in Letters of Credit and Swingline Loans by, the Replaced Lender and, in connection therewith, shall pay to (x) the Replaced Lender in respect thereof an amount equal to the sum of (I) an amount equal to the principal of, and all accrued interest on, all outstanding

 

74


Loans of the respective Replaced Lender with respect to which such Replaced Lender is being replaced, (II) an amount equal to all outstanding Reimbursement Obligations that have been funded by (and not reimbursed to) such Replaced Lender, together with all then unpaid interest with respect thereto at such time and (III) an amount equal to all accrued, but theretofore unpaid, Fees owing to the Replaced Lender pursuant to Section 2.4 , (y) each Issuing Lender an amount equal to such Replaced Lender’s Revolving Commitment Percentage of any outstanding Reimbursement Obligations relating to Letters of Credit issued by such Issuing Lender (which at such time remains an outstanding Reimbursement Obligation) to the extent such amount was not theretofore funded by such Replaced Lender and (z) the Swingline Lender an amount equal to such Replaced Lender’s Revolving Commitment Percentage of any Mandatory Swingline Borrowing to the extent such amount was not theretofore funded by such Replaced Lender to the Swingline Lender; and

(B) all obligations of Borrower then owing to the Replaced Lender (other than those specifically described in clause (A) above for which the assignment purchase price has been, or is concurrently being, paid, but including all amounts, if any, owing under Section 2.16 ) shall be paid in full by such Applicable Borrower to such Replaced Lender concurrently with such replacement.

Upon receipt by the Replaced Lender of all amounts required to be paid to it pursuant to this Section 2.22(a) , the Administrative Agent shall be entitled (but not obligated) and authorized to execute an Assignment and Assumption Agreement on behalf of such Replaced Lender, and any such Assignment and Assumption Agreement so executed by the Administrative Agent and the Replacement Lender shall be effective for purposes of this Section 2.22(a) and Section 9.6 . Upon the execution of the respective Assignment and Assumption Agreement, the payment of amounts referred to in clauses (A) and (B) above, recordation of the assignment on the Register by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 9.6 and, if so requested by the Replacement Lender, delivery to the Replacement Lender of the appropriate Note or Notes executed by the Borrowers, (x) the Replacement Lender shall become a Lender hereunder and the Replaced Lender shall cease to constitute a Lender hereunder, except with respect to indemnification provisions under this Agreement (including, without limitation, Section 2.10 , 2.15 , 2.16 , 2.17 , 2.18 , 2.19 , 8.7 , 9.5 ), which shall survive as to such Replaced Lender and (y) the Revolving Commitment Percentages of the Lenders shall be automatically adjusted at such time to give effect to such replacement.

(b) The Company, but only with the express written consent of the Required Lenders, shall have the right to remove such Lender (the “ Removed Lender ”) as a Lender under this Agreement; provided that:

(A) at the time of any removal pursuant to this Section 2.22(b) , each Applicable Borrower shall pay to (x) the Removed Lender in respect thereof an amount equal to the sum of (I) an amount equal to the principal of, and all accrued interest on, all such Applicable Borrower’s outstanding Loans of the respective Removed Lender, (II) an amount equal to all such Applicable Borrower’s outstanding Reimbursement Obligations that have been funded by (and not reimbursed to) such Removed Lender, together with all then unpaid interest with respect thereto at such time and (III) an amount equal to all

 

75


accrued, but theretofore unpaid, Fees owing to the Removed Lender pursuant to Section 2.4 by such Applicable Borrower, (y) each Issuing Lender an amount equal to such Removed Lender’s Revolving Commitment Percentage of such Applicable Borrower’s outstanding Reimbursement Obligations relating to Letters of Credit issued by such Issuing Lender (which at such time remains an outstanding Reimbursement Obligations of such Applicable Borrower) to the extent such amount was not theretofore funded by such Removed Lender and (z) the Swingline Lender an amount equal to such Removed Lender’s Revolving Commitment Percentage immediately prior to its removal pursuant to this Section 2.22(b) of any Mandatory Swingline Borrowing with respect to a Letter of Credit issued for the account of such Applicable Borrower, to the extent such amount was not theretofore funded by such Removed Lender to the Swingline Lender; and

(B) all obligations of each Applicable Borrower then owing to the Removed Lender (other than those specifically described in clause (A) above, but including all amounts, if any, owing under Section 2.16 , shall be paid in full by such Applicable Borrower to such Removed Lender concurrently with such removal.

Upon the payment of amounts referred to in clauses (A) and (B) above, (x) the Removed Lender shall cease to constitute a Lender hereunder, except with respect to indemnification provisions under this Agreement (including, without limitation, Section 2.10 , 2.15, 2.16 , 2.17 , 2.18 , 2.19 , 8.7 , 9.5 ), which shall survive as to such Removed Lender (y) the Revolving Commitments of such Removed Lender shall automatically terminate, and (z) the Revolving Commitment Percentages of the Lenders shall be automatically adjusted at such time to give effect to such removal.

Section 2.23 Incremental Revolving Commitments .

(a) The Borrowers shall have the right, in consultation and coordination with the Administrative Agent as to all of the matters set forth below in this Section 2.23 , but without requiring the consent of the Administrative Agent (except as otherwise provided in this Section 2.23 ) or the Lenders, to request at any time and from time to time on and after the Effective Date and prior to the Extended Maturity Date that one or more Lenders (and/or one or more other Persons which are Eligible Assignees and which will become Lenders) provide Incremental Revolving Commitments and, subject to the applicable terms and conditions contained in this Agreement and the relevant Incremental Revolving Commitment Agreement, make Revolving Loans and participate in Letters of Credit and Swingline Loans pursuant thereto; provided that (i) no Lender shall be obligated to provide an Incremental Revolving Commitment, and until such time, if any, as such Lender has agreed in its sole discretion to provide an Incremental Revolving Commitment and executed and delivered to the Administrative Agent and the Borrowers an Incremental Revolving Commitment Agreement as provided in clause (b) of this Section 2.23 , such Lender shall not be obligated to fund any Revolving Loans in excess of its Revolving Commitment (if any) or participate in any Letters of Credit or Swingline Loans in excess of its Revolving Commitment Percentage, in each case, as in effect prior to giving effect to such Incremental Revolving Commitment provided pursuant to this Section 2.23 , (ii) any Lender (including any Person which is an Eligible Assignee who will become a Lender) may so provide an Incremental Revolving Commitment without the consent of the Administrative Agent or any

 

76


other Lender; provided that any Person that is not a Lender prior to the effectiveness of its Incremental Revolving Commitment shall require the consent of the Administrative Agent, each Issuing Lender and the Swingline Lender (which consents shall not be unreasonably withheld) to provide an Incremental Revolving Commitment pursuant to this Section 2.23 , (iii) the aggregate amount of each request (and provision therefor) for Incremental Revolving Commitments shall be in a minimum aggregate amount for all Lenders which provide an Incremental Revolving Commitment pursuant to a given Incremental Revolving Commitment Agreement pursuant to this Section 2.23 (including Persons who are Eligible Assignees and will become Lenders) of at least $10,000,000 (or such lesser amount that is acceptable to the Administrative Agent), (iv) the aggregate amount of all Incremental Revolving Commitments permitted to be provided pursuant to this Section 2.23 , in addition to the Additional Extended Revolving Commitments incurred on the Effective Date, shall not exceed in the aggregate $35,000,000 plus , from and after the Non-Extended Maturity Date, the aggregate amount of Non-Extended Revolving Commitments terminated pursuant to Section 2.5(d) hereof, (v) the Applicable Percentages with respect to Loans, Commitment Fees and Letter of Credit Fees in connection with an Incremental Revolving Commitment shall be the same as those applicable to any other Loans, Commitment Fees and Letter of Credit Fees, as the case may be, hereunder, in each case in connection with the Extended Revolving Commitment, immediately prior to the Incremental Revolving Commitment Date with respect to such Incremental Revolving Commitment, (vi) the up-front fees payable to each Incremental Lender shall be separately agreed to by the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent and such Incremental Lender, (vii) all Revolving Loans incurred pursuant to an Incremental Revolving Commitment (and all interest, fees and other amounts payable thereon) shall be Credit Party Obligations under this Agreement and the other Credit Documents and shall be secured by the Security Documents, and guaranteed under the Guaranties, on a pari passu basis will all other Loans secured by each Security Document and guaranteed under the Guaranties, and (viii) each Lender (including any Person which is an Eligible Assignee who will become a Lender) agreeing to provide an Incremental Revolving Commitment pursuant to an Incremental Revolving Commitment Agreement shall, subject to the satisfaction of the relevant conditions set forth in this Agreement, participate in Swingline Loans and Letters of Credit pursuant to Sections 2.2(b)(ii) and 2.3(c) , respectively, and make Revolving Loans as provided in Section 2.1(a) and such Revolving Loans shall constitute Revolving Loans for all purposes of this Agreement and the other applicable Credit Documents.

(b) At the time of the provision of Incremental Revolving Commitments pursuant to this Section 2.23 , each Borrower, each Guarantor, the Administrative Agent and each such Lender or other Eligible Assignee which agrees to provide an Incremental Revolving Commitment (each, an “ Incremental Lender ”) shall execute and deliver to the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent an Incremental Revolving Commitment Agreement, appropriately completed (with the effectiveness of the Incremental Revolving Commitment provided therein to occur on the date set forth in such Incremental Revolving Commitment Agreement, which date in any event shall be no earlier than the date on which (i) all fees required to be paid in connection therewith at the time of such effectiveness shall have been paid, (ii) all Incremental Revolving Commitment Requirements have been satisfied, (iii) all conditions set forth in this Section 2.23 shall have been satisfied and (iv) all other conditions precedent that may be set forth in such Incremental Revolving Commitment Agreement shall have been satisfied). The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender as to the effectiveness of each Incremental Revolving Commitment Agreement and, at such time, the Extended Revolving Commitments shall be deemed modified to reflect the Incremental Revolving Commitments of such Incremental Lenders.

 

77


(c) It is understood and agreed that the Incremental Revolving Commitments provided by an Incremental Lender or Incremental Lenders, as the case may be, pursuant to each Incremental Revolving Commitment Agreement shall constitute part of, and be added to, the Extended Revolving Commitment and each Incremental Lender shall constitute a Lender for all purposes of this Agreement and each other applicable Credit Document.

(d) At the time of any provision of Incremental Revolving Commitments pursuant to this Section 2.23 , the Borrowers shall, in coordination with the Administrative Agent, repay outstanding Revolving Loans of certain of the Lenders, and incur additional Revolving Loans from certain other Lenders (including the Incremental Lenders), in each case to the extent necessary so that all of the Lenders participate in each outstanding borrowing of Revolving Loans pro rata on the basis of their respective Revolving Commitments (after giving effect to any increase in the Revolving Commitment pursuant to this Section 2.23 ) and with the Applicable Borrower being obligated to pay to the respective Lenders any costs of the type referred to in Section 2.16 in connection with any such repayment and/or borrowing.

Section 2.24 Special Provisions Relating to Conversion of Revolving Commitments and Revolving Loans .

(a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement,

(i) on the Effective Date, (A) the Non-Extended Revolving Loans shall be deemed made as LIBOR Rate Loans in an amount equal to the principal amount of the Existing Revolving Loans converted into Non-Extended Revolving Loans pursuant to Part I Section 2(i)(y) of the Amendment and Restatement Agreement that were outstanding as LIBOR Rate Loans at the time of conversion (such Non-Extended Revolving Loans to correspond in amount to Existing Revolving Loans so converted of a given Interest Period), (B) Interest Periods for the Non-Extended Revolving Loans described in clause (A) above shall end on the same dates as the Interest Periods applicable to the corresponding Existing Revolving Loans described in clause (A) above, and the LIBOR Rates applicable to such Non-Extended Revolving Loans during such Interest Periods shall be the same as those applicable to the Existing Revolving Loans so converted, and (C) the Non-Extended Revolving Loans shall be deemed made as Alternate Base Rate Loans in amount equal to the principal amount of Existing Revolving Loans converted into Non-Extended Revolving Loans pursuant to Part I Section 2(i)(y) of the Amendment and Restatement Agreement that were outstanding as Alternate Base Rate Loans at the time of conversion; and

(ii) on the Effective Date, (A) the Extended Revolving Loans shall be deemed made as LIBOR Rate Loans in an amount equal to the principal amount of the Existing Revolving Loans converted into Extended Revolving Loans pursuant to Part I Section 2(i)(x) of the Amendment and Restatement Agreement that were outstanding as LIBOR Rate Loans at the time of conversion (such Extended Revolving Loans to correspond in

 

78


amount to Existing Revolving Loans so converted of a given Interest Period), (B) Interest Periods for the Extended Revolving Loans described in clause (A) above shall end on the same dates as the Interest Periods applicable to the corresponding Existing Revolving Loans described in clause (A) above, and the LIBOR Rates applicable to such Extended Revolving Loans during such Interest Periods shall be the same as those applicable to the Existing Revolving Loans so converted, and (C) the Extended Revolving Loans shall be deemed made as Alternate Base Rate Loans in amount equal to the principal amount of Existing Revolving Loans converted into Extended Revolving Loans pursuant to Part I Section 2(i)(x) of the Amendment and Restatement Agreement that were outstanding as Alternate Base Rate Loans at the time of conversion.

(b) On and after the Effective Date, each Lender which holds a Revolving Note evidencing the Revolving Loans shall be entitled to surrender such Revolving Note to the Borrowers against delivery of a new Revolving Note completed in conformity with Section 2.1(e) (and the definition of Revolving Note) evidencing the Non-Extended Revolving Loan or Extended Revolving Loan into which such Revolving Loans of such Lender was converted on the Effective Date; provided that if any such Revolving Note is not so surrendered, then from and after the Effective Date such Revolving Note shall be deemed to evidence such Non-Extended Revolving Loan and/or Extended Revolving Loan into which the Revolving Loan theretofore evidenced by such Revolving Note has been converted.

Section 2.25 Excess Senior Secured Notes Proceeds .

(a) Establishment of Blocked Account, Etc .

(i) The Borrower has established in its own name Blocked Account No. [                    ], Blocked Account Name: [                    ] (the “ Blocked Account ”) 7 for purposes of this Agreement, which Blocked Account is maintained at the office of Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas located at 60 Wall Street, New York, New York 10005. The Blocked Account is subject to the Blocked Account Control Agreement.

(ii) On the Effective Date, after giving effect to the refinancing of the Existing Senior Notes, the Company shall deposit all proceeds of the Senior Secured Notes held by the Company and its Subsidiaries to the Blocked Account. The Company may, from time to time after the Effective Date, deposit additional funds into the Blocked Account. The Blocked Account Proceeds from time to time in the Blocked Account shall constitute part of the Collateral and shall not constitute payment of the Credit Party Obligations until applied as hereinafter provided.

(iii) The Administrative Agent shall within two Business Days of receiving a written request from the Company for release of all or a portion of the Blocked Account Proceeds deliver a Written Instruction (as defined in the Blocked Account Control Agreement) to release such amounts in accordance with the requirements in the Blocked Account Control Agreement to the Company (or as it otherwise shall direct) so long as

 

7  

Account details to be added prior to the Effective Date once account is opened.

 

79


such written request is accompanied by certificate of a Responsible Officer of the Company certifying that such requested Blocked Account Proceeds shall be used within three Business Days of receipt thereof by the Company to (x) so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or will result therefrom, effect Restricted Payments with respect to the Existing Convertible Notes pursuant to Section 6.10(f) and the requirements under Section 6.10(f) would be satisfied as of the date of such request if such Restricted Payment were made on such date, (y) redeem the Existing Convertible Notes, pursuant to the Existing Convertible Notes Tender Offer or (z) so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or will result therefrom, repay in full all Indebtedness under the Existing Convertible Notes on the final stated maturity thereof; provided that, to the extent the Company does not use such Blocked Account Proceeds to redeem or repay such Existing Convertible Notes within three Business Days of receipt of such Blocked Account Proceeds, the Company shall immediately deposit such Blocked Account Proceeds back into the Blocked Account.

(iv) At any time following the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, the Administrative Agent if instructed by the Required Lenders shall deliver a Notice of Exclusive Control under, and as defined in, the Blocked Account Control Agreement and apply or cause to be applied (subject to collection) the Blocked Account Proceeds to the credit of the Blocked Account to the payment of the Credit Party Obligations in the manner specified in Section 2.10(b) .

(v) The Credit Parties shall have no right to withdraw, transfer or otherwise receive any funds deposited in the Blocked Account except to the extent specifically provided in this Section 2.25 .

(b) Investment of Blocked Account funds . Amounts on deposit in the Blocked Account shall be invested and reinvested from time to time in Cash Equivalents as the Company (or, after the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, the Administrative Agent) shall determine by written instruction to the Administrative Agent, or if no such instructions are given, then as the Administrative Agent, in its sole and reasonable discretion, shall determine, which Cash Equivalents shall be held in the name and be under the control of the Administrative Agent (or any sub-agent); provided that at any time after the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, the Administrative Agent shall if instructed by the Required Lenders at any time and from time to time elect to liquidate any such Cash Equivalents and to apply or cause to be applied the proceeds thereof to the payment of the Secured Obligations in the manner specified in Section 2.10(b) . All investments made pursuant to this clause (b) (and any instruments evidencing same), and all proceeds thereof, shall be held in the Blocked Account. Under no circumstances shall the Administrative Agent be liable or accountable to the Company for any decrease in the value of the Blocked Account or for any loss resulting from the investment of the funds deposited therein.

(c) Security Interest.

(i) As security for the prompt and complete payment and performance when due (whether at the stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) of all of the Credit Party Obligations, the Company hereby pledges, transfers and assigns to the

 

80


Administrative Agent on behalf of the Secured Parties, a continuing possessory lien and first priority security interest in all of the right, title and interest (if any) of the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Secured Parties in and to the Blocked Account Collateral, from the date of the establishment of the Blocked Account until the termination thereof pursuant to the terms hereof.

(ii) The Company agrees that it will, at any time and from time to time, at its expense, promptly execute and deliver all further agreements, instruments and other documents and take all further action that may be necessary or that the Administrative Agent may reasonably request in order to perfect and protect the first priority security interest purported to be created hereby or otherwise to enable the Administrative Agent to exercise and enforce its rights and remedies hereunder (including, without limitation, any filings of financing or continuation statements under the Uniform Commercial Code of the State of New York and any action as may be reasonably requested from time to time by the Administrative Agent so that “control” (as defined in Section 8-106 of the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the State of New York on the date hereof) of all Blocked Account Collateral of the type over which the Assignee may obtain such “control” is obtained).

(iii) The Company hereby irrevocably appoints the Administrative Agent as its attorney-in-fact, with full authority in the place and stead of the Assignor and in the name of the Company or otherwise, from time to time in the Administrative Agent’s reasonable discretion to execute any instrument and to take any other action which the Administrative Agent may deem reasonably necessary or advisable to accomplish the purposes of this Agreement, including, without limitation, (x) to receive, endorse and collect all instruments made payable to the Company and representing any interest payment or other distribution in respect of the Blocked Account Collateral and to give full discharge for the same, and (y) to execute and deliver any and all instruments and other documents that the Administrative Agent may reasonably request in connection with the exercise by the Administrative Agent of any or all of its rights hereunder.

(d) Termination of Blocked Account. On the first Business Day following the date on which no Indebtedness under the Existing Convertible Notes is outstanding, the Administrative Agent shall promptly deliver a Written Instruction (as defined in the Blocked Account Control Agreement) to release all amounts in the Blocked Account in accordance with the requirements in the Blocked Account Control Agreement to the Company (or as it otherwise shall direct) and such Blocked Account shall thereafter be closed. Any Written Instruction to transfer and release the amount in the Blocked Account (or the Blocked Account Collateral) by the Administrative Agent pursuant to this clause (d) shall be made without recourse, representation or warranty.

 

81


ARTICLE III

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

To induce the Lenders to enter into this Agreement and to make the Extensions of Credit herein provided for, each of the Credit Parties hereby represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and to each Lender that:

Section 3.1 Financial Condition .

(a) The consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries (other than the Zimbabwe Subsidiaries) as of March 31, 2013 and the related consolidated statements of income, cash flows and stockholders’ equity for the fiscal period then ended, reported on by Deloitte & Touche and set forth in the Company’s 2013 Form 10-K, a copy of which has been delivered to each of the Lenders, fairly present in all material respects in conformity with GAAP the consolidated financial position of the Company and its Subsidiaries (other than the Zimbabwe Subsidiaries) as of such date and the consolidated results of operations and cash flows for such fiscal year. The Company and its Subsidiaries did not, as of March 31, 2013, have any material, either individually or in the aggregate, liabilities or obligations which are not reflected in any of such financial statements or notes thereto to the extent required to be set forth therein in accordance with GAAP.

(b) The five-year projections of the Company and its Subsidiaries for the period beginning April 1, 2013 and ending March 31, 2018 made available to the Lenders prior to the date hereof have been prepared in good faith based upon reasonable assumptions at the time such projections were made.

Section 3.2 No Change . Since March 31, 2013 there has been no development or event which has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 3.3 Corporate Existence; Compliance with Law . Each of the Credit Parties (a) is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing (or the foreign equivalent, if any) under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, (b) has the requisite power and authority and the legal right to own and operate all its material property, to lease the material property it operates as lessee and to conduct the business in which it is currently engaged, (c) is duly qualified to conduct business and in good standing (or the foreign equivalent, if any) under the laws of each jurisdiction where its ownership, lease or operation of property or the conduct of its business requires such qualification except to the extent that the failure to so qualify or be in good standing (or the foreign equivalent, if any) could not, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect and (d) is in compliance with all Requirements of Law except to the extent that the failure to comply therewith could not, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

82


Section 3.4 Corporate Power; Authorization; Enforceable Obligations; No Consents . Each of the Credit Parties has full power and authority and the legal right to make, deliver and perform the Credit Documents to which it is party and has taken all necessary limited liability company or corporate action to authorize the execution, delivery and performance by it of the Credit Documents to which it is party. No consent or authorization of, filing with, notice to or other act by or in respect of, any Governmental Authority or any other Person is required in connection with the borrowings hereunder or with the execution, delivery or performance of any Credit Document by the Credit Parties, other than those which have been obtained) or with the validity or enforceability of any Credit Document against the Credit Parties. Each Credit Document to which it is a party has been duly executed and delivered on behalf of each of the Credit Parties, as the case may be. Each Credit Document to which it is a party constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of each of the Credit Parties, as the case may be, enforceable against such Credit Party, as the case may be, in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and by general equitable principles (whether enforcement is sought by proceedings in equity or at law).

Section 3.5 No Legal Bar; No Default . The execution, delivery and performance of the Credit Documents, the borrowings thereunder and the use of the proceeds of the Loans will not violate any Requirement of Law, any organizational document or any material Contractual Obligation of the Credit Parties or their Subsidiaries (except those as to which waivers or consents have been obtained or notices given), and will not result in, or require, the creation or imposition of any Lien on any of its or their respective properties or revenues pursuant to any Requirement of Law or Contractual Obligation, except as contemplated by this Agreement. Neither the Credit Parties nor any of their Subsidiaries is in default under or with respect to any of its Contractual Obligations in any respect which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. No Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.

Section 3.6 No Material Litigation . No litigation, investigation or proceeding of or before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority is pending or, to the best knowledge of the Credit Parties, threatened by or against any Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries or against any of its or their respective properties or revenues (a) with respect to the Credit Documents or any Loan or any of the transactions contemplated hereby, or (b) which has had or could reasonably be expected to have either individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

 

83


Section 3.7 Investment Company Act; etc . No Credit Party is an “investment company”, or a company “controlled” by an “investment company”, within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. No Credit Party is subject to regulation under any federal or state statute or regulation limiting its ability to incur the Credit Party Obligations.

Section 3.8 Margin Regulations . No part of the proceeds of any Loan hereunder will be used directly or indirectly for any purpose which violates, or which is inconsistent with, the provisions of Regulation T, U or X of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System as now and from time to time hereafter in effect. Each of the Borrowers and the Credit Parties and their Subsidiaries taken as a group do not own “margin stock” except as identified in the financial statements referred to in Section 3.1 and the aggregate value of all “margin stock” owned by such Borrower or by the Credit Parties and their Subsidiaries taken as a group does not exceed 25% of the value of its and their assets.

Section 3.9 ERISA . Neither a Reportable Event nor any failure to meet the “minimum funding standard” (within the meaning of Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA) has occurred during the five-year period prior to the date on which this representation is made or deemed made with respect to any Single Employer Plan, except to the extent that any such Reportable Event or failure would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Each Single Employer Plan is in compliance with its terms and the applicable provisions of ERISA and the Code, except to the extent that any such occurrence or failure to comply would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. No termination of a Single Employer Plan, or the institution of proceedings, or an event or condition which would reasonably be expected to constitute grounds for the institution of proceedings by the PBGC under Section 4042 of ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any Single Employer Plan, has occurred resulting in any liability that has remained underfunded, and no Lien in favor of the PBGC or a Single Employer Plan has arisen, during such five-year period. The present value of all accrued benefits under each Single Employer Plan (based on those assumptions used to fund such Single Employer Plans) did not, as of the last annual valuation date prior to the date on which this representation is made or deemed made, exceed the value of the assets of such Single Employer Plan allocable to such accrued benefits by an amount which, as determined in accordance with GAAP, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Neither any Credit Party nor any Commonly Controlled Entity is currently subject to any liability for a complete or partial withdrawal from a Multiemployer Plan which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and, if each of the Credit Party, Subsidiary of a Credit Party and Commonly Controlled Entity were to withdraw in a complete withdrawal as of the date this assurance is deemed given, the aggregate withdrawal liability that would be incurred would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. No Multiemployer Plan is Insolvent or in Reorganization. No Plan has applied for or received a waiver of the minimum funding standard, within the meaning of Section 302 of ERISA. No action, suit, proceeding, hearing, audit or investigation with respect to the administration, operation or the investment of assets of any Plan (other than routine claims for benefits) is pending, expected or threatened. Each Non-U.S. Plan has been maintained in substantial compliance with its terms and with the

 

84


requirements of any and all applicable laws, statutes, rules, regulations and orders and has been maintained, where required, in good standing with applicable regulatory authorities, except to the extent that any such occurrence or failure to comply would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. All contributions required to be made with respect to a Non-U.S. Plan have been timely made, except to the extent that any such occurrence or failure to comply would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries has incurred any obligation in connection with the termination of, or withdrawal from, any Non-U.S. Plan which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 3.10 Environmental Matters .

Subject to the last sentence hereof:

(a) The on-going operations of the Credit Parties and their Subsidiaries comply in all respects with all Environmental Laws.

(b) the Credit Parties and each of its Subsidiaries have obtained all licenses, permits, authorizations and registrations required under any Environmental Law (“ Environmental Permits ”) and necessary for their respective ordinary course operations, no Governmental Authority responsible for such Environmental Permits has threatened to revoke, refuse to reissue or limit such Environmental Permits, and the Credit Parties and each of their Subsidiaries are in compliance with all terms and conditions of such Environmental Permits.

(c) None of the Credit Parties or their Subsidiaries or any of their respective present assets or operations, is subject to, any outstanding written order from, or agreement with, any Governmental Authority, nor subject to any judicial or docketed administrative proceeding, respecting any Environmental Law, Environmental Claim or Hazardous Material.

(d) There are no Hazardous Materials or other conditions or circumstances existing in violation of Environmental Law or reasonably likely to give rise to any action, claim, lawsuit, demand, litigation, proceeding or liability under Environmental law with respect to any assets, or arising from operations prior to the Effective Date, of the Credit Parties, any of their Subsidiaries or any of their respective predecessors. In addition, (i) to the knowledge of the Credit Parties, neither the Credit Parties nor any of their Subsidiaries has any underground storage tanks (x) that are not properly registered or permitted under applicable Environmental Laws, or (y) that are leaking or disposing of Hazardous Materials, and (ii) to the extent required by applicable Environmental Law, the Credit Parties and their Subsidiaries have notified all of their employees of the existence, if any, of any health hazard arising from the conditions of their employment and have met all notification requirements under all Environmental Laws.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 3.10 , the representations and warranties made in this Section 3.10 shall be untrue only if the effect of any or all conditions, violations, claims, restrictions, failures and noncompliances of the types described above could, either individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

85


Section 3.11 Use of Proceeds . The proceeds of the Loans hereunder shall be used solely by the Borrowers to (i) pay fees and expenses in connection with the Credit Documents and (ii) provide funds for working capital, capital expenditures and other general corporate purposes of the Credit Parties and their Subsidiaries.

Section 3.12 Subsidiaries . Set forth on Schedule 3.12 is a complete and accurate list of the Dutch Borrower, all Material Domestic Subsidiaries and Material Foreign Subsidiaries of the Company and the percentage ownership thereof as of the Effective Date.

Section 3.13 Ownership . Each of the Credit Parties is the owner of, and has good and marketable title to, all of its respective material assets, except as may be permitted pursuant to Section 6.12 hereof, and none of such assets is subject to any Lien other than Permitted Liens. All outstanding shares of equity interests of the Dutch Borrower, each Material Domestic Subsidiary and each Material Foreign Subsidiary have been duly and validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and have been issued free of preemptive rights. The Dutch Borrower, each Material Domestic Subsidiary and each Material Foreign Subsidiary has no outstanding securities convertible into or exchangeable for its equity interests or outstanding any right to subscribe for or to purchase, or any options or warrants for the purchase of, or any agreement providing for the issuance (contingent or otherwise) of or any calls, commitments or claims of any character relating to, its equity interests or any stock appreciation or similar rights.

Section 3.14 Taxes . Each of the Credit Parties has timely filed, or caused to be timely filed, all material tax returns (federal, state, local and foreign) required to be filed and paid (a) all amounts of taxes shown thereon to be due (including interest and penalties) and (b) all other taxes, fees, assessments and other governmental charges (including mortgage recording taxes, documentary stamp taxes and intangibles taxes) owing by it, except for such taxes (i) which are not yet delinquent, (ii) that are being contested in good faith and by proper proceedings, and against which adequate reserves are being maintained in accordance with GAAP. Neither any Credit Party nor any of its Subsidiaries is aware as of the Effective Date of any proposed tax assessments against them or any of their Subsidiaries which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 3.15 Intellectual Property . Each of the Credit Parties owns, or has the legal right to use, all material patents, trademarks, tradenames, copyrights, technology, know-how and processes necessary for each of them to conduct its business as currently conducted. No claim has been asserted and is pending by any Person challenging or questioning the use of any such intellectual property or the validity or effectiveness of any such intellectual property, nor do the Credit Parties or any of their

 

86


Subsidiaries know of any such claim, and, to the knowledge of the Credit Parties and their Subsidiaries, the use of such intellectual property by the Credit Parties and their Subsidiaries does not infringe on the rights of any Person, except for such claims and infringements that in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 3.16 Solvency . Each of the Borrowers is Solvent and the Company and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, are Solvent.

Section 3.17 No Burdensome Restrictions . None of the Credit Parties or any of their Subsidiaries is a party to any agreement or instrument or subject to any other obligation or any charter or corporate restriction or any provision of any applicable law, rule or regulation which, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 3.18 Accuracy and Completeness of Information . All factual information heretofore, contemporaneously or hereafter furnished by or on behalf of the Credit Parties or any of their Subsidiaries to the Administrative Agent or any Lender for purposes of or in connection with this Agreement or any other Credit Document, or any transaction contemplated hereby or thereby is or will be true and accurate in all material respects on the date as of which such information is dated or certified (or, if such information has been updated, amended or supplemented, on the date as of which any such update, amendment or supplement is dated or certified) and not made incomplete by omitting to state any material fact necessary to make the statements contained therein, in light of the circumstances under which such information was provided, not misleading; provided that with respect to the projections, budgets and other estimates, except as specifically represented in Section 3.1(b) , the Credit Parties represent only that such information was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable at the time. There is no fact now known to any Credit Party which has, or could reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect which fact has not been set forth herein, any public filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, in the financial statements of the Credit Parties furnished to the Administrative Agent and/or the Lenders, or in any certificate, opinion or other written statement made or furnished by a Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries to the Administrative Agent and/or the Lenders.

Section 3.19 Security Documents . (a) The provisions of the Security Documents are effective to create in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties a legal, valid and enforceable security interest in all right, title and interest of the Credit Parties party thereto in the Collateral described therein, and the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, has a fully perfected security interest in all right, title and interest in all of the Collateral described therein, subject to no other Liens other than Permitted Liens.

 

87


(b) The security interests created under the Pledge Agreements in favor of the Administrative Agent, as pledgee, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, constitute perfected security interests in the Collateral described in the Pledge Agreements to the extent such Collateral is an Equity Interest or a promissory note (including the Intercompany Note, subject to no security interests of any other Person). No filings or recordings are required in order to perfect (or maintain the perfection or priority of) the security interests created in the Collateral described in the Pledge Agreements to the extent such Collateral is an Equity Interest or a promissory note (including the Intercompany Note) other than with respect to that portion of such Collateral constituting a “general intangible” under the UCC other than such filings or recording that have already been made and are still in effect.

(c) The Mortgage creates, as security for the obligations purported to be secured thereby, a valid and enforceable perfected security interest in and mortgage lien on the Mortgaged Property in favor of the Administrative Agent (or such other trustee as may be required or desired under local law) for the benefit of the Secured Parties, superior and prior to the rights of all third Persons (except that the security interest and mortgage lien created on the Mortgaged Property may be subject to the Permitted Encumbrances related thereto) and subject to no other Liens (other than Permitted Encumbrances related thereto).

Section 3.20 Senior Debt . The Credit Party Obligations constitute “ Senior Indebtedness ”, “ Senior Secured Indebtedness ” and/or “ Designated Senior Indebtedness ” (or any similar designation) under and as defined in any agreement governing any Subordinated Indebtedness (including without limitation, the Existing Convertible Notes Indenture) and the subordination provisions set forth in each such agreement (or in any intercreditor agreement related thereto) are legally valid and enforceable against the Credit Parties party thereto. This Agreement constitutes a “ Credit Facility ” under each “ Senior Indenture ” to the extent each such “ Senior Indenture ” identifies a “ Credit Facility ”.

Section 3.21 Anti-Terrorism Laws . Neither any Credit Party nor any of its Subsidiaries is an “enemy” or an “ally of the enemy” within the meaning of Section 2 of the Trading with the Enemy Act of the United States of America (50 U.S.C. App. §§ 1 et seq .), as amended. Neither any Credit Party nor any or its Subsidiaries is in violation of (a) the Trading with the Enemy Act, as amended, (b) any of the foreign assets control regulations of the United States Treasury Department (31 CFR, Subtitle B, Chapter V, as amended) or any enabling legislation or executive order relating thereto or (c) the Patriot Act. None of the Credit Parties (i) is a blocked person described in Section 1 of the Anti- Terrorism Order or (ii) to the best of its knowledge, engages in any dealings or transactions, or is otherwise associated, with any such blocked person.

 

88


Section 3.22 Compliance with OFAC Rules and Regulations . None of the Credit Parties or any Subsidiary or Affiliate of the Credit Parties (a) is a Sanctioned Person, (b) has more than 15% of its assets in Sanctioned Countries, or (c) derives more than 15% of its operating income from investments in, or transactions with Sanctioned Persons or Sanctioned Countries. No part of the proceeds of any Extension of Credit hereunder will be used directly or indirectly to fund any operations in, finance any investments or activities in or make any payments to, a Sanctioned Person or a Sanctioned Country.

Section 3.23 Compliance with FCPA . Each of the Credit Parties and their Subsidiaries is in compliance with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, 15 U.S.C. §§ 78dd-1, et seq ., and any foreign counterpart thereto (other than immaterial violations). None of the Credit Parties and their Subsidiaries has made a payment, offering, or promise to pay, or authorized the payment of, money or anything of value (a) in order to assist in obtaining or retaining business for or with, or directing business to, any foreign official, foreign political party, party official or candidate for foreign political office, (b) to a foreign official, foreign political party or party official or any candidate for foreign political office, and (c) with the intent to induce the recipient to misuse his or her official position to direct business wrongfully to such Credit Party or its Subsidiary or to any other Person, in violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, 15 U.S.C. §§ 78dd-1, et seq .

Section 3.24 Secured Hedging Agreements. Set forth on Schedule 3.24 is a complete and accurate list, in reasonable detail, of the Secured Hedging Agreements existing as of the Effective Date .

ARTICLE IV

CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

Section 4.1 Section 4.1 [Intentionally Omitted]

Section 4.2 Conditions to All Extensions of Credit . The obligation of each Lender to make any Extension of Credit hereunder is subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions precedent on the date of making such Extension of Credit:

 

  (a)

Representations and Warranties . The representations and warranties made by the Credit Parties herein, in the Security Documents or which are contained in any certificate furnished at any time under or in connection herewith (i) that contain a materiality qualification shall be true and

 

89


  correct on and as of the date of such Extension of Credit as if made on and as of such date (except to the extent such representations and warranties expressly relate to another date in which case such representations and warranties shall be true and correct as of such date) and (ii) that do not contain a materiality qualification shall be true and correct in all material respects on and as of the date of such Extension of Credit as if made on and as of such date (except to the extent such representations and warranties expressly relate to another date in which case such representations and warranties shall be true and correct as of such date).

 

  (b) No Default or Event of Default . No Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing on such date or after giving effect to the Extension of Credit to be made on such date unless such Default or Event of Default shall have been waived in accordance with this Agreement.

 

  (c) Compliance with Commitments . Immediately after giving effect to the making of any such Extension of Credit (and the application of the proceeds thereof), (i) the sum of the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Revolving Loans plus outstanding Swingline Loans plus outstanding LOC Obligations shall not exceed the lesser of (A) the Revolving Committed Amount and (B) the Working Capital Amount, (ii) the LOC Obligations shall not exceed the LOC Committed Amount, (iii) the Swingline Loans shall not exceed the Swingline Committed Amount and (iv) the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Revolving Loans and Swingline Loans made to the Company plus the outstanding Company LOC Obligations shall not exceed $200,000,000 at any time outstanding.

 

  (d) Cash and Cash Equivalents . No Extension of Credit shall be made if after such Extension of Credit (but after giving effect to the expected uses of the proceeds thereof within 2 Business Days of the respective Extension of Credit for purposes other than investing in Cash Equivalents) there will be more than $160,000,000 of unrestricted cash and Cash Equivalents in the aggregate on the consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries (excluding any amounts held in the Blocked Account that are included on such balance sheet as cash or Cash Equivalents); provided that in making calculations pursuant to this Section 4.2(d) the Company may disregard changes in the consolidated balances of cash and Cash Equivalents of the Company and its Subsidiaries to the extent the Company is not actually aware of a material increase in such balances during the period beginning 24 hours before the time the respective Notice of Borrowing or Letter of Credit Request is required to be delivered and ending on (but including) the date on which the respective Extension of Credit is to occur.

 

  (e)

Non-Extended Maturity Date. After giving effect to any such requested Extension of Credit occurring during the five (5) Business Day period

 

90


  immediately preceding the Non-Extended Maturity Date, the Borrowers would not be required by the last sentence of Section 2.6(b)(i) to prepay or cause to be prepaid Revolving Loans or Swingline Loans or to cash collateralize LOC Obligations.

Each request for an Extension of Credit and each acceptance by the Borrower of any such Extension of Credit shall be deemed to constitute a representation and warranty by the Borrower as of the date of such Extension of Credit that the conditions in subsections (a), (b), (c) and (d) of this Section and, if applicable, subsection (e) of this Section have been satisfied.

ARTICLE V

AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

The Credit Parties hereby covenant and agree that on the Effective Date, and thereafter until the Revolving Commitments have terminated, no Note remains outstanding and unpaid and the Credit Party Obligations (other than Unasserted Obligations), together with interest, Commitment Fees and all other amounts owing to the Administrative Agent or any Lender hereunder, are paid in full in cash, the Borrowers shall, and shall cause each of their Subsidiaries (other than in the case of Sections 5.1 , 5.2 or 5.7 hereof) to:

Section 5.1 Financial Statements . Furnish to the Administrative Agent for delivery to each Lender:

(a) Annual Reports .

(i) As soon as available and in any event within eighty (80) days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company commencing with the fiscal year ending March 31, 2014, a consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries (other than the Zimbabwe Subsidiaries but including Minority Interest Consolidated Entities) as of the end of such fiscal year and the related consolidated statement of cash flows and the consolidated statements of income and stockholders’ equity for such fiscal year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous fiscal year, all in reasonable detail and accompanied by an opinion on such consolidated statements of the Company by an Approved Accounting Firm which opinion shall state that each such consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company and its Subsidiaries (other than the Zimbabwe Subsidiaries but including Minority Interest Consolidated Entities) as of the date of such financial statements and their consolidated results of operations and cash flows for the period covered by such financial statements in conformity with GAAP (except for changes in the application of which such accountants concur) and shall not contain any “going concern” or like qualification or exception or qualifications arising out of the scope of the consolidated audit.

 

91


(ii) As soon as available and in any event within eighty (80) days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company commencing with the fiscal year ending March 31, 2014, a consolidated and consolidating balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries (other than the Zimbabwe Subsidiaries but including Minority Interest Consolidated Entities) and the related consolidated and consolidating statements of income, cash flows and stockholders’ equity for such fiscal year, setting forth (in the case of consolidated statements) the consolidated figures in comparative form for the Company’s previous fiscal year, all certified (subject to normal year end audit adjustments) as fairly presented in all material respects in accordance with GAAP by the Company’s chief financial officer, treasurer or chief accounting officer.

(iii) As soon as available and in any event within two hundred ten (210) days after the end of each fiscal year of Alliance AG commencing with the fiscal year ending March 31, 2013, the Swiss Franc Statutories of Alliance AG for such fiscal year (including a balance sheet and a statement of income), certified by Alliance AG’s chief financial officer, treasurer or chief accounting officer that they fairly present in all material respects the financial condition of Alliance AG as of the dates indicated and the results of their operations for the periods indicated.

(b) Quarterly Reports . As soon as available and in any event within forty-five (45) days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters, a consolidated and consolidating balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries (other than the Zimbabwe Subsidiaries but including Minority Interest Consolidated Entities) and the related consolidated and consolidating statements of income, cash flows and stockholders’ equity for the portion of the Company’s fiscal year ended at the end of such quarter, setting forth (in the case of consolidated statements) the consolidated figures in comparative form for the corresponding portion of the Company’s previous fiscal year, all certified by the Company’s chief financial officer, treasurer or chief accounting officer that they fairly present in all material respects in accordance with GAAP the financial condition of the Company and its Subsidiaries (other than the Zimbabwe Subsidiaries but including Minority Interest Consolidated Entities) as of the dates indicated and the results of their operations for the periods indicated, subject to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes.

(c) Annual Budget Plan . As soon as available, but in any event within sixty (60) days after the end of each fiscal year, a copy of the detailed annual operating budget or plan of the Company for such fiscal year on a quarter-by-quarter basis, in form and detail reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, together with a summary of the material assumptions made in the preparation of such annual budget or plan.

Information required to be delivered pursuant to Sections 5.1(a) , (b)  and (c)  shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date on which such information has been posted (and notified to the Lenders as having been posted) on the Company’s IntraLinks site, if any, or at another website identified in a notice from the Company to the Lenders, in each case which IntraLinks or other website shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and accessible by the Lenders in accordance with customary market practice for syndicated loans and without charge and notice of such posting has been given to Lenders, and information required to be delivered pursuant to Section 5.2 shall also be deemed to have been delivered upon being posted to such site and notice of such posting has been given to Lenders.

 

92


Section 5.2 Certificates; Other Information . Furnish to the Administrative Agent for delivery to each Lender:

(a) concurrently with the delivery of the financial statements referred to in Section 5.1(a) above, a statement of the Approved Accounting Firm that reported on such statements stating (i) whether anything has come to their attention to cause them to believe that there existed on the date of such statements any Default or Event of Default relating to financial or accounting matters (including under Section 5.9 and 5.10(b) ) and, if in the opinion of such accounting firm such a Default or an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, a statement as to the nature thereof;

(b) concurrently with the delivery of the financial statements referred to in Sections 5.1(a)(i) and Section 5.1(b) above, a certificate of a Responsible Officer of the Company (a “ Compliance Certificate ”) stating that, to the best of such Responsible Officer’s knowledge, each of the Company and its Subsidiaries during such period observed or performed in all material respects all of its covenants and other agreements, and satisfied in all material respects every condition, contained in this Agreement to be observed, performed or satisfied by it, and that such Responsible Officer has obtained no knowledge of any Default or Event of Default except as specified in such certificate and such certificate shall (s) include the calculations in reasonable detail required to indicate compliance with Section 5.9 and 5.10(b) as of the last day of such period, (t) without limiting the preceding clause (s), if during the respective period there have existed any Zimbabwe Subsidiaries, include calculations in reasonable detail showing the adjustments to the calculations as a result of the treatment of the Zimbabwe Subsidiaries as consolidated Subsidiaries of the Company in accordance with the proviso to the first sentence of Section 1.3 (together with such supporting detail as may be reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent), (u) include related financial statements (which may be in summary form) reflecting adjustments necessary to eliminate the accounts of Minority Interest Consolidated Entities (if any) (together with supporting detail as may be requested by the Administrative Agent), (v) include related financial statements (which may be in summary form) reflecting adjustments necessary to eliminate the accounts of WLT (if any) (together with supporting detail as may be requested by the Administrative Agent), (w) include a description of the Indebtedness for borrowed money of WLT, a description of the facilities under which such Indebtedness is outstanding and the outstanding principal amount, in each case as of the last day of such period for which financial statements were delivered pursuant to Section 5.1(a)(i) or 5.1(b) , as applicable, (x) include a description of the Indebtedness for borrowed money of Foreign Subsidiaries (other than Indebtedness under this Agreement), a description of the facilities under which such Indebtedness is outstanding and the outstanding principal amount, in each case as of the last day of such period for which financial statements were delivered pursuant to Section 5.1(a)(i) or 5.1(b) , as applicable, (y) include a description (including the owner) and book value of (solely to the extent constituting Collateral in which the Administrative Agent has been granted a first priority perfected Lien to secure the Credit Party Obligations of the Company) (I) all accounts receivable owned by the Company or any Domestic

 

93


Guarantor, (II) all inventory (other than Excluded Inventory) owned by the Company or any Domestic Guarantor, (III) all intercompany loans and advances made by the Company or any Domestic Guarantor to the extent evidenced by the Intercompany Note or a promissory note, (IV) the Capital Stock of each Domestic Subsidiary owned by the Company or any Domestic Guarantor, (V) the Capital Stock of (A) the Dutch Borrower, (B) Alliance AG, (C) the Foreign Subsidiaries listed on Schedule 1.1(b), (D) each of their respective Material Foreign Subsidiaries and (E) WLT (together with the value of 100% of the non-Voting Stock and 65% of Voting Stock of each such Person listed in this clause (V) and (VI) the Blocked Account and funds deposited therein), in each case as of the last day of such period for which financial statements were delivered pursuant to Section 5.1(a)(i) or 5.1(b) , as applicable, and (z) certify that there have been no changes to Schedule 3.12 since the Effective Date or, if later, since the date of the most recent certificate delivered pursuant to this Section 5.2(b) , or if there have been any such changes, a list in reasonable detail of such changes;

(c) within forty five (45) days after the end of the first three fiscal quarters and within eighty (80) days after the end of the fourth fiscal quarter, a Working Capital Amount Certificate as of the end of the immediately preceding fiscal quarter, substantially in the form of Schedule 5.2(c), certified by a Responsible Officer of the Company to be true and correct as of the date thereof (a “ Working Capital Amount Certificate ”);

(d) within forty five (45) days after the end of each calendar month, a certificate of a Responsible Officer of the Company certifying the levels of Committed Inventories, Uncommitted Inventories and the gross inventories of the Company and its Subsidiaries, as of the last day of such calendar month;

(e) promptly upon mailing thereof, copies of all reports (other than those otherwise provided pursuant to Section 5.1 and those which are of a promotional nature) and other financial information which the Company sends to its shareholders, and promptly upon the filing thereof, copies of all financial statements and non-confidential reports which the Company may make to, or file with the Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor or analogous Governmental Authority;

(f) promptly upon issuance thereof, copies of all press releases and other statements made available generally by the Company or its Subsidiaries to the public concerning material developments in the results of operations, financial condition, business or prospects of the Company or its Subsidiaries;

(g) promptly upon receipt thereof, a copy of any “material weakness letter” submitted by independent accountants to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with any annual, interim or special audit of the books of such Person;

(h) promptly, upon the request of the Administrative Agent, a listing, in reasonable detail, of all outstanding Secured Hedging Agreements and such other information as may be reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent relating thereto (including, without limitation, copies of the relevant agreements if requested);

 

94


(i) promptly, such additional financial and other information as the Administrative Agent, at the request of and on behalf of any Lender, may from time to time reasonably request; and

(j) promptly, but in no event later than three Business Days, after any change in the Debt Rating, notice of the new Debt Rating.

Section 5.3 Payment of Obligations . Pay, discharge or otherwise satisfy at or before maturity or before they become delinquent, as the case may be, in accordance with industry and historical company practice (subject, where applicable, to specified grace periods) all its material monetary obligations (including, without limitation, all material taxes) of whatever nature and any additional costs that are imposed as a result of any failure to so pay, discharge or otherwise satisfy such obligations, except when (i) the amount or validity of such obligations and costs is currently being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and reserves, if applicable, in conformity with GAAP with respect thereto have been provided on the books of the Borrowers or their Subsidiaries, as the case may be, or (ii) the aggregate amount of such monetary obligations are less than $40,000,000.

Section 5.4 Conduct of Business and Maintenance of Existence . Except as otherwise permitted by Section 6.4 , (a) continue to engage in business of the same general type as now conducted by it on the Effective Date, (b) preserve, renew and keep in full force and effect its existence as a corporation or limited liability company, as applicable, (c) take all reasonable action to maintain all rights, privileges and franchises necessary or desirable in the normal conduct of its business except to the extent that failure to take such action could not, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have Material Adverse Effect and (d) comply with all Contractual Obligations and Requirements of Law (including, without limitation, ERISA and rules and regulations thereunder and Environmental Laws) applicable to it except to the extent that failure to comply therewith could not, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; provided that the foregoing shall not prohibit (i) any merger, consolidation, liquidation or dissolution permitted hereunder and (ii) the change in form of organization of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, if the Company in good faith determines that such change in organization is in the best interest of the Company or such Subsidiary, is not materially disadvantageous to the Lenders and, in the case of a change in the form of organization of either Borrower, the Administrative Agent has consented thereto.

Section 5.5 Maintenance of Property; Insurance .

(a) Keep all material property that is useful and necessary in its business as then being conducted in good working order and condition (ordinary wear and tear and obsolescence excepted) except where failure to do so would not materially or adversely affect its business;

 

95


(b) If at any time improvements on a Mortgaged Property are located in an area identified as a special flood hazard area by the Federal Emergency Management Agency or any successor thereto or other applicable agency, at all times keep and maintain flood insurance in an amount satisfactory to the Administrative Agent but in no event less than the amount sufficient to comply with the rules and regulations promulgated under the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 and Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973, each as amended from time to time; and

(c) Maintain with financially sound and reputable insurance companies insurance on all its material property in at least such amounts and against at least such risks as are usually insured against in the same general area by companies engaged in the same or a similar business in such general area; and furnish to the Administrative Agent, upon written request, full information as to the insurance carried.

Section 5.6 Inspection of Property; Books and Records; Discussions . Keep proper books of records and account in which full, true and correct entries in all material respects in conformity with GAAP and all Requirements of Law shall be made of all dealings and transactions in relation to its businesses and activities (including, without limitation, proper books and records with respect to the Material Local Credit Facilities); and permit, during regular business hours and upon reasonable notice by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, the Administrative Agent or any Lender, at the expense of, in the case of the Administrative Agent, the Company, or, in the case of Lender, such Lender, to visit and inspect any of its properties and examine and make abstracts from any of its books and records (other than materials protected by the attorney-client privilege and materials which a Credit Party may not disclose without violation of any Requirement of Law or of a confidentiality obligation binding upon it) at any reasonable time and as often as may reasonably be desired, and to discuss the business, operations, properties and financial and other condition of the Credit Parties with officers and employees of the Credit Parties and with their independent certified public accountants; provided , however, that so long as no Event of Default exists, the Administrative Agent shall be limited to one such visit during in any fiscal year of the Borrower at the expense of the Borrower at locations reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent. The Credit Parties shall maintain their fiscal reporting period on a March 31 fiscal year, and each Domestic Subsidiary shall maintain its respective fiscal reporting period on the present basis.

Section 5.7 Notices . Give notice in writing to the Administrative Agent (which shall promptly transmit such notice to each Lender) of:

(a) promptly, but in any event within three (3) Business Days, after any Responsible Officer of the Credit Parties obtains knowledge of any Default or Event of Default, if such Default or Event of Default continues for three (3) Business Days;

 

96


(b) promptly, any default or event of default under any Contractual Obligation of a Credit Party or any of their Subsidiaries which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

(c) promptly, any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding (including, without limitation, any governmental or environmental proceeding) known to any Responsible Officer of the Credit Parties, affecting a Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries which, if adversely determined, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or which in any manner questions the validity of this Agreement, the Notes or any of the other transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, and give notice setting forth the nature of such pending or threatened action, suit or proceeding and such additional information as the Administrative Agent, at the request of any Lender, may reasonably request;

(d) as soon as possible and in any event within fifteen (15) days after any Responsible Officer of the Credit Parties knows or has reason to know thereof: (i) the occurrence or expected occurrence of any Reportable Event with respect to any Single Employer Plan, a failure to make any required contribution to a Single Employer Plan, the creation of any Lien in favor of the PBGC (other than a Permitted Lien) or a Single Employer Plan or any withdrawal from, or the termination, Reorganization or Insolvency of, any Multiemployer Plan or (ii) the institution of proceedings or the taking of any other action by the PBGC or any Credit Party or any Commonly Controlled Entity or any Multiemployer Plan with respect to the withdrawal from, or the terminating, Reorganization or Insolvency of, any Plan;

(e) concurrently with the delivery thereof, copies of all written notices as the Company shall send to the holders of the Existing Senior Notes, the holders of the Existing Convertible Notes or the holders of the Senior Secured Notes; and

(f) promptly, any other development or event which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

Each notice pursuant to this Section shall be accompanied by a statement of a Responsible Officer of the Company setting forth details of the occurrence referred to therein and stating what action the Borrowers propose to take with respect thereto. In the case of any notice of a Default or Event of Default, the Responsible Officer of the Company shall specify that such notice is a Default or Event of Default notice on the face thereof.

Section 5.8 Environmental Laws .

(a) Comply in all respects with, and ensure compliance in all respects by all tenants and subtenants, if any, with, all applicable Environmental Laws and obtain and comply in all respects with and maintain, and ensure that all tenants and subtenants obtain and comply in all respects with and maintain, any and all licenses, approvals, notifications, registrations or permits required by applicable Environmental Laws except to the extent that failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

(b) Conduct and complete all investigations, studies, sampling and testing, and all remediation, removal and other actions required under Environmental Laws and promptly

 

97


comply in all respects with all lawful orders and directives of all Governmental Authorities regarding Environmental Laws except to the extent that the same are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and the pendency of such proceedings could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and

(c) Defend, indemnify and hold harmless the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, and their respective employees, agents, officers and directors, from and against any and all claims, demands, penalties, fines, liabilities, settlements, damages, costs and expenses of whatever kind or nature known or unknown, contingent or otherwise, arising out of, or in any way relating to the violation of, noncompliance with or liability under, any Environmental Law applicable to the operations of the Credit Parties or any of their Subsidiaries or their assets or properties, or any orders, requirements or demands of Governmental Authorities related thereto, including, without limitation, reasonable attorney’s and consultant’s fees, investigation and laboratory fees, response costs, court costs and litigation expenses, except to the extent that any of the foregoing arise out of the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the party seeking indemnification therefor. The agreements in this paragraph shall survive repayment of the Notes and all other amounts payable hereunder.

Section 5.9 Financial Covenants . Commencing on the day immediately following the Effective Date, the Credit Parties shall comply with the following financial covenants:

(a) Minimum Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio . Maintain at all times a Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio of not less than the following:

 

Period

   Ratio

January 1, 2013 through and including June 30, 2013

   1.90 to 1.00

July 1, 2013 through and including September 30, 2013

   1.80 to 1.00

October 1, 2013 through and including December 31, 2013

   1.85 to 1.00

January 1, 2014 and thereafter

   1.90 to 1.00

(b) Maximum Consolidated Leverage Ratio . Maintain at all times a Consolidated Leverage Ratio of not more than the following:

 

Period

   Ratio

January 1, 2013 through and including March 31, 2013

   5.90 to 1.00

April 1, 2013 through and including June 30, 2013

   7.25 to 1.00

July 1, 2013 through and including September 30, 2013

   7.80 to 1.00

 

98


Period

   Ratio

October 1, 2013 through and including December 31, 2013

   6.95 to 1.00

January 1, 2014 through and including March 31, 2014

   6.10 to 1.00

April 1, 2014 through and including June 30, 2014

   6.95 to 1.00

July 1, 2014 through and including September 30, 2014

   7.25 to 1.00

October 1, 2014 through and including December 31, 2014

   6.95 to 1.00

January 1, 2015 through and including March 31, 2015

   5.85 to 1.00

April 1, 2015 through and including June 30, 2015

   6.75 to 1.00

July 1, 2015 through and including September 30, 2015

   6.95 to 1.00

October 1, 2015 through and including December 31, 2015

   6.45 to 1.00

January 1, 2016 through and including March 31, 2016

   5.50 to 1.00

April 1, 2016 through and including June 30, 2016

   6.25 to 1.00

July 1, 2016 through and including September 30, 2016

   6.45 to 1.00

October 1, 2016 through and including December 31, 2016

   6.25 to 1.00

January 1, 2017 and thereafter

   5.10 to 1.00

(c) Maximum Consolidated Total Senior Debt to Working Capital Amount Ratio . Maintain at all times a Consolidated Total Senior Debt to Working Capital Amount Ratio of not more than 0.80 to 1.00; provided that if the Company’s Consolidated Leverage Ratio is less than 4.00 to 1.0 for any two (2) consecutive fiscal quarters, the calculation of the Consolidated Total Senior Debt to Working Capital Amount Ratio shall not be required hereunder (other than for the purposes of Article VI where calculations of Financial Covenant compliance is required to be made on a Pro Forma basis) at any time thereafter until such time as the Company’s Consolidated Leverage Ratio is equal to or greater than 4.00 to 1.00.

(d) Capital Expenditures .

(A) The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, make any Capital Expenditures, except that (i) during the fiscal year ending March 31, 2014, the Company and its Subsidiaries may make Capital Expenditures so long as the aggregate amount of all Consolidated Capital Expenditures does not exceed $50,783,000 and (ii) during any fiscal year of the Company thereafter (taken as one accounting period), the Company and its Subsidiaries may make Capital Expenditures so long as the aggregate amount of all Consolidated Capital Expenditures does not exceed $40,000,000 in any such fiscal year.

 

99


(B) In addition to the foregoing, in the event that the amount of Capital Expenditures permitted to be made by the Company and its Subsidiaries pursuant to clause (A) above in any fiscal year of the Company (before giving effect to any increase in such permitted Capital Expenditure amount pursuant to this clause (B)) is greater than the amount of Capital Expenditures actually made by the Company and its Subsidiaries during such fiscal year, such excess may be carried forward and utilized to make Capital Expenditures in the immediately succeeding fiscal year, provided that no amounts once carried forward pursuant to this Section 5.9(d) may be carried forward to any fiscal year of the Company thereafter.

(e) [Reserved].

Section 5.10 Additional Guarantors; etc .

(a) Subject to the terms of Section 5.11(a) , the Company will cause each Material Domestic Subsidiary or any other Person that becomes a Material Domestic Subsidiary after the Original Effective Date to promptly, but no later than 10 Business Days after the date on which such Person becomes a Material Domestic Subsidiary, become a Domestic Guarantor hereunder by way of execution of a Joinder Agreement. To the extent any Domestic Subsidiary of the Company or any other Person is or becomes a guarantor with respect to the Existing Notes or the Senior Secured Notes, but is not a Domestic Guarantor hereunder, the Company will cause such Domestic Subsidiary or Person to simultaneously become a Domestic Guarantor hereunder by way of execution of a Joinder Agreement.

(b) At such time as the value of the total assets (as determined in accordance with GAAP) of all Domestic Subsidiaries (other than existing Domestic Guarantors hereunder) exceeds 10% of Consolidated Total Assets, the Company shall notify the Administrative Agent of same and cause one or more Domestic Subsidiaries, as requested by the Administrative Agent, to promptly, but no later than 10 Business Days after the date of delivery of the Compliance Certificate which certifies the occurrence of a breach of this Section 5.10(b) , become a Domestic Guarantor hereunder by way of execution of a Joinder Agreement so that after giving effect to such execution the value of the total assets of all Domestic Subsidiaries (other than Domestic Guarantors hereunder) is less that 10.0% of the Consolidated Total Assets.

(c) In addition to the foregoing requirements, other than with the consent of the Administrative Agent (in its sole discretion), (x) the Company will cause all Equity Interests in each Domestic Guarantor that are owned by the Company and its Subsidiaries to be owned by the Company or one or more other Domestic Subsidiaries, and (y) the Company shall cause all Equity Interests of each Foreign Subsidiary which is a Credit Party or a Material Foreign Subsidiary to be directly or indirectly owned by the Dutch Borrower, except International Tobacco Funding, S.L.U., provided that all of its Equity Interest are directly held by the Company and it holds all the Equity Interests of the Dutch Borrower.

 

100


Section 5.11 Pledged Assets .

(a) The Company and its Subsidiaries will cause (i) 100% of the Capital Stock of each Domestic Guarantor, (ii) 100% of the Capital Stock of each Domestic Subsidiary held directly by the Company or any Domestic Guarantor (or, if less, the full amount owned by the Company and each Domestic Subsidiary) and (iii) 100% of the Capital Stock of each Material Foreign Subsidiary directly held by the Company or a Domestic Subsidiary (or, if less, the full amount owned by the Company and each Domestic Subsidiary) ( provided that, with respect to Voting Stock only, not more than 65% in the aggregate of the total outstanding Voting Stock of any Material Foreign Subsidiary shall be required to be pledged at any given time by the Company and the Domestic Subsidiaries) to be subject at all times to a first priority, perfected Lien in favor of the Administrative Agent for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Security Documents or such other security documents as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request.

(b) The Company and its Subsidiaries will cause 100% of the Capital Stock (other than directors’ qualifying shares and/or other nominal amounts of shares required to be held by local nationals, in each case to the extent required by applicable law) of (i) the Dutch Borrower, (ii) Alliance AG, (iii) the Foreign Subsidiaries set forth on Schedule 1.1(b) , (iv) each of their respective Material Foreign Subsidiaries, and (v) WLT to be subject at all times to a first priority, perfected Lien in favor of the Administrative Agent for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties to secure the Dutch Borrower’s and Alliance AG’s obligations pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Security Documents or such other security documents as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request; provided , however , that (x) a pledge of the Capital Stock of China Brasil Tabacos Exportadora Ltda. shall not be required pursuant to this clause (b) prior to August 1, 2014, and (y) if at any time more than 65% of the aggregate issued and outstanding Voting Stock of any Foreign Subsidiary is pledged (any such excess Voting Stock being herein called “ Excess Material Foreign Subsidiary Voting Stock ”), such Excess Material Foreign Subsidiary Voting Stock shall only secure Credit Party Obligations consisting of the Credit Party Obligations of the Dutch Borrower and guarantees by one or more Guarantors of Credit Party Obligations of the Dutch Borrower.

(c) The Company and the Domestic Guarantors will (i) cause each loan or advance that is outstanding on or after the Effective Date by the Company or any Domestic Guarantor to a Subsidiary to be evidenced by the Intercompany Note or other promissory notes, (ii) deliver the Intercompany Note and such other promissory notes to the Administrative Agent, together with an appropriate allonges or other endorsement reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, and (iii) execute such Security Documents in connection with the pledge of the Intercompany Note and such promissory notes as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request.

(d) The Company and each Domestic Guarantor shall take such action at its own expense as reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent to ensure that the Administrative Agent has a first priority perfected Lien (subject to Permitted Liens) to secure the Credit Party Obligations in (i) all accounts receivable of the Company and its Domestic Guarantors and (ii) all inventory of the Company and the Domestic Guarantors (other than Excluded Inventory).

 

101


Section 5.12 [ Reserved]

Section 5.13 Post-Closing Covenant . The Company shall deliver (or caused to be delivered) to the Administrative Agent each item set forth on Schedule 5.13, within the time period set forth therein, to the extent such item is not delivered on or before the Effective Date pursuant to the Amendment and Restatement Agreement.

ARTICLE VI

NEGATIVE COVENANTS

The Credit Parties hereby covenant and agree that on the Effective Date, and thereafter until the Revolving Commitments have terminated, no Note remains outstanding and unpaid and the Credit Party Obligations (other than Unasserted Obligations), together with interest, Commitment Fees and all other amounts owing to the Administrative Agent or any Lender hereunder, are paid in full that:

Section 6.1 Indebtedness . Each of the Credit Parties will not, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, contract, create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Indebtedness or any Hedging Agreement, except:

(a) Indebtedness arising or existing under this Credit Agreement and the other Credit Documents;

(b) Indebtedness of the Credit Parties and their Subsidiaries existing as of the Effective Date as referenced in Schedule 6.1(a) , and renewals, replacement, refinancings or extensions thereof, provided that (i) such renewals, replacement, refinancings or extensions are in a principal amount not in excess of that outstanding as of the date of such renewal, refinancing or extension, (ii) such Indebtedness is incurred by the obligor on the Indebtedness being renewed, replaced, refinanced or extended and is guaranteed only by Persons who were obligors on the Indebtedness being renewed, replaced, refinanced, or extended and (iii) such renewals, replacement, refinancings or extensions are on terms not materially less favorable to the applicable Credit Party or Subsidiary;

(c) (i) Indebtedness of the Credit Parties and their Subsidiaries incurred after the Effective Date consisting of Capital Leases; provided that the amount of such Indebtedness shall not exceed in the aggregate $6,000,000 in connection with the Capital Lease for the facility located in the Republic of Macedonia and the total amount of all such other Indebtedness shall not exceed in the aggregate $5,000,000 at any time outstanding, and (ii) Indebtedness of the Credit Parties and their Subsidiaries incurred after the Effective Date consisting of Indebtedness

 

102


incurred to provide all or a portion of the purchase price or cost of construction of or improvement on an asset, provided that (A) such Indebtedness when incurred shall not exceed the purchase price or cost of construction of or improvement on such asset, and (B) the total amount of all such other Indebtedness shall not exceed in the aggregate $15,000,000 at any time outstanding;

(d) Unsecured intercompany Indebtedness among the Credit Parties and their Subsidiaries; provided that any such Indebtedness shall be (i) to the extent owed by any Credit Party, fully subordinated to the Credit Party Obligations of such Credit Party on the terms set forth in the Intercompany Note or on such other terms reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and (ii) in the case of loans outstanding from the Company or any Domestic Guarantor to any of their Subsidiaries on or after the Effective Date, evidenced by the Intercompany Note or such other promissory notes, in each case, which shall be pledged to the Administrative Agent as Collateral for the Credit Party Obligations;

(e) Indebtedness and obligations owing under Secured Hedging Agreements and other Hedging Agreements entered into in order to manage existing or anticipated interest rate, exchange rate or commodity price risks and not for speculative purposes;

(f) Indebtedness and obligations of the Credit Parties owing under documentary letters of credit for the purchase of goods or other merchandise generally;

(g) (i) Indebtedness in respect of OECD accounts receivable financings with recourse against the Credit Parties in an aggregate amount not to exceed $50,000,000 and (ii) non-OECD accounts receivable financings with recourse against the Credit Parties in an aggregate amount not to exceed $50,000,000;

(h) (i) Indebtedness in respect of each of Existing Senior Notes in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the amount of such Indebtedness outstanding on the Effective Date after giving effect to the Refinancing but in no event shall any Existing Senior Notes be outstanding from and after the first Business Day immediately following the Effective Date; (ii) Indebtedness in respect of each of Existing Convertible Notes in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the amount of such Indebtedness outstanding on the Effective Date after giving effect to the Refinancing but in no event shall the aggregate principal amount in respect of the Existing Convertible Notes exceed $115,000,000 less the aggregate principal amount repurchased, repaid or redeemed pursuant to the Existing Convertible Notes Tender Offer or with the proceeds of the Senior Secured Notes; and (iii) Indebtedness in respect of the Senior Secured Notes in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $[        ] 8 , and renewals, refinancings, restatements, replacements or extensions of the foregoing in a principal amount not in excess of that outstanding as of the date of such renewal, refinancing or extension (plus the amount of reasonable fees and expenses relating thereto, including, without limitation, contractual or market rate call or tender premiums) and on terms substantially similar to the Senior Secured Notes or no less favorable in any material respect, or with respect to any subordination terms, in any respect, to the Company or the Lenders;

 

8   Initial principal amount of the Senior Secured Notes to be inserted, which in any event shall not exceed $790,000,000.

 

103


(i) Guaranty Obligations permitted under Section 6.3 ;

(j) Indebtedness in respect of sale leaseback transactions permitted under Section 6.12 ;

(k) Indebtedness owing under overdraft facilities in connection with cash management arrangements; and

(l) additional Indebtedness that does not exceed, (i) for the Company and its Domestic Subsidiaries, the aggregate principal amount of $50,000,000 at any one time outstanding, provided that such Indebtedness, shall be unsecured, and (ii) for Foreign Subsidiaries, (x) the aggregate principal amount of $875,000,000 at any time outstanding or (y) notwithstanding the foregoing clause (x), an outstanding aggregate principal amount of $550,000,000 on March 31 of each fiscal year of the Company, provided that if a Default or an Event of Default exists at the time of any incurrence of such Indebtedness or would result therefrom after giving effect on a Pro Forma Basis to the incurrence or assumption of any such Indebtedness and to the concurrent retirement of any other Indebtedness of the Credit Parties or any of their Subsidiaries, such Indebtedness shall be solely used for general corporate purposes in the ordinary course of business and not to effect any Permitted Acquisition or Restricted Payment.

Section 6.2 Liens . Each of the Credit Parties will not, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, contract, create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Lien with respect to any of its property or assets of any kind (whether real or personal, tangible or intangible), whether now owned or hereafter acquired, except for the following (each a “ Permitted Lien ”):

(a) Liens created by or otherwise existing under or in connection with (x) this Credit Agreement or the other Credit Documents in favor of the Lenders or the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders and (y) the Senior Secured Notes Documents, so long as the Liens created pursuant to the Senior Secured Notes Documents are limited to assets constituting Collateral pursuant to the Security Documents and are at all times subordinated to the Liens pursuant to the Security Documents on the terms provided in the Intercreditor Agreement;

(b) Liens existing on the Effective Date and set forth on Schedule 6.2(b) (other than Liens on assets of Foreign Subsidiaries securing foreign lines of credit of such Foreign Subsidiaries) plus extensions, renewals or replacements of such Liens; provided , that, (i) the aggregate principal amount of the Indebtedness, if any, secured by such Liens is not increased from that amount outstanding at the time of any such extension, renewal or replacement and (ii) any such extension, renewal or replacement does not encumber any additional assets or properties of the Company and its Subsidiaries;

(c) purchase money Liens on any capital asset of a Credit Party or a Subsidiary if such purchase money Lien attaches to such capital asset within 90 days of the acquisition thereof (or completion of construction thereof or improvement thereon) and if the Indebtedness secured thereby does not exceed the lesser of the cost or fair market value as of the time of acquisition, construction or improvement, as the case may be, of the asset covered

 

104


thereby by such Credit Party or such Subsidiary plus extensions, renewals or replacements of such Liens; provided , that, (i) the aggregate principal amount of the Indebtedness, if any, secured by such Liens is not increased from that amount outstanding at the time of any such extension, renewal or replacement and (ii) any such extension, renewal or replacement does not encumber any additional assets or properties of the Company and its Subsidiaries; provided further , that the aggregate amount of Indebtedness secured by all such Liens does not exceed the amount of Indebtedness permitted by Section 6.1(c) ; and provided further , that no such Lien shall extend to or cover any property or asset of such Credit Party or such Subsidiary other than the related property or asset (including accessions thereto and proceeds thereof, to the extent provided in the security agreement creating such Lien);

(d) Liens (not securing Indebtedness) which are incurred in the ordinary course of business in connection with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance, old-age pensions, social security and public liability laws and similar legislation;

(e) 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 or exportation of goods in the ordinary course of business;

(f) Liens securing the performance of bids, tenders, leases, contracts (other than for the repayment of Indebtedness), statutory obligations, and other obligations of like nature, incurred as an incident to and in the ordinary course of business;

(g) Liens securing taxes, assessments or charges or levies of any Governmental Authority or the claims of growers, materialmen, mechanics, carriers, warehousemen, landlords and other like Persons in the ordinary course of business; provided , that (i) with respect to Liens securing taxes, such taxes are not yet due and payable or such taxes are being contested in good faith and adequate reserves have been established in accordance with GAAP), (ii) with respect to Liens securing claims or demands of growers, materialmen, mechanics, carriers, warehousemen, landlords and the like, such Liens are inchoate and unfiled and no other action has been taken to enforce the same and (iii) with respect to taxes, assessments or charges or levies of any Governmental Authority secured by such Liens, payment thereof is not at the time required by Section 5.3 ;

(h) zoning restrictions, easements, licenses, reservations, covenants, conditions, waivers, restrictions on the use of property or other minor encumbrances or irregularities of title which do not materially impair the use of any material property in the operation of the business of a Credit Party or any Subsidiary or the value of such property for the purpose of such businesses or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings;

(i) attachment, judgment or similar Liens arising in connection with court proceedings; provided , that the execution or other enforcement of such Liens with respect to judgments or decrees involving in the aggregate a liability of $40,000,000 or more is effectively stayed, the claims secured thereby are being actively contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and the applicable Credit Party or Subsidiary shall have set aside on its books, if required by GAAP, appropriate reserves for such Liens;

 

105


(j) any Lien existing on any asset of any Person at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary, provided that such Liens were in existence prior to the contemplation of such Person becoming a Subsidiary and do not extend to any assets other than those of the Person that becomes a Subsidiary;

(k) any Lien on any asset of any Person existing at the time such Person is merged or consolidated with or into a Credit Party or a Subsidiary and not created in contemplation of such event;

(l) any Lien existing on any asset prior to the acquisition thereof by a Credit Party or a Subsidiary and not created in contemplation of such event;

(m) any Lien on the assets of a Foreign Subsidiary securing foreign lines of credit of the Foreign Subsidiaries in an aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding not to exceed $275,000,000; provided that the aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding of foreign lines of credit of the Dutch Borrower and Alliance AG subject to a Lien contemplated by this Section 6.2(m) shall not exceed $20,000,000 in the aggregate;

(n) any Lien on accounts receivable arising from transactions permitted by Section 6.1(g) ;

(o) any Lien securing any obligations and liabilities arising under or in connection with any cash management arrangements entered into prior to, on or after the Effective Date, including, without limitation, any netting or set-off system for the calculation of interest with respect to debit balances and credit balances under such arrangements; provided that the assets subject to any such Lien shall be limited to the assets held from time to time at the financial institution providing such cash management arrangements;

(p) Liens in favor of a Hedging Agreement Provider in connection with a Secured Hedging Agreement, but only if such Hedging Agreement Provider and the Administrative Agent, on behalf of the Lenders, shall share pari passu in the collateral subject to such Liens

(q) Liens arising in the ordinary course of business solely with respect to securities, cash and Cash Equivalents in favor of a creditor depositary institution solely by virtue of any statutory or common law provision relating to banker’s liens, rights of set-off or similar rights and remedies as to securities accounts, deposit accounts or other funds maintained with such creditor depository institution, provided that such securities account or deposit account is not intended by the applicable Credit Party or Subsidiary to provide collateral to the depository institution;

(r) (i) leases, licenses, subleases or sublicenses granted to other Persons in the ordinary course of business which do not (x) interfere in any material respect with the business of any of the Credit Parties or the Subsidiaries or (y) secure any Indebtedness for borrowed money or (ii) the rights reserved or vested in any Person by the terms of any lease, license, franchise, grant or permit held by any Credit Party or Subsidiary or by a statutory provision, to terminate any such lease, license, franchise, grant or permit, or to require annual or periodic payments as a condition to the continuance thereof;

 

106


(s) Liens arising out of conditional sale, title retention, consignment or similar arrangements for sale of goods entered into by a Credit Party or Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business not prohibited by this Credit Agreement to the extent such Liens do not attach to any assets other than the goods subject to such arrangements and are not intended as security for a financing transaction;

(t) Permitted Encumbrances and, in respect of any real property, any facts that are disclosed by any survey thereof that do not materially impair the value of such real property or the operations conducted on such real property; and

(u) Liens not otherwise permitted by the foregoing paragraphs of this Section 6.2 securing Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding not to exceed $10,000,000.

Section 6.3 Guaranty Obligations . Each of the Credit Parties will not, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, create, assume or suffer to exist any Guaranty Obligation, other than (a) Guaranty Obligations which are incurred in the ordinary course of business for the purpose of carrying unsold tobacco inventories held against Confirmed Orders, (b) other Guaranty Obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business with respect to Uncommitted Inventories permitted pursuant to the terms of Section 6.14 in an aggregate amount not to exceed the amount of such Uncommitted Inventories, (c) short term and long term Guaranty Obligations of Foreign Subsidiaries with respect to credit facilities provided to farmer suppliers of such Foreign Subsidiaries in an amount not to exceed $400,000,000 in the aggregate at any time outstanding; provided that (i) no more than $175,000,000 of such Guaranty Obligations may have a maturity that is greater than 365 days and (ii) such Guaranty Obligations are supported by the obligations of such farmer suppliers to deliver tobacco to the Company and its Subsidiaries, (d) Guaranty Obligations of the Guarantors pursuant to this Agreement, (e) Guaranty Obligations of the Domestic Guarantors of the Company’s obligations under the Existing Convertible Notes Indenture, the Existing Convertible Notes, the Senior Indenture and the Senior Secured Notes, (f) Guaranty Obligations which are incurred in the ordinary course of business with respect to the Credit Parties’ and their Subsidiaries’ (i) cash management arrangements in an aggregate original principal amount not to exceed $25,000,000 at any time outstanding and (ii) employee credit card obligations for business travel and entertainment and other related expenses in an aggregate amount not to exceed $1,000,000 at any time outstanding, (g) other Guaranty Obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business so long as the aggregate amount of all Guaranty Obligations under this clause (g) does not at any time exceed $150,000,000, (h) unsecured Guaranty Obligations of the Company not to exceed $10,000,000 with respect to Indebtedness of WLT in connection with loan reductions sufficient to satisfy the “Security Coverage Ratio” for Tobacco being held as inventory for WLT under any revolving credit facility; provided , however , neither the Dutch Borrower nor Alliance AG shall be permitted to incur Guaranty Obligations pursuant to Sections 6.3(a) , (b)  and (c)  and (i) Guaranty Obligations for Indebtedness of China Brasil Tabacos Exportadora Ltda permitted under clauses (a) and (b) above, to the extent such Guaranty Obligations would be permitted if China Brasil Tabacos Exportadora Ltda were a Foreign Subsidiary, so long as (i) the aggregate amount of all indebtedness of China Brasil Tabacos

 

107


Exportadora Ltda does not at any time exceed $200,000,000 and (ii) other than during the 90 day period immediately following the consummation of the transaction contemplated by Section 6.4(a)(x) , the percentage of the Company’s Guaranty Obligations with respect to such indebtedness does not exceed the percentage of the Company’s ownership of Capital Stock issued by China Brasil Tabacos Exportadora Ltda.

Section 6.4 Consolidation, Merger, Sale or Purchase of Assets, etc . Each of the Credit Parties will not, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to:

(a) dissolve, liquidate or wind up its affairs, sell, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of its property or assets or agree to do so at a future time except the following, without duplication, shall be expressly permitted:

(i) Specified Sales;

(ii) the sale, transfer, lease or other disposition of property or assets (A) to an unrelated party not in the ordinary course of business (other than Specified Sales), where and to the extent that they are the result of a Recovery Event or (B) the sale, lease, transfer or other disposition of machinery, parts and equipment no longer used or useful in the conduct of the business of the Credit Parties or any of their Subsidiaries, as appropriate, in its reasonable discretion;

(iii) the sale, lease or transfer of property or assets from (x) any Credit Party that is a Domestic Guarantor or the Company to another Credit Party that is a Domestic Guarantor or the Company or (y) from Alliance AG or any of its Subsidiaries to the Dutch Borrower (so long as the Dutch Borrower does not pay more than fair value);

(iv) the sale, lease, transfer or other disposition of property or assets (x) from any Foreign Subsidiary which is not the Dutch Borrower, Alliance AG or a Pledged Foreign Subsidiary, to the Company or any of its wholly owned Subsidiaries (other than directors’ qualifying shares and/or other nominal amounts of shares required to be held by local nationals, in each case to the extent required by applicable law), at less than or equal to fair value, (y) between Pledged Foreign Subsidiaries which are wholly owned Subsidiaries (other than directors’ qualifying shares and/or other nominal amounts of shares required to be held by local nationals, in each case to the extent required by applicable law) of the Dutch Borrower or (z) from any Pledged Foreign Subsidiaries which are Subsidiaries of the Dutch Borrower (other than Alliance AG) to any Foreign Subsidiary which is a Subsidiary of the Dutch Borrower (other than Alliance AG or a Pledged Foreign Subsidiary) (at fair value) in an aggregate amount not to exceed $40,000,000 in any fiscal year;

(v) (A) the sale of accounts receivable in accordance with the terms of Section 6.1(g) and (B) the sale of accounts receivable arising from sales of tobacco, which accounts receivable are sold pursuant to a factoring arrangement without recourse;

 

108


(vi) the sale, lease or transfer of obsolete, worn out, surplus, redundant or excess property or assets in the ordinary course of business (other than machinery, parts and equipment disposed of in accordance with clause (ii) above), or agreement to do so at a future time;

(vii) the dissolution, liquidation or winding up of a Foreign Subsidiary or a Domestic Subsidiary other than a Borrower, Alliance AG, a Domestic Guarantor or a Pledged Foreign Subsidiary, if the Company determines in good faith that such a dissolution, liquidation or winding up is in the best interests of the Credit Parties and is not materially disadvantageous to the Lenders;

(viii) the sale, lease or transfer of additional property or assets, or agreement to do so at a future time in an amount not to exceed $35,000,000 in the aggregate in any fiscal year;

(ix) the sale of any property permitted to be sold pursuant to Section 6.12 ; and

(x) the sale of up to 51% of the Capital Stock in the aggregate of China Brasil Tabacos Exportadora Ltda. to China Tabaco International do Brasil Ltda. and its Affiliates so long as (v) no Default or Event of Default then exists or would result therefrom, (w) each such sale is in an arm’s-length transaction and the Company or the respective Subsidiary receives at least Fair Market Value, (x) the consideration received by the Company or such Subsidiary consists of at least 90% cash and is paid at the time of the closing of such sale, (y) the Net Cash Proceeds therefrom are applied and/or reinvested as (and to the extent) required by Section 2.6(b)(ii) and (z) the aggregate amount of the cash and non-cash proceeds received from all assets sold pursuant to this clause (x) shall not exceed $20,000,000 in any fiscal year of the Borrower (for this purpose, using the Fair Market Value of property other than cash).

(b) purchase, lease or otherwise acquire (in a single transaction or a series of related transactions) the property or assets of any Person (other than purchases or other acquisitions of inventory, leases, materials, property and equipment in the ordinary course of business), except as permitted pursuant to Sections 6.4(a) and 6.5 .

(c) notwithstanding the provisions in Section 6.4(a) and Section 6.4(b) , merge with or into any other Person, except that the following shall be permitted:

(i) a Borrower may merge with another Person if (A) such Borrower is the surviving entity, (B) if such merger involves a Person that is not a Subsidiary, such merger is a Permitted Acquisition, and (C) immediately after giving effect to such merger on a Pro Forma Basis, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing; and

(ii) any Subsidiary may merge with or into or sell or otherwise transfer all or substantially all of its business, properties and assets to the Company or to another Subsidiary (determined immediately thereafter); provided that (A) if such merger, sale or other transfer involves a Borrower, such Borrower shall be the surviving entity, (B) if such merger, sale or other transfer involves a Guarantor (but not a Borrower), such

 

109


Guarantor shall either be the surviving entity or the surviving entity shall become an Additional Credit Party in connection therewith, (C) if such merger, sale or other transfer involves a Pledged Foreign Subsidiary, either the surviving entity shall be a Pledged Foreign Subsidiary or the Capital Stock of the surviving entity shall be pledged to the Administrative Agent in connection therewith pursuant to a Pledge Agreement on terms reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, (D) immediately after giving effect to such merger, sale or other transfer on a Pro Forma Basis, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and (E) if such merger, sale or other transfer involves a Person that is not a Subsidiary immediately prior to the consummation of such transaction, such merger, sale, lease or other transfer shall qualify as a Permitted Acquisition; provided further that (1) neither the Dutch Borrower nor Alliance AG shall merge with or into, or sell or transfer all or substantially all of its assets to, the Company or any Domestic Subsidiary and (2) the Dutch Borrower and Alliance AG shall not merge with or into, or sell or transfer all or substantially all of its assets to, each other and (3) no transaction shall be permitted pursuant to preceding clause (ii) which could be reasonably expected to be adverse to the Lenders (including without limitation as to their structural position and claims (direct and indirect)) in any material respect.

Section 6.5 Acquisitions, Advances, Investments and Loans . Each of the Credit Parties will not, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, make any Acquisition or Investment, except for (each of the following, a “ Permitted Investment ”):

(a) any Acquisition (other than a Hostile Acquisition) or Investment for consideration consisting of cash or Cash Equivalents, common stock of the Company (valued at the market value thereof as of the date of the issuance thereof), other securities or properties of a Credit Party or any Subsidiary (valued in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company), the assumption of any Indebtedness (valued at the principal amount thereof), any other consideration (valued in good faith by the board of directors of the Company) or any combination of the foregoing; provided that in the case of Investments (i) the aggregate value of all such consideration for all Investments of the Credit Parties and their Subsidiaries made during any fiscal year shall not exceed 12.5% of Consolidated Tangible Net Worth as at the end of the previous fiscal year, (ii) at the time of such Investment, if the aggregate amount of the Investment (including cash and non-cash amounts) is in excess of $10,000,000, the Company shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent a certificate of the Company’s chief financial officer, treasurer or chief accounting officer containing calculations that demonstrate that after giving effect to such Investment on a Pro Forma Basis, the Credit Parties are in compliance with the financial covenants set forth in Sections 5.9(a) , (b)  and (c) , and (iii) no Default or Event of Default shall exist immediately before or after giving effect to such Investment, and provided further that in the case of any Acquisition (i) no Default or Event of Default shall exist immediately before or after giving effect to such Acquisition, and (ii) involving an aggregate purchase price (including cash and non-cash consideration) in excess of $10,000,000, the Company shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent at the time of such Acquisition a certificate of the Company’s chief financial officer, treasurer or chief accounting officer containing calculations that demonstrate that after giving effect to such Acquisition on a Pro Forma Basis, the Credit Parties are in compliance with the financial covenants set forth in Section 5.9(a) , (b)  and (c) ;

 

110


(b) Investments consisting of cash or Cash Equivalents;

(c) Investments in Persons (x) consisting of non-cash consideration provided that the aggregate value of all such consideration under this sub-clause (x) shall not exceed $5,000,000 per fiscal year, or (y) evidencing the deferred purchase price to be received, in each case, for assets sold, leased or otherwise transferred in accordance with Section 6.4 ;

(d) Investments (i) of cash and Cash Equivalents in the Company and its Subsidiaries (including, without limitation, the intercompany loans permitted by Section 6.1(d) ) and (ii) in the Company and its Subsidiaries to the extent permitted under Section 6.4(a)(iii) or (iv) ;

(e) loans and advances in the ordinary course of its business to officers and employees of a Credit Party or any Subsidiary in an aggregate outstanding principal amount not to exceed $5,000,000;

(f) loans and advances to growers and other suppliers of tobacco (including Affiliates) in the ordinary course of its business in an aggregate outstanding principal amount consistent with past practice of the Borrowers;

(g) Guaranty Obligations permitted by Sections 6.1 and 6.3 ;

(h) Investments made by any Foreign Subsidiary in the ordinary course of such Person’s business, in connection with the financing of international trading transactions, in export notes, trade credit assignments, bankers’ acceptances, guarantees and instruments of a similar nature issued by (i) any commercial bank or trust company (or any Affiliate thereof) organized under the laws of the United States or any state having capital and surplus in excess of $100,000,000 or (ii) any international bank organized under the laws of any country which is a member of the OECD or a political subdivision of any such country, and having a combined capital and surplus of at least $100,000,000;

(i) Transfers of interests in Foreign Subsidiaries to the extent permitted under Section 6.4 ;

(j) any Permitted Bond Hedge;

(k) any Investment for consideration consisting of cash or Cash Equivalents, common stock of the Company (valued at the market value thereof as of the date of the issuance thereof), other securities or properties of a Credit Party or any Subsidiary (valued in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company), or any combination of the foregoing; provided (i) such Investments, when added with the sum of (I) the aggregate amount of all Restricted Payments declared or made by the Credit Parties and their Subsidiaries pursuant to Section 6.10(d) plus (II) the aggregate amount of all other Investments made by the Credit Parties and their Subsidiaries on or after the Original Effective Date pursuant to this Section 6.5(k) (net of any returns on any such Investments made pursuant to this Section 6.5(k) in the form of a

 

111


principal repayment, distribution, dividend or redemption, as applicable, but not (x) in excess of 100% of the original amount of the respective Investment or (y) to the extent any such principal repayment, distribution, dividend or redemption is included in the calculation of Consolidated Net Income), do not exceed the sum of (A) 50% of Consolidated Net Income for the period (taken as one accounting period) from April 1, 2008 to the end of the most recent fiscal quarter of the Company for which the Administrative Agent has received financial statements pursuant to Section 5.1(a) or (b)  (or, if such Consolidated Net Income for any fiscal quarter during such period is a deficit, less 100% of the aggregate such deficit for each such fiscal quarter) plus (B) 100% of the aggregate Net Cash Proceeds received by the Company from (v) contributions to its common equity capital, (w) the issue or sale of Qualifying Equity Interests of the Company, (x) the issue or sale of convertible or exchangeable Disqualified Stock of the Company, or convertible or exchangeable debt securities of the Company, in each case that have been converted into or exchanged for Qualifying Equity Interests of the Company (other than Qualifying Equity Interests and convertible or exchangeable Disqualified Stock or debt securities sold to a Subsidiary of the Company), in each case after the Effective Date, (ii) at the time of such Investment, the Company shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent a certificate of the Company’s chief financial officer, treasurer or chief accounting officer containing calculations that demonstrate that after giving effect to such Investment on a Pro Forma Basis, the Credit Parties are in compliance with the financial covenants set forth in Sections 5.9(a) , (b)  and (c) , and (iii) no Default or Event of Default shall exist immediately before or after giving effect to such Investment;

(l) any Investment for consideration consisting of cash or Cash Equivalents, common stock of the Company (valued at the market value thereof as of the date of the issuance thereof), other securities or properties of a Credit Party or any Subsidiary (valued in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company), or any combination of the foregoing; provided (i) such Investments, when added with the aggregate amount of all other Investments made by the Credit Parties and their Subsidiaries on or after the Original Effective Date pursuant to this Section 6.5(l) (net of any returns on any such Investments made pursuant to this Section 6.5(l) in the form of a principal repayment, distribution, dividend or redemption, as applicable, but not (x) in excess of 100% of the original amount of the respective Investment or (y) to the extent any such principal repayment, distribution, dividend or redemption is included in the calculation of Consolidated Net Income), do not exceed the $45,000,000, (ii) at the time of such Investment, the Company shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent a certificate of the Company’s chief financial officer, treasurer or chief accounting officer containing calculations that demonstrate that after giving effect to such Investment on a Pro Forma Basis, the Credit Parties are in compliance with the financial covenants set forth in Sections 5.9(a) , (b)  and (c) , and (iii) no Default or Event of Default shall exist immediately before or after giving effect to such Investment;

(m) any Investments received in compromise or resolution in the ordinary course of business of (A) obligations of the creditors or customers that were incurred in the ordinary course of business of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, including pursuant to any plan of reorganization or similar arrangement upon the bankruptcy or insolvency of any trade creditor or customer; or (B) litigation, arbitration or other disputes;

 

112


(n) Investments represented by Secured Hedging Agreements and other Hedging Agreements, in each case, to the extent such Indebtedness or obligations thereunder are permitted under Section 6.1(c) ; and

(o) Investments existing on the Effective Date as set forth in Schedule 6.5(o) .

Notwithstanding the foregoing, each of the Credit Parties will not, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, make any Investment in WLT other than as provided in respect of Section 6.3(i) , Section 6.5(g) above and in Schedule 6.5(o) .

Section 6.6 Transactions with Affiliates . Except as permitted in Section 6.5(e) , each of the Credit Parties will not, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, enter into any transaction or series of transactions with any officer, director, shareholder or Affiliate other than (i) transactions between Credit Parties and Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices as of the Effective Date and (ii) transactions on terms and conditions substantially as favorable as would be obtainable in a comparable arm’s-length transaction with a Person other than an officer, director, shareholder or Affiliate.

Section 6.7 Ownership of Subsidiaries; Restrictions . Except as expressly permitted by this Agreement and subject to Section 5.10 , each of the Credit Parties will not, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, make any changes in its equity capital structure (including in the terms of its outstanding Capital Stock) that would materially reduce or impair the consolidated equity capital of the Credit Parties and their Subsidiaries immediately thereafter, or amend their certificates of incorporation, by-laws, operating agreements, limited liability company agreements, articles of association, partnership agreements or other charter documents in any respect which is adverse to the interests of the Lenders; provided that, nothing herein shall limit or impair the right or ability of the Credit Parties or any of their Subsidiaries to issue Capital Stock; and provided further that, for so long as the Administrative Agent maintains its first priority lien on 100% of the issued and outstanding Capital Stock of the Dutch Borrower, the Credit Parties may amend or modify the equity capital structure of the Dutch Borrower by (i) reducing the number of, or canceling any one or more, existing classes of Capital Stock and/or (ii) issuing new Capital Stock or one or more new classes of Capital Stock.

Section 6.8 Fiscal Year; Changes to Business of Alliance . The Company (i) will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, engage directly or indirectly in any business other than the businesses engaged in by it and its Subsidiaries as of the Effective Date and reasonable extensions thereof and businesses ancillary or complimentary thereto and (ii) will not, nor will it permit Alliance AG to, alter the business of Alliance AG in a manner such that Alliance AG is no longer a primary trading entity for the Foreign Subsidiaries with whom it trades as of the Effective Date. Each of the Credit Parties will not, nor will it permit any Subsidiaries to, change its fiscal year.

 

113


Section 6.9 Limitation on Restricted Actions . Each of the Credit Parties will not, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, create or otherwise cause or suffer to exist or become effective any encumbrance or restriction on the ability of any such Person to (a) pay dividends or make any other distributions to any Credit Party or any Subsidiary on its Capital Stock or with respect to any other interest or participation in, or measured by, its profits, (b) pay any Indebtedness or other obligation owed to any Credit Party (except for waiving or deferring in the ordinary course of business subrogation and reimbursement rights in connection with Guaranty Obligations permitted pursuant to the terms of Section 6.3 ) , (c) make loans or advances to any Credit Party or any Subsidiary, (d) sell, lease or transfer any of its properties or assets to any Credit Party or any Subsidiary, or (e) act as a Guarantor and pledge its assets pursuant to the Credit Documents or any renewals, refinancings, exchanges, refundings or extension thereof, except (in respect of any of the matters referred to in clauses (a)-(d) above) for such encumbrances or restrictions existing under or by reason of (i) this Agreement and the other Credit Documents, (ii) applicable law, (iii) any document or instrument governing Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 6.1(c) ; provided that any such restriction contained therein relates only to the asset or assets constructed or acquired in connection therewith, (iv) the Senior Indenture as in effect on the Effective Date and the Existing Convertible Notes Indenture as in effect on the date of the initial issuance of the Existing Convertible Notes, (v) any document governing Indebtedness of a Foreign Subsidiary (other than the Dutch Borrower and Alliance AG) constituting local lines of credit permitted pursuant to Section 6.1(l) ; provided that (A) such restrictions are limited to the respective Foreign Subsidiaries and their Subsidiaries (but not applicable to the assets of the Dutch Borrower or Alliance AG or the equity interests in any Material Foreign Subsidiary) and (B) other than documents governing Indebtedness in an aggregate amount not to exceed $90,000,000 at any one time outstanding, such restrictions will not include any encumbrance or restriction of the types described in clauses (a) – (c) above, (vi) encumbrances or restrictions contained in agreements relating only to one or more Immaterial Subsidiaries, (vii) encumbrance or restriction of any Permitted Lien or any document or instrument governing any Permitted Lien; provided that any such restriction contained therein relates only to the asset or assets subject to such Permitted Lien, (viii) any instrument governing Indebtedness or Capital Stock of a Person acquired by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries as in effect at the time of such acquisition (except to the extent such Indebtedness or Capital Stock was incurred in connection with or in contemplation of such acquisition), 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; provided that, in the case of Indebtedness, such Indebtedness was otherwise permitted to be incurred hereunder, (ix) customary non-assignment provisions in contracts and licenses in respect of such contract or license, as the case may be, entered into in the ordinary course of business, (x) purchase money obligations for property acquired in the ordinary course of business and Capital Lease obligations that impose restrictions on the property purchased or leased, provided that such restrictions will not include any encumbrance or restriction of the types described in clause (a) – (c) above or, in the case of clause (e), applies only to the assets subject to such Liens, (xi) any agreement for the sale or other disposition of a

 

114


Subsidiary that restricts distributions by that Subsidiary pending its sale or other disposition, and (xii) customary provisions in joint venture agreements and other similar agreements applicable to joint ventures constituting Permitted Investments and applicable solely to such joint venture.

Section 6.10 Restricted Payments . Each of the Credit Parties will not, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, declare, order, make or set apart any sum for or pay any Restricted Payment, except (a) to make dividends payable solely in the same class of Capital Stock of such Person, (b) to make dividends or other distributions payable to any Credit Party or any Subsidiary (directly or indirectly through Subsidiaries) and, in the case of any non-wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company, may pay cash dividends or distributions to its shareholders, members or partners generally, so long as the Company or its respective Subsidiary which owns the Capital Stock in the Subsidiary paying such dividends or distributions receives at least its proportionate share thereof (based upon its relative holding of the Capital Stock in the Subsidiary paying such dividends or distributions and taking into account the relative preferences, if any, of the various classes of Capital Stock of such Subsidiary), (c) to pay regularly scheduled interest payments in respect of the Senior Secured Notes and Existing Convertible Notes, (d) to make other Restricted Payments so long as (i) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred or be continuing or would result from any such Restricted Payment, (ii) at the time of each such Restricted Payment, the Company shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent a certificate of the Company’s chief financial officer, treasurer or chief accounting officer containing calculations that demonstrate that after giving effect to such Restricted Payment on a Pro Forma Basis, the Credit Parties are in compliance with the financial covenants set forth in Sections 5.9(a) , (b)  and (c) , (iii) such Restricted Payment is permitted by the terms of the Existing Convertible Notes Documents, the Senior Secured Notes Documents and any other agreement or instrument governing or evidencing Indebtedness of the Credit Parties and their Subsidiaries, and (iv) such Restricted Payments, when added with the sum of (I) the aggregate amount of all Investments made by the Credit Parties and their Subsidiaries pursuant to Section 6.5(k) (net of any returns on any such Investments made pursuant to this Section 6.5(k) in the form of a principal repayment, distribution, dividend or redemption, as applicable, but not (x) in excess of 100% of the original amount of the respective Investment or (y) to the extent any such principal repayment, distribution, dividend or redemption is included in the calculation of Consolidated Net Income) plus (II) the aggregate amount of all other Restricted Payments declared or made by the Credit Parties and their Subsidiaries on or after the Original Effective Date (excluding Restricted Payments permitted by subsections (a), (b) and (c) above and subsections (e) and (f) below), do not exceed the sum of (A) 50% of Consolidated Net Income for the period (taken as one accounting period) from April 1, 2008 to the end of the most recent fiscal quarter of the Company for which the Administrative Agent has received financial statements pursuant to Section 5.1(a) or (b)  (or, if such Consolidated Net Income for any fiscal quarter during such period is a deficit, less 100% of the aggregate such deficit for each such fiscal quarter) plus (B) 100% of the aggregate Net Cash Proceeds received by the Company from (I) contributions to its common equity capital, (II) the issue or sale of Qualifying Equity Interests of the Company and (III) the issue or sale of convertible or exchangeable Disqualified Stock of the Company, or convertible or exchangeable debt securities of the Company, in each case that have been converted into or exchanged for Qualifying Equity Interests of the Company (other than

 

115


Qualifying Equity Interests and convertible or exchangeable Disqualified Stock or debt securities sold to a Subsidiary of the Company), in each case after the Original Effective Date, (e) [Intentionally Omitted], (f) to make Restricted Payments with respect to the Existing Convertible Notes solely with the proceeds of the Senior Secured Notes held in the Blocked Account, so long and in the case of any tender offer, at the time such tender offer is made (without modification thereto), (i) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred or be continuing or would result from any such Restricted Payment, (ii) at the time of each such Restricted Payment, the Company shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent a certificate of the Company’s chief financial officer, treasurer or chief accounting officer containing calculations that demonstrate that after giving effect to such Restricted Payment on a Pro Forma Basis, the Credit Parties are in compliance with the financial covenants set forth in Sections 5.9(a) , (b)  and (c)  and (iii) such Restricted Payment is permitted by the terms of the Existing Convertible Notes Documents, the Senior Secured Notes Documents and any other agreement or instrument governing or evidencing Indebtedness of the Credit Parties and their Subsidiaries and (g) [Intentionally Ommitted].

Section 6.11 Amendments to Indebtedness, etc. Each of the Credit Parties will not, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, after the issuance thereof, amend or modify (or permit the amendment or modification of) any of the terms of (a) any Subordinated Indebtedness (including the Convertible Notes Documents) if such amendment or modification would add or change any terms in a manner materially adverse to the issuer of such Indebtedness, or shorten the final maturity or average life to maturity or require any payment to be made sooner than originally scheduled or increase the interest rate applicable thereto or change any subordination provision thereof or (b) any Indebtedness for borrowed money in a principal amount outstanding of at least $40,000,000 (excluding Subordinated Indebtedness) or the Senior Secured Notes Documents if such amendment or modification would add any collateral therefor that does not also constitute Collateral under the Security Documents on the terms provided in the Intercreditor Agreement or otherwise add or change any terms in a manner materially adverse to the issuer of such Indebtedness.

Section 6.12 Sale Leasebacks . Each of Credit Parties will not, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, become or remain liable as lessee or as guarantor or other surety with respect to any lease, whether an operating lease or a Capital Lease, of any property (whether real, personal or mixed), whether now owned or hereafter acquired in excess of $10,000,000 in the aggregate on an annual basis, (a) which any Credit Party or any Subsidiary has sold or transferred or is to sell or transfer to a Person which is not a Credit Party or a Subsidiary or (b) which any Credit Party or any Subsidiary intends to use for substantially the same purpose as any other property which has been sold or is to be sold or transferred by a Credit Party or a Subsidiary to another Person which is not a Credit Party or a Subsidiary in connection with such lease.

 

116


Section 6.13 No Further Negative Pledges . Each of the Credit Parties will not, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, enter into, assume or become subject to any agreement prohibiting or otherwise restricting the creation or assumption of any Lien upon its properties or assets, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, or requiring the grant of any security for such obligation if security is given for some other obligation, except (a) pursuant to this Agreement and the other Credit Documents, (b) pursuant to any document or instrument governing Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 6.1(c) ; provided that any such restriction contained therein relates only to the asset or assets constructed or acquired in connection therewith, (c) pursuant to the Existing Convertible Notes Indenture as originally in effect or the Senior Indenture as in effect on the Effective Date, (d) pursuant to any document governing Indebtedness of a Foreign Subsidiary (other than the Dutch Borrower and Alliance AG) constituting local lines of credit permitted pursuant to Section 6.1(l) may contain such prohibitions or restrictions which are applicable only to such Foreign Subsidiaries and their Subsidiaries (but not applicable to the assets of the Dutch Borrower or Alliance AG or the equity interests in any Material Foreign Subsidiary), (e) such prohibitions or restrictions affecting one or more Immaterial Subsidiaries, (f) in connection with any Permitted Lien or any document or instrument governing any Permitted Lien; provided that any such restriction contained therein relates only to the asset or assets subject to such Permitted Lien, (g) any instrument governing Indebtedness or Capital Stock of a Person acquired by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries as in effect at the time of such acquisition (except to the extent such Indebtedness or Capital Stock was incurred in connection with or in contemplation of such acquisition), 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; provided that, in the case of Indebtedness, such Indebtedness was otherwise permitted to be incurred hereunder, (h) customary non-assignment provisions in contracts and licenses entered into in the ordinary course of business in respect of such contract or license, as the case may be, (i) purchase money obligations for property acquired in the ordinary course of business and Capital Lease obligations that impose restrictions on the property purchased or leased, (j) any agreement for the sale or other disposition of a Subsidiary that restricts distributions by that Subsidiary pending its sale or other disposition and (k) customary provisions in joint venture agreements and other similar agreements applicable to joint ventures constituting Permitted Investments and applicable solely to such joint venture.

Section 6.14 Maximum Uncommitted Inventories . The Credit Parties shall not permit the Uncommitted Inventories to exceed $250,000,000 in the aggregate at the end of any fiscal quarter less the maximum amount that may be payable under the unsecured Guaranty Obligations of the Company permitted under Section 6.3(i) .

 

117


ARTICLE VII

EVENTS OF DEFAULT

Section 7.1 Events of Default . An Event of Default shall exist upon the occurrence of any of the following specified events (each an “ Event of Default ”):

(a) (i) A Borrower shall fail to pay any principal on any Note or Loan when due in accordance with the terms thereof or hereof; (ii) a Borrower shall fail to reimburse the Issuing Lender for any LOC Obligations when due (whether at maturity, by reason of acceleration or otherwise) in accordance with the terms hereof; (iii) a Borrower shall fail to pay any interest on any Note or Loan or any fee or other amount payable hereunder when due in accordance with the terms thereof or hereof and such failure shall continue unremedied for three (3) Business Days (or any Guarantor shall fail to pay on the Guaranty in respect of any of the foregoing or in respect of any other Guaranty Obligations thereunder; or (iv) a Borrower shall fail to pay when due any amount required to be prepaid and/or cash collateralized pursuant the last sentence of Section 2.6(b)(i) , provided that any failure of a Guarantor to make a payment shall only be an Event of Default under this Section 7.1(a)(i) if the failure by the Borrower to make such guaranteed payment is an Event of Default);

(b) Any representation or warranty made or deemed made herein or in any of the other Credit Documents or which is contained in any certificate, document or financial or other statement furnished at any time under or in connection with this Agreement shall prove to have been incorrect, false or misleading in any material respect on or as of the date made or deemed made;

(c) (i) Any Credit Party shall fail to perform, comply with or observe any term, covenant or agreement applicable to it contained in Section 2.25 , Section 5.7(a) , Section 5.9 , Section 5.13 or Article VI hereof; or (ii) any Credit Party shall fail to comply with any other covenant, contained in this Agreement or the other Credit Documents or any other agreement, document or instrument among any Credit Party, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders or executed by any Credit Party in favor of the Administrative Agent or the Lenders (other than as described in Sections 7.1(a) or 7.1(c)(i) above), and in the event such breach or failure to comply is capable of cure, is not cured within thirty (30) days after the earlier of (A) the date on which a Responsible Officer of such Credit Party acquires knowledge thereof and (B) the date on which the written notice thereof is delivered by the Administrative Agent or any Lender to such Credit Party;

(d) A Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries shall (i) default in any payment of principal of or interest on any Indebtedness in a principal amount outstanding of at least $40,000,000 in the aggregate for the Company and any of its Subsidiaries beyond the period of grace (not to exceed thirty (30) days), if any, provided in the instrument or agreement under which such Indebtedness was created; or (ii) default in the observance or performance of any other agreement or condition relating to any Indebtedness in a principal amount outstanding of at least $40,000,000 in the aggregate for the Credit Parties and its Subsidiaries or contained in any instrument or agreement evidencing, securing or relating thereto, or any other event shall occur or condition exist, the effect of which default or other event or condition is to cause, or to permit the holder or holders of such Indebtedness or beneficiary or beneficiaries of such Indebtedness (or a trustee or agent on behalf of such holder or holders or beneficiary or beneficiaries) to cause, with the giving of notice if required, such Indebtedness to become due prior to its stated maturity;

 

118


(e) (i) Any Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries (other than Immaterial Subsidiaries) shall commence any case, proceeding or other action (A) under any existing or future law of any jurisdiction, domestic or foreign, relating to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or relief of debtors, seeking to have an order for relief entered with respect to it, or seeking to adjudicate it a bankrupt or insolvent, or seeking reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, winding-up, liquidation, dissolution, composition or other relief with respect to it or its debts, or (B) seeking appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator or other similar official for it or for all or any substantial part of its assets, or the Company or any Subsidiary (other than any Immaterial Subsidiaries) shall make a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors; (ii) there shall be commenced against any Credit Party or any Subsidiary (other than any Immaterial Subsidiaries) any case, proceeding or other action of a nature referred to in clause (i) above which (A) results in the entry of an order for relief or any such adjudication or appointment or (B) remains undismissed, undischarged or unbonded for a period of sixty (60) days; or (iii) there shall be commenced against any Credit Party or any Subsidiary (other than any Immaterial Subsidiaries) any case, proceeding or other action seeking issuance of a warrant of attachment, execution, distraint or similar process against all or any substantial part of its assets which results in the entry of an order for any such relief which shall not have been vacated, discharged, or stayed or bonded pending appeal within sixty (60) days from the entry thereof; (iv) any Credit Party or any Subsidiary (other than any Immaterial Subsidiaries) shall take any action in furtherance of, or indicating its consent to, approval of, or acquiescence in, any of the acts set forth in clause (i), (ii), or (iii) above; or (v) any Credit Party or any Subsidiary (other than any Immaterial Subsidiaries) shall generally not, or shall be unable to, or shall admit in writing its inability to, pay its debts as they become due;

(f) One or more judgments or decrees shall be entered against any Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries (other than any Immaterial Subsidiaries) involving in the aggregate a liability (to the extent not paid when due or covered by insurance) of $40,000,000 or more and all such judgments or decrees shall not have been paid and satisfied, vacated, discharged, stayed or bonded pending appeal within 30 days from the entry thereof;

(g) (i) Any Credit Party, any Subsidiary of a Credit Party or any Commonly Controlled Entity shall engage in any “prohibited transaction” (as defined in Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code) involving any Plan, (ii) any failure to meet the “minimum funding standard” (as defined in Section 302 of ERISA), whether or not waived, shall exist with respect to any Single Employer Plan or any Lien in favor of the PBGC or a Single Employer Plan (other than a Permitted Lien) shall arise on the assets of any Credit Party, any of its Subsidiaries or any Commonly Controlled Entity, (iii) a Reportable Event shall occur with respect to, or proceedings shall commence to have a trustee appointed, or a trustee shall be appointed, to administer or to terminate, any Single Employer Plan, which Reportable Event or commencement of proceedings or appointment of a Trustee is, in the reasonable opinion of the Required Lenders, likely to result in the termination of such Single Employer Plan for purposes of Title IV of ERISA, (iv) any Single Employer Plan shall terminate for purposes of Title IV of ERISA, (v) any Credit Party, any of its Subsidiaries or any Commonly Controlled Entity shall, or in the reasonable opinion of the Required Lenders is likely to, incur any liability in connection with a withdrawal from, or the Insolvency or Reorganization of, any Multiemployer Plan, (vi) the present value of all accrued benefits under each Single Employer Plan (based on those assumptions used to fund such Single Employer Plans) exceed the value of the assets of such

 

119


Single Employer Plan allocable to such accrued benefits or (vii) any other similar event or condition shall occur or exist with respect to a Plan; and in each case in clauses (i) through (vii) 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;

(h) There shall occur (i) a Change of Control under this Agreement, (ii) a Change of Control (as defined in the Senior Indenture as in effect on the date hereof) under the Senior Indenture or (iii) if any Existing Convertible Notes are outstanding, a Fundamental Change (as defined in the Existing Convertible Notes Indenture as in effect on the date of the initial issuance of the Existing Convertible Notes) under the Existing Convertible Notes Indenture;

(i) The Domestic Guaranty or any provision thereof shall cease to be in full force and effect or any Domestic Guarantor or any Person acting by or on behalf of any Domestic Guarantor shall deny or disaffirm any Domestic Guarantor’s obligations under the Domestic Guaranty;

(j) The Foreign Guaranty or any provision thereof shall cease to be in full force and effect or any Guarantor or any Person acting by or on behalf of any Guarantor shall deny or disaffirm any Guarantor’s obligations under the Foreign Guaranty;

(k) Any other Credit Document shall fail to be in full force and effect or to give the Administrative Agent and/or the Lenders the rights, powers and privileges purported to be created thereby (except as such documents may be terminated or no longer in force and effect in accordance with the terms thereof, other than those indemnities and provisions which by their terms shall survive), or any Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries shall so assert in writing;

(l) The occurrence and continuation of any Event of Default under and as defined in the Existing Convertible Notes Indenture or the Senior Indenture;

(m) The subordination provisions with respect to any Subordinated Indebtedness shall, in whole or in part, terminate, cease to be effective or cease to be legally valid, binding and enforceable against any holder of such Subordinated Indebtedness; or

(n) The Intercreditor Agreement or any material provision thereof shall cease to be in full force and effect (other than in accordance with the terms thereof).

Section 7.2 Acceleration; Remedies . Upon the occurrence and continuance of an Event of Default, then, and in any such event, (a) if such event is an Event of Default specified in Section 7.1(e) above, automatically the Revolving Commitments shall immediately terminate and the Loans (with accrued interest thereon), and all other amounts under the Credit Documents shall immediately become due and payable and the Borrowers shall immediately pay to the Administrative Agent cash collateral as security for the LOC Obligations for subsequent drawings under then outstanding Letters of Credit in an amount equal to the maximum amount which may be drawn under such Letters of Credit, and (b) if such event is any other Event of Default, any of the following actions may be

 

120


taken: (i) the Administrative Agent may with the consent of the Required Lenders, or shall upon the written direction of the Required Lenders, by notice of default to the Borrowers declare the Revolving Commitments to be terminated forthwith, whereupon the Revolving Commitments shall immediately terminate, (ii) the Administrative Agent may with the consent of the Required Lenders, or shall upon the written direction of the Required Lenders, by notice of default to the Borrowers, declare the Loans (with accrued interest thereon) and all other amounts owing under this Agreement and the Notes to be due and payable forthwith, and (iii) the Administrative Agent may with the consent of the Required Lenders, or shall upon the written direction of the Required Lenders, exercise such other rights and remedies available to the Administrative Agent under the Credit Documents and applicable laws.

ARTICLE VIII

THE AGENT

Section 8.1 Appointment and Authority . Each of the Lenders and each Issuing Lender hereby irrevocably appoints Deutsche Bank to act on its behalf as the Administrative Agent hereunder and under the other Credit Documents and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such actions on its behalf and to exercise such powers as are delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms hereof or thereof, together with such actions and powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. The provisions of this Article are solely for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Issuing Lender, and neither the Borrowers nor any other Credit Party shall have rights as a third party beneficiary of any of such provisions.

By accepting the benefits of this Agreement and each other Security Document, the Secured Parties expressly agree to the terms of Article VIII (including the provisions of this Section 8.1 of this Agreement relating to the role of the Administrative Agent) and reaffirm the appointment of Deutsche Bank (and any of its successors or assigns) as Administrative Agent acting on behalf of all of the Secured Parties with respect to each Credit Document which shall include execution of the Intercreditor Agreement and the other Credit Documents to which such Secured Party is a party (and which it is required to enter into) on its behalf.

Section 8.2 Nature of Duties . Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, none of the Bookrunners, the Arrangers or other agents listed on the cover page hereof (other than the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Lender) shall have any powers, duties or responsibilities under this Agreement or any of the other Credit Documents, except in its capacity as a Lender hereunder. Without limiting the foregoing, none of the Lenders or other Persons so identified shall have or be deemed to have any fiduciary relationship with any Lender. Each Lender acknowledges that it has not relied, and will not rely, on any of the Lenders or other Persons so identified in deciding to enter into this Agreement or in taking or not taking action hereunder.

 

121


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

Section 8.3 Exculpatory Provisions . The Administrative Agent shall not have any duties or obligations except those expressly set forth herein and in the other Credit Documents. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent:

(a) shall not be subject to any fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of whether a Default has occurred and is continuing;

(b) shall not have any duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary powers, except discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated hereby or by the other Credit Documents that the Administrative Agent is required to exercise as directed in writing by the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be expressly provided for herein or in the other Credit Documents), provided that the Administrative Agent shall not be required to take any action that, in its opinion or the opinion of its counsel, may expose the Administrative Agent to liability or that is contrary to any Credit Document or applicable law; and

(c) shall not, except as expressly set forth herein and in the other Credit Documents, have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to the Borrowers or any of their Affiliates that is communicated to or obtained by the Person serving as the Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity.

The Administrative Agent shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it (i) with the consent or at the request of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary, or as the Administrative Agent shall believe in good faith shall be necessary, under the circumstances as provided in Sections 9.1 and 7.2 ) or (ii) in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct. The Administrative Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any Default unless and until notice describing such Default is given to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower, a Lender or the Issuing Lender.

The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into (i) any statement, warranty or representation made in or in connection with this Agreement or any other Credit Document, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered hereunder or thereunder or in connection herewith or therewith, (iii) the performance or observance of any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set

 

122


forth herein or therein or the occurrence of any Default, (iv) the validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of this Agreement, any other Credit Document or any other agreement, instrument or document or (v) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in ARTICLE IV or elsewhere herein, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent.

Section 8.4 Reliance by Administrative Agent . The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely upon, and shall not incur any liability for relying upon, any notice, request, certificate, consent, statement, instrument, document or other writing (including any electronic message, internet or intranet website posting or other distribution) believed by it in good faith to be genuine and to have been signed, sent or otherwise authenticated by the proper Person. The Administrative Agent also may rely upon any statement made to it orally or by telephone and believed by it to have been made by the proper Person, and shall not incur any liability for relying thereon in good faith. In determining compliance with any condition hereunder to the making of a Loan, or the issuance of a Letter of Credit, that by its terms must be fulfilled to the satisfaction of a Lender or the Issuing Lender, the Administrative Agent may presume in good faith that such condition is satisfactory to such Lender or the Issuing Lender unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice to the contrary from such Lender or the Issuing Lender prior to the making of such Loan or the issuance of such Letter of Credit. The Administrative Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be counsel for the Borrower), independent accountants and other experts selected by it, and shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it in accordance with the advice of any such counsel, accountants or experts.

Section 8.5 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 hereunder unless the Administrative Agent has received written notice from a Lender or a 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 prompt 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; provided , however , 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 except to the extent that this Agreement expressly requires that such action be taken, or not taken, only with the consent or upon the authorization of the Required Lenders, or all of the Lenders, as the case may be.

 

123


Section 8.6 Non-Reliance on Administrative Agent and Other Lenders . Each Lender and the Issuing Lender expressly acknowledges that no Agent nor any of its officers, directors, employees, agents, attorneys-in-fact or affiliates has made any representation or warranty to it and that no act by any Agent hereinafter taken, including any review of the affairs of any Credit Party, shall be deemed to constitute any representation or warranty by any Agent to any Lender or the Issuing Lender. Each Lender and the Issuing Lender acknowledges that it has, independently and without reliance upon any Agent or any other Lender or any of their Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement. Each Lender and the Issuing Lender also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon any Agent or any other Lender or any of their Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it shall from time to time deem appropriate, continue to make its own decisions in taking or not taking action under or based upon this Agreement, any other Credit Document or any related agreement or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder.

Section 8.7 Indemnification . The Lenders agree to indemnify each of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Lender, and the Swingline Lender in their capacities hereunder and their Affiliates and their respective officers, directors, agents and employees (to the extent not reimbursed by the Borrowers and without limiting the obligation of the Borrowers to do so), ratably according to their respective Revolving Commitment Percentages in effect on the date on which indemnification is sought under this Section (to the extent the Revolving Commitment has been terminated the Revolving Commitment Percentages shall by deemed to be the Revolving Commitment Percentages immediately prior to such termination of the Revolving Commitment, but giving effect to assignments effected thereafter in accordance with the requirements of Section 9.6(b) ), from and against any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements of any kind whatsoever which may at any time (including, without limitation, at any time following the payment of the Credit Party Obligations) be imposed on, incurred by or asserted against any such indemnitee in any way relating to or arising out of any Credit Document 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 any such indemnitee under or in connection with any of the foregoing; provided , however , 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 to the extent resulting from such indemnitee’s gross negligence or willful misconduct, as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final judgment. The agreements in this Section shall survive the termination of this Agreement and payment of the Notes, any Reimbursement Obligation and all other amounts payable hereunder.

Section 8.8 Administrative Agent in Its Individual Capacity . Each of the Persons serving as Agents hereunder shall have the same rights and powers in its capacity as a Lender as any other Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not such Agent and the term “ Lender ” or “ Lenders ” shall, unless otherwise expressly indicated or unless the context otherwise requires, include each of the Persons serving as Agents hereunder in

 

124


its individual capacity. Such Person and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to, act as the financial advisor or in any other advisory capacity for and generally engage in any kind of business with the Borrowers or any Subsidiary or other Affiliate thereof as if such Person were not an Agent hereunder and without any duty to account therefor to the Lenders.

Section 8.9 Successor Administrative Agent . (a) The Administrative Agent may at any time give notice of its resignation to the Lenders, the Issuing Lenders and the Borrowers. Any such resignation by an Administrative Agent hereunder shall also constitute its resignation as an Issuing Lender and the Swingline Lender, in which case the resigning Administrative Agent (x) shall not be required to issue any further Letters of Credit or make any additional Swingline Loans hereunder and (y) shall maintain all of its rights as Issuing Lender or Swingline Lender, as the case may be, with respect to any Letters of Credit issued by it, or Swingline Loans made by it, prior to the date of such resignation. Upon receipt of any such notice of resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right, with the consent of the Borrowers, to appoint a successor. If no such successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within thirty (30) days after the retiring Administrative Agent gives notice of its resignation, then the retiring Administrative Agent may on behalf of the Lenders and the Issuing Lenders, appoint a successor Administrative Agent meeting the qualifications set forth above provided that if the Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrowers and the Lenders that no qualifying Person has accepted such appointment within forty-five (45) days after the notice of resignation, then such resignation shall nonetheless become effective in accordance with such notice and (a) the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the other Credit Documents (except that in the case of any Collateral held by the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders or the Issuing Lenders under any of the Credit Documents, the retiring Administrative Agent shall continue to hold such Collateral for the benefit of the Lenders until such time as a successor Administrative Agent is appointed) and (2) all payments, communications and determinations provided to be made by, to or through the Administrative Agent shall instead be made by or to each Lender and each Issuing Lender directly, until such time as the Required Lenders appoint a successor Administrative Agent as provided for above in this paragraph. Upon the acceptance of a successor’s appointment as Administrative Agent hereunder, such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring (or retired) Administrative Agent, and the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from all of its duties and obligations hereunder or under the other Credit Documents (if not already discharged therefrom as provided above in this paragraph). The fees payable by the Borrowers to a successor Administrative Agent shall be the same as those payable to its predecessor unless otherwise agreed between the Borrowers and such successor. After the retiring Administrative Agent’s resignation hereunder and under the other Credit Documents, the provisions of this Article and Section 9.5 shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring Administrative Agent, its sub-agents and their respective Related Parties in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by any of them while the retiring Administrative Agent was acting as Administrative Agent.

(b) The Required Lenders may at any time when the Administrative Agent has become the subject of a proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, or had a receiver, conservator,

 

125


trustee or custodian appointed for it, upon no less than thirty (30) days’ prior notice, replace the Administrative Agent. The successor Administrative Agent shall not be the subject of a proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, or had a receiver, conservator, trustee or custodian appointed for it and shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the replaced Administrative Agent, and the replaced Administrative Agent shall be discharged from all of its duties and obligations hereunder or under the other Credit Documents. The fees payable by the Borrowers to a successor Administrative Agent shall be the same as those payable to its predecessor unless otherwise agreed between the Borrowers and such successor. The provisions of this Article and Section 9.5 shall continue in effect for the benefit of such replaced Administrative Agent, its sub-agents and their respective Related Parties in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by any of them while the replaced Administrative Agent was acting as Administrative Agent. Any such replacement of an Administrative Agent hereunder shall automatically, and with no further action required on the part of the Administrative Agent, constitute the resignation of the Administrative Agent in its capacity as an Issuing Lender and the Swingline Lender, in which case the replaced Administrative Agent (x) shall not be required to issue any further Letters of Credit or make any additional Swingline Loans hereunder and (y) shall maintain all of its rights as Issuing Lender or Swingline Lender, as the case may be, with respect to any Letters of Credit issued by it, or Swingline Loans made by it, prior to the date of such replacement.

Section 8.10 Collateral and Guaranty Matters .

(a) The Lenders and the Hedging Agreement Providers irrevocably authorize and direct the Administrative Agent:

(i) to release any Lien on any property granted to or held by the Administrative Agent under any Credit Document (A) upon termination of the Revolving Commitments and payment in full of all Credit Party Obligations (other than Unasserted Obligations to which the Administrative Agent has no actual knowledge thereof) and the expiration or termination of all Letters of Credit, (B) that is transferred or to be transferred as part of or in connection with any sale or other disposition permitted under Section 6.4 , or (C) subject to Section 9.1 , if approved, authorized or ratified in writing by the Required Lenders;

(ii) to subordinate or release ( provided that, for any release, the Company shall certify the respective clause pursuant to Section 6.2 (as listed below) which permits the respective release and shall, in the case of any release pursuant to Section 6.2(n) or (t) , certify that the fair market value of all Collateral for which such releases have been requested do not exceed the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness which is permitted to be then outstanding pursuant to the relevant said clauses of Section 6.2 ) any Lien on any Property granted to or held by the Administrative Agent under any Credit Document to the holder of any Lien on such Property that is permitted by Section 6.2(j) , (k) , (n)  or (t) ; and

(iii) to release any Domestic Guarantor (other than the Company) from its obligations under the applicable Guaranty if such Person ceases to be a Subsidiary as a result of a transaction permitted by Section 6.4 .

 

126


(b) In connection with a termination or release pursuant to this Section, the Administrative Agent shall promptly execute and deliver to the applicable Credit Party, at the Borrowers’ expense, all documents that the applicable Credit Party shall reasonably request to evidence such termination or release, as applicable. Upon request by the Administrative Agent at any time, the Required Lenders will confirm in writing the Administrative Agent’s authority to terminate, release or subordinate its interest in particular types or items of Property, or to release any Guarantor from its obligations under the Guaranty pursuant to this Section.

ARTICLE IX

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 9.1 Amendments and Waivers . Neither this Agreement, nor any of the Notes, nor any of the other Credit Documents, nor any terms hereof or thereof may be amended, supplemented, waived or modified except in accordance with the provisions of this Section 9.1 nor may any Guarantor or Collateral be released except as specifically provided herein or in accordance with the provisions of this Section 9.1 . The Required Lenders may, or, with the written consent of the Required Lenders, the Administrative Agent may, from time to time, (a) enter into with the Borrowers written amendments, supplements or modifications hereto and to the other Credit Documents for the purpose of adding any provisions to this Agreement or the other Credit Documents or changing in any manner the rights of the Lenders or of the Borrowers hereunder or thereunder or (b) waive, on such terms and conditions as the Required Lenders may specify in such instrument, any of the requirements of this Agreement or the other Credit Documents or any Default or Event of Default and its consequences; provided , however , that no such amendment, waiver, supplement, modification or release shall:

(i) reduce the amount or extend the scheduled date of maturity of any Loan or Note or any installment thereon or any Reimbursement Obligation, or reduce the stated rate of any interest or fee payable hereunder (other than interest at the increased post-default rate) or extend the scheduled date of any payment thereof or increase the amount or extend the expiration date of the Revolving Commitment or Revolving Commitment Percentage of any Lender, in each case without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby; provided that, it is understood and agreed that no waiver, reduction or deferral of a mandatory prepayment required pursuant to Section 2.6(b) , nor any amendment of Section 2.6(b) or the definitions of Asset Disposition, or Recovery Event, shall constitute a reduction or forgiveness of the amount of, or an extension of the scheduled date of, any principal installment of any Loan or Note;

 

127


(ii) amend, modify or waive any provision of this Section 9.1 or reduce the percentage specified in the definition of Required Lenders, without the written consent of all the Lenders;

(iii) amend, modify or waive any provision of ARTICLE VIII without the written consent of the Administrative Agent;

(iv) release either Borrower or all or substantially all of the Guarantors from their respective obligations hereunder or under the Guaranty, without the written consent of all of the Lenders;

(v) amend, modify or waive any provision of the Credit Documents requiring consent, approval or request of the Required Lenders or all Lenders, without the written consent of the Required Lenders or all of the Lenders as appropriate and, provided , further , that no amendment, waiver or consent affecting the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent under any Credit Document shall in any event be effective, unless in writing and signed by the Administrative Agent, in addition to the Lenders required hereinabove to take such action;

(vi) permit a Letter of Credit to have an original expiry date more than twelve (12) months from the date of issuance without the consent of each of the Revolving Lenders; provided, that the expiry date of any Letter of Credit may be extended in accordance with the terms of Section 2.3 as in effect on the Effective Date;

(vii) release all or substantially all of the Collateral without the written consent of all of the Lenders;

(viii) amend, modify or waive (A) the order in which Credit Party Obligations are paid in Section 2.6(b)(v) and Section 2.10 , (B) the pro rata funding of Extensions of Credit or treatment of payments in Section 2.10(a) or (C)  Section 9.7(a) , in each case without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby;

(ix) amend or modify the definitions of “ Credit Party Obligations ” or “ Required Lenders ” to delete or exclude any obligation or liability described therein without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby;

(x) without the consent of each Issuing Lender, amend, modify or waive any provision of Section 2.3 or alter its rights or obligations with respect to Letters of Credit; or

(xi) without the consent of the Swingline Lender, alter the Swingline Lender’s rights or obligations with respect to Swingline Loans.

Any such waiver, any such amendment, supplement or modification and any such release shall apply equally to each of the Lenders and shall be binding upon the Borrowers, the other Credit Parties, the Lenders, the Administrative Agent and all future holders of the Notes. In the case of any waiver, the Borrowers, the other Credit Parties, the Lenders and the Administrative Agent shall be restored to their former position and rights hereunder and under the outstanding

 

128


Loans and Notes and other Credit Documents, and any Default or Event of Default waived shall be deemed to be cured and not continuing; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or Event of Default, or impair any right consequent thereon.

Notwithstanding any of the foregoing to the contrary, the consent of the Borrowers shall not be required for any amendment, modification or waiver of the provisions of ARTICLE VIII (other than the provisions of Section 8.9 and Section 8.10 ); provided , however , that the Administrative Agent will provide written notice to the Borrowers of any such amendment, modification or waiver.

Notwithstanding the fact that the consent of all the Lenders is required in certain circumstances as set forth above, (x) each Lender is entitled to vote as such Lender sees fit on any bankruptcy reorganization plan that affects the Loans, and each Lender acknowledges that the provisions of Section 1126(c) of the Bankruptcy Code supersede the unanimous consent provisions set forth herein and (y) the Required Lenders may consent to allow a Credit Party to use cash collateral in the context of a bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 9.1 , the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent and each Incremental Lender may, in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.23 , enter into an Incremental Revolving Commitment Agreement, provided that after the execution and delivery by the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent and each such Incremental Lender of such Incremental Revolving Commitment Agreement, such Incremental Revolving Commitment Agreement may thereafter only be modified in accordance with the requirements of this Section 2.23 .

Section 9.2 Notices . Except as otherwise provided in ARTICLE II, all notices, requests and demands to or upon the respective parties hereto to be effective shall be in writing (including by telecopy), and, unless otherwise expressly provided herein, shall be deemed to have been duly given or made (a) when delivered by hand, (b) when transmitted via telecopy (or other facsimile device) to the number set out herein, (c) the day following the day on which the same has been delivered prepaid to a reputable national overnight air courier service, or (d) the third Business Day following the day on which the same is sent by certified or registered mail, postage prepaid, in each case, addressed to each such party at the address set forth in this Section 9.2 or such Lender’s Administrative Questionnaire, as applicable, or to such other address as may be hereafter notified by the respective parties hereto and any future holders of the Notes.

 

If to the Borrower or any other Credit Party:
Address:    8001 Aerial Center Parkway, Post Office Box 2009, Morrisville, NC 27560-2009
Attention:    Treasurer
Telephone:    (919) 379-4109
Fax:    (919) 379-4131

 

129


If to the Administrative Agent: To the applicable Notice Office.

Section 9.3 No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies . No failure to exercise and no delay in exercising, on the part of the Administrative Agent or any Lender, any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, remedy, power or privilege. The rights, remedies, powers and privileges herein provided are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights, remedies, powers and privileges provided by law.

Section 9.4 Survival of Representations and Warranties . All representations and warranties made hereunder and in any document, certificate or statement delivered pursuant hereto or in connection herewith shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the Notes and the making of the Loans, provided that all such representations and warranties shall terminate on the date upon which the Revolving Commitments have been terminated and all amounts owing hereunder and under any Notes have been paid in full.

Section 9.5 Payment of Expenses and Taxes . The Borrowers jointly and severally agree, (a) to pay or reimburse the Agents and the Sole Lead Arranger for all their reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred in connection with the development, preparation, negotiation, printing and execution of, and any amendment, supplement or modification to, this Agreement and the other Credit Documents and any other documents prepared in connection herewith or therewith, and the consummation and administration of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby (including, without limitation, reasonable field examination expenses and charges), together with the reasonable fees and disbursements of one outside counsel (and such additional local counsel as reasonably necessary as determined by the Administrative Agent) to the Agents and the Sole Lead Arranger, (b) to pay or reimburse the Agents and the Sole Lead Arranger for all their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with the arrangement and syndication of the facilities established by this Agreement and of each Issuing Lender and the Swingline Lender in connection with the Back-Stop Arrangements entered into by such Persons, (c) to pay or reimburse each Lender and each Agent for all its costs and expenses incurred in connection with the enforcement or preservation of any rights under, or defense against any actions arising out of, this Agreement, the Notes and any such other documents, including, without limitation, the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel to the Agents and to the Lenders (including reasonable allocated costs of in-house legal counsel), (d) on demand, to pay, indemnify, and hold each Lender and each Agent harmless from, all losses, liabilities, claims, damages or out-of-pocket expenses arising out of or relating to the Credit Documents, the Borrowers’ use of Loan proceeds or the Revolving Commitments, including, without limitation, any and all recording and filing fees and any and all liabilities with respect to, or resulting from any delay in paying,

 

130


stamp, excise and other similar taxes, if any, which may be payable or determined to be payable in connection with the execution and delivery of, or consummation or administration of any of the transactions contemplated by, or any amendment, supplement or modification of, or any waiver or consent under or in respect of, the Credit Documents and any such other documents, and (e) to pay, indemnify, and hold each Lender, the Agents, the Arrangers and their Affiliates (each an “ indemnified party ”) harmless from and against, any and all other liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, claims, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements of any kind or nature whatsoever (including, without limitation, reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel to the Agents, the Lenders and the Arrangers (including reasonable allocated costs of in-house legal counsel) and settlement costs), which may at any time (including, without limitation, at any time following the payment of the Credit Party Obligations) be imposed or incurred with respect to the enforcement of the Credit Documents and the use, or proposed use, of proceeds of the Loans (all of the foregoing, collectively, the “ indemnified liabilities ”); provided , however , that the Borrowers shall not have any obligation hereunder to an indemnified party with respect to indemnified liabilities to the extent arising from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such indemnified party, as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final judgment. Each of the Borrowers and Guarantors agree, to the full extent permitted by applicable law, that each such Borrower and each such Guarantor shall not assert, and hereby waives, any claim against any indemnified party, on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or incidental damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, this Agreement or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, any Loan or the use of the proceeds thereof. The agreements in this Section 9.5 shall survive repayment of the Loans, Notes and all other amounts payable hereunder.

Section 9.6 Successors and Assigns; Participations .

(a) Successors and Assigns Generally . 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 neither any Borrower nor any other Credit Party may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent and each Lender and no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder except (i) to an assignee in accordance with the provisions of paragraph (b) of this Section, (ii) by way of participation in accordance with the provisions of paragraph (d) of this Section or (iii) by way of pledge or assignment of a security interest subject to the restrictions of paragraph (f) of this Section (and any other attempted assignment or transfer by any party hereto shall be null and void). Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, Participants to the extent provided in paragraph (d) of this Section and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.

 

131


(b) Assignments by Lenders . Any Lender may at any time assign to one or more assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment (including any Non-Extended Revolving Commitment or Extended Revolving Commitment) and the Loans at the time owing to it); provided that any such assignment shall be subject to the following conditions:

(i) Minimum Amounts .

(A) in the case of an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s Commitment and the Loans of any Class at the time owing to it or in the case of an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund, no minimum amount need be assigned; and

(B) in any case not described in paragraph (b)(i)(A) of this Section, the aggregate amount of the Revolving Commitment of any Class (which for this purpose includes Loans outstanding thereunder) or, if the applicable Commitment is not then in effect, the principal outstanding balance of the Loans of the assigning Lender subject to each such assignment (determined as of the date the Assignment and Assumption with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent or, if “ Trade Date ” is specified in the Assignment and Assumption, as of the Trade Date) shall not be less than $1,000,000, in the case of any assignment in respect of a Revolving Commitment of such Class, unless each of the Administrative Agent and, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Administrative Borrower otherwise consents (each such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed).

(C) The amount transferred to and paid by an assignee in relation to a Loan or Lender’s Revolving Commitment of any Class made to the Dutch Borrower or any other Borrower organized under the laws of the Netherlands, if any, shall be at least EUR 100,000 (or the equivalent in Dollars or any other currency) or, if less, the assignee shall confirm in writing to the Dutch Borrower or any other Borrower organized under the laws of the Netherlands, if any, that it is a PMP.

(ii) Proportionate Amounts . Each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement with respect to the Loan or the Revolving Commitment of such Class assigned.

 

132


(iii) Required Consents . No consent shall be required for any assignment except to the extent required by paragraph (b)(i)(B) of this Section and, in addition:

(A) the consent of the Administrative Borrower (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required unless (x) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at the time of such assignment or (y) such assignment is to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund; provided that the Administrative Borrower shall be deemed to have consented to any such assignment unless it shall object thereto by written notice to the Administrative Agent within five Business Days after having received notice thereof; and

(B) the consent of the Administrative Agent each Issuing Lender and the Swingline Lender (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required for assignments in respect of a Revolving Commitment if such assignment is to a Person that is not a Lender with a Revolving Commitment in respect of such facility.

(iv) Assignment and Assumption . The parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption, together with a processing and recordation fee of $3,500, and the assignee, if it is not a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire; provided that only one such processing and recordation fee shall be required for simultaneous assignments by a Lender and its Affiliates and Approved Funds to a Lender and its Affiliates and Approved Funds.

(v) No Assignment to Borrowers . No such assignment shall be made to a Borrower or any of the Borrowers’ Affiliates or Subsidiaries.

(vi) No Assignment to Natural Persons . No such assignment shall be made to a natural person.

This paragraph (b) shall not prohibit any Lender from assigning all or a portion of its rights and obligations among separate Classes of Revolving Loans or Revolving Commitments on a non-pro rata basis.

Subject to acceptance and recording thereof by the Administrative Agent pursuant to paragraph (c) of this Section, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption, the assignee thereunder shall be a party to this Agreement and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement, and the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Assumption covering all of the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto) but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.15, 2.17 and 9.5 with respect to facts and circumstances occurring prior to the effective date of such assignment. Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not

 

133


comply with this paragraph shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with paragraph (d) of this Section.

(c) Register . The Administrative Agent, acting solely for this purpose as an agent of the Borrowers, shall maintain at one of its offices a copy of each Assignment and Assumption and each Incremental Revolving Commitment Agreement delivered to it and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Revolving Commitments (including any Non-Extended Revolving Commitment or Extended Revolving Commitment) of, and principal amounts 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, in the absence of manifest error, and the Borrowers, 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 Borrowers and any Lender, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice. No assignment shall be effective for purpose of this Agreement unless it has been recorded in the Register as provided in this paragraph.

(d) Participations . Any Lender may at any time, without the consent of, or notice to, the Administrative Borrower or the Administrative Agent, sell participations to any Person (other than a natural person or the Borrowers or any of the Borrowers’ Affiliates or Subsidiaries) (each, a “ Participant ”) in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights and/or obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment (including any Non-Extended Revolving Commitment or Extended Revolving Commitment) and/or the Loans owing to it); provided that (i) such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (ii) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations and (iii) the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, Issuing Lender and Swingline Lender shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement.

Each Lender that sells a participation shall, acting solely for this purpose as an agent of the Borrower, maintain a register on which it enters the name and address of each Participant and the principal amounts (and stated interest) of each Participant’s interest in the Loans or other obligations under the Loan Documents (the “ Participant Register ”); provided that no Lender shall have any obligation to disclose all or any portion of the Participant Register (including the identity of any Participant or any information relating to a Participant’s interest in any commitments, loans, letters of credit or its other obligations under any Loan Document) to any Person except to the extent that such disclosure is necessary to establish that such commitment, loan, letter of credit or other obligation is in registered form under Section 5f.103-1(c) of the United States Treasury Regulations. The entries in the Participant Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and such Lender shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Participant Register as the owner of such participation for all purposes of this Agreement notwithstanding any notice to the contrary. For the avoidance of doubt, the Administrative Agent (in its capacity as Administrative Agent) shall have no responsibility for maintaining a Participant Register.

 

134


This paragraph (d) shall not prohibit any Lender from selling participations in all or a portion of its rights and obligations among separate Classes of Revolving Loans or Revolving Commitments on a non-pro rata basis.

Any agreement or instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce this Agreement and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement; provided that such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, modification or waiver that affects such Participant. Subject to paragraph (e) of this Section, the Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.15 and 2.16 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 9.7 as though it were a Lender, provided such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 2.10 as though it were a Lender.

(e) Limitations upon Participant Rights. A Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Sections 2.15 and 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 Administrative Borrower’s prior written consent except to the extent such entitlement to receive a greater payment results from a Change in Law that occurs after the Participant acquired the applicable participation. A Participant that would be a Foreign Lender if it were a Lender shall not be entitled to the benefits of Section 2.17 unless the Borrowers are notified of the participation sold to such Participant and such Participant agrees, for the benefit of the Borrowers, to comply with Section 2.17 as though it were a Lender.

(f) Certain Pledges . Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement to secure obligations of such Lender, including any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank without having the requirements of this Section apply to such pledge or assignment; provided that no such pledge or assignment shall release such Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party hereto unless and until the requirements for assignment are satisfied in connection with such pledge or assignment.

(g) Tax Forms . At the time of each assignment pursuant to this Section 9.6 to a Person which is not already a Lender hereunder and which is not a United States person (as such term is defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code) for federal income tax purposes, the respective assignee Lender shall comply with Section 2.17 (it being understood that, in the case of Participants, the documentation required under Section 2.17(f) shall be delivered to the participating Lender)).

(h) For the purposes of this Section 9.6 , the Extended Revolving Commitments (and related aggregate Revolving Exposure) and the Non-Extended Revolving Commitments (and related aggregate Revolving Exposure) shall be treated as separate “ Classes ”.

 

135


Section 9.7 Adjustments; Set-off .

(a) Each Lender agrees that if any Lender (a “ Benefited Lender ”) shall at any time receive any payment of all or part of its Loans, or interest thereon, or receive any collateral in respect thereof (whether voluntarily or involuntarily, by set-off, pursuant to events or proceedings of the nature referred to in Section 7.1(e) , or otherwise) in a greater proportion (based on the amount owing to various lenders) than any such payment to or collateral received by any other Lender, if any, in respect of such other Lender’s Loans, or interest thereon, such Benefited Lender shall purchase for cash from the other Lenders a participating interest in such portion of each such other Lender’s Loan, or shall provide such other Lenders with the benefits of any such collateral, or the proceeds thereof, as shall be necessary to cause such Benefited Lender to share the excess payment or benefits of such collateral or proceeds ratably with each of the Lenders; provided , however , that if all or any portion of such excess payment or benefits is thereafter recovered from such Benefited Lender, such purchase shall be rescinded, and the purchase price and benefits returned, to the extent of such recovery, but without interest. The Borrowers agree that each Lender so purchasing a portion of another Lender’s Loans may exercise all rights of payment (including, without limitation, rights of set-off) with respect to such portion as fully as if such Lender were the direct holder of such portion. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the provisions of this Section 9.7(a) shall be subject to the express provisions of this Agreement which require differing payments to be made to Lenders which are Non-Extended Revolving Lenders as opposed to Extended Revolving Lenders (and vice versa).

(b) In addition to any rights and remedies of the Lenders provided by law (including, without limitation, other rights of set-off), each Lender shall have the right, without prior notice to the Company, any such notice being expressly waived by the Company to the extent permitted by applicable law, upon the occurrence of any Event of Default, to setoff and appropriate and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final), in any currency, and any other credits, indebtedness or claims, in any currency, in each case whether direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, matured or unmatured, at any time held or owing by such Lender or any branch or agency thereof to or for the credit or the account of the Company, or any part thereof in such amounts as such Lender may elect, against and on account of the obligations and liabilities of the Company to such Lender hereunder and claims of every nature and description of such Lender against the Company, in any currency, whether arising hereunder, under the Notes or under any documents contemplated by or referred to herein or therein, as such Lender may elect, whether or not such Lender has made any demand for payment and although such obligations, liabilities and claims may be contingent or unmatured. The aforesaid right of set-off may be exercised by such Lender against the Company or against any trustee in bankruptcy, debtor in possession, assignee for the benefit of creditors, receiver or execution, judgment or attachment creditor of the Company, or against anyone else claiming through or against the Company or any such trustee in bankruptcy, debtor in possession, assignee for the benefit of creditors, receiver, or execution, judgment or attachment creditor, notwithstanding the fact that such right of set-off shall not have been exercised by such Lender prior to the occurrence of any Event of Default. Each Lender agrees promptly to notify the Company and the Administrative Agent after any such set-off and application made by such Lender; provided , however , that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such set-off and application.

 

136


(c) In addition to any rights and remedies of the Lenders provided by law (including, without limitation, other rights of set-off), each Lender shall have the right, without prior notice to the Dutch Borrower, any such notice being expressly waived by the Dutch Borrower to the extent permitted by applicable law, upon the occurrence of any Event of Default, to setoff and appropriate and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final), in any currency, and any other credits, indebtedness or claims, in any currency, in each case whether direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, matured or unmatured, at any time held or owing by such Lender or any branch or agency thereof to or for the credit or the account of the Dutch Borrower, or any part thereof in such amounts as such Lender may elect, against and on account of the obligations and liabilities of the Dutch Borrower to such Lender hereunder and claims of every nature and description of such Lender against the Dutch Borrower, in any currency, whether arising hereunder, under the Notes or under any documents contemplated by or referred to herein or therein, as such Lender may elect, whether or not such Lender has made any demand for payment and although such obligations, liabilities and claims may be contingent or unmatured. The aforesaid right of set-off may be exercised by such Lender against the Dutch Borrower or against any trustee in bankruptcy, debtor in possession, assignee for the benefit of creditors, receiver or execution, judgment or attachment creditor of the Dutch Borrower, or against anyone else claiming through or against the Dutch Borrower or any such trustee in bankruptcy, debtor in possession, assignee for the benefit of creditors, receiver, or execution, judgment or attachment creditor, notwithstanding the fact that such right of set-off shall not have been exercised by such Lender prior to the occurrence of any Event of Default. Each Lender agrees promptly to notify the Dutch Borrower and the Administrative Agent after any such set-off and application made by such Lender; provided , however , that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such set-off and application.

Section 9.8 Table of Contents and Section Headings . The table of contents and the Section and subsection headings herein are intended for convenience only and shall be ignored in construing this Agreement.

Section 9.9 Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness; Electronic Execution .

(a) Integration . This Agreement and the other Credit Documents, and any separate letter agreements with respect to fees payable to the Administrative Agent, constitute the entire contract among the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersede any and all previous agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof.

(b) Electronic Execution of Assignments . The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” and words of like import in any Assignment and Assumption shall be deemed to include electronic signatures or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature or the use of

 

137


a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, to the extent and as provided for in any applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, or any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act.

Section 9.10 Severability . Any provision of this Agreement which is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.

Section 9.11 Governing Law . THIS AGREEMENT AND THE NOTES AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES UNDER THIS AGREEMENT AND THE NOTES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND SHALL BE CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICT OF LAWS PRINCIPLES THEREOF (OTHER THAN SECTIONS 5-1401 AND 5-1402 OF THE NEW YORK GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAW).

Section 9.12 Consent to Jurisdiction and Service of Process . All judicial proceedings brought against any Borrower and/or any other Credit Party with respect to this Agreement, any Note or any of the other Credit Documents may be brought in any state or federal court of competent jurisdiction in the State of New York, and, by execution and delivery of this Agreement, each of the Borrowers and the other Credit Parties accepts, for itself and in connection with its properties, generally and unconditionally, the exclusive jurisdiction of the aforesaid courts and irrevocably agrees to be bound by any final judgment rendered thereby in connection with this Agreement from which no appeal has been taken or is available. To the extent permitted by applicable law (including, without limitation, the Hague Convention on the Service Abroad of Judicial and Extra-Judicial Documents in Civil and Commercial Matters), each of the Borrowers and the other Credit Parties irrevocably agrees that all service of process in any such proceedings in any such court may be effected by mailing a copy thereof by registered or certified mail (or any substantially similar form of mail), postage prepaid, to it at its address set forth in Section 9.2 or at such other address of which the Administrative Agent shall have been notified pursuant thereto, such service being hereby acknowledged by each of the Borrowers and the other Credit Parties to be effective and binding service in every respect. Each of the Borrowers, the other Credit Parties, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders irrevocably waives any objection, including, without limitation, any objection to the laying of venue or based on the grounds of forum non conveniens which it may now or hereafter have to the bringing of any such action or proceeding in any such jurisdiction. Nothing herein shall affect the right to serve process in any other manner permitted by law or

 

138


shall limit the right of any Lender to bring proceedings against the Borrowers or the other Credit Parties in the court of any other jurisdiction. The Dutch Borrower hereby appoints the Company to act as its agent for purposes of receiving service of process pursuant to the terms of this Section 9.12 and agrees that any service of process to the Dutch Borrower may be affected by delivering such service of process to the Company at its address set forth in Section 9.2 .

Section 9.13 Confidentiality . Each of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Issuing Lender agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its Affiliates and to its and its Affiliates’ respective partners, directors, officers, employees, agents, advisors and other representatives (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information confidential), (b) to the extent requested by any regulatory authority purporting to have jurisdiction over it (including any self-regulatory authority, such as the National Association of Insurance Commissioners), (c) to the extent required by applicable laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process, (d) to any other party hereto, (e) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder, under any other Credit Document or Secured Hedging Agreement or any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement, any other Credit Document or Secured Hedging Agreement or the enforcement of rights hereunder or thereunder, (f) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section, to any assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement, (g) (i) any actual or prospective counterparty (or its advisors) to any swap or derivative transaction relating to the Borrowers and their obligations, (ii) an investor or prospective investor in securities issued by an Approved Fund that also agrees that Information shall be used solely for the purpose of evaluating an investment in such securities issued by the Approved Fund, (iii) a trustee, collateral manager, servicer, backup servicer, noteholder or secured party in connection with the administration, servicing and reporting on the assets serving as collateral for securities issued by an Approved Fund, or (iv) a nationally recognized rating agency that requires access to information regarding the Credit Parties, the Loans and Credit Documents in connection with ratings issued in respect of securities issued by an Approved Fund (in each case, it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such information and instructed to keep such information confidential), (h) with the consent of the Administrative Borrower or (i) to the extent such Information (x) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section or (y) becomes available to the Administrative Agent, any Lender, the Issuing Lender or any of their respective Affiliates on a nonconfidential basis from a source other than the Borrowers.

For purposes of this Section, “ Information ” means all information received from any Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries relating to any Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective businesses, other than any such information that is available to the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the Issuing Lender on a nonconfidential basis, provided that, in the case of information received from any Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries after the date hereof, such information is clearly identified at the time of delivery as confidential or as to which it is reasonably clear such information is not public. Any Person required to maintain the

 

139


confidentiality of Information as provided in this Section shall be considered to have complied with its obligation to do so if such Person has exercised the same degree of care to maintain the confidentiality of such Information as such Person would accord to its own confidential information.

Section 9.14 Acknowledgments . The Borrowers and the other Credit Parties each hereby acknowledges that:

(a) it has been advised by counsel in the negotiation, execution and delivery of each Credit Document;

(b) neither the Administrative Agent nor any Lender has any fiduciary relationship with or duty to the Borrowers or any other Credit Party arising out of or in connection with this Agreement and the relationship between Administrative Agent and Lenders, on one hand, and the Borrowers and the other Credit Parties, on the other hand, in connection herewith is solely that of debtor and creditor; and

(c) no joint venture exists among the Lenders or among the Borrowers or the other Credit Parties and the Lenders.

Section 9.15 Waivers of Jury Trial . EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER CREDIT DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY). EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PERSON HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PERSON WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER CREDIT DOCUMENTS BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.

Section 9.16 Patriot Act Notice . Each Lender and the Administrative Agent (for itself and not on behalf of any other party) hereby notifies the Borrowers that, pursuant to the requirements of the Patriot Act, it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies the Borrowers and the other Credit Parties, which information includes the name and address of the Borrowers and the other Credit Parties and other information that will allow such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as applicable, to identify the Borrowers and the other Credit Parties in accordance with the Patriot Act.

 

140


Section 9.17 Judgment Currency . If, for the purposes of obtaining judgment in any court, it is necessary to convert a sum due hereunder or under any other Credit Document in one currency into another currency, the rate of exchange used shall be that at which in accordance with normal banking procedures the Administrative Agent could purchase the first currency with such other currency on the Business Day preceding that on which final judgment is given. The obligation of each of the Credit Parties in respect of any such sum due from it to the Administrative Agent or any Lender hereunder or under the other Credit Documents shall, notwithstanding any judgment in a currency (the “ Judgment Currency ”) other than Dollars, be discharged only to the extent that on the Business Day following receipt by the Administrative Agent or such Lender of any sum adjudged to be so due in the Judgment Currency, the Administrative Agent or such Lender may in accordance with normal banking procedures purchase Dollars with the Judgment Currency. If the amount of Dollars so purchased is less than the sum originally due to the Administrative Agent or such Lender in Dollars, the Applicable Borrower agrees, as a separate obligation and notwithstanding any such judgment, to indemnify the Administrative Agent or such Lender or the Person to whom such obligation was owing against such loss. If the amount of Dollars so purchased is greater than the sum originally due to the Administrative Agent or such Lender in such currency, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders agree to apply such excess to any Credit Party Obligations then due and payable in accordance with the terms of Section 2.10 .

Section 9.18 Continuing Agreement . This Credit Agreement shall be a continuing agreement and shall remain in full force and effect until all Loans, LOC Obligations, interest, fees and other Credit Party Obligations (other than Unasserted Obligations) have been paid in full and all Commitments and Letters of Credit have been terminated (all of the foregoing, collectively, “ Termination ”); provided that it is acknowledged and agreed that the Unasserted Obligations shall survive Termination and shall remain in full force in effect until satisfied in full. Upon Termination, the Credit Parties shall have no further obligations (other than Unasserted Obligations) under the Credit Documents and the Administrative Agent shall, at the request and expense of the Borrowers, deliver all the Collateral in its possession to the Borrowers and release all Liens on the Collateral; provided that should any payment, in whole or in part, of the Credit Party Obligations be rescinded or otherwise required to be restored or returned by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, whether as a result of any proceedings in bankruptcy or reorganization or otherwise, then the Credit Documents shall automatically be reinstated and all Liens of the Administrative Agent shall reattach to the Collateral and all amounts required to be restored or returned and all costs and expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent or any Lender in connection therewith shall be deemed included as part of the Credit Party Obligations.

 

141


Section 9.19 Foreign Pledge Agreements

(a) Authorizing Documents . Upon the reasonable request of the Administrative Agent, at any time after the Original Effective Date and upon any Person becoming a Lender, each Lender shall deliver to the Administrative Agent any authorizations, powers of attorney or other documents that are deemed reasonably necessary by the Administrative Agent with respect to the entry into any Foreign Pledge Agreement and the effectiveness of the security interest granted in favor of the Lender as a Secured Party thereunder.

(b) Argentina Power of Attorney . Without limiting the foregoing, after the execution and delivery of any pledge of Capital Stock of any Foreign Subsidiary organized under the laws of Argentina (each an “ Argentina Stock Pledge ”) each Lender, and any Person that becomes a Lender shall upon reasonable request of the Administrative Agent have the Argentina Power of Attorney attached hereto as Part A of Schedule 9.19 (or such other form from time to time provided by the Administrative Agent) executed, properly notarized and authenticated by the appropriate Apostille, in accordance with the instructions set forth in Part B of Schedule 9.19 (or such other instructions from time to time provided by the Administrative Agent). Each Lender, and each Person that becomes a Lender, acknowledges that the Extensions of Credit and Revolving Commitments of such Lender will not be secured by any Argentina Stock Pledge (after the execution and delivery thereof) until the Argentina Power of Attorney has been properly executed, notarized and authenticated by the appropriate Apostille and delivered to the Administrative Agent and such Lender is added to the relevant Argentina Stock Pledge agreement by the Administrative Agent and the actions contemplated in the respective Argentina Stock Pledge agreement shall have been taken.

(c) Failure to Comply . Each Lender, and each Person that becomes a Lender, acknowledges that a failure by such Lender to comply with the provisions of this Section 9.19 may result in such Lender not being secured by the Collateral pledged under such applicable Foreign Pledge Agreement.

Section 9.20 Special Provisions Relating to the Amendment and Restatement Agreement . No Lender (and its successors and assigns) shall enter into any amendment or modification to this Agreement to the extent such amendment or modification amends or modifies this Section 9.20 (or any defined term as used herein) or the definition of “Other Allocable Percentage” or “Allocable Revolving Percentage”, unless the consent of each Lender directly and adversely affected thereby has been obtained. Each of the agreements contained in this Section 9.20 are separate contractual arrangements among the Credit Parties and the Lenders and each Lender may directly enforce against any other Lender any breach (or attempted breach) of any of the agreements contained in this Section 9.20 .

The Amendment and Restatement Agreement and this Agreement are intended to amend and restate in its entirety the Existing Credit Agreement. This Agreement shall not constitute a novation of the obligations and liabilities existing under the Existing Credit Agreement or evidence repayment or termination of any such obligations and liabilities. It is the intention of the parties to the Amendment and Restatement Agreement and this Agreement to preserve and

 

142


continue the perfection and priority of all security interests and Liens securing the “Credit Party Obligations” outstanding under and as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement, and that all Credit Party Obligations outstanding under and as defined in this Agreement shall be secured by the security interests and Liens evidenced under the Security Documents. Each Credit Party hereby acknowledges and agrees that the “Credit Party Obligations” outstanding under and as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement as of the Effective Date, continue to remain Credit Party Obligations outstanding under this Agreement. Furthermore, each Credit Party hereby reaffirms the validity and binding effect of the Guarantee set forth in Articles X and XI of the Existing Credit Agreement and the Security Documents (as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement) executed and delivered pursuant to the Existing Credit Agreement (including as amended and/or amended and restated in connection with this Agreement), and acknowledges and agrees that such documents and agreements continue to apply to this Agreement and the Credit Party Obligations hereunder and that all Collateral subject to such documents and agreements does and shall secure the Credit Party Obligations. On and after the Closing Date, unless otherwise specified, any reference to the “Credit Agreement” in the Exhibits to and/or Credit Documents under the Existing Credit Agreement shall be a reference to this Agreement, as amended, amended and restated, supplemented, waived or otherwise modified from time to time. The provisions of Article VII and Section 9.5 of the Existing Credit Agreement shall continue in effect for the benefit of the Administrative Agent in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by any of them while acting as administrative agent and collateral agent under the Existing Credit Agreement.

ARTICLE X

GUARANTY OF COMPANY OBLIGATIONS

Section 10.1 The Domestic Guaranty . In order to induce the Lenders to enter into this Agreement and any Hedging Agreement Provider to enter into any Secured Hedging Agreement with the Company or any of its Domestic Subsidiaries and to extend credit hereunder and thereunder, and in recognition of the direct benefits to be received by the Domestic Guarantors from the Extensions of Credit hereunder and the extensions of credit under any Secured Hedging Agreement, each of the Domestic Guarantors hereby agrees with the Administrative Agent and the Lenders as follows: each Domestic Guarantor hereby absolutely, unconditionally and irrevocably jointly and severally guarantees as primary obligor and not merely as surety the full and prompt payment when due, whether upon maturity, by required prepayment, declaration, demand, by acceleration or otherwise, of any and all indebtedness of the Company to the Secured Parties. If any or all of the indebtedness of the Company to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders becomes due and payable hereunder, each Domestic Guarantor unconditionally promises to pay such indebtedness to the Secured Parties, or order, on demand, together with any and all reasonable expenses which may be incurred by the Secured Parties in collecting any of the indebtedness. The word “indebtedness” is used in this ARTICLE X in its most comprehensive sense and includes any and all advances, debts, obligations and liabilities of the Company, including all Credit Party Obligations of the Company, arising in connection with this Agreement, the other Credit

 

143


Documents or any Secured Hedging Agreement, in each case, heretofore, now, or hereafter made, incurred or created, whether voluntarily or involuntarily, absolute or contingent, liquidated or unliquidated, determined or undetermined, whether or not such indebtedness is from time to time reduced, or extinguished and thereafter increased or incurred, whether the Company may be liable individually or jointly with others, whether or not recovery upon such indebtedness may be or hereafter become barred by any statute of limitations, and whether or not such indebtedness may be or hereafter become otherwise unenforceable. Each Domestic Guarantor understands, agrees and confirms that the Secured Parties may enforce this Domestic Guaranty up to the full amount of all indebtedness of the Company against such Domestic Guarantor without proceeding against any other Domestic Guarantor, the Company or any other Domestic Guaranteed Party, or against any security for all indebtedness of the Company, or under any other guaranty covering all or a portion of all indebtedness of the Company. The Domestic Guaranty set forth in this ARTICLE X is a guaranty of timely payment and not of collection.

Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained herein or in any other of the Credit Documents, to the extent the obligations of a Domestic Guarantor shall be adjudicated to be invalid or unenforceable for any reason (including, without limitation, because of any applicable state or federal law relating to fraudulent conveyances or transfers) then the obligations of each such Domestic Guarantor hereunder shall be limited to the maximum amount that is permissible under applicable law (whether federal or state and including, without limitation, the Bankruptcy Code) (it being understood that it is the intention of the parties to this Domestic Guaranty that, to the maximum extent permitted under applicable laws, the liabilities in respect of the guarantees of the Existing Convertible Notes and the Senior Secured Notes and any other indebtedness for borrowed money, shall not be included for the foregoing purposes and that, if any reduction is required to the amount guaranteed by any Domestic Guarantor hereunder and with respect to the Existing Convertible Notes, the Senior Secured Notes or any other indebtedness for borrowed money, that its guarantee of amounts owing in respect of the Existing Convertible Notes, the Senior Secured Notes or any other indebtedness for borrowed money, as the case may be, shall first be reduced).

Section 10.2 Bankruptcy . Additionally, each of the Domestic Guarantors absolutely, unconditionally and irrevocably guarantees jointly and severally the payment of any and all indebtedness of the Company to the Secured Parties whether or not due or payable by the Company upon the occurrence of any of the events specified in Section 7.1(e) , and unconditionally, absolutely, and irrevocably, jointly and severally promises to pay such indebtedness to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Secured Parties, or order, on demand, in lawful money of the United States. Each of the Domestic Guarantors further agrees that to the extent that the Company or a Domestic Guarantor shall make a payment or a transfer of an interest in any property to any Secured Party, which payment or transfer or any part thereof is subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, or otherwise is avoided, and/or required to be repaid to the Company or a Domestic Guarantor, the estate of the Company or a Domestic Guarantor, a trustee, receiver or any other party under any bankruptcy law, state or federal law, common law or equitable cause, then to the extent of such avoidance or repayment, the obligation or part thereof intended to be satisfied shall be revived and continued in full force and effect as if said payment had not been made.

 

144


Section 10.3 Nature of Liability . The liability of each Domestic Guarantor hereunder is primary, absolute, joint and several, and unconditional, and is exclusive and independent of any security for or other Domestic Guaranty of the indebtedness of the Company whether executed by any such Domestic Guarantor, any other Domestic Guarantor or by any other party, and no Domestic Guarantor’s liability hereunder shall be affected or impaired by any circumstance or occurrence whatsoever, including, without limitation:(a) any direction as to application of payment by the Company or by any other party, (b) any other continuing or other Domestic Guaranty, undertaking or maximum liability of a Domestic Guarantor or of any other party as to the indebtedness of the Company, (c) any payment on or in reduction of any such other Domestic Guaranty or undertaking, (d) any dissolution, termination or increase, decrease or change in personnel by the Company(e) the failure of the Domestic Guarantor to receive any benefit from or as a result of its execution, delivery and performance of this Domestic Guaranty, (f) any action or inaction by the Secured Parties or (g) any invalidity, rescission, irregularity or unenforceability of all or any part of the indebtedness of the Company or of any security therefor, or (h) any payment made to any Secured Party on the indebtedness which such Secured Party repay the Company pursuant to court order in any bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, moratorium or other debtor relief proceeding, and each of the Domestic Guarantors waives any right to the deferral or modification of its obligations hereunder by reason of any such proceeding.

Section 10.4 Independent Obligation . The obligations of each Domestic Guarantor hereunder are independent of the obligations of any other Domestic Guarantor or the Company, and a separate action or actions may be brought and prosecuted against each Domestic Guarantor whether or not action is brought against any other Domestic Guarantor or the Company and whether or not any other Domestic Guarantor or the Company is joined in any such action or actions. Each Domestic Guarantor waives (to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law) the benefits of any statute of limitations affecting its liability hereunder or the enforcement thereof. Any payment by the Company or any other Domestic Guaranteed Party or other circumstance which operates to toll any statute of limitations as to the Company or such other Domestic Guaranteed Party shall operate to toll the statute of limitations as to each Domestic Guarantor.

Section 10.5 Authorization . Each of the Domestic Guarantors authorizes each Secured Party without notice or demand (except as shall be required by applicable statute and cannot be waived), and without affecting or impairing its liability hereunder, from time to time to (a) renew, compromise, extend, increase, accelerate or otherwise change the time for payment of, or otherwise change the terms of the indebtedness or any part thereof in accordance with this Agreement, including any

 

145


increase or decrease of the rate of interest thereon, (b) take and hold security from any Domestic Guarantor or any other party for the payment of the Domestic Guaranty or the indebtedness and exchange, enforce waive and release any such security, (c) apply such security and direct the order or manner of sale thereof as the Administrative Agent and the Lenders in their discretion may determine and (d) release or substitute any one or more endorsers, Domestic Guarantors, the Company or other obligors.

Section 10.6 Reliance . It is not necessary for any Secured Party to inquire into the capacity or powers of the Company or the officers, directors, members, partners or agents acting or purporting to act on its behalf, and any indebtedness made or created in reliance upon the professed exercise of such powers shall be guaranteed hereunder.

Section 10.7 Waiver .

(a) Each of the Domestic Guarantors waives any right (except as shall be required by applicable statute and cannot be waived) to require the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any Hedging Agreement Provider to (i) proceed against the Company, any other Domestic Guarantor or any other party, (ii) proceed against or exhaust any security held from the Company, any other Domestic Guarantor or any other party, or (iii) pursue any other remedy in the Administrative Agent’s, any Lender’s or any Hedging Agreement Provider’s power whatsoever. Each of the Domestic Guarantors waives any defense based on or arising out of any defense of the Company, any other Domestic Guarantor or any other party other than payment in full in cash of the indebtedness, including, without limitation, any defense based on or arising out of the disability of the Company, any other Domestic Guarantor or any other party, or the unenforceability of the indebtedness or any part thereof from any cause, or the cessation from any cause of the liability of the Company other than payment in full in cash of the indebtedness. The Administrative Agent or any of the Lenders may, at their election, exercise any right or remedy the Administrative Agent and any Lender may have against the Company or any other party, or any security, without affecting or impairing in any way the liability of any Domestic Guarantor hereunder except to the extent the indebtedness has been paid. The Secured Parties may, at their election, foreclose on any collateral serving as security held by the Administrative Agent, or the other Secured Parties by one or more judicial or nonjudicial sales, whether or not every aspect of any such sale is commercially reasonable (to the extent such sale is permitted by applicable law), or exercise any other right or remedy the Secured Parties may have against the Company, any other Domestic Guaranteed Party or any other party, or any security, without affecting or impairing in any way the liability of any Domestic Guarantor hereunder except to the extent the indebtedness of the Company has been paid in full in cash. Each of the Domestic Guarantors waives any defense arising out of any such election by the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders, even though such election operates to impair or extinguish any right of reimbursement, contribution, indemnification or subrogation or other right or remedy of the Domestic Guarantors against the Company or any other party.

(b) Each of the Domestic Guarantors waives all presentments, demands for performance, protests and notices, including, without limitation, notices of nonperformance, notice of protest, notices of dishonor, notices of acceptance of the Domestic Guaranty, and

 

146


notices of the existence, creation or incurring of new or additional indebtedness and each Domestic Guarantor further hereby waives any and all notice of the creation, renewal, extension or accrual of any of the indebtedness of the Company and notice or proof of reliance by any Secured Party upon this Domestic Guaranty, and the indebtedness of the Company shall conclusively be deemed to have been created, contracted or incurred, or renewed, extended, amended, modified, supplemented or waived, in reliance upon this Domestic Guaranty. Each Domestic Guarantor assumes all responsibility for being and keeping itself informed of the Company’s financial condition, affairs and assets, and of all other circumstances bearing upon the risk of nonpayment of the indebtedness and the nature, scope and extent of the risks which such Domestic Guarantor assumes and incurs hereunder, and has adequate means to obtain from the Company, each other Domestic Guaranteed Party and each other Domestic Guarantor on an ongoing basis information relating thereto and the Company’s, each other Domestic Guaranteed Party’s and each other Domestic Guarantor’s ability to pay and perform its respective obligations with regard to the indebtedness of the Company, and agrees to assume the responsibility for keeping, and to keep, so informed for so long as this Domestic Guaranty is in effect. Each Domestic Guarantor acknowledges and agrees that (x) the Secured Parties shall have no obligation to investigate the financial condition or affairs of the Company, any other Domestic Guaranteed Party or any other Domestic Guarantor for the benefit of such Domestic Guarantor nor to advise such Domestic Guarantor of any fact respecting, or any change in, the financial condition, assets or affairs of the Company, any other Domestic Guaranteed Party or any other Domestic Guarantor that might become known to any Secured Parties at any time, whether or not such Secured Parties knows or believes or has reason to know or believe that any such fact or change is unknown to such Domestic Guarantor, or might (or does) increase the risk of such Domestic Guarantor as guarantor hereunder, or might (or would) affect the willingness of such Domestic Guarantor to continue as a guarantor of the indebtedness of the Company hereunder and (y) the Secured Parties shall have no duty to advise any Domestic Guarantor of information known to them regarding any of the aforementioned circumstances or risks.

(c) Each of the Domestic Guarantors hereby agrees it will not exercise any rights of subrogation which it may at any time otherwise have as a result of the Domestic Guaranty (whether contractual, under Section 509 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, or otherwise) to the claims of any Secured Party against the Company or any other Domestic Guarantor of the indebtedness of the Company owing to any such Secured Party (collectively, the “ Other Parties ”) and all contractual, statutory or common law rights of reimbursement, contribution or indemnity from any Other Party which it may at any time otherwise have as a result of the Domestic Guaranty until such time as the Loans hereunder and all Credit Party Obligations (other than Unasserted Obligations) shall have been paid and the Revolving Commitments have been terminated. Each of the Domestic Guarantors hereby further agrees not to exercise any right to enforce any other remedy which any Secured Party now has or may hereafter have against any Other Party, any endorser or any other Domestic Guarantor of all or any part of the indebtedness of the Company and any benefit of, and any right to participate in, any security or collateral given to or for the benefit of the any such Secured Party to secure payment of the indebtedness of the Company until such time as the Loans hereunder and all Credit Party Obligations (other than Unasserted Obligations) shall have been paid and the Revolving Commitments have been terminated.

 

147


(d) Each Domestic Guarantor hereby acknowledges and agrees that no Secured Party nor any other Person shall be under any obligation (a) to marshal any assets in favor of such Domestic Guarantor or in payment of any or all of the liabilities of any Domestic Guaranteed Party under the Credit Documents or the obligation of such Domestic Guarantor hereunder or (b) to pursue any other remedy that such Domestic Guarantor may or may not be able to pursue itself any right to which such Domestic Guarantor hereby waives.

(e) Each Domestic Guarantor warrants and agrees that each of the waivers set forth in Section 10.4 and in this Section 10.7 is made with full knowledge of its significance and consequences and that if any of such waivers are determined to be contrary to any applicable law or public policy, such waivers shall be effective only to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law.

Section 10.8 Limitation on Enforcement . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained elsewhere in this Agreement, the Lenders and the Hedging Agreement Providers agree that this Domestic Guaranty may be enforced only by the action of the Administrative Agent acting upon the instructions of the Required Lenders and that no other Secured Party shall have any right individually to seek to enforce or to enforce the Domestic Guaranty or to realize upon the security to be granted by the Pledge Agreements, it being understood and agreed that such rights and remedies may be exercised by the Administrative Agent for the benefit of itself, the Lenders, Issuing Lenders, the Swingline Lender and the other Agents under the terms of this Agreement and for the benefit of any Hedging Agreement Provider under any Secured Hedging Agreement. The Secured Parties further agree that this Domestic Guaranty may not be enforced against any director, officer, employee or stockholder (which itself is not a Credit Party) of the Domestic Guarantors. Except as provided in the immediately preceding sentence, it is understood and agreed that the agreement in this Section 10.8 is among and solely for the benefit of the Secured Parties and that, if the Required Lenders (or, after the date on which all indebtedness of the Company with respect to the Credit Documents has been paid in full in cash, the holders of at least a majority of the outstanding Credit Party Obligations) so agree (without requiring the consent of any Domestic Guarantor), this Domestic Guaranty may be directly enforced by any Secured Party.

Section 10.9 Confirmation of Payment . The Administrative Agent and the Lenders will, upon request after payment in cash in full of the indebtedness and obligations under the Credit Documents which are the subject of the Domestic Guaranty and termination of the Revolving Commitments relating thereto, confirm to the Company, the Domestic Guarantors or any other Person that such indebtedness and obligations under the Credit Documents have been paid and the Revolving Commitments relating thereto terminated, subject to the provisions of Section 10.2 .

 

148


Section 10.10 Continuing Guaranty . This Domestic Guaranty is a continuing one and all liabilities to which it applies or may apply under the terms hereof shall be conclusively presumed to have been created in reliance hereon. No failure or delay on the part of any Secured Party in exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, power or privilege hereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege. The rights and remedies herein expressly specified are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies which any Secured Party would otherwise have. No notice to or demand on any Domestic Guarantor in any case shall entitle such Domestic Guarantor to any other further notice or demand in similar or other circumstances or constitute a waiver of the rights of any Secured Party to any other or further action in any circumstances without notice or demand. It is not necessary for any Secured Party to inquire into the capacity or powers of the Company or any other Domestic Guaranteed Party or the officers, directors, partners or agents acting or purporting to act on its or their behalf, and any indebtedness made or created in reliance upon the professed exercise of such powers shall be guaranteed hereunder.

Section 10.11 Subordination of Indebtedness Held by Guarantors . Any indebtedness of the Company or any other Domestic Guaranteed Party now or hereafter held by any Domestic Guarantor is hereby subordinated to the indebtedness of the Company or such other Domestic Guaranteed Party to the Secured Parties (in their capacities as such); and such indebtedness of the Company or such other Domestic Guaranteed Party to any Domestic Guarantor, if the Administrative Agent, after an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, so requests, shall be collected, enforced and received by such Domestic Guarantor as trustee for the Secured Parties and be paid over to the Secured Parties on account of the indebtedness of the Company or such other Domestic Guaranteed Party to the Secured Parties (in their capacities as such), but without affecting or impairing in any manner the liability of such Domestic Guarantor under the other provisions of this Domestic Guaranty. Prior to the transfer by any Domestic Guarantor of any note or negotiable instrument evidencing any indebtedness of the Company or any other Domestic Guaranteed Party to such Domestic Guarantor, such Domestic Guarantor shall mark such note or negotiable instrument with a legend that the same is subject to this subordination. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each Domestic Guarantor hereby agrees with the Secured Parties that it will not exercise any right of subrogation which it may at any time otherwise have as a result of this Domestic Guaranty (whether contractual, under Section 509 of the Bankruptcy Code or otherwise) until all indebtedness of the Company owing to the Secured Parties (in their capacities as such) have been irrevocably paid in full in cash; provided , that if any amount shall be paid to such Domestic Guarantor on account of such subrogation rights at any time prior to the irrevocable payment in full in cash of all the indebtedness of the Company owing to the Secured Parties (in their capacities as such), such amount shall be held in trust for the benefit of the Secured Parties and shall forthwith be paid to the Secured Parties to be credited and applied upon the indebtedness of the Company owing to the Secured Parties (in their capacities as such), whether matured or unmatured, in accordance with the terms of the Credit Documents or, if the Credit Documents do not provide for the application of such amount, to be held by the Secured Parties as collateral security for any indebtedness of the Company owing to the Secured Parties (in their capacities as such) thereafter existing.

 

149


Section 10.12 Payments . All payments made by any Domestic Guarantor hereunder will be made without setoff, counterclaim or other defense and on the same basis as payments are made by the Company under Section 2.10 .

ARTICLE XI

GUARANTY OF THE DUTCH BORROWER OBLIGATIONS

Section 11.1 The Foreign Guaranty . In order to induce the Lenders to enter into this Agreement and any Hedging Agreement Provider to enter into any Secured Hedging Agreement with the Dutch Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries and to extend credit hereunder and thereunder, and in recognition of the direct benefits to be received by the Guarantors from the Extensions of Credit to the Dutch Borrower hereunder and the extensions of credit under any Secured Hedging Agreement, each of the Guarantors hereby agrees with the Administrative Agent and the Lenders as follows: each Guarantor hereby absolutely, unconditionally and irrevocably jointly and severally guarantees as primary obligor and not merely as surety the full and prompt payment when due, whether upon maturity, by required prepayment, declaration, demand, by acceleration or otherwise, of any and all indebtedness of the Dutch Borrower to the Secured Parties. If any or all of the indebtedness of the Dutch Borrower to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders becomes due and payable hereunder, each Guarantor unconditionally promises to pay such indebtedness to the Secured Parties, or order, on demand, together with any and all reasonable expenses which may be incurred by the Secured Parties in collecting any of the indebtedness. The word “indebtedness” is used in this ARTICLE XI in its most comprehensive sense and includes any and all advances, debts, obligations and liabilities of the Dutch Borrower, including all Credit Party Obligations of the Dutch Borrower, arising in connection with this Agreement, the other Credit Documents or any Secured Hedging Agreement, in each case, heretofore, now, or hereafter made, incurred or created, whether voluntarily or involuntarily, absolute or contingent, liquidated or unliquidated, determined or undetermined, whether or not such indebtedness is from time to time reduced, or extinguished and thereafter increased or incurred, whether the Dutch Borrower may be liable individually or jointly with others, whether or not recovery upon such indebtedness may be or hereafter become barred by any statute of limitations, and whether or not such indebtedness may be or hereafter become otherwise unenforceable. Each Guarantor understands, agrees and confirms that the Secured Parties may enforce this Foreign Guaranty up to the full amount of all indebtedness of the Dutch Borrower against such Guarantor without proceeding against any other Guarantor, the Dutch Borrower or any other Foreign Guaranteed Party, or against any security for all indebtedness of the Dutch Borrower or under any other guaranty covering all or a portion of all indebtedness of the Dutch Borrower. The Foreign Guaranty set forth in this Article XI is a guaranty of timely payment and not of collection.

 

150


Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained herein or in any other of the Credit Documents, to the extent the obligations of a Guarantor shall be adjudicated to be invalid or unenforceable for any reason (including, without limitation, because of any applicable state or federal law relating to fraudulent conveyances or transfers) then the obligations of each such Guarantor hereunder shall be limited to the maximum amount that is permissible under applicable law (whether federal or state and including, without limitation, the Bankruptcy Code) (it being understood that it is the intention of the parties to this Foreign Guaranty that, to the maximum extent permitted under applicable laws, the liabilities in respect of the guarantees of the Existing Convertible Notes and the Senior Secured Notes and any other indebtedness for borrowed money, shall not be included for the foregoing purposes and that, if any reduction is required to the amount guaranteed by any Guarantor hereunder and with respect to the Existing Convertible Notes, the Senior Secured Notes or any other indebtedness for borrowed money, that its guarantee of amounts owing in respect of the Existing Convertible Notes, the Senior Secured Notes or any other indebtedness for borrowed money, as the case may be, shall first be reduced).

Section 11.2 Bankruptcy . Additionally, each of the Guarantors absolutely, unconditionally and irrevocably guarantees jointly and severally the payment of any and all indebtedness of the Dutch Borrower to the Secured Parties whether or not due or payable by the Dutch Borrower upon the occurrence of any of the events specified in Section 7.1(e) , and unconditionally, absolutely, and irrevocably, jointly and severally promises to pay such indebtedness to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Secured Parties, or order, on demand, in lawful money of the United States. Each of the Guarantors further agrees that to the extent that the Dutch Borrower or a Guarantor shall make a payment or a transfer of an interest in any property to any Secured Party, which payment or transfer or any part thereof is subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, or otherwise is avoided, and/or required to be repaid to the Dutch Borrower or a Guarantor, the estate of the Dutch Borrower or a Guarantor, a trustee, receiver or any other party under any bankruptcy law, state or federal law, common law or equitable cause, then to the extent of such avoidance or repayment, the obligation or part thereof intended to be satisfied shall be revived and continued in full force and effect as if said payment had not been made.

Section 11.3 Nature of Liability . The liability of each Guarantor hereunder is primary, absolute, joint and several, and unconditional, and is exclusive and independent of any security for or other Foreign Guaranty of the indebtedness of the Dutch Borrower whether executed by any such Guarantor, any other Guarantor or by any other party, and no Guarantor’s liability hereunder shall be affected or impaired by any circumstance or occurrence whatsoever, including, without limitation; (a) any direction as to application of payment by the Dutch Borrower or by any other party, (b) any other continuing or other Foreign Guaranty, undertaking or maximum liability of a Guarantor or of any other party as to the indebtedness of the Dutch Borrower, (c) any payment on or in reduction of

 

151


any such other Foreign Guaranty or undertaking, (d) any dissolution, termination or increase, decrease or change in personnel by the Dutch Borrower, (e) the failure of the Guarantor to receive any benefit from or as a result of its execution, delivery and performance of this Foreign Guaranty, (f) any action or inaction by the Secured Parties or (g) any invalidity, rescission, irregularity or unenforceability of all or any part of the indebtedness of the Dutch Borrower, or (h) any payment made to any Secured Party on the indebtedness which such Secured Party repay the Dutch Borrower pursuant to court order in any bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, moratorium or other debtor relief proceeding, and each of the Guarantors waives any right to the deferral or modification of its obligations hereunder by reason of any such proceeding.

Section 11.4 Independent Obligation . The obligations of each Guarantor hereunder are independent of the obligations of any other Guarantor or the Dutch Borrower, and a separate action or actions may be brought and prosecuted against each Guarantor whether or not action is brought against any other Guarantor or the Dutch Borrower and whether or not any other Guarantor or the Dutch Borrower is joined in any such action or actions. Each Guarantor waives (to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law) the benefits of any statute of limitations affecting its liability hereunder or the enforcement thereof. Any payment by the Dutch Borrower or any other Foreign Guaranteed Party or other circumstance which operates to toll any statute of limitations as to the Dutch Borrower or such other Foreign Guaranteed Party shall operate to toll the statute of limitations as to each Guarantor.

Section 11.5 Authorization . Each of the Guarantors authorizes each Secured Party without notice or demand (except as shall be required by applicable statute and cannot be waived), and without affecting or impairing its liability hereunder, from time to time to (a) renew, compromise, extend, increase, accelerate or otherwise change the time for payment of, or otherwise change the terms of the indebtedness or any part thereof in accordance with this Agreement, including any increase or decrease of the rate of interest thereon, (b) take and hold security from any Guarantor or any other party for the payment of the Foreign Guaranty or the indebtedness and exchange, enforce waive and release any such security, (c) apply such security and direct the order or manner of sale thereof as the Administrative Agent and the Lenders in their discretion may determine and (d) release or substitute any one or more endorsers, Guarantors, the Dutch Borrower or other obligors.

Section 11.6 Reliance . It is not necessary for any Secured Party to inquire into the capacity or powers of the Dutch Borrower or the officers, directors, members, partners or agents acting or purporting to act on its behalf, and any indebtedness made or created in reliance upon the professed exercise of such powers shall be guaranteed hereunder.

 

152


Section 11.7 Waiver .

(a) Each of the Guarantors waives any right (except as shall be required by applicable statute and cannot be waived) to require the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any Hedging Agreement Provider to (i) proceed against the Dutch Borrower, any other Guarantor or any other party, (ii) proceed against or exhaust any security held from the Dutch Borrower, any other Guarantor or any other party, or (iii) pursue any other remedy in the Administrative Agent’s, any Lender’s or any Hedging Agreement Provider’s power whatsoever. Each of the Guarantors waives any defense based on or arising out of any defense of the Dutch Borrower, any other Guarantor or any other party other than payment in full in cash of the indebtedness, including, without limitation, any defense based on or arising out of the disability of the Dutch Borrower, any other Guarantor or any other party, or the unenforceability of the indebtedness or any part thereof from any cause, or the cessation from any cause of the liability of the Dutch Borrower other than payment in full in cash of the indebtedness. The Administrative Agent or any of the Lenders may, at their election, exercise any right or remedy the Administrative Agent and any Lender may have against the Dutch Borrower or any other party, or any security, without affecting or impairing in any way the liability of any Guarantor hereunder except to the extent the indebtedness has been paid. The Secured Parties may, at their election, foreclose on any collateral serving as security held by the Administrative Agent, or the other Secured Parties by one or more judicial or nonjudicial sales, whether or not every aspect of any such sale is commercially reasonable (to the extent such sale is permitted by applicable law), or exercise any other right or remedy the Secured Parties may have against the Dutch Borrower, any other Foreign Guaranteed Party or any other party, or any security, without affecting or impairing in any way the liability of any Guarantor hereunder except to the extent the indebtedness of the Dutch Borrower has been paid in full in cash. Each of the Guarantors waives any defense arising out of any such election by the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders, even though such election operates to impair or extinguish any right of reimbursement, contribution, indemnification or subrogation or other right or remedy of the Guarantors against the Dutch Borrower or any other party.

(b) Each of the Guarantors waives all presentments, demands for performance, protests and notices, including, without limitation, notices of nonperformance, notice of protest, notices of dishonor, notices of acceptance of the Foreign Guaranty, and notices of the existence, creation or incurring of new or additional indebtedness and each Guarantor further hereby waives any and all notice of the creation, renewal, extension or accrual of any of the indebtedness of the Dutch Borrower reliance by any Secured Party upon this Foreign Guaranty, and the indebtedness of the Dutch Borrower shall conclusively be deemed to have been created, contracted or incurred, or renewed, extended, amended, modified, supplemented or waived, in reliance upon this Foreign Guaranty. Each Guarantor assumes all responsibility for being and keeping itself informed of the Dutch Borrower’s financial condition, affairs and assets, and of all other circumstances bearing upon the risk of nonpayment of the indebtedness and the nature, scope and extent of the risks which such Guarantor assumes and incurs hereunder, and has adequate means to obtain from the Dutch Borrower each other Foreign Guaranteed Party and each other Guarantor on an ongoing basis information relating thereto and the Dutch Borrower’s, each other Foreign Guaranteed Party’s and each other Guarantor’s ability to pay and perform its respective obligations with regard to the indebtedness of the Dutch Borrower, and agrees to assume the responsibility for keeping, and to keep, so informed for so long as this Foreign

 

153


Guaranty is in effect. Each Guarantor acknowledges and agrees that (x) the Secured Parties shall have no obligation to investigate the financial condition or affairs of the Dutch Borrower, any other Foreign Guaranteed Party or any other Guarantor for the benefit of such Guarantor nor to advise such Guarantor of any fact respecting, or any change in, the financial condition, assets or affairs of the Dutch Borrower, any other Foreign Guaranteed Party or any other Guarantor that might become known to any Secured Parties at any time, whether or not such Secured Parties knows or believes or has reason to know or believe that any such fact or change is unknown to such Guarantor, or might (or does) increase the risk of such Guarantor as guarantor hereunder, or might (or would) affect the willingness of such Guarantor to continue as a guarantor of the indebtedness of the Dutch Borrower hereunder and (y) the Secured Parties shall have no duty to advise any Guarantor of information known to them regarding any of the aforementioned circumstances or risks.

(c) Each of the Guarantors hereby agrees it will not exercise any rights of subrogation which it may at any time otherwise have as a result of the Foreign Guaranty (whether contractual, under Section 509 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, or otherwise) to the claims of any Secured Party against the Dutch Borrower or any other Guarantor of the indebtedness of the Dutch Borrower owing to any such Secured Party (collectively, the “ Other Parties ”) and all contractual, statutory or common law rights of reimbursement, contribution or indemnity from any Other Party which it may at any time otherwise have as a result of the Foreign Guaranty until such time as the Loans hereunder and all Credit Party Obligations (other than Unasserted Obligations) shall have been paid and the Revolving Commitments have been terminated. Each of the Guarantors hereby further agrees not to exercise any right to enforce any other remedy which any Secured party now has or may hereafter have against any Other Party, any endorser or any other Guarantor of all or any part of the indebtedness of the Dutch Borrower and any benefit of, and any right to participate in, any security or collateral given to or for the benefit of the any such Secured Party to secure payment of the indebtedness of the Dutch Borrower until such time as the Loans and all Credit Party Obligations (other than Unasserted Obligations) hereunder shall have been paid and the Revolving Commitments have been terminated.

(d) Each Guarantor hereby acknowledges and agrees that no Secured Party nor any other Person shall be under any obligation (a) to marshal any assets in favor of such Guarantor or in payment of any or all of the liabilities of any Foreign Guaranteed Party under the Credit Documents or the obligation of such Guarantor hereunder or (b) to pursue any other remedy that such Guarantor may or may not be able to pursue itself any right to which such Guarantor hereby waives.

(e) Each Guarantor warrants and agrees that each of the waivers set forth in Section 11.4 and in this Section 11.7 is made with full knowledge of its significance and consequences and that if any of such waivers are determined to be contrary to any applicable law or public policy, such waivers shall be effective only to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law.

 

154


Section 11.8 Limitation on Enforcement . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained elsewhere in this Agreement the Lenders and the Hedging Agreement Providers agree that this Foreign Guaranty may be enforced only by the action of the Administrative Agent acting upon the instructions of the Required Lenders and that no other Secured Party shall have any right individually to seek to enforce or to enforce the Foreign Guaranty or to realize upon the security to be granted by the Pledge Agreements, it being understood and agreed that such rights and remedies may be exercised by the Administrative Agent for the benefit of itself, the Lenders, Issuing Lenders, the Swingline Lender and the other Agents under the terms of this Agreement and for the benefit of any Hedging Agreement Provider under any Secured Hedging Agreement. The Secured Parties further agree that this Foreign Guaranty may not be enforced against any director, officer, employee or stockholder (which itself is not a Credit Party) of the Guarantors. Except as provided in the immediately preceding sentence, it is understood and agreed that the agreement in this Section 11.8 is among and solely for the benefit of the Secured Parties and that, if the Required Lenders (or, after the date on which all indebtedness of the Dutch Borrower with respect to the Credit Documents has been paid in full in cash, the holders of at least a majority of the outstanding Credit Party Obligations) so agree (without requiring the consent of any Guarantor), this Foreign Guaranty may be directly enforced by any Secured Party.

Section 11.9 Limitation on Guaranty of Alliance AG . Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained herein or in any of the other Credit Documents, the following shall apply to Alliance AG’s Guaranty Obligations as Guarantor (the “ Alliance AG Guaranty ”):

(a) Alliance AG hereby represents and warrants that, prior to entering into this Agreement, Alliance AG has taken the necessary steps to ensure that, subject to execution of and performance under this Agreement, Alliance AG shall be receiving arm’s length compensation for the Alliance AG Guaranty. The parties to this Agreement acknowledge that, notwithstanding the foregoing and anything to the contrary elsewhere in this Agreement or any of the other Credit Documents, the risk exists that, in the event and at the time of the enforcement of this Agreement, (i) the Swiss Federal Tax Administration may qualify all or part of the payments by Alliance AG under the Alliance AG Guaranty as a constructive profit distribution and/or (ii) payments by Alliance AG under the Alliance AG Guaranty may qualify under Swiss corporate law as constructive profit distribution and/or repayment of capital by Alliance AG (in either case a “ Constructive Profit Distribution ”).

(b) Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, Alliance AG hereby appoints the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders, to seek and obtain, prior to enforcement of the Alliance AG Guaranty, a ruling from the Swiss Federal Tax Administration confirming that the payments by Alliance AG under the Alliance AG Guaranty (the “ Alliance AG Guaranty Payments ”) will not be qualified as Constructive Profit Distribution. The Administrative Agent, on behalf of the Lenders, hereby agrees and undertakes to Alliance AG that enforcement of the Alliance AG Guaranty shall not be imposed on Alliance AG without obtaining such ruling from the Swiss Federal Tax Administration. Alliance AG hereby agrees and undertakes to provide the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders, with reasonable and bona fide support, including but not limited to copies of all relevant

 

155


corporate documents (including, without limitation, any shareholders’ and/or board resolutions of Alliance AG to enter into this Agreement) to allow the request for the above ruling to be filed with the Swiss Federal Tax Administration without delay.

(c) In the event that the Swiss Federal Tax Administration confirms that the Alliance AG Guaranty Payments will not be qualified as Constructive Profit Distribution, the Administrative Agent may seek, subject to the terms of Section 11.9(e) and (f) , immediate enforcement under the Alliance AG Guaranty for the benefit of the Lenders without further notice.

(d) In the event that the Swiss Federal Tax Administration opines that all or part of the Alliance AG Guaranty Payments must be qualified as Constructive Profit Distribution, the Administrative Agent may seek, subject to the terms of Section 11.9(e) and (f) , immediate enforcement under the Alliance AG Guaranty only for such part (if any) of the Alliance AG Guaranty Payments which are not qualified as Constructive Profit Distribution. Upon the request of the Administrative Agent, Alliance AG hereby agrees and undertakes to provide the Administrative Agent with reasonable and bona fide support (such as, without limitation, the filing of appeals before the competent authorities and/or courts) to challenge a negative ruling or decision of the Swiss Federal Tax Administration with respect to such part of the Alliance AG Guaranty Payments qualified by the Swiss Federal Tax Administration as a Constructive Profit Distribution.

(e) If and to the extent payments on the Alliance AG Guaranty have to be qualified under Swiss corporate law as a Constructive Profit Distribution (the part, if any, qualified as Constructive Profit Distribution being hereafter referred to as the “ Shortfall on Enforcement ”), the Shortfall on Enforcement shall only become enforceable from time to time and used for application to the Credit Party Obligations of Alliance AG within the limit of the maximum amount of the profits of Alliance AG available for distribution as dividends from time to time, i.e. the balance sheet profits (if any) and any reserves available for such purpose in each case in accordance with Article 675 Section 2 and Article 671 Sections 1-3 of the Swiss Code of Obligations, less any amount for Swiss withholding taxes payable in respect thereof, until the aggregate cumulative amount of such profits and reserves reaches the Shortfall on Enforcement. Any payments on the Alliance AG Guaranty received by the Administrative Agent in excess of the Shortfall on Enforcement shall be promptly repaid by the Administrative Agent to Alliance AG.

(f) For the purposes of reducing the Shortfall on Enforcement, the amount of profits of Alliance AG available from time to time for distribution to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders, shall be determined by a resolution of the annual shareholders’ meeting of Alliance AG, based on an audited balance sheet of Alliance AG as required under Swiss corporate law, and on a confirmation by the auditors of Alliance AG that they have examined the balance sheet and that the amount for which enforcement is sought is in conformity with applicable Swiss corporate laws for the protection of share capital and legal reserves, to the extent they are not freely available, and with such accounting standards as then applied by the auditors of Alliance AG. However, such recovery amount shall at no time be less than the unrestricted equity capital surplus (including the unrestricted part of general (legal) reserves, restricted reserves which may be converted into free reserves, other free reserves, retained

 

156


earnings and current net profits) available (as the case may be after a conversion/re-qualification) for distribution to the shareholder(s) of Alliance AG under Swiss corporate law and practice at the time or times enforcement by the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders, in accordance with this Agreement is sought.

(g) To the extent (but only to the extent) that all or part of the Alliance AG Guaranty Payments are requalified by the Swiss Federal Tax Administration as a Constructive Profit Distribution after their disbursement by Alliance AG to the Administrative Agent, on behalf of the Lenders, and to the extent the Alliance AG Guaranty Payments are made without Alliance AG having retained or withheld any Swiss withholding tax from such Alliance AG Guaranty Payments, the Administrative Agent hereby undertakes to timely file a related report with and pay, on behalf of the Lenders, the relevant tax amount (if any) to the Swiss Federal Tax Administration.

(h) To the extent (but only to the extent) that Alliance AG is required to make any Swiss withholding tax payment directly to the Swiss Federal Tax Administration as a result of a requalification by the Swiss Federal Tax Administration of the Alliance AG Guaranty Payments as a Constructive Profit Distribution after their disbursement by Alliance AG to the Administrative Agent, on behalf of the Lenders, and to the extent the Alliance AG Guaranty Payments are made without Alliance AG having retained or withheld such Swiss withholding tax from such Alliance AG Guaranty Payments, the Administrative Agent, on behalf of the Lenders, agrees and undertakes to indemnify Alliance AG for such payments. This indemnification obligation shall extend to any director of Alliance AG to the extent that such director becomes personally liable for the payment of such Swiss withholding tax in the event of a liquidation of Alliance AG as a result of enforcement under this Agreement.

(i) Alliance AG hereby agrees and undertakes to provide all necessary and bona fide support to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders, to allow the Administrative Agent and the Lenders to obtain, and the Administrative Agent and the Lenders agree to attempt to obtain, any refund of withholding tax described in this Section 11.9 as provided for under the relevant tax treaties then in force. The amount of any such refund shall be applied to reduce the Shortfall on Enforcement and, if and to the extent such reduction causes the Shortfall on Enforcement to be a negative amount, shall be paid (by the Administrative Agent or Lenders, as appropriate) to Alliance AG.

Section 11.10 Confirmation of Payment . The Administrative Agent and the Lenders will, upon request after payment in cash in full of the indebtedness and obligations under the Credit Documents which are the subject of the Foreign Guaranty and termination of the Revolving Commitments relating thereto, confirm to the Dutch Borrower, the Guarantors or any other Person that such indebtedness and obligations under the Credit Documents have been paid and the Revolving Commitments relating thereto terminated, subject to the provisions of Section 11.2 .

 

157


Section 11.11 Continuing Guaranty . This Foreign Guaranty is a continuing one and all liabilities to which it applies or may apply under the terms hereof shall be conclusively presumed to have been created in reliance hereon. No failure or delay on the part of any Secured Party in exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, power or privilege hereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege. The rights and remedies herein expressly specified are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies which any Secured Party would otherwise have. No notice to or demand on any Guarantor in any case shall entitle such Guarantor to any other further notice or demand in similar or other circumstances or constitute a waiver of the rights of any Secured Party to any other or further action in any circumstances without notice or demand. It is not necessary for any Secured Party to inquire into the capacity or powers of the Dutch Borrower or any other Foreign Guaranteed Party or the officers, directors, partners or agents acting or purporting to act on its or their behalf, and any indebtedness made or created in reliance upon the professed exercise of such powers shall be guaranteed hereunder.

Section 11.12 Subordination of Indebtedness Held by Guarantors . Any indebtedness of the Dutch Borrower or any other Foreign Guaranteed Party now or hereafter held by any Guarantor is hereby subordinated to the indebtedness of the Dutch Borrower or such other Foreign Guaranteed Party to the Secured Parties (in their capacities as such); and such indebtedness of the Dutch Borrower or such other Foreign Guaranteed Party to any Guarantor, if the Administrative Agent, after an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, so requests, shall be collected, enforced and received by such Guarantor as trustee for the Secured Parties and be paid over to the Secured Parties on account of the indebtedness of the Dutch Borrower or such other Foreign Guaranteed Party to the Secured Parties (in their capacities as such), but without affecting or impairing in any manner the liability of such Guarantor under the other provisions of this Foreign Guaranty. Prior to the transfer by any Guarantor of any note or negotiable instrument evidencing any indebtedness of the Dutch Borrower or any other Foreign Guaranteed Party to such Guarantor, such Guarantor shall mark such note or negotiable instrument with a legend that the same is subject to this subordination. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each Guarantor hereby agrees with the Secured Parties that it will not exercise any right of subrogation which it may at any time otherwise have as a result of this Foreign Guaranty (whether contractual, under Section 509 of the Bankruptcy Code or otherwise) until all indebtedness of the Dutch Borrower owing to the Secured Parties (in their capacities as such) have been irrevocably paid in full in cash; provided , that if any amount shall be paid to such Guarantor on account of such subrogation rights at any time prior to the irrevocable payment in full in cash of all the indebtedness of the Dutch Borrower owing to the Secured Parties (in their capacities as such), such amount shall be held in trust for the benefit of the Secured Parties and shall forthwith be paid to the Secured Parties to be credited and applied upon the indebtedness of the Dutch Borrower owing to the Secured Parties (in their capacities as such), whether matured or unmatured, in accordance with the terms of the Credit Documents or, if the Credit Documents do not provide for the application of such amount, to be held by the Secured Parties as collateral security for any indebtedness of the Dutch Borrower owing to the Secured Parties (in their capacities as such) thereafter existing.

 

158


Section 11.13 Payments . All payments made by any Guarantor hereunder will be made without setoff, counterclaim or other defense and on the same basis as payments are made by the Dutch Borrower under Sections 2.10 .

 

159


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

 

COMPANY :
ALLIANCE ONE INTERNATIONAL, INC.
By:  

 

Name:  

 

Title:  

 

By:  

 

Name:  

 

Title:  

 

DUTCH BORROWER :
INTABEX NETHERLANDS B.V.
By:  

 

Name:  

 

Title:  

 

DOMESTIC GUARANTORS :
[NONE]
FOREIGN GUARANTOR :
ALLIANCE ONE INTERNATIONAL AG
By:  

 

Name:  

 

Title:  

 

[signatures continue]


ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, SWINGLINE LENDER, ISSUING LENDER, AND LENDERS :
DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS

                                                             ,

as Administrative Agent, as Swingline Lender, as Issuing Lender and as a Lender

By:  

 

Name:  

 

Title:  

 

By:  

 

Name:  

 

Title:  

 

[signatures continue]


                                                             ,

as a Lender

By:  

 

Name:  

 

Title:  

 

By:  

 

Name:  

 

Title:  

 

[signatures continue]


                                                             , as a Lender
By:  

 

Name:  

 

Title:  

 

By:  

 

Name:  

 

Title:  

 

Exhibit 10.2

$735,000,000

ALLIANCE ONE INTERNATIONAL, INC.

9.875% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes due 2021

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

August 1, 2013

Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.

60 Wall Street

New York, New York 10005

Dear Sirs:

Alliance One International, Inc., a Virginia corporation (the “Issuer”), proposes to issue and sell to Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. as Representative of the initial purchasers set forth on Schedule A of the Purchase Agreement (as defined below) (collectively, the “Initial Purchasers”), upon the terms set forth in a purchase agreement of even date herewith (the “Purchase Agreement”), $735,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 9.875% senior secured second lien notes due 2021 (the “Initial Securities”) to be unconditionally guaranteed by the creation or acquisition of a Material Domestic Subsidiary (as defined in the Indenture) after the date of the Indenture (the “Guarantors” and together with the Issuer, the “Company”). The Initial Securities will be issued pursuant to an Indenture, dated as of August 1, 2013 (the “Indenture”) between the Company, Law Debenture Trust Company of New York (the “Trustee”) and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as registrar and paying agent. As an inducement to the Initial Purchasers, the Company agrees with the Initial Purchasers, for the benefit of the holders of the Initial Securities (including, without limitation, the Initial Purchasers), the Exchange Securities (as defined below) and the Private Exchange Securities (as defined below) (collectively the “Holders”), as follows:

1.  Registered Exchange Offer . The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts, at its own cost, to prepare and, not later than 180 days after (or if the 180th day is not a business day, the first business day thereafter) the date of original issue of the Initial Securities (the “Issue Date”), file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) 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 Entitled 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 (the “Exchange Securities”) of the Issuer issued under the Indenture and 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) that would be registered under the Securities Act. The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to have such Exchange Offer Registration Statement declared effective by the Commission on or prior to 270 days (or if the 270th day is not a business day, the first business day thereafter) after the Issue Date of the Initial Securities (the “Effectiveness Target Date”).

Unless the Registered Exchange Offer would not be permitted by applicable law or Commission policy, the Company will (a) commence the Registered Exchange Offer; and (b) use all commercially reasonable efforts to issue on or prior to 30 business days, or longer, if required by applicable securities laws, after the date on which the Exchange Offer Registration Statement was declared effective by the Commission, exchange notes in exchange for all notes validly tendered and not withdrawn thereto in the Registered Exchange Offer.


The Company acknowledges 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 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 Exchange Securities acquired in exchange for 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 shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to keep the Exchange Offer Registration Statement effective and to 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 90 days after the consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer.

If, upon consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer, any Initial Purchaser holds Initial Securities acquired by it as part of its initial distribution, the Issuer, 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 Issuer 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 Issuer 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 30 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 with an address in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, 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 with all applicable laws.

 

2


As soon as practicable after the close of the Registered Exchange Offer or the Private Exchange, as the case may be, the Issuer 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 Securities will vote and consent together on all matters as one class and that none of the 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 to the Issuer 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 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.

 

3


2.  Shelf Registration . If, (i) the Company is not permitted to consummate the Registered Exchange Offer because the Registered Exchange Offer is not permitted by applicable law or Commission policy; or (ii) any holder of the Entitled Securities notifies the Company prior to the 20 th business day following consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer that: (a) it is prohibited by law or Commission policy from participating in the Registered Exchange Offer, (b) it may not resell the exchange notes acquired by it in the Registered Exchange Offer to the public without delivering a prospectus (other than by reason of such holder’s status as an affiliate of the Company) 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 then the Company shall take the following actions:

(a) The Company shall, at its own cost, use its commercially reasonable efforts to file with the Commission (the “Shelf Registration Statement” and, together with the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, a “Registration Statement”) and to cause the Shelf Registration Statement to be declared effective by the Commission on or prior to 90 days after such obligation arises pursuant to this Section 2 (the “Shelf Effectiveness Target Date”). The Shelf Registration Statement shall be filed on an appropriate form under the Securities Act relating to the offer and sale of the Entitled Securities (as defined in Section 6 hereof) 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 and provided, further , that with respect to Exchange Securities received by an Initial Purchaser in exchange for Securities constituting any portion of an unsold allotment, the Company may, if permitted by current interpretations by the Commission’s staff, file a post-effective amendment to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement containing the information required by Item 507 or 508 of Regulation S-K, as applicable, in satisfaction of its obligations under this subsection, and any such Exchange Offer Registration Statement, as so amended, shall be referred to herein as, and governed by the provisions herein applicable to, a Shelf Registration Statement.

(b) The Company shall use its 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 Issue Date or such shorter period that will terminate when all the Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement have been sold pursuant thereto. The Company shall be deemed not to have used its commercially reasonable efforts to keep the Shelf Registration Statement effective during the requisite period if it voluntarily takes any action that would result in Holders of Securities covered thereby not being able to offer and sell such Securities during that period, unless such action is required by applicable law.

(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 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 its 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, include the information required by Items 507 or 508 of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act, as

 

4


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 a 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, the Holders of the Securities and 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 (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 amendment thereto has been filed with the Commission and when the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto has become effective;

(ii) of any request by the Commission 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, of 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 Issuer 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 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 commercially 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 consent of the Initial Purchasers, make any offer relating to the Securities that would constitute a “free writing prospectus,” as defined in Commission Rule 405.

 

5


(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 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 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

 

6


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, 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 three-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, and provide the applicable trustee with printed certificates for the Initial Securities, the Exchange Securities or the Private Exchange Securities, as the case may be, in a form eligible for deposit with The Depository Trust Company.

(l) The Company 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 its 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 the Issuer’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 Issuer may require each Holder of Securities to be sold pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement to furnish to the Issuer such information regarding the Holder and the distribution of the Securities as the Issuer may from time to time reasonably require for inclusion in the Shelf Registration Statement, and the Issuer may exclude from such registration the Securities of any Holder that unreasonably fails to furnish such information within a reasonable time after receiving such request.

(o) 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 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

 

7


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.

(q) In the case of 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 reasonably satisfactory to the managing underwriters, if any, addressed to such Holders and such 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 and the independent public accountants with respect to any other entity for which financial information is provided in the Shelf Registration Statement 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) In the case of the Registered Exchange Offer, if requested by any Initial Purchaser or any known Participating Broker-Dealer, the Company shall cause (i) its counsel to deliver to such Initial Purchaser or such Participating Broker-Dealer a signed opinion in the form set forth in Section 7(c) and (d) of the Purchase Agreement with such changes as are customary in connection with the preparation of a Registration Statement and (ii) its independent public accountants and the independent public accountants with respect to any other entity for which financial information is provided in the Registration Statement to deliver to such Initial Purchaser or such Participating Broker-Dealer a comfort letter, in customary form, meeting the requirements as to the substance thereof as set forth in Section 7(a) of the Purchase Agreement, with appropriate date changes.

(s) 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.

(t) 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.

(u) 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. (“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 assist 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, 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

 

8


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.

(v) The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to take all other steps necessary to effect the registration of the Securities covered by a Registration Statement contemplated hereby.

4.  Registration Expenses . The Company shall bear all fees and expenses incurred in connection with the performance of its obligations under Sections 1 through 3 hereof (including the reasonable fees and expenses, if any, of Latham & Watkins LLP , counsel for the Initial Purchasers, incurred in connection with the Registered Exchange Offer), whether or not the Registered Exchange Offer or a Shelf Registration is filed or becomes effective, and, in the event of a Shelf Registration, shall bear or reimburse the Holders of the Securities covered thereby for the reasonable fees and disbursements of one firm of counsel designated by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Initial Securities covered thereby to act as counsel for the Holders of the Initial Securities in connection therewith.

5.  Indemnification . (a) The Company agrees 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 (i) the Company 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 Holder and furnished to the Company by or on behalf of such Holder 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 (including through satisfaction of the conditions of Commission Rule 172) 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 conveyed to such person, at or prior to the time of the sale of such Securities to such person, an amended or supplemented prospectus or, if permitted by Section 3(d), an Issuer FWP correcting such untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission 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 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.

 

9


(b) Each Holder of the Securities, severally and not jointly, will indemnify and hold harmless the Company and each person, if any, who controls the Company 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 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 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 for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Company 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 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. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, 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 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 exchange of the Securities, pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer, 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

 

10


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 within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company.

(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.  Special Interest Under Certain Circumstances . (a) Special interest (the “Special Interest”) with respect to the Initial Securities shall be assessed as follows if any of the following events occur (each such event in clauses (i) through (iii) below a “Registration Default”):

(i) If the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is not declared effective by the Commission on or prior to the Effectiveness Target Date or the Shelf Registration Statement is not declared effective on or prior to the Shelf Effectiveness Target Date;

(ii) If the Company fails to consummate the Registered Exchange Offer within 30 business days of the Effectiveness Target Date with respect to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement; or

(iii) If after either the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or the Shelf Registration Statement 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 of Entitled 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.

With respect to the first 90-day period immediately following the occurrence of the first Registration Default, Special Interest shall be paid in an amount equal to 0.50% per annum of the principal amount of Entitled Securities outstanding. The amount of the Special Interest shall increase by an additional 0.25% per annum with respect to each subsequent 90-day period until each Registration Default has been cured, provided, however , that Special Interest for all Registration Defaults shall not exceed an amount equal to 1.0% per annum of the principal amount of the Entitled Securities outstanding.

(b) A Registration Default referred to in Section 6(a)(iii)(B) 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

 

11


amendment is not yet effective and needs to be declared effective to permit Holders to use the related prospectus or (y) other material events, with respect to the Company that would need to be described in such Shelf Registration Statement or the related prospectus 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 in any case if such Registration Default occurs for a continuous period in excess of 30 days, Special 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 Special Interest due pursuant to clause (i), (ii) or (iii) of Section 6(a) above will be payable in cash on the regular interest payment dates with respect to the Entitled Securities. The amount of Special Interest will be determined by multiplying the applicable Special Interest rate by the principal amount of the Entitled Securities outstanding, multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days such Special 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) “Entitled Securities” means each Security until (i) the date on which such Transfer Restricted 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 a Initial Security for an Exchange Note, the date on which such Exchange Note 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 or (iii) the date on which such Initial Security has been effectively registered under the Securities Act and disposed of in accordance with the Shelf Registration Statement.

7.  Rules 144 and 144A . The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to file the reports required to be filed by it under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act in a timely manner and, if at any time the Company is not required to file such reports, it will, upon the request of any Holder of Initial Securities, make publicly available other information so long as necessary to permit sales of their securities pursuant to Rules 144 and 144A. The Company covenants that it will take such further action as any Holder of Initial Securities may reasonably request, all to the extent required from time to time to enable such Holder to sell Initial Securities without registration under the Securities Act within the limitation of the exemptions provided by Rules 144 and 144A (including the requirements of Rule 144A(d)(4)). 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 Entitled 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 Entitled Securities to be included in such offering.

No person may participate in any underwritten registration hereunder unless such person (i) agrees to sell such person’s Entitled 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)  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.

 

12


(b)  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;

Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.

60 Wall Street

New York, N.Y. 10005

Fax No.: 212-469-4877

Attention: Debt Capital Markets Syndicate

with a copy to:

Latham & Watkins LLP

885 Third Avenue

New York, NY 10022

Attention: Peter M. Labonski, Esq. & Keith Halverstam, Esq.

(3) if to the Company, at its address as follows:

Alliance One International, Inc.

8001 Aerial Center Parkway

Post Office Box 2009

Morrisville, NC 27560-2009

Attn: Joel Thomas – Vice President – Treasurer

with a copy to:

Robinson, Bradshaw & Hinson, P.A.

101 North Tryon Street, Suite 1900

Charlotte, NC 28246

Attn: Stephen M. Lynch, Esq.

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.

(c)  No Inconsistent Agreements . The Company has not, as of the date hereof, entered into, nor shall it, on or after the date hereof, enter into, any agreement with respect to its securities that is inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders herein or otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof.

(d)  Successors and Assigns . This Agreement shall be binding upon the Company and its successors and assigns.

(e)  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.

 

13


(f)  Headings . The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.

(g)  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.

(h)  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.

(i)  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.

(j)  Submission to Jurisdiction . The Company hereby submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the Federal and state courts in the Borough of Manhattan in The City of New York in any suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby. The Company irrevocably and unconditionally waives any objection to the laying of venue of any suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby in Federal and state courts in the Borough of Manhattan in The City of New York and irrevocably and unconditionally waive and agree not to plead or claim in any such court that any such suit or proceeding in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.

 

14


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 and the Company in accordance with its terms.

 

Very truly yours,
ALLIANCE ONE INTERNATIONAL, INC.
By:  

/s/ Robert A. Sheets

  Name:   Robert A. Sheets
  Title:   Executive Vice President – Chief Financial Officer and Chief Administrative Officer

 

15


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

D EUTSCHE B ANK S ECURITIES I NC .
    AS R EPRESENTATIVE OF THE I NITIAL P URCHASERS
by:   D EUTSCHE B ANK S ECURITIES I NC .
    By:  

/s/ William Frauen

      Name:   William Frauen
      Title:   Managing Director
    By:  

/s/ Christopher Blum

      Name:   Christopher Blum
      Title:   Managing Director

 

16


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 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             , 20[xx] 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 back cover page of the Exchange Offer prospectus.


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 99.1

 

Alliance One International, Inc.

8001 Aerial Center Parkway

Post Office Box 2009

Morrisville, NC 27560-2009

USA

  

Tel: 919 379 4300

Fax: 919 379 4346

www.aointl.com

   LOGO
     
     
     
     
NEWS RELEASE       Contact: Joel L. Thomas
      (919) 379-4300
August 1, 2013      

ALLIANCE ONE INTERNATIONAL, INC. COMPLETES

CERTAIN REFINANCING TRANSACTIONS

 

   

Completes offering of $735 million of senior secured second lien notes due 2021

 

   

Amends and restates senior secured revolving credit facility

 

   

Satisfies conditions to redeem $635 million of senior notes due 2016

 

   

Satisfies certain conditions in tender offer for 5  1 / 2 % convertible senior subordinated notes

MORRISVILLE, N.C. – (August 1, 2013) – Alliance One International, Inc. (NYSE:AOI) (“Alliance One” or the “Company”) today announced that it has completed its previously announced offering of $735 million in aggregate principal amount of its 9.875% senior secured second lien notes due 2021 (the “Second Lien Notes”), at a price of 98.000% of the face amount thereof, in a private offering to qualified institutional buyers pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and to persons in offshore transactions in reliance on Regulation S under the Securities Act.

Alliance One also announced that the previously announced amendment and restatement of its senior secured revolving credit facility has become effective. As amended and restated, the senior secured revolving credit facility is initially in the amount of approximately $303.9 million, which will automatically reduce to approximately $210.3 million in April 2014, and will mature in April 2017, subject to a springing maturity in April 2014 if by that date the Company has not deposited sufficient amounts to fund the repayment at maturity of all then outstanding 5  1 / 2 % convertible senior subordinated notes due 2014 of the Company (the “Convertible Notes”). Borrowings under the amended and restated senior secured revolving credit facility initially bear interest at an annual rate of LIBOR plus 3.75% and base rate plus 2.75%, as applicable, though the interest rate under the amended and restated senior secured revolving credit facility is subject to increase or decrease according to a consolidated interest coverage ratio.

Alliance One has used a portion of the net proceeds from the offering of the Second Lien Notes to fund the redemption (the “Redemption”) of all $635 million in aggregate principal amount of its outstanding 10% senior notes due 2016 (the “Senior Notes”) pursuant to its previously announced conditional call for redemption on August 2, 2013 of all of its outstanding Senior Notes. The conditions for the Redemption have been satisfied and the Company has taken all steps necessary to effect the Redemption on August 2, 2013. In connection with the Redemption, on August 1, 2013, the Company effected a covenant defeasance of the Senior Notes and the satisfaction and discharge of the indenture governing the Senior Notes.


The Company intends to apply the remaining net proceeds of the offering of Second Lien Notes to fund the purchase of up to $30.0 million in aggregate principal amount of the Convertible Notes pursuant to the Company’s previously announced cash tender offer (the “Tender Offer”), and to pay fees and expenses related to the offering, the Redemption, the Tender Offer and the amendment and restatement of its senior secured revolving credit facility.

The Company further announced that, as a result of these transactions, the Financing Condition and Credit Facility Condition (as such terms are defined in the Company’s Amended Offer to Purchase dated July 30, 2013 with respect to the Tender Offer (the “Offer to Purchase”)) have been satisfied. The Company expects that the Redemption Condition (as defined in the Offer to Purchase) will be satisfied on August 2, 2013.

This press release is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell, or the solicitation of an offer to buy, securities or an offer to purchase, or a solicitation of an offer to purchase, or a call for redemption of, any securities. Any offer of the Second Lien Notes will be made only by means of a private offering memorandum. The Tender Offer is being made solely pursuant to the Offer to Purchase and the related letter of transmittal, which set forth the complete terms of the Tender Offer. The Second Lien Notes are not being registered under the Securities Act, or the securities laws of any other jurisdiction, and may not be offered or sold in the United States without registration or an applicable exemption from registration requirements.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ materially from those reflected in the forward-looking statements. Additional information concerning factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements is contained under the heading of “Risk Factors” listed from time to time in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2013, filed on June 17, 2013.

About Alliance One

Alliance One International, Inc. is a leading independent leaf tobacco merchant serving the world’s cigarette manufacturers.

 

2